Thursday 15 September 2011

Forced absence

The summer holidays forced my blog absence, but thankfully didn't stop the sewing...


I finished the boys quilt.  I've only been promising it for 2 years now, just have to get it quilted and bound...




I almost made a quilt for my great nephew (that makes me sound old!)...


I made blocks for Amy...


 

and started lots of projects that probably won't be finished before the holidays (oh no!) because I started another paid job too.


So really I have to get cracking as most of my new projects are for Christmas!!  Eek!
Kathie
(And now it's late so the rest of the photos will, you guessed it, come later!!)

Friday 22 July 2011

A quilt for the girl

Some time ago i made a quilt top for my friend C's first girl.  Unfortunately when my girl came home she told me it was too big for a car lap quilt.  She wasn't wrong!  So I decided to give it to my girl instead.  





Many many hours were spent trying to master free motion quilting with little success so I admitted defeat and sent it away to be quilted.  I had seen a triple daisy tute on Oh Fransson and when I gave the quilt to my lovely local quilt shop my only definite want was a triple daisy in each nine patch. 

Here are some close ups of the work done:

 The triple daisy for each nine patch..

 
and daisies in the sashing.

So yes it was on a long arm machine, but i was simply blown away with the design.  Couldn't love it more.  So I can see my free motion quilting not getting better for sometime!

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Baby quilts

I made some a small quilt from 2 fat quarters of fabric i picked up from a fabric shop...


and then I had bought a bag of scraps from this etsy shop and I made another small quilt.  I needed to practice my free motion quilting.  Loving all of those fabrics.



Well, having made them, what to do with them?  My friend C had a premature baby and I remember reading somewhere that the quilts given to premature babies become the comforters when they are older.  The thought of giving to a family in those circumstances felt good.  So the quilts are going to the maternity ward at our local hospital tomorrow.


Hope your current projects are going well.

Wednesday 6 July 2011

Getting organised

So, usually after making a little bag like this one, 
Cupcake bag


I would write about the process in my notebook.  Today I am doing that online to share!


I found this fantastic blog and then made up some bits, like using one strip for the strap across the bag and using french seams so I didn't have to line the bag and there are no raw edges.
Inside the cupcake bag


I must have spent no more than 1 hour with gathering everything and ironing included but that was all the time I had and I know that there are bits that could be improved upon but for a quick sewing fix, I'm really pleased.  The girl gave it the once over when she came in from school and it got the thumbs up!



Sunday 3 July 2011

Hello...

my dad being unwell proved to be a bit too much for me and I lost 2 months of this year.  Until about Easter, other than working all I have done is help my dad.  Helping, now that my parents are getting older, is one of the bigger reasons for moving to here but I never factored in how much worrying I would do.  We are coming out the other side and hopefully the worst of it is over.  

Needless to say the 10k run didn't happen either as training didn't happen, so i would have to say until about April 10th things weren't going as expected...

Then S & I went to New York.  A surprise trip for me...


and bless him, he even factored in fabric shopping for a whole day - more about that later.

Well for now there is a party about to happen.  Am i brave enough to take on 'the cube'?

Tuesday 15 March 2011

...and while a diligent student, she must work faster.

That is what I would expect to hear if my crafting was reported a teacher. It's taken me 4 weeks to complete this "cheat" quilt.  Why a cheat? The fabric is printed with the patchwork and so it's just quilting not piecing. 

Masie's quilt


Anyway, on a whim I decided to make this for my neighbours now 1 month old first baby. 
I hope they like it.

And, well, as much as I understand why teacher said I should work faster, I have been also: blog reading and following M is for make's posts on sewing from Japanese craft books 
finishing up some projects i started and helping my Dad as he is not well at the moment.

Just before i go, I just want to mention Pink Peguin who is having a giveaway for Japan and can also help you find people who are missing.

Well, time to get back to it. 
x

Monday 28 February 2011

Technology

Strangely I am struggling with technology.  I would have to say that in the last 8 years I have totally lost interest in the finer points of technology and if I can't switch it on and get it to work then that is just not good enough.

Why the ramble? Well, I had a post planned but the photo is on my phone and I can't get the text into the blog post using my phone, blah, blah, blah.

Jump forward a few hours and  I came across this blog and after looking at the beautiful photos, I did wonder does Famapa point and click - like me or set up a tripod, focus and pose the shot, taking lots of time - like our friend M who stayed with us last week

So again a post without photos apologies.

Thursday 24 February 2011

Time..

I started a new job in January and also training for a 10k run.  I'm not a natural distance runner so it's proving to be a big challenge, especially as I have lost lots of time now I have the new job!

Beach Bag

I'm managing to get a bit of sewing in and completed another bag which was a commission, my first one...








I've sent the girl's quilt to the quilt shop to be quilted.  I have decided that there is nothing wrong with deciding to give the bigger, more difficult things to someone else as I don't have the time to put in the practice any more.

But I am quilting and hopefully finishing within the week, a baby quilt for our neighbours new baby girl...

It's a bit of a time saver as the fabric has the patchwork printed on and I'm just following the lines but it's the thought that counts!!




Sunday 9 January 2011

Bags of fun!

After work on Christmas Eve (oh how long ago does that feel?) I made this bag...


I have been wanting one like it for some time and i just needed the time to work out how I was going to make it.  It's had lots of admirers so i made another as a gift.
This week, as well as lots of paid working, I have another to make with slightly different fabric.  I'm also hoping to get to Fabrics Galore to enjoy the last of their sale.  Fingers crossed on that one.



Wednesday 5 January 2011

Ack...

I had thought I had hit the ground running with new fabric shopping at a lovely shop.

But now I'm starting a new job tomorrow and didn't manage to finish the quilt top today, I'm not so sure.