Coaster Set

Hi all,

These are a great quick and easy project, perfect for gifts on the run!

I made these for Jess as a thank you for co-hosting the QAL with me. I wanted to share them because they are so easy to make…if you have only made one 10” block from the QAL then you could make these.

I used a 10” block from the QAL and cut it into quarters. If you layer it with your wadding on the bottom, backing fabric right side up and then top fabric right side down. Stitch around the edge leaving a small gap on one side. Turn it right sides out through the opening, and press. Then top stitch close to the edge you have a set of coasters! See, quick and easy!

These are cool because they fit together like a puzzle but still look good individually! I am thinking about doing something similar with a 20” block I have left over and making a set of potholders.

If you whip up a set of these you still have time to link them up to the QAL Linky Post and possibly win a gift voucher for the Fat Quarter Shop!

There are 2 days left to link up your quilts for the QAL, I have been checking Jess’ blog every day to see if there are any new entries! I get super excited when I see a new one up there!

While you are over at Jess’ blog check out the Quilt Appeal she is running for the people in Tassie that have lost everything in the fires.

In your words blog hop

Hiya!

Today is my day in the blog hop….

 

Before I show you my project I would like to thank Mdm Samm and Linda for all their hard work organising the hop!

And here is the list of the bloggers who will be posting today in the hop -

Life in the Scrapatch (Pat B.)
Just Sew Sue (Sue B.)
Nati's Little Things (Nati)
Amy's Crafty Shenanigans (Amy)
Pig Tales and Quilts (Thearica)
Scrappy 'n Happy – you are here! 
Little Mushroom Cap (Amira A.)
Moosestash Quilting (Joan K.)
Sowing Stitches (Beulah aka. Carol)
Just Quilt It  (Kathy G.)

Go and check out some ways to use words and be inspired! Some are having giveaways too!

Now the rule for this is to use a word or words that reveal who we are or more about us.

This is might reveal more about me and what I am trying to bring into my life this year. I have a feeling it might be a year with some interesting challenges so this is what I am doing -

I decided to make a Reflection notebook. At the end of each day, just before bed I sit down and try to think of the positive things that happened during the day. And also things that I am grateful for.

Last year I started doing this verbally with the boys each night at bedtime, no.1 son tends to dwell on the negatives so I am trying to get them to think about the positive things that happened and it has made a difference. No.2 son reminds me when I forget, he says “I haven’t told you my favourite part yet”!

I used one of my current favourite fabric ranges – Noteworthy by Sweetwater as the feature fabric. And embroidered the outline of the letters using Cottage Garden Thread in Cherry Blossom.

On the inside I put a pocket to hold my pen. These fabrics are from Feather n Stitch. You might see the pen is a Paper Mate ‘Ink Joy’…I thought that was cool. Bringing the joy in with the pen too!

I even did a little basic scrapbooking…I thought this would be a good reminder of what I am trying to do each time I open the notebook.

I looked up the words on a online dictionary and printed them out, glued them to some pretty scrapbook card and fortunately the finished size fit the book perfectly!

Here is a little peak at the first page. I am just keeping it short and sweet.

So this year I am going to reflect on the things I am grateful for and the positive things that happen each day!

Teacher Appreciation Day

Hi all,

So last Friday was Teacher Appreciation Day for Queensland schools, I believe the other states have this day while we are on school holidays in September….

Last year I made the teachers bookmarks.

So I thought I would stick with the bookmark theme again this year….actually I googled ‘teacher appreciation gifts’ for ideas and came across some interesting posts. This one has asked her teacher friends the best and worst gifts they have received and I found it really helpful….they do not what anymore chocolate and candy!

I wanted to do the bookmarks a little different from last year, don’t want to become a one trick pony!

I used a free tutorial, which you can find at the Funky Polkadot Giraffe.

The only change I made was to add a layer of heavy iron-on interfacing, that way the bookmark wouldn’t be floppy.

I used fabric that would remind them of Ty – trucks, machinery and motors are pretty much all he talks about!

On the back I used this cool fabric that has Hello in lots of different languages….I got this in a strip swap. Swaps are great for adding fabrics to your stash that you probably wouldn’t normally buy but they really do come in handy!

We also made cards from scrapbooking card and Ty helped write a message and drew each of the teachers a personal picture. I thought it was really sweet that he added that himself.

Now I am thinking about end of year presents! Only about 6 weeks to go, I can’t believe this year is almost over!

Grocery Totes

Hi guys!

Tomorrow I am going to the Brisbane Craft and Quilt Show with my mum. Can’t wait!

So, I have been frantically sewing up a couple of tote bags for us to carry our ‘new things’ in!

I love this pattern, it is a Lisa Lam pattern. What really makes it for me is the shape of the straps! I just love that little curve!

This is the inside of mum’s tote…Chevrons in brown.

And my tote has Chevrons in red….I can’t get enough of these chevrons! I have all the colours that they originally came out with, but there are so many more colours now and different size chevrons too!

These tote’s roll up and have a clip on the side…nice and handy to keep in your handbag! We have some shops here that like to charge you for bags now so these should be great for that! Not to mention that they are so much cuter than horrible plastic bags!

I have a couple more cut out that I am going to put in my shop…I checked Lisa Lam’s website for copyright and it is okay to sell bags made from her patterns as long as you credit the design back to her. So keep an eye out for those coming soon!

Blocks, blocks, blocks and a Bag!

Hi everyone,

Over the last week or so I have been trying to catch up on a couple of things…I am in a Bee with the Quilt Club Australia Facebook group.

This is the block for August, a Feathered Star. Quite a time consuming block, which is why I put if off for so long but it looks great when it is finished.

Now I only have to catch up with September and October!

Next up was the QAL…very naughty of me to be behind in the QAL I am co-hosting!

Block 5 – Jack in the Box.

 
Block 7 – Another Star.

Block 9 – Dutch Rose.

I still have Tippencanoe to do which is Jess’ latest block and I need to get going on the tute for this weeks block!

I have been so tempted lately to start something new! So instead of starting something big I thought I would make something that could be finished quickly!

And it was so nice to take a break and do something fairly quick and easy!

Sorry the photos are horrible, I took them last night so our friend could take the bag first thing this morning.

The outside fabric is Sandi Henderson Secret Garden and the Lining is Aqua Chevrons by Riley Blake.

I will definitely be making more of these bags so I will get some better pictures with the next couple! And I will try to remember where I got the pattern from – it was a freebie!

Playing Catch Up!

Hi all,

So, I’ll let you in on a little secret….shhh…..I have been busy writing instructions for that little sneaky peek I showed you a while back! It is very exciting and a tad stressful too!

And that is why I am now playing the catch up game!

I have 2 months of bee blocks to make up….

This is where I am at for the August block, it is going to be a feathered star! Crazy!

Actually, I just remembered I have caught up with the Marti Michell BOM but I forgot to take a picture….I must remember to do that!

And we recently bought a “new to us” car. So of course I needed something jazzy for our keys!

His and hers keyfobs! Super quick and very distinctive!

Next on my list is our very own QAL! How did I get behind on this? Not setting a very good example am I? LOL

And I really what to give you some ideas of what you can do for the lap quilt and smaller item category….it is on the list!

Swimming Bag

Hi all,

What do you use for kids and their swimming gear?

Well, my oldest boy is doing swimming lessons with his school starting Monday….everyday for 2 weeks! I think it will be a bit full on but who am I to argue!

Anyway, I thought a swimming bag might come in handy…It wouldn’t look good if he took his stuff in a grocery bag!

So I started with the Noodlehead tutorial for a drawstring backpack.

I changed the dimensions of the bag and made it bigger. To make one the same size as mine cut your bag fabric to 17” wide x 19.5” long.

The other change I made was the pocket….

This is what I used! It is the plastic packaging from a set of sheets we bought….reduce, reuse, recycle!

It really was the cheats method…The zipper was included, I just hope it lasts. I finished it by putting some nice twill tape around the edge.

I like the clear pocket because he will be able to see what is in there and you can also see that fantastic fabric underneath!

And I can slip a piece of card with his name and info on it into the pocket already on the plastic. The shop label won’t be staying in there…

I can see I will need to make another one too!

Ironing on the go!

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to show you this cute ironing mat that folds up into a bag…

I have the cutest little tiny iron (it does steam too!) but I haven’t been able to use it because I didn’t have an ironing mat!

The idea with these is that you don’t have to get up and walk all the way over to the big ironing board every time you sew two pieces of fabric together…is that lazy or what?!

Mum has a mat that she made in a class and I could have copied that but where is the fun if we all have the same! I saw a picture for this one in a magazine ad and thought I would try to replicate it!

My mat has a layer of Thermoflec, Insulbright, cotton batting and then the fabric. The trick is how it folds up around the iron to turn it into a carry bag…I love the all in one idea!

This will be perfect to take to classes, retreats and sewing days! And I will be using it at home too!

Retreat Round-Up Part 2

Hi everyone,

I finally got around to photographing the other things I worked on while at retreat!

Life is so busy…it was a whole week before I unpacked my sewing machine after getting back home. I think I was all sewed out! But I have worked on a couple of blocks today so the mojo must be back!

This is a pile of 68 blocks…only 100 to go! I got 50 done on retreat, I started this quilt about a year ago and it only seems to get worked on at sewing days – I don’t look at it at home!

I found this apron panel at Patchwork Angel. It is Kate Spain fabric….I thought when I saw it “Yay, something I can totally finish on retreat”! I lined it with white homespun and saved the little applique images to use on something else.

This is my progress on Hooterville….I have to admit I have done one of the branches since getting home from retreat. A great project to do when watching TV! Do you think the branches are too thin? Not that I can do much about it now, hopefully it will look proportional when I start adding the leaves and owls.

So that is it! It was a great retreat and I got heaps done so I am stoked!

Sewing Bag

Hi Everyone!

This week has been crazy busy! But guess what…I am going on retreat tomorrow for 3 nights! Yay! I think I might sleep the whole time LOL

I will miss my boys, I have only spent one night away since the youngest was born nearly 4 years ago! But they will be fine, TP is planning which takeaway they will have each night but I have told him they will not be having fast food every night! (I hope) And they have a Grandma and an Aunty close by too!

I was wondering for all you retreat goers….what is your plan of attack when you go? do you have set projects you want to get done or do you take a few and just go with how you feel?

Before I get going though I wanted to share this cute little bag I made.

I love this fabric range! Do you know what it is? I do…just checkin’ if you know your ranges!

This is designed to be a lunch bag but I am using it for my sewing things.

The pattern is a free one. You can get it over at Pink Penguin. Ayumi is so talented and I have another of her handbags on my to do list! The fabric is Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater.

The only thing I changed with the pattern was to piece the main panel because a fat 1/8th was too small. And I used what interfacing I had on hand – so my bag has a layer of fusible wadding and a layer of fusible woven interfacing.

Well, I am off to cook dinner and then figure out what I need to take tomorrow!

Envelope Ipad Cover Tutorial

Hi everyone!
Wow I can’t believe it has been over 10 days since we chatted!
This is what I have been working on….

I made this Ipad Cover at the request of my friend Christine…This post is probably a bit of a spoiler because she hasn’t received it yet!

I have written up a tutorial for anyone who might be interested.
The Envelope Ipad Cover Tutorial can be found here in PDF form!
(edited 13/7/12, I have removed to PDF from the net for a short time, sorry for any inconvenience!)

As you can see it fits the Ipad perfectly! It has some padding for protection and I used the velcro so that there wouldn’t be anything hard or pointy rubbing against the Ipad.
This is my first tutorial done like this so if you have any problems or ideas on how to do it better please let me know!