Tula Pink + a Jaybird Quilts pattern = Fabulous!

Hi all,

Recently I participated in a swap on Instagram that was based on Tula Pink fabric, hence the name #aussietulapinkswap !

I learned my partner liked the Saltwater and Neptune ranges. And one of the pattern designers she liked was Jaybird Quilts.

So I did a shortened version of the Seaside table runner pattern.

Extras are usually included so I made a Curvy Clutch, pattern by Pink Door Fabrics. I also included a fat 1/4 or Neptune fabric, some chocolates and stationery bits n bobs.

I really loved making both of these! So much so that I have already made myself a full length table runner from the Seaside pattern.

I used Tula Pink fabric for this one too but I used the newer Moonshine range and went with my fav scrappy low volume background.

I quilted them both the same too! When you are on a good thing....

And this is what I received from my partner -

I love the mini and the contrasting binding just makes it pop! And the extra fabric and little sewing pouch were a lovely addition!

Til next time, Jess :)

 

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Catch up

Hi all,

I guess it has been a few weeks since I did my last blog post. So what have I been up to?

Well I made a couple of coats for my boys. I used black corduroy and lined them with a really cool tech print patchwork fabric.

I used the Spring Showers Jacket pattern by Elegance and Elephants. They went together really easily, the only issue I had was with the length of the zip but I fixed that by using a piece of ribbon to cover the cut edges at the top. I made a feature of it and used different colours on each jacket.

Then I got horribly sick with pneumonia and didn't do anything for about a week and a half. But when my sewjo came back it was back with a bang!

I played around with the Hex-n-more ruler and came up with this quilt. I love it! It does have Y seams but they really aren't that scary anymore.

And last weekend mum and I got together and made Sew Together Bags. I had a great time!

I went a little crazy with my fabrics and used a different fabric for everything but I love it!

Right now I am working on the Gypsy Wife quilt and I have some dress fabrics washed and ready to go...so stay tuned!

Bye for now, Jess

 

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A few things!

Hi all,

I have a few things to share since I haven't blogged for a few weeks (not counting the Bloggers Quilt Festival posts).

First up is my Embroidery Club project from my local PWS. Last month the project was a needle case. I used a font and simple design that was already in my machine for the front.

The inside has little pockets and patches of wadding for used needles to be stored so you can find them later.

I am really enjoying these little projects that Cath comes up with every month!

I am doing some procraftinating at the moment, I really should be working on sewing some clothes but I keep finding other things to do! I used some leftover triangles to make a little quilt....I am only giving sneak peeks because it is supposed to be a surprise.

And a look at the quilting. I am hoping to quilt it's much bigger friend, my V is for Violet quilt, tomorrow on the quilting machine - unless my sore throat gets worse, but at the moment I feel better than I did last night.

I pulled out a handbag that has been a WIP for a long time and did some work on it.

Still not finished as it is getting quite tricky now so I am just looking at it while I work on other things. Like putting together this little bundle for a block I drew up on EQ7 and am having a play with...do you think I need to add another colour? I have changed some of the low volumes so it is not so matchy matchy.

Oh, and lastly I finished another block for the Afternoon Delight quilt.

Bye for now,

Jess :)

 

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Lunch bags

Hi all,

I missed my Friday blog post day...I was actually going to try and wait until I knew the lunch bags had been recieved but I just can't help myself! I have to blog ;)

I found out via Instagram that some close friends of ours had their anniversary a couple of weeks ago and I was disappointed that I didn't know. So I got stuck into making something that had been admired last time they visited us...Ayumi's lunch bags! My most fav lunch bag ever!

I used some of the enchino fabric that I won a while ago. It is so beautiful to sew with! Because I only have fat eighths I had to do different front and backs but I really love how they look. I used a layer of fusible pellon and insulbright. For the lining I used this food grade fabric called Procare that I got from the US.

I really love the hexi print in this range! I really have a soft spot for hexies!

Bye for now, Jess :)

 

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My journey into machine embroidery

Hi all,

A few months ago I was having trouble with my sewing machine, it does this thing were you are sewing along and then take your foot off the peddle and it keeps going...not very nice! It has been an ongoing problem and I thought it had been fixed but it didn't last. At the same time my mum got a new to her embroidery machine and wasn't sure what she would do with her old one, sell it, keep it, etc. So, lucky for me she is letting me use it! And I am learning a new skill - machine embroidery.

For someone new to machine embroidery it is a pretty complicated process. You get your designs from a website or disc. You need a program on your computer to store them and fiddle with them. Then you need to get them over onto your machine. And this process will vary depending one your machine and software.

I am using my ipad and this is what I am doing, because I am cheap lol, is I have found an app called "Airstitch" which is free. I can download designs to it when I buy them from an online shop, such as Urban Threads, who I love btw! It is only a basic app for storing your designs, if I want to fiddle I will need to buy software.

But then I needed to get the designs from the ipad to a USB....and Airstitch recommend this USB called Airstash. So I looked into it and it is a bit of an investment but the possibilities seem almost endless. My stick on steroids (it is bigger than you average USB) arrived this week and I got stuck into trying it out.

I picked a simple design from Urban Threads that I already had in the Airstitch app. And did what I had to do to get it on the stick and plugged it into my machine and....it worked! Yay!

Then I had an embroidery with no purpose...I want to make some lunch bags for a couple of friends so I thought I would try out the pattern first. This pattern can be found here.

It is a good size and went together fairly easily. I'm not really happy with how it goes together at the ends of the zip, so I might try and figure something out for that.

I used regular patchwork fabric and iron on pellon, a layer of insul-bright and lined it with a food grade fabric. It was pretty bulky by the end. For the next ones I will use a thinner pellon.

I took it to embroidery club day yesterday (wait until you see what I made there!) and I used an ice brick and my lunch stayed cold so I think it passed the test.

Bye for now, Jess :)

 

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Down Under Doll Quilt Swap

Hi everyone,

I can’t believe how long it has been since I blogged…a few weeks! They have been very busy weeks, the end of the school year and kindy, sob sob. My boys are growing up. So we are now in school holidays for the next 6 weeks and I don’t really expect to get too much sewing done but a little bit would be nice.

Anyway, I forgot to show you the quilts that I sent and received from the DUDQS. This is the quilt I received from Merran.

I love it! And the little basket with bikes on it is awesome! Not to mention the little fox panel that Cat & Vee print – too cute!

This is the mini that I made for Anorina.

 
The appliqued centre is a block from the Aunt Millie’s Garden pattern by Piece O’ Cake Designs. I really want to make the whole quilt one day!

My attempt at McTavishing…I am still learning but I am pretty happy with how it turned out.

I also knew that Anorina loved owls so I made her a pouch too.

So I’m not sure how vocal I’ll be here for the next couple of months with the holidays and new school year but we shall see…I will be posting on Instagram though if you care to follow me over there!

By for now, Jess 

For the Boys blog hop

Hi guys,

I hope I am not late to the party! Some family stuff came up which delayed my post but here I am!

So this blog hop is especially for the boys – things that we make for the boys and men in our lives! Hosted by Mdm Samm and our cheerleader is Amy.

If you are new to my blog please have a look around. Feel free to follow me on Bloglovin, I am also on Facebook and Instagram. I am always posting photos on Instagram so you will see what I am up too over there way before I blog about it! Links for those are on the side bar.

Now, I had a dilemma this week because the project I was going to share is going to be published so I can’t show anymore pictures….and in all honesty I haven’t finished it yet either. But I will give you a sneak peek -

So What did I make for this blog hop? I thought for ages and came up with something that I know my youngest will need when he starts school next year and it will last him years. My oldest is still using his after 3 years!

It is a humble book bag. In our school these are used for homework, home readers and can also be used as library bags.

I found this cool shark drill in my stash so decided to use it. It is also good if the bag stands out from the crowd so it is easy to see and be grabbed out of the box quickly.

For the lining I used some of my sister in laws dyed fabric. I used velcro for the closure and just put a very simple handle on.

    
I hope my post hasn’t sounded rushed! I was typing as fast as I could go!

Be sure to check out the other participants for today -

November 13^th
Dachsies with Moxie
Patchouli Moon Studio
It Seams to Be Sew....
Scrappy n Happy – Here I am!
Loves to Quilt
Michelle's Romantic Tangle
Factotum of Arts
Jackie's Art Quilts
Living with purpose

Bye for now,
Jess :)

Sweet Pouch Swap

Hi all,

Round 2 of the Sew Delicious Sweet Pouch Swap, now that’s a mouthful! LOL has just wrapped up. My partner has received her pouch and I have mine so now I can show some pictures.

This is the one I made for Laurel.

I used Noodlehead’s wide open pouch pattern, the medium size for this one! Need I say again how much I love this pattern? And it lends itself perfectly to a little embellishment - the dresden plate on the front.

I added a pieced strip to the back too. I used a print from Sweetwater’s Noteworthy range for the main fabric and Kate Spain’s Cuzco mini charms for the dresden and pieced section. I put in lots of Cadbury goodness, what is more Australian than Cadbury?!

This is the beautiful pouch I received from Laurel.

I love, love, love the fabric! It is the Bucket list print from Sweetwater’s Noteworthy range. The pattern for this pouch is here …. and I definitely want to try making one too!

Lookee what was inside! Lots of candy and fabric yummyness! I had already eaten the Lindt chocolate bar…..sorry ;)

Bye for now,
Jess

Melody Miller pouches

Hi all,

Firstly, I just want to thank everyone for their really understanding and encouraging comments on my last post. I feel like I am in a much better place now!

Today my littlest fella was home sick and not happy about it. He was so upset that when I rang kindy to let them he wasn’t coming they could hear him crying in the background….the problem was he missed his first excursion – they all walked to the local library for a visit and tour. A big deal for a little guy!

Anyway, this gave me a free morning…no excursion to help with and home with a sick child – what would I do?

If you follow me on Instagram you might remember this picture…BTW I am “scrappynhappy” over there if you want to follow along. Let me know if you are there and I will follow you too. This is some pouches that I cut out over a week ago and didn’t get to finish at the time. I cut into my precious Melody Miller panel for these!

  
I used the Noodlehead Pouch tutorial for these, I love that tute! For the little one though I made it smaller than the smallest one so it is very cute! The larger one here is actually the middle size in the tute.

Doesn’t the clock look cool? I’m not sure what I will use the large pouch for now, I was going to use it as a clutch for the wedding I went to last Friday but it wasn’t made in time. The little one is already in my handbag with my asthma puffer, panadol, bandaids and lippy in it, all the things a girl needs at the ready!

The inside fabric I got at the local PWS, they have it in a few colour ways too. 

A couple of days ago I cleaned up my cutting out table, which is a bit of a dumping ground for left over fabric, patterns and books. So I feel a lot more motivated to sew now….next on my list is converting an old pair and a new pair of long pants into shorts and repairing an old pair of shorts for the littlest fella. Summer feels like it is here already and it is still winter until tomorrow! I also have this months Ausmod bee block to make yet and I need to finish my scrap challenge mini…better not make my list too long!

Thanks for reading,
Jess ;)