The Mermaid's Purse

YoYo Caterpillar

2012-02-09T21:32:00.000Z

Attempting to dream up fabric "toys" without stuffing or "bits", Yoyos came to mind. It might have taken four attempts to get the right frill but I do now have something that I find acceptable! Sorry the tail's hidden but this is the best pic of a bad bunch tonight .......... I do honestly think it looks much nicer than it does here. No prizes for guessing the destination of this but I hope it's constructed in such a fashion in that it will be remembered and perhaps even replicated in part by somebody in years to come in the same way that I remember the YoYo clown sitting in a great aunt's spare bedroom when I was a child ........... the inspiration for my YoYo Caterpillar

I can finally post the contents of my giveaway at the end of last year now Linda has received it (my fault it was so late) ......... some of my hand coloured stuff along with a couple of other loosely co-ordinating bits.

Blogger says try the new Blogger Interface .............. I don't suppose I can go back now!!!!!

More Free Stuff .........

2012-02-06T13:35:00.002Z

Fabric Paper Dolls! I couldn't resist having a go at this free pattern substituting the fusible fleece with felt and Supermend bonding powder (it's non toxic and BSI approved). It meant a bit more fiddling about but I really don't mind that and am rather pleased ..............

I ran out of velcro so, sadly, she won't get a change of shoes but she does have several outfits. Mindful of her journey, I've stuck to 100% cotton fabrics but can you imagine being let loose with all manner of synthetics and frivolous bits? The hair and clothes, excepting dress, all fit within a 5" charm square so a great use for those and she won't take up much room in a shoebox!

Thankfully no big dinner to cook tonight with enough of yesterday's vegetable stew and dumplings to keep us warm.

Pinterest and Stuff

2012-02-04T18:08:00.001Z

Pinterest, that totally compulsive, addictive, viral online pinboard ......... if you've never heard of it then don't look, it WILL take over your life! My husband often moaned that he couldn't find his few bookmarks amongst my hundreds (I do sort them out but it soon gets out of hand again) so I started transferring them onto Pinterest. It's wonderful to be able to see a pic to remind oneself rather than having to click on every link to find just the thing one's looking for and to be able to organise things via boards - heaven! One of my boards is ideas for Christmas Shoeboxes so I started seeking things out. A fabric alphabet I've just finished ...........

I used the template here. I'd make them a little bigger or do them a little differently another time to allow for easier cutting of the internal apertures but I do like the way they've turned out. All different fabrics with plenty of colours, spots, stripes, checks, flowers etc. for added play value, cut on the bias as much as possible to minimise fraying and a great way of using up all those little scraps - they're probably a little less than 2" high.

This week it's been just the weather for some warming winter soups ......... very cheap too! Root Vegetable soup = potato, carrot and onion (or leek or both) sweated down in a little butter for a few minutes. Add some stock, a few herbs and seasoning plus a teaspoon of sugar. Sometimes I'll omit the herbs and add spices instead (ground coriander/cumin/curry) or add some chopped fresh coriander at the end.

Simmer in a lidded pan until the vegetables are soft ...............

then blend with a stick blender whilst still hot .................

A head of celery had been in the fridge drawer since Christmas so that got used up too, sweated down with some potato, onion, an apple and a clove of garlic. I used half stock, half milk, salt and pepper.

The milk curdled it but it didn't look too bad blended and tasted wonderful. It was only me that ate it anyway ....... over a few days!
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More Cooking than Stitching

2012-01-28T10:18:00.000Z

I've kinda lost my way a bit this week with the stitching. First off I removed the paper from the back of the patched sleeves and noticed a lot of the bottom stitching was quite loose ..........a huge disappointment with myself for not checking earlier! Thankfully it was only a top tension issue and tightening it up a notch seems to be ok. I just need to get on with it! The elephant is stuffed though ................

Cheese and bacon whirls (of which I ate far too many) ..............

Basically a cheese scone mix (salt, white pepper and mustard powder for plenty of flavour) mixed with egg and milk and with more cheese and minced lean unsmoked bacon laid on top before being rolled up and cut into slices. A great use for Sainsbury's cooking bacon (£1.09 for 660g) as is the Bacon and Onion suet pudding we had for dinner last night. I was going to take a pic this morning but the remaining portion in the fridge has gone! For a cheap and easy dinner if anybody is interested .......

Bacon and Onion Suet Pudding

250g SR flour

125g Suet

Pepper, mustard powder and a little salt for seasoning

225g lean unsmoked bacon (rashers, chopped or minced)

1 large onion chopped

Mix all dry ingredients together with water for a manageable dough and roll out on a floured surface to about (guessing here) 9" x 12". Place bacon and onion on top and, starting from the short end, roll up like a swiss roll. Parcel in foil and, making sure any joins in the foil are on top, place into pan and steam for 2.5hrs.

We had apple shortcake this week too, here's one I made earlier:

I can't remember which recipe I used for the one in the photo but this week it was from Nigel Slater's "Kitchen Diaries" .............. just as he says except I don't caramelise the Bramleys too much as I prefer the crisp clean look of the apple and cooked for a little longer (more like 1hr rather than 40 minutes but that could be my oven and the fact I placed the baking tin on a tray) to prevent a soggy middle ............ the apples keep it moist anyway. Oh, and I've ate far too much of that as well!
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Sorting Out

2012-01-22T00:34:00.000Z

Today was a tidy up day. At the back, fabrics for the jacket and some small pieces that will fit in somewhere ........

Bottom left a small pile from which I should be able to do something ...............

He needs ears attaching, stuffing (when I remember where it is) and some adornment before he's off to a new home (more about that later). The pile of fragments left (I can't really call them scraps) will go in the bag with kilos of other fragments to make pictures when I've no fabric left to do anything else if we get any more energy bills like the one we've been hit with today!!

The jacket fabric pile looked very depleted with the two fronts and back still to go so I had a hunt for some bits that I could overdye turquoise .........

Some worked better than others but at least I have some more to choose from which should keep me going for a bit ........

In the cupboard was a bottle of salt solution (labelled), one empty bottle and one nearly full bottle of another solution. Was it Urea or Soda? No idea, so I made up another bottle of Soda. What was the point of putting the unlabelled bottle back in the cupboard then?

Angela, the free bag tutorials I've just found by googling for free bag tutorials or searching for free sewing patterns in general just to see if there's anything that I may like to make at some stage. If and when is another matter lol!
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"Hidden Lives"

2012-01-20T23:11:00.001Z

That's the name of the patchwork jacket ............ . The last two days have been busy. I've drawn out all the pattern pieces to size on the foundation paper and finished piecing another sleeve.

I worked out what was wrong with the baking parchment on the machine ............. nothing! Having switched to greaseproof, was stitching strips together to make pieces large enough for the pattern and had the same problem ........... it was the sheer volume of the stuff causing drag or rather my failing to support it properly to the front, rear and/or side. It's not ideal working on a round table in the kitchen but it will have to do until it's a bit warmer and I can retreat to the conservatory ............ well until it gets too hot in the summer!

On the 1st of January, I said that the bathroom blind was priority .......... I did start drawing some of the blocks onto paper! I have 2 more blinds to finish and another to make. There are three seascape bits that could do with being put to bed and a quilt that needs making up. I quite fancied having a go at the Free Motion Quilting challenge but am being sensible about putting too much pressure on myself. Then I find the Sewing Room sewalong with a relatively easily achievable project each month. January's is a sofa/armchair sewing caddy and I could really do with one of those (mustn't forget the one my husband has asked for to house his remotes though). It's just as well blogger wouldn't let me comment!!
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25 Free Bag Tutorials

2012-01-19T23:01:00.004Z

I'm always cluttering up the "bookmarks" with stuff that "might come in handy" or that I "might" want to look at again when I've got more time. There's hundreds of free bag patterns and tutorials on the web but here's some of the ones I've bookmarked:

Owl Bag

Collapsible Bucket

Pencil Case

Toddler Backpack
(the pic is my version)

Dotted Dream (pdf)

Bird Purse (pdf)

Strippy Handbag

I've only ever used one of them and that was for the toddler backpack! My husband quite fancies the "car caddy" and I shall make him one when I've thought up an alternative "lining".

The First Sleeve

2012-01-18T23:49:00.001Z

Yes, stop thinking! Two days hard work and I have one patched sleeve excepting a couple of bits that need hand stitching down and with which I was rather pleased until I put a picture up ............. they show all the flaws! Perhaps the other side looks better but I'm too tired to go and look now. I wanted this to be very much "as it comes" though did remove one rogue patch early on - I've taken all the "blue" blues out of the mix. If I take out more then it'll be something else that stands out and we'll be going into contrived mode which is far removed from the original idea so I'm being brave .......... or stupid! I've just this minute realised that I might need to think about the positioning of fabrics where the sleeve meets the armhole. Not exactly stress free!

I've changed the pattern a bit. I'm using the width and the neckline for the Vogue one but the sleeves were rather fitted so I've changed them to a less fitted version with a wider shoulder. The sleeve is wider too and I've worked out, I think, that if I quilt as on the armchair caddy then I'll be ok shrinkwise.

The overall starting width was 16.5" and I cut the patch pockets at 7" wide so looking at the picture I've probably lost a bit less than an inch! The safer option? I'm aiming at cutting before quilting now ........ we'll see!

The Juki does not like the baking parchment foundation - it needs quite a bit of help! I'm beginning to wonder now if it was greaseproof paper that I used on the Bernina without problem ............. if it weren't for the automatic thread cutter I'd get it out ....... all those ends to push through isn't appealing right now not to mention all the extra thread used. I should have thought to get some greaseproof at the supermarket earlier today. I'm not supposed to be buying anything extra for this but think I will need to get some thread.

Thankyou for all your comments ............ I do read (and listen)!
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Starting "the" Jacket ............ tentatively

2012-01-15T23:54:00.000Z

Selecting the fabrics is the easy bit! There won't be enough of the batik to line the whole but that's ok, I quite like that different parts will be lined with different fabrics. The more mishmash this is the better. I have lots of different fabrics but I don't have a lot of many of them. There are a few half yard pieces that are new as is the batik (I would have purchased enough to line the whole jacket had there been enough) but much is scrappy bits left over from other stuff. This is what delights me the most, using up what I have and trying to make it all work together!

Not sure yet but it might need some further colours ..........

Now for the uphill struggle! How many more days can I spend thinking about this before getting started? I can't think of a better alternative to paper piecing for now .............. a) I'd rather there wasn't anything between the main fabric and batting for smoother quilting and b) probably the less layers the better. The Pillsbury Doughboy I could be but let's try not to get to Michelin Man! The more I quilt it the less puffy and quilty looking it will be right? Well that's what I'm hoping!

The baking parchment isn't wide enough for the pattern pieces so I'll sew sheets of it together. It's quite strong yet does tear ok when needed ............. I don't want to be rustling like a packet of crisps walking along the road if I can't get it all out!

Using Vogue 2915, I shall crazy quilt the pattern pieces onto paper (back, fronts and sleeves) extending the pattern a couple of inches all round to allow for shrinkage when quilting ........ except for the length of the sleeves which drown me already!. The random patches need to be upsized from that which I'd normally use ............. nothing smaller than 3" perhaps? That might actually be a challenge!

I plan to free motion quilt the top fabric onto the wadding and lining. Although I'm not actually there yet, this is where I'm stuck. I don't want the quilting to extend into the seam allowance so that I can stitch the side and sleeve seams through the top fabric and wadding only if that makes sense. It would leave less bulky seams plus I could neatly hand stitch the lining in place where applicable. Problem is, as the quilting is going to "shrink" the pattern piece, where is the seam line going to end up so I know where to stop the quilting? Oh and there's another thing, should I carry out any embellishment before or after the quilting? Maybe I should make a mini jacket first ............ and hope it doesn't put me off! Perhaps starting with a square ie. cushion size would be easier for measuring thus more helpful for sampling? I've had the pattern cut out for two days now but I seem to be making this all sound rather complicated .............. thought processes take time. Searching for answers one finds other stuff ............ pretty stuff that one can "pin" rather than clog up the laptop with so many bookmarks that other people can't find their stuff ................ getting addicted to "Pinterest" was not part of the plan and, I am quite sure, will not help stitch the jacket!!

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Thinking about "The Jacket"

2012-01-13T09:42:00.002Z

Wearable art or wearing a quilt? There's a very fine line between the two and I've got to be careful not to cross over to the latter ............ particularly a crazy quilt!

I know what shape of jacket I'm going to do and I know the theme (think sea) but I'm still undecided about which technique to use to create the fabric. Foundation pieced crazy quilting? What to use for the foundation? Something light that is going to behave when freemotioned with the wadding (I'll be using Hobbs 80/20) and backing. It's got to behave in the washing machine so muslin is out! I have some cotton lining which is rather stiff so I could wash that to see how that comes up or perhaps piece onto paper ............ I'm sure I could get some help to remove it all!!

Square and/or rectangular patches would be easier. No need for a foundation, much quicker to make up and less wastage of fabric! Hmmm ........... not reknowned for taking the easier option I really do need to think about this.

I've ordered a book hoping that there might be some useful hints and tips within. I couldn't find much about it on the web but it was cheap so not too much to lose if it's not helpful.

Yesterday, as part of my birthday treat, we went to Goldhawk Road. It's not the sort of place where I'd want to hang out for any length of time but, for anybody that doesn't know, it is fabric shopping heaven! A One fabrics (right next to the Shepherd's Bush market entrance) was the first stop. Much of their stuff is priced unlike some of the others nearby - I find it somewhat offputting when picking up a roll of fabric, being told it's £3.95 a metre then you can have it for £3.50 when you put it back. I'm sure you could haggle well in a few of these places if you're that way inclined though. Anyway, amongst the dressmaking cottons were some quilting fabrics, mostly Woodrow ............. who could resist at £3.50 a metre?

A Cooke's Pie and Mash shop next door is a treat for the husband (no bathroom there though) ............ photo from a previous visit

A few doors along is Unique Fabrics where they had cotton solids for £3.95m ........ they would be £6.50 to nearly £10 at the shops nearest to me. I had all the bits I needed so didn't even venture into the shops over the road yesterday but I have been in all of them before! The small market is also worth a visit ........ chillis and other veg that's on the more expensive side in the supermarkets here are ridiculously cheap ......... it's worth taking a cool box just in case!!

As an aside, has anybody used the V&A's Patchwork pattern maker with any success? I need to find the "right" photo to have a play around and remember that it's not going to convert into an intricate cross stitch chart lol!

I'm off to do some tidying up, put the washing on and THEN I can start sorting out some fabrics for the jacket and hope the postman hurries up with my book.
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Patchwork Mania!!

2012-01-11T20:33:00.000Z

I'm a bit, well erm, besotted with patchwork (particularly patchwork clothes) right now. I think it's one of those things that's been with me forever and just emerges from time to time. When I was little, in the 60s, my nan had a little bundle of pinked flannel nursery squares which I played with and stitched together for dolls blankets. If I remember rightly they were samples from a time when she worked in a small local department store.

I loved this faux patchwork cotton print dress that my mum made me c1972/1973 .........

For many decades patchwork eluded me. The angular symmetry and often dowdy colours in abundance had no appeal whatsoever. I bought some templates and Laura Ashley pre cut squares back in the 80s but ended up stitching them together as they were to line a toy basket and have never used the templates. I did the obligatory pieces for C &G and a few more recent bits that I've blogged about but nothing much. I seriously thought about doing a patchwork jacket for my large scale C&G piece but knew I would make the embroidery so involved that I would never finish it. I was going to use my Indian jacket for the main pattern. I haven't worn it for years .......... it had an accident in the washing machine when a viscose velvet patch came away at the seams. I'm sure I can find something somewhere, dyeing if need be, to make it wearable again.

Sitting round the kitchen table a couple of days ago coversing with my husband, mum and dad, my head was full of "what to spend my birthday money on". Saying that I'd ordered a pattern for a coat mum remarked "patchwork I expect". No, but I do intend on making a patchwork jacket at some point. "Ah, Dolly Parton and her Coat of Many Colours" said dad who proceed to tell of the story behind the song. I didn't even recall the tune let alone know that it was true. I'm well and truly hooked on the song at the moment and I AM going to make my patchwork jacket!!

It's the domesticity and resourcefulness of patchwork that is so appealing. A short while ago we visited a local quilting exhibition where there was some very nice stuff but most of it would have been made for the "show" and, although very nice and well made, had little appeal to me. There was one quilt that stuck in my mind and it's the only thing I can remember much about .......... worked by a WW2 Canadian war bride in whatever fabrics she had to hand. It was stitched with love and care and for a real purpose ............ the emotion almost weeping from the fabric and stitches.

I absolutely adore Jane's dress at the Museum of Childhood, lovingly made by her mother who sat up all night stitching these pieces of fabric together so Jane had a dress for a party.

I've kind of been losing my way a bit for quite a while, longer than I care to think about actually, but I'm sooooooo excited about this patchwork thing at the minute I am going to explore further and get the stuff sorted for my jacket!

Free Motion Quilting

2012-01-09T01:01:00.002Z

I wanted to try free motion quilting on the Juki Exceed and got a foot for my birthday. It's not actually my birthday yet (well it wasn't when I started!) but I needed a present for my dad's birthday. My husband suggested an armchair caddy for the remotes. Ah, I could make one ........ a good excuse to try the foot out! The manual suggested keeping the stitch length on 2.4 but I found some of the stitches a bit big for my liking .........

so I switched to "0" which I was more comfortable with.

It's not perfect but it's not bad (even if I do say so myself) for my first free motion quilted project. I've done plenty of FMB and a couple of small bits of FMQ back in C&G days but nothing on this scale. The dark sludgy grey thread on the front looks quite light but it will have to do. The back ...........

I did find that the fabric didn't always move too smoothly over the plastic parts of the machine which I'd look into more if I plan on doing a serious amount of quilting.

A couple of design faults (I realise now how I could have made things a bit easier for myself) and I've been advised it might be a bit on the large side but, hey, I really didn't have a lot of time to think about it having only decided and started on Saturday. I like the quilting though, and the fabric which, although floral, isn't too masculine and something I'm sure mum won't mind having in her home. That, too, was part of my birthday present but they deserve it!
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Plans ..........

2012-01-01T19:09:00.001Z

But first ............ from the Amazon wish list ............. "The Sewing Accessory Bible". I love it! Relatively inexpensive and quite a bit that's second nature but good for refreshing and deciding whether particular additional feet will be of use to me. I'd never thought about using some of my automatic stitches for faux candlewicking either!

"The Artful Bird". Many of the patterns need some enlargement on a photocopier so I haven't really had that good a look yet as it's a "want to dive straight in" kind of thing .........

Amy Butler's "Style Stitches". Not that I actually need any bag books but my daughter should actually like some of them!!

I don't remember this being on the list but I had borrowed it from the library (yet to look) and I do really like "The Gentle Art of Domesticity" .............

Lastly, one I actually ordered myself ............

The plan is to get the house in some sort of order (I've probably said that before!!) so the "Chelsea" blind is now in the bathroom ...........

I need to make a matching smaller one so a few hours today establishing the size and number of blocks needed via the "Quilt Assistant" design tool ............ it's much easier than drawing it out on paper when it comes to moving the blocks around to establish easy straight runs for stitching them together!

Three jobs imminent now then ................. draw out 109 log cabin squares, find the couple of squares that I know were left over from the last one and see which fabrics I can still match up from my stash! I wrote that the other one took approximately 200 hours so this, in theory, should be about 80.

Wishing everybody a happy, healthy, peaceful and creative 2012

Well that's it ..................

2011-12-22T23:03:00.000Z

Christmas really has crept up on me this year, more so than ever before I think. I had a list of things still to make but wasn't happy with the microfibre diary covers I've been working on the last couple of days. Quick and easy isn't really my thing and I need to spend more time on them to achieve anything remotely pleasing so decided to spend today finishing something started over a year ago!

13 hours later .......... the Sunflower's wired silk petals and leaves can be arranged as one pleases.

The machines, fabric and threads are being put away early in the morning to concentrate on some baking. The kids like the things we always have so we always have the same things at Christmas ............ it's easier than "where's this?" "why haven't we got that?". Stilton and onion quiche, a bacon quiche, puff pastry sausage rolls, chocolate log and the beginnings of the Mascarpone trifle are on the agenda for tomorrow!

Wishing everybody a lovely Christmas and a happy and healthy 2012

Baking

2011-12-15T09:39:00.000Z

I had a go at Gina's Almond Paste Mince Pies. Having left the paste in the fridge overnight it was rather difficult to pipe. A quick zap in the microwave made it really squidgy but much easier:

They are nice but my favourite mince pie is still the orange and cream cheese recipe I first used back in the 80s ...........

For anybody that would like to try:

1lb plain flour
8oz butter
4oz lard (I used Trex yesterday as it was what I had)
Zest and juice of 1 large orange
Mincemeat
8oz cream cheese (I used the cheapy basics one this time)
2 oz caster sugar

Rub fat into flour, add zest and mix with some of the orange juice. Roll out and cut into 24 linings and lids (I usually get about 32). Add 1 tsp of mincemeat to each tart. Mix caster sugar with cream cheese and dollop a teaspoon onto the mincemeat before adding the lid. Glaze with milk and bake for probably about 20 minutes at 190 (I tend to check the oven rather than time them). The baked pies freeze really well.

Looking for some oven mitts I found a tutorial for some novel looking round pot holders. I think the addition of binding makes for a neater finish though ...............

Peering over my shoulder, my dad was very complimentary about the chicken ones I was stitching. Now I'm not sure why he would be so interested in oven stuff so guess he liked the fabric! Hmmmmm ............ a quilted wine bottle carrier would be just the thing!!!

I used this tutorial but constructed a bit differently, particularly the side seams where I only stitched the top fabric and wadding together leaving the lining to be slip stitched in place for a neater finish. The chicken fabric is quite heavily printed so I found just the one layer of wadding (Insul-Bright to help keep the wine at the preferred temperature for a while) adequate.
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Laundry Adventures

2011-12-01T21:13:00.000Z

I had some vintage fabrics that needed freshening up but included in the pile was a large piece of magenta cotton which I just knew was going to bleed .........

The rich magenta coloured fabric is no more (bottom right) but I can still use it, even overdye if necessary ........

and I have two of the most wonderfully dyed "colour catchers"

Giveaway:
Thankyou for all your lovely comments. Everybody's name was duly written, cut out and neatly folded then my husband randomly picked Linda so a little package of goodies will soon be flying across the globe to Australia.
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Patchwork Christmas Stockings

2011-11-26T19:28:00.000Z

Being inspired by some pretty Christmas stockings I've seen on the web recently, I set to making a few .........

The reds and pinks look better in reality but to give some idea ........

I used this free tutorial for a template and did line them, they are a fun project. Now if I could only find more hours in the day to move onto designing some with something a bit more ............ the ideas are there but I'm running out of time now!

There's still time (until the end of November) to comment on my 200th giveaway blog post to enter the draw for some embroidery goodies (a selection of threads/yarns etc.). I'll also include comments on this post and my facebook page in the draw.
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200th Post Giveaway

2011-11-22T23:44:00.004Z

Well I went with the flower and was pleased with it ........... until I uploaded some pics and now I'm not so sure ......... though it does seem to look better in reality ............ pinks are a funny colour to photograph!

The "Flowerpot" Bag

Now for the giveaway ................ a little goody bundle for embroidery/embellishing. No pic yet, I need to have a bit of a sort out and get some bits together I'll pick the winner from the comments on this post at the end of November .............. good luck and I hope the randomly chosen poster likes what I choose for them. Comments on my facebook page will be included in the draw too.
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Designing a Bag ..........

2011-11-21T13:03:00.000Z

A quick 10 second sketch for a "Flowerpot" Bag. First thoughts were summery pinks and greens but out came the fabrics and I decided on something more in keeping with the season. The cotton shirt that I grabbed before the latest sort out went off to the charity shop a couple of weeks ago would be perfect for lining the crazy quilted outer panels.

An Inner zipped pocket .......

The actual shirt pocket unpicked and stitched to the lining the other side is handy for those quick to grab items ...........

Not quite sure about the planned 3D fabric flower(s), I'll do one and decide before finishing it off. I'm really pleased with the upcycling of the shirt, not only due to the price of cotton these days but it adds a personal touch! When I think of the pretty cotton dresses my daughter used to wear (many years ago!), I could nearly cry that I didn't think of keeping them for the fabric lol!
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Bits & Pieces

2011-11-19T07:12:00.003Z

A couple of bedroom cushions. The buttons too large to use the automatic buttonholer on the Juki, I used the "two step" program ......... it was a disaster, stopping and changing to a bar tack whenever it felt like it! I've not had cause to use that machine for buttonholes before so I need to have a really good play before I attempt them again!

Another colourwash I Spy Quilt in the making - I've got so far as piecing the top:

A few pieces of fabric which I hope will combine to make a pretty bag (my current project):

Puppet Parade

2011-10-26T15:29:00.000+01:00

At last, my version of the panda and zebra puppets by Itty Bitty Toys

I saw how Mary at Ravlery had used the pattern for a pig and soon realised how easy it was to knit a whole array of puppets to portray all manner of characters ..............

Before each one is finished there are already ideas for many more ..............

Oh yes, there's more too but I won't bore anybody with numerous photos of similar stuff all of which will eventually find their way into a Christmas shoebox .......... and can't promise when I'll be posting anything different as, even though I'm no great knitter, these things are somewhat addictive!!!!!
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A Bit of Catch Up

2011-10-16T15:49:00.000+01:00

I did a couple more pages for Gina's Sketchbook Challenge before putting the art stuff away for a bit. I kind of started losing my way but have a better idea of where to go next when I get them out again. This was an enlarging experiment - large scale isn't really my thing but I've had to do it in the past so I did just the one for now ............

Out and about, I did actually have the camera in my bag to capture (in a fashion) these mixed media wall hangings at Sheerness Library :

My paternal ancestors came from the Midlands. Grandad was killed in WW2 whilst my dad was a baby and his parents parted company when he was a babe himself so I started off knowing very little about them when I got into family history back in the mid 80s. Finally, as an anniversary treat, we planned a short trip to the Black Country Living Museum and the Back to Backs in Birmingham. Sadly we didn't get to the Back to Backs as they were closed for longer than stated on the NT website and we didn't find this out until phoning to book AFTER we had booked our accomodation. Never mind, we had a brilliant time and for me it felt like going home despite never having been there and my grandad moving down south with his mother as a baby c1910. I have Romany ancestry but I do not like camping, I have conjuring ancestors but magic bores me, lots came from London but the City scares me a bit, I go the Midlands and, well, what can I say except I loved every minute of it and it felt like going home as soon as we saw "Fort Dunlop"!!!!

We took numerous pics so just a couple of textiley bits ..............

Back to now, knitting is good for me at the moment. I need to concentrate enough to stop me thinking about other stuff and I can do it on the sofa in the same room as my husband for the evening. Being no great knitter, I'm ok with small items and have knitted up the panda and zebra puppets mentioned in the last post and also used the basic patterns for Dennis the Menace, Piglet, Pooh, pig, rabbit (and a yet to be decided) puppets too ......... will post pics when I (eventually) get them all stitched together and finished! Am miles behind with catching up on fellow blogs so hope to find some time for light reading before too long too!
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Glove Puppet Knitting Patterns and Tutorials

2011-10-10T10:30:00.009+01:00

Knitted items are very welcome in the shoeboxes sent abroad with Operation Christmas Child each November but they must be unstuffed. Hand puppets are ideal so long as any bits of filling are left out where applicable and they can make lovely "friends" for often traumatised and lonley children. I've listed some of my favourites from the free puppet knitting patterns online.

Susan B Anderson's panda and zebra puppets from Itty Bitty Toys

Mary at Ravelry has combined the panda and zebra patterns to make a pig puppet

Turtle from Mavis at Sheep and Shepherd with the pattern at Ravelry
Knitting in the round and quite complex but beautiful!

Clown, elephant and teddy at the OCC website

Janet from Musings of the Puppet Lady has been knitting 100 puppets a year for the Christmas Shoebox scheme for several years now and has shared patterns for her variation on the OCC clown and Mickey Mouse. Do have a look around her blog at ideas for other variations ie. snowman, duck, Father Christmas, Penguin etc.. Photos on Flicker too.

Twins at Melodiesplus

Girl at Creni (pdf)
Girl, fairy, prince and rabbit at Knitting and Crochet
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More Christmas Shoeboxes

2011-10-09T19:18:00.000+01:00

The last of our shoeboxes for OCC this year all packed and ready to go:

Boy 2-4

Girl 2-4

Girl 5-9

Girl 10-14

Sometimes when ...........

2011-09-15T01:06:00.000+01:00

......... I don't know what to do I end up doing nothing much at all. However, we have been busy filling our Christmas boxes. We're doing 6 this year, one for each of the groups and this is our shoebox for a 5-9 year old boy:

The bottom lined with plain paper, stickers and a puzzle removed from the box to maximise space (I've made a little drawstring bag to keep the pieces in).

Adding stuff - there's a small colouring book hidden in here too:

Hat and mittens to help keep warm, an inflatable and tennis ball for outdoor play, playdoh and school supplies and a small cuddly toy to love:

A pencil case fashioned from friendly faced scraps and a strong corded bag cajoled from the Chelsea Megastore!

Amongst other bits hidden in there is a football soap on a rope, packet of toothbrushes, toothpaste and a toy car - over 30 different things in, hopefully, a box of fun ready to be wrapped with just enough space for a few sweets.
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Potato Printing

2011-08-11T15:18:00.001+01:00

This was fun! It's the first time I've played with potatoes for printing since school and was surprised at the lovely contours I could get. The only downside being they don't last long.

With some Koh-I-Noor watercolour washes and a little bit of pen, pencil and dimensional glitter here and there ............

Colour Sketchbook Challenge 3

2011-08-10T00:47:00.001+01:00

Page 3 (to the right) which is actually page 2 in the book. No, tell a lie it is actually page 4 because I left the first 2 pages blank until I get some more confidence back in case these weren't good enough to open the book to ............ hmmmm

The page was painted with the same green Koh-I-Noor as the left hand page with a lace fabric pressed down on the wet paint which didn't really work, can just see a few background dots here and there if looking closely. White pastel worked over a stencil then the whole page was painted with a weak turquoise Brusho which left it quite dull ........... not really me and a lesson learned

Some yellow pencil over the whole background and some pencil detail on the flowers and it looks a little better though still a bit subtle for me ........

Following the tutorials to a certain degree is good for me though as I'm revisiting stuff, learning new things and it's making me think lol! Oh, and another thing, I forgot to mention is it's an "Upsy Daisy" book (how apt). I couldn't understand why I had to move the whole of the spiral binding everytime I opened the book or tried to shut it until my husband pointed out that I had it back to front! I can't be doing that all the time or it will soon be ruined so I shall have to be starting again from the right side soon!!!!
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Colour Sketchbook Challenge 2

2011-08-08T22:33:00.002+01:00

Well what can I say? A quick 10 minute Brusho project this morning quickly became an all day thing. Anyway, what emerged was turquoise Brusho mixed with acrylic wax stencilled onto a dry on wet (turquoise and yellow) Brusho background. The whole background was then coated with acrylic wax to seal.

Finding something to bring the flowers back to life ( I hadn't intended blue as in an actual blue but it was finding something that would work over the acrylic wax) .................. blue glitter Markal with an acrylic glitter glaze over to seal due to the non-porous base, white and yellow acrylic highlights.

Unfortunately, particularly with the flower on the right, the camera shows the whole flower as the same blue due to the glitter glaze where there are in fact areas of darkness and opaque white highlights. Apart from the composition bordering on "Palm Trees at Midnight" rather than "Sea Breeze" daisies I'm really quite pleased and feeling just a little more positive!

Not sure I'm labelling these quite right as it's not actually working out as following the tutorials in order but think I'll get there .............
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Starting Over ............... Colour Sketchbook Challenge 1

2011-08-07T01:50:00.008+01:00

Thankyou for your encouraging comments ladies but I really wasn't happy with the way things were going so change of plan!!!

We have four clumps of Erigeron "Sea Breeze" in our garden courtesy of my parents who got cuttings from a friend in Sandgate. Mum calls them "Sandgate Daisies" where they create such a pretty picture in the summer months tumbling over the garden walls facing the sea. They provide brilliant ground cover in our poor chalky clay soil.

I got a new sketchbook, daunting in so much as I'm not used to working directly into a book at all but determined to have a go. Now I'm not sure how much I'm supposed to be bending the brief here but I've made a start ........ my way ........... and my husband's far from impressed that it's the "same old thing" .......... not free and flowing but controlled and repetative hmmm.......... . I like the colours whatever!.

A bit of salt as a resist on the wet watercolour, white pastel smudged around some circular stencils, more paint and some Jelly Roll pen detail ..............

Think the central circles look far too harsh now I've photographed them (after they've been stuck down) ......... will need to think about that. Perhaps adding more paint will bring them more in line to where they were before. In the meantime I've dripped a few drops of water on the background to give yet more textural effect and hope it looks ok when I have a look in the morning!!

Update:

Best leave it alone for now .........

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Funky Fungi

2011-08-05T00:53:00.000+01:00

Green: Envious, naive, recycling, gardens, countryside, healthy eating ............

Anyway, change of plan. I wanted a simple but easily recognisable image to work with for the sketchbook challenge and I've left the sea theme (for the time being) for Fungi.

Following Gina's suggestions

Cut out chosen shape(s) and use as stencil for crayon/pastel (I chose different fungi for this one) - fine.
Fill shapes with colour (darker green) - fine.
Add areas of colour to background - oh dear! I need to hunt out some better paper as it's not taking more washes very well (in fact it's disintegrating) and it's now all looking the same. I had a feeling I'd do that with this one colour lark lol!
Add some acrylic gel to the shapes to get them to stand out a bit more then add some darker areas to the background so it gets more messy and more of the same!

Add water soluble crayon, water, more crayon etc. etc. and outline the shapes in black pen which didn't improve things!

It's certainly lacking funkiness (the title was my husband's suggestion ............ he's a "Funky Fun Guy" (so he says lol). Oh well, there's always another day ...............
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Sketchbooks and Cookbooks

2011-08-04T15:31:00.000+01:00

I was delighted to be the "winner" of some art stuff from Gina's giveaway last week ...........

I love the brilliant clear colour of the Koh-I-Noor dyes and have decided to join in her colour sketchbook challenge "Close to Home". Having spent the last week dithering about a starting point (now decided but will save that for the next post) I've chosen the colour green. I was rather concerned about the limits of one colour for me personally so green fits nicely. Both the lime and jade in the dyes are very pretty plus I can play around with yellows and blues and still have green!

Unfortunately the cling film (Morrisons) didn't have enough "cling" (sheets 2 and 3) but luckily I had already used a sheet of plastic canvas weighted down onto the wet paint for sheet 4 to give a textural effect .......................

The second book in my cookbook challenge is "The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook". The Key Lime pie with 2 cans of condensed milk is very, very sweet ............. especially when it has a meringue topping! I didn't actually make it but I did have a hand in deciding that the filling needed a longer cooking time than specified:

Some other things from the book (not all this week lol) ............. Pineapple and Coconut cupcakes (greatly reducing the butter content for the frosting):

Chocolate cookies ................

Rocky ~~Mess~~ Road .................

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With regards to the last post, yes, the Brownies could have done with a little less cooking. I did check them at 27 mins but wasn't too sure so left them for 35 (35-45 recommended I think) plus I used silicon bakeware so they were a little drier at the edges. I have a Nigella recipe so will have a go at that one some day too.
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Cook Book Challenge 1

2011-07-25T20:33:00.000+01:00

A non stitching post!

Am seriously running out of cookbook space ................ again and have challenged myself to go through them, in the order they appear on the shelf, and sort out what we really want to keep whilst choosing a recipe to cook from each one. First on the top shelf is Rachel Allen's "Food for Living" which has never been used. I find Brownies generally rather dry and not very appealing but these, overloaded with chocolate and raspberries, promised to be "fudgy" so had to be trialled.

They're not as dry as most but with 200g dark chocolate, 225g white chocolate and a punnet of raspberries are not cheap! The pouring of melted white chocolate over looks messy but could be an idea for a festive treat with a bit more care ............... maybe even substituting canned pitted black cherries for the raspberries.
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A bit more ......

2011-07-23T12:30:00.001+01:00

........ progress on one of the seascapes. Layers of chiffon, a bit of machine stitching, wisps of fibre,a couple more scraps and some more embellishing .................

I find the 12 needle Baby Lock embellisher can be a bit overpowering for finer work so removed most of the needles to embellish down some yarns and fibres. Replacing the needles a couple of days later, 3 of them won't go fully in and protrude up to a quarter of an inch. It's not the needles as we've tried different ones so Baby Lock suggest I return the unit for investigation as the needle holder may be out of alignment inside the unit - don't seem to be having much luck with machinery these days!

Some pretty hair scrunchies for the Christmas shoeboxes ......................

Now just to decide which ones to put in each box.
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Boy 10-14 Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

2011-07-22T09:14:00.001+01:00

It all fits with some little gaps to fill with sweeties nearer the time. This category usually gets the least number of boxes so we're quite pleased with this one. There's a bit of a football theme with a mini ball (and pump), soap on a rope, stickers and pencil case lined with a football fabric which I've just finished this morning ..........

A friend in my knitted glove puppet ............

The boxed Meccano type set was way too big so I've repackaged it with the instructions and the knitted rainbow beanie hat squashes in nicely .................

Still hidden under a tin of drawing and colouring media is some plasticine and a small colouring book ................

I'm now going to cover the box, place an assortment of papers cut to fit the bottom of the box inside and then repackage everything all ready to add the sweets and drop off in November.
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More Fun with Scraps

2011-07-13T08:44:00.001+01:00

Yesterday I started embellishing a background for a 3ft high seascape. About half way through I opened the packaging for the box frame to find that it wasn't actually a box frame, the backing sits right behind the glass. Oh well, it looks like two smaller pieces to fit frames that I do have then.

Random scraps picked out by colour, I quite like the guitar ............. "Festival on the Beach" ha ha! Quite lightly embellished, mostly just enough to hold the fabrics in place, I'm going to have a look through the chiffon and tulle for some overlays and then start stitching!

More from the Scrap Bag

2011-07-08T19:21:00.000+01:00

I did finish another wallet this week

Sometimes I'd prefer to be more focused but with no real direction there's no need to be so I'll just keep muddling along for a bit. There's lots I could do but what am I going to do with it? I keep thinking about another design journal but who would want to look at that except me and I'd only have to find somewhere to keep it. It's nearly four years since my first blog post and I'm no more focused now than I was then - I really should do something about that!

Today I scribbled down some ideas for baby bibs so I might get onto them. I need a few more squares for the next I Spy quilt .........yellow, orange, red, pink and mauve novelty fabrics seem to be more elusive than black, blue, green etc. or at least they are for me. A specific artwork piece for the wall has been at the back of my mind for a long time which will utilise some more scraps.

This week I also decided to start a facebook page for my textile stuff. I like that I can add photographs and organise them into albums and it might help me to focus more in specific areas with sets/groupings of work. I'll see how it goes.
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Garden Party Purse

2011-07-01T21:56:00.000+01:00

Another one for the pressie drawer - the first "scrappy" project from the recent sort out. There's a riot of summer garden colour in this wallet. All the fabrics in the patchwork came from the scrapbag including the binding leftover from the bag in my first ever blog post. A few crazy quilt stitches and beads add some extra interest:

Talking of gardens, this was part of ours in March ............

and now ...........

There's still quite a lot to do but it's so much more managable for us now thanks to an enthusiastic young gardener who lives nearby, friends and freecycle for a lot of the bricks and paving.

If anybody know how to get rid of these weeds, we'd be really grateful for some advice. Suddenly appearing out of nowhere a couple of years ago we've having an awful trouble getting rid of them and they're spreading like mad!

Thankyou for all your recent comments, I do read them all and digest what you say - thankyou!!
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Horrified!

2011-06-29T09:25:00.000+01:00

Firstly the positives, some stitching on the crazy patchwork ............

and some more research material ...............

Now as to why I'm horrified. Idly looking through some google images I came across something which looked familiar and clicked, expecting to find either somebody's interpretation of a design I'd seen in a book or a coloured photograph of the author's work. Yes, in my opinion, it was somebody's "interpretation" of said design but, according to them, it was a pattern they'd recently designed and which they were selling! Well, I got my book out to be sure I wasn't imagining things as us embroiderers do often see very similar work from different people and sometimes take inspiration from other embroiderers when we buy their books or attend their courses. The shape of the object was exactly the same, the shapes and lines of embroidery were exactly the same - nothing had been changed as far as I could tell! It's sad - very, very sad and, if I'm right, criminal!
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What is a Scrap?

2011-06-25T19:39:00.000+01:00

I seem to be overflowing with scraps so last night was time for a sort out. Out came all the odd bits of embroidery, stuff which could be used for backing, odds and ends of cords etc. which filled one box then the leftover blue and yellow strips from the kitchen window blind in case I need them for the next one.

Bearing in mind that it's only pieces say 6" or less that get put into scrap here there's a sizeable amount of stuff which could be used for crazy patchwork. Oh and some brown strips that may just be enough for a small coiled bowl:

They're making some quite nice backgrounds ............

Then we're left with the real scraps which are but fragments really with nothing much more than an inch wide. Horror of horrors this little lot of snippets weighs 650g which equates to more than 4 yards of the average quilting cotton thus up to £40 or more of fabric and being added to all the time. That's scarey!

Offering them to somebody who might make more imminent use of them did cross my mind but what about all the blue bits for my seascape (the one I've been thinking about for perhaps 10 years and for which the frame will be warped if it spends much more time standing on end before I do anything about it)? And there's the selvedges I saved should I want to do something fun with them? Space is at a premium here .......... I need to make some rash decisions! When my husband asked why I was actually saving them, I started to reply, rather hesitantly, with "I could .............." . He stopped me with "I could" means you don't actually need them at all. Use them or lose them I think .......... I better get thinking fast!

The postman didn't bring my zips for the bag today but did bring a disappointment. I bought (or should I say won) a couple of FQs of "American patchwork cotton" on ebay. One is lovely but the other is dressmaking fabric. It's not worth making a fuss for the small amount I paid but I am disappointed that a "quilting shop" sent this out and I have let them know. I expect I'll find a use for it at some point but it won't be used for the next I Spy quilt as planned.

He also bought a lovely surprise though.

Some months ago I won the above book in a little compeition via The Sewing Directory but never received my "prize". I had a feeling that the book was coming from elsewhere so just the other day decided to mention it (I must have been feeling brave for a minute or two) ............ not only have I now received the book (the original appears to have been lost in the post somehow) but some fat quarters as way of an apology. I'm going to sit and have a read this evening to see if there's anything from the book I can use for my crazy quilting blocks (smile).
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Easy Elasticated Inner Bag Pocket Tutorial

2011-06-24T09:08:00.000+01:00

Up early this morning, it's been nice and peaceful so I've photographed, step by step, the making of a small elasticated pocket for the inside of the bag. There will also be a zippered pocket so it doesn't need to be too big - just large enough for a mobile phone or keys etc.. The first one I ever did, following instructions from a book, had raw edges inside - I really don't understand why go to all the trouble of making a bag nice on the outside yet roughly finished inside so I came up with my own method. My finished pocket is approximately 4" wide and 4.5-4.75" deep.

Cut fabric 7" x 10". I'm using a dressweight cotton ie. poplin.

Bring short ends together and stitch across with a decent seam allowance.

Press seam open flat

Turn raw edges to wrong side (about 0.5")

Turn right side out and press keeping the turned edges as even as possible (they will need to line up when it comes to stitching the picket on) and with the previously stitched seam to one edge (the seam will be on the bottom edge of the pocket)

Stitch across top folded edge of pocket about 0.5" from fold (or a distance appropriate to accomodate the chosen width of elastic) ensuring stitching is secure at both ends.

Insert elastic and securely stitch, back and forth, through the fabric and elastic about 0.5" from the end.

Pull elastic up until pocket measures 4" across the top and secure the end as before. Trim elastic so as the ends are not visible but without being too close to the stitching.

Mark out position of pocket and pin. At this stage you may wish to tack the folded edges (sides) together before pinning if you're not confident with machining the two folded side edges of the pocket accurately together to the lining fabric. Try to keep the pocket on the grain of the fabric and fold a single pleat in the bottom so the bottom is the same width as the top. I've stretched the top of the pocket about 0.25" before pinning so it's not too floppy (any more and it will probably pull in the interfaced lining fabric too much).

Stitch close to the edge around the pocket securing by stitching a few stitches back and forth at beginning and end and keeping folded edges of sides neatly together as you sew. You may wish to tack before completing this last step, particularly if using a slippery fabric.

I hope somebody finds this useful though pink on pink isn't wanting to photograph very well indoors this morning so do say, please, if the pics aren't very clear and I'll remove the post - no point being here otherwise lol!
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Reflecting

2011-06-23T21:36:00.000+01:00

Simplicity are doing a Summer Tote Sew Along on Facebook with their patttern 2396 which I thought might be fun. I don't actually have the pattern but had a look at the specifics and instructions here and could quite easily get round that. Make it smaller (handbag size), fabrics put together in a different way with some embellishment, an alternative fastening ....... . I wouldn't really be "sewing along" at all so maybe I'll just stick to my own thing.

Another ruffled bag in progress, in fact a replica of the one I made our daughter for Christmas. I shall sit tonight and stitch the plastic canvas in the bottom then hopefully the zips will arrive soon so I can get on with the lining, pockets and fastening.

I've never been a fan of hexagon quilts with most of what I've noticed in the passt being rather a mish mash of random fabrics. Quaint I know but not quite for me until I saw, on somebody's blog, the start of some lovely floral hexes in sunflower colours on a white background. I was captivated and, although I left a comment, now can't find said blog ............. sorry!

Playing with hexagons in pretty colour combinations is fun. My husband isn't keen and I've yet to tell him that just this week I've read of someone completing a hexagons quilt which has been 35 years in the making! Maybe he has a point lol!

Old Stuff

2011-06-17T11:10:00.000+01:00

Periodically coming across old stuff, like one does, a few samples that haven't seen the light of day for years. Some of them rather tattered now but all using my hand dyed fabrics and threads to demonstrate some different decorative techniques.

Machine pleating, trapunto, tied (with beads) quilting, stuffed and ruched tubular viscose yarn:

Turned edge applique, (flat) echo quilting, hand embroidered french knots:

Pulled scrim painted and applied over a quilted background fabric with beaded silk yo-yos:

More painted pulled scrim applied over a quilted background and embellised with beads and straight stitches:

I try to keep my blogging almost exclusively textile related but there are a couple of recent revelations that I just have to share.

Over the years we've tried all sorts of home made batters for fish ............ beer, lager and all sorts. Most have been ok but not quite how we'd like them to be until a recent find by Marguerite Patten:

4oz SR flour (or Plain + tsp BP) sifted
2 eggs
1/4 pint milk
2 tbsp water
2 tsp oil

Blend ingredients for the batter, adding oil just before coating fish and whisk briskly. Coat floured fish and fry for 3-5 minutes depending on thickness of fillets at 180. Smaller items can be fried at 185 for less time. By far the best battered fish we've cooked at home.

The next is faggots. I've always wanted to give them a go but never got to sourcing any caul. She suggests filling an oven-proof tin or dish with the mixture and cutting the top part way down into portions to break apart when cooked. I just can't believe I've never thought of anything so simple and will be trying them for dinner tonight!
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Meet "Hope"

2011-06-12T10:51:00.001+01:00

When I won the lovely box of Coats threads for my comment on the "Threads of Feeling" exhibition at the Foundling Museum I just knew that I had to make something in keeping with the exhibition and the foundlings. My token isn't suitable to be pinned to a page of a ledger for hundreds of years, it has no reason to be, but it is apt.

Why a camel? Well, the camel remains largely unchanged and adapts itself well when faced with the most severe living conditions.

The first pair of boxer shorts came my way when, after just a couple of wears, they were torn (probably more due to user error than substandard goods) and I felt the fabric too good to part with. Within a year or two I had accumulated 8 or more pairs. Fabrics from the clothing of my own family and having laundered them day in, day out over a number of years - as a compilation I would recognise them anywhere no matter how long I had been parted with them. What better fabric to use?

From the Coats collection, Duet 100% polyester thread has been used to stitch the patchwork and then camel together.

Every cloud has a silver lining so my token has some decorative stiching on the patchwork of the inner legs in silver Alcazar again from the collection. The same thread is also used on the tail.

Shisha mirrors to ward off evil. Actually they're large sequins which are a little more flexible for a stuffed object but the purpose is there.

The hand embroidery threads, beads and sequins were items I already had and the stuffing is from a pillow that I'd bought to use for making a cushion pad. The buttons on the tops of the legs were from the shorts so nothing was purchased new. Everything used, apart from the machine threads won, was already in my home.

I nearly forgot to mention that there's a good bit of DNA evidence that he's "mine" too. There's many a hand stitched item that ends up with a speck of blood here and there but this one had more than a speck. Pushing a large need from a button on one leg through to the other leg it went right through my thumb and quite a bit of blood escaped before I'd realised it was bleeding. I used reputedly the best thing to remove it, the enzymes from my own spittle ............ it's still a bit noticable so I'll have another little go later.

There are those, at home, who think he is more an interpretation of a dinosaur and has the neck of a serpent but, hey, this is my intrepretation and my new attempt to not be so self critical of my work in public lol!

Lastly, he's called "Hope" because there is always hope .............. nobody can take hope away from anybody. Thankfully I've never been in a position where I've had to contemplate leaving my babies at the foundling hospital but he's my token "token".

Edit: Just realised that in my eagerness to take pics and get him put away I forgot to stitch in the mouth. I shall get onto that now.
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Beach Huts

2011-06-09T22:25:00.000+01:00

I've yet to finish the camel so nothing textiley to blog about except more research material. My self made list of jobs for today comprised ironing, hoovering, preparing dinner and finishing the camel. I did the ironing and then we went out so I got more beach hut material ..............

Nautical blues with white and a hint of red ..............

I like the turquoise, pink, grey and pale blue together in this one .............

An interesting combination of stripes ...............

It was really dull out there but at least the rain held off this afternoon.
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More Inspiration

2011-06-04T09:46:00.000+01:00

The last of the Cornwall stuff that I'm going to post. I really like this pic taken across the harbour at St Ives on our last day whilst we ate our lunch from the Waterfront Restaurant - reminds me almost of a "Lowry".

We called into Launceston on our way home ............

The Warren family butchers (other people have blogged it) is probably the best I have ever seen and just a few shops along the road is a real nostalgic treat. A small department store showcasing curtain fabrics with a few rugs on the first level before going up a few steps to rails of old fashioned dresses, a stand of brollies and another of hosiery. The ladies remarked that we'd probably never seen anything like it before ............. I had but in the 60s when I was a child!

Back home to the trials and tribulations of everyday life but, hey, where there is life there is hope (the camel is "Hope" and, hopefully, finished soon)!
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The Lizard

2011-06-03T07:48:00.001+01:00

Who could not love Coverack ............... it's absolutely delightful!

Porthleven .................

15-20 years ago I would have bought this for my little girly .................... and she would have worn it lol! I just didn't have anybody to buy it for but would love to make (a bigger) one. The construction looks quite straight forward but need to work out what fabrics to use ............ something with body ie. outer clothing fabric/cotton duck maybe?
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Cape Cornwall

2011-06-02T09:33:00.001+01:00

A busy day. Some more bits for I Spy quilts from "Buttons and Bows" in Penzance. Not a huge selection of quilting cottons but I was able to purchase just 10cm of fabrics chosen which is worth a mention.

There wasn't much happening in the kitchen garden at Trengwainton except the lettuces sporting a favourite colour combination in harmony with the scattered Nasturtiums.

We grabbed some hot pasties in St Just which were cool enough to eat when we arrived at Cape Cornwall. Needless to say I didn't manage it without getting crumbs all over the car!

I was about 6 feet away when my husband actually remarked that it was a bull! He was a lovely bull though and laid very still while I photographed him.

Up the coast to Levant mine where it was a bit scary looking over the edge .........

I just had to take a picture of the spiral staircase. Way back when, for the first term of C&G Embroidery, our subject was bridges and staircases and my chosen starting point was a stone spiral staircase in a castle!

Down to Cornwall

2011-06-01T10:07:00.000+01:00

Any thoughts of visiting Clovelly on our way down to St Ives were quickly dismissed due to the rain on Monday. Neither of us could remember if we'd been to Bude before - if we had it were more than 20 years ago so no harm done to have a little look. Driving into the centre of the little town himself spotted the "Remnant House". Oh my, I was in heaven! A visit to the bank, lunch, drink and a read of the paper in the car and I was still looking! Boxes and boxes of fat quarters to search though and even a box of cotton "scraps" at 40p a piece to delve into ............. perfect for I Spy quilts ................

Aside from the quilting cottons, rolls and rolls of dressmaking cotton. Some I've seen in Fabricland and they're a little more expensive here but loads to choose from. Some old favourites .............

I resisited the box of shiny and glitzy scraps on the floor being pre-occupied with quilts and bags in my head but now back home so wish I hadn't!!!!!

St Ives ...............

The shops were mostly closed but one can still look. I fell in love with the wonderful vibrant colours in the work of Yvonne Coomber

Ok, so my legs are long past showing such frivolous shoes to their best but ...............

and there just has to be shells of course ..................

There's a few more days of Cornish time to blog about but meanwhile, back on the home front, there's the camel ...........

Isn't it that someone is supposed to sit astride a camel not that the camel sits astride itself? I just knew I should have put some darts at the top of the inner thighs to prevent flaying legs! His lower jaw isn't very horizontal either ........ still, it is an original lol!
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Lynton and Lynmouth

2011-05-31T09:26:00.004+01:00

Sunday we had really hoped to visit Clovelly but it was very windy and cold with the possiblity of rain so set off in the opposite direction for Lynton and Lynmouth connected by the cliff railway. We weren't disappointed, the choppy seas at Lynmouth were an absolute delight battering against the shoreline.

Disembarking from the cliff railway at Lynton we headed for the Greenhouse for hot drinks ........... overpriced and not very nice. Husband says the coffee was warm and horrible whilst my hot chocolate was warm and lacking depth ......... you can't get it right every time! Some lovely little shops there and, whilst we didn't venture into this one, love the nostalgic essence of the sign

Back into Ilfracombe for a last look around.

Zooming in from 20-30 ft above I had a feeling a grouping of white dots on the rocks would be limpets.

Which reminds me that I had intended to take my "Limpet" piece with me to stitch in the evenings but with a last minute turn of events at home it was all rush and I forgot. In fact all of our accomodation was facing north with not very good lighting so I probably wouldn't have got much done anyway. I so want to finish it, just not sure where it's going next ........

A Week Away

2011-05-30T10:48:00.001+01:00

We've just returned from a week in Devon and Cornwall. Not long enough to do all that we'd have liked again but a lovely week with lots of inspiration for future pieces should I get round to them eventually.

The first full day found a little curtain shop just outside the Pannier Market in Barnstaple with some ex display samples 4 for a £1. Who could resist picking a few out?

Still in Barnstaple, on to Heathcoat Fabrics where they had a nice selection of mid range fabrics of many types. I was particularly looking for bag and/or quilting fabrics but didn't see anything I really wanted to buy.

Wonderful textures on the seafront at Ilfracombe ..............

An evening stroll looking for somewhere to eat didn't see many particularly inspiring menus - well not for those looking for a treat on a sensible budget and it was rather offputting to see the restaurants empty until we came to the Smugglers on the quay. It was full and we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. Most starters were about £5 with mains starting at £7.95 and coffee £1.20. We were happy with our choices.

The camel did start to get a bit of decoration before we went ...........

We'll see where the stuffing of the object leads. Last time I tried a necked animal with head insert the head tilted to one side. The seam allowances are a bit scant to allow for smoothe curves so will be interesting to see what happens!
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Upcycling Progress ...........

2011-05-01T23:49:00.000+01:00

............ or not but we'll come to that! Remember these? They look much better pressed

Foundation piecing in preparation for some crazy quilting. Hand or machine I'm not quite sure. My new glasses should be ready on Friday ............. perfect eyesight to 4.5 in about 8 years is frightening but I won't dwell and I'm quite excited that, for the first time, somebody understood exactly what I wanted/needed ......... something with a largish vision area but not "Deirdre Barlow" and now I know why I complained about being able to see too much of the inside of some spectacles when my husband said they were fine............ because my eyes are wider apart and I have a wider face then him. Perhaps that will sound better if I say that he has a narrower face with eyes closer together lol! Just how come it's taken 5 eye tests over 8 years to have things explained properly? Asked if my sewing/needlework was a hobby, I was just about to reply that it was more a way of life when my husband replied "obsession"! Don't think I can argue with that!

The fabrics are very tightly woven hence hand embroidery, even with the new glasses, is going to be hard work! Maybe a mixture of both and perhaps some beads.

I had no inclination whatsoever at this time to make twin creatures but even one needs a left AND a right side. Another day to spend making the corresponding sides then!!!!!!!

Thankyou for your lovely comments on the quilt .......... I'm kind of impressed that I made something that big too! Looking at Dana's suggestion of an edge stitch foot, I tried out the Juki blind stitch foot with a central guide ............ why on earth didn't I think of that? I did press the seams open on the quilt and I'll still need to play around with the tension a little but at least it's now going to be in the ditch or equally parallel to according to the needle position - the edge stitch foot is going on the Christmas list along with the open free motion quilting foot!
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I Spy Quilt Finished ..............

2011-04-29T17:22:00.002+01:00

The last stitch on the binding finished literally just seconds before Kate arrived at the abbey. My first quilt and no matter where it ends up I'm always going to remember when I made it or else what I was doing when William and Kate married.

Though I loved it as it was, I had to wash and dry it if only to see for myself how it would behave should it find a new home. A couple of colour catchers in the machine (half hour 30 degree cycle with a low spin) picked up quite a bit of dark blue and there was quite a bit of shrinkage.

Though I really, really like it there is still room for improvement. Quilting "in the ditch" with one of the general feet I have was not as easy as I thought. Some of the stitching isn't quite in the ditch and it shows more than I would like - particularly in the darker areas. Maybe I should have used a different stitch length and/or perhaps tightened the tension a little more? It's been a great learning curve and I still have much to learn. Having chosen a beige thread, I feel I could have gone darker too. Still, it's not exactly a showpiece so probably not that bad for a first effort!

I'll have to look out for a good patchwork/quilting book - one that explains/advises on the tensions/threads/stitching/feet etc..

All Patched Up

2011-04-22T11:47:00.000+01:00

A more positive day yesterday and I got lots done. Finishing this morning ..............

It went together really easily though there was a hiccup with the machine (Juki) being the top tension had disengaged and for quite a few seams until I noticed whilst pressing! Oh, and whilst mentioning the machine, another little gripe noticed when I went to clean it this morning - the "key" type screwdriver seems to have some kind of coating which is peeling off (after 3 months)!

A bag of scraps left are crying out to be played with but I must resist and, for now, save them in case they are needed for the smaller sister - already some of the fabrics I can't repeat. Now lots of tidying away to do ............... only to get it all back out again soon.

None of the pics seem to be very clear these days. I can't get the Olympus to work - it won't click to take a pic..
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At last!

2011-04-20T19:17:00.002+01:00

The blue blocks for the kitchen window blind had been laying around for a while untouched ........... I really needed to get them out of the way so got back to them last week and then got ill. Just a stressy thing and feel a bit better now ........... repeat after me "I must not worry so much". I still will though cos that's "me" and isn't that what mums are for?

I struggled to get these done, finding the continual pressing and trimming monotonous but, hey, they're finished now and hope to have more fun putting them together. I'm in no hurry to do the squares for the adjacent window just yet.

So I now have:

1) Pink and green patchwork ready to be made into a blind when I find the right backing/lining fabric (something blackoutish but not too heavy)

2) I Spy quilt top waiting for a border and quilting.

3) Blue and yellow blocks waiting to be pieced together and then made into a blind same as 1). I shall be getting onto that next.

4) An Egyptian cotton cot sheet waiting to be dyed and stitched into a faux chenille cushion. I have enough machine dye for two sheets so am waiting to find another one, hopefully before too long. Think we'll get rid of the odd cushions in the living room and have a couple more co-ordinated ones instead.

5) Some fun stuff with the boxer shorts mentioned in the last post

6) Loads of other stuff that I hope to start being able to concentrate on.

"Threads of Feeling"

2011-04-07T14:22:00.002+01:00

At the beginning of March, just before the end of the exhibition, we were fortunate enough to be able to attend "Threads of Feeling" at the Foundling Museum. Being interested in family history, I've read lots about Thomas Coram and the foundlings over the past few decades but had never actually visited the museum before. The exhibition was mesmerising. Delightful yet emotional - actually breathtaking. Anyway, my comment was chosen (at random I think) to receive this delightful presentation box of threads, donated by Coats, which arrived this morning together with an exhibition book. My visit being fired by the family historian as well as the textile artist, I didn't even mention stitch in the comment .............. I am delighted!

Invited to choose myself a Mothers' Day gift (I couldn't possibly say that it might have been a cop out by the other person) the handbag pattern I selected was out of stock. There's quite a few handbag patterns here and have I ever used one of them? Hmmmmm. Anyway, I got this instead ...........

Why? I actually really don't know. It was cheap and cheerful and I just liked it. Perhaps imagining lots of little patchwork dinosaurs with wired organza bits somewhere down the line!

Back to reality. Yet another pair of "no longer wearable" boxer shorts came into my possession this morning. We have quite a little collection here - all M&S 100% cotton - and there's the remains of at least one other pair laying about somewhere which I mutilated for that blind

So, inspired by the textile tokens left by loved ones leaving their babies at the foundling hospital I have the threads and fabric set out before me. My "token" won't be as such that it could be pinned into the pages of a ledger for hundreds of years to come but it will be something with meaning and I'd recognise that fabric (stuff that I've lived with day in day out over several years) together anywhere.
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Quilt Top Done .........

2011-04-05T15:15:00.002+01:00

All pieced and pressed ............... my first I Spy Quilt top

There's a few bits I would have moved and a couple that perhaps don't sit so well but which I was determined to include because I like them. Damn I am just too finicky for my own good sometimes. It's not going to be hung on a wall and, after all, it's the "I Spy" game that's the important thing ............. lots of different novelty prints!

This will be my first every quilt. I've quilted bags and done some experimental stuff but not an actual quilt. It might not be bed sized at 48" square but a quilt it is. I don't have a walking foot so have got some fusible wadding which I hope will minimise shifting whilst machining - time will tell no doubt!

Now to work out the binding. What to use? Straight or bias? How wide in which case will the wadding and backing need to be bigger? Some googling is in order I think to see if there are better ways to do it than my way which happens to be no idea at the moment!

I do wish I hadn't started messing about with the template/colours of my blog a short while ago as I can't seem to get it with anything I'm happy with now .......... a few hours playing about with the options is needed!
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The First I Spy Quilt

2011-04-02T21:13:00.005+01:00

Enough squares to lay out for the first I Spy Quilt ............ 256 different ones

It was difficult trying to fit it all in the pic (next time I'll try and remember to stand on a chair) but it's enough for me to see what's happening and can spot a few that will probably get moved around in the next day or so before starting to stitch but not too much as it's so easy to get just too finicky. I have plenty of squares towards a second quilt already but have to get this one out the way first and need to collect more of certain colours ........... I kind of struggled with pinky girly ones in particular.

Update: Changing a few around (apologies for rubbish pics but I can't move this around into a different light .......... it's just about clear enough to use as a working design) ..............

I think it's just about there now. Husband thinks I should just mix them all up and go with it but that really wouldn't be me ............. much as I might like it to be sometimes. Can't wait to start stitching now!
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Designing another Patchwork Window Blind

2011-03-25T17:33:00.003Z

Again, using the simple free online Quilt Assistant design tool, a rough plan .........

2nd draft ................

Working Design ..............

Selecting fabrics ........

Starting to stitch ..........

Having only recently completed the pink and green one, I'm finding this tedious. I don't dislike it but It's lacking that "can't wait to get up in the morning to get started" feeling. I have oodles of patience but my boredom threshold is low and don't need to say that I will never be making any kind of quilt using just three or four fabrics in repeat patterns. The variations in fabric and dividing it into working portions of different sized patches and then tonal values is making it bearable.

For months now my head had been full of family stuff. I want my life back! I did manage to design a couple of bags this week. One needs lots of hand stitch so am still contemplating that one, another needs a trip out for a zip and the third, well, not quite sure how that's going but in essence an across body bag that I am hoping a nearly not a teenage daughter will find attractive enough to wear to help prevent bag and contents being stolen on nights (and days) out!

Not very interesting reading I'm afraid ......... all very much the same at the moment!
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I Spy Quilt ......... playing with colour

2011-03-22T00:25:00.000Z

Not one to take the easy option I've decided that the I Spy quilt is going to have a rainbow effect. It's possible but there's a lot of shifting about to get a pleasing result and I am learning a lot.

Some of the browns will look better with the reds. Particular greys will hide in amongst the blues etc. etc.. and then there's the I Spy aspect of incorporating as many different objects as possible which I am now thinking about more. Playing with some squares ............

A success ................ Patchwork Window Blind

2011-03-16T16:16:00.002Z

Well I like it! Even more so because it is completely my own ........... now I know what to do! A mixture of cotton fabrics purchased over the last couple of years together with some hand dyed stuff.

Cutting the strips to size and machining edge to edge was a lot less time consuming than the foundation piecing used before so definitely the method for me.

I need to decide what to line it with. Something to display the patchwork rather than the seams creating a stain glassed effect with the light filtering through. I have some blackout lining but it's too heavy so will wait until we're out and about to see what is out there in the shops these days. There's no rush as walls have yet to be painted and, despite my husband's plea, they will remain pink and green!

I'd like to think that I've no idea how I ended up with these blocks left over but I obviously miscounted! There are more patchwork window blinds to be made - I need to spend some time on design.
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Getting there ................

2011-03-14T23:52:00.001Z

All 187 blocks now ready ...............

Laying them out in a limited space. The bed would afford me more room but I've yet to work out how to suspend myself from the ceiling to view them in situ! Already I can see a few that will need shifting about and it's a bit brighter than I had hoped - I feared it would be but we shall see.

More blocks ................

2011-03-10T18:00:00.001Z

Today's upside .......... finished all the green blocks. Downside ............... dropped my square quilting ruler onto the tiled floor. It was a birthday present, only a few weeks old, and now missing a corner. I think the superglue beckons!

Only 47 4" pink blocks to go. Only ........... at the rate I'm working that's about 7 days work! In keeping with the "pink and green" theme, a photo I took at the Imperial War Museum last autumn. It's very "strawberry ice cream", I actually prefer raspberry in both colour and taste, but pink nonetheless.

I saw these wartime toys there ............. aren't they delightful? Inspiration for an interesting use of leather ............ or patchwork!

And dolls ..............

Scraps and Swaps

2011-03-05T13:03:00.002Z

My first ever fabric swap. Tahlia in the US sent me some amazing prints for my I Spy quilt. I love them all but here's a few .................

Cherry sent me some beautiful pieces left over from the I Spy quilt she made for her grandson. Am starting to sort all of them into colour groupings but I really must resist fiddling about with them too much as the edges will be so frayed before it's time to stitch them all together!

Ali of Very Berry Handmade organised a fabric scrap swap. I love scraps and, as much so, the challenge of bringing them together for an actual item. I had a beautiful package from Helen of Find a Happy Place. As well as some pieces that are just perfect for the I Spy quilt there were a few squares that just had to stay together. Very "Heritage" colours that I probably wouldn't buy myself ................

With a bit of jiggling, 4 x 5" squares were just enough for a "Heritage" elephant (maybe destined as a scissor keeper) with just a little bit of machine stitching in keeping with the Heritage theme and not detracting from the fabric too much ...................

Part of my personal challenge with the fabric scrap swap complete, I really must press on with the log cabin patchwork blind before it starts to become a chore more than fun .............

So a special thankyou to everybody who has swapped fabrics, it has been great fun receiving the surprise packages (all of which will be put to good use) and I hope everybody enjoys the fabrics sent in return.
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I'm not disappointed ............

2011-02-19T21:23:00.001Z

A few months back Quilting Arts were asking for submissions for "Quick and Easy" patchwork projects (not their usual stuff at all). I had ideas for a few items but only got to get a couple of baby bibs ready - one of them in "Toy Poodle" by Clothworks ............

I saw recently that they've been photographing items for publication so assume mine weren't chosen. I don't mind at all as I've yet to find a patchwork or quilting book where I like everything so know that I'll like these more than some of the stuff they've chosen.

Anyway, on with the log cabin patchwork for the blind ............

............. in green this time. Only 4 large blocks completed today yet it seemed like hard work. Too many mistakes (my mind was elsewhere)! In fact one block has the middle square wrong side up and I didn't even realise until I'd completed the whole thing. I really can't be bothered to try and put it right at the moment so we'll see ...............
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Progress

2011-02-18T00:29:00.001Z

All 8.5" blocks now complete (inluding extending the ones that were too small) ...........

All 15 6.5" blocks now finished ............

Am having doubts as to whether it will all gel together ................ time will tell.
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Ups and Downs ..............

2011-02-16T00:24:00.001Z

Weeded the fabrics ................

Started cutting a few strips and decided to ditch a few of the pinks that were actually dress fabrics (poplin) thus short on plain mid and pale pink in particular. A few months back, helping mum to change the beds she said just as well to throw one of the sheets away as it had worn in the middle. Asking whether it was cotton or polycotton the reply was "Egyptian cotton" (in a tone that shouted how dare I ask such a thing)! I remembered that sheet today so out with the Fuschia dye ..................

Watered down for the paler colours and left for just a few minutes before rinsing out. The 30 minute washing machine cycle does come in handy sometimes. Pressed and ready to use (on the right) ............

Starting to stitch ............

Already I've run into problems. These large blocks (I've completed 5) should measure 8.5" but they are only 8.25 ............. in fact one is only 8 - it's not the strips but squaring up! A disadvantage of not using a foundation I suppose. Oh well, thought it all looked too easy!!
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Look What I Found!

2011-02-12T17:22:00.002Z

I now have enough pink and green fabric to make another patchwork window blind ...........

I loved making the "Jewel Squares" blind last year but want this one to be my own design now I know what to do. I want to use log cabin patchwork again but two colours (pink and green). The blue blind used 1.5", 3", 4.5", 6", 7.5", and 9" blocks but I want to simplify it a bit so it grows a bit quicker, a few less seams thus less fabric wastage too and I wondered about using 2", 4". 6" and 8" blocks. After some googling I found a nifty little patchwork design tool, Quilt Assistant. Something of a Eureka moment I've spent today playing around. Much quicker than drawing it all out by hand and moving everything about ....................

It's a rough plan to see how the pink and green will work together and give some idea of the number and size of the blocks I need. Am off to have another little play - a bit of shifting about to ensure that the blocks will stitch together in a sensible fashion! Things are looking up (at least for the moment).
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I Spy Quilt Squares Swap Anyone?

2011-02-07T14:44:00.009Z

Needing something "easy" to distract my mind from everday life for a bit I'm collecting fabrics for an I Spy quilt having been inspired by others I've seen recently on the web. Deciding on 3.5" cut squares (finished size 3") to accomodate some Makower farm labels, I started to sort out my fabrics. About 30 different novelty and kids fabrics doesn't make much of a whole in the 250+ different ones that I'd need ..............

Attempting to decorate some myself ...................

Stamping with Dye-na-flo onto cotton squares didn't make much of an impact so out with the fabric pens ...............

A couple are ok but the half inch images are making it very fiddly and time consuming so I'll probably stop there with those. Purchasing some larger ones or print blocks is out of the question at present and defeating the object really but I might have a go at painting some larger pictures.

Would anybody like to swap some fussy cut squares of childrens and/or novelty 100% cotton fabrics? The top picture gives some indication of the type of thing I am currently using for this project.

Another Bag!

2011-01-27T14:52:00.000Z

Ever critical, not sure I like this one. The fabric's quite heavily printed so has a lovely weight to it but there's an awful lot of white (and yellow).

Still a lot of white but maybe the lime on the outside would have been better?

These fabrics were from a recent trip to Goldhawk Road. 10 or so fabric shops with an hour on the parking meter = kid in a sweetshop syndrome! I needed more time .......... time to look in all of them and then make purchase decisions but I didn't have time so it was rushing from one to the other, making a few purchases along the way. One of the first ones we came to was closed until 1.30 for prayers so I had just a couple of minutes in there last ........... they had stuff that I'd just paid more for over the road say no more and ever conscious that we were now, sadly, out of parking time. Needless to say we shall be going back.

Thankyou for the comments on the last few posts (I shall catch up on blog reading .......... there is just so much out there now I keep getting distracted!!). Luckily I had some spare fabric so the black rose bag has now been fixed by hand applying a panel over the offending area and I'll probably keep that one for myself.
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More Bags .................. well kind of!

2011-01-23T14:44:00.000Z

Having really enjoyed designing and making the bag for my daughter before Christmas, I thought I'd try some more in different fabrics. Romantic roses ...................

Victorian Roses ...................

Then disaster strikes ....................

All done, I was removing the remaining gathering and basting stitches when I noticed a sizable brown patch (rather like gravy browning). Puzzled, I tentatively rubbed the fabric with a damp towel and it disintegrated before my eyes .............. it was burnt! I can only imagine that it was during pressing at some stage but when and how I do not know .............. it's odd! Beyond tears I think ...................
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A New Addition to the Household!!

2011-01-13T15:38:00.001Z

Since I started to find hand embroidery more stressful due to the eyesight, I've been thinking that a machine with a few more stitched patterns than my Bernina 1008 can offer might be useful.

Bernina owners like Berninas don't they? The 350PE beyond budget yet not unachievable looked the most likely machine for me. However, a quick call to a dealership suggested that I probably wouldn't like it and would fare better with a Juki so off we went and tried out the Juki F300. Purchase home, a few minutes play on home ground and I really didn't like it. My eyes really weren't good enough to differentiate clearly between the clear feet and the fabric, I didn't like the quite flimsy clear bobbin cover, needle plate would need to be unscrewed for cleaning, the needle clamp screw protrudes quite a lot and knocks my hand when free machining or anything else that requires the hands to be very close to the work. I packed it up, had a very restless night, got it back out again in the morning but didn't feel any different ............. I wanted the Bernina really didn't I?

Back we went, explained the problem (nothing wrong with the machine ........... it's just me!) tried out a Bernina 380 as it was the one on display ............ yes, fine .......... full metal feet, front loading bobbin, it's familiar.

Happy, happy, happy - the 350PE it is!

Got it home, felt a bit strange putting the bobbin in as though there was some play towards one side at the rear ................. a bit more rickety than the 1008. Ok, a few straight stitches .......... fine. Moving into patterns which is what I really wanted it for .......... the red stars on the right then a couple of other designs (the green stitching was done on the Juki) ............... doesn't look nice, the fabric feels like it's being sucked in and the needle is moving across before it's fully emerged from the fabric. Check threading, bobbin ok, change to embroidery threads (on another sample) then before I had chance to review anything the mother of all jams! I wasn't expecting miracles but, for the money paid, I was expecting a decent machine working nicely from the start. Back in the box within 5 minutes of getting it out!

I now have the Juki back:

It's very early days and I'm still scared of it ............ the "computerised" bit meaning it's something more to go wrong but it's very user friendly. Already I'm loving the automatic thread cutter (no wasted thread), the needle threader is saving me loads of time, it's much quieter than the front loading bobbin machines which will please the rest of the family, the box feed system is very good ........... barely need to touch the fabric to keep it on the straight and the man in the shop sorted me out with a couple of metal feet which should help with following seams for the decorative stitches until I've sorted out exactly what feet will suit me and the machine best.
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2 More Done .............

2010-12-02T15:54:00.000Z

I'm glad these wallets are done because I'm seriously bored of them for now ..................

Tidying up to make room for the Christmas tree at the weekend, one finds all sorts of bags stuffed with embroidery bits .........................

Setting the scene ready for the festive season. In reality I expect it will be long gone by then but this is last night ...................

It's been snowing for over 24 hours now virtually non-stop albeit very light so we have a mere 8" yet still enough to be snowed in !!
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One Happy Mummy

2010-11-18T23:12:00.001Z

I'm pleased with this so fingers crossed for Christmas morning ..............

about 10" high (not including handles) ............

Zippered top panel ...................

A zipped inner pocket ..........

A learning curve, there's a couple of things I would do differently ............ no less an inner elasticated pocked (for a mobile phone etc..) where I stupidly followed instructions from a book and should have done it my own way from the beginning and a big thankyou to the ladies at TSF for suggestions and advice on how to attach the frills.

Especially for Jackie ................ inserting a zipper panel (my way not necessarily the right way!). Cotton quilt/dress weight fabric interfaced with woven cotton interfacing/stayflex. The finished width of each strip adjoining the zip is 3/4" so cut strip double this width plus 1" for turnings and required length (plus 1" for turnings on the length). Turn edges under/press 1/2" along all raw edges and fold in half lengthways, press. Slip this casing over the zipper fabric ensuring pressed edges are equal both above and below the zip and stitch short edges and along zipper close to the edge through all layers to attach zip. Repeat for other side.

The folded edge on the outside is pinned to the lining (through one layer only - the lining is turned back on this pic just to show the zipper easier) and stitched close to edge. I stitched the zipper panel 1" down from the top of the above bag. On the bag a few posts ago I stitched the zipper panel through both the lining and bag outer but tried it a bit different this time by just stitching through the lining. It's better if the zipper overhangs the adjoining panels by a few inches so the bag can open fully. Very easy in reality but expect it sounds clear as mud!!

Ruffles Bag

2010-11-16T14:54:00.000Z

Still sewing ........... with more zingy colours ...........

That pink frill doesn't look quite right .................. like I've run out of fabric ..............

so another floral frill I think ...................

I thought the Christmas present list was dwindling but I have another purse to do, the one in the last post having gone to a new home so no time to spend on here really - handles, lining and fastening to think about and get on with too.
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Christmas Stuff

2010-11-11T19:54:00.000Z

Shirt no. 1 .............

Shirt no. 2 was nearly finished when I noticed my fingertips had devloped a navy tinge ................. from the batik print! First thoughts were that it would probably be ok for an initial wear (with jeans) but then my husband said "what if it rains?". Oh yeah! So it's been in the washing machine and lost quite a lot of dye but still looks ok (pic is prewash) so it's just waiting for some buttons.

A wallet (or purse) ............. just a few French knots acting as random "quilting" stitches.

Opened out .........

A present from her mum for her first married Christmas, mum decided to redress her 1961 Christmas tree fairy but this is as far as it got!

I'm going to redress her but not with the old bits of lace in the pic ............ something more in keeping with her time (evident from her facial features and hair) I think.
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First Christmas Present Finished

2010-10-14T16:33:00.001+01:00

I've had quite a good week! In addition to processes learned and refreshed on the dress, the knitting bag is finished (not quite sure about the "rosette" but it will do) ............ and I worked out how to insert a top panel for the zipper. On reflection, some interfacing would have been beneficial so I'll try and remember that for next time (if there is a next time) .............

The sunflower didn't get finished but I had a large jigsaw puzzle in reserve so that was fine. Mum and dad found these pretty tassels in a "garage" sale kind of thing on their hols ............ mum thought they'd be ideal for my bags or even to hang on the Christmas tree ............. they'll probably go on the tree - very pretty for 40p.

Thankyou for all your comments ............. I do read them all.
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It's been a Productive Day

2010-10-12T23:18:00.003+01:00

The bag now has a lining ..............

The actual bag panels can be quite tricky to put together for the first time as in Easy Japanese Quilt Style so here are a few pics and notes for constructing the lining (the outer is the same but I had already done that)

Lay out the panels as above with the long side of "A" to the left, the long side of "B" against the short end of "A", the long side of "C" against the short end of "B" and the long side of "D" against the short end of "C". My fabric is laid out right side facing and I have numbered the stitching points for ease of reference when making up for the first time.

Flip panel "A" down over "B" right sides together ............ the short end of "A" lined up against the long side of "B" thus numbers 1 and 2 matching. I have marked stitching line allowing a 1cm seam allowance.

Machine stitch, starting and ending 1cm in from each end.

Press seam allowance open.

Line up panels again

Flip panel "C" over on to panel "B" right sides together (long side of panel "C" to short end of panel "B") making sure panel "C" is overlapping the previous seam 1cm at the top to allow seam allowance for turning.

Stitch seam from the previous seam ending 1cm from the bottom again .......... press open.

Lay out the panels again

Flip long side of "D" over short end of "C" ensuring "D" is overlapping the previous seam of "C" by 1cm as in picture though move the fabric up so raw edges meet (I have just lowered for the picture to show it a little clearer.

The panels should now look like this

Now stitch the short end of "D" to the long side of "A".

The above pic shows the intersection between panels "A" and "B"

Using the pivot point of stitching match panel "B" to panel "A" right sides together and pin working out from the pivot point towards the end ........... it should overlap a little at the top as in the picture. PLEASE NOTE ........... if you are stitching patched panels together then it is important to match the centre of the squares which will come in the centre of the seam to be stitched. If necessary stitch from this centre point out towards each end of the seam otherwise continue as follows ............

At this point you might find it easier to stitch the reverse of the pinned side ............ it is easier to see where the previous stitching ends thus where the new stitching should start to ensure a good corner. Press seam open.

It should now look something like this. Again, using the pivot point between "B" and "C", right sides together, bring the long side of panel "C" to the short side of panel "B", pin and stitch as previously.

The camera ran out of battery at this point but, as above, stitch panel "D" to "C" and then "A" to "D", press last seam allowance open. You should now have a "square" bag with the bottom of the bag having seams going from corner to corner and meeting in the middle (see top pic).

I hope this makes sense and helps somewhat.
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A Distraction .............

2010-10-12T14:34:00.000+01:00

One good deed deserves another so this is our (surprise) return favour ................

Yeah, it kind of bends the rules with large prints for babies but then if I'm making it, it's got to be fabric that I like .............. I could never be a professional seamstress!

Using McCalls pattern 4351, I positioned the print as best I could with the limited fabric I had ........... not to mention that the print was out of line on the fabric! Fully lined, I omitted the net interlining for the skirt as the cotton lining gives quite enough body and I added some piping along the skirt/bodice join (didn't have enough to do any more). If I were to make it again, I would probably hand hem the skirt and not, as the pattern suggests, machine straight stitch plus think about reducing the bulk from the gathered skirt in the bottom of the bodice.

I like it and am quite pleased being as the last time I made a baby/toddler dress was 1991 and before that back in the 70s! It shouldn't be long before I find out if mum likes it and, if it fits!!!
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Even More Stuff to Do

2010-10-08T20:05:00.005+01:00

I am loving this months issue of Through the Needle free magazine and hope to start a "Foot Book"

I did a number of MB samples for C&G but they were various sizes, and encompassing a number of techniques, mostly executed on mum's old Bernina which has lots of satin stitch patterns. Not limiting to feet but seeing what I could get from the limited stitches on my 1008 could be fun.

Then there's this jacket which is so "me" ........... in a different colour ............ a different neckline ............ . I have an old Indian patchwork jacket that has lost half the mirrors and got partly wrecked in the washing machine ......... this is an idea for a replacement then!

As if I haven't got enough planned ............ think I need to get doing with less looking (and stay away from the dyes or at least remind myself that they are dyes)!!!!!!
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Sunflower Progress

2010-10-07T15:09:00.002+01:00

Had it been sunny the lustre of the silk might show more but getting there .............

Lifesize, at a guess, 8-9" diameter and an expensive project with acid and/or disperse dye on 2 different blouses this week ................. oops!!!!!
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Onwards and Upwards

2010-10-03T22:35:00.001+01:00

Well, I've done a lot of trialling with the sunflower idea on how best to stabilise and transfer the design on to the silk. Am still at the leaves stage but think I have it sorted now and spent ages transferring outlines onto interfacing before realising it was stitch n tear duh!!! That'll teach me to put things away that I no longer need but, hey, tomorrow is another day!

One of the bags that I did earlier in the year .................

I was doing another as a knitting bag for an elderly friend in her 90s who knits all day and evening now her mobility is not so good. The stretch on the bias of the gingham threw the patchwork into disarray but I can remedy that with some fabric flowers .............

Said friend has a little dog. As she's knitting, she keeps the wool in a carrier bag to stop dog messing around with it and I had thought about that and have some slippery fabric for the lining (might even use PVC coated stuff if it isn't too bulky) but I had forgotten that she ties carrier bag into a knot to stop the dog getting in it whenever she has to leave the knitting ......... this style of bag is open. The bag is a bit too bulky to use drawstring plus I think it would reduce the usable size too much so I was thinking what if I open it out and insert a zip within a gusset of fabric at the top (will have to look up the technical term) leaving the ends open a few inches so the wool can be pulled though? That's what I plan to do unless I come up with anything better!

The last of our Christmas boxes .............. just making sure it all fits and that there's enough room for a packet of crayons and some sweets before wrapping ............

Books and Patterns For Sale

2010-09-30T10:11:00.003+01:00

I'm offering some of my books and patterns for sale - please leave me a comment if you are interested - all prices inIclude p&p to the UK

~~Brilliant Bags (Deena Beverley) £6~~ SOLD

Bags with Paper and Stitch (Isobel Hall) £12
The Machine Embroidery Handbook (DJ Bennett) £10
Embroidery Illusions (Gary Clarke) £12

Magic Wool £3
Making Birds and Insects (Barbara Snook) £2.75
Papermaking Techniques Book £8
Exploring Cross Stitch £2.75

Vogue 2915 Ladies Jacket/Coat S-XL (Uncut) £4.99
Vogue 7907 Ladies Jacket L/XL (cut to XL) £2.99
McCalls 742 Cushions (uncut) £2.99
Style 2558 Bags and Scarves (uncut) £2.99

McCalls 5291 Dog Chicken Frog Sewing Caddies (part cut) £2.99
~~McCalls 3136 Bags (uncut) £2.99~~ SOLD
Butterick 4977 Lobster Glove (uncut) £2.50
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Sunflowers

2010-09-29T11:47:00.000+01:00

Just the thing to brighten up these dreary days. I've done lots inspired by sunflowers in the past, here's a couple ............ my first ever box adorned with a stumpwork sunflower .......

Gosh, look at all those french knots worked in one strand ................ that was a long time ago! The box is 4" square and has a subtly quilted sun inside ........

and shanked buttons for the feet .............

A sunflower inspired tudor style headpiece (one of my C & G pieces) designed to be viewed from afar (drama costume) but here's a close up .............

With so much to do, I'm taking a shortcut with inspiration from this book and coloured up some silk ............

Daisy Shirt Done

2010-09-27T15:01:00.003+01:00

With one model asleep and lack of co-operation from the other here's the coathanger version (not without a little fault or two but I have spent more than enough time on this now)

Never did I imagine that a shirt would cause so many problems. It's not the pattern, nor the making up but the fabric ............. at least I hope it's the fabric and not the machine. I have the machine back .......... the repair guys in the dealers say it's fine but I'm not sure ......... there's something that just doesn't feel right. The local man who serviced it first, said it probably needed a new shuttle hook (mine was plastic and they're replacing them with metal now) as it had a few nicks in it so he tried filing it down. As far as I know, those nicks had been there for ages without problem and you can't file down plastic successfully hence I could actually hear the thread catching when I got it back. At the dealers, it has had a service, overhaul and resetting of the timing plus a new shuttle hook yet took me three and a half hours plus microtex needles to try and get a decent stitch on this simple printed cotton fabric. It's ok on the white and yellow print but on the dark colours it's dreadful still without 5 or 6 layers ........... such resistance to the needle?

There isn't a machine in the Argos catalogue (not that I would buy one from Argos) that costs as much as I have just spent on mine ........... no wonder I've been in tears and beginning to think that some of them might stitch better than mine is at the moment! I need to play around with some more fabric.

I found Jan Messent's new book in the library on Saturday ................ it is absolutely wonderful - a must have for the Christmas list (not that I'll be doing one this year) and confirms this is where my heart really lies ........ finding a happy medium between the eyes and the heart is the problem!

Another Christmas shoebox filled - just one more to go now. The patchwork pencil case is a lovely idea Anne - our daughter was almost obsessed with pens & crayons of all sorts throughout her school years - I might give a little more time and thought to making some a bit more imaginative for next year if I remember (and find the time)!

I am now going to do something normal to destress over the shirt ........... put some washing on and make some fresh crab cakes for dinner .............. then start thinking more about mum's up and coming birthday!
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Deconstructing a shoebox

2010-09-22T22:18:00.001+01:00

Having managed to cram everything in, well not quite everything, a couple of little things have had to be foresaken but nothing important, I've photographed the deconstructing in order to be able to put it all back quite happily once the box is nicely wrapped.

The bottom lined with sheets of plain paper to fit the box, exercise books, colouring book and other goodies. I've made a simple drawstring bag (to the right) from some curtain fabric samples to either keep bits in or carry stuff to school if that is the case.

Hurray for tall husbands who spot things on top shelves in supermarkets - we just couldn't resist the little baby born doll reduced from £10 to £3! Of course, a girl has to have a spare pair of knickers ...... a pinafore and jumper ......... a hooded coat ............ socks, shoes, mittens and a bag. Oh dear, this knitting is quite bulky but there's still room for the purple mittens.

I am delighted to say that I can now make hair scrunchies! That might not sound a huge achievement but when you've had four goes before finding a little tutorial believe me it is!

Just enough room for a few sweets ............ the first of three boxes of joy from things mainly bought on special offer/sale at the supermarket over the year probably averaging out at about 50p a week ........... we are happy!!
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Quick and Easy Pencil Case Tutorial

2010-09-20T21:29:00.006+01:00

I am making some pencil cases for our Christmas shoe boxes and thought I'd share how I'm doing them ............ it's very quick and easy! Clicking on the pictures will enlarge them.

Materials
10" x 13" main fabric
10" x 13" lining fabric
Sew in Velcro
Matching thread

The main fabric should be hardwearing ie. furnishing fabrics, corduroy, cotton velvet, denim etc. with quite a strong fabric ie. a good calico weight for the lining. If the fabric is not too strong it can always be backed with a lighterweight fabric (laid on the wrong side of the main fabric before beginning).

I chose Velcro for the fastening for it's lastability factor.

Right sides together, fold one shorter end up leaving a 2.5" gap at the top.

Stitch sides with a 0.5" seam allowance. Clip bottom corners as shown (quite close to the stitching but not too near that it's likely to meet the seam) and trim seams if necessary. This fabric was bulky so I trimmed quite a bit .......... more than I usually would on this type of item.

Repeat as above with the lining fabric.

Turn main fabric right side out and place in the lining right sides together to make a pocket as shown above. Matching side seams and fabric all the way round, pin main fabric to lining along front of "pocket" and around flap.

Stitch main fabric to lining across the front and all the way around the flap (as shown above) leaving about 3" gap somewhere to turn later. Double stitch around the inner corner for about 1" for some extra strength. Clip inner corner (not quite to the stitching) as shown. Also, clip diagonally across top corners of flap (I forgot to photograph that bit).

Turn right side out through the gap and slip stitch gap closed. Press if necessary. Top stitch about 0.25" across top of front and all the way around flap as shown. Stitch soft part of Velcro to flap and matching piece to front of pencil case.

One durable, easy to pack in a shoebox, pencil case! The metallic print on the furnishing fabric I used wasn't very sparkly so I'm adding some glitter to make it a little bit special.

If you decide to have a go, do let me know if the instructions and photos in my little pencil case sewing tutorial are clear enough and do please link back ........... I'd like to see them.
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The Red House

2010-09-11T21:50:00.002+01:00

Today we took advantage of the English Heritage open weekend with a visit to the Red House and managed to take a few picks before the batteries died (the spares I took had somehow discharged themselves!). Anyway, we had a wonderful time and could quite happily have moved in!!!!!

This was probably my favourite room .............. lovely light idea for sewing ........... with the piece of furniture complete with ladder up to the apple store in the eaves and some recently revealed paintings on the walls ........... this is the point where the camera died so I didn't get to photograph them unfortunately.

Sadly, no photographs of the outside or garden then so I've dug out this old pic of design work to remind me of the spent rambling strawberry plants ........ who can think of William Morris without the thought of strawberries?

and, just because I like the texture, the start of a Poppy design that kind of stopped where it did awaiting further development ..................

Edited to add a piccy of the door to the apple store in the eaves.
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I Love It ................

2010-09-09T23:54:00.019+01:00

................... the embellisher that is! My first sample ...............

experimenting with all manner of fabrics ........... cotton, silk, viscose and synthetic in addition to some fancy yarns. Getting the feel of the machine and seeing how it reacts with the different fibres. Building up texture and knocking the colour back ..................

I love it and, yes, I can quite easily see me getting hooked on it ............ the only downfall at the moment ........... can't see the kids wanting embellished gifts for Christmas!!!!!!!
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Oh My Goodness

2010-09-07T21:08:00.001+01:00

I've been doing a bit more to the limpets .................

whilst my sewing machine was away. I picked it up yesterday and the man said it was the best he could do without some expensive Bernina parts ......... I kind of got the impression that he didn't really know what was wrong with it so that was a waste of money!

I played with it all day yesterday and couldn't get a decent stitch and it was also a bit noisy considering it had just been serviced. Anyway, I gave myself a headache then a pain in the chest so my husband said we'd just have to take it to the ~~dealership~~ "Alladin's Cave" today. We took it, paid the deposit and my huband turned and said "What are those machines you've been looking at?".

The man in the shop said the Babylock EMB12 was much better than the Janome FM725 .......... in fact he said don't get the Janome ......... well two men said it actually so guess what I have? Oh my goodness, it's my husband's fault and I am so excited but feel so bad.

In 10 minutes I've learnt that it's a bit fierce! It's so powerful that it only takes a few seconds to push fabric and fibres completely through to the back of the base fabric and it's very easy to make holes. The pedal is a lot different to what I'm used to so I shall rest my aching foot and see what hints and tips I can find around the web. Hopefully the next piece will be a bit "prettier" ........... after I've come crashing back down to earth with a dental appointment tomorrow.
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