Last OPAM for 2010!

Hi all,

I have finished off one last thing for the year! It is actually a UFO that I started when I was pregnant with BW, that was nearly 3 years ago!

I am ashamed to say that the binding was half sewn on when it got put away and forgotten. That is sooo bad, it only took me half an hour to finish! And then I had to wash it because it smelt dusty!

It is made with flannels and has a white ribbon flange around the centre blocks. The backing is a heavy cotton fabric, the idea was to use it as a play mat on the floor. BW is now 2/12 so he doesn’t really need a play mat anymore! Maybe I should find someone to give it too, otherwise it will end up in the cupboard which seems a waste really.

OPAM stats for 2010
84 finishes
0 bed/big size quilts
4 small quilts
6 bags
a lot of smaller repetitive items for the kindy fete and teachers presents
2 baby presents

Goals for 2011
I would like to try for 10 quilts, with at least half being bigger quilts.
Use my stash as much as possible.
And definitely less small repetitive sewing, I actually dislike it! I don’t think many people enjoy sewing the same thing over and over!

Red alert! It’s a giveaway!

Hi all,

Just a quick one to let you know about this great giveaway over at Retro Mummy!

It will be drawn on New years eve!

Be happy,
Jess

Playing catch up!

Hi all,

This week has been crazy busy! But I got a few things done….this may have contributed to the crazy part!

 
Another apron, the same as the others just in green this time!

I got tired of making aprons so I made some flower brooches for the assistants and a new teacher who has only been there a month.

I have started quilting my Bracelets quilt…..

  
I have been playing with Emma’s fabric (January’s Bee in Oz block). I have finished it but will wait to show you until Emma has it!

 
I keep an eye on ebay for bargains, and couldn’t resist this layer cake!

Be happy,
Jess

Another apron done and a couple of lessons learned!

Hi all,

I finished apron no. 2 this afternoon…..

(Excuse the flabby arms, need to do something about that!)

This one has golden yellow cut-out kids. So cute against the navy! I have another apron ready to sew together, but I just don’t know if I want to make 3 more…what do you think? Do you have any suggestions on gifts for the assistants?

(Showing off the lining!) 

Lesson 1 – Get a new chair! If you are sewing with a dining chair, like I was, chances are you are sitting too low. I have been in pain after sewing for only an hour, but I picked up an office chair with adjustable everything this morning and let me just say “Soooo much better!” why did I take the pain for so long!

Lesson 2 – Never sew tired. No I didn’t run over a finger but I did sloppy work. Fortunately you can’t see it in the photos, but I know they are there!

Lesson 3, this is more like a tip – When  sewing the ends of anything narrow, the cotton webbing in this case, throw a piece of paper underneath and the machine will have no trouble pulling it through! Do you know what I mean?

When sewing the ends of the ties, my feed dogs didn’t want to pull the webbing in under the foot, so I put a piece of paper underneath the tie and then sewed the end onto the paper. Channel foundation piecing, the paper rips away and you are left with a really neat line of stitching. Yahoo!

(I remembered to put a label on this one!)

I also posted off my hexie to my swap partner. I love how it turned out, I hope she likes it too!

The colour requirement was “pastel”. I also threw in a little something extra!

Be happy,
Jess

WIP wednesday, amongst other things!

Hi all,

I thought I would start WIP wednesdays to keep me regular – at blogging that is! But I didn’t intend for it to be the only post I do each week….

This week I have been working on my gifts for TP’s kindy teachers, yes that is plural, if I include assistants I need to make 5! Well, I have made 1, so we can adjust that to 4!

When the fete was getting organised I heard one of the teachers say that they used to wear aprons at the last kindy she worked in. So that is what they are getting, home or kindy it doesn’t matter what they wear them for. I’m not making one for all the staff, unless they want to pay for them…cheeky or what?

TP is modelling for me so it was hard getting a full shot. I will get hubby to take a picture with me wearing the next one.

  
I even lined them! Aren’t the teachers lucky this year!! LOL

The apron tutorial comes from here. So I have 4 more of these babies to make in the next couple of weeks!

GOOD NEWS ALERT! I have my sewing machine back, yipee! I picked her up this morning after a 2 month stay at the mechanics.

I have also made my hexie flower for my swap partner, which I will be posting off soon, so pictures are on there way!

Be Happy,
Jess