Another Super Mini...

Last summer I made a mini cross-body version of Anna Noodlehead's Super Tote.  It is one of the bags I use the most; perfect size for chucking in the essentials.  I wanted to make another for ages, and finally got round to it.

I used some of my precious FMF from Aneela, because I wanted it to be special...

… and I really love how it turned out.

Natural Essex Linen and some Chicopee for lining; I even made the piping, without the aid of hemming web as I was out of it, and it still looks great!

I feel another one coming soon; I have some navy Essex Linen and Cotton & Steel to collect on the weekend already earmarked, but maybe I will go large again!

So that's another FAL finish already, and guess what, I finished up the mini-Poolside too; nothing like an impending weekend of stitchy fun to get me all productive and stitch my socks off; I'll show you that soon.

Don't forget you still have time to enter my 4th blogiversary giveaway, I will be picking a winner tomorrow.

Thank you for all your comments so far xxx

Originals...

After the madness of the #greatukfabricdestash this time last week, the calm normality of instagram returned, and on Monday afternoon, I bagsied some Flea Market Fancy from sweet friend Aneela.

Not just any old FMF, proper old FMF, you know, the fabric from before I was born; well, before I got embroiled in this mad crazy obsession...

I had obviously heard tales of this line's magical powers, and had gone bonkers over the reprint, pre-ordering the lot, but had been dissatisfied with a single hexie of the original until this weekend.

I knew the originals were meant to be more delicate, and they really are.  The red print at the back is a legacy cut, but the one in front is an original, the picture is shocking, so I don't know why I bothered to point it out, but in real life they look very different to my trained fabrician's eyes!

So I am a happy bunny, and even more so, as dear hubby treated me to these after a few days away in Aberdeen last weekend xxx

It's oh so quiet...

...well it was, for 6 whole hours.

The kids all merrily trooped off to school this morning, and I had the house to myself for the first time since the beginning of the holidays, all barr about three-quarters of an hour a couple of weeks ago!

I was home by 9am; by 9.30 I had whipped up a new lanyard for work, (heck, I have been wearing the standard issue too long, and if I have to be there, I'd like a little FMF for company!)...

Then I parked myself out in the garden and stitched some more of my Spring Carnival...

Obviously by 3.30pm all semblance of relaxation and calm had been forgotten, but it was lovely whilst it lasted.

Some more of what you fancy...

Today there has been a lot more sunshine, in fact it is actually 'summer', really, who'd have thought we would get any, which means a lot more of this...

... some car washing, swimming lesson and lounging about, as well as completing the first secret project on my list.

I also received a lovely parcel from Jo-Bearpaw; I know that's not Jo's real name, but that is what I call her in my head.

I am experiencing, what I am nick-naming 'nesting by proxy' in fabric form.  I am planning on making one of the quilts from Hexa-GoGo for my sister's baby, but seeing as they won't be finding out which flavour they are having for a few more weeks, I am pulling, gathering, and now buying, for both options!

So when Jo announced a discount on purchases from her lovely online shop over the weekend, a quick peak turned into a little shopping and some more FMF...

Jo popped in some lovely buttons too, which will come in handy when the weather breaks and I need to keep the girls occupied for a while.

Tomorrow I have a few errands to run, including getting my In The Frame Purse Swap parcel all wrapped up for mailing later in the week, and then it'll be time to fill the paddling pool and bust open a box of Cornettos!

Happy Days xxx

60 minutes of sanity...

I have managed a whole hour of stitching and gluing so far this week.

Last week, I cut and interfaced all the pieces for a U-Handbag Grace Kelly purse; that's purse in the American sense of the word, as this is a proper big-girl's handbag size affair.

On Tuesday a parcel of frames arrived and in the briefest moment of relative calm and me time yesterday afternoon, I managed to finish it, all bar the glue picking from the frame.

The fact that whilst the glue on the second side was 'curing', I had another call to collect a poorly child plus siblings from school, an hour early, did not make me smile.

This is all mine, FMF, Momo Scissors and some bright pink lining; I will make another for my Mum's birthday, I had to be the guinea-pig, that was only fair right? 

Following Lisa's pattern, I can honestly say there is nothing I would do differently, it worked just as it should have done, even with interruptions, brain half-distracted by a husband unexpectedly in hospital overnight, (all OK now), and a thunder storm flashing outside.

I haven't had the chance to test it yet; I'm guessing a family-size pack of Maltesers will be OK.

And just because I am feeling the Lisa Lam love right now, I got this with my latest TopCashback Amazon voucher...

Bags of fun xxx

Highs and Lows...

Story of my week really!

I have spent the best part of today in the car, sewing, whilst dear son was on a school enrichment course; thank goodness for Spring Carnival!

As promised a couple of days ago, I have Bee blocks to show you. 

For the second round of Brit Bee, Fiona requested low volume blocks, to resemble an old and well-loved quilt, with inset, predominately FMF, traditional blocks.

My first block had to be a Constellation star - not 100% traditional, but Fiona loved it!  The HSTs finished up at 3/4" each, or thereabouts.



For my second block I went a bit bolder, and to be honest, simpler with a green seed Whirlwind block.

Both blocks measure 12.5" square.

The low value fabrics are all from Fiona's collection of favourites, oldies and most precious, which she entrusted to us to fulfil her vision.

I think Fiona is going to end up with a smashing quilt xxx

Trial and Error...

Yesterday the sun shone, unlike today, and I managed to create the ironing pile from my worst nightmares, resulting from 4 loads of washing and making the most of the glorious line-time; but I also had time to try out frame purse number two as a practice for the In The Frame Swap.

Now I started off thinking I would just use some rubbishy old fabric, and hope for the best, but then figured it could be a waste of a perfectly good frame, so I got all brave and cut into my FMF!

I followed the best bits from numerous online tutes, making my pattern, using the turn through the lining method for super neat hinge corners and then it all started to go a bit wrong.

I boxed the corners thinking I was making a nice deep boxy shape - but no, I had created the opposite, and this was the shallowest of purses I could have created; hey ho, not a show stopper.  Then I did my usual machine stitch closure of the lining - but as the bottom of the purse was not exactly buried deep inside, it shows way too much, and thirdly, unless I had wanted gathers galore and an inch gap below each hinge, it was not going to fit the frame.

Bugger!

However, having amassed a selection of frames in my eagerness the other week, I found that it actually fitted another one almost perfectly!

The glueing and sticking went fine, although I possibly could have done with a bit more glue as the frame was too snug in the end to fit any piping in.

I tried to squeeze the frame a little tighter with pliers, which has left it a little wobbly, but it is all holding together, and looks damn pretty, even though it won't hold a lot. 

It is most definitely just a posing pouch...

So lessons learnt...
I will be using an amended version of Katy's Retreat method - keeping the raw edges on the outside, and then coating them in glue and wedging into the frame for a bit more grip - this means no seam allowance having to be spot on for a perfect fit either;
I will just turn the hinge corners in when I top stitch the lining to the outer, for a nice neat finish;
I will research 'bottom shapes' a bit further, and read instructions fully (for once!), and,
I will remember this is meant to be fun - swearing is not big and clever, and does not change things, ever!