Sunglasses Case ... and those linen maternity pants

I was a bit of a busy bee before Christmas so I only had a chance to make a few items as gifts.

One of them was this Sunglasses Case ...

The highlight fabric is from Art Gallery's Dreamin' Vintage range - hello pretty!

It was my first time installing a flexi frame closure (you know the ones Nanna used to have in her coin purse?) and I'm happy to report that it was easy to do!  I picked mine up from Spotlight, the brand was Bag Chick in the bag making section.

It works!

Here's the tutorial I followed, although I tweaked the size a bit to allow for sunglasses as they are usually larger than spectacles.

The fabric I used for the main body is linen from my old maternity pants ...

Offending Maternity Pants

... that's 3 projects completed from those pants so far!

Project #1 - Binding for Triangle Rainbow Quilt

Project #2 - Back of Tiny Flying Geese Pin Cushion

Hmm ...  I wonder how many more I can make? ... physical challenge!

Serena xx

Hooking up this week with Monday Makers,  Sew Cute Tuesday, TGIFF, Finish It Up Friday

Sunday Stash - The Payhip Version

Hello Stashers!

I have a few purchases to confess to and one really handy new gift!

So let's eat that frog and talk about the purchases first.

My favourite place to shop for fabric these days is Instagram.  Last week @cotton_factory_destash lured me in with these little beauties ...

How could one resist?! ... and with the Aussie dollar taking a nose dive I was happy to pay Aussie shipping rates.

Hasn't the old EU VAT bizzo caused a few sleepless nights for our pattern sellers?  I recently went to purchase a pattern from Kristy at Quiet Play and found only her Free Patterns available in her Craftsy shop ... thank goodness she has opened a Payhip shop!  

I bought these two patterns from her using the new shop ...

Just My Type - Lowercase Paper Pieced Letters

Just My Type - Uppercase Paper Pieced Letters

It was easy peasy and the patterns came through immediately - ahhh that's better.  I'll be making good use of these two.

Finally a little present from Hubby for Christmas.  Something that will make cutting all the bits for his quilt out a tad easier ...

 ... no underlying motivation for him buying me this present then?

New Rotating Cutting Mat!!

I'm. In. Love. with this rotating mat already ... even took it on holiday with us for the New Years Beach Break ... I didn't end up doing much cutting on holiday though ... you can blame the Veuve ... but if you follow me on IG (@sewgiving) you'll see that it did come in handy for the odd lazy game of Scrabble.

See you over at Molli's place for Sunday Stash.

Serena xx

2015 - Finish Along Q1

Right ... lets get this year started with some colour!

I'm setting only one goal this quarter ... sounds meager, I know, but with two houses up for sale, no sewing space to speak of and an immanent move to our "forever" home ... I may not even manage this ... one ... colourful ... quilt.

So what am I making?

A half hexie quilt in a rainbow of colours!

My hubby wants a quilt.  He wants all the colours and he wants it yesterday.  He's also 6 foot tall and wants it to cover his body from head to toe.  Pfft.

And so I've started by making myself a template and cut, cut, cutting!  

Master Michael will need 17 rows across by about 30 down = 510 pieces to cut (gulp).

The pile on the left is what I've cut ... and the pile on the right is ... Goliath.

Yer ... I should have asked for one of those cutting machines from Santa!

Wish me luck!

Serena xx

Linking up with all the other Finish Along peeps for Q1.

Little Quilts Swap

A few months ago I put my virtual hand up to participate in my first Instagram Swap - eep!

What fun! 

It all started when Ruth kindly sent me the Little Quilts book co-authored by Sarah Fielke and Amy Lobsiger 

Then Sarah decided to run a swap on IG and I just couldn't resist.

I received my partner ... she said she liked replica vintage fabrics, bees, embroidery, hexies, blues and yellows ... so I pulled my Art Gallery Dreamin' Vintage (just made for this little quilt!) and got my hexies on!

Then it was time to embroider the little bee ...

I decided to add a touch of gold thread to the abdomen ... 

 When it came time to hand quilt, I decided to use the same gold thread ...

... I'm really pleased I did!  As this is just a decorative piece, I thought I could get away with it.

But the gold rush didn't stop there ... this is the back!

Too much?  I love it, but if my partner doesn't then at least it's on the back!

As you can see I added a bit of gold with the binding too ... but had a little problem when I did ...

... ah ... why is my little quilt resembling a bowl??

A quick shout out to the IG community and it seems a nice hot iron would fix the job - phew!  

I added a label ... took some final pics and decided to keep it myself promptly popped it in the post, with some extras, a few days before deadline.

Then I waited, and waited, freaked out a little that I hadn't heard of it arriving yet.  Waited some more ... then Australia Post finally delivered the little quilt to it's new owner ... and she loved it ... and exhale!!!

Then just yesterday (on a Sunday!) I received my new Little Quilt from my secret partner ...

Isn't she lovely??

Hmm this swap business is pretty fun!  I might join in a bit more in 2015 ... 

Serena xx

Linking up with Monday Makers, TGIFF, Finish It Up Friday

This Too Shall Pass ...

A dear friend of mine is going through a really shitty (there I said it) patch of bad health.  It's not fun being that ill when you have two little ones, a hubby and a life (no less) to love and enjoy ... 

I was 'put to bed' myself just over a year ago and my friend gave me a little card with this message on it ...

"This Too Shall Pass"

... I decided it was time to return the favour in the only way I know how.

This was my first time making a Dresden Plate and I really enjoyed it ... I hope that some of that joy mojo is felt in the pillow and that it makes my friend smile when she sees it ... especially on those really bad days.

I managed another zip!  Popped it on the bottom as I still haven't quite mastered the hidden zip yet ...

... and popped some of those lovely sunny dots (same as the dots used for the Liberty Pouches) to cheer her up even on a washing day when she has to strip the pillow.

There are a few wrinkles and crinkles in the pillow after I ironed it with steam (will I never learn?!) but other than that I think it was a great first attempt.  It helps when you have a fantastic tutorial to follow though!  The only thing I did differently was to use the circle template as if I was English Paper Piecing.  

I cut my fabric about a 1/4" larger than the template provided then used my glue pen to create the circle.  I then removed the paper template and pressed the seam allowance down.  I then placed the fabric in the middle of the Dresden plate wedge circle and top stitched it down as per the Dresden wedges.

Pillow Stats:
Size: 20" x 20" (with a 22" pillow form in it)
Fabric:  Hanky Linen in Silver for the background and Art Gallery Fabrics "Drift" by Angela Waters for the Wedges
Tutorial/Pattern was found on Sew Mama Sew here
Embroidery Pattern is my own design

If you would like to embroider the same message for a special someone then I've attached the pattern here for you for free.   ... well at least I hope I've attached it correctly!  First time user of Google Drive at work here :)

Serena xx

I'll be linking up with TGIFF and Finish it Up Friday

Liberty Pouches

An extra pouch never goes astray ... am I right?

I've been sewing up a few as Christmas gifts this year ... teachers, friends, family ... if you know me, then you're probably going to get a pouch!

Out of ALL of them though ... these little Liberty and Hanky Linen ones are my favourite.

They gave me the opportunity to play with metal zips for the first time.  I like the juxtaposition of the metal next to the delicate Liberty.

... but I had some trouble with those metal zips  ...

... no sewing over them, must go around them ...

Thank goodness the guild I attend (Perth Modern Quilt Guild) had a sewing day recently and I managed to seat myself next to a metal zip master - the zipper Gods were kind to me.  So, I'd like to take full credit for these, but I did have quite a few tips thrown my way!

Hanky Linen in Birch (thank you Craftproject) make up the majority of the outer case with a highlight strip of Liberty that I picked up from Luccello in Melbourne on our Winter holiday this year ... Love Melbs in Winter ... I finished them off with a simple running stitch using coordinating DMC threads, in the full 6 strands.  Bit of a bugger to thread on a needle, but I love the chunky look it gave ... again, toughening that Liberty up a bit along with the metal zips.

They are lined with a yellow dot fabric that I had originally picked as a quilt backing, but then changed my mind.  I don't like fabric hanging around not being used or having a purpose, so I was quite happy to pop those sunny little dots inside these pouches - they make me smile and I hope they make the recipients of these pouches smile too ... but if the sunny dots don't do the trick then perhaps the little tidbit of Liberty I've stashed inside will?

Happy Friday everyone :)

Serena xx

Linking up with TGIFF and Finish it Up Friday

Quilt Washing Instructions - Feedback

Turns out not everyone lives in the second sunniest city in the world ... Perth, Western Australia ... so they tend to tumble dry their quilts on low heat with no ill results.

Thank you for your feedback on my quilt washing instructions ... in return I've had a new label created and you are most welcome to grab yourself a copy.

To do this:

1. Use your mouse to right-click on the label.
2. Select "Save Image As" from the drop-down box.
3. Save in a handy place on your computer.

This label has been created for you to use as you wish and include with your next donated. gifted or sold quilt.

This is how I will be including the quilt washing instructions label in my "after-gifted/sold/donated" information pack:

I hope you find this label useful and your family, friends and clients will be less fearful of washing the masterpiece you created for them.

Happy washing everyone!

Serena xx

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts