CRAFTY SUNDAY # 4

I have a few things to show this week.  The first was a present I made my niece for her 5th birthday...

I used the scraps from the hour glass quilt I have been making (still a work in progress!) to make this little dolls quilt with matching pillow, I also made a sheet to go with it and popped it all into a drawstring bag.

Freya and Finn went off for a few days with some friends of ours yesterday, this is a really big treat for them as it is only the second time they have been away without us (they went with the same friends last year). It Is sooo very quite without them this morning !. 

 Freya asked if I would make her a new bag to carry her day to day bits about in.  She went up to my sewing room and chose the material that she wanted and designed this..

I think she chose great fabrics that work really well together , she is not really a pink or flowery girl, but loves green..

And of course she had to have a matching pencil case..

Lastly the two younger girls saw this ball in Anna Maria Horner's book - Seams to me..

So, here is my version, a bit fiddly, but they were very pleased with it..

Clemmie likes it because its 'squooshy'...

That's it for this week, I managed to have quite a productive week considering it has been half term here, but the nice weather helped, as the children just wanted to play outside all the time, and who am I to complain !

 The house always seems tidier when the weather is nice, just think, if I lived in a hot country my house would be immaculate ! Now there's a thought...

FABRIC ADDICT SWAP..

My parcel for the Fabric addict swap organised by Helen at http://www.craftyhelenathome.blogspot.com/ arrived this afternoon...

I was partnered with Beki The ramblings of an everyday Mummy.

Beki sent me a really fantastic parcel.  Firstly this Log cabin patchwork book that will be the perfect inspiration when choosing blocks for the Fresh and Funky quilt block bee.

Along with the book came the most gorgeous fabric bundle with some of my favorite prints, ribbons, bows, buttons, binding, lace and a lovely handmade pin cushion, which I have only just realised as iItype this, has lavender in ! Mmmmm..(or should that be ZZzzz)..

So, a BIG thank you to Beki for such a well thought out and perfect parcel of goodies..

And also thank you to Helen for making the time to organise it !

Footnote: Can I just say a  thank you to all the people who have joined in the Fresh and Funky quilting bee, we have 7 Brits, 7 Americans and 1 New Zealander and are now full !  I think both Julie and I are glad to have got most of the organising bit out of the way and are looking forward to the challenge of creating some fresh and funky blocks..

PICNICS AND LETTERS..

The picnic quilt that I made last week was put to good use at the weekend when we went up the Brockhole Country Park on Lake Windermere..

Gorgeous weather meant that paddling was in order..

And lots of relaxing..

Another of the little sundresses I have been making, note to self ; make one dress to start with to check on sizes, instead of cutting out three and realising you should have made a size bigger !,  never mind its o.k. over little leggings..

When was the last time you received a hand written letter ?

ElizabethD over at French Village Life is organising a hand written letter swap, I know my older two children 9 and 10 years were hoping to take part, but I'm not sure that there were any other children of their age, so if anyone has any children/grandchildren of a similar age who would like to write letters to my two please do pop over to French Village Life and sign up..

Did you know that 1 in 5 children in the UK have never received a handwritten letter ?

That statistic amazed me, and made me really think, My children always write letters to say thank you for birthday/Christmas gifts etc, but never really receive a letter in return. I hope that receiving a letter will not be a pleasure that my children miss out on..

CRAFTY SUNDAY #3

Thank you to all new bloggers who have asked to join in with Crafty Sunday this week, all participating bloggers are listed in the left sidebar, I look forward to seeing what you have all made this week...

The thing I like about Crafty Sunday, is that the things I have made so far have all been things for me or the family, rather than things I have made as orders for other people..It gives me the perfect excuse and also the momentum to make something for us..

This weeks 'show' has been inspired by Bekimarie's  post last Sunday, she made some lovely little stuffed Russian dolls from some fabric I sent her as part of Crafty Helen's  Fabric Addict Swap..

I dug out the rest of the Russian doll fabric and decided to use it in a Picnic quilt for when we have our family days out...

I used the Russian dolls as the centre pieces of a wonky log cabin style block, using up lots of scraps I had left over from various projects.  When I ran out of dolls I just made multi coloured log cabin style blocks.

I used some stripy fabric to border the blocks that I bought from Ikea a number of years ago..

This fabric is also Ikea and was found in the Children's department where it is sold in 3m rolls for less than £5.00 ! (The thing with Ikea is that different stores seem to stock different fabric, this was bought when we popped into the Leeds store on the way home from a day out, however, Warrington which is the store where we usually shop may not have it, I will have to wait and see.)

I bound the quilt in red gingham.  It is all a little rough and ready, but I really wanted to get it finished so we could use it this weekend. And as Lynne at  Lilly's Quilts said this week..

" Unless you can see the mistakes when you're driving past the quilt at 30 mph, then you needn't worry.

I used this great big circle fabric (Ikea again) for the backing, it was made up into curtains in Freya and Finn's old bedroom and they were no longer needed in their new rooms..

I did not have enough batting for the quilt so used two Ikea (what would I do without Ikea!) fleece blankets instead, which has made it rather weighty, which I don't actually mind, but it was very bulky to work through the sewing machine..

All in all I am delighted with our new picnic quilt, now we just have to decide where we should take it for it's first outing..

FRESH AND FUNKY QUILT BLOCK BEE..

Julie forestpoppy.blogspot.com and I are setting up A New Quilting Bee.  We were both disappointed to be to late to join in the one organised by Lynne lilysquilts.blogspot.com ..so we are boldly going ahead with our own..

You may spot some similarities between or rules as Lynne has kindly let us plagiarise her hard work.. Thank you Lynne..

The Bee is to be called Fresh and Funky with an emphasis on modern, fresh quilting using bright fabrics balanced with neutrals and whites..Inspired by the likes of redpepperquilts, jaybirdquilts and  of course lilysquilts..

WHAT IS A QUILT BLOCK BEE?  I here you ask.. Well, it is a group of people (in this case 15), each person is assigned a month in which their blocks will be made.  That person describes what sort of blocks that would like made and sends a fabric bundle to make said blocks to the fourteen other people in the bee..With me so far ?

When you have completed the blocks you send them back to the person who's month it is and they can make them into a quilt for themselves. 

The next month it all happens again with someone else in the Bee having a turn.  At the end of 15 months all members should have enough blocks to complete their quilts..

Easy !

So, if you are interested here are the Rules...

There are a few, but it just allows you to see whats what, so to speak...

1. Fifteen participants and 15 months. This means that if anyone has to drop out for any reason it would still leave the rest of the group with enough blocks to complete a quilt.  If everyone stays in we should all have between 15 and 30 blocks each (depending on how many blocks you ask the bee to make for you).

2. Start by leaving a comment on this post and leave us a link to your blog or flickr page.  Let us know your likes and dislikes regarding quilting, e.g. styles, quilts you admire, and the types of blocks that you enjoy making.  We will gather more info from each other once we have the final 15.

Our preference is for participants with active blogs/flickr accounts.  So we can be assured that they will be committed..

3. Once we have the final 15 we will assign months to each member.  This will be done through a Fresh and Funky Flickr group.  When it is your month you will post your block requirements/inspirations on the groups page.  You will need to send your fabrics to each member of the group so they arrive by this date (make sure you leave time for posting if we end up with international members in the group).  Before posting your fabrics post on Flickr mail that you are doing so to make sure everyone is still 'in', saves wasting fabric !

4. You can ask for one block or two and also specify the size of your blocks. Send enough fabric for the blocks you require and state clearly whether member can add fabric from their own stash.  Also state whether you would like the leftover scraps sent back or if the member can keep them.. Try not to make it to hard work for other members, please do not ask for anything you would not be willing to do yourself.  This is something fun for us all and we want to keep it fun..

5.When you are making the blocks you can post 'sneak previews' on the groups flickr page or on your own blog so we can all have a peep..

If you are running late or having difficulties completing the blocks in a particular month please let me or Julie and also the member you are making the blocks for know.

6. Communication will be key, so keep the group updated via flickr or through blog comments, and post photographs as well..  It is nice to see what each other are doing..

7. You will have until the end of the month to complete and post out finished blocks.. Leave a message on flickr when you have posted or if you are running late.  Also please leave a comment when you receive the completed blocks and then we all know where we are..

8.If there is anything you don't understand, shout out and we can sort it..

9. Lastly we will miss out December as I'm sure we will all be just to busy.  So that means if we start in July (hopefully we will be ready by then)  we should be finished by October 2011 !

10.                                                                          ENJOY !

      I hope reading all that has not put you off !  If not then go ahead and leave a comment and we can      
                                                                               get quilting..

          Once we have the final 15 you can post the Fresh and Funky button on your blog and we will link
                                                                           it to the Flickr group..

                                                                Ready, steady COMMENT !!

CRAFTY SUNDAY # 2

First of all a big thank you to all you lovely girls who have signed up for Crafty Sunday, I have put links to the blogs of those involved in my sidebar, (if I have missed anyone off or you would like to join in with us please say)  I am looking forward to popping round to see what you have made...

The favourite thing I have made this week is some gorgeous dresses for my two youngest girls.  I saw the tutorial for this written by Mary-Jane at Sweet Emmelie, she has posted a really well written tutorial which is very clear and easy to follow...

If you have never made a dress before this could be the one for you..

Clemmie asked for a pink dress with flowers, so this Amy Butler Tumbling Roses from her Love range was perfect and I teamed it with a bright cerise pink..

I made the age two dress for Clemmie, I should have made the age three really (after all she will be 3 in September) as the age two is a little short.  However, the other great thing about this dress is that as it is grown out of,  it can become a top worn over little trousers or leggings etc, and could eventually even become a skirt..

Hebe had very particular ideas when it came to the fabric for her dress and chose this fantastic Amy Butler (again) fabric from her Love range..from Saints and Pinners.

I really like the little frill around the top which makes it look so pretty..

I don't know how often they will be worn without a t.shirt under with our English weather though, Hebe kept saying she was freezing when I was taking these photo's....

To make the aged four dress above I used :

1/2 metre of Amy Butler Love Bliss Bouquet - teal  £5.00

1 fat quarter of Love Sunspots - turquoise                £2.50

I did not have enough fabric from the spot fabric fat quarter to make the shoulder ties and had to use a piece of fabric I already had, there was enough when making the age two size, but apart from that I reckon that for less than £8.00 you can have a really lovely one off dress..

My older daughter Freya who is ten has said she would like one to wear over jeans...

So if you only make one Summer dress this year make it this one..

BABY BITS AND PARCELS...

I have made odd baby bits for people in the past, but I have wanted to do a full co-ordinating baby range for a while now.. 

I have started putting things together, firstly this nappy and wipe holder (I have been trying to think of a better name, but have not come up with anything yet, so any ideas would be welcome)..

It is the perfect size for carrying a packet of wipes and a couple of nappies when you are past the big nappy bag stage, it can just be popped into your everyday bag..

Next, co-ordinating bibs...

I intend to make a larger changing bag, changing mats and burp clothes.. for both girls and boys ..

***********************

I have received two swap parcels this week, the first was for the Red Gingham  apron swap, I was partnered with Megan at Team Reddick..

Megan put a lovely card in with the apron with a note about the fabrics, the main fabric was left over from a dress her Nana made for Megan when she was a baby and the fabric used for the ties and pockets was left over from a baby quilt Megan made when she was first engaged to her husband and which was used as a crib blanket for her first son....the thought and story of the fabrics made this seem like a very special apron indeed...So thank you very much Megan, I really appreciate what you made for me..  I hope that you like your apron just as much, when it eventually arrives that is !..

My second parcel was for the fairytale swap organised by Vanessa at Hapi-ness, I was partnered with Beverley from Miss Creativity and she chose to send me a parcel based on Cinderella and Mother Goose..

A lovely parcel of fabric, ribbon, stickers, seeds and best of all these great rubber gloves that just make me want to smile...

Washing up will never be a chore again with these beauties upon my hands...

I had no sooner stopped admiring said rubber gloves and left the room for two minutes, when returning found two little people had swiped them..

I don't think so girls !..

I big thank you Beverley, I have just about finished yours which should be with you early next week..

Finally, don't forget Crafty Sunday on Sunday (surprising that !) and please join in, copy the button up at the top left and paste onto your blog, if you leave me a comment to say you will be joining in I will add you to the list of participating bloggers.. I would love to see what you have crafted this week..

Have a lovely weekend xx

AMY BUTLER 'LOVE' QUILT AND CUSHIONS...

This is an order I have been working on for the last week or so..

I made the quilt/throw using some lovely linen mixed with fabric from Amy Butler's 'Love' range, I am really pleased with how it has turned out, I have used this fabric combination a few times in the last couple of weeks, I made Hebe's pump bag using these and also an apron that I made for the red gingham apron swap (can't show that yet as have just posted the parcel to Canada and it will not have got there yet !), its a very zingy mix and I think it looks great with the matching cushions that I also made..

*BREAKING NEWS* I had my first sale on folksy at the weekend ! It was actually a cushion the same as the 'love' one above but made using Tone Finnanger fabric for the letters...Really chuffed..

CRAFTY SUNDAY # 1

A lot of the quilting bloggers are involved in SUNDAY STASH which I understand is hosted by Tam at  quarterofaninch.blogspot.com they basically do a post on a Sunday where they show fabric from their stash, they also have a Sunday Stash Flickr Group http://www.flickr.com/groups/sundaystash/.

Josie at http://josie-mary.blogspot.com/2010/05/show-and-tell-sunday.html also does a Sunday Show and Tell where you can post images on a given subject each month, this month was favourite china..

Anyway, inspired by these two ideas I wanted to start a Crafty Sunday post where people can join in a show something they have made that week, it could be anything, and would not need to be a long post, it could even be wordless with just an image...

If you would like to join in, copy the picture above and post it onto your blog, if you also leave a comment I can put a list of Crafty Sunday bloggers on my blog..

Here's hoping people get involved...

My first Crafty Sunday item is this Pin Cushion Caddy...

 It is taken from Anna Maria Horner's book, Seams to Me..

I was given this book as a Christmas present, I have looked through it many a time but not actually made anything from it, until this week, when I made two of the projects !

The first was an apron for the Red Gingham apron swap and the second was the above Pin Cushion Caddy that I made as the handmade item for another swap I am involved in..(can't say much more as I haven't posted the swap parcel yet, so don't want to spoil the surprise !)..

I loved the pin cushion so much I really didn't want to send it as part of the swap parcel !, but then I decided to make this one for myself.

It really is the Mother of all pincushions, very large, with a storage bit in the middle (a great place to store sewing machine feet, which always seem to go missing), no chance of me losing this one under a pile of fabric.  But best of all it makes me smile every time I have looked at it sitting there next to my sewing machine, and that to me is the best reason to make something..

Please join in with Crafty Sunday, I would love to visit your blogs and see what you have been making...