Scrappy Stripey Triangles

I'm posting the Bee Blessed Block of the month a day early as I have another scheduled post for tomorrow!! (Like buses eh?)

In keeping with our love of all things scrappy, we are going for stripey triangles for October!

The inspiration for the blocks came from here, but there was no tutorial as such. So here it is:

Scrappy Stripey Triangles Block: 

12.5" unfinished (you will need to make 2)

1. Sew together a selection of strips of varying widths and at least 14" long.

2. Press the seams open or to one side and square off to 13".

3. Cut the blocks diagonally in half and swap one half with another.

 

 

4. Sew the 2 halves together using a 1/4" seam allowance.

5. Square the block to 12.5" if necessary.

These take no time at all to make, and another great scrap-buster block!

I've a feeling there will be some fun secondary patterns in this quilt!

Thanking you in advance!

Jude xo

Where did I put my glasses?

My glasses are permanently on my face (!!) so I never lose them!

But I know quite a few people who only need to wear their glasses from time to time, and can never seem to find them!

So how about keeping them in a handy, cosy pouch!

These pouches have secure flex frame closures and the wadding inside makes them like snuggly mini sleeping bags!!

This is half of the batch that will be going into my sister's shop for Christmas!  I haven't sold these before, so I'm not sure how they will be received!

Nothing ventured nothing gained, right?

Hope you are having a creative weekend too!

Jude xo

Advent Calendars!

I know, I know, it's not even October yet!

But if you want a quick and easy make in time for 1st December, that will go down well with the whole family, then how about an advent calendar panel!

This Cool Yule Tree Panel is available from Fabric Yard (also available in navy), and if you hop on over to the Fabric Yard Blog, you can read my tutorial on how to make it!

And remember, Fabric Yard only charge £1 P&P within UK, no matter how much you buy!

Jude xo

Anyone for Tea?

I somehow got a bit of sneaky sewing time in this week, despite nursing a sick child, physio, teaching, GCSE prep, worrying about Uni daughter (caught up in a bomb scare at her Halls!) and all the other headless chicken stuff that makes up my week!

AND IT'S ONLY WEDNESDAY! (at the time of writing).

This is the first lot of pre-Christmas stock that will eventually go into my sister's salon, 12 cute teabag wallets. 

Having everything pre-cut definitely makes it easier to sew these up in an evening.

I also made a few of Ayumi's style teabag pouch, using Essex yarn died linen and scraps!  These are a little more time consuming to make (even with simplifying the pattern), and only hold 3 tea bags each.  But they fold up nicely and are compact enough to fit into a handbag (haven't quite got the hang of centering the elastic loop on these ones!).

So next on the list will be flex frame pouches! All cut out and ready to go!

I just need the hamster wheel to stop for a bit and let me get some sewing done!

Stiff drink anyone?

Jude xo

What Cancer Cannot Do!

This is for my Brit Bee mates and bloggers who know about our very special friend:

Jude xo

Ladies Wot Lunch!

So today was my Lunchbags Workshop!

There were 2 designs on offer, with the option of using oilcloth, insulating wadding & snap fasteners.

Aren't they fab!  Well done ladies! You will be the envy of your work colleagues on Monday morning!

(I will be listing the pattern in my Etsy shop next week.)

Hope you had a creative Saturday!

Jude xo

Getting Ready!

Someday, between now and the end of October, I will have to lock myself into my sewing room!

A monster 'sew-in' will be required to get through this lot!

I've agreed to stock my sister's salon for Christmas!  And I can never say no to my lovely big sis!

So if I suddenly 'go dark' you'll know what has happened!

Jude xo

Button Fun!

Recently I was asked if I would like to have a play with some self-covered buttons and some cute and gorgeous fabrics!!

I could hardly say no, right!

These are so easy and addictive to make. 

If you want to learn how to have your own button fun, and where to get all the supplies & fabrics you see here, hop on over to Fabric Yard and read my tutorial!

Warning!  These are totally addictive!

Jude xo

Flown the Nest!

Well, that's it!  She's gone! 

After a lovely weekend together in Derby, I left my firstborn there & came home alone! 

 This parenting lark doesn't get any easier you know!

I can't tell you how unbearably proud I am of her!  Her courage, grace and determination, despite the nerves and steep learning curve.

I had secretly made her a wallhanging for her new room in Halls, which I produced from my suitcase when we arrived.

Aprox, 24" x 24"

These are 1.5" finished squares in Shannon's favourite Amy Butler fabrics, and scrappy LV background.

It goes perfectly in her pale blue room, as does her quilt, cushions and bunting which also 'had to be packed'!

So that's the first one to fly the nest!  I sure hope it gets easier with no's.2 and 3!

Jude xo

Free Fabric!

It's been another beautiful day here today! 

Though the Indian summer doesn't seem to quite fit what I made today!

Mugrugs!

A few more samples for upcoming classes!  (I promise I won't mention the 'C' word!)

And how about entering a wee fabric giveaway here?  Just decide which Fabric Yard fabric you like best, and you could be 1 of 5 winners chosen to win 1m all to yourself!

But be warned!  It won't be easy to choose just 1 from all the gorgeous fabrics!

(Please note that leaving a comment here does not enter you for the giveaway.  You must complete the Fabric Yard entry form on the linked website.)

Happy Wednesday!

Jude xo

It's Really Happening!

So the Uni luggage was collected today! 

Yes, that is a sewing machine bag on the right! Priorities!

Yes, this is really happening!  My firstborn is leaving home on Saturday!  Eeeeek!

At least there's still plenty of work to do to keep me (relatively) sane!

I was working on one of these today ...

.. and a few new projects in the pipeline which I can't talk about yet!

Hope you are having a great week!

Jude xo

Today at Bee Blessed!

Today was our first Bee Blessed get together after the summer break!

We picked up from where we left off in June, and progressed the 2nd of 2 Pippi Longstocking quilts ...

... the woven blocks quilt ....

A finish!

.... and the Quarter Log Cabin Quilt.

Basted and ready for quilting

Progress was also made on the Quatrefoil quilt top and some scrappy bow ties!

It's good to be back in the (BB) saddle!  And thank you already for the Sailboat blocks, starting to come in for September!  They are so gorgeous!  You can see some of them here.

Jude xo

Fobbed Off!

I was having a little play today making some key fobs!

These will be class samples for part of my Gifts course later this term.  They are so easy and addictive to make! 

At the moment I've only blue, pink and brown webbing, which limits my colours a little (though the brown makes great 'man' key fobs!).  And you can see I was playing with different sizes too.

I've other colours on order so I'm looking forward to playing with more scraps. 

These will make great stocking filler ideas, for all ages, don't you think!!

Jude xo

Let Autumn Begin!

Despite unseasonably warmer temperatures this week, I feel like Autumn has begun.  Getting the kids back to school & into routine again certainly helps!

I made up my mosaic of makes for August, not expecting there to be much in it!  I was pleasantly surprised!

Mostly finishes, but there are a few wips in there! I'm also working on a couple of secret projects which I can reveal later this month!

Wishing you all a wonderfully creative September!

Linking up with Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day!

Jude xo