Saturday, January 29, 2011

Another Blouse

Following the success of my boat necked blouse made from Lecien fabric before Christmas, 

I thought I'd try another.

This one is a New Look pattern No. 6937.

The details on the front are a little difficult to make out from the photos- sorry!


(And I haven't worked out yet how to take a decent photo of myself wearing it!)

The one I made is on the bottom right hand side of the packet envelope (below)-


It is in a lovely soft voile, and will be worn to work when Summer in Melbourne finally hits.

Which, no doubt, will be in the next week or so when the kids (and I), go back to school!

I bought the fabric at Spotlight ages ago, so I can't even remember how much it cost.

$15.00?


Anyway, I do get a certain satisfaction from this type of sewing -

an individual garment which NO one else is wearing.

And usually fairly reasonably priced!

Gotta be happy with that!

Do you make your own clothes?

Happy sewing 

SUZ
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Thursday, January 27, 2011

A Friendly Neighborhood!

A while back, on this post, I told you about a fun project that Beth from Love, Laugh, Quilt was 
organizing. 

She asked for all her friends in Blogland to send her 12" blocks of Houses.

She would then randomly select winners to receive some of them to make into a quilt top.

However one generous lady, Em, from  www.wonkyquilter.com sent a WHOLE quilt top!


This is it-

And now it lives at MY house!


I was lucky enough to be the winner of this really lovely quilt!

Em used some really cute fabric!

The yellow in the one above is "Little Golden Books", which I have never seen before.


And this one with cup cakes is yummy!


This, I think, is from Eric Carle's "Hungry Caterpillar" picture story book!


And this one houses a family of cats!



And finally chickens in the henhouse!

It is really very pretty and my photos don't do it justice!

I am intending to hand quilt it in a naive manner over the winter months and offer it to a local charity, for 

a raffle or fundraiser of some kind.

I will show you again when it is finished!

Happy sewing

SUZ
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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

On the Go!

I only realized yesterday that I have 7 pieces on the go at the moment!

Thankfully most are quite small and achievable.

BUT most have a deadline to be completed by!

The first one is a Placemat Swap which is NOT a secret one so my partner and I have been in 

communication.

(This one only needs binding)

In fact she lives some 3 miles up the road, although we have not met yet.

(Boy, did this one test my design skills!)

These are what I have made, and I'd like her to make a choice between them.

The first two are in her preferred color choices and match a placemat she received on a previous swap.

(New York Beauty - foundation pieced)
And she admired another New York Beauty I made so she may choose this one.

(My first New York Beauty)

Those that I don't swap will become part of a giveaway in the not-so-distant future!

So Tanya, which ones do you want?

Happy Sewing!

SUZ
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Sunday, January 23, 2011

I love storage!

What is it about storage items?

I love them!

And Ikea is one place where I always see something I love.


Today I couldn't resist-

I just had to buy these cute storage boxes.


There were two square cubes and a rectangle one, all in the one package for $10-

 In the prettiest greeny yellow fabric-

with white stripes and little circles, .

And neat felt tabs-

Very cute!


As with most things from Ikea, they required some assembly!

Well, if you call zipping up the bottom and pushing the base into place assembly?

I am going to have some fun sorting out my fabric and making good use of these!

I have been sewing but I'm not quite ready to show you just yet-

Next time- I promise!

Happy sewing

SUZ

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Friday, January 21, 2011

Doll Quilt Swap 10

I received the name of my partner for Doll Quilt Swap 10 earlier in the week!

And boy, am I stressed!

This experience is really going to stretch my abilities because my partner is one competent sewer!

This is a color palette I am considering-



And I am thinking of a Feathered Star or Mariner's Compass block!

I definitely want to foundation piece my quilt.


Still some playing around with my ideas yet!

I just hope I can live up to the expectations of my partner!

I may never enter another swap again if I fail this test!


Any suggestions or ideas gratefully accepted!

Happy sewing!

SUZ
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Saturday, January 15, 2011

Mug Rug -Round 3!

I have participated in all three Mug Rug Swaps on Flick'r!

And this is what I have come up with, for this round.

 

I had started this before my partner posted a mosaic of her favourites.

I now know they like Dresden's but I don't think these are the colours she especially likes!



So I tried out this design-



I still had some scraps of my favourite Alexander Henry owl fabric, so I featured one in the centre.

This is probably closer to what my partner likes....


BUT.....

My partner is very quiet and hasn't commented much - 

Not on my rugs, or anyone else's for that matter!

As I participating in DQS10, a placemat swap and "My Favorite Little Quilt Swap", I'd really like to 

know whether either of these will be THE one!

Which one do YOU like?

Happy sewing!

PS - I'm off on a little holiday- indulging in my other passion of cycling! See you in a week!
SUZ

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Friday, January 14, 2011

WIPS

Works in Progress-

I thought I would share just a little of what I have been up to recently-


I  have some other things up my sleeve but as they are for secret swaps and other purposes,


 I can't show them yet!



I wanted to have a go at the New York Beauty block.

This one is foundation pieced and I have used it to make a placemat.



I am doing some hand quilting on it at the moment.



And this is another one-



I'm not sure whether I will keep them or make one or the other part of a future 'giveaway'.


And it really was time to practise my Free Motion Quilting (FMQ) again!

SO I 'bit the bullet' and this is the result-


I tried out some spirals and some 'bubbles'!

(For those who know my flick'r name will get a bit of laugh from that one!)

Not great, but not too bad for a short ten minute session?

I'm going to keep practising because it will make a big difference to being able to finish more pieces off.

Then they can go from WIPS to FINISH!

Happy sewing-

SUZ

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Tuesday, January 11, 2011

A Flying Visit to the Past

As you may remember, I am on a fabric diet.

I have enough fabric in my stash for 100 quilts AND hours of sewing!

Well, may not 100!


Anyway, I found some fabric that I used in my first quilt some 26 years ago!

I no longer have the quilt but I was staggered to find I still had some of the fabric !!

The fabric in those days was mainly 'country' type prints!



And it looks like green has always been a bit of a favorite color of mine!

There was no such things as jelly rolls or layer cakes then.

(In fact, I still don't own any!!)


This is probably the oldest one of my quilts that I still have!

It is in quite a sad state but I could NOT bear to part with it!

It is the flying geese design-

I remember using plastic templates to trace around, onto the fabric and cutting all the pieces out by hand!


I don't think I even owned a rotary cutter!

Then it was all hand pieced and hand quilted.

I can't believe how thin the batting is!

And polyester!!!

(My, how things have changed!)


It has indeed seen better days,  but its nice to have a link to the past!

What is the oldest quilt that you own, that YOU made?

Happy sewing!

SUZ

PS I have been away for the last few days but have been constantly thinking about my friends and neighbors in flooded Queensland.  Take care - you are in our prayers!
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Monday, January 10, 2011

A New Sleeve for a New Laptop

What came first the chicken or the egg?

Well, I 'm not sure whether my laptop or the idea for a laptop sleeve came first?

But I do know I had seen the tutorial on "Oh Fransson" for a laptop sleeve some time ago.

So once the new Macbook had arrived I knew I had to make one.



The Kaffe fabric was picked up at a Boxing Day Remnant Sale.

And I did have to buy a second hand flannel pillow case from the Op Shop (I think our northern 

neighbour's call them Goodwill Stores!)

Does that count against me as a fabric purchase, because, remember,  I am on a fabric diet???



I suppose I could have used something from my stash but I wanted a really soft and well worn piece of 

fabric and this was just perfect.

Even the color matched!

Not bad, as it was THE only flannel pillow case at the ONE Op Shop open for miles around!



Its a pretty snug fit but it does make my laptop kinda snuggly!

So I can cross that off my 'to-do' list.



And just before I go I want to thank my followers- it is such a lovely feeling when I log on and see another new friend signed up to follow me!


It is a slow process but so satisfying - THANK YOU!

Have a great day!

SUZ
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Friday, January 7, 2011

Chubby Star+Quilting Gallery

I have entered my Chubby Star on the Weekly Themed Contest @ Quilting Gallery


All my followers and friends might like to go there and vote!

Thank you!

Happy sewing! 

SUZ
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Blogger's Pillow Party

I stumbled across the Blogger's Pillow Party being hosted by Stitched in Color

And as I was already working on new cushions for my bed, what better opportunity to join in!

This is my first one.


Again I raided my stash to find a small selection of pink and green (yes, green again!) to go with some of

my 'summer' bedding.

I really enjoyed practicing my straight line quilting on this small and manageable piece.

Each row is about 1/2 inch apart.


I added a bit of ric rac and a pink ribbon to finish it off.

I want to make another one but as I am on a fabric diet,  I'm not sure whether I have enough scraps for

the next one?

Just as well I have other projects to keep me busy!

Happy sewing!


SUZ


PS I have some new pages for you if you are interested
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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

A Sewing Exercise!

As you may know- I'm on a diet!

A fabric diet!

Now this fabric diet had me thinking???

No diet is much good without exercise.

So I decided to have some fun with my rather large stash-

 Trimming it down with some sewing exercises- 

Sorting, ironing, measuring, cutting, piecing, planning.......


It also gave me an opportunity to deal with another of my intentions for 2011-

To use more green in my projects. 

And this is what I achieved-



This block is based on the tutorial by Elizabeth at Oh Fransson!

It's called a Mod Mosaic.

It was an exercise in improvisation, not something I am usually happy with!

It also kind of 'grew'- it now measures approximately 15 inches across at its widest points.

Not sure what this will become yet?



And this is a star block based on this design from Rita @ Red Pepper Quilts

It will probably become a mini quilt for a swap!

Now to decide on machine or hand quilting?

It didn't feel like exercising at all- more like Patchwork Play!!

Enjoy your playing!

SUZ
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Monday, January 3, 2011

I'm on a Diet!

A fabric diet, actually!

I saw a post on Lily's Quilts linking to here.

I have decided I definitely have enough fabric for a least the next 2 months.  


Even though the Aussie dollar is so strong and the fabric on overseas websites is SO cheap!


But I have lots of small projects lined up that shouldn't need new purchases!


This blouse made it to the top of my 'to-do' list when I saw the fabric at my LQS before Christmas.




I was going for a vintage look

And I even had plenty of scraps left over!


That is a bonus....


maybe I should make more of my clothes from quilting fabric!







It really is a pretty blouse!


Can you tell I like it?


Just one more photo before I finish.......




Now back to the diet....


Perhaps it's time to go on a food diet too??????


Have a great day


SUZ

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Saturday, January 1, 2011

Stash Manicure- BANNER!

I have some exciting news!

I am being featured on the Stash Manicure Banner for the month of January!

(Still having trouble adding the button!)

Madame Samm chose one of my blue Mariner's Compass blocks!

This is the first one I completed early in 2010
Go over and check it out NOW!!!

I'll be here when you come back, promise!


So what do you think??

It motivated me to finally put my foundation pieced blocks together!

This was the design I decided on.


And I am really happy with how it turned out!

What a wonderful start to the New Year-

Check out the Stash Manicure's post tomorrow - that's where you get to hear a little bit about me!

Oh and I have a new page - at the top of this post!

Anyway- have a great day!

Did I say HAPPY NEW YEAR?!

SUZ
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