Sewing mat challenge.

Whew, I made it. Not quite the mat that I wanted to present, but it does the job and the butterflies will make me feel extra wonderful when I am sewing.

This is an interim sewing mat, as I was fast running out of time to finish the challenge, so threw together this very basic mat. I am continuing to work on the mat that I want (it has a few little embellishments included), but this one was made so that I could complete the challenge.

There are just too many birthdays etc in the next few months, combined with Christmas and work (really gets in the way of sewing), I need another 6 hours each day, at least. Unfortunately, this will be the last challenge for me, until after February. All b'days complete until the last 4 months of the year, so now I will be concentrating on the gifts for my daughters and grand daughters.

Blessings to all

Ellice

Celebrating launch of "Gum Tree Designers"

Head on over to Jenny's and check out the give away for the launch of the "Gum Tree Designers". It looks pretty good.

Blessings

Ellice

Gifts for kids

So here I am again with some more of my projects finished.  I didn't think they were going to work out very well, but I quite like them. The dress and bloomer sets are from Amy Butler's "Little stitches for little one's" and the bag is from "Mellie & Me"  The mum's of the little one's think the dress sets are very cute, and I am hoping Miss 8 likes her gift.

That's all for this session, now onto another project or three.

Blessings

Ellice

Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Well here I am again, with another give away entered. There is another one at 
  http://bittybitsandpieces.blogspot.com/    to check out. So go for it people.

3.30 am:- no projects to pin, no room to cut out other projects and the eyes aren't seeing clearly enough to complete stitching projects, so I shall return to bed, hopefully to get some sleep before returning to work at 7.00 am. So that will be good night from me, I hope everybody is having a great sleep. :o

Blessings

Ellice

"Sweet Nostalgia" Giveaway

Just a quick note to say :- step on over to Dorothy Baker's blog and check out her  "Sweet Nostalgia" Giveaway  The BOM is so sweet. Just click on the links in this text, or click on the BOM button on the side.

Blessings

Ellice

090909

Nothing to show for now, on this auspicious day.

Blessings

Ellice

(just had to do it, 9 words for this day)

Do you like give-aways?

Check out Missy Mack's site for her wonderful 100th blog give-away, and while you are there check out her site.

Ellice

Give-away wonders from around the world

Have just been checking out a few blogs that I happened on, and found some very pretty give-away's. If you want a little purse, head on over to LeKaQuilt  she has some gorgeous little bags, in all sorts of colours.

There is another give-away at Drommequilten check it out - a lovely little bag and Moda Posh.

And the third give-away for tonight is at Mama Spark's world and is for a stack of Robyn Pandolph Folk Art Christmas 3 containing 21 Fat quarters, so check it out.

Blessings

Ellice

Costumes and fun

Ok, so this is the second post for the day, but I have been busy creating - the previous one isn't that pretty, but it does what it is meant to. Anyway, onto this posting. My eldest gd's have been to dress-up parties, and had cardboard capes to go with their costumes, so grandma to the rescue - and 2 new capes for vampire costumes. I can see them being worn to many more parties

Now on to the next lot of projects.

Blessings to all

Sewing machine cover - only creator can love this one!

I have finally finished my sewing machine cover for the "August Sewing Machine Cover Challenge" from Jenny of Elefantz. It's not the most beautiful in the world. It is a bit rough and ready, , and it goes with the native environment, and it will keep the machine dust free and clean. I have also used material that I have had for about 15 years, and only found it the other day when I was looking for my Overlocker (in the shed) - I hadn't seen that for about 10 years. The appliqué came from a set of placemats that have never been used, and would have been thrown out if I hadn't started quilting. Anyway, the cover is now finished, and the Overlocker feels loved again - she is going for a service in November when the technician comes to town. I will be able to make her feel useful again after that.

Blessings to all

Fabric acquisitions - part II

Well here I am again with the next lot of photos of my (I think) beautiful stash, including the books purchased to help with ideas for the projects.

The projects I plan to complete include:- Kimono style pj's, Jumper dress with bloomers, Concertina book, the baby blocks, Brag book, Family Album, Travel bibs with carry bag, and probably most of the items in the book, they are so cute, and I have 100 years to fill in with sewing - haven't I. The patterns seem to be fairly simple to do also. Haven't looked at the "Stitches" book properly yet.

Now I just need to work out how to manage the updated version of composing a posting - so I can put the information next to the appropriate photo.

Well that is the end of the new additions to the stash, and the last additions for a while (unless absolutely necessary)

Blessings to all

Fabric Aquisitions - Part I

This is the first part of photographic evidence of my ever expanding fabric stash. I never thought I was a shopaholic, but am rapidly reviewing my thoughts on this. After re-arranging my work/guest room (see previous blog), and beginning on the shed :)), I have found fabric I had forgotten about. Sooooo now I have put a block on myself. I am not allowing myself to buy any more fabric until I have used at least half of what I have accumulated. I hope this doesn't take too long, cos the fabric makers are producing more and more beautiful fabrics, and I want them.


Fat quarters purchased for various projects that are in the process of beginning. These projects are from Amy Butler's "Little stitches for little ones". I also have purchased her "Stitches" book, and some of those projects will also be completed.





These fabrics are designated for a couple of vampire capes for my two eldest grand-daughters. The oldest of the pair attended a dress-up party, and was a vampire, but only had a cardboard cape (mum forgot that grandma was a stitcher). Now both girls will have a beautiful cape to play in. Not sure if the colour difference in the material is evident, but seen in real life, they are so different, and soooo silky - delicious!



These fabrics are also designated for various projects - little girl dresses, baby clothes and some toys. Some of it may even make it to other useful items - binder covers, kids travel bags - just to name a few - just need to get the mind working for outcomes.

Part II to follow

Blessings to all

Update on Sewing room and Guest room transformation

Well, the attempt to make a user friendly sewing room come guest room seems to be a pipe dream at this moment in time, for two (2) reasons:- (1) The room is not big enough, and (2) there is just too much stuff - furniture, material, sewing machines (over-locker & regular machine) toys for grandchildren. I think I need a new house (or I could make myself accept the offer of a new room - DH is a bit reticent in agreeing with this tho". I have tried to tell him that it is cheaper than a new house - no luck at this time; so will keep trying (insert evil chuckle here, please)

Sorry, no follow-up pictures of my poor, sad room.

Blessings

Ellice

Addition to post:- I am having another think about this room, and I will give it another go - my lovely sister might visit and help with ideas :)

Well the embroideries for my first stitchery quilt are coming along nicely, and the third on is now completed. The fourth one has been put on hold for a week or so, I have quite a few projects that need to be completed in the next few months - birthdays and Christmas - the birthdays begin in October, the next in November then 3 in December and, of course, Christmas. I then get a break til February, when I have two more birthdays. And the cycle continues - but it is all fun, especially trying to decide what to make for each girl. While they are tiny, it is easy.

That is it for this session, next few sessions I will show the yummy fabrics recently added to my ever growing stash.

Blessings

Ellice

Jenny of Elefantz give-away

Check it out, it is totally beautiful - swing by her blog and check out the contents of the giveaway to decide if you want to enter, just vist Jenny of Elefantz

Cheers

Ellice

Sewing rooms & guest rooms

Last weekend was wonderful, having spent it with my sister and three of her daughters, and also had help sorting out my sewing machine - it was giving me grief and not being helpful at all - I was getting ready to trade it in on a different brand of machine. The problems have all been sorted, and I have made friends with my machine - have even given her the name of Xantha, so a new friendship has finally begun. I have two old sewing machines which I am now going to clean and (hopefully) get working properly again. If that happens, one machine will be gifted to either D4 or D5, and sewing lessons will be included with the gift. If not, I will have two spare machines to play with, instead of one.

The other activity (for want of a better word) I have begun, is the transformation of a spare room into a serviceable workroom come guest room. For this to be totally workable, I will need to take out a built in shelving wardrobe, and build some floor to ceiling shelves, so that I can store everything in a logical and orderly manner. That task was begun today, then I thought that I might just put in a pictorial log of the progress, so the room at the beginning of the transformation are as follows.







Well, what a mess, now all I need to do is to be really tough on myself and get rid of the stuff that I haven't seen for a few years. Then build some floor to ceiling shelves, and stack everything properly so that it is easily found - a place for everything and everything in its place (omg, what have I let myself in for???)
Keep posted for the continuing saga of the room transformation, and also for any more completed projects. Should be simple [:0

Thanks for visiting, and keep the creative juices flowing.

Ellice

Baby quilts and bags

First two stitcheries for baby quilt #1 finished. Only about 14 to go.


Appliquéd front and back panels for D4's nappy bag, photos below show the progress of the construction of the bag.




This section of photos show the completed bag from all aspects. All that is needed now is to add decorative closures for each of the pockets.
N0w I just hope that my daughter likes it, and it is as useful as I hope it will be (is there enough space for all the requirements for the baby on an outing?)

One more project completed, lots more to go...............

This is a wonderful weekend, I have my sister and 3 nieces visiting. We are now waiting for all to be ready, so that we can visit the younger mothers of the family, and their babies. They are so cute (but I'm really not biased)

Well that is it for this session, on to some more creations hahaha

To borrow from "Mellie & Me" - May the floss (or your choice of medium) be with you

Ellice

Fibonacci patterns in quilting

Just a general query, hoping some one can help me with. Has anyone made a quilt using the Fibonacci number sequencing to dictate the pattern? Does anyone have information on where I can get instruction for this patterning? I have searched the internet, and there are instructional workshops, and am about to visit the local library, but so far have had no can help me with this request.

Cheers

Ellice

No sew weekend

Had plans of sewing lots of things this weekend, prior to returning to work after a few weeks holiday, but this has been curtailed. Have had the pleasure of looking after two grandchildren today, and D4, husband and baby (5.5m) arrived to stay for the next two nights, and am having 3 oldest grandchildren (7y, 3y, 8.5m) staying on Saturday night. Which leaves absolutely no time for sewing, but plenty of time for fun and laughter. Will have Monday to recover (and sew), then back to work (and time budgeting) on Tuesday.

Next post in a few days.

Ellice

Hi everyone,

As you can see I am back from my short holiday, and have begun my next project - a pair of pillowcases for D3. The quilt will be a Christmas present, as I only have 3 days to finish the pillow cases (I will have to pack some sewing in over the next couple of days) I have cut the patches out, now I only need to sew them together.

Didn't have the opportunity to take many photos during my small

break, so there are no photos of that, but I did do a little shopping while in WA. Found a lovely little shop in Midlands, and brought some panels to make 3 rag books, 1 Hoppy the Kangaroo and 2 Paddington Bear panels, for 3 of the daughters (3y, 8m & 6m)

and also a panel (Three little Kittens) from Beatrix Potter's range for D5(17y) [her choice]

I also got a couple of doggy bags of some very bright, kid material scraps - I think they are gorgeous, and suit the personality of miss3 perfectly, now I just need to find where I can get some larger pieces of the more interesting pieces.

First project finished at last :)

Have finally finished Claire's quilt, just in time to go away for a holiday. This is the first major project completed, now I can get on with finishing a few minor projects, and starting the next major project. Minor projects will include assorted toys for younger g'children, and a kindy bag for miss 3, and a pretty bag for miss 7. Also will start work on the quilt and pillow case set for miss T. I am hoping to have these completed for birthdays and Christmas. Of course all the birthdays are close to Christmas, so I should have plenty of time to do these - that is the plan anyway, but every one knows that the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray :)))

Here is the photo of Claire's finished quilt, very assymetrical, but I like the effect. Miss 7 is helping with the display

Small achievements

Well here I am again, with my next achievements. I am feeling very pleased with myself, as I have completed my first piece of quilting - I am not really happy with it, and I might even unpick the quilting stitches, but that remains to be seen.

Stitchery Caddy

My other achievement is the completion of the first embroidered piece for my next quilt - there are now between 10 and 12 to go. hopefully these quilts will be finished before the babies are adults :))Always in my heart

Now onto the next component of the quilt.

Adding to tools and stash

Well, had a great day today. Shopping with MIL, and brought lots of goodies. Additions to my tiny stash (have a number of projects I want to start - just need more hours in the day), some much needed tools, and some beautiful threads for my stitcheries.

Can I have a new coat, please?

Got the material for D3's "Power Quilt"

Andre had to give his approval to the choice -


not too impressed about "Power" colours coming into a "Crows" house though.

Have just finished recalculation of material requirements for D3's quilt, and, woe is me, did not buy enough material. Now need to take another trip on Monday to remedy the situation. I think I will do the calculations a few times before I get the materials next time.

That's it for today, I think I will leave this alone for a while, and sort out the materials and get them ready for the projects.

Ellice