Bonny bridesmaids...

Following on from yesterday, here are the girls. Sorry I have no picture with the two of them together..

 pretty bridesmaid number one!























and dress number two, before I sewed those side seams..

Two very different dresses, using the same fabrics...

a little chilli?

 If you look quite carefully, you can see my tiny baby chilli pepper, and a second one lurking behind the stem! Yes we have peppers! Still to grow!

















And this block made today for the 'round the world' quilting bee! My daughter has still to do hers, and we can then photograph them as a group.

I have not done much on the machine lately, as little one has been sewing. she has been making 'mug rugs' and an apron to take off to college with her, and a pair of gorgeous jimmy-jams trews. So I have taken a step back for a little bit to let her get on.
Very good job she has done too! I will see if she lets me show you, later.

And, in the post this week, some 'summersville' fabric to make a block for Reene. Want to see?

neatly tied, in kona Ash

So now my imagination has to come up with a house. Hmm.



And my son has a new job! thank goodness. And other daughter not feeling too wonderful. Labyrinthitis is miserable, feeling dizzy and sick almost all the time and trying to work. Hope she feels better soon.

It arrived at my partners!

I posted a parcel, yesterday.I had some wrapping paper, but as I know my partner will be doing some 'interesting' block making shortly, I thought, I could give her an interesting trim, rather than just 'normal' parcel ribbon. so I tied her parcel, with this rainbow organza ribbon.




Now, you know what was inside,




 There was this frame purse. And the little butterfly brooch which was attached on the outside. And, thank goodness, my partner seems to like the purse. Phew! As she hadn't commented I was rather nervous!



The instructions dictated that there had to be a little something for the inside. But I was not sure what. So my initial thought was 'machine needles'.  As a sewer, these have to be useful, and welcomed. So a couple of packs lurked inside the purse. But I had a thought about a little something, which I really really wanted to make. But I needed an excuse. Sorry, Partner, you were my excuse. So I made this,



Oh, I forgot, you can't see through the wrapper. And yes there are some other ribbons there for her to use, Because they are pretty!

Now, I said at the time this was for someone special, so here it is again,

A little etui, in pretty fabrics.



My daughter does occasional swaps of what are called, 'Crappy Day presents'

And I thought, this lovely lady has had one or two less than wonderful days lately, so, let us try to put a smile on her face, So this fitted into the purse neatly.


And no 'Crappy Day present' is complete without chocolate- so a small amount of chocolate went into the parcel too!

 

And Then I made her a card. It is a dead simple card, and I made several at the same time- I forgot to take a photo of her one, but this is similar. Quick and fun, I think!

And I only posted yesterday, but she received it today! Yeay! and I am so glad she was my partner!

fishy thing

I decided to turn my last Applique block into a cushion cover, A friend of mine will appreciate it, and I think it looks wonderful. ' Even if I do say so as shouldn't'.

I mounted it with a border in deep green, and put it on a skinny layer of batting, and that backed with white cotton I had in stock, Stitched at the inner and outer edges of the green, and then did a rambling set of wavy lines on the green by way of free quilting, to fit the watery theme. Then piped the edge with gold scroll fabric ( another first- never done piping before) and used furnishing suede, left over from DD2's Christmas bag, for the reverse of the cushion.
 The piping was surprisingly easy, using a zip foot, and 1" wide strips of fabric to cover the cord. I would definitely do it again, it produces a really professional result.

I was pleased with the way the Green mitred neatly at the corners, Thank you, I adapted this to do the mitred bit. and when I trialed it with a cushion pad it looked better than I had expected.
I debated doing a bit of quilting on the face of the picture, but decided, less was more, and I could ruin the whole thing if I got too enthusiastic.

I did an envelope back, which has a big overlap, and should be tidy and secure.
Hopefully, she should receive this at the weekend.

My daughter tells me I now need labels to put in projects, as this will finish it off even better. I am giving this consideration. What do other folk do? I am not at all sure. 

Now, I have a little list, of definite projects I wish to work on in the next few months. I do  not know how time and energy are going to run, but this is the brief list. I am sure other things will add themselves. These before April, I hope. 

1. Book bag- Son no. 1

2. Imogens cover-DD1

3. Cushion- Elizabeth--Done, Hurrah

4. Throw-Gill

5. Throw no 3-Living room. (for me!)

6. Finish quilt that began all this

7. Join a bee

Now one of those has already been finished, other than gifting, and one is, I trust, on its way. Sunni from Love affair with my brother is hosting a stash bee, the first hive is complete, but she is happy to do another to start in February, so I have signed up, with trepidation, as I have never done the like before, so I just hope enough other folk will join in, that it will run. She has several links on her page, to tell us how it is meant to work, and giving ideas of rules. 

Fingers firmly crossed, how about it?
Now, the lovely Lucy from Charm about you is having a birthday, and wants us to help her celebrate, by giving us a charm pack-well, she is giving two packs away, so go and visit her, and put your ha'porth in for that. They are lovely Kate Spain charm packs, and would go well in any stash!

red riding hood

ok. so it is the weekend of my elder daughter's birthday, and what does she want for her birthday? A visit from a parent. Papa is busy with another project, so I guess that leaves me free, clear to go spend girly time with my big girl. And take her her pressies of course- well, a pressie anyway.
So, I arrived in time for tea, it is always time for tea with my girls,and often with my boy,but that is another matter,and we had a lovely evening, and went shopping for a bit more pressie on the Saturday. And while we were exploring a certain well known department store,we spotted a coat. well, not a coat. Almost a coat, and nearly a cape, with a fur collar- but we don't do fur.But the collar is detachable, and we like the look of said almost  coat, but we do not like the price of this not really a coat, because poverty stricken students have to watch their pennies.
Anyway have a little look at the construction and, why don't we make it ourselves? at home?
Off to the little fabric store nearby, and there is a bright red suedette just begging to turn into something fun and pretty, and how about a polka dot lining to go with it?

So Sunday morning's project came home.

The DD has taken some construction pictures, and I hope to add these on in due course. A bit of invention was required at times,as there are NO patterns up here to cannibalise for collar, but my spur of the moment collar worked brilliantly (lets be modest about it) and hemming the lining with a pattern in red adds a little something to the whole.

I forgot to put a hanging loop in so a bit of unpicking to insert that later had to happen, remembered to make it, but insert?? and it still needs buttons, and loops, or buttonholes. Buttons to be bought first

Mega tip to self- A walking foot topstitches suedette and poly lining without dragging.
Mini tip to self- DD has very little in the way of cotton for her machine. Buy red thread when buying red fabric!

All in all, a very satisfying Sunday. Cost of fabric-£26. Cost of similar in store £110. I think we got a bargain!

do the lining first, as accidents are less likely to show!

the back, cut on the fold

judging theneckline

lining complete, needs an iron!

ornamental hem, takes forever, but looks good

outer, put together

the outer layer, back

outer, put together

finished,but for buttons, or fasteners

from the back

the loop had to go in later.....

and finish- for now