A sewing and marrying update

A few things have come to fruition around here, so it's time for a little update.   Firstly, there was the Mouthy Stitches zippy pouch swap.  In my last post you saw this pouch I made, which I can now reveal was for Jan over at Isisjem, who thankfully seems really pleased with it.  And I was super lucky today because the pouch made especially for me arrived, and just look at it!

Look at that embroidery!  The french knots in that sewing machine are amazing!

 This lovely and useful pouch was made for me by Indianna who blogs at Indianna Dreams.  Not only did she do this embroidery, she also pieced the back in some lovely and covetous Hometown text fabrics and made her own lining fabric using stamps.

 I am in awe of all the skills used in this make, and I really appreciate the time and effort that Indianna put in, not only in the making but also in the stalking she must have done to get me so spot on!

Thanks lovely lady!

In other news, I have finally finished my block for Jennie, aka Miss February in the Brit Bee.  Jennie set a tricky challenge that had most of us quaking in our boots - she asked for a fabric self portrait!  Not to be beaten, I picked this photo of me (from this blog, a little while back)

and set to work with the free-motion foot on my sewing machine (for the uninitiated, this gadget allows you to use your sewing machine more like a pencil - in my case, a pencil wielded by a two year old!). I added a few applique details and since Jennie asked for a background that represented us, I opted for a rainbow made out of fabric scraps, pieced together to look like the brick wall in the original photo.

And there we have it!

Now, I need people to know that whilst I do have fat lips, no one stares or comments, so I'm hoping my lips suit me more than the fish-face I seem to have given myself in this portrait!

And finally, some exciting breaking news - James and I have decided to make good on the wedding we promised ourselves a while back...and we're getting married, THIS SUMMER!    Venue was selected last weekend, and we are in the throes of finding a date that suits all family members (ha ha)

Stay tuned, cos I think I might have to make some stuff for this event...although I won't be making my dress..unless I decide to walk down the aisle in a quilt :D

x

Quilting by Powerpoint

Sorry it's been a bit quiet around here...I've spent the week at Mum and Dads and consequently not had much time to sew or read blogs.  I did have marvellous intentions of catching up a little on the HUGE "To-Do" list so on top of all the baby gear, I diligently packed:

• My sewing machine and all the accoutrement's
• Fabrics for the commission I am currently working on
• Interfacing
• Freezer paper
• Thread
• Two pairs of scissors
• My unpicker
• Pins and needles
• Scraps, in case I wanted to start on something else

It was only halfway around the M25 that I realised that progress would be severely limited by the lack of rotary cutter, mat and quilting rulers......DOH!

Grrrr...undeterred...I finished the applique element of the commission (more on that later) and then did some quilting by PowerPoint...

In case you are wondering what I mean, I use PowerPoint (Microsoft presentation software) to draw up designs.  It's probably not totally suited to quilting designs but since I have spent 15 years of my life using it to get messages across I'm reasonably adept at drawing pictures in it!

So first up, here are the designs for the Brit Bee blocks for Miss October.  Laura asked for stars, so I searched my old patchwork books and found the "Eastern star".  A bit of tweaking to use HSTs rather than diamonds and fit the fabrics I have...here's the PowerPoint version

And I have managed to get this one stitched up, so here's the fabric version...

Block 2 is still on PowerPoint only, but I'm thinking something like this...

If I can stretch the fabric,and if it meets the requirements of Miss Laulipops?!

Next I drew up some designs for the Brit Quilt Pillow Swap.  So, mystery partner....do any of these appeal to you?

Number 1: Floating squares, bright prints, sashed in white and all set on natural linen

Number 2: I think you like string quilting, so this design is a trellis of string patches (don't pay attention to the colours, this is the subject of another decision!)

Number 3: Simple but stylish, green and grey rectangles and linen

Number 4:  The Wild card, how about one of those stars above?!

Please help me decide, mystery partner!

x

There's a slug in my craft room!

No, this is not a euphemism for something else, there really is a slug in my craft room, I found him with my bare toes when standing looking on the shelves for some ribbon.   Oh, and then I found his mate too.

The fact the craft room is so damp that slugs can have a party there - not good
The feeling of slug between unsuspecting toes - really really NOT GOOD!.

Something needs to be done....

However, in the warm dry kitchen I did manage to make a few things last week.  I made this skirt for Felix's friend Georgia's first birthday....using this simple pattern, and just scaling it down to baby size.

I got Felix to model it...

...and then James vetoed giving it away, so we kept it and I made this one instead for Georgia!

Oh, and a few days late (posted now, so should be with you shortly, Sarah!) I also managed to complete the August Bee blocks.  Sarah sent us a fab array of blue and black fabrics and asked for anything non-traditional.   She said experiment, so I did!

Block 1 almost beat me when I completely underestimated the amount of black needed, but I was rescued by a little package of more black and I was able to finish it.  Don't ask me where the idea came from, I think I started with Harry Potter, but then I couldn't resist adding the camera...by the way, big thanks to my bloggy friends for the lovely Flickr comments on these blocks, made my day :)

Oh and finally, for those of you not in Brit Bee (Mum!), here is a glance at the finished Project 51, which was a secret project that all the Brit Bee ladies contributed to. Trudi did an amazing job of the quilting and it has now reached it's lovely recipient. I hope it's being snuggled under right now..

x