Hashtag #cushion...

If you were wondering where I am, I'm hob-nobbing over at the Simply Solids blog today with a fun cushion with Y-seams - yes that is possible!!

Happy Monday peeps xxx

Trail Tote...

I downloaded the free Noodlehead pattern a long time ago, and have thought about making one, many, many times but always moved on to other things when faced with the inset zipper, piping and strap arrangement. My hopes for a quick and easy sewing fix always turned into a bit of a more complex task, well in my head.

But I was wrong.  I made this yesterday, using some lovely Mixology linen from Simply Solids as a starter.  I didn't have everything I needed in the house, but a quick trip into the village was a bit of a success despite the thunderstorm going on.

I got a 7" navy metal zip in the bit-of-everything/load-of-noting store, some brilliant cotton webbing and cream cotton bias binding in the sewing shop and a nasty plastic satchel in the charity shop which, for £4, had the buckle and other hardware I needed.

I LOVE how it turned out!

The piping was no real drama, I have made and sewn it before, but not on a curve; I used my walking foot and it worked fine.  The inset zip was pretty straight forward too - I cut a window in the interfacing before applying, so there wasn't too much bulk when turning through, and rather than going with my initial slack-Alice thoughts of simply sewing on the webbing, I went all fancy!

OK, so when I cut up the satchel it might have been wiser to have had a good look at how the buckle arrangement had been,  but I sussed it.  Although I know I will never adjust the length, I added 3 eyelet holes just in case!

I lined it with some Cotton & Steel with a little C&S pocket.  I used a sew-in magnet fastening, the others I have are so strong, they tend to just unbend the prongs rather than separate on other bags I have made!

I frankensteined the outer pocket lining, you cannot see the cream (Bone?) Kona on the zip side, just the Aloe, but it does the job and made me feel virtuous for using some scraps!

I have learnt my lesson and top-stitched about 1/2" from the top edge to avoid the seam allowance and bulk which make my stitches go wonky; it looks way neater being that little bit lower down, using my new favourite Aurifil 40wt 2310.

All in all it turned out so well, the pattern was of the usually brilliant and clear Anna-Noodlehead standard and I am glad that I didn't go for the easy option; I really want to make the large version now!

Split Stars...

I can finally reveal another one of those secret projects I was working on in the months gone by, a little cushion project for Simply Solids.

As a member of the blogging team, the lovely Justine and Lisa sent me an awesome bundle of Cotton & Steel, and having a design in mind, I played about on Touchdraw and the Split Stars design was born…

If you pop over to the Simply Solids blog today, you will find my tutorial, including instructions for the alternating binding.

Please do go take a look, you may even find a little shopping discount code, you know, as a reward! xxx

Here comes the weekend...

Very glad to get this week out of the way!

Plans for the weekend include seeing my parents for the first time this year; they were over in New Zealand visiting my sister and brother-in-law since New Year and then stopped over in Hawaii on their way home.

Jealous?  Hell yeah!!

Then Sunday, after I have dragged the hoover round and ironed a few clothes, I will be plotting and planning, catching up with Bee blocks and other must-dos.  After that, hopefully getting time to play with this bundle of Cotton & Steel from Simply Solids…

I have a little something in the works as part of the Simply Solids Blogging Team; fun fun fun!

Have a good weekend tout le monde; we have been told Monday is the big switch day from Virgin to BT Infinity internet, so let's see if they can manage to swap a couple of wires without another 2 week delay eh!?

Ho Ho Holidays...

I am still enjoying the peace and quiet, so why don't you pop over to Lisa and Justine's blog as I have been getting in the Christmas spirit, and using some of Simply Solids' fun festive fabrics…

It's never too early you know!  Look out for them if you are going to Festival of Quilts later this week, stand E16; I really wish I was going too.

But I get another FAL tick, so it's all good.
xxx

Why not!

So yesterday saw me pulling some of my favourite fabrics just because.

No deadline, no commission, no guidelines nor necessity, just because I wanted to.  Something for me, something frivolous, and unnecessary!  It's been a while since I just made something because I felt like it, for no reason, spur of the moment.

At first I thought I might just make a mini-quilt, but my practical side got the better of me, and so I plumped for a cushion; yeah we don't need any more of those either, but it was just the ticket.

And here, as promised is what I made...

I finished the binding this morning in front of the TV with the kids, (the joys of a rainy half term), and I couldn't be happier.

It's not perfect, some of the points are pointy, some are not, the quilting is more organic than measured and the pillow inset I had waiting isn't very poofy, but I love it.

I used the spool block template from Kerry & Lynne's 500 Quilt Blocks, transferring it to template plastic to mark the corner angles onto my spool/butterfly wings.  This was so I could use slightly larger corner rectangles, cut them on the diagonal, line up with my markings and have a lot less wastage - if anyone wants a demo let me know.

It was all pieced and quilted in, altogether now, Aufifil 50wt 2021, using my new favourite blender, white dotty crosshatch which is on offer at Simply Solids, backed with a grey home dec fabric, which I used for Sarah's bag and bound in Sketch.  It measures up at 20" square.

Now back to the other things.  Don't get me wrong, the bonus is, they are all enjoyable too, these things for friends, things for Retreat and things to stop the kids being quite so annoying grumpy this week!

Posy Pillow*!

* only because Posy Cushion doesn't sound so good!

A slow burner this one, it must have been forever ago that I started basting the DWR pieces from Jessie's shop.  But I have finally finished my pretty little Posy cushion, and I am way too impatient to wait for a more photo-friendly day...

I used some mini-charm packs for both the DWR and for a panel of the background.  It adds a little interest, and meant I could also centre the little Miss and her book on the FQ I had.  I used a couple of solids for the back, I remember not what they are, but they are a flukey near match for the Posy tones, and I used some of my Hadley bundle for the perfect binding.

Fusible fleece on the front panel, and some heavier weight cotton to line the whole cushion, and quilted horizontally in the usual!  It is about 16" square, and is stuffed nicely with an 18" feather insert.  Comfy, I expect - no-one is allowed to lean on it just yet!

So another FAL finish, which just leaves me with the 2 full size quilts.  Let's see if I can get one done, because there is no way the MATO is going to be finished this quarter, or maybe even the next!

Did you see?

Today I am moonlighting over at Justine's!

I was chuffed to bits to be asked to be one of the Simply Solids Blogging Team, and this month I got the honour of kicking off the fun and playing with a bundle of Pearl Bracelets...

So please pop over to see some of that secret sewing I have been stitching up recently xxx

Harry Potter and the Birthday Party...

Dear son is off to his friend's for a birthday afternoon on Saturday.  The birthday boy was meant to be going to Harry Potter World, but by the time his mum went to book, it was sold out until Half Term.  So, if the boy can't go to Harry Potter, Harry Potter will come to the boy!

I was convinced I had seen an HP cushion/block pattern, but googling, flickring and searching about revealed nothing, (maybe I did see one and it got pulled due to copyright of something), so I did some maths based on some pics on Google, and drafted my own.

So if you check the link you will see that I have not been original, definitely don't claim to be, but to be honest it was so simple, you couldn't 'sell' a pattern!

My basic measurements for the 15" cushion were a 6" (finished) strip for the face, a 4" wide scarf of 2" stripes, and a 5" cloak strip.

The hair was drawn onto bondaweb then cut, and after pressing onto his head, I top stitched as close as possible to the edge to make sure his locks won't flop off in the future.  I drew round a cotton reel for his specs, backstitched those and his scar and added a couple of buttons for eyes.

Fusible fleece and a piece of muslin on the back of the front(!), and simple envelope back.  I finished off by binding the inside edges, because I didn't want to break up to look on the outside; I could have used french seams, but I had a piece of left-over binding and fancied a bit of sofa time before the kids came home - I am back to work tomorrow, so this was my last bit of me-time!

The hair and cloak are from my ever-useful and sadly diminishing piece of Sketch flannel from Simply Solids, I think Kona Raisin scraps, some yellow Sketch and no-idea neutral.  The back is some bargain dots from here.   All pieced in magical Aurifil.

Dear son was satisfyingly jealous, and only happy once I had confirmed, on the way home from school, that it was smaller than his Batman & Robin cushion!

And the best bit for me, another instant project 100% from stash; told you I was going to bust it this year!

Holy making Batman!

I'm afraid the shortest day, and not a second's respite from the rain, wind and clouds, and having to have the lights on all day* means shocking photos!

So as best as I could...

The individual Batman and Robin blocks measure up at 10", 3" of sashing and I did that reverse french seam edging so it looks like binding, sort-of, but no raw edges on the inside.

So the 'black' is Charcoal Sketch flannel, the background is Kona Aqua and the faces are some unknown off-white from a scrap bag, all from Simply Solids.

The back is a simple envelope in more of the flannel.  I added fusible fleece to the back of the blocks and then top stitched to keep it from going anywhere soon; so inside looking tidy, and fancy on the outside.

The girls snuck in-progress peeks, and the consensus was that there will be a happy boy opening this up on Christmas.  Result.

We had visitors and swapped pressies, ate chocolate biscuits and watched Christmas films, and I managed to get the remaining 7 table mats quilted - finishing them will be easy now after the miles of straight-lining.

My Brit Bee secret santa cushion cover arrived, (well I am assuming!), and has been popped under the tree for the big day, and hubby made an executive decision for Fish & Chips for tea.  I wore my lovely Christmas jumper too, and when I took it off, *the power went off for over an hour, I am not sure what to make of that!

So that's enough excitement for today, time for a Lemsip and the last of the choccy bics; phew. xxx

Black Friday...

Well I have to admit to having taken a teensy advantage of Black Friday-related shenanigans, but with no broken bones in sight!

Annie jumped the gun at the beginning of the week, with 25% off Sale fabric over at The Village Haberdashery; so I  snapped up a few stash FQs, which will help those frustrating Bee-moments when nothing seems to work, and I also loaded up with some bolt ends of voile; I feel a pre-Christmas scarf making session coming on...

Last night Ali was offering 20% off orders at her Very Berry Fabrics Folksy shop, so a Maxi Bag of Liberty Scraps is heading my way; and then today more voile from Saints and Pinners and a bit of Sketch from Justine at Simply Solids.  All things I needed, obviously.  I'll be sure to show you when they come.

I deliberately kept my shopping within the UK, as on balance, the discount prices, along with minimal postage and quick delivery, definitely outweighed the slightly cheaper fabric plus postal price; but the potential for falling foul of extended Christmas scrutiny and a nice Customs and handling charge is not something I want in the equation.  Ho Ho Ho.

So I am done.  Do not let me buy any more fabric this year; I really don't need it!

Sizzix Christmas - Blog Hop!

It's that time of year when I get to hob-nob with some illustrious bloggy folks, showing you Christmassy ideas that you can make with a Sizzix, (or without, if you must, and have way too much time on your hands).

I have been looking at some of our poor excuses for cushion covers; old, dirty beyond the power of Vanish, and figured that Christmas ones would be great whilst I ponder on what I want to make for the longer term.

So I turned to Touchdraw, and came up with this simple but fun design that would make use of some of my scraps and beloved 2.5" HST and 2.5" square dies...

To save you counting, for the main 16" panel you will need...

4 x white 2.5" squares
44 x mixed green HST-triangles
15 x white HST-triangles
1 yellow 2.5" square  - can be cut with the single die or by rotary cutter
3 x aqua HST-triangles
2 x 2.5" x 12.5" white sashing strips
2 x 2.5" x 16.5" white sashing strips
... and 1 brownish HST-triangle, for luck.

Even though the dies cut in multiples of 4, I still use them to cut one or two pieces from small or odd-shaped scraps.

You will also need fabric for the cushion back, a zipper if you so desire, binding and I always line my cushion fronts with fusible fleece, like Vilene H640 to give a more finished interior and make the quilting look better; but I will leave all that to you.

Cut all the tree pieces, and lay out into a pleasing arrangement.  Stitch into rows with a 1/4" seam and remember, with the Sizzix there's no trimming, press row seams in alternate directions, and join to complete the main panel...

I sashed my block, fused the fleece to the back and quilted with simple straight lines...

I like adding binding to cushions, and for this one, a simple envelope back, very quick and so simple to stitch together...

I used Kona white and cyan from Simply Solids, some home deco-weight from Terry's Fabrics for the perfect backing and scraps from all over the place.  All pieced and quilted in Aurifil 2021 50wt, of course.

A nice bushy tree, getting me in the mood for a real one in a couple of weeks time - woooah, not long folks!

So here's how the rest of the blog hop stacks up...
Monday 18th November - Katy Jones
Tuesday 19th November - Hadley Gordon - You are here!
Wednesday 20th November - Carolyn Forster
Thursday 21st November - Angela Southey
Friday 22nd November - Kerry Green

So do pop by them all, there's bound to be a lot more inspiration to get you in the Christmas spirit. I've still got this little bundle of Christmassy joy to play with, from Pin It & Stitch...

... so I am definitely on the lookout for more ideas for sure.

And what sort of blog hop host would I be if there wasn't a giveaway snuck in there!?  Please head over to the Sizzix site for the chance to win yourself all these...

657900 Big Shot Machine Only (Powder Blue & Teal) by Ellison
658317 Bigz Die - Hexagons, 1" Sides
658318 Bigz Die - Hexagons, 1 1/4" Sides
657165 Bigz Die - Dresden Plate, Small
657616 Bigz Die - Tumbler, 4"H Finished

(The giveaway is open to UK and EU residents only, sorry).

Well I hope you enjoyed my stop, and maybe you'll be adding a few Sizzix-y things to your list from Santa.
xxx

Round Up...

Whilst on the quiet, I received a nice number parcels to cheer my days up a bit; bee blocks, bee fabric, some shopping and prizes.

I gave some insta-thanks, but I am aware that some of you won't have seen.

Some cute Christmas fabric from the lovely Pin It and Stitch ladies...

Prize fabrics and a few more from Alyce - Blossom Heart Quilts, (well if a parcel is coming from Japan, it would have been rude not to)...

A bunch of stash essentials, plus wadding taking advantage of Justine's Simply Solids super discount weekend...

More prize goodies from Leila...

Blocks from Jennifer- Knotted Thread for my Stitch Tease LV Scrap Vomit - I am almost at the top-piecing stage - woo hoo...

And fabric from Sonia for the Siblings Together Bee, which I am pleased to say I have already made up into a mega-block earlier this evening, pics tomorrow...

So I believe that is everything now duly reported and recorded for prosperity.

Back at work was uncomfortable today, but I made it through my hours, and will be back tomorrow with my portholes cushion again; I may even take it to an important meeting!

Holiday Memories...

Before I let Autumn consume me completely, (how did October come round so quickly!?), I am travelling back in time to reminisce about those bright, precious days in the holiday sun.

I love being on holiday, and I really love that even now, the kids wake up and say that they wish they could go back to Menorca again.

There are way fewer arguments, fewer tantrums and fewer stresses when we are away.  We have been so lucky to find somewhere so perfect for all of us, we haven't ruled out yet another return visit!

This year we took a glass-bottom boat trip that was pretty much the highlight of holiday, and that day won't be forgotten any time soon, especially now I have cast my quilty-eye over it!

When we got back home at the end of August, it was only a matter of time before I was plotting for Fiona's competition.  Not only has she gathered an awesome bunch of sponsors, but the idea is genius.  I have been looking at my mini-quilt every day since I finished it, and still get that smiley feeling about being away.  Thank you Fiona!

I wanted to try something new, and Lu's book was just the perfect inspiration I needed; thanks Lu too.  I am really proud that I have created something so far removed from everything I have made before.

It turned out exactly how I pictured it in my head and most importantly, the children could pick out so many of the references unprompted!

I have to admit it, I am thrilled with this mini quilt; all it represents, the fun I had making it as well as the relief of it actually working out.  (Humour me, please!)

I couldn't bring myself to use only solids, but I really had to be strict with myself not to overload on prints, so a select few and some treasures from my scrap bag from Ms Fanny, and I think I have got the balance right.  I realise this won't be to everyone's taste, and you could all just think I have made a right old mess, but to me it really is an extra, special, souvenir. 

Thank you again to Fiona for encouraging me to do something completely different and to break out of my comfort zone.

Honestly, solids, improv and real-life inspiration - who knew I could eh?!

Some important deets:
Measurements:  26.5" x 20.5"
Pieced & quilted - Aurifil 50wt 2021
Kona solids - Simply Solids
Hand-printed scraps - Leanne Fanny/The Little House Martin
Scraps inc. Moda crossweaves, RB Chevrons, Sherbet Pips and Architextures
Backed with Moda Muslin - Eclectic Maker

Make sure you take a look at all the other holiday memories appearing over at Celtic Thistle Stitches too, and if you have turned your holiday memory into a cushion, bag or mini-quilt, don't forget you have until this Friday to link up.
xxx

Perky mail...

One of the only perks of returning home after the best couple of weeks of the year, is the bundle of held mail, especially when you know there should be a couple of goodies in amongst the junk and bills.

Before we went, I took advantage of the M is for Make sale under the premise of needing some Essex yarn dyed linen, not too much of a splurge, but lovely to receive none-the-less...

And at last, a parcel that I had all but given up hope on.  A long time ago, in the time before Retreat, I liaised with Di so that she could pop a couple of t-shirts in her suitcase and hand deliver them to me in person.  Printing was delayed, plans changed, Retreat came and went, delivery direct from the US promised, but nada. 

I was very restrained, in the blowing my top department, because said t-shirts were from Heather Ross as part of the fundraiser for her twin sister's breast cancer treatment.  I had sent a couple of unanswered chase up e-mails, and the night before we left, Heather (oh yeah) emailed me to apologise and that she would get her assistant onto it.

So they're here...

I bought 2, and am going to send one to my sister.

I may also have made an order from Justine since returning, availing myself of the Simply Solids Saturday 20% discount, so Daniel the postman can rest assured that his job is safe, I am nice like that. xxx

Do parcels go thud...

... on the doormat if no-one is there to hear them?  Philosophy-Friday anyone!?

Well this week parcels have been arriving with deafening regularity, I received some more Sizzix dies to show and tell at a later date, including hexies - whoop-whoop!  And also more supplies for my secret projects, along with good old fashioned fabric-mail.

I have my October Brit Bee bundle of pink and orange lovelies to make Susan a star block, which in my case will be a mahusive Consellation; a super package from Justine's Simply Solids, Sew Stitchy charms and my christmassy FQ freebie; and then a Sew Stitchy panel, my Addicted to Text - Sewing Guide yardage and some awesome Dear Stella Campgrounds, that just jumped in my basket over at Intrepid Thread too.

I have a lot on my plate this weekend - I will be taking my turn on the Scrappy-Stashy-Hoppy-Ma-gig tomorrow, I have to finish one of my secret projects so it can be mailed off early next week and I want to get a bit more of my Mouthy Stitches tote finished and we may even go swimming!

There may also be the purchasing of a ticket!!!

Any plans my friends?

Worked out nicely!

Another working Wednesday, this time, proper work; there's another Inset day tomorrow so a little swapping was required to keep at least some annual leave for other things than children!

So as compensation, the postman was on extremely good form!

Before I show, I must tell you that all these purchases have a purpose, no frivolity here, (that I have saved for the 2 parcels currently winging their way from Brenda at Pink Castle, woo hoo!).

So I had these from Backstitch...

Some Klona solids, of which one is the backing for my Stained quilt - I have plans, which may, or possibly may not, go to plan, but here's hoping.  Thanks Alice x

Then there was a parcel containing 3 squidgy meters of batting along with a Sweetwater Reunion layer cake and Kona Ash from marvellous Mandy at Simply Solids...

I have a school friend, who is also the daughter of one of my Mum's best friends having twin boys in the Summer, so I want to make a little something for them and/or big brother; their oldest will just be turning 2 when the newbies arrive, been there done that, this really is destined to be a pity parcel!

Then I have buttons, a hundred tiny shell beauties, some of which may find themselves adorning the Fat Quarterly Retreat name tag I am making for ???

My rail tickets for the aforementioned weekend away arrived too!!

Tonight I will be wrapping up Bee parcels; sorry Jude and Ceri for the delay, and my Mum's little pressie will be posting tomorrow as we aren't meeting up until the weekend after Mother's Day, when I will bestow the traditional chocolates and flowers. 

So there you go, a little bit of 'give' for all my 'take'!