In the Frame Purse Swap

I've been lucky recently to be taking part in "In the Frame Purse Swap" organised by the wonderful Helen and Nicky which has been so much fun!!
It was a secret swap which made it even more exciting! So after a few weeks of stalking my partner on Flickr and hopefully getting a good idea of what kind of purse to make I finally put together this little package.

Luckily my partner has received the parcel and yay it looks like I got it right!!
The finished frame purse ~

 The front ~

The back ~

Side view ~

The lining ~

And open wide!!

Sewing spools

This morning I had a plan, I was on a mission, I wanted to QAYG!
What is QAYG I hear you ask?! 
Quilt As You Go ~ I'm a complete newbie to this method but have been wanting to give this ago for ages.
I knew exactly what I wanted to sew, had a pattern to use and I am loving the end result!

The pattern is "spools" from Thimble Blossoms by Camille Roskelley. It is an absolutely adorable pattern (I used the pdf version) and is very easy to follow. I was planning on only producing one spool block and made a few changes to frame the spool. So here is the end result ~

I love it! But now what to do with it? Making the full quilt is definitely on my to do list but for now I just want to use the one block. I think it would make a wonderful sewing machine cover if I didn't already have a gorgeous one received from the Urban Home Goods - a modern swap!

So I need to get my thinking cap on! A bag, mini quilt ... all ideas welcome and appreciated!
Linking up here today!

Bee Europa July

Managed to get my Bee Europa July blocks in the post just before the end of the month. Not quite sure where July has gone!!
Amy asked for a Wonky Log Cabin block which was great as we had both taken part in the Wonky Log cabin class at the Fat Quarterly retreat!
These are so much fun to do the struggle is trying to get them to be wonky! Here is my block and a half that I made ~

It's never too late....

to be producing a 2012 calendar half way through the year is it??
I picked up this Ikea frame from a charity shop yesterday and had a plan in mind.

It is a great little frame - one because of the lovely gloss white finish and two because it is double sided.
Numerous times I am sat in my little work area when I need to find a date at a glance. I don't have space for a large calendar and don't need space to write anything I just need the days and dates.
So with a bit of searching I found a wonderful desk top calendar that was printable and free!! Find it here.
I also had saved on my computer another little printable that will hopefully get me in the sewing mood.
So with a bit of printing, cutting and arranging here is the end result that now sits neatly on my desk! Not bad for 99p!

For when I need a date ~

 For sewing inspiration ~

Also hello to my new followers! Somehow I totally missed that I reached over 100 followers! Woohoo - I feel totally chuffed that there are 108 wonderful people out who spend the time to read my rambling thoughts! So to celebrate watch out for a giveaway next week!

Sunshine and a bit of sewing

Sewing (and blogging) has been a bit quiet of late as I have been enjoying the sunshine that has finally arrived in the UK!
I have however behind the scenes been finishing off the frame purse for my secret swap partner which is now somewhere in transit on the way to my partner and fingers crossed that they like it?! I'll post photos of the whole package when my partner receives it - don't want to spoil too much of the surprise!
I picked up a few things to get me in the mood for sewing for a total of £2 at the charity shop. I just love it when I find lovely treasures like these!

Mollie Makes

When I heard that Tacha had a write up about the Fat Quarterly Retreat in the current issue of Mollie Makes (issue 16) I quickly planned my visit to WHSmiths to get my hands on a copy. I was not disappointed!
Little to my surprise whilst having a quick read in the store I had to study the page really carefully!

This is what was going through my mind....
Hold on....
Ummm....
Yep I'm sure....
No it's never....
OMG that's me!!! (Damn my hair looks a mess!)
To my surprise there is a little photo of me looking far too serious whilst using a rotary cutter!! How scary is that!

It is a great write up and really sums up the wonderful weekend and Tacha also has a lovely project in the issue from her new book!

APQ radio

I first heard about American Patchwork and Quilting Internet radio over on Twitter a few weeks ago and was curious. Curious because I'm slowly getting into all this techie stuff and curious to see what it was all about!
So today, well actually right now whilst writing this post, I am for the first time listening live to the show with the host Pat Sloan and loving it! Just listened to Tula Pink and loved what she had to say about no fear quilting, and that quilting should be fun! Totally agree! Now listening to Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins of Piece O’ Cake Designs about their work, books and videos. Totally off to check them out and download lots more APQ broadcasts!
I'd totally recommend tuning in! More details of how you can listen here!
If like me you're in the UK tune in Mondays at 9pm.

Blimey - another finished project!

Yay! I finally managed to finish another project from the FQly Retreat.
This time it's a machine sewn placemat designed by Brioni Greenberg who also took the class!

The class was so much fun and where I discovered my new found love for spray starch - it's amazing what a little starch can do!
I actually managed to sew the top together at the class but then unpicked it as I had sewn the sections together in my own little way! I should have sewn it into two groups of 6 which gave me 2 half sections that could then be sewn together easily, as first time around my placemat had what looked like a little volcanic eruption in the middle where all the seams met! Not a good look!

For the layering, quilting and binding I simply followed the instructions (learnt from my first mistake!) and I love the finished placemat!

Now in case your wondering my dining room is not pink! So at the moment I have it hung in my little craft room as a mini quilt, thinking this would be a great pattern for a Christmas themed placemat!!

It's not too early to be thinking of Christmas is it!?
Linking up to Lily's Quilts: Fresh Sewing Day July

Change of season!?

Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer ... if anyone can tell me what season we are meant to be in here in the UK I would be grateful because the weather at the moment doesn't seem to know what it is doing!!!
This must be the reason why I've only just got round to swapping my seasonal printables!

These awesome printables are available from simple crafter. A wonderful site with lots more amazing free printables. You must check it out!
Forecast tomorrow - rain!!

Remember this ....

I made this bag at the beginning of June to take to the Fat Quarterly Retreat and I love it! Even whilst I was registering at the retreat John aka Quilt Dad spoke to me to say he liked the bag - at this point I was a little awe struck with all that was going on and remember saying something like "umm thanks" and running in the opposite direction!
I've had the gorgeous Style Stitches book since 2010 when I meet Amy Butler herself at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham and it is more wonderful as Amy also signed it!

 There are some 26 beautiful bags to make and I love me a big bag so the Cosmo bag seemed the best starting point. All pattern pieces are provided and after prepping all the fabric it was time to sew. The instructions are fairly easy to follow and I was surprised how quickly the bag came together.

It's been a long time since I made a bag but I love the shape, the side pockets, the deep inner pockets, long handles and the cover button fastening!
The outer fabric is heirloom by Joel Dewberry for FreeSpirit and the blue lining and contrasting grey fabric is plain quilters cotton from John Lewis. I would definitely recommend this book!

I love it even today more because of this!!

Freezer paper piecing

Remember the Fat Quarterly Retreat? Yep not mentioned it around here for a few posts but it is still fresh in my mind!
There were a few classes at the retreat where I started a project but didn't have time to finish (too busy chatting!) and I really didn't want to leave them in my unfinished projects box to be forgotten about for years to come!
So I finished a couple of spools blocks from the Freezer Paper piecing class with Kerry. I started sewing these by hand at the retreat and finished them off on machine at home. Now they have become a cute pincushion! I think the spools blocks are fab!
Front ~

 

Back ~

~ Message for Angela who left a comment on the Frame Purse post: Sorry I couldn't contact you direct as you are a no-reply blogger but the frame I used is from U-Handbag. Great supplies and quick delivery!

Linking up with Canoe Ridge Creations: {sew} modern monday!

Frame purse love!

Late last night I was in the middle of gluing fabric ready to finish my first ever frame purse and woke up this morning to this little lovely!!!
Front view ~

Back view ~

 Side view ~

 Side view open ~

 Lining ~

 

Bottom view ~

Making these could become somewhat of an addiction - I am in love with it!
Although the gluing part was the most scary, knowing whether or not I had put too much on or not enough and after pushing the fabric in the frame channel and waiting for it to take hold I seemed to get this mad urgency to want to pull at the fabric just to see if it had stuck yet!! The last part of making was to add the cord to the frame channel and after completing a little section I didn't think the finish looked that nice so I took it out. All seems to be secure without it!
Would be interested to know if you have made a frame purse do you use cord?

Saturday sewing

Last weekends sewing did not go to plan this weekend has been much more productive!
Bee Europa June block completed for Miriam. This was another new design to me - Box Quilt block and lovely fabrics to use!

 

Followed by preparing for my first ever frame purse in practise for taking part in "In The Frame Purse" swap!! Fabric all cut and prepared ~

Main part of the purse made!

 

Waiting for the glue to dry whilst writing this post so hopefully will have a fairly successful purse to show tomorrow!!

Sewing will commence shortly....

It's been one of those weekends.
I had plans to get the sewing machine out but it just didn't happen!
Instead I've been tidying my sewing/office room, catching up on far too much TV(!!), reading this lovely new book that arrived in the post ~

and planning on giving this a go as I've signed up for the "In the Frame purse swap" having never made a frame purse!! The words "easy peasy" are making me feel a bit better!!

Sample swaps!!

Yep, sorry another FQly Retreat related post! Maybe only one or two more to go - I promise!!
Having purchased my weekend pass rather late and then reading on Flickr all the exciting preparations that had been going on for months I was glad that I was not too late to miss out on the amazing sample swap organised by Trashalou!
The plan "you make four samples of the same thing and swap them in a group randomly assigned on the day. In return you get back four lovely new things of handmade wonderfulness from your four new best friends"
And boy were they lovely things!!
Lucy made this gorgeous hexie tea towel, just check out the embroidery! It is too cute to use but is being displayed lovingly in my kitchen!

From Fiona I received this amazing armchair sewing organiser. Just love the colours and fabrics!

I felt very privileged that the next items came all the way over from the US! Dolores made these cute London tube humbug bags and cute little extra goodies!! Last but not least was Rachel and her adorable felt birdie brooches!!

It was lovely to meet all these people and discover new blogs as well. Thanks for the wonderful swaps!!

FQly retreat - I could go on forever!

Yep another post about the retreat! You'll probably see a few more before the months end!
I wanted to post the "goodies" photos to show the generosity of the Retreat sponsors and what fab goody bags they were!
The sponsors of the Retreat were Moda (love me a bit of Moda!), Aurifil (heard about them never tried the threads, now I can!), Oakshott (big fan and have purchased lovely fabric from them before!), Sizzix (had a go on the die cutting machine and now want one!), Pfaff (used one of their machines both days and really enjoyed using them), Robert Kaufmann (just look at the fat quarter selection we were given!), Korbond and Abakhan fabrics (some great little extras provided!).

Mandy from Simply Solids was also at the retreat and if there is fabric to buy well enough said! So I also came home with this ~

Hoping to make a few zippered pouches out of some of these!
Thank you also to Cindy from Fluffy Sheep Quilting who bought this lovely order all the way to the Retreat!

 I'll leave the amazing sample swap goodies until another day! See told you I could go on forever!
On a different note - finally got with the times and joined Twitter! Don't really have a clue what I'm doing but it is fun! (I've added the follow me button right at the top)