Mothers Day Sewing

Just before Christmas my Mum and Dad bought themselves a caravan, and when I made this needlecase a while ago Mum hinted that it would be handy to have one in the caravan for when they are away on long trips. So this is what i've come up with for Mother's Day:

A covered journal for her to record all their trips in:

I used Natalie Bird's "From the Heart" pattern book for the stitchery

And a little zippered sewing pouch, complete with sewing goodies and a mini needle-case:

I modified Bloom's Journal cover tutorial for the journal, and used this tutorial from Twelve22 for the zippered pouch. The fabric I used was leftover from a quilt I made years ago (and for the life of me I can't remember what on earth it's called):

I think Mum is going to love her pressie.... lets just hope she doesn't decide to read my blog in the meantime!

Until next time...

Not so Idle!

Well somehow I managed to get to Tuesday before posting on Sunday's sewing efforts at Club Quilt...... maybe because I don't really have much to show. I was busy all day but seemed to swap from one project to another, resulting in nothing much being completed. I took my friend Jo along with me and we both had a lovely time stitching, chatting and munching with all the other ladies..... really don't know why I didn't join years ago!

I did get the embroidery on these face washers done:

Then I started another "Skinny Verna" table runner:

Then I moved on to this project, which is the beginning of an overdue birthday gift for someone special:

Then I cut out all the pieces for another "Stacked Coin Quilt" when I got home:

And then on Monday I started yet another project, but I'm pleased to say I have finished that one and will share it with you tomorrow.
Soooo.... you can see I have actually been busy, really I have!

Until then, Happy Stitching

An Oldie

Good Morning!

Since i've been a bit slack in the sewing department of late I thought it would be a good time to share a quilt I made about two years ago for my Niece's 1st Birthday.  This is a favourite one of mine..... especially due to the fact that it's an original that I made by modifying the "Boys Toys" quilt by Annie of "Hatched and Patched".

The fabrics were from the "Poetry Collection" range and the pics really don't do them justice.... Shannon adored her quilt instantly and laid down on it trying to cuddle the teddy bear....too cute!

Hard to believe the idea came from here..... a larger version of the "Boys Toys" quilt I made for Master 7 many years ago. This was my first attempt at a quilt with a lot of applique and I've been hooked ever since!

I promise to have some sewing to show you after the weekend as I have Club Quilt tomorrow!

Until then..... Happy Stitching!

Bernard's Banana Cake

Not much sewing happening so far this week, but with a heap of over-ripe bananas in my fruit basket, I did find time to make a batch of yummy Banana Muffins and a couple of  Banana cakes tonight...... I always need to make Muffins as well (using the same recipe) since Master 7 doesn't like my banana cake..... go figure! LOL

I have a habit of naming recipies after the person that gave them to me so we call this one "Bernard's Banana Cake" in our household. Recipe makes a good sized 20cm square cake or 12 muffins.

Ingredients
1 ½ Cups of S.R. Flour
1 Cup Sugar
½ Cup Butter (Melted)
2 Eggs
2 Tbsp Milk
1 Tsp Vanilla Essence
2 Banana’s (Mashed)
½ Tsp Bi-Carb Soda

Method
· Mix dry ingredients together.
· Add all other ingredients and mix till combined
· Pour into a lined/greased cake pan
· Cook at 180oC for about 40 minutes for a large cake and 15 minutes for muffins.

Enjoy!

Cute Tie Top

Last night I whipped up this cute little Tie Top for Miss 11 using the tutorial from "belle epoque". We have a wedding to go to on Saturday and as is usual when a special occassion comes round .... Miss 11 had once again outgrown almost everything! Her nice black pants still fit and her new top looks lovely with them. The fabric was leftover from a dress I made her about 5 years ago!

Miss 11 was delighted when she woke up this morning to her new top!

Until next time

Tom's Stuff!

Last night I made this little handbag "Manbag"...... isn't it cute?

My dear friend Cath's little boy is turning 3 on Saturday and I knew exactly what to make him..... having four sisters, it's not unusual for Tom to be seen carrying a very girly handbag everywhere he goes! Boys need to carry stuff too.... so I thought this would do the trick nicely and he might not attract as many of those looks in the supermarket from now on. Cath will be impressed!

I didn't have a pattern for this one.... just made it up as I went along.

Until next time

Camera/Ipod Pouch Tutorial

Well here it is..... my first tutorial!

I was very anxious writing this and hope that my instructions make sense.... if not please let me know.

I would love to see pictures if any of you do make one.

Supplies:

• Scraps of two co-ordinating fabrics (One main fabric and one lining fabric)
• Medium weight Iron-on Pellon
• One of the following: Velcro / Hair elastic and Matching Button / Magnetic clasp (14mm)
• 1.5" x 1.5" heavy weight interfacing (if using Velcro or Magnetic clasp)

Cutting:
From each of your main fabric, your lining fabric and your pellon cut:-

• 1 - 7.5" x 4.25" piece
• 1 - 5" x 4.25" piece

If desired also cut:

• 1 - 1" x 11" strip for strap
• 1 - 2" x 2.75" piece for SD card pocket

These measurements fit a camera 2.5" wide x 4" long and 1" thick with a little room to move.

For my ipod classic I cut all pieces 3.75" wide instead of 4.25".

Assembly:

• Iron pellon to wrong side of Main fabric pieces
• Iron wrist strap in half lengthwise to make a centre crease then unfold and iron in both long edges to the crease. Iron in half again to conceal the raw edges and make a narrow strap. Stitch close to edge.
• Iron SD card pocket in half, right sides together so that the short ends meet and stitch down both sides using a 0.25" seam. Turn right side out, press and topstitch folded edge.

• 
  
  Position the pocket upside down with the raw edge 3" from the bottom of the right side of the 7.5" lining piece and stitch in place with a small seam. 

• 
  
  Iron pocket upward and stitch around three sides to secure in place.  Backstitching at beginning and end.

• 
  
  Place the two 5" fabric pieces right sides together and stitch using a 0.25" seam along the short edge. Iron out flat.
• 
  
  On the the 5" piece of main fabric position velcro so that the bottom edge sits 1.5" down from the seam line and stitch in place. For the magnetic clasp position so that the top edge of the clasp sits 0.75" down from the seam line.

• 
  
  Matching wrong sides, press and topstitch folded edge through all layers. Taking care when ironing not to melt the velco like I did on my first attempt!
• 
  
  On the wrong side of the 7" lining piece, position the square of interfacing in the centre about 0.25" from the top edge and iron in place. Using a rounded object (I used a small ramekin), mark the shape you'd like the flap to be and cut along the marked line.

• 
  
  If using a button closure: Sew across the hair band like this to form a loop to go around your button and trim close to stitching. (Make yours smaller than the one shown as I had to unpick and shorten this one).
• 
  
  Position the hairband at the top end of the main fabric and pin or baste in place.

• 
  
  Lay the 7" main fabric piece face up and pin the strap in place about 4" from the bottom edge on an angle as shown.

• 
  
  position the smaller 5" piece main fabric face down with the lining fabric face up and then place the 7" lining piece on top, right side down and pin in place. Make sure you tuck the strap out of the way so you don't catch it in your seam.
• 
  
  Stitch around leaving the bottom edge open for turning. Trim rounded end.
• 
  
  Turn between the lining pieces and press so that it looks like this:

• 
  
  Pin and stitch across bottom edge, trim with pinking shears/zig zag/overlock to finish edge.
• 
  
  Turn right side out, press again and topstitch around flap.
• 
  
  Stitch button in place (if required)

Voila....all done!

I've also made them with pieced fabric which looks great and I added a lobster clasp to one on a shortened strap which is very handy also. You could make smaller ones for mobile phone pouches and if you're making them without the Strap or pocket they're super quick to whip up!

The things we do.....

Well here it is 5pm and this is the sum of my sewing efforts for the day......  a new quilt and matching pillow for my niece's Barbie bed using the leftover fabric from my Beach House bag.

I had planned to get my chores done quickly and spend the entire day sewing but it wasn't to be.... way too many distractions!

Until next time