she sews on sunday

4 by 4 patchwork squares squares pillows

2012-02-02T21:55:00.000Z

back of cable cushion

2012-01-20T19:26:00.002Z

back of cushion

2012-01-20T19:07:00.000Z

square patchwork cushions 2 of 4

2012-01-03T20:25:00.002Z

first of four patchwork cushion covers

2011-12-29T17:52:00.000Z

finished size 18" pillow front

so - to cut

16 x 3 inch squares, 8 inch inner square. 9 1/2 inch squares cut in half for the triangle corners.

now just to quilt and assemble into a cushion

orange stripey cushions

2011-12-10T12:31:00.002Z

bag and bucket

2011-11-06T18:35:00.001Z

3 inch squares

2011-08-30T10:15:00.005+01:00

small bath mat with 3" squares

and in case the colours don't quite fit with the recipients bathroom i used different materials on the back/front

i used the waffle wavy line as quilting - i like to do this using my walking foot as the wadding is so thick

this is an old bag that i made which had seen better days so i recycled it - the strap to my denim bag and the this body to this rug

double sided bedroom rug - squares and bargello

2011-08-29T10:28:00.002+01:00

10 cm squares (i'm using the other side of my cutting mat!)

randomly placed till pleasing to the eye.

wavy lines to quilt as the rug is thick and my walking foot makes easy work of it

this is my first bargello attempt... the strips are 12cm. i learned alot and think that the width here is probably a bit wide for the size of the rug

nevertheless - i'm still very happy with the result and i think it looks good on both sides

and it depends how i feel as to which i prefer

cardoons

2011-08-28T23:50:00.001+01:00

completed crazy nine patch baby quilt

2011-08-20T09:39:00.001+01:00

made 3 small labels with the date, the quilt name and who it was gifted to

i finished the quilting simply following some of the block lines.

i also hid a sheep in one of the green 'fields'

war of the roses

2011-08-20T09:31:00.001+01:00

for all the dahlia lovers ... maybe not the purists?

crazy nine patch: Fields of Candy

2011-08-10T11:26:00.001+01:00

'Fields of Candy' because it reminds me of google earth and the patchwork of fields but made of colourful sweet and candy wrappers ( and it was made during the recording of Fields of Gold)

i may leave the blocks plain -- or quilt some patterns inside .. can't decide...

but i do like the lines that are close together and give a lovely texture. Not tried this before and i'm really pleased with the effect on this small quilt

crazy nine patch ... patched

2011-08-09T09:28:00.000+01:00

purple or red

2011-08-08T16:20:00.002+01:00

layout for crazy nine patch

2011-08-07T16:19:00.001+01:00

apart or together?

2011-08-07T10:32:00.000+01:00

crazy nine patch progressing

2011-08-06T21:29:00.001+01:00

Crazy nine patch in progress

2011-08-06T16:18:00.001+01:00

Wonky House quilt

2011-07-24T12:47:00.002+01:00

Inspiration from Craftster's SimplySandy here ... my take on the wonky house quilt

i used a variety of quilting patterns to add details to the houses and 'gardens'

and the back.. I used applique which seemed to work ok

whitby

2011-07-22T20:40:00.001+01:00

mmm.. colourful beach huts .. inspiration for a quilt?

Angel of the North

2011-07-17T14:00:00.005+01:00

Close

Closer...

Closest.....

Cathedral Window quilt pillow panel

2011-06-27T20:00:00.002+01:00

I had forgotten the size i made the previous pillows.

These are 10 inch white squares.

the others were probably only 8 inches as the coloured fabric pieces are much bigger

basket case

2011-06-26T22:48:00.002+01:00

Another basket like these

anothe adictive basket - hits the spot when you want to complete a quick project!

Recycled Jeans Bag

2011-05-23T20:17:00.003+01:00

front ..

... and back

tote bags

2011-05-22T10:45:00.000+01:00

A bit of therapeutic tote sewing

- enjoyable mixing of fabrics, picking the colour blocks from old curtains,

matching the linings and having the satisfaction of completed project within a short period that i know will be used.. ~Winner

first 'harvest'

2011-05-17T21:09:00.004+01:00

Arundel Castle Gardens

2011-05-16T18:02:00.000+01:00

mini pot holders

2011-05-11T17:56:00.003+01:00

mini versions of these oven gloves

Pot Holder

2011-05-10T17:15:00.000+01:00

my take on this pot holder

tiny scraps to use

and free motion writing

candy wrapper purse

2011-05-09T17:50:00.002+01:00

not completed one for a while

so just keeping my hand in.....

zip was tricky as usual .. but went in OK

no... i never get tired of making these tactile little purses!

small purse

2011-05-08T17:11:00.000+01:00

a new make up bag for my mum

hope she likes it

the red and gold are curtain fabric and feel luxurious

railfence revisited

2011-04-28T10:50:00.001+01:00

Finally managed to grab a photo of the shadow railfence from here.

Looks good in situ - even if i do say so myself!

This is the only bit of green on the back ....just because i could!

wisteria

2011-04-27T10:37:00.000+01:00

What a lovely Spring...

Roll on with the blue skies ..everything feels so much better!

circle rainbow cushion

2011-04-26T10:43:00.001+01:00

Was in the mood for a colour wheel so thought would try something different.

However - i dont actually much care for the finished colour flow - maybe there just arent enough panels to graduate the colour ?...

Anyhow i do sort of like the embroidery - which i admit was an after thought as the big white circle in the middle really wasnt doing it for me

And maybe it needs a white or contrasting border to set off the colours...i dont know what it is ...its just not ......?.........

Still ..on to the next project and some sewing therapy to get me past this.. .;-)

Another Cathedral - another window - another pillow .........(cathedral window pillow)

2011-04-08T18:46:00.003+01:00

And another ...

The same .....yet different

This is actually my first attempt and the second in the previous post was much easier - but i prefer these colours....oh well may have to make another one to see if i can improve.....

cathedral window pillow

2011-04-07T18:45:00.002+01:00

Yet another addictive topic

I have been promising myself to get started

and now i don't want to stop!

Close ups of denimn jacket to handy bag

2011-04-01T19:26:00.001+01:00

baby bunting 2

2011-03-31T20:00:00.005+01:00

this time i have free motioned the zigzag pattern

The first version that i have copied again is here

its bright and i think practical ... i never get why we use white for baby items... except of course that they do look lovely!

sometimes straight lines work just as well - Quilty Quiltson

2011-03-29T19:17:00.001+01:00

This was a request from my son

Went for striking contrasts with this one ..............and of course it's called Quilty Quiltson

Upcycled Denim Jacket

2011-03-28T19:26:00.001+01:00

I started here

and ended here

this is all that was left

The shoulder bag with the seams is my favourite

but i also like the tiny pyramid coin purse

and the 'rose' brooch which i made from the collar

You know what they say .. Waste not ..Want not...

... and i really enjoyed using all of the bit and bobs including the seams - and they are usually so tricky to know what to do with

zig zags completed with minimal straight line quilting

2011-03-10T18:49:00.000Z

quilted with simplicity in mind ..and edged with multi coloured pieced binding

zigzag quilt

2011-03-09T17:22:00.003Z

From this blog another version of this quilt

zig zags and rainbows --what else do you need?

candy wrapper chair - how cool is this?

2011-02-15T20:15:00.000Z

i found this while browsing at this site http://www.archello.com/en/product/snowjob

Break away - Bath Royal Crescent

2011-02-01T19:30:00.002Z

I have been here ...

.......how lovely

fabric card

2011-01-31T19:26:00.000Z

another scrappy card ,,, quite addictive

Easiest Ever 2 cup fruit cake

2011-01-26T16:24:00.002Z

the easiest fruit loaf ever.. yes really.... even i cooked it first time

2 cups AllBran or similar hi fibre bran bits
2 cups fruit
2 cups sugar
2 cups milk

soak overnight ( or till its mushed if you cant wait)

add

2 eggs (or 3 if you have used big cups rather than the US cup measurement )

and mix

add

2 cups self raising flour ( or plain plus 3 or 4 tsp of baking powder - again depends on cup size)

mix to a batter and fill a 2 lb loaf tin - or 2 smaller ones - or really whatever is available (i put a piece of greaseproof on the base to make lifting easier but it would probably been OK without)

cook on lowish oven 170/180 till cooked - approx 1.5 hrs - but i checked with a skewer after an hour and then turned the oven down a bit

all very --ish ish but results are great!

crazy patchwork thanks card - gift card

2011-01-25T09:36:00.003Z

pleased to say this is somehting from nothing. yes i used new cottons but the rest has been saved from the bin....tiny scraps and even the card base was something i received as packaging... i feel there's always something a bit extra when a pleasant object is made instead of being sent to landfill.. hopefully the recipeint will use it again as i put a letter in the fold with a message

of course the money is new - or is that recycling too?

After ...

2011-01-24T09:20:00.000Z

had a lovely play with my box of itty bitty scraps for the stems and the small bits box for the flowers - went with simplicity in the end - various machine embroidery stitching and freemotion - the leaves didnt add anything . sometimes it's good to know when to stop.

the upshot is that - Now ... much prettier and i got to use some tiny scraps and the fancy stiches on my machine.. feel happier to use it now too .Win - Win

Before -- Recycling Bags

2011-01-23T09:57:00.002Z

Had this bag for some time - 2008 actually as you can see from the face ..but although utalitarian not pretty ..so a plan with some scraps for a facelift ....... i have the idea for fabric flowers and leaves and grass........

Pieced 4 inch squares!

2011-01-22T09:10:00.007Z

it's funny because it looks a whole lot better than in the pictures...the colours really flow into each other

and you know how it is --no matter how much you look at something ;;;]]]~}#}]]]]]]]]]]]](that was the dog typing!) you don't realize till it's all sewn together that the piece has an odd piece of pattern on it!!

the line on the orange square looks like a Biro mark but is in fact just the slightest of pattern...that surprisingly you don't notice how definite a line it is when looking at the whole fabric......how did i not notice that BEFORE i pieced it? ...hopefully it will be disguised by some quilting (fingers crossed) so that my eye is not immediately drawn to it!!

ah well - i'm now thinking about a border

Seams pressed open

2011-01-18T06:55:00.003Z

This is a first for me - pressing my seams open - usually i don't bother - but i will see how long i keep it up and if it makes any difference to the quilting

4 inch squares organised for piecing

2011-01-16T22:53:00.002Z

i had to really concentrate on getting the right edges together - luckily i realised at the beginning that i needed a system to keep the rows aligned

4 inch squares layout

2011-01-15T22:52:00.004Z

this is what i am using as inspiration - its from our garden a few years ago - put into PhotoPlus and viewed with a grid - Just like patchwork!!

Anyhoo - this is my interpretation, just a flavour - but i think that the colours flow so i am happy with it

now - how to sew it up - firstly to assemble in piles to keep the right order

monocrhromatic texture

2011-01-14T17:33:00.006Z

this shows the texture on the squares. the dark green was a door curtain when my daughter moved into her place. it was covered in paint splatters - but even though i really didnt like it i kept it in for use as a paint throw- but it really adds pop to this and i already like it on my oven gloves - reuse reuse and reuse - its surprising how things look so good in another setting after a good wash!

birdy visitors?

2011-01-13T17:31:00.003Z

a pair of blue tits are weighing up whether this will be a suitable home - i know last year they looked but never occupied - fingers crossed for this year though as it is really interesting to watch the constant feeding during the summer like when the robins moved in to their robin box with the baby robins

4 inch squares

2011-01-11T17:36:00.001Z

i have decided to just improvise - no particular plan only a simple 4" square quilt made of solid colours - well monochromatics anyway. i have just picked out from my stash the colours i think will go together - just on how i feel - and started cutting and adding to the pile with another complimentary colour.

Very happy with it so far .. i expect i will try and be random in the placement - and my plan is to be more organised and press the seams properly - as i must admit i am not always too hot on pressing!

this is the life!

2011-01-10T18:33:00.001Z

bright tote - obsessions

2011-01-09T18:29:00.012Z

i think i see a theme - if i find something i like - i can't stop at 1 or 2 !!

see here and here for proof!

my new mirror

2011-01-08T18:22:00.001Z

not to everyone's taste - which is how i ended up with it :-) - but i really like it!!

lap size colour wheel

2011-01-05T18:22:00.005Z

the back and front are 100% Upcycled- the paint smudges on the back only add to the charm - honest ;-)

this is the third time i have made this quilt - this time i quilted with a stipple with variegated thread rather than the straight lines of last time

here in black and here how i did it originally (now gracing my bed)

comfy oven gloves

2011-01-04T10:14:00.001Z

with having time off over the Christmas break i have had time to potter - i also realised (when i kept burning my fingers) my oven gloves were past their best - and for some reason i tend not to think of making bits for myself - however several burnt fingers later here they are. i really like the square quilting and they are just the right thickness - they have cotton covers and poly filling - but that's fine and heat resistant enough. Already in use and working well with the jam tarts!

new totes

2011-01-03T15:36:00.000Z

these are from an embroidered wool sample that i bought for 50p and reclaimed curtaining that used to hide my computer bits and bobs many moons ago. i think they look really classy as they have a bit of weight to them. Good enough to gift - but i'm keeping one myself!

new cushion - japanese quilt blocks

2011-01-02T14:06:00.002Z

made from a couple of curtain samples and an old cushion to fill ...i love to upcycle!

The weave block is from a book of Japanese quilt blocks and the strips end up about an inch wide. Fiddly but very enjoyable. the squares are 3inch squares- i was contemplating making a quilt of this size block - but I'm not sure...i have so many plans that i don't seem to start any of them.. still.. the thinking about it is just as enjoyable!

oh and the background is the zigzag quilt from here which i unpicked and unpicked and unpicked ... however glad to say that it's growing on me now :-)

is it black or brown?

2011-01-01T15:58:00.002Z

new bag - reversible with either black on brown or brown on black - recycled from a display curtains

front of bunting baby quilt

2010-12-28T15:26:00.002Z

back

2010-12-28T15:26:00.000Z

zig zag quilting on bunting quilt

2010-12-28T15:25:00.001Z

a pretty cool life.: Rainbow Bunting Baby Quilt Tutorial

2010-12-28T15:02:00.000Z

a pretty cool life.: Rainbow Bunting Baby Quilt Tutorial

Boy baby bunting

2010-12-19T12:36:00.000Z

adapted from here. thanks for the idea, a pretty cool life. i have adapted to make pointier bunting and prime colours - with a dark blue background so it can be used as a stroller blanket and hopefully not show the grime.

2 baskets

2010-12-13T20:00:00.001Z

The first 2 of many - Thanks to this tutorial from Pink Penguin

Be warned ---very addictive!!

new obsession

2010-12-12T22:14:00.000Z

quilt back made

2010-12-07T22:25:00.000Z

finally decided on a straight forward striped back for this quilt - using the colours from the front and keeping simple geometric lines - and have started quilting with a stipple in brown thread ( which is soft compared to the straight lines of the fabric piecing- fairly pleased with it so far.

the great unpicking continues

2010-11-02T20:20:00.001Z

this is the back of the zig zag quilt - i tried a new machine quilting pattern but i cannot cope with the creases...why are we so self critical?! anyway i've been unpicking little stitch by little tiny stich for weeks!!

design process

2010-11-01T22:09:00.001Z

initial design phase -

setting up excel for strips that are 6.5" x 2.5"

i started with the idea of a 'railfence' zigzag

and noticed that using the brown fabric in the middle created a shadow effect

then a bit more tweaking and i noticed if i changed the pattern it looked more like weaving

the final choice was to change from blue to red - which i thought harmonised the colours ( the computer doesnt really reflect the true colours of my fabrics)

joined the strips and cut to 6.5" squares
and joined 10x12 squares
the hardest part was aligning all the points - but i'm pleased with the results

.....still no decision on the back ...just a few ideas kicking about.......

shadow quilt

2010-10-30T17:39:00.004+01:00

what is it with the zig zags - i'm hooked

liking how this turned out .. it reminds me of my candy wrapper purses

once again though , what to do with the back?

cherry basket

2010-10-18T19:14:00.000+01:00

and the back

and the label

Fabric bowls

2010-10-16T17:19:00.000+01:00

been making fabric bowls - from here - really enjoyable!! already somewhere to keep my keys and change

basket weave

2010-10-03T17:02:00.001+01:00

new quilt top - not yet unpicked my zig zag machine quilting - but starting on the next quilt ...so what to do for the back?

quilt top assembled

2010-09-17T17:18:00.003+01:00

anyone for cheese and onion ...... candy wrapper purse?

2010-09-17T16:49:00.003+01:00

Walkers .. of course....

another handy crisp wrapper purse ...(aka candy wrapper purse)

Naming of Quilts..

2010-09-05T10:43:00.000+01:00

i've decided to call this quilt 'morning glory'

it reminds me of the climbing plant with shades of blue flowers - and the long quilting between the 'coin stacks' are akin to winding stems of leaves and flowers

Fabric choices ....decisions, decisions

2010-08-29T10:17:00.002+01:00

i've been looking at this Zig-Zag Quilt " for ages and then today suddenly felt inspired. i forgot how happy i feel when i get into the groove!!

step 1 - picking the fabric and toning colours - i decided on a red/orange/green theme as i wanted to use a chocolate background

Step 2 - picking the order of the zig zag colours

various ways - straight forward rainbow graduation to random

in the end i went for red in the middle and threw in vibrant green - just what took my fancy - and i'm really happy with the result

its just reminded me of my candy wrapper purses! - im obviously obsessed with zig zags!

favourite stitches

2010-08-28T17:31:00.006+01:00

finished this quilt a couple of months ago

from my blue period - close up of some of the sample stitches/quilting

i used some of the fabric to inspire the pattern of stitch

liking the colours

2010-08-18T19:56:00.001+01:00

small zip purse

time to spare ..playing with fabric

New Addition

2010-08-10T23:57:00.001+01:00

enjoying the quilts.....

new idea for small squares

2010-08-01T13:03:00.002+01:00

So I tried a new technique ...

...using interfacing to glue the inch squares together

Sewing the seams in one long seam once the small squares are fused...

... it's suggested that it's easier .. but I'm not so sure - I like the give in fabric to match the points of corners

i made a coaster ... but I don't think I'll try it again, I found it too bulky and not so easy to match..; :-(

candy wrapper purse

2010-07-04T18:28:00.002+01:00

another view of a slightly smaller purse - the original is still holding up well - you may recognise the green as Walkers Salt & Vinegar!!

close up

2010-05-22T08:19:00.000+01:00

quilt back

2010-05-09T10:28:00.001+01:00

the plain backing really shows of the quilting patterns

I'm still trying to find lots of patterns to quilt the blocks ..definitely staying with the sampler idea

quilt sashing

2010-05-06T20:08:00.000+01:00

5 different stitch patterns. 1 for each row of sashing...

scrappy test pattern

2010-05-04T17:20:00.000+01:00

patterns

2010-05-03T13:39:00.000+01:00

ideas for quilting

Because....

2010-05-03T13:36:00.001+01:00

it's spring

...and it makes me smile

free free motion quilting....

2010-04-11T09:13:00.001+01:00

The sashing has been quilted - well 5 lengths between the colours - in various vines of hearts, leaves and flowers. It's all very experimental and I am enjoying the process - I'm feeling free.... freed from the stipple. The navy is quilted with black thread and gives a wholecloth quilt effect - I like it that much maybe I will try one of those next??

I have decided to quilt the blue rectangles with black patterns - some echoing the fabric and some background filler - preferably not stipple! - I think I will treat this as sort of a sampler ... My quilting has taken on a new lease of life

feeling inspired

2010-04-04T11:01:00.002+01:00

I've been feeling under the weather for some time - but now I know I’m back - I have just started to quilt my blue quilt--- for ages I have been umming and aarghing about how to quilt - then yesterday I just picked it up and decided to start - wavy freehand lines down each of the coloured stacks and round the edge - this will give me several areas to try out different styles - just quilt as you go!! We'll see if it turns out to be a good idea !

remembering summer

2010-04-01T19:06:00.000+01:00

found this picture and reminded me of the warm summer days...aaaahhhh...lovely

Ready to quilt

2010-02-07T18:09:00.002Z

all pinned - just waiting for inspiration of what pattern to quilt..... i expect it will be stipple ... unless i suddenly feel inspired....or braver....

.....and this is the piecing

different candy wrapper patterns

2010-02-02T21:11:00.001Z

another crispy look

Cross Stitch

2010-01-20T19:37:00.003Z

Look what I've dug out from the loft - I thought I had got a lot further - and I realised I started it over 12 years ago!!!!!!!! when I started it I didn't even need glasses.