Craft Book Love!

I love crafty books and I love making things from them! 

When I was thinking about what to link up from Craft Book Month, I knew it had to be from my most used craft book, Pretty in Patchwork Holiday by John Q Adams. 

I have had this book nearly a year and have made 6 project from it with another in progress, but by far the most used and loved make has to be the Harvest Vine Table Runner. 

It's was my first time sewing curves and I was a little worried, but they came out brilliantly. The pattern in the book was for six leaves, but I wanted it to stretch across our large table so I added two more leaves. 

Although this book is based around holiday projects, it is so adaptable and gives lots of suggestions and encourages you to make the projects differently and I just keep going back to it for patterns and ideas. I can definitely say I got my money's worth from this book and will keep using it! 

Little Apples Spring Carnival Cushion ✓

Way back in August of last year I started a little bit of EPP on my summer holiday, fast forward 13 months and it's finally finished! Woohoo!!!

I really needed a kick to get it all together, so I put it on my Q3 List for the 2013 Finish A-Long. I just fell out of love with it, but now it's a usable cushion I love it again!!!

I put in a hidden zipper at the back, I think this is my favourite way of put zips in now. The flap hides all kinds of errors!!
I used Little Apples by Aneela Hoey for the Spring Carnival EPP (Katy's pattern and tutorial is here) and then appliquéd it onto a grey from  Makower that I had loads left over from my skirt lining.
I quilted it in an organic wobbly circular pattern!

And then used some fabrics from my stash to make it into a mahousive 24" cushion, with more Little Apples as binding.
It's the perfect size for a little lady to use on the floor in front of the TV.

And even though I was thinking EPP might just be a little slow for me, I seem to have two more projects all ready to go......

Oh well, they should be ready in a few years!!!

Paper Pieced Out!

I'm ploughing through my to do list, to get some things finished and high up there on the list are the And Sew on Bom blocks by Kristy! I am really far behind....as in, May was the last block I completed!!
So, yesterday I had a printing session and pulled out all the scraps I have been using and got to work on two of the outstanding four today.

September's Sewing Sanctuary

It's got a few mistakes, but I'm not looking too closely. The bin is one of them, it's the exactly the same as Mary's and I read her post so should have remembered!
I did have to unpick quite a bit, where I added floor instead of wall.

Which I could have kicked myself for.
But, I'm really really pleased with it!

Then came June's A Stitch in Time.

I went for one simple and one hard block so I didn't hate paper piecing by the end of it.
And here are my blocks so far together,

I've got plans to get the other two done tomorrow.........if I ignore the housework and let the children get themselves to and from school!!!
I'm still plodding along with the hand quilting each evening, I don't know when I will finish it. It's a lot slower than quilting it through the machine!
I'm linking up with

Slow Sewing

This week the boys have started back with their full after school activities, which gives me the job of rota juggler and taxi driver. I haven't seen the eldest before 5 each evening this week and my little lady had her first day at play school, which was really scary......for me!!

On the sewing front, I haven't really got much done, my machine is not playing nicely and I'm determined to get myself a new one. I've got my eye on the Pfaff Expression 2.0, there are lots of negative reviews about the 4.0 but nowt much online about the 2.0. And unfortunately I've not got the budget for the Janome Horizon 8200 for something which is just for my fabric obsessed hobby!
Anyway, I have been plodding along with the hand quilting of my Spinning Stars each evening and am amazed at how addictive it is! Although, I've had to get a thimble, as my poor finger is suffering!

And I love the effect on the back, even if my stitching isn't very neat!

I've also been chopping some fabric in anticipation of getting some sewing done, one lot for a cushion! (we won't be able to sit on our sofa if I carry on making cushions!!)

Which is all halloweeny!
And then another lot of fabric

(not too sure if I've picked too many fabrics, I may have to narrow it down bit)
for the Hootenanny quilt for Son No.2 from this book.

I just need to pick which grey to use, Ash on the left or Medium Grey on the right? Any ideas?

I'm linking up with the lovely Liz

I need a hero...... ✓

and now I have two!

Superman and Wonder Woman or Cooperman and Blunder Woman which is a bit more like our house!  And yes, I did grow-up watching Russ Abbot!
I started these blocks back in June when Kristy from Quiet Play asked for pattern testers (patterns are now available and the Lego ones are all FREE here) on Instagram and I just knew they would be a great cushion as an anniversary present for the husband. Well, it may be two months late, but it's finished and it's the thought that counts!
We are massive Lego fans in this house and the boys have far too much that seems to get everywhere. Especially under my bare feet!! (OUCH!) And, often when my husband or I are moaning and listing what we've done in a day we will say 'your such a hero!' So a perfect combination and it won't hurt me if I tread on it!

I used my very precious red chevron for the back, with a red dot that I have loads of from John Lewis. I asked the good people of IG to help me pick a binding as my brain had given up making decisions and they very wisely picked the black and white text from Architextures, which frames it perfectly.

The facial expressions were pretty tricky to get right, I could get one eye or eyebrow perfect but the second would never match, so I unpicked it several times... I've also not put the star on her headband, as I quite like it as it is!
My machine was having a moment when I was putting it together,  whilst zig-zaging the front and back it kept jumping stitches!

I don't know why or what to do about it? But it's a good excuse to keep saving for my new machine!!
So, thats my first finish on my Q3 list for the 2013 FAL and I fear it may be the only one!!!
But coincidentally the theme for le challenge this summer was Heroes and it was that which gave me the kick to finish this one up, I can't wait to see all the other hero themed projects! And to see what the next theme is.

Plodding Along!

So, I'm still working at the wip's! I feel it may take some time, but I've got 2 quilts I really want to make for Christmas, so I have to keep on with the unfinished ones before I start another. That way I can start a guilt-free quilt!!
Last night I basted The Beast, my Spinning Stars quilt.

I'd asked The Quilters of Instagram for some taping tips to get my basting better and the lovely Susan of Canadian Abroad suggested clear packing tape and it worked a treat! I know I'd originally said that I would get this basted  by a longarm quilter, but my localish lady want £80 just to baste it and maybe I'm tight, but I couldn't spend that money on stitches that would be taken out!! Especially when I could spend it on more fabric!

So, I manned up and got it done and used the money to order some more fabric. It's now ready for a those cool nights we are getting, to snuggle under and hand quilt. Any hand quilting tips anyone?

And today, I've been having a play at circular quilting.

They are very very wonky organic circles, but I love how they are looking on that Spring Carnival. I've run out of the grey I was using, but after I've stocked back up I'll carry on with the quilting and get that into a cushion.
And lastly I'm trying to get the a tiny bit of binding sewn down on another cushion. I'm nearly there, if I could just be uninterrupted for a few minutes!!

Playful Stripes Cardigan

I've been clearing lots of stuff out at home, since the boys have gone back to school. Just a room a day, so I don't make too much of a mess and run out of steam before I clear it up.
In this clear-out and to help distract me is also my wip pile! To my amazement, I had finished a cardigan for Rose at the beginning of July and picked buttons, but never got them sewn on.
So last night they were tackled and I've now finished my Playful Stripes Cardigan.

The pattern is by Alana of Never Not Knitting and I was completely inspired to get knitting it by Deb's gorgeous version of it.

I knitted it for age 4 as Rose is fairly tall and I didn't know how long it would take me to get it done!!! And it fits her really well, with room for the winter.
I used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in Denim (027) for the main body, then used Sienna (067), Candy Pink (006), Citrus (018) and a blue (which I think could be Pool, but I can't find the card) for the colour bands!

The buttons are from the brilliant Kirsty of Love Paper Fish, she has the best buttons!

It was a really simple knit, but I just took ages doing it, I also have to say, I really didn't enjoy sewing in the ends! I fear that might be why it sat around for so long......

But, I love it now it's done, and I've forgotten the pain of the ends! it looks lovely on Rose and is all ready to keep her warm in this cold September!

Belated summer round-up!

It seems like our holiday was ages ago, when really we've only been back for just over a week!!
But, this week has been crazily busy and finally both boys are back to school and we are trying to find our routine.
The summer was brilliant, we spent it with my parents in Southern Spain. We ate far far too much gorgeous local food, especially fish!

We celebrated two birthdays, mine and my dad's! 

Dodgy post beach photo!!  

I saw lots of quilty patterns.

 And on my last night discovered a quilt shop, which was shut!! 

I'd have loved to have a nose around in there! 

And the local zoo was open till midnight, which was fantastic!! 

So, I took a fair few projects away with me and as we were there for nearly 4 weeks I got a few of them done.
My Little Apples Spring Carnival is now appliquéd onto a backing.

 This should count as two as I did it twice!!!

The first time it was so basted that I unpicked it and started again. Just need to quilt it and turn it into a cushion.
Next, I got the three Rowan Kidsilk scarfs done.

Just need to get some gloves and they are completed Christmas presents!
Then, I caught up with my Frosted Pumpkin Woodland Sampler.

I had started June, so had a bit to do. But it was the perfect thing to pick up after the children were in bed of an evening.
And lastly I started Triangle City EPP by Katy Jones .

I didn't get very far, but I'll keep plodding along with it!
So, that was my summer. It all went far too fast, but I have to say I'm looking forward to cooler evening and having an excuse to making another quilt to keep warm under!!!
Can I ask if anyone is having trouble with scheduling blog posts, as the ones that should have been published when I was away didn't and I had to publish them myself when I found wifi? I don't know if I did it wrong, but it normally works! Or was Blogger having a moment!!! 

So, that was August...

Didn't it fly? I can't believe that the summer holidays are ending, we got back from holiday on Friday evening. I got a tiny bit of sewing done on holiday, but I was far too busy eating, swimming and drinking!
My August finishes are better than I expected, considering I have been in Spain for most of it, I didn't think I'd have anything to show you, but...........

1. Simplicity 2451, 2. Simplicity 2451, 3. Simplicity 2451, 4. Drawstring Toy Bag, 5. Drawstring Toy Bag, 6. Drawstring Toy Bag, 7. Pink Portholes Cushion, 8. Pink Portholes Cushion

I got 3 amazing things made in 5 days, it must have been the thought of being away from my machine for so long!
And I proudly wore my Simplicity skirt on a few nights out while we were away and I was only a lot little bit worried about it falling apart during those wares, but it was fine and very comfy.  

I'm off to wash and iron a mountain of school uniform in preparation for the boys returning to school. Our eldest is starting Senior School this week and his uniform list makes me think he may be boarding! I've never seen a child need so many sports bits and shoes!!! 

I'm linking up to Lynne's Fresh Sewing Day!