QUILT!

I thought at long last I would attempt to make a quilt. I first cut all these strips up.....and then sewed three together.....
I then cut the strips into three sections to make these.....
and then I sewed three strips to each other again...

I then cut up some plain fabric - this is me checking how it would look first......

and this is it all sewn together..... It did take a fairly long time as you can imagine. At the same time as I had some left over strips I made another quilt top which I'll take a picture of next time. Thought I would post all about this so far so that it will make me finish it. It is a bit of marathon indeed! I'm not sure where I am going to use this or give it too either!

Next up quilting the top - yikes!

Japan and Barcelona

I think I've probably made my most favourite thing so far, so much so that I think I'm going to have to keep it...... I've had some oilcloth in my stash for ages with the idea I would make some purses but as usual forgot about the idea. I recently found some funky Japanese waterproof fabrics on the web and thought they would make fab make-up bags. I am in love with the bunny fabric....

This ones not too bad either......

Back to more sewing - trying to sort out the very difficult decision of cushion selection. I have so many cushions, but they all seem to be the wrong colour as we have bought new sofas. This one is made from some luvrely 50's inspired fabric from John Lewis. Sorry the picture shows it as a bit creased. I impressed myself by adding the bobbles and a proper zip and everything!

I also made this one to sell at the shop from some Amy Butler fabric I have.

I also had another go at making some necklaces - love the bird one especially.

Mad Sewing

I have gone slightly mad sewing recently. My old machine broke just before Christmas which weirdly made me want to sew even more.... So when I got it back I went a bit mad....

This was what I made for my kids for Christmas. I copied the pattern from a friend who made one for her kids the year before. However when I bought the fabric with a considerable hangover I didn't buy enough fabric. I had to make a feature of the top, which I think looks OK. Cost me a tenner in fabric so didn't mind too much! Anyway the kids love it and you can put it away at the end of the day which is always a bonus in my book.

I also made the bag which I am using to put all the things I have made ready for the shop. Probably will become a toy bag eventually. I made up the pattern for this and its really thick with a lining and felt to give it a bit more strength.

When I went to pick up my old machine from the shop, I kind of fell in love with some other machines....... They kind of told me there, that my machine wasn't really up to the job anyway and wouldn't a new machine be just the thing! I was sold.... and I managed to persuade the other half that it would be a good joint Christmas and birthday present. Hoorah! So pleased with it but also in awe of it - it has over 500 stitches and I don't know really what I am doing with it. Here's a little sampler I did to just try out some of the stitches - it is amazing! Luckily the machine comes with free lessons, which is just as well because it's like learning to sew all over again.

My brain is whirring with lots of different ideas......

Christmas Swop

I've just taken part in a Christmas swop, organised by Louise from Sew Scrumptious which was great as it made me sew again. You had to send a handmade decoration, chocolates and a Christmas card to a random person Louise partnered you with. I sent what is pictured above - I made the ceramic hearts from a course I did this year.

Bizarrely I now realise that I have been put together with one of my sister-in-laws friends from London - handmadejane. The sewing world is a small world indeed. Anyway she sent some lovely decs as pictured on my Christmas tree, some lurvely chocolates and a handmade card. I was well chuffed! Thanks Louise for organising it!

I'm in I love Crafty!

Have kept quiet about this for a while as it was a bit of a slow start.... but have got my things in this lovely shop in Clifton. It's called 'I love Crafty' http://ilovecrafty.blogspot.com and sells fantastic handmade things from local artists/crafters. Laura who runs the shop is really talented and seems to make anything - jewellery, soaps, cushions.

The shop is just perfect for the things I make and best of all I don't have to stand all day on a cold craft stall.

My retro rabbits seem to be selling well and my son (with a bit of help) has even made something for the shop, which has sold already! Wonder if I should give a 6 year old his £16.....

Just started to make some needle books like this. They were really easy to make...might even keep one for myself for a change.

On the sewing theme, there seems to be so much crafting, knitting etc everywhere - this was at Paintworks in Bristol a couple of weeks ago. It's one of those old airstream caravans. Love it.

Check out these giveaways:

http://sewscrumptious.blogspot.com/2010/10/its-giveaway-time.html