Tuesday 16 April 2013

My new favourite bag!

Hello!

Thought I would do a little post featuring my latest finish (I finished it a couple of weeks ago but I am just not very good at finding the time to blog at the moment).

I was lucky enough to win a competition at Fabric Yard last month and choose a metre of Echino Buck in turquiose as my prize.

When it arrived it was so lovely I knew I wanted to use it to make a bag and as luck would have it I had recently purchased the Velocity Girl bag pattern from Sara at Sew Sweetness.

Velocity Girl Bag

I am so delighted with the end result - it makes me smile every time I pick it up and the wealth of pockets means that I don't spend 10 minutes rummaging around whenever I need something. 

The pattern was clear and easy to follow and when I was a bit uncertain about one step (due to me being a bit dim) a quick email to Sara got a response within hours - seriously good customer service!

In fact I love it so much I made another one for my Mum using a Zen Chic Juggling Summer print and she loved it too (unfortunately I forgot to take a photo).

I'd definitely recommend this pattern and I look forward to more Sew Sweetness bags in my future.

Bye for now
Sarah

Wednesday 10 April 2013

2013 Finish-A-Long Q2 Goals - the one where I bite off more than I can chew!

she can quilt

Hello!

Well after a rather disappointing first quarter I have high hopes for Q2 as well as some trepidation!  Three of my WIPs must be finished this quarter and I'll definitely need to be more organised if that is going to happen.

So without further ado here is my list:

1) Crafty Cooks Apron

I signed up for the Crafty Cooks Apron & Recipe swap and posting deadline is 30th April so this is my top priority.


My fabric is cut out and I made a trial apron to iron out any design kinks so I'm confident that a couple of evenings of sewing will sort this one out.

2) Starburst quilt


This quilt is going to be a wedding present for one of my oldest friends.  She gets married on 25th May so it has to be done before then!

The top is finished and fabric for the back has arrived so I need to piece the back, baste, quilt (no idea how to quilt it) and bind.

3) Mother-in-law's quilt


When my MIL was here for Christmas she asked if I would make her a quilt.  She offered to pay for it but my husband & I said it would be her birthday present.  Her birthday is at the beginning of June.

The blocks are now pieced but I still have to assemble the quilt top, and quilt it.

4) Memory quilt for my aunt


While this quilt doesn't have a deadline per se, because we are going up to Scotland for the wedding it would be great if I could take this one as well and deliver it to my Aunt.

Blocks are all pieced (including replacements for the dark red blocks shown above after I decided they were too dominant) but the top needs to be pieced, borders added, find backing fabric, quilt.

5) Simply Color cushion


This little stack of HSTs will become a cushion.  I've included it as knowing me I'll get weary of all my quilts and want a quick finish.  I've got fabric for the back and a zip so fingers crossed I'll get round to it.

So there we go. Quite ambitious but hopefully achievable - all I need is to knuckle down and sew like a mad woman!

Off to see what everyone else has planned.
Bye
Sarah 

Sunday 7 April 2013

Finish along Q1 results

Hello,

she can quilt


Well leaving it to the last minute but here is my progress report!  I set myself a reasonable goal of four items (post here) at the beginning of the quarter but I've only managed to finish two.  Both kids have been sick and then I caught a flu bug at the end of February which left me totally wiped out for a couple of weeks afterwards.

On the plus side I managed to complete a new quilt top and make two bags - just a shame they weren't on my list!

So here we go

1) Siblings together quilt

Finished!

Although only just as I finished the binding this morning!
Siblings Together quilt
Siblings Together back

I'm soooooo glad it is done and annoyed with myself for letting it sit so long.

2)  Memory quilt

Not finished.

I have made some progress - all the blocks are done and I have a layout (I've actually remade the dark red blocks in pale blue as the red was too dominant).  This one will roll over to Q2 as we are going up to Scotland at the end of May and I want to take it up with me.

Layout for my aunt's memory quilt

3) Alice Mixtape Quilt

Not finished.

In fact no progress (well I now have backing fabric) and this one won't make it into Q2 as I have other more pressing things to do.

4) Lynnebob Squarepants pillow

Finished!

I had no excuse with this as it was the smallest item on my list.  It will shortly be posted off to its new home.
Lynnbob Squarepants pillow finished!

So all in all I'm okay with how things have turned out but I've got big plans for Q2 - lets hope that things go more smoothly the next few months!

Bye
Sarah