She said it all

I just read Jules' blog post and it really did say it all. Lots of things get in the way of my blogging but I like it so I'm going to do it when I can and I'm going to do it my way.

Does anyone know a good app to blog in? I'm just using the blogger one and its not much chop. I know I'll blog more if I can use the iPad so I need to find something simple but effective to use.

Things I need to show you - 

The red dres: McCall's 3856, tweaked and improved upon the sack.

It's a dress and it's red and I like it. I lined it with a voile, spray basting the two fabrics together so it was like one fabric. It's not quite as floaty as I'd like it but as both layers are voile, it will soften more with time. 

 

I've been playing with the layout of this. The original pattern I was inspired by isn't going to work for what I need so block shuffling is happening. The fabric is 'Posy' by Aneela Hoey and kona cotton solids. It's going to be very, very pretty.

It's is what I've decided on with the green border.

And there's been some more of this knitting lark. I feel like I take one step forward and two steps back. There's been quite a few silly mistakes, particularly when I get distracted. I'm heavily reliant on a counter but I think that is a good thing at this stage. Oh and that hole you can see, it's not a dropped stitch, it's a very intentions button hole!! 

Back to sleeve two. I've got to get everything ready for Friday when I catch up with Aunty Pam who can help me with the sewing together lark which is rather daunting. 

I'm copperpatch at www.ravelry.com if you want to be my friend.

Good to be back, lets hope I hang around as much as I intend to.

Abbe 

Bee in my bonnet....not that I wear a bonnet but if I did

 There was definitely a bee in it, so after cleaning the bomb site of a sewing room.....

I got to work and started making a bag. The pattern is from the latest Homespun magazine and is called 'Gemma's Crafty Bag' by Leanne Barnes of thestitchingroom.blogspot.com

I really liked the shape of the bag so thought I'd give it a go. I wanted it to be quite structured, more so than what it would be if I just used batting and quilted it like in the instructions so I ventured to Spotty and bought buckram as suggested by the lady behind the counter. At times I ended up sewing through six layers of fabric and two layers of buckram. My machine coped quite well even if I didn't. There's quite a few rough spots and I was starting to dislike my bag and was sad that I'd spent so many hours on it but then I folded it the right way after the rather tricky attachment of bias binding to hide the joins and.....I love it!

It's long and chunky looking. It has zips that work (yay!) and although I was going to use it as a kitting bag in the hope it would encourage me to do some more knitting, I think it's going to get used daily as an addition to my handbag. It'll be my everything bag!

This crazed sewing lead to more....

I'll be back

X

No, really, I do still sew stuff..... sometimes

I finished this quilt a couple of months ago. It's another one for The Retreat. 

It was always my intention for all of the beds to have quilts, which they do, but there are a few of my special ones there so I'm slowly making more so that I can bring those faves home.

This pic is really washed out due to the light coming in the bedroom window - it's actually a lovely buttery yellow and charm squares from 'Celebration' by Lecien. 

This is Harvey's quilt.

He managed to get to the ripe old of age of two and a half before I'd made him his own special quilt. Not that I haven't bought the fabric for lots of potential quilts for him.... 

I was going to raw edge applique his initials but I'm not happy with how the fabric is fraying so I'll remove these and do some needle turn ones.

It's inspired by the Scrappy trip around the World quilts but with novelty fabrics and a rainbow of solids.

He loves eye spying all the different animals, cars, planes, bikes etc etc

This quilt was started several years ago as part of a Block Swap Bee.

I didn't like it for ages but decided it needed to be finished and now I love it. 

It was suggested its name should be the Washi Quilt as the strips look like Washi tape.

It's the perfect name since the six rolls of Washi tape that I own are either silver or green. 

It will go to The Retreat too. 

This last quilt has become a favourite even though it started out as just a way to use the leftover charm squares from the first quilt pictured. I bodged some scraps of Jules and dived through my fat quarters and scrap box and came up with a quilt that I love.

It's going to be gifted to someone special just as soon as I work out what to bind it in so I'll show more when that's done.

This one is another 'just because' quilt. It's not really for any purpose other than the fabrics kept yelling at me from their spot on the shelf near my machine.

The range is Cuzco by Kate Spain. Her base cloth for her ranges is really, really lovely to touch.

I've ordered some fabric for backing and binding because lately I've gotten a bee in my bonnet about having the right backing, not just any old thing. It never used to worry me because it was just the back...I guess I've changed :o)

Ab x