Inspired by my home town...

Recently I was asked to make some brooches with a 'Margate' theme. It sparked a whole host of ideas all based around my home town, hence my lack of blogging over the last few weeks as I've been busy creating.

A cushion with a bit of machine and hand quilting and I was able to use some jelly roll strips I'd been saving for the right project. The centre 'Margate' panel was hand stamped just like the Love Is The Drug block I made. This is it before quilting, a simple construction around the centre panel.

I used the same alpha stamps to make some hand painted and stamped cards.

And finally a small selection of the fabric and felt brooches.

......you've got to have ice cream at the seaside - right?

The baby quilt finished, sweet dreams

Hi, yep I finished the baby quilt and I can't help but feel pretty pleased.

When I rashly said I would make a quilt for a new arrival I didn't really have any ideas about how I was going to set about doing it. Then I remembered that Jenna at SewHappyGeek had posted a tutorial for a sweet baby quilt.

I had decided on a bright mix of colours with white for the quilt front and for the backing I chose some spotty fabric to tie in with some of the other fabrics I used. Stippling the whole quilt was a bit tricky and I think I should have made my pattern more open but it was all a learning experience.

I'm sure the new baby won't notice the imperfections snuggled up having a nap.

I'm linking up to Manic Monday Linky Party - Thanks for the tutorial Jenna

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!

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!

Scrap and Quilt

Hi. I'm back with my next learning experience in quilt making. With my quilt top finished I now have to move on to quilting and binding but before I ventured to try this on the baby quilt I'm making I wanted to make sure I could master both techniques or at least have some idea about what I was doing.

So a quick scout around Pinterest and I came up with some very helpful advice and tutorials. As always I got a little distracted but it was all good.

Source: ohfransson.com via Amanda on Pinterest

This brilliant tutorial allowed me to use up yet more scraps and inspired me to find out about the stippling free motion technique used for the quilting which I found here at Oh Fransson. Some really great instructions which helped me to make this mini quilt.

I really love the process of piecing together all the scraps although mine are a more regular layout to those in the mosaic tutorial. I made a scrappy block too.

These would be great as cushion covers or blocks made into a quilt....so many ideas.

Things I've learn about quilting:

• Make sure you have a good supply of thread. It's suprising just how much you use.
• Quilting the baby quilt is going to be hard work.
• I understand now why I saw weird photos of people with rubber gloves on when machine quilting. It's to help grip the fabric when sewing and allows you to move it about under the needle easier. I haven't done this by the way!

Next time I'll share what I've learnt about binding.

I'm back with a bit more sewing. Over the Christmas break I hunted out some small projects that I could sew using my new quilting attachments for a bit of practice. It's been addictive fun.

I made the fabric book bag from the latest edition of Mollie Makes and knitted up a bookmark to go with it from a free pattern by Tricksy Knitter. Great for holidays don't you think?

Looking at my fabric I decided I had lots of scraps and after I made the cathedral window pincushion wondered what else I could make from them. After a bit of searching I came across ticker tape quilting. What a great idea, being able to use up all those little bits that I thought might just come in handy and tiny bits of my favourite fabrics that I couldn't bear to throw away.

Of course it also gave me an opportunity to use my new walking foot.....

....... and brought out the scrapbooker in me it was just like creating a new layout. Add a photo and some journalling and it could be. These scraps are sewn onto a background fabric and batting sandwich. The unfinished edges of the scraps give it quite a rustic look but all that sewing was quite relaxing and I tried not to worry if one ended up in not quite the right place or a little wonky. I also found another fantastic technique for using scraps but more on that another day.

This new enthusiasm for quilting has also seen me agreeing to make a baby quilt. So far so good. Deciding on fabric was hard, so many choices.

These are my rows all pieced together awaiting pressing. Again I was able to use fabric that I'd kept just waiting for that right project. See the fabric with the washing line? I made a teddy out of that for a friend who was having a baby. That baby is now 14! Me a hoarder? 

Anyway, I've now got my quilt top finished and ready to move onto the next step, tricky quilting and binding but things I've learnt so far:

• Piecing together with a 1/4" seam foot saves so much time and frustration
• Always press the seams
• Careful planning and calculation help in the long run
• It looks like using white as a background or sashing could be my style
• Using a rotary cutter is essential

I'll keep you updated on my quilting progress

Mini Hexie Love

You may have noticed how I've been a little obessed with hexies lately (No!) well imagine my delight when I found a quilt card for download on the Silhouette that was made up of hexagons. Happy.

I made a couple of cards using it (sorry no photos I forgot! bad blogger) and then started thinking how perfect it would be to use the cut outs with fabric. The size I cut out are much smaller than the 1" ones I've been using for my quilt, you can see the difference in size. They measure 5/8" which is 1.5cm. Can you believe people make whole quilts using ones this small. How would you have the patience....

......so I had a little experiment and came up with this.

a mini hexie bag charm. Think I'm going to be making more :-)

Take One Sheet....

....and turn it into a vintage inspired apron.

In the shop I mentioned in one of my recent posts I discovered some really lovely vintage aprons. They had a great shape to them almost tailored. I had a vague memory of a vintage pattern I'd bought that was for a full apron so I set about finding it and adapted it to make my own pattern.

After carefully working out how much I needed to use of the sheet for my in progress quilt, I so hope I have that right, I cut out the apron pieces. There are two sections which make up the front and two smaller sections at the sides which give an a-line shape.

You might notice the hexies that I stitched around the bottom edge. They are odd ones that I wouldn't have made into flowers at least that's what I'm telling myself! The pocket is made from a crocheted doily, at last I've been brave and used one. I collect these things and then can't bring myself to use them. Stupid really.

The finishing touch is a yo-yo topped with a covered button. (There goes that glasses case, I'm steadily getting through the yo-yos I stitched for that)

Apologies for the creased look in the photo but after going to all the trouble of making it I'm determined to wear it even thought it has received some strange looks and comments around the house.

Happy creating

Like a Craft Butterfly

Hi. Today I have a layout to share. I was playing with the photo booth option on the computer and thought one of the photos would be good for a layout to record my love of craft and how I seem to flit from one thing to another. At the moment I seem to love all things quilty. This morning I brought home a collection of quilting books from the library and my eyes lit up when a copy of Amy Butler, In Stitches had just been returned.

I'd seen and loved this sketch from Sketchy Thursdays. I immediately thought that one of my butterfly downloads for the Silhouette would be perfect. I used the half that I cut off as a frame for my journalling. You might also spot more of my Cath Kidston tape and one of my own printed canvas labels.

I quite liked using the sketch and I didn't spend long deliberating over which paper to use I just did it. The butterly printed card had been hanging around in my stash for ages and was the perfect match for the background paper.

With a sense of satisfaction and some scrapbooking done I can now get back to a bit of sewing.

Oh Happy Day

Oh happy day could refer to the fact that I have tomorrow off work so the weekend starts here but in fact it relates to a card I made using a recent download from Silhouette.

It also features some yummy tape I bought from Cath Kidston. Yep I got way too excited when I spotted that.

It was a bit like when I first walked into a shop on Wednesday that has just opened in my area selling vintage goods. I don't think the shop assistant could get over my enthusiasm for a wooden cotton reel. In fact I was so excited I had to pay a return visit today, I'd been dreaming about this fabric.

Luckily for me it was still there today. The photo doesn't really do it justice but it's a striking navy and white combination. The piece of fabric is so large that I could probably make myself an outfit top to toe - but I'll resist that urge. I have a few smaller projects in mind.

On my first visit I picked up a plain white cotton sheet which has helped me come to a decision with making my quilt. I've opted to use plain white hexagons between my coloured flowers. After I've sewn these together my next decision is whether or not to have a plain white row in between them or to have an odd coloured hexagon thrown in. I've also downsized my original plan and I'm now making a smaller more manageable sized quilt. Of course I could change my mind again, I'll keep you posted.