Bunnies, Bag and Skirt January 17, 2010

I found a cute bag pattern in the Australian Homespun Handbag Special, which I modified from the shown green to my fave blue. I got spoiled with an iPhone this month and the bag ofcourse have a custom made iPhone sized pocket Pics of the green version here (scroll to ‘the Prairie satchel’).

A dear friend wore a very nice wrap skirt last i saw her, and when she told me it was made using this pattern I just had to give it a go. It was easy peasy to make, but when I went shopping for fabric I forgot about the contrasting binding and was too impatient not to finish the skirt once I got started, so i guess this is the plain Jane sister.

It was only last night when looking for pics of the bag from the Homespun Magazine that I realised it was the talented Toni that had created both patterns!

Today, a rainy summers day in Melbourne, I managed to do a little gardening and a little sewing. I have made prototypes of bunnies for two of my colleagues who had babies last year. I always make something homemade for my friends, but was not in a space to do it when the littlies arrived.

Blue Quilt progress, hand quilting half done January 16, 2010

It is taking its time I must admit.

A downturn in my mental health, a wee bit of christmas prep and celebration and an awful lot of suny Melbourne days got in the way me thinks.

I am taking the quilt to work, and work on it in my breaks, I get at least 30 minutes done per shift, and I work 7 days of a fortnight. Should be done by easter

Should have viewed the pic before uploading – that is terrible! But now the day light is gone, so cant redo it.

A little bit of order December 12, 2009

in an otherwise terribly messy room.

My crafty space December 11, 2009

Is in my spare room.

Much of this year it has been taken over by a double bed and visitors, and since my in laws are invading next week, I am madly trying to finish all the machine work on my blue squares, the rest I can do by hand whilst on the couch conversing

More crafty spaces here.

Crafty Tuesday – cheats gifttags December 2, 2009

Inspired by Diane I have been VERY crafty today It is almost cheating calling it a craft – but what the heck, I’m taking the chance.

I alway tear of the front of last years christmas cards before depositing the backs in the recycling. In years past, we have pasted chrissy images onto red cardboard for new christmas cards, but this year I dont think my mental health lends itself to card-stress, so this years project is even easier – gifttags.

Doesn’t get much easier than that!

Merry 2nd December.

One Quilt, two questions August 22, 2009

I’ve pieced everything together on the “blue quilt fit for a garden bench”, and added an outside border. I am still not satisfied, that the diamond shape made by the blue squares, is standing out enough. Perhaps my eyes can no longer look at this thing objectively?

We packed up the spare bed today, to make room for my sewing table. We had lots of visitors at the beginning of the year, so my sewing things were tucked away in the cupboard. I have pieced this quilt mainly on the kitchen table, and I just LURVE being in the hub of the home, crafting, with the family busy around me. However, I really don’t like the mess ( I am a messy crafter) nor the fact that everything had to be moved when dinner time came around. So, back to the spare room I moved.

We placed the mattress from the bed up against the wall, in preperation for my friend who have bought the bed, picking it up – and it turned out to be a fab quilt board!

My first question – to the audience – is: does this pattern/block have a name?

My second question – to my self – is: how am I going to quilt it?

I am contemplating outlining (inlining??) the white zig zag-edged shapes with two rows of stippling 1/4″ apart. I think that would bring out the blue diamonds like I want to.

Blue quilt laid out, ready to piece August 13, 2009

As I finished pressing the last few seam allowances open, Maddy arranged my squares and took a shot. Hard for nine-year old arms to reach over the centre of the blanket to get a good shot!

I love the idea that the final stage of the design was completed by her. Our garden quilt.

The red colored square in the middle has a heart on in. Bloody romantic I am

Thursday patchwork July 11, 2009

My friend Linda has been taking patchwork classes with Gill every second thursday, I recently joined her to have some structure around getting a quilt completed for the garden bench before the arrival of spring. I know what I want to create, but thought the ‘forced’ two hours of work once a fortnight, would get me inspired to get cracking. I wanted to use a design I had seen on a quilt at the Herrenswood homestead last year. Lots of little squares joined in 9 patches, alternating with white squares, to make the outline of larger squares.

 

I first thought i would raid the stash for an assortment of colours, but on closer inspection, there seen to be enough in the blues alone, my fave colour, so have purchased a white fabric with blue dots to use af the ‘white’ part of the quilt. The blues that I have already are very different, but I think it will still ‘gel’ because the squares a small-ish (2 inches finished) and because of the blue dots on the ‘white’ fabric.

I have played around on my new beast, the iMac, with three different layouts, my first thought was layout 1, as it would be the easiest to create, but I am not a fan of the ‘x’s in the corners that stand out, I want the largers squares to be dominant so I think I will stick to layout 2 although that means a little more planning and thinking as I can’t just use my simple nine-patched and plain white squares. The 3rd is just to plain disorganised for me. I suppose it could end up being something completely different once I get the teachers input.

This weeks class was cancelled due to a family members death. I was keen to get started, and tempted to just go ahead with what I thought would be the way to start, but have decided to hold my breath, wash the fabrics, iron them, and have them neatly folded in a bag ready to roll in 2 weeks time. I want to make sure I get as much ‘gold’ from Gill in the way of quilting knowledge, the ensure the best end result, but also taking the easiest route

Lack of time March 9, 2009

It seems a recurring theme. Having too many commitments and not enough time to go around.

I have not been able to work due to a back injury, but still, no time to engage in anything crafty it seems.

This afternoon the possums have requested I chauffeur them and two friends to the indoor pool, I suppose I could combine a little children-watching with a little fixing of the ends that have come loose on the flowerscarf. And mayby even coffee-drinking with my 3rd hand

I was so carefull to crochet in all the ends as I went along, but somehow it must have been too loose, for I have spotted a dozen or so that are starting to dangle, and even a flower coming undone. Bugger!!

It was exactly this I was trying to avoid.

WIPs – scarf, witches cape and ninja glasses October 25, 2008

I have finally finished making all the flower-embellished granny squares for the scarf. And in the mean time spring has sprung and the scarf season is over! Well, I have decided that this scarf must be worn at least once, be if with a bikini or not!!

I have made a pattern tonight, and cut my pieces for a black suede-like cape/jacket thingy for DD8 who has asked to be a witch this year for halloween. Last year was very easy – ready made she-devil costumes with a bit of eyeliner and a lot of teasing of the hair. I will put it togehter tomorrow, which leaves me 4 days next week to buy one if everything falls to pieces.

The remnants turned into simple but effective ninja-masks for the DDs and friend.