Fast Forward.... Fresh Sewing Day & Small Blog Meet

Modern Scallop clamshell applique pillow - detail

 

Do you ever feel like your life is in fast forward? That you blink and 6 months of your life have gone past without anyone consulting you about it? It's seemed like that here the past year or so. Though, once I find out who is responsible,  I shall be giving them a stern talking to!

Now apparently it's bad bloggy manners to apologise for absence(of any length) so lets just pretend that we haven't been apart and get back to the irregularly scheduled programme...  :)

In the summer school holidays, which have just finished here in Australia :(  I was lucky enough to have my annual summer sew in at Faye's house. The "sew in" part being very literal as the boys and I chose the hottest week of the summer to go. Most days were in the high forties. Of course the day we went home a cool change came through and by the time we were an hour from home it was 14°C and raining. Go figure.

 

Luckily she has a great sewing space and is happy to share. I finished making this feather bag which has gone as a present to a lovely friend of mine.




Tote Bag with pieced Feather - detail

I started making it as a Christmas teacher gift, but ran out of time, so sneakily made it for a friend of mine instead, all the while asking her opinion on how I should do it. The background is Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen in Charcoal, the feather is made from my stash.



Tote Bag with pieced Feather - Front

This scalloped panel managed to get finished also and is destined to be a large pillow. I used a faced appliqué technique, a variety of cotton and linen fabrics and my current favourite colour scheme: navy and pink. (Though Navy and green is vying hard for second place). These scallops are 3.5" across and that pink fabric at the top of the photo is for the back. I hoped to finish it in the linen I used on the front but of course they don't make it anymore and I don't have enough left. I'd love to make a bigger version for my bed, though TH might not like all the pink!

Scallop clamshell appliqué panel

The rocketship quilt for BB finally got some attention too. I took advantage of Faye's space to cut out the large lengths of fabric required and have been making stars and working on the rocket. More stars than are in the picture, just in case you were wondering.

Rocketship quilt background

No idea why I've left it this long and the fact that BB has been so understanding about it only makes me feel worse. I'm hoping that the usual burst of energy I get at the beginning of the new year is not too far away. This year I really need to finish some projects that have been hanging around a long time, 'cause then I can start some new ones!

I really find it hard to blog on anything like a semi- regular basis. I can easily read 50 posts in the time it takes me to write one, well, one that makes sense. I'm more of a born-to-read person rather than a born-to-write.  So this year I am aiming for a post once a month. That's only 12 times a year, achievable surely??

I guess we'll have to wait and find out!

Linking up for the first time in aaaaaages to Lily's Quilts - for:

 

Fresh Sewing Day

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& Small Blog Meet

 

 

If you're here visiting from the linky party, Welcome, It's nice to meet you, I've got virtual chocolate cake and a cup of tea to share with you!

Christmas crafts and Teacher gifts

The end of term and the end of this year has come around so fast. I hope 2012 goes a little slower. This week BB and LB have helped me make some gifts for their teachers/carers.  We've made some little bags with hand drawn pictures to tuck some chocolates and a kid made Christmas decoration in.

   

I got BB to draw a picture for each bag. I did ask for a flower and got a landscape, but apparently you can't just have a flower, it needs ground to grow on and then sky above :) So the flowers were a fair bit smaller than I was envisaging but they are very much BB's style and that's the important part. Earlier in the term I had asked him to find out each teachers favourite colour and he helped pick fabric he thought they would like for the lining, I just tried to get him to stick to a small scale print as the bags are only about 6.5" finished.

Linen Bag and Lining Pieces

Kids Craft - Linen Teacher Bags

 

For LB since he is a bit more of an, ah, shall we say, abstract drawer, I made a stencil out of Freezer paper, which I ironed on and then got him to colour in. (Don't tell BB but I think its my favourite...shh.)



Christmas Tree Bag Stencil - In Progress



Christmas Tree Bag Stencil - Finished


Apart from the fact I forgot to top-stitch the handles on every single bag(a moment which included a fair amount of swearing), I think they turned out totally cute, but of course I am completely biased :)




Teacher Gifts - Personalised Linen Bags

We've also been keeping small boys amused by making some Christmas trees out of paper.  Very simple. We traced different size circles, cut them out, then cut each in half and curled and stapled them.  A little mix and match and a bead on top and they are will be finished.  Ready to be beaded and threaded on a garland later this week.




Kids Christmas Craft - Paper Trees

I've also been working on the Secret Squirrel quilt. It seems to be taking forever(no one remembers when I wanted to finish this by do they? Phew!) which hopefully means I'm about halfway through.  Even allowing for quilting I am hoping to have it ready to give to her in January.  For anyone having an awards ceremony in January this may or may not be for you ;)



Dresen Quilt Piecing in Progress

When I drove past the fabric shop last week these fabrics just happened to jump into the car ready to make some bunting for my goddaughter for Christmas.



Fabric for Girls Bunting

So much to do yet and I'm running out of days. I hope your Christmas plans are on schedule!

Make your own Christmas Wreath!