Lucky Me

Hi have you discovered Lucky Jackson and her 365 Lucky Days project? Today is day 148 so I apologise right now for not mentioning it sooner. But today I have a good reason to because I have admired these amazing pieces of stitching for 148 days and just recently Lucky has made some of her embroidery patterns available to buy. My finger hit that 'buy' button straightaway, well once I'd dithered over which one.

In the end I went for Vintage Dress Love.

Do you remember the Skirt I recycled? That's what made up my mind in the end as I thought I'd make something for my Mum as it was her skirt from the 70s that I cut up. To colour the shoes I carefully coloured them with promarkers.

I may well be visting the shop again to buy Polaroid Love and Boot Love

Before I go I thought I'd share a couple of my favourite pieces from the Lucky 365 days project.

Source: 365luckydays.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Blondie from Bombshell Week



Source: 365luckydays.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Batboy

Aren't you impressed that one of these masterpieces appears every single day?

I am.

I Heart.......

Hi I'm not sure if it's because Valentines Day is nearly upon us but hearts seem to feature in quite alot of my recent sewing.

Like this heart block. Another common feature seems to be a red and pink combination, I just love it. Then the heart block led on to a mini (really mini) quilt for a project I've had on my mind for ages but more on that another time.

 It measures just 8" square and I added some circular free motion quilting in addition to the stippling.

And finally............ this is going to be a cushion cover. I hand stamped the Roxy Music song track with some Versacraft ink and used handstitching to quilt and look, that red and pink combination again. Told you I loved it!

There is sunshine in my heart

Hi. Today I'm feeling a little hard done by. I should by here at Bluewater at the Creative Stitches and Hobby Crafts show oohing and ahhing at pretty fabrics and lusting after scrapbook supplies. Instead I'm not, I'm at home in the snow.

So, I'm trying to look on the bright side and joining Julie in her Month of Sunrays and created my own bit of sunshine.

You see I already have pretty fabrics and scrapbook supplies.....

......some more would have been nice though!

Cheerio - That's all for today from this little ray of sunshine.

My Month In Numbers - January

Hi are you taking part in Julie's My Month In Numbers? Squeezing just into February here are my January numbers.

2 - In January my blog celebrated it's 2 year birthday

7.99 - The extortionate amount I was charged for the delivery of my new phone that I ended up collecting myself.

2000 - The number of nectar points exchanged to spend at Amazon. Tilda's Winter Ideas already here and Zakka Style on it's way (hopefully).

-0.50 - The amount my eyesight has improved since my last eye test. Apparently if you are short sighted as you get older your eyesight can improve. Not all is lost then!

9088 - The pattern number of the Simplicity retro 70's dress pattern I bought. Coming along nicely.

If you would like to take part or want to know or get some tips on how to collect your numbers visit Julie at Notes on Paper I'm sure she'd love to see you and your numbers.

Another day, another bag

Hi. I've made yet another bag but I just couldn't resist.

It's from the latest copy of Mollie Makes from a pattern by Little Tea Wagon. I don't feel too guilty for making another bag as I used up some offcuts and didn't buy anything new.

In fact this is the second bag I've made from the vintage yellow fabric (yep old curtain) as I have a well loved swing bag made from it too.

This bag has some miles under it's belt as I've taken it on holiday every year since I made it.
Being fabric it makes the perfect beach bag as you can throw it in washing machine when you get home.
Anyway back to the new bag......

I added a few extra pockets on the inside as I can never find my keys so I have room for my phone, house keys and car keys. Even the lining was an offcut I picked it up for 45p.

I had a mini hexagon flower all ready to applique as well as the butterfly and I'd had the denim 'ruler' ribbon tape for ages but I was brave and snipped it. The lace trim had been taken from a linen tablecloth and I bought a whole length of it. I'd been wanting to use it for while but couldn't find the right project. The same went for the East of India label 'Sewing Mends the Soul' but I was happy to sacrifice it as the last finishing touch to the pocket.

If you fancy a go at making your own messenger bag run to the shop and pick up a copy of Mollie Makes or failing that Little Tea Wagon has some very nice ones in her Etsy Shop

A New Pillowcase = A Fabric Album

I recently bought some new pillowcases and when I unpacked them out fell some cardboard packaging from inside. It looked just like the cover of an album. So I remembered not to leave it out so it was safe from the recycling bin.

Then an idea began to form of how I could put to good use some of my new found quilting techniques and make a fabric cover.

I pieced together some of my favourite scraps and included a tiny crocheted doily that I found along with some decorative scissors and buttons.

The rear view

Rather than using machine quilting I handstitched all the panels and added some ribbon and felt flower details.

Inside I attached a strip of card reinforced with some washi tape with holes punched where I could thread the book rings through. It was a bit tricky but I got there eventually. The cardboard 'album' simply slips into the pockets on either side.

I'm going to use this album to record my sewing projects completed in 2012.

I realise now I should have shown you how the album started life but I did buy a new sheet at the same time so there could be an album number 2.

Somewhere over the rainbow.......

......lay a brilliant binding tutorial at Crazy Mom Quilts. This was the bit I'd been dreading but by using this tutorial it all became a little easier and no where as bad as I'd imagined.

I used this tutorial for a colourblock mug rug to help me create this mini rainbow and practice some binding and of course use more scraps.

News update on the progress of the baby quilt:
I've gone for free motion quilting, not sure I like it but it's too late now!