Rain = Sewing

It's been throwing it down here today.  After the wettest and dullest January ever, I think we could all do with a bit of sunshine.

So the best thing to do on a soggy day, is sew, sew, sew!

There's been a bit of this ...

... and a bit of that!

Sorry, can't reveal next term's projects just yet!

But I can reveal these!

These gorgeous cards have been made by the awesomely talented Jess (Reene's daughter).  The quality is fab and the super quick service impressive!  You can get your own pack here.

Despite the instant, technological age of the text and email, I still like having a wee supply of notecards to write and send to folks. Call me old fashioned!!

Oh, the rain has finally stopped!  But I have more sewing to do!

Tarrah!!

Jude xo

Words Aptly Spoken

There's a Proverb in the Bible that has inspired me for most of my life:

"Words aptly spoken are like apples of gold in settings of silver."

I want to stay reminded of the power of words, how the right ones can be like giving someone the treasure of gold and silver.  And I've had many lovely words of encouragement spoken over me recently. 

So as I thought of what to make a friend from church, who has greatly encouraged me, this proverb became my inspiration.

My trusty Irish linen was pulled out again, and for some reason I really wanted a square tree to house my golden apple!

What moto are you living by this year?

Jude xo

The Anything Pouch!

On Saturday Bee Blessed got together for the first time in 2014!

It was lovely to have a couple of new members, and we fairly motored through some outstanding projects. We hope to have some finishes to show you soon!

Yesterday I snatched an hour to have a play around with some clear PVC and cute elephants!

This finishes at 7.5" x 6" and will be a gift for a friend. I'm calling it the 'Anything Pouch' because once clipped onto the inside of your handbag you could use it for storing your keys or phone on one side, flip it over and keep your shopping vouchers all in one place, or your essential lip balm and face powder!  Particularly useful for all that 'wee' stuff that scatters around the bottom of your bag! 

And with the clear windows, you'll know exactly what you've got and where!  Win, win!

I hope you had a creative weekend!

Jxo

Economy Chicken!

Now that I know the 'economy blocks project' has reached its destination, I can show you the full reveal.

This bag went to my bloggy friend Kirstie (England), as part of the 'Travelling Book' blog hop started by another bloggy friend, Teje (Greece)!

The idea behind the Travelling book is you read the book, pass it on, and make something for the next person.  Cool idea eh?  You can see here the amazing mini quilt I received from Teje.

I'm so pleased that Kirstie likes the bag, especially the cute chicken. My favourite is this wee fella!

I wonder where the book will go to next!

Jxo

Easily Led!

I couldn't resist running up a few of the lastest fad!

These are economy blocks, which I am making into a secret project! And here are a few more!

The finished squares are 4", smaller than the ones being made around blogland at the moment.

And most of the fussy cuts are relevant(ish) to the person who will eventually be receiving this!

In truth, I'm making this project up as I go along (nothing new there then!).  So fingers crossed it all turns out ok, without tears being shed!

Jxo

Giveaway Winner!

Drumroll please ..............

Congratulations Wendy!  I have sent you an email and if you could let me have your address I'll get your goodies posted off to you!

 

Thanks everyone for entering!  I hope to be doing lots more giveaways this year, so don't be a stranger!

 

Jxo

I haven't forgotten!

Just in case the lovely ladies who came to my classes in December think I've forgotten to show off their lovely makes, here they are!

Journal Covers and Travel Sewing pouch

Gifts class

Infinity scarves

It has taken me this long to work out how to successfully get pictures off my phone, and that was with the help & patience from a super clever techy friend!
 

I always like to give my students a big online pat on the back for their achievements in class.  Apologies it has taken this long! 

Jxo

Over and Under, Round and Round!

To enter my Michael Miller Giveaway, click here.  Giveaway closes Friday 17th January.

After some deliberation over borders and binding, I finally got my Over and Under class sample finished!

I like how the colours show up in this early evening shot!

The Happy Go Lucky fabric I had originally ordered for the border just didn't work, so I went with a skinny navy polka dot and then used up the jelly roll leftovers.

I have a snuggly fleece on the back, and went with off centre concentric circles for the quilting.  Fleece definitely makes the quilt heavier to quilt, but at least this isn't a big one (60" x 60").

My first choice for the binding would have been red, but I didn't have the right shade of red so played it safe and went with a navy solid instead.

All in all I'm pleased with how this one has turned out, though it still needs a wash and doesn't hang great because of the fleece.  But when the class is finished and it is then dragged around a few rooms in my house by my kids, I really don't think either of those things will be an issue!

Jxo

The pattern for this quilt is available in Kim Brackett's book 'Scrap Basket Sensations'

Giveaway Time!

Well I promised a giveaway to celebrate reaching 300 blog followers!

And here it is:

5 Fat Quarters of yummy Michael Miller fabrics! I have to say, my favourites are the elephants!

I hope you like them.  And the giveaway this time is open to all my friends living across the water!  Thank you everyone for taking the time to read my wittering's and ramblings!  I love reading all your comments!

To win, alll you have to do is leave me a comment by Friday 17th January when me and Mr RNG will draw the winning entry! 

Remember, if you are a 'No Reply Comment Blogger' (if you don't get a reply from me then you are one!) then you need to add your email address to your comment.

And if you are local and don't manage to win this time around, you can still get your hands on more of these lovelies!  They are for sale at my classes!

Have a great start to the new week!

Jxo

2 Legged Friends!

Meet Rusty!

I so loved working with the tweed and wool scraps before Christmas, that I wanted to have another wee 'play'!

The Scottie dog is based on this pattern, which I've made before here.  But this time I used 3" squares (in the gusset too) because tweed and wool has a tendency to fray (understatement of the year!).

As I decorated him and saw his character come to life, I thought to myself how rustic he looked, and so the name Rusty came about.

And never content to just stick with the pattern, I decided to make a few variations, or 'friends' for Rusty!

Using 1.5" cut squares of linen (I don't make things easy for myself!!) I came up with this wee guy!

Let's call him Toto!

And using 2.5" cut squares, Petal was born, made using Amy Butler Soul Blossom jelly roll ends! 

The family is complete!

These will all be class samples (even though Rusty looks right at home in my lounge!). The trickiest part of making them is putting in the gusset.  But I'm hatching a plan for folks who might want an easier option.

And I spent the day today with several more 2 legged friends!

My PJs workshop was a lot of fun today!  And see that cute model on the left?  Anna is only 12, and she made her own PJs today!  What a star!

Well done ladies!  I hope you all sleep snuggly tonight in your beautiful new pjs!

Jxo

Scottie Dog Saturday Workshop: 5th April 2014, 10am - 4pm

Spot the Imposter!

There's been a little more secret sewing in my sewing room this week, as well as another round of Brit Bee Medallion Mystery!

Jo's medallion

I've been a snotty mess this week, though feeling much better now.  But it has meant a few sleepless nights, so I thought I'd put them to good use. 

I got this journal cover made for my daughter's friend's birthday at 2am this morning.

And I got my tax return submitted at 1.30am earlier in the week!

I also did a few more stages of this class sample, at stupid o'clock this week!

This is the Overs and Unders pattern by Kim Brackett.  I made one for my mum's 70th last November. She likes it so much I couldn't ask it back off her again, so I decided to make another one using a Happy Go Lucky Jelly Roll.

Now the jury is still out regarding my choice of fabrics and background fabric (Kona Ash). I get a bit fed up using white all the time (even though it lends itself really well to the modern fabrics currently on the market), but I'm not sure I've got enough contrast here. 

It is a bright sunny day today, so the colours are more saturated in reality than you see here.  But I'm hoping when I get the borders on and get it quilted it might grow on me more.

And the imposter?  I slipped in 2 jelly roll strips that aren't Happy Go Lucky! Can you spot them?

Jxo

Bee Blessed BOM

I'm a little late in telling you about Bee Blessed's block for January!  Oops!  So sorry!

This is the Greek Cross Block and you can find the brilliant tutorial for it here, over on Sarah's blog.

And you may not have noticed, but my following has sneaked up to the 300 mark!  Woohoo!  I think that calls for another giveaway, don't you!

I'm going to get my thinking cap on and see what goodies I can come up with.  You'll just have to keep an eye here to find out what I'm going to giveaway and when.

As for today? I'm going to stay in my pjs and nurse a lingering & stubborn cold.  Classes start back tomorrow, so the cold will just have to push off!!

Jxo

New Patterns!

Hi everyone, I hope you are having a great start to the new year!

It's been a little stormy around here! But thankfully no significant damage or harm done! 

Not even a high tidal surge could stop a few friends and I from having a wee jaunt out to a fabric shop yesterday!

I was very reserved in my purchases!

The super soft fleece will be backing for a quilt I currently have in progress. And the LV fat quarters?  Well they just sort of fell into my hands!!  Tee hee!

I've also been updating my Etsy shop, converting all my patterns into instant downloadable pdfs on purchase, as well as adding a few new ones:

Peg bags (applique templates included)

Ipad Cover, Kindle Cover, Mini Ipad Cover

Just before Christmas my students road tested a few of these patterns for me.



And I've also put on Etsy the pattern for the Applique cushions which were also tackled in class last year!



So if you fancy having a go at any of these patterns, you can find them (& more) here.

Stay safe peeps - the next wave of stormy weather kicks in Sunday!

Jxo

December

Happy New Year everyone!

It's the first of the month, and you know what that means!

My makes in December were mostly Christmas presents.  There are a few I forgot to photograph, but I think there's plenty here to make it a worth while month!

I hope you all had a brilliant Christmas season and are looking forward to another year of creativity and wonderful projects.

Linking up to Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day!

Jxo