Final Christmas Sewing Pt 4

Technically not christmas sewing but I have been working on Butterfly Garden the past few weeks. I did this as a BOM throughHoneysuckle Cottage last year (2008) but only partially completed the first block and cut out the second block. At the time I was undecided as to my applique method for this quilt and other projects took over so this beautiful quilt took a back seat; until this year. It will be finished 2010!

Love the little butterflys that are scattered about the quilt.

Block one complete.
Block two, need some more stitchery done.

Block three, only a little more stitchery to go.

Have a lovely christmas everyone;

I will back in the next few days to share what I was sent and what I sent for the two christmas swaps I was in; also the swap 'Jessie Girl' was in with some other Aussies around her age.

Final Christmas Sewing Pt 3

I have seen Margaret's books advertised in Australian Quilters Companion and bought both that are written (more books to come). I have read the first one and loved it. Reading about the sewing supplies and methods available in convict times made me feel very spoiled and grateful to have my cutting mat and rotary cutter.

I found this book at the op shop the other day and remember reading it in primary school. The quilt has a clue on it for where gold was hidden in the house, wish we had a quilt like that when we bought our last house!

These 'housewife' needlecases and two bags are for my christmas stash that is almost dispersed now! Two of the needlecases were recieved the other day and the recipients were so thrilled that I made something for them!

makes you feel all warm and fuzzy....

I made this for an ex-neighbours four year old who loves pink.
I used Spring Fever jelly strips and Melly and Me's pattern for the kitty and owl bags, minus the face.

I made this quilt top last week from Animal Party by Amy Schimler (love her fabrics). I have some applique in the orange to do now. My two year old loves looking at this quilt and telling me what the animals are.

If you joined me in not buying any new fabric, the ban ended 1-2 weeks ago but I haven't blogged or emailed; so forgive me as I have been busy with other things and not online.

Final Christmas Sewing Pt 2

A regency era girls dress for my 8yr old daughter to wear this christmas.

I made it from some 'Fresh' fabric by Deb Strain that I got on sale.

The pattern is by Sensibility.com and I bought mine from HomeschoolHeaven.com.au

There are two pin tucks along the bottom of the skirt, three would have made it too short.

I alternated the thread that I sewed the buttons on with, a tangerine colour and light greeny colour. 'Jessie' Girl' loves this and proudly showed her dad the 'fancy' buttons and thread!

Last night I started on this new, quick and easy quilt using a Figgy Pudding jellyroll. Love these fabrics..... can't wait to get this together to share it. It won't be ready in time for christmas this year, but I can still admire it hanging over the sewing machine!

Final Christmas Sewing Pt 1

Roses de Noel by the Sea

Freemotion quilting is all finished!

The two designs I chose for the blocks ended up being more difficult than I anticipated, with having to continually meet in the centre to attempt a symmetrical flower set squarely in the square. As I progressed with each block I improved, I got more confident, I got excited and I enjoyed myself. I have heard so many people say that freemotioning is about practice; well I am seconding that loud and clear!

This quilt was great to make, and I love how the backing looks with all the quilting.

*grin*

Some of my ok, and not-so-ok quilting!

DH really likes the overall look and feel of the quilt, wonders will never cease!

I also finished two santa sacks for two of my boys, these were an adaption of Anni's santa sack from her book A Christmas Story by Hatched and Patched. I will stitch some gold cordingonto these; but as I don't have any on hand this will have to wait. Besides; I don't think they will be closed for very long as it's not long till Santa comes now!

Scraps Scraps Scraps

How inspirational is this book????

Bonnie of Quiltville is a wonder! Her book is eyeopening, her site is amazing and her blog is fabulous!

My friend Sandi from SA swapped a bag of scraps with me earlier in the year and this started my journey to look at scraps in a new way. I started looking in my scrap piles for applique pieces and found so many possibilities. Now there is no end to the possibilities. If you haven't visited Quiltville yet, you must. Bonnie has HEAPS of free patterns to use your scraps on. Her information sections on managing stashes/scraps, borders, binding, leaders and enders and others are very helpful. Make yourself a cuppa before you start browsing, you will be there a while! Bonnie has a new book due out in Feb 2010 with a working title (may not be the finished title) 'Adventures with Leaders and Enders' - I wish it would hurry up!

One of daughters helping me to sort my scraps. I am sure that there are at least two quilts in this pile; let alone what will be added to it in the next year!

The main sorting is done now and over the next few months we will go through a box, pressing, trimming and sorting out sizes more definately. I have put all my binding offcuts in a section, didn't realise I had so many! The offcuts will make a full quilt binding once joined!

My boxes aren't nearly so attractive as Bonnie's plastic drawers, but they are fine for the time being. Something will come along to replace them in the future.
While I am asking, has anyone ever made quilt using silk??? I was very generously given some silk kimonino offcuts from a friend whose husbands family is Japanese; and I want to make a quilt with these. I know it can be done as I have seen some silk quilts about, but wondered if there any tips.

Do you keep your scraps? Do you make scrap quilts?
I wish I had kept all my scraps from when I started quilting, but better now than never!

Placemats, Stitcheries and Parcels...

The stitchery for 'The World as it Should Be' bag is FINISHED! Some bits could have been done better....but I am happy with it. Did I tell you that I love working with wool......*grin*

I'm hoping to make up the bag sometime this next week.

Also finished are the stitcheries for 'Sewing Store' bag and needlecase. There are more little stitchery bits to do for inside the needlecase, they will have to wait as I have a few more things to get finished this week. These stitcheries and the wool one above were much needed 'me' projects. As much as I love to make things for others it does get to be a drain when everything you work on is to give away. I needed to regain my sanity and sense of self. feeling n top of the world now!

Here are the ZaZa placemats finished the other week for my Christmas stash. I freemotioned on four patches of each placemat; just a squiggle, but a fun squiggle!

A secret Christmas parcel arrived in the mail on Friday from Jan who is part of a group with me, Friends in Stitching. This is a secret Christmas swap (like Chookyblues). I have my parcel to post this week, not to Jan but to another member.....

This parcel is now in the safe hands of my daughter, along with my SSCS parcel from the UK.

Adding more Detail

I still need to show you the ZaZa placemats and the Roses de Noel by the Sea quilt that I recently finished for Christmas gifts.

However I have decided to add some more quilting to the quilt so I guess it's not done yet! My freemotion quilting isn't the best, it is definately something that practice improves but what I have done is looking OK; and I'm having fun with it!

I don't think I will attempt a design that meets so much in the middle again for a while though!

I know you can't see the needle much but the tip of this needle was bent as was the middle of it where it snapped off. I have broken many needles but never one like this!

This example here is definately one of my better flowers!

My eldest son has been making Christmas decorations again. All his design, he told me what he wanted and I drew up a bell and the dingdong bit so he use them as a template. The rest is all him. The labels have written on them the names of pets and tv characters (like Scooby Doo....*grin*). He has even done one to leave on his bed Christmas eve to give Santa; and one is made up ready to give 'Santa Tom' whom we see every year at Christmas time.

Very thoughtful!

and how good is our tree going to look this year!

Hatched and Patched Stitching.....

Did this using machine applique this morning; need to finish it with some handstitching details. I wasn't sure if I would be able to do it all on the machine but managed it fine. My skills in this area have definately improved since my first attempt at machine blanket stitch a few years ago. Thankyou 'Little Macca's Farm' for getting me going!

Love working with wool.

The bag is from Anni's book 'The World as it Should Be'.
So is the bag below that I made the night before we went away in Novemeber, i between packing and cooking dinner. Because I opted not to do the punchneedle this fabulous bag was finished in under an hour - cutting, stitching on buttons, everything!

This is a great size (small) as I am not a big handbag person; this size suits me for most shopping trips. I do take bigger bags to carry mail, books (we are always reading here), nappies, hair brushes etc
My little bag sits inside a bigger one. I use it like other people use a wallet.
I don't have a wallet or purse anymore (quite happy without too); my coins sit in the bottom of the bag and my cards and notes are....wait for it....held together with a small hair elastic; two elastics; in case we need to use one! No more busted wallets here!

The earthy colours Anni used in this little bag are great, it's not a solid brown either; but has a faint black line running through it.


Last night I came close to finishing these. Then needlecase says 'Bec's' instead of 'Sewing Store'; and the bag front will claim the bag as mine by saying 'Oh Sew Busy'; I don't like advertising personal details on bags for securitywhen out and about in towns and cities.

My friend Sandi in Berry has started me on a scrap journey. I shared a while back that she and I swapped bags of scraps. Well after I email her I will blog about what I am up to now.....