Work in progress: A scrappy sorry

It's been many moons since I last posted a "work in progress" Wednesday report, but since I've had a little stitching break, I need a list and I hope this might get me back in the swing of things.. here's what's going on at the sewing machine.

 

Completed projects

 

Hmm. Nothing new that I haven't blogged about before.  That's worrying!

 

Work in progress

1) A bag by me!
Having been inspired by the talented Judith from Rags to Bags and The Bag Making Bible, I've decided to have a crack at designing my own bag.  Here is progress so far on what is turning into a rather large satchel/tote/baby bag.  Hopefully you can see what I'm trying to do here...

I've made and constructed the exterior pieces from furnishing fabric with quilting cotton decoration, including two end sections with lined and gathered pockets. The main body and ends have an ultra heavy weight interfacing on them so they are quite stiff (man, getting those curves through the machine was a fight!). I'm planning on adding a little strap with a snap fastener on it and I've pleated the ends so they sit nicely....but here's where my problem arises:

I was going to do a single wide messenger bag strap from end to end, but now I've pleated those ends, I don't know how to attach it.  I might have to go with two looped straps, one on either side, but then it's not really a messenger or a baby bag...and I know from experience that one strap to loop over the buggy handles is the way to go with baby bags!    So any advice would be much appreciated!  Should I go with the double handle (like a shopper) or do you know any way of neatly attaching a single handle to those ends without losing the pleats...?  At the moment, I'm sticking my head in the sand and making the lining!

2) A scrappy sorry
Ok, here's the tale.  My lovely Mum picked me up some fabric in a charity shop recently.  Here it is, she paid all of a pound for it. 

This Jones family are known for speaking their minds, so I'm afraid to say I was a little sniffy about it. "Oh, thanks."  "Erm....Not sure I'll use it, not my sort of thing" "It's a bit twee" "Was it curtains?" etc etc.

With hindsight, that was a bit mean.  Mum had found me some fabric that she thought I might be able to fussy cut little bits out of, especially the little birds in the borders. which is a good idea.

So today I'm trying to prove myself wrong and apologise to Mum in one go.  I'm making her a mat for the centre of her kitchen table. 

Here is the top, made with linen and other scraps from my scrap drawer, and of course fussy cut birds from the aforementioned fabric!  Since this picture, this has been quilted with two layers of cotton wadding (for heat protection) and a matching mid-blue linen backing. I'm hoping to bind it tonight and get it in the post to her....sorry Mum (she says sheepishly) xxxx

3) Sliced Coins quilt and Bee Europa flower quilt - on hold.

Not started yet (in no particular order, this list is worrying!)

• Present for Izzy - 1st birthday party this weekend!
• Skirt for Olive
• Dining room chair cushions for my brother
• Bag for Nikki, using grey denim and a fab fish print that she's chosen
• Trousers for Matthew, next size up
• A whole heap of stock for a craft fair in November
• Plus top-ups for the shops and Claire's Christmas market
• Laura's Star Bee Blocks for September (Brit Bee)
• Johanna's tree block for September (Bee Europa)
• Bench cushion for Sian
• Cushions for Holly
• More makes for Felix, she's my best advertisement!

I think I could go on, but I'm scaring myself :)

I'm linking up with Lee, visit her linky party for more huge lists and lots of inspiring projects.

x

Chicken dinner winner!

The title of this blog post has sod all to do with chicken dinners, however, this week I do feel like a winner!It's Wednesday, and there's progress to share, thanks to:

• Felix going through a phase of decent length morning nap-times
• Lovely parents-in-law taking Felix for a very long walk this afternoon
• James being very tolerant of me spending more evening time with my machine than with him...

and if that wasn't enough, look what he bought home with him last night...

Thanks James, my scissors are gorgeous, you're the best :)

So, onto progress, first up, I finished a ticker tape cushion for the shop

And I got cracking with Mark III of the rainbow quilt.  I managed to design and cut this on one evening, piece it during nap time the next day, and make the back, quilt it and bind it the next evening!

It's roughly 40" x 28", the back is linen, with a cotton rainbow stripe, and I machine bound it (for reasons of speed and durability!)

I think I prefer Mark II but was still pleased with this one, and it came together quickly which counts for something when it's going (hopefully) to be sold!
I also managed to make a gift for a cool little chap, Noah, who's first birthday party it was at the weekend..

Things on the go - still working on the diamond cushion, thanks for all your suggestions re sashing, I've opted for pale green and a rectangular cushion. Here's how it's looking...

So all in all a good week on the sewing front....AND....I won a giveaway at the weekend!!!!  Double chicken dinner winner! yeay!  A proper bloggy thank you will happen when the goodies arrive in the post..

As usual, I'm linking up with WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced and I'm off to catch up with some blog reading because for once I've managed to get this post done at a reasonable hour  :)

x

It's wednesday again..

Is it that time again?! Blimey, I can't believe I haven't blogged for a week..I'm a bit gutted because I wanted to be a more regular blogger than that...In fact, I'm generally a bit disappointed in the amount of sewing that's going on around here at the moment...despite lots of effort I have just about managed to keep on top of my Bee commitments (which by the way, I love - I'm learning so much from joining in with these sewing communities, plus my Bee members are a highly entertaining and lovely caring bunch!)

but I don't have a lot else to show!  Which means another week has passed at the shop without me putting any new stock in there...grrrr..and I had grand ideas about approaching a couple of other places too...

So next week, I need a concerted effort to get all these ideas buzzing round in my head down onto fabric.  I'll link up to the lovely gang over at Freshly Pieced (despite the lack of progress!) but won't do a full round up this week, instead here's the little bit of sewing I have managed to do!

Bee Europa block for Cara. It's a braid strip which is surprisingly easy to do, but such an effective result...I'm fascinated to see how these come together..

Project 51 - this is a secret project for an amazing person, and I am just a little piece of it, here are the blocks I've made and I can tell you now, the finished article is going to be BRILLIANT!

Oh, and to make myself feel better I had a little splurge at fabric rehab at the weekend, on colours I don't seem to have a lot of....  With their normal brilliant service, this little pile was received yesterday..(the two on the end are a little extra from my local sewing shop!)

Including the awesome Alexander Henry print on the right (Griffith leaf) which was on sale and inspired me to have a play with diamonds this morning (during morning nap!)...I'm thinking white sashing...what do you think?

This is inspired by a gorgeous gorgeous cushion I saw in the making over at Don't call me Betsy, only I don't have a "Go baby" to help with the cutting (sob!)
x