Saturday Afternoon Sewing

Last weekend when visiting my youngest son and his family my grandson, Freddie, had some drawing to do as part of his homework. There was mention that he could do with a pencil case and with that in mind I started making one using a pattern from. Craftsy class.

Here's the front

And back

The fishes ended up upside down.  But I could just make one, I made another for his brother

Here's both other together. I hope the boys like them.

Did you notice they've got zips? I'm getting better at them.

Flowers

Last week I bought the first of this year's daffodils in M&S which came into full bloom this week and on Thursday I took a photo

They look glorious and I look forward to more bunches of daffodils over the next couple of months.  We have some growing in the garden, which I'm really looking forward to. I really love the sign of coming Spring.

Last Autumn we planted some Hyacinth bulbs for Christmas, except they were forgotten about until after the holidays, but having bought them in the house they are now blooming really well and we are enjoying the lovely fragrance.

Lovely to see flowers in the midst of winter.

Zippedy Do Da

This weekend I went to Hobbycraft in Ferndown for a small Pom Pom maker to make pom-poms for the knitted snowman to finish it off, which I hope will get done this week.  While there I also picked up in of the fat quarter packs of 6 fabrics with a country feel, with badgers, owls and hedgehogs.

Here they are at the bottom of the photo.  At the top are some quarters that I bought before Christmas before all the fabrics go in the wash. I've found that Hobbycraft fq's are imperial rather than metric so are slightly smaller than normal, but they are pretty.

Making progress with the (potential) skirt making I've had a bash at sewing an invisible zip, using a couple of pieces of calico to practice on with more un-sewing than sewing. I've been following some of the instructions from the Craftsy class that I've been taking.

It may look ok from the front, but the the back is definitely as dogs dinner.

I think more practice is called for.

Been Shopping

I'm not a keen shopper but every so often I get the urge. Using birthday money (from way back in November) I bought a couple of Per Una tops from M&S last week, which started it all off. At the weekend it was followed by a couple of pairs of shoes. Anyone that knows me will know how difficult I find this with size 4 feet, so I was really pleased with that.

Not satisfied with going to shops I shopped online on Sunday, first of all with Seasalt, and the "lovely delivery from Cornwall" arrived today with a skirt and top.

I like the packaging.

Not a very good pic as taken this evening, but the fit is good, so I'm happy.

I also sent for a couple of sewing items, a French Curve ruler and a couple of invisible zips (one to try and another for an actual skirt.  Just before Christmas I bought an online class from Craftsy to design and make an A-line skirt, hence need for the ruler and zips as I've never tried inserting an invisible zip before. All these items arrived this week so I've looked forward to getting home to my parcels.  That's all my shopping for now.

Slowly Getting Back to Sewing

It's the start of a working week after the Christmas holidays and I thought I would show you a belated present to my friend Brenda, this little quilted box for putting bits and bobs in. This was made well before the holidays but couldn't show before now.

Here's a photo of what it looks like with my sewing stuff

It started with a square which was quilted with the corners bought in and stitched the adjacent sides. The corner triangles were then turned down and stitched with a button on all four corners. That's how best I can explain it, really. So there's storage in the main box and the little pockets made from the corners can hold small things like scissors or seam rippers, etc. I enjoyed making this and might see if I can make a few more.

I've had a go at English Paper Piecing (EPP) on Sunday on a pattern that I quite liked.  In Love Patchwork and Quilting mag in December was a Dala horse pattern and I rather liked the patchwork saddle for the horse.  The pieces are not too small, but hand piecing in the evening under artificial light weren't good for my eyes.  The stitching is ok but not brilliant and I haven't attempted the curved pieces that surround the edge yet.

Oops that owl is upside down! Not sure where I'm going to use this patchwork, but I'll think of something.

I went out on Sunday with friends to Pauline's Patchwork in Poundbury near Dorchester, a nice trip out there. I'd already signed up for one workshop at the end of May, but I've signed up for another in September.  Blimey, talk about wishing my life away.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Look!

Wanting to change things a bit post-Christmas, a new background and new title header. I hope it looks OK and a bit Spring-like for looking forward in the New Year.

Christmas for David, Sarah and me was a busy-ish one, enjoying Christmas Day at my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's home in Surrey, followed by Boxing Day at home with my sons and their families.  Sarah had to return home to Bristol on Saturday because she was working a late shift at hospital. Her train wasn't running and a later one would have pushed her time-wise so a trip quick trip from Poole to Bristol and back again! Fortunately it was a lovely if cold day which made the drive more enjoyable.

David and I had already booked an overnight stay in Plymouth on Monday so an early start to get to Plymouth at lunchtime and a driving tour around Liskeard, Looe and back to Torpoint with a ferry crossing back to Plymouth. On Tueday we toured around Kingsbridge to Dartmouth, Totnes and Newton Abbot before returning home.  It was just a quick getaway to make the most of our time off over Christmas holidays and not too far a drive to explore when the year progresses.

As you will have guessed not a lot of sewing was done, but more progress was made of knitting the snowman, more of which I hope to show in another blog.

This morning I read Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville blog with the solution for the Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt.  If you have read my previous posts about this I've made 10 of each unit as I didn't want to make a big quilt and see where the 10 took me.  Whether its to make more units for a bigger quilt top or to keep things small.  I have made one block here

Photo taken while in progress on my chair.

Then with the green/neutral/black sashing around it.

There are some blocks left which are to be used as the border in the quilt after a first border strip is sewn around the quilt.  Lets see how big this quilt top will be before I decide on borders.

I don't go back to work until next Monday, so I will have the opportunity to review the past year's sewing and look at what projects lie ahead for the year.

Finally, I'm linking with Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day (haven't done that for a couple of months at least) so if you've popped over to my blog from there - Welcome! Come and say Hello!

Whatever you do have a great New Year with lots to look forward to in 2015. 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS 

Have a lovely time everyone

Nearly there

This weekend has seen us wrapping presents, delivering cards and clearing the house ready for Christmas.  David also went to Swanage Railway, where he is a volunteer porter, for the day today so I had a day to myself to get bits and pieces done.

During the week we went to visit a road in Branksome, well known to local people for their display of Christmas lights.  There is a collection to raise money for local charities. 

A fantastic display as ever. I enjoy seeing the light displays.

Yesterday we visited St Aldhelms Church, also in Branksome for the annual Christmas Tree Festival with trees decorated by church groups, local community groups and families and is a really lovely sight and a real change from the hustle of people shopping for last minute things.

That was just a few of the thirty or so trees in the church.

This afternoon I made 10 blocks from Part Four of Bonnie Hunter's Grand Illusions Mystery Quilt. More Broken Dishes blocks but different colour arrangements.  Here's a photo of what I've done.

Notice the Christmassy fabric I've used to display them on? A cute fat quarter from Cowslip Workshops which I bought back in October.

These are individual blocks from each week so far.

Even more impressive is that I managed to tidy my room ready for Christmas. Just in case the sofa bed is put into use,  just don't open the wardrobe door!

For a change I've also been doing some knitting. I couldn't resist this Sirdar pattern for snowmen and robin and ordered the pattern and yarn from Black Sheep Wools, who delivered really quickly. So here's a snowman in progress.

That's been my pre Christmas weekend. Just two and a half days of work to go before the break.

Another Episode of Grand Illusions

This morning was spent sewing the third part of the Grand Illusions mystery quilt and more blocks from  part two.  This third part required 2" squares of green and neutral blocks with a black square to make a rectangle of eight squares. See the photo below. Along with block one I've made 10 blocks.

Below is another arrangement of these blocks

As I only made 5 blocks of part 2 last week I've made another 5 to go with the original group.

And here are all the blocks so far, although I've found after I took the photo that I left a couple behind, never mind.

Later today David and I went to Kingston Lacy, late afternoon as it was getting dark to see the illuminated walk.

Trees take on a bit of a creepy look when lit, but a lot of people were around to see the gardens lit up and to bring children to visit Father Christmas in the Shepherd's Hut.

If only christmas was more about lovely lights I'd enjoy it more. This was really beautiful and the photos don't do justice.

A Bit of Sunday Morning Sewing

Following the Grand Illusions Mystery Quilt I made these 5 blocks, should have been 10, so I might spend tomorrow evening making 5 more.  So here is part 2

Another little arrangement

More photos will be on my Pinterest page here

What about this afternoon?  Well I went to Quarterjack Quilters Christmas lunch, where the group's committee provided a lovely hot lunch, followed by a guest speaker, Sara Price, with her collection of antique quilts and quilt tops.  From pioneering times through to the 1930's depression era, she is very knowledgeable and it was a ber interesting talk. Nice to catch up with quilting friends.

Talking of friends, on Thursday I received this gorgeous flower arrangement from my friend Val, isn't it lovely?

Sewing When I Can...

Yesterday, thanks to David watching an American Football game, recorded from the weekend, I did some sewing.  I read the instructions for the first part of the Quiltville mystery called, Grand Illusion.

I've started small, making 10 blocks, I can always make more later as required.  Here's the result of last night's sewing.  Forgive the state of the photos here, hastily arranged on some "Groovy" fabric.

After seeing some of the linked up blogs I found there was a pattern to be made from some of these blocks.

How about that?

Here's the link to the post on Bonnie Hunter's site with the instructions for the first block.  I will link up next Monday with where I've got to so far.

This and That

Another couple of weeks have passed but I have been some sewing, much of which I can't show with Christmas coming up v e r y fast.  Last weekend I made a Christmas pudding, now safely tucked away in the freezer. We've had the Christmas boxes down from the loft so just need to look through and see if we have enough cards, wrapping paper, etc.  The present shopping is in progress and not panicking just yet, I can't believe how organised I am so far, it's scaring me a bit.

The other week I did demonstrate how to make a tiny owl at the quilt group and this was my making, think he looks albino with his pink eyes.  I didn't have enough patterns to go around, so have since done one to pass onto some in the group and will print of some more. 

My new cushion on the settee, looks a bit Christmassy, doesn't it.

Made some progress on my Dolly Dress Up Blocks, 4 down, 2 to go.

Just about to layer up no. 5


It was my birthday on Friday, which was spent at work during the day, but in the evening we went to Isabel's restaurant in Parkstone, very posh and very nice food.

This week will see two Christmas do's. Dinner out on Thursday evening with the Bourne Quilters and Sunday lunch and speaker with Quarterjack Quilters, both lovely occasions to look forward to. Oh yes, and I'll be meeting Father Christmas on Saturday with my son and granddaughters, looking forward to that as well.

Busy Sewing Sunday

The observant amongst you will have noticed I haven't blogged for a couple of weeks.  I am still finding that working doesn't leave as much time for sewing as I'd like but I'm sure that as time goes on I'll find more energy to get more sewing done.

Today started off rain, so a perfect day for sewing.  I've made a block for Bee Blessed that was shown on Sew Me Sarah's site, It was quite easy to put together, I could make more but I've left it at just the one.  Next on my list was the Jungle quilt that I worked on earlier this year and hadn't professed until now.  I wanted to free machine quilt it, but adding to the 'in the ditch' quilting and leave it at that.  I've trimmed down the wadding and trimming the backing with a small margin to turn the hem to the front for binding.  I can then hand sew in the evening.

This afternoon I got together 4 red and white Disappearing Four Patch blocks trimmed down to 7", they were 8.5" and thought they looked a little big. Joined together and with 1.5" border around. I machine quilted the piece and this evening before dinner joined a back to make a cushion.  I may add some stitching around the border to made an Oxford finish cushion. Still I've used up bits of red.

And here's the back of the cushion

And at last updating the blog, So I feel I've had a productive day.

That was October

Back today from a few days away in South Wales, my daughter Sarah came back us to go to a Halloween party this evening.  I thought her costume looks good.

I didn't think that I did a lot in October as I haven't spent much time sewing-wise, but looking back at photos over this month, did better than I thought.

On the right, three pics show the apron and fabric and cards in the wooden block printing workshop at the beginning of this month.  Great fun, thoroughly enjoyable.

I've even made a whole quilt top, in the large picture.  I must get a backing of some sort and I'm thinking that some fleece may do the trick.

I've done some tiny English Paper Piecing to make a mobile phone pouch, very tiny pieces which was a bit tricky.  

In the middle picture at the bottom is for Bee Blessed, strip piecing cut in half diagonally and rejoined to other halves (if that makes sense).

So that was October.

Linking with Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day.