2010 Sewing Challenge - September

I'm so happy to report that I actually completed this month's sewing challenge for the 2010 Sewing Challenge
In fact, dare I boast, I finished 2 bags, both projects that were bought at the Sydney Craft and Quilt show in August. Here is my "Spice of Life" bag by Monica Poole.

I didn't want to buy any more fabric, so this is made with fabrics I already had in the stash. I didn't quite have enough of the polka dot, however not to worry - homespun did the trick again. How can you go wrong with so many colours to choose from? 
A while ago I bought a variety of colours and lengths of 'make your own zipper' with matching coloured zipper pulls (for my wallet making craze - oh dear), so I didn't even have to buy one, just work out how to use it!


The thing I love the most is the tubular frame. I feel like Mary Poppins with her carpet bag. It makes a very satisfying 'snap' as it shuts. This bag is a great size and it's going to get well used this summer.


I've already boasted blogged about the mug bag here.

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Slowy going craaazzzy...

I need a day off. I am really and truly, slowly but surely, going nuts.
In the last several weeks, I have had an entire weekend completely taken up by being in the emergency dept of St George Hospital and then The Children's Hospital (courtesy of Minkys collision with a palm tree where she ended up with large palm spikes in her palm). Then there was the swelling and infection. It's all good now, but that 2 days of my and her life neither of us will get back!.
I have spent whole days at sports days and dance eisteddfods...by choice...but boy oh boy do I miss my quilting time.
I have been working 4 day weeks instead of my usual 5 day fortnight and I can feel the walls closing in...(that's not a comment on my workmates - I work with really lovely colleagues)...but boy oh boy do I miss my quilting time.


Anyway, enough of this whingeing!
Here are the missing pictures of some lovely goodness that I received in the post from the lovely Brenda and Katia

Brenda even added in the paisely brooch 'cause she knows my weakness!

I can't stop holding this hexagon!

And can you believe it *blush* I also won this beautiful jelly roll from Leona. Guess I'm going to be humming that silly postman song again for a while.


I have missed the boat on the 2010 Sewing Challenge for May, June and July. I am aiming to get something made for the smocked challenge, but I already know if I keep up this many work days, for sanity's sake it just won't happen *sigh*


I am still planning a little giveaway for post number 100...which is now only 3 posts away.
I was desperately trying to avoid 'drivel' posts that just made up the number, but at this rate I will be lucky to get sensible posts written by my 1 year anniversary.


Now I've done this little catch up post, I am going to make good use of this evening. Wish me luck!

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

So what's in store for June?

I've joined the postcard swap over at Beth's. 

This is the the second swap I've joined. 

It's a great way to have a good reason to spend hours on the internet meet people and a big shove to be creative and keep making things - I've got 3 weeks and I know how to procrastinate, and worse still, how to justify procrastinating.

The apron swap went off just in time (if you count that in Canada it was still May 31- see what I mean?).

I actually have quite a few ideas already buzzing about in my head...hoping that it will come out in 'time' (hehe swap joke in there!)...

Then there's the 2010 Challenge and this month's is something self-designed or self-drafted. I'm going to make a knit jacket from material that I bought via a co-op from here. The jacket will be like this one from here (minus the pregnant belly and belt). A lot of this seasons cardigans are like this and they are a bit flattering and I need  all the flattening flattering I can get... I am also hoping to get this pattern made too, as I've seen a few peoples' versions and it also looks easy and flattering. Easy pieces to get me through wintery work days - I hope.

I'm still sticking to the project plan, and have finished both the apron and the purple quilt, which was a *mumble* *mumble* 4 yr old ufo, so can in all conscience take on another project. 

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

It was old and forgotten - now it's "Vintage"

The holidays are over. Back to work today for me.
These were quite busy holidays and though we did do a lot of small trips and outings, I did manage to squeeze in a bit of sewing and crafting in there.
I finished two "ufo's" - one is the crochet drink bottle holder from a previous post.
The other is this bag.

This is from a 1981 magazine pattern and is made in a canvas fabric and is lined in the same canvas.
I'd cut it out years and years ago to take to uni (where did those years go?).
I'm going to count it towards the 2010 Challenge as my lined piece for April.

It's even got a modern addition of a phone pocket.

The front of the bag has these fabulous, deep, zippered pockets. The main reason this has been a ufo for so many years is that the instructions for putting the front pockets together had me completely stumped. Back then, I knew nothing about constructing anything other than a Simplicity or McCalls dress pattern. I had a 'eureka' moment at the start of the holidays, when I pulled out the bag from the bottom of the 'don't look in here too often' basket - suddenly it all made sense. And the bonus is that the May challenge is 'enclosed zip' - do these count as 'enclosed'???


Heres what I learned from this month's challenge:

• When the instructions say "leave opening in base for turning" you should really leave an opening in the base for turning.

• When attaching handles to the front of your bag, don't sew them to the back of your bag

• If you buy fabric then, it is vintage now!(I like this lesson best of all).

• A ufo can always be finished - you just have to resist all those who say "you will never finish that, why don't you just throw it out?".

Here's the happy recipient with her 'vintage' bag.

Thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

2010 Sewing Challenge

I am taking part in the 2010 sewing challenge by My Favourite.
Here is my Babushka and she comes from Handmade Vol: 25 No: 10

Here are some of the things I learned while making this toy:

• Stuffed toys split if you overlap fabrics and then blanket stitch the seams when you don't really know what your machine settings should be.  On my Brother sewing machine, I should have had a longer stitch going onto the fabric and shorter gap between those stitches (I don't know what to call each bit of the 'blanket stitch' but if you look at the body of the doll you will see what I mean). I ended up doing a dodgy hand blanket stitch over the top to secure the splitting fabric pieces - on second thoughts - don't look too closely. Mmm....I think I know how to fix...
• ...Discretely placed ribbon should hide a multitude of sins.
• I learnt to crochet a 'rose' - something I wouldn't have attempted without this challenge.

I will have to think about the 'lined' theme. My heart says a lined skirt, but my head says 'you're out of your mind, lady'.
I have some great fabrics that I've been saving for a bags, so that's what might turn up in April.


Thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Look who's hanging around

This little cutie has been hanging around waiting patiently for her pellets and stuffing.
My dear quilting buddy and I have been doing this together and neither of us is allowed to fill our Babushkas until we next get together. The pellets are stored at my place. The temptation is overwhelming. But...I... mustn't...Have...to...leave...the...sewing...room...
Whew that was hard.


Lookie what else I have been learning to do.


The multi coloured rose is the test one and the smaller rose is a hair decoration for the Babushka.




When she's completed she will make her appearance in the 2010 March 'softie' challenge.




Thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

2010 Sewing Challenge - sewing with knit fabric

I think I can safely scrape in on this challenge - sew something in a knit fabric.
I've just finished sewing this:

...however I may be stretching (ha ha knit-fabric joke ) the limit a little bit, cause I actually started making this last year, and it has been staring forlornly at me for the last eight months. (Also hoping it's not cheating having some woven fabric on the neckline).
This is the pattern I used:



and as I like to kid myself that I started this challenge on time in January I sewed this for myself.


This is the top I bought a few years ago, and it's so comfortable that I searched for a pattern so I could make more.


When I pulled the top out to finish, I discovered I'd bought material to make 2 more tops. I'll add them to my list of things to finish. Check in through the year and see if I've managed.


So onwards to March - a softie.


Have a look here to learn about the 2010 Challenge. Add your goodies to McLinky at Carolyn blog - My Favourite


Thanks for taking a peek over the fence...

Mariners Compass is coming...and going...along

It's been a bit of a while between posts. I didn't realise how much I need a weekly 'play along' to keep me posting. That means having ideas, access to the computer, and time - and daylight -  to take photos of what I'm working on.
Although I will spare you the 'hippy costume' for last weeks 50th Math and I went to. (Maybe it's just taken me a week to catch up from lost sleep after staying out waaaaayyyyy to late at that party?!?) 


I've been doing a bit of looking around and might just jump in for the 2010 Challenge (starting for me with February March challenge)

This however is worth the wait...

... except now I can see a flaw or two , so back to the unsewing...

Thanks for taking a peek over the fence...