Zippy pouches

Remember the QAYG panels from yesterday?
Ta-da! Here they are made into new zippy pouches!

Big and little make a cute pair :)

These were so much fun to make and I'm kinda in love with them :)
I used the open wide zippered pouch tutorial from Noodlehead, although I went with my own measurements based on the panels I made and added a little divided pocket to the large pouch. They have a really good firm structure due to the wadding from the QAYG method, and although the QAYG method did take a bit more time than using a single fabric I really like the finished texture and feel of them.

Front of large

Back of large

Inside with a divided pocket

Some people on IG and Flickr asked how I managed to get the stitching so neat. If you look really closely it's not perfect! I used Coats Cotton in white to sew with both as top thread and in the bobbin, stitch length 2.5 (on my Bernina 1005) and my 1/4 inch foot. When I get to the end of a row all I do is keep the needle in the work, lift up the presser foot, pivot, carefully raise the needle and move the work over so the edge of the stitching lines up with the edge of the foot, lower the presser foot and then I'm ready to sew again. Hope that all makes sense! Maybe I'll try taking some photos next time?

Little zippy pouch

Off to raid my scraps for more panels :)

QAYG love!!

I'm addicted!!
I love Quilt as you go - selecting fabrics, deciding on placement, straight line stitching and then voila QAYG panels ready to be made into something gorgeous!!

Pretty fabric scraps :)

Stitch, stitch, stitch!!

Large panels ready to go!

Small panels too!

Just one little quilt block ....

So August is my month for my quilting Bee "Bee Europa" and I've chosen the Churn Dash quilt block. I quickly made up a sample block to test the tutorial, which is a fab one by Sew Me, and made sure I had enough fabric, snapped a quick photo on my iPhone, uploaded it to Flickr and that was me done.

Bee fabric prep, Happy Go Lucky by Bonnie and Camille ~

My practice Churn Dash quilt block ~

Then the next day I started to get several likes of the photo from people who were not my contacts and seemed to have no link to quilting or sewing!? I was puzzled so logged onto Flickr to check the photo and activity and was amazed with what I saw!!

I was shocked - I know my photos get a few views generally and the same goes for the blog - I know there are a handful of peeps that find me and what I do somewhat interesting, most of the time :) but I was amazed at how many views this little old photo had!
I then found out I had been "explored", sounds kinda weird in so many ways! Shows how much I actually don't know about Flickr. It was a lovely surprise to have my photo added to Explore and that a little old quilt block was so popular!!! Current views 3603!
Bee Europa pretty piles ready to be sent out ~

Aeroplane bag love!

Ever since I saw the Sew Sweetness Aeroplane bag popping up on IG and blogs I knew I wanted to make one, and I am so happy that I have!
Luckily enough I won the Aeroplane bag and Petrillo bag pattern through an IG giveaway by Sew Fantastic and with a click of the mouse the PDF patterns had arrived!

Constructing the top panel sections!

A bit of late night sewing :)

The pattern is super easy to follow with great instructions, the only bit I did struggle with was the tapering of the zip, but it turned out all right! I decided not to add the internal zip pockets which I think did save me a bit of time, but the completed bag didn't take as long as I thought to make from start to finish!
I had loads of different ideas about fabric choices and was going to go down the route of quilt as you go but as it was my first go at the bag I went with a bit of piecing using a charm pack for the top and lovely Essex linen for the bottom.

It's nearly done!

The bag is a great size and I was amazed at how much I could squeeze into it for the FQ retreat! The handles are just the right size and I wasn't worried that they wouldn't hold the weight of all my stuff jammed in!
Another one is definitely on my to do list with a few minor alterations. Having seen lots of lovely versions at the FQ retreat I would add a pocket to the outside front in between the handles for a little extra separate storage, definitely take the time to add a zippered pocket for phone and key essentials, add bag feet to stop the bottom getting too dirty and try to find something in the UK stores to insert as a bottom to give the base a bit more structure. My heavy weight interfacing was not that heavy!!
I would definitely recommend making this bag!!

Sneaky peek of the lining!!

Can't tell you how much I love this bag!!

Fat Quarterly Retreat recap

It's been over a week since Fat Quarterly Retreat happened and somehow I'm only just getting around to talking about it now!
I could probably do a post every day for the next week about all the fun, but I decided to squeeze it into one post with mainly a photo recap so here goes! It was a lovely weekend with a wonderful chance to meet people I met last year, new people from blogs I follow or on Instagram and some of my fellow Bee Europa girls! It was a fun filled time of sewing, chatting, drinking and eating, and it was lovely to eat out with some of the London Modern Quilt girls on Saturday night!! Hello and hopefully I'll be joining you soon at a meeting!! However I still didn't meet everyone - I'm not great at introducing myself! I'll just have to go back next year :)

My aeroplane bag did me well during the weekend, stayed at the lovely Grange, gorgeous streets around Baden Powell House ~

 My embroidery hoop clocks that I swapped (hopefully they got home in one piece!), Liberty goody bag (thanks to all the sponsors!), Quilt Market haul, and gorgeous swaps received!! Sadly I can't remember the names of two of my swappers, so please say Hi if it is you!! Thanks to Susy for the gorgeous red and aqua cushion!

 Loved the workshops and tabletop sessions, so much inspiration! FQ team starting off the fun, Trudi and her amazing FMQ skills, loved Katy's EPP classes and Lu's hand quilting class. Also snuck into Quilt Dad's blogging session!

So that's the recap from me! It was a fun filled time and can't quite believe that it's over for another year!

Fat Quarterly Retreat hello!

Hopefully I'm not too late to the Fat Quarterly Retreat Linky Party but in 5 days time I'll be heading down to London for the Retreat!! Yay!!
So a few random things to help break the ice....

• Next Friday is not only FQ retreat but also the end of term for me in my day job as a teacher! This last week has been more than manic with a visit from the people that all teachers dread so any last minute sewing totally went out the window :(
• I'm left handed but only for writing, right handed for everything else - weird I know!
• Originally from Jersey before settling in the UK
• Most of my friends don't understand my obsession with spending far too much money on fabric, only to cut it up and sew it back together again!
• I went to the retreat last year and met lovely people but had to travel back and forth so felt I missed out on some things so so excited this year to be staying at the Grange!! 
• Met the lovely Pippa at retreat last year who is my roomie this year and was also my secret name badge partner!!
• Last year I was carrying this bag not sure what I'll have this year just yet - need to get finishing!!

• Not great at photos so here is one of me at the London Sewing Directory meet up (Fiona hope you don't mind me borrowing the photo!!?) I'm next to Fiona in Blue, think I was trying to be the M of YMCA! (It was held at a YMCA just in case you're wondering!)

So a list of totally random facts!
My classes are Spring Carnival, Free Motion, Triangle City and Hand Quilting so see you all there!!

Name badge reveal!

Yay! My secret partner has received her Fat Quarterly Retreat name badge so I can now reveal it fully!!
I had so much fun making it and I'm really pleased that Penny liked the badge. Thanks to Penny for her photo as I completely forgot to take a photo of the front!

Fat Quarterly Retreat name badge on the move!!

So the name badge I made for my secret partner is on it's way and hopefully will find it's new home tomorrow! Hoping my partner likes it too!
But silly old me as I'm looking through my photos on my phone tonight there's one of the back in progress and when complete but the front - well as it was such a secret for my partner my brain obviously told me not to take a photo of it either! Duh! So when my partner posts a pic I'll just have to borrow it!

 

Lovely new pouch

I have so much on my to do list at the moment, not only for work but more importantly getting myself ready for Fat Quarterly Retreat!!
One of the things I wanted to make was a little pouch for my phone and to hold a bit of cash for Quilt Market on Saturday night, so off I went and purchased a Michelle patterns pattern. I went with the Zip Pocket Pouches and I am totally smitten.
The pattern was easy to buy (as a PDF), easy to use and easy to follow - great instructions! Would highly recommend! I've already bought another one out to try!

 

 

 

Was thinking (in my brain where my days consist of about 100 hours!) that I might make some to sell at Quilt market. Only one question - would anyone be interested!?

Fat Quarterly Retreat preparations

It's a grey, miserable rainy day today and this week has been a pretty tough one I'm glad it's the weekend and I am going to sew!!

Plus my Fat Quarterly Retreat name tag arrived in the post!

It gorgeous and made me giggle as my secret partner is my roomie Pippa :) Thank you!!

Finally finished something!

Yay! I've finally finished something from my WIP pile! At the moment I have so many things that I want to sew and make and lots of new ideas spinning around my head that I thought I'd better finish off some things first!

So here it is - one finished Liberty Notebook cover started at the Sewing Directory London meet up :)

On a completely different note I am really pleased to be taking part in another, the fourth, year of Bee Europa. We are a group of European quilters that have been stitching strong and making some wonderful blocks and quilts, and sadly our original Bee Mama had to step down this year but I've been lucky enough to step in as Bee Mama! We have one empty space in our group! So if you've always wanted to join a Bee and fancy this one drop me an email!

Catching up

Spending far too much time on Instagram and loving this new app "A beautiful mess", not bad for 69p!

Even purchased some gorgeous screen printed fabric via Instagram from @leannefanny (also known as the little house martin on Etsy).

More fabric to add to my stash! Center City by Jay McCarroll purchased from the lovely Village Haberdashery. This has plans for a bag but not sure which one yet as I have so many patterns that I want to try out!

Some wonderful finds at my local Charity shop!!

A simple Tweet and I was lucky recipient of a goodie bag from Sarah Smith! I love her dishcloths and can't wait to try out some of the other extra goodies that were included!

This Monday was a Bank Holiday in the UK and we actually saw the sun! It has since disappeared and been replaced by the rain but never before had I noticed the quilty design on my sunglasses case! Probably as they don't come out too often!

Finally really excited that the Fat Quarterly Retreat class lists are out!! Can't believe that it is only about 8 weeks away and I have lots of plans on my to do list before the retreat:
1. Name tag to make for the name tag swap
2. Sample swap makes x3 - really hope my idea goes to plan!!
3. I will make a Sew Sweetness Aeroplane bag to haul my supplies etc to the Retreat plus bring back lots of new fabric and aurifil threads!!
4. Also have plans for a new everyday bag to take to the retreat. Loved my Amy Butler Cosmo bag from last year but feel I need a new one!!
5. Some other secret sewing plans for the retreat!

Think that's me caught up for now!!

The Sewing Directory Meet up!

Yep it's only taken me a week to sit down and finally write this post but hey things never change!
Last Saturday I spent a wonderful afternoon in the company of an amazing and talented bunch of ladies at The Sewing Directory London Meet up. Travelling down to London I was excited and nervous (I'm never great at mingling!) but when I was greeted by the lovely Fiona I knew I was in for a wonderful afternoon with friendly like minded crafty peeps!
We spent the afternoon chatting, sewing and drooling over the gorgeous Liberty fabrics that the lovely Sue from Sewbox had provided. Jenna from Sew Happy Geek gave us a quick tute on how to make the fab notebook covers that she had bought with her and off we went! We were provided with all we needed and I managed to do a bit of stitching amongst the chatting, cakes and tea!

It was a lovely surprise to receive great little goodie bags from Sue and then she offered us more Liberty fat quarters to take home at the end of the day! There was also a raffle and luckily enough everyone went home with a prize and I was lucky girl to win this gorgeous Geo Grand Fabric by Daisy Janie!

It was a great afternoon meeting new people and Instagram and Blogging peeps in person!
Thanks again to Fiona for a wonderful afternoon, Jenna for the tute and inspiration and Sue for the wonderful fabrics! Following photos borrowed from Fiona :)

This Saturday I didn't have so much fun getting the car MOT'ed!