Festive Sewing

I started this week freaking out about the amount of things I had committed to making for Christmas. Every year I over-commit and end up freaking out and stressing. This year is no different!

BUT, I have sewn up a storm in the last couple of days. Look what I've been making.....



Sprocket pillows from one of my favourite tutorials from Cluck Cluck Sew



Dresden cushions for my Mum made following the Old Red Barn Dresden QAL
Embroidery patterns are from the Clover and Violet Embroidery 101



A Colorbrick quilt for my Step Father, who was a builder before he retired and still admires the brickwork in the Colorbrick quilt I made my daughter a year ago. (I don't like my Step Father's one, I rushed it and I'm not keen on the fabric I chose for him, but I think he will love it)



I think it looks quite impressive all piled up :)

I made another 2 cushions and some ornaments, but forgot to take photos before I dashed to the Post Office to get them in the mail on time!

I've just got a bag and a wall-hanging to go!

Sew Fiona, Sew!!!!!

Happy Wednesday (it is Wednesday isn't it?)
Fiona x

Tumbling

I made a big floor cushion a while back that my youngest son immediately claimed as 'His Cushion' When my older son and daughter came from from school that day they both announced that they really really needed one each too. It's taken me a few weeks but I have finally made my big boy a floor cushion of his own.

I really like the Tumbler Pillow tutorial that Katy wrote for Fat Quarterly. I made my template bigger, to make full use of the charm pack I had. (I think I made it 4.5" high and 5" wide at the bottom) So my cushion is big at 25" square. As soon as he saw it my Big Boy announced he loved it, and I think he really does :)

I used a charm pack of Circa 1934 by Cosmo Cricket and some random black and white dotty fabric I had in my stash.

I've also made another little elephant. This one isn't for me either, and my daughter wants one too. Hopefully I'll get faster at making them the more I make :) I really like the fabric I used for this one. Nicey Jane by Heather Bailey. The pattern is also by Heather Bailey and is called Effie and Ollie.

Happy Wednesday!
Fiona x

Little Things

I've been sewing little things the last few days. Sometimes I love sweet little projects that only take an hour or two, instead of quilts which can take me months.

Meet Bella, the pin cushion. I think I might be in love with her! I made her using a Heather Bailey pattern called Effie and Ollie that I've had my eye on for ages. As much as I want to keep her, I did make her with someone in particular in mind, and I'm intrigued to see if this particular person will love her too :)

I also finished off the cushion I've made my partner in the Pillow Talk Swap on Flickr. I kind of want to keep this too, and I'm hoping that my secret partner will like it.

I made another little Fortune Cookie purse to pop in as an extra little surprise for my partner, I really like these little purses (Frame and Pattern from U Handbag) and I love that  fabric (Make Life by Sweetwater)

So now it's almost the weekend, wonder if I'll find time to make something for myself? :)

Have a great weekend
Fiona x

Frame Purse - Take 2

Ta Da!
I was determined not to be beaten by the frame purse in my previous post. I ordered a kit and some glue from U Handbag and it arrived bright and early this morning :) The kit included a pattern and this time I followed the instructions to the letter and this Fortune Cookie Purse is what I made! I am so pleased with it! The pattern was more complicated than my previous little purse, but the instructions were really clear and I made this in about 2 hours

This one is destined to be my Mum's Christmas present, but I ordered extra frames and I have a strong feeling there are more frame purses in my future! :)

Happy Wednesday!
Fiona x

More Swap Goodies and a Purse Frame

I'm participating in the Pretty Little Pouch Swap that is running on Flickr just now. I love this swap. I had to sit out the last round, but in the first round I had a lot of fun making a Boxy Pouch for my partner and the lovely Jules made me a pouch for my sewing supplies that I adore and use every day! This time I have decided to give purse frames a go, and decided to have a little practice before ruining starting work on my partner's pouch. I used a couple of the charm squares that I received from Cindy in the Japanese charm swap recently, and a cheapy little coin purse frame. I was pretty confident after reading the lovely Katy's post about frame pouches, but I was soon pulled down a peg or 2!!!

I found it pretty fiddly, and had bought a budget version of the glue that is widely recommended, which I regretted as soon as I started gluing. Never mind, my daughter loves her new 'Dinner money' purse and I have learned some lessons

• Don't make something tiny as a practice. Smaller is NOT easier!
• Don't think a cheaper version of the recommended glue will work just as well. It won't! There is a reason that people recommend something - listen to them!
• If you have a great tutorial to follow, Follow it! Don't skim it and then make up your own dimensions and way of doing things! Follow the tutorial! 
• Always do a practice run when you are trying something new. Your daughter will not mind glue dribbles and splats all over her purse. Your swap partner will!!!

I've ordered some glue, frames and supplies from U Handbag for my partner's pouch, and will proceed more carefully this time!

I received the second Goodie package from the Goodie Swap on Flickr. The lovely Dianne at Quiltova made me this beautiful Mug Rug and Needle case in my favourite colours! Aren't they beautiful?! She also included a sweet magnet and a postcard from the Czech Republic :)

And just because I like showing you all my morning cuppa......

 The Mug Rug isn't tiny, that mug is giant, and holds about a gallon of tea!

Thankyou for all your well wishes about my back. It's feeling a lot better and I am actually able to sit at my sewing machine again - yipee!

Happy Tuesday!
Fiona x