Fabric plans

My fabric came yesterday. Hooray!
This is the pile for the baby quilt. Need to get cracking on it today.

I also ordered some fabric for myself - which of course I can't play with until later. But look how pretty they are. And so soft and lovely.

Ok - I've got a date with my iron and a table to clear off ;o)

Have a Happy Tuesday xxx

My Queen size Quilt

Well here she is. And it is such a good feeling to have finally finished it. From beginning to end. All done.

 It measures roughly 86 X 86 inches. The biggest one I have ever made.

I made a scrappy binding from all the off cuts. And I think I might have enough to make a matching pillow or 2.
All fabrics are from Joel Dewberry's Heirloom collection.

Cannot wait to put her on our bed.


K xxx

Nearly there

Today I quilted the monster.
It took a good couple of hours - but I did it.

Now I've put it aside for the day. And tomorrow I've got to dig out some fabric to make the binding. I really hope I've got some left of this fabric. I vaguely recall chopping some up to make a pillow -  wouldn't that suck if I'd used it all!

See you tomorrow - hopefully with a finished quilt!

Basted

Well this has been a long time coming. In 2011 I learned to sew. I made 2 single bed quilts for my kids. Then totally fearless - I made a queen size top as I wanted a quilt for my bed. And that's where it ended. Then in 2012 I made the backing. Oh yes - good progress. I even bought the batting.
Then nothing.
I freaked out about it being so big that I couldn't do it on my own. So I put it off.
But being that I am on a strict budget and can't afford to send it out to be quilted - I am going to do it myself.

I spent today basting it. I ran out of pins. So had to spread them out a bit during the last half. Oops.

 I am claiming the dining table tomorrow. Loading up my bobbin. And just doing it.
I might need to spread it out over a couple of days.
Send me calm vibes - I 'll probably need them!

K xxx

Fail

So I started out Monday with very good intentions. I got straight to cutting & sewing. I made 9 list takers instead of 4. But I got stuck at the end as I don't have the correct size note pads. And I need a water soluble pen.

 So I have them ordered and I packed away the list takers.

 Then Tuesday I tried to make the coin purses that mum wants. I bought a pattern but there is about 30 pieces to it. Um no. Not for 6 of them thanks.
So I tried the little pattern Mum wanted. It was the most terrible finish you've ever seen.

So I quit for the day, made pizza and relaxed with the kids.
Yesterday I came up with a plan B. I found a tutorial and tried it out. I messed it up. But it is easy enough to have another go at it. This one didn't get thrown across the room!

 I should have moved onto pouches today but my sweet girl needs a bag for gym. So she raided my Field Study stash last night and chose these.

SO today I am trying to make the bag - I'm going to make Amy Butlers Spice Market tote bag, and the big pouches for Christmas. I only have to do 2. And bake some muffins for hubby. And I'll save the pouches for tomorrow when I have a free day as I teach my friend to sew every Friday.
Crossing my fingers for a bit more success today.

Little progress

I have got fabric piling up over my dining chairs. From the left is my Queen backing - I have the front & the batting - I just can't baste it on my own. It's massive. I'm intimidated.
Then in the centre is the fabric for two skirts - not even halfway cut out yet.
Then on the right is 2 dresses and a top. Only the denim has been cut out for them all.
And I have a pair of little boy pants that truly need to be made. Haven't gone anywhere near that fabric yet.
So my plan today is to just get everything cut out - and out of my dining room, so that at least when I have the time to sew, I can just do it.
Wish I had some little helper elves ;o)

Oh and hubby has told me I have to get rid of my scrapping stuff. Of which I have a ton. So check back - I may have something you'd be interested in. Lots of SC kits & stamps & punches and bits.

Have a fabulous Friday.

K xxx

This week

I made the back for my Queen quilt. Finally. Edging closer to being done. So close yet so so far!

I bought some "S" hooks from the junk shop and finally hung up a few home made bags on the edges of my shelving unit. It's making me happy everytime I walk into the room and see them.

I found a cushion insert under my batting so I stuffed it in my cushion cover. It's about 2 or 3 inches too small. And of course I didn't think to pick up another one when I went to Spotlight yesterday.

But what I did get was some flannelette to make some long wintery pyjama pants. We definitely need them.

I haven't made clothes before - but I'm going to give it a go. I also had to get more material for my darling daughter as she stuffed up the shorts she was making in Home Ec. so she needs to start again. She picked a similar pink dot that was larger.

And last week my sweet little boy went to see Romeo & Juliet at the theatre. He had a really good time. Here's a pic that my daughter took of me & him before he left. It was crazy trying to find dress shoes for him. He is a size 14 shoe. Especially when you only find out the day before. But luckily we did and he looked so handsome.

Anyway - I hope you have a fabulous weekend. I'm hoping to get some sewing time - but the  housework isn't going to do itself. Oh Joy!

Chevron Cushion Cover

I really wanted to dig into my new fabrics today - but I decided that I better finish what I've already started instead. So cushion cover it was.
Luckily I had enough scraps to finish it.

And this is the back.
The only thing I didn't have is a cushion insert. I'll have to remember to grab one next time I hit Spotllight.
Tomorrow I just may attempt my queen quilt backing. Maybe...

The bunny bags

I was inspired by seeing some bunny ideas on the web, so yesterday I grabbed my silhouette and searched for a suitable bunny design. Cut that out and traced it onto some leftover fabrics. Whipped up some tote bags using some old fabric that my mum had given me and appliqued the bunnies on.
So all they cost me was a couple of bucks in thread. Awesome!!
I would have preferred using some cute easter egg material. But I am on a severe fabric diet, so the bright red will have to do. Still, turned out cute enough. And they'll do the job.

The end of pouch week

Feels like all I've been sewing lately. Well, I guess that's because it is. This is the last one. Totally last minute - my girl informs me that the case needs to be big enough to fit her ruler. Ok. So a few adjustments to the pattern and this is what I got. Also added some heavy interfacing to the outer panels to provide a bit of stability. Seemed to work well.

My sweetheart wanted my Joel Dewberry fabrics that I was saving for a bag. What kind of mum would I be to say no to my sweet girl?

Especially when she is such a good helper. She reorganised my scraproom yesterday. And I am loving it. And she's always rescuing this chook (Gabbana) as it likes to escape the chicken pen everyday. It's become her favourite chicken and she's always carefully putting her back in the pen with the others.
Back to school for the kids next week - I don't know what I'll do without them. I love having them around all the time.
Looks like I'm going to have to brush up on my chicken catching skills ;o)

The happiest kind of mail

I received one of my fabric orders today from Hawthorne Threads. So yummy.

I got these fabrics for the backing of my own quilt.

And I got these for the backing and binding of my Soul Blossoms quilt that I am making for my mum.

And I got these for another quilt that I am planning using the Amy Butler Love Collection.
I really need to finish one thing before I start another. So I think I'll possibly finish off mums before I attempt my own.
In other news - Mouse, Paper, Scissors is back with a new class MPS GIVE. I can't wait. I have loved all the previous MPS classes. And just in time for Christmas. Really really can't wait.

Hope you are having a Happy Tuesday -

My Queen

Well, I did manage to sew her up yesterday. And I think she turned out so pretty. And so huge. About 90" X 90" I think. There's even another row above the top one that you can see. My washing line wouldn't go up any higher!

Now I need to start thinking about the back. Not really sure what I'm going to do there. And then there's the issue of quilting it. Eek!! Can't wait till it's all done though - and looking pretty across my bed. Seems pretty far away right now.

And in other news - we got our first egg! It was so exciting to peek inside the nesting box and see that egg there!

And my dear sweet hubby spent the day preparing the vege patch. So hopefully I'll get to planting it soon. I can't wait to grow our own veges. Although I don't have much of a green thumb - so we'll have to see how it goes ;o)
Have a happy week -

It's another Sewing Saturday

We have had a busy few days. One of the most exciting things was that our chickens arrived. I love them already. They are so cute. No eggs as yet, but I'm confident we'll get one soon. We got 3, and I really can't tell them apart - so they are all just "Chookie" for now.
Yesterday I thought one had escaped. Nope. It must of come from down the road. It had some food and foraged around in the garden and had a good couple of hours here and then left.

Yesterday, some more fabric arrived. I purchased some Soul Blossom Charm packs. I really don't like the cutting part of quilting, so I thought I'd buy precut pieces and try doing it that way. They are really small and I'm not sure how it will turn out. Even if it becomes my scrap room lap quilt - that's good enough for me.

But before I go anywhere near it - today, I intend on finishing this quilt top. The squares are all now triangles, which are all now rows. Now I need to sew it together. Hopefully I can get it done today.

Have a Happy Weekend -

Smitten

The mailman pulled into my driveway this morning to bring me a box. Which was not easy to get into as I've packed away all my scissors  - Duh!

So with my trusty old pen I prized open the lid to see a beautifullly wrapped package. What's in there?

A new bag pattern. Eek! So cute. Cannot wait to make it. Although I might have to wait until we move and I'm all set up again.

And I also bought a yard of each of Joels Heirloom fabrics in Citrine. And they are just as pretty as I thought they'd be.

Plus I got a yard of Amy Butler Lotus dots. Love them. (I totally loved the paper version too!)

And some Amy Butler Soul Blossoms Corduroy, which is destined for a cushion. Yum Yum!

And I just wanted to say that the service from Quilt Home has been fabulous. The speed, the price, the packaging. All stellar. Thanks ladies.

Anyone else planning on sewing up a storm?