New Tutorial and Pattern to come soon

Pattern and Tutorial

Proof that I haven’t been off galavanting somewhere having a whale of a time. No indeed I have been putting bit’s of cut up fabric together and making them into one coherent whole. Furthermore, I’ve been creating my own Bias Binding to add a very personal touch to anything I make.

The last part is the most time consuming because of the amount of measuring, drawing, re-measuring, cutting, sewing... Oh the list goes on, but the end result is one that always pleases.

The former is the Jam to the toast.  Finding fabric’s in little bits and then using a blade and ruler to cut into littler bits, then the Silver to sew them back together in a different way that produces some very dramatic quilts, throw’s, cushions or just fabric.

The neo-natal blankets have very little quilting on, for a very good reason. The little ones that are under these blankets are very small, and very delicate, too much stitch work will make the fabric less pliable and too stiff for the little ones.  They need to be held with cotton puff hands, and these blankets allow that to happen.  The plan is, that I will get some ‘volunteers’ to try the pattern out first.

Once their feedback is in and error’s rectified, the pattern will be published and ready for selling.  I am in negotiations with fabric retailers with respect to fabrics used for the patterns and potentially I may be able to put the pattern and fabric together in a kit. Though not pre-cut unless the demand for a pre-cut kit is great.

I am making them at a slow pace right now as I am clearing up mistakes within the planning stage as I go.  I think I could be better placed using my time doing it in an ordered fashion, but as I am a total novice at this type of thing I really am walking blind.

If any of you can suggest a method that may work to have more done a week,( because, let’s face it, the blankets aren’t huge!), Please get in touch

The tutorial?

Well, that is for the home grown Bias.  Because I enjoy making it so much, I can’t keep my enthusiasm to myself!  As long as you have a decent enough fabric, not thin and flimsy, you can make stunning bias. I use my cutting mat, rotary cutter and mini iron (Antex) to the best effects.

Watch this space for the tutorial in written form.  I will be posting a video of the methodology and practice as soon as I can convince my Darling Other Half that he wants to do it!

Pippa's Big Bag

This week at my quilting and patchwork class we started our next phase in bag construction.  I have made bags in the past and knew that what ever I chose it had to be something that I would use or it would be a pointless exercise!

The previous bag was our board and rotary set bag.  As my board is a double A3 one the bag had to be large enough to cope with that and the 24" ruler that I use.  I chose a white linen (hind sight say's that was a foolish colour for a bag, but then hind sight is always 20/20), the linen was folded in quarters, and I kept them together in that configuration to maintain the thickness and bulk that I wanted in order to prevent any points from poking out and stabbing anyone.

On one outer side there is a Bargello panel, which I constructed using bluey/pink batik's. They are stunning together, and all the women have commented on their vibrancy.  Me being the eternal cream bean isn't too sure when it comes to bold and bright's, but if the rest of the opinions are in favour, then I can live with it.

The other outer edge has a four patch of foundation pieced log cabin.  Now these are white and bluey hues, though nothing bright. Subtle but strong also.  The log cabin squares were a joy to put together. For some reason I really enjoyed them, and found them to be amongst one of the easiest patchwork pieces yet.  Indeed, I have enjoyed it so much that I have made several Mug Mat's to keep me busy!

Now on the inside of the bag -

Instead of using the white linen, I stumped for another panel of linen style fabric, this time in a deep Christmas Green. On this panel was a Seminole strip applied to hold the ruler, and another patch that was made using a chevron effect for the rotary ruler.

The pattern wasn't exactly clear when the zip insertion was being described, however, I followed the instructions as I read them and think that the result is the correct method. Though, I didn't have two zip's that were the correct length and correct manufacture.  Now I have found two (infact one of the same as the one sewn in place just a slightly different colour and two) the same colour just slightly shorter in length, the task of checking and double checking, measuring and re-measuring will commence and I can then put that project behind me.  That one was not one that I really enjoyed in totality.  The end result wasn't clear, we wanted an all round bag that had a centre, and then had pockets going round the out side of the bag. 

Moreover, now that I have completed several bags, (there are more that I have done, they just don't need mentioning here) the task of putting a pattern together and creating my own bag isn't as daunting as previously feared!

The bag that we started this week - some last week, but I just wasn't in the sewing mojo, was for me a simple tote type bag, but it has huge hips.  When you see the picture's you will understand.  She has a pin thin waist and large hips.  The pattern called for upholstery fabric to be used due to it's strength. Of course I didn't have the upholstery fabric that was what I wanted.  The fabric I had chosen was a fat quarter bundle that I purchased off EBid a long time ago.  They are by Moda from a lovely collection using creamy yellows and pinks, lovely florals that I wouldn't have necessarily used for my own purpose, but, I am for some reason becoming more er feminine! 

This is the finished product, even though I had to re-jig the fabric's as I'd only taken Fat Quarter's to class and the pattern called for 1/2 meter's, the end item is actually very pleasing.  I like it, as did my partner and my children!  That is all that counts really isn't it?

Because I didn't use upholstery fabric, the bag would have been very sloppy with no thick interfacing.  To avoid this and to keep the fabric very clean, I decided to use the heat'n'bond Vinyl on the outside. This added the stability that the bag required and it actually looks very dapper.  The oil cloth bag's are very 'en vogue' here right now. Kath Kidson has paved the way with her delightful floral fabric being OIL'ed and made into hand bags.  From Ikea to the World!  humble beginnings can turn out to be the best advertisements it turns out.

This project was supposed to last us a few weeks I think - actually it was to last us until the end of the term.  There I am steamed through the time and done it in two days! Oops. Well I guess that then lends me the time to get on with the bag AND the baby quilts.

I have put together two so far, used a template/pattern of my own and used a soft fleece (non-piling) for the back. Because these are so thin, they are suitable for newborn babies.  Any thicker and they would be too warm for the little ones as they have no real ability to regulate their temperature.

The top two are the green girl's quilt, which is big enough for a Cotbed. This one is backed with a lovely berry red fleece, and the bottom two are for a none gender specific recipient. I used Moda, fabric's of my own dying and other manufacturer's.  They all go together very well and suit the back which is a lovely baby blue colour.  This one went to a baby boy who had decided to come out to Mummy a few weeks early. He was 4lb odd when he came home a few weeks after being born, but is said to be doing very well, as is Mummy.

On the note of babies, both mine are now nicely tucked into their beds/cot, so the after hours mummy task's must now be completed. Packed lunches made, kitchen washed down, lounge de-toddlered, so on and so forth... any other mother know's what I mean ;-)

With this in mind, I bid you all fare well and will hopefully see you sooner than later, depending on how the bag and quilt turns out x

Take care of you and yours

J x

White Times on Valentines

Not White Line's in the context of the very well known song, but the stuff that is known throughout the UK to stop everything! I mean everything!

It is ridiculous   a small coating of snow on the ground and we turn into totally immobile biff's who are reliant on the odd individual who thinks that snow isn't a leave pass.

The snow didn't last all that long! It was fun watching my 11 year old boy try to sledge down a hill that was more grass than snow.  I do have a wicked sense of humour ;-)

Today is the onset of my fabric sort out.  What I do is, I go through each storage container, systematically, and then bundle fabric's into their categories. That may be colours, characters, or even fabric make up - cotton for dresses, for quilting, upholstery fabrics, jersey fabrics, voiles, nets, vintage etc....

We now have a study full of fabric stacks. My poor ever suffering partner is being slowly squeezed out of his desk and into another realm (we have no more room in the house, so that is the only place he and his pc can go!), to accommodate my fabric fetish. 

Honestly when I buy them I am doing so to make a certain item with them, however, my brain being what it is, can not carry that information along too long and by the time it either arrives here or I get home from the shop (sometimes I forget when I get into the car, not long after purchase!), it has gone clean out of my mind...

But that is ageing, or so I am told.

Hang around for the pictures!

Tomorrow I will post some up for you all to oooh and aaahhh over 

Night all

J x

Another Snowy Day?

Another Snowy Day?

We had a huge deluge of snow a few weeks back, which knocked the school’s out of service for a week, and most vehicular movement also.  I love it when the snow is here... children want to play out whereby normally they are indoors watching crud TV or playing a ‘video’ game.  The environment is clear, everything seems very clean.  The quiet is one to covet, the snow acts as a dampener for the ambient noise that is normally in the background and ignored (until it goes quiet that is!)

People stop worrying about rushing everywhere; car’s if they can get about do so very carefully. The normal driving speed is normally roughly 10 mph above the speed limit. What is wrong with the snow? In my eyes, nothing.  It is all good.  Everything looks beautiful, and when the thaw begins, the icicles form! And OMG if they aren’t one of nature’s wonders what is? I had a very close up look at one that was dangling down from our hanging baskets, and noticed something that I had never seen before, in the centre of each icicle there is a line of air bubbles, as though the icicle is indeed, a tap running that has been caught on camera.  Amazing! This is our world... or rather; this world allows us to live here. Let’s take care of it shall we? Take your time to notice the wonder’s that are on your very doorstep! Breathe in the cold morning air and smell how fresh it is, how clean the air can be without a million cars’s belching out fumes that can only serve to choke a very fragile environment. Tell me why we cannot treat the Earth with the same respect that we, ourselves, want to be afforded.

The snow also gives me a huge inspirational boost. I don’t have the normal hum drum of car’s scooting past our home, the window that I look out of whilst sewing, happens to be overviewed by the road. People walk past, some whom don’t see me even lean over our wall to look down to the area that used to have a doorway! I mean how rude!  They stop leaving their homes, they stay indoors and dwell. Watch TV, Complain that they can’t get out.  Snow for some reason disables people in this country. My back injury is truly vulnerable when snow and ice are visiting, however, that doesn’t stop me. Someone has to pull the babies on their sledge! In fact, if I were to fall over when the snow is first laid, I have a relatively soft landing! ;-)

Well having spent the evening, making Pin Mug/Jug’s, and embroidering the Mug Rug that will be sent off to my lucky counterpart as a part of the Quilting Gallery Mug Rug swap. What I was supposed to do was, make Gaia a little fluffy cover for the cushion she insists on having on top of her pillow, and Mu Mat making for the Craft Sale in Cwmcelyn at the weekend.  What happens in this room with regard to time is currently being investigated by Stephen Hawkins!

At 0100 I should be in bed, snuggled under the sheets and snoring (snurggling I don’t snore!).  Now I think it is time that I sat at my trusted machine and did some work, albeit my hobby, but for the sake of a sensible sentence... let’s call it work shall we?

Take care and I hope that tomorrow see’s a lovely day filled with joy and plenty of haggles

J x

Folksy store

My Shop

Go ahead, click on the link and tell me what you think?

I just don't seem to be attracting any traffic through what so ever.  It is all very demoralising to say the least.  At a time when I least need it, thanks to the malingering flu, cold, chest infection that just will not stop harassing me!

However, I have managed to get some things done despite the colds best efforts to keep me bed ridden  

What is your honest opinion?

I am charging £5 per rug... Mug rug and Teapot rug.  Their sizes range from 4" to 7" 

That was by accident rather than design, but it works... I think?

I've also been doing others, these are in various stages of completion - Follow this link to see the other's in the Mug Rug Bunch

Well as of now, I have a house to get sorted (laundry day was Friday and I am backed up by two weeks), I have a study/sewing room to make straight and I need to take my tablets that will allow me to sleep soundly tonight... 

Take care of all of you and fingers crossed tomorrow will see me feeling fitter than today 

J x

Blog Hop Winner's

I have sent two of the winner's gifts out... but the last two just haven't been in touch!

If you are a winner, please get in touch so I can send your gift to you....


Jeanne Gwin

Farm Quilter

J x

Sorry for the absence

Where has the time gone?

Christmas came and went in a swosh of medication, fever, hallucination and nastiness.

A very nasty flu virus has swept the valley where we live, and because of the time of year, people travelling to families etc, it has gone nation wide.

Norovirus has also made a recurrence in the NHS hospitals, not so good for my Grandfather who is very poorly and has been since before Christmas, when he was found on the floor in his bungalow by the cleaner.   That was a water infection, then he had a stroke, then Noro Virus got him.... What else can he be hit with?

Thankfully he is a strong man and will come through the other side.

I, without thinking of anything but the poo storm that would erupt if we didn't go to visit my family, took all of us on Boxing Day to visit, and stay over with my Mother for a few days.  I was still very poorly, but just couldn't not go. Family politic's are hellish in my family.

Mother, I believe has now got the virus that had us all and blames me totally.  Which is OK. What was not OK was that she told me in no uncertain terms that we were not staying there two nights.  As we had arranged.  

Her own daughter ousted out of the house that I once called a home.  That summed my Christmas up.

I hope your Christmas' were fantastic, as they should be. This year, our Christmas will be good. All the children will be here (the eldest two are born of my Ex husband). We alternate years.... it can be very quiet when its not our year... 

For now though, a New Year, New beginning and all that... I have found a new passion.

No, I am still with my partner, I have discovered... piecing, paper piecing, foundation piecing, seminole, bargello, stargello etc... you name it, I love it!

Though I do find putting fabric's together something of a chore... I just don't have the eye for it... or a big enough stash of fabrics yet?

Rear of my Eldest's wall tidy

Pocket of wall tidy

The entire front of her wall tidy

My youngest daughter's wall tidy.

A fuzzy middle of the wall tidy...

Paper pieced heart

Bargello cutting board bag

board bag

Practice foundation pieced log cabin

Practice

one of four final pieces.

same one,

same again....

Gaia's wall tidy...

the back of Gaia's wall tidy

The top rear of Gaia's wall tidy

Bargello - Batiks are some of my new best friends

My paper piece design heart, sat on my journal - part patchwork/quilting diary and every day diary...

Why do I enjoy piecing so much?  
I don't know....
it looks very intricate, difficult, and when you are actually doing it, you realise just how 'easy' it is. Of course there is a huge issue with perfection.  You have to place things and sew thing's just right, otherwise it isn't placed, or pieced properly.  One other thing I have been doing a lot of is, unpicking.  However, as I have gone through and done the undoing, I am learning to go slow when I need to.  Take it easy, don't rush because that's when I miss little instructions on patterns and that is when I have to either re-do or live with a less than perfect end result.

I love the wall tidies though and am in the process of designing my own foundation pieced heart pockets so they can be sold for Valentines...
Better get a shoofty on though as it's too close to ignore...

I'd best get a card for the love of my life.... and one for Simon... ;-)

Take care lovely people and happy quilting, sewing, or what ever crafting you are doing x
J