Appliqué Cushions

I have finished both appliqué cushions using the pattern from Lynnette Anderson's book Country Cottage Quilting.

As you can see it's taking pride of place on my chair in the lounge.

For the second cushion I used my own variation and designed a beehive with a little bee buzzing around, a bird box and a bird bath with a few sequins for a water fountain interwoven with running stitch.

I have really enjoyed combining, piecework, appliqué, embroidery and quilting in the country style. 

Here are both cushions together.

Wedding bag

Today is my nephew's wedding day at Chippenhan Park.  I decided to make a bag to go with my outfit.  What do you think?

The bag has d rings and an adjustable strap which is made of webbing.  There is also a magnetic clasp.  More later, must get ready!

Heart of love

I made this beautiful little cushion for a young friend of mine who is suffering from cancer.  She is undergoing some rough treatment at the moment so I thought a little bit of girly love should be sent her way - love to you Vicky xxxxx

Carpenter Star

 Another quilt finished, wrapped and presented to our friends for their 

Golden Wedding last week.  It is a pattern called Carpenter star by Mary

Johnson.  It is an easy quilt top to construct once you have the fabrics in the right order!

I really enjoyed working on this top and the quilting I used is an all over free motion swirl.

The quilt matches our friends recently decorated bedroom and they were really pleased with their present.

Square basket

After seeing a picture of a square basket in a book this week, I decided to have a go.  The pattern in the book said to use vilene which I did but it still did not stand up enough for me.  Mmmm do I use batting and quilt it or just go with the flow?  I decided to use some of my iron on batting and quilted lines 2" apart.  It seems quite stable but obviously the more quilting the firmer it is.

Scrappy Laundry Bucket

I made this scrappy laundry bucket following the same design I used for the toy scrappy buckets.  This design stands a little taller.  I made this one to use in our caravan, but the question is do I sell it or keep it? 

 I made a scrappy piece measuring 37" x 20", quilted it quite close to help with make it stand.  I added a set of handles, again using matching scraps.  The circular base is made up of one piece heavily quilted to make it stiffer.  Then I lined it and topstitched around the top.  Hey presto an attractive bucket.

Floor quilt

Country style appliqué

I am currently making a country style patchwork and appliqué cushion cover taken from Lynnette Anderson's country cottage quilting.  All of the pieces are fused and I am blanket stitching round the edges in a self colour.  I may have just enough fabric to make another but hopefully a different design.

 

Scrappy James Town quilt

I asked my daughter to return my sewing machine for a service!  This is what I found!

I then set about oiling and running it.  Here is my 31 year old Toyota which now sews like a dream.

I have had great fun this weekend sewing up the scrappy James Town by Bonnie Hunter.  Not a single piece of this quilt was cut from yardage or fat quarters!  What do you think peeps?

Fabric bucket for my first customer

This was a bucket made to order - a success and another order on the way ..........

Another scrappy toy bucket

Here is Evie's scrappy toy bucket.  It's a little different in that the handles are longer and I have folded the top down to the inside and then topstitched it down.   I have made longer straps to come up from the lining to the top of the bucket. What do you think?

Adult fabric bucket

Here is an adult fabric bucket for out bedroom.  We are going to use it for laundry and it matches the curtains, so a winner all round.

Scrap toy box

A scrappy day today.  Had a good day at our group today and here is the result.

I was quite pleased, putting my scrappy strips together and densely quilting it enable this toy bucket to stand up.  Hopefully the little lady this is for will use it for many years to come.  I will put together a pattern and perhaps someone will volunteer to be a pattern tester! 

One more view (sorry about the photo quality).......,,,

Small make for February

Yesterday I set to and came up with a flower bag for the raffle at our dance last night.  Just used some scraps and practiced some appliqué and free machine quilting.  An easy make and a finish!

I have also been busy the last two weekends putting together oversized blocks to use as practice pieces for my longarm machining techniques.  More on that next time.

Finishes in 2013

Looking back I did quite well in 2013 - the first thing was to sort out my sewing space in the Stitchshed.

So then I could start sewing.

Bustin' the stash

The New Year always brings resolutions that by about the third week have gone

by the board.  For me this year I have decided to have goals and one of those goals is to make a big dent in my stash.  I have already started by finishing my first quilt of 2014.

This is called Peaches and Cream for my great aunt who will reach the great age of 100 tomorrow.   Hopefully it will serve her well.

I have got some other ideas for "busting the stash" so watch this space.....