Over-committed!

I admit it... I totally over-committed myself this Christmas.  What with a few commissions, plus a whole heap of Christmas gifts I decided I was going to make, I find myself in full on panic mode with a ginormous list of sewing left to do, no Christmas cards sent and no present wrapping done!

And this kind of panic leads to sewing disasters....

but first the good stuff :)

One doorstop completed for a commission due on Christmas Eve.  A remake of the hungry caterpillar to match is on it's way too.

Another commission, two kids book bags (for twin girls) and a large cushion cover.  The cushion was fun because I was handed the old one (on the left) and asked to replace it "in the same colour scheme but a bit more interesting"....I really hope this will fit the bill!

And a large washbag destined as a Christmas pressie for someone who I think doesn't read my blog!

There's more, but I can't show it just yet.

Did I mention a sewing disaster?  Sigh. 
It all started pretty well. The request is for four dining room chair cushions destined for brother number 2 and his girlfriend (also hopefully not blog readers).  I've never made these before so I'm in "make it up as you go along" mode.  I started by purchasing four cheap cushions and unpicking the covers on them (Tip: this worked out at half the price of having foam cut to order!)

Using the old covers as templates, I cut my fabric for the first one, added a zip (ha ha, so easy to type, but not so easy in real life) and stitched the top and bottom together, with piping and cotton tape for the ties.

It's a bit messy at the zip ends, but it's passable.

Encouraged by this, and with the learnings of zip number 1 under my belt, I embark on cover number 2.  It goes like a dream, the zip, the piping, the corners...I even finish the insides with a zigzag stitch.

Number 2 is on the left...can anyone spot why I am officially a Doofus?

Yes, the fabric is upside down. I think I want to cry :(

James says it won't be noticeable when people are sitting on them....had to smile at that...am giving up for this evening and am going blog surfing...goodnight all!

x

 

Extreme sewing!

And before you say it, no, I am not sitting naked at my sewing machine (!), it's not that sort of extreme. Nor am I sewing at high altitudes...it's more about the amount of sewing that's been going on round here.
This is evidenced by the following facts:

• I'm on my third 500m of white thread this week
• I haven't written a blog post for over a week
• There is a serious washing backlog
• My blog reader stands at 786 unread items (I'm so sorry everyone, I will try and catch up!)
• I've broken two needles
• I've done another two craft fairs and updated stock in both shops
• I've learnt some new skills including piping, and inserting zips into cushions
• Felix has spent time with her Dad, Granny and Grandad, and Nana and Gramps and our childminder (I know you've had fun little lady, but sorry to pass you around :(   )
• My Mum arrived on Saturday and ordered 5 items for Christmas presents, some of which are to be taken with her when she leaves today (I'm not moaning at this, since she is a big fan of my work, she pays well, AND she and Dad are brilliant with Felix!)

and finally, the most compelling evidence of extreme sewing...

I broke a bobbin!  This has never happened to me before and was a bit of a shock when I was hit by a flying piece of plastic and then thread cascaded all over the place...no harm done, except that I'm down to three bobbins, which is just not enough! (Christmas present hint, Mum!)

So sorry I've been AWOL and not reading everyone's blogs, I will remedy that this week...but in the meantime, here's some pictures of some of the latest makes:

Zippy overload:

Make-up bags:

Cushions made from single fabrics (trying a different tactic at the craft fairs), but snazzed up with piping and a covered zip on the back

Bucket bag with leather straps:

and finally, a little travel tissue holder for Mum's friend (and fabric benefactor) Mavis!

Whilst the craft fairs have been fun, I am looking forward to a little respite and some "me" sewing in the new year!

x

Winter Stitching plans - yikes!

There's just about enough time for me to get off the fence and document my Winter Stitching List, for linking up with the lovely Sarah at Fairyface designs.

And I'm going to cheat a little bit by immediately ticking some things off (is that allowed?!)

OK, in vague calendar order:

October: (yes yes, I know I've only got one day, but these lists are supposed to be challenging, right?!)

• Finish Brit Bee blocks for Laura
• Stitch a tree block for Johanna in Bee Europa
• Make a bag for carrying work folders for friend Nikki's birthday, to her specifications - grey denim, a chosen fishy print and teal (if you know Nikki, you'll know the teal is not optional!)
• Mark II of the hungry caterpillar draft excluder.  You can read about the original here which looked like this...so anything will be an improvement :)



• Sort out business cards
• Sorting out a teensy bit of childcare for November (see below for the reason why!) 

November:
Make enough stock for half a craft fair stall (19th November) and extras for a friend's Christmas fair stall the weekend before.  So I'm thinking I'll aim for the following volumes...it'll be interesting to see how close I get to these!

• 10 cushions
• 5 zippy make-up bags
• 3 Door stops
• 5 bags of varying difficulty!
• 10 fabric covered handbag mirrors
• 20 fabric covered badges
• 10-20 Christmas decorations 

Plus November Bee Blocks (stars for Ulrike in Bee Europa) and for Brit Bee, we'll have to wait and see as Miss Hadders is keeping it secret!

PLUS finish my chosen cushion and little extra for my partner in the Brit Quilt Pillow fight!  Don't worry partner, if you're reading, this one will get prioritised above the list above!

December

• Finishing the stacked coins quilt, which was the first quilt I ever started.

• Stock for the shops if needed (cushions, doorstops, draught excluders)
• Chrimble presents (I'm not listing these here, for fear of being found out!)
• Adding to my solids stash (hopefully with the proceeds of that craft fair)

New year: (it all gets a bit vague from here on!)

• Find someone to teach me how to screenprint my own designs onto fabric
• Stipple something (for non-quilty followers, in case you are worried about my intentions, this means to quilt something in a random pattern!)
• Make a quilt for me inspired by this one
• Possibly approach another shop
• Finish the quilt for Felix, made from the Bee Europa flower blocks
• Decide on what I'm going to ask for in my month of Brit Bee (how exciting!)

Phew!  Eeeek, writing it down was supposed to help, but now I'm panicking...OK...breathe...

Here's a few cheeky things to cross off the list:

Nikki's birthday was yesterday, and she liked her bag! 

Here is Mark II of The Hungry Caterpillar.  He's about half the size girth-wise (that really does sound sleazy)and not quite so ridiculous looking!  If you want him you can find him in "Made in Hastings" unless he's wiggled off the shelf already :)

Sorry about the comedy staging of this photo, taken at the crazy golf with my phone, having forgotten to get a picture before leaving home!

I will report back on the Bee blocks and the child minding situation in a day or two.

X

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