Grey...

Sadly yesterday turned out greyer than expected, (not in a Christian way), but there was a little silver-grey lining, my Kindle arrived, so I made a case.

I started off with a simple slip pouch, but I really didn't love the baggy elastic/button closure combo I ended up with, so I lopped off the top, cut off the seams and went for a mini version of Ayumi's iPad case.

I added some Vilene S520 to the insides to give it a firm outer, with thick fleece instead of lining and batting, it turned out rather great looking considering it went though a full 360'...

I have only had a little play with the actual Kindle thus far, but having spent more time stuck 'in a book' than anything else, (random tapping and swearing does not work), I am not able to report back just yet, but it looks cool.
xxx

Another little tote...

Before SMS Giveaway Day, I'd cut all the fabrics for my own version of Ayumi's Little Patchwork Tote, pattern from Krista's Make It Take It, and when the giveaway fun was over, I finished it up…

Made with some cuts of Cotton & Steel's Black and Whites, it looks pretty grown up to me.

My adjusting of the bottom and last panels mean that I somehow went a little squiff in joining one side, but nothing that I could face unpicking for!  I think I will use it to keep my lounge sewing in order, rather than the pile of bits that tend to accumulate next to the sofa.

I substituted the handles with the webbing I use for key fobs, as I did with Gertie Pie's Nun one, which I think works perfectly; I'm all for a super shortcut.

So today I worked, as tomorrow I have a few things to attend to, including the KS2 performance of Joseph & His Technicolour Dream Coat, so I will be back with ringing ears and proud mummy grin xxx

Better late than never - Giveaway Day!

A promise is a promise, so when I got home from work today, I made a belated prize for SMS Giveaway Day!

A sweet little tote made using Ayumi's pattern found in Krista's beautiful new book, Make It Take It, which I received on Tuesday...

If you would like to be in with a chance of getting your hands on this token of my appreciation, you can have two chances as I am feeling generous guilty:

i.  leave a comment letting me know the job you are least suited to - I am probably not really suited to my actual job, nor being a Nun, for so many reasons!

ii.  leave a second comment if you are a follower, old or new, and let me know how, GFC, Bloglovin, whatever, the more the merrier.

I will mail internationally; will re-draw if you are a No Reply blogger and don't leave an email address in you comment, and will delete comments in excess of your two allowable, harsh, I know.

The giveaway will remain open until 9pm BST Sunday 10th May, so I can email the winner before I go to bed!

Good luck xxx

Lighthearted Lola...

I may be suffering from a heavy heart, but a little sewing yesterday (which actually took me all day), and a combination of Lighthearted, (Ayumi's so gorgeous new line for Kokka), and Sveltlana's pattern, I ended up with this…

Poor rainy day photography, I have resorted to the stairs for pictures, sorry.

This large sized pouch pattern is superb!

With a metal zip, a little silver leather patch, and natural Essex Linen with sneaky band of the floral inside, this was a labour of love.  Yes, I stitched half the zip in upside down first time, but there was limited swearing.

I need to play serious catch up with my Amitié BOM, the next month arrived today, so I may be popping the hand-piecing in here, you know, to keep me motivated.

PS. Apologies if I owe you an email/reply, I'll be on it over the weekend, promise xxx

A Duo of Finishes...

Last night, not only did I get my table runner fully bound and the hand quilting done, but I finished another small project on my Winter Stitching list too!!

First here is my finish for the Duo Quiltalong...

Now it's pretty difficult to see my magnificent stitchery, as I went 'subtle' on my first attempt at hand quilting, but if you look closely, you might be able to see!

Boring or brilliant?  I love it!

I used natural Klona for the backing and binding, off-white for the FMQ and hand-stitching.  The perle cotton I pictured yesterday was just too thick and bright, so after a quick attempt with that, it got pulled and replaced with some old Finca that I have had forever!

I am surprised how good it all looks together; I think the scrutinising of every FMQ curve (or otherwise) and concentrating on the length of each individual stitch (some too big, others too small), convinced me it would look like a disaster.  But one step back, taking a look from a more natural distance, and it actually works. 

Thank you Rachel and Rhonda for pointing me in the right direction - as ever, I took a few short cuts/liberties, but ended up with a lovely little runner that I would not have made without them.

Finish number two, was one of Ayumi's Christmas Baskets.  This is a great pattern, one of those featured in Jennifer's brilliant 12 Gifts of Christmas Tutorial series. 

I made this with more 1001 Peeps to match the runner.  Maybe it will get filled with cutlery, but more likely chocolates!

I love to have finishes, and I love to have ticks, but I especially love to have things that we are going to keep and use...

Now back to the felt parliament!

Perfect Match...

Now if you had the most wonderful fabric to play with, and knew a brilliant pattern that would be perfect, what else would you do but just get on with it!?

So after all my duties yesterday, I started measuring and cutting and arranging whilst all the time grinning, until I ended up with this...

Just in case you haven't kept up... this is made of my beautiful Walk In The Woods scraps received from Aneela, and follows Ayumi's wristlet tutorial... a winning combo if ever there was one!

To say I am damn happy with the result is an understatement!  Even my zip turned out OK first time - I followed Ayumi's instructions and didn't add tabs to the ends as I have been doing, and it has worked out great, I can definitely cope with slopey corners.

So I hope that was worth the wait... now I'm off to make some felt decorations... maybe.

PS. Happy Thanksgiving to all who are celebrating today xxx