4 x 2 in 1

Despite having a really stubborn pain in my neck and shoulder this week, I managed to get some sewing done.

I've been having a wee run on 2 in 1 pouches!

I love this wee pattern of Svetlana's (you can find it here).

So that brings my current 2 in 1 total to 4 now!

And there have been requests for a few more!!

But they will have to wait.  Later today I will be eating the most delicious millionaire's shortbread with some besties!

Have a great weekend!

Jude xo

A 'Pinny' Kind of Day!

Today was all about pin cushions!

I've been wanting to try out the Cathedral Windows pin cushion for a long time, ever since I started seeing them around blogland!  I used this tutorial.

Just like regular Cathedral Windows, they are fiddly to make, but I really like the colourful finish! And it's a great way to use up spare 2.5" squares!

Next was the snowball pin cushion!



This was a kit (available from Quilter's Quest), and again fiddly to make.  But I think the end results are so worth it!  Aren't the ear-muffs so cute!!

Not sure I would want to stick pins in Mr Snowman's head, but I'll leave that up to the recipient of this one!!

Jude xo

Pretty things!

I received some truly lovely post last week!

I'd completely forgotten that I'd won a wee giveaway over on my friend Teje's blog! She makes the most beautiful jewellery and sea-glass art, and is a very talented quilter too!

This is a made to measure bracelet, I've worn it every day since it arrived!!  There was also a bookmark calendar of Greece where Teje lives, but I forgot to take a picture of it, sorry!

Thank you Teje so much for such a lovely giveaway!

Another little pretty I picked up last week was this knob!!

I have a thing about knobs!!  (those of you already formulating a rude comment, please resist the urge!)

I've nowhere in mind for it, but when I've enough collected up I might make a display board of them all!

There has been some sewing this weekend!

This is a kindle fire case for my daughter's friend, and I've also been working on some other pouches too, but I can't show you those yet!

I've a few birthday gifts to make for December, and what with 'secret santa' makes also being added to the list now, I'd better get a shimmy on!!

Jude xo 

Repurposing Jeans!

Today I hosted a Jeans to Skirt workshop, brilliantly taught by my talented friend Heather!

Wanna see the transformations?

How cool are these new skirts!!!  Isn't it amazing what you can do with an old pair of jeans!  Totally inspiring!

Thank you Heather and ladies for a relaxed and fun day!

Jude xo

At the Museum!

Mum and Dad weren't the only ones I took to the Ulster Museum today!

They did a stirling job as 'props men', helping me stage my finished Tilda Hourglass Twist Quilt alongside various exhibits.

It's a tricky quilt to photograph because of the pale and muted tones of the Tiny Treasures fabrics. But we certainly enjoyed ourselves in the process!

 

In fact, we were almost asked to leave, not realising we weren't actually allowed to take photos in the Art Gallery section!!  Oops!

What fun!

So this little quilt will soon be going into the shop where I work (The Wool Shop, Newtownards) and you can get all the fabrics shown there.

Wishing you all a great start to the new week!

Jude xo

Aspirations!

After another stormy night of it, I taught my class this morning, and then picked up this crochet pattern:

I've been hooking from a young age, but the only top I've ever attempted got chopped up and recycled!

Once I get over the shock of how much wool costs these days, I will succumb and line up a wee Christmas/movie watching project.

This afternoon I started quilting the Tilda Hourglass Twist Quilt.

You may remember seeing Karen's pattern in a recent issue of Love Patchwork and Quilting.  It's a great wee pattern, and in no time at all the units were up on my design board.

But then I started to doubt that the fabrics I chose were going to work!  Now that I'm quilting it I'm happy to report that I'm falling in love with it again!

Wanna see the special friends who keep me company while I sew?

Each one of these friends have special meaning to me!

I rounded off the day with some EPP Liberty hexies in front of a cosy fire, watching Children in Need on the telly!

I hope your day has been full of aspirations too!

Jude xo

Two In One Pouch!

I recently had the opportunity to pattern test for one of the kindest and most generous bloggy friends I know.

The uber talented Svetlana has created this beautiful new Two in One Pouch, and her pattern is available to buy here.

I thoroughly enjoyed making this pouch, the instructions are really clear with lots of photos, and I can definitely see more of these in my future.

It is a roomy pouch, and would make a great make-up case, pencil/stationary case or craft/EPP case.

There are two sizes available, and if you check out Svetlana's blog, you can see pouches made by Svetlana and all the other pattern testers!  Complete eye-candy!

And if you hurry, you will get the pattern at a discounted price (limited time only).

Jude xo

The 'Key' to Great Scraps!

I love all scraps (I'm sure you know that by now!).

So in celebration of Scraptastic Tuesday, I am presenting my latest scrappy project:

Key fobs!

And even more key fobs!!

These are so easy to make, and use the smallest pieces of scraps and ribbons (8" x 1.5" & smaller)!

Most of these will go into my sister's shop, but I'm trying to resist the urge to give lots of them out to friends (& of course my daughters have their eyes on them for pressies for friends!).

My favourite key fob is the one with bees on it - a piece of ribbon given to me by a special friend!

So for those of you who feel guilty about keeping even the smallest scraps, this project will give you complete justification!!!

Linking up with the UK queen of scraps, Nicky, on Scraptastic Tuesday!

Jude xo

A Bit Shady!

On Saturday past I hosted an 'upcycling Lampshade' workshop.  My uber talented friend, Ros, was teaching, inspiring and supporting the creative talent on the day.

There were many different techniques to try out.

And in the absence of a lampstand, just stick it on your head!

Ros had brought in some of her wonderful creations to inspire us all!

It's amazing what you can do with some scraps, a charity shop skirt and some napkins!!

Well done everyone! You're not a bit shady afteral!

 Jude xo

Wonky Miss Kate!

I'll soon be teaching my Wonky Star Cushion pattern again, so I've created a new sample in Bonnie and Camille's Miss Kate fabrics.

This is such a fun project, and great for beginner quilters!  And the neat zipper in the bottom is such a satisfying finish!

I'll be teaching this pattern in The Wool Shop, Newtownards, from January (contact the shop directly to register).

Or you can get the pattern for yourself here!

Jude xo

Colours of Autumn!

Today we spent a gorgeous afternoon at Mount Stewart, with Mum and Dad!

It was Mum's birthday, and what better way to celebrate than a walk through the most beautiful colours of Autumn!

The sun shone all day, and allowed me to get a Bee Blessed quilt photographed too!

This is the Quatrefoil Quilt!  It took a while to get this one finished for some reason, but it will soon be on its way down south to the Bumbleance (Children's ambulance) Charity.

I hope you are enjoying Autumn too!

Jude xo

A Monster Month!

Well, October was my Monster Month of Makes!  I think this is my biggest mosaic so far!

Most of this is Christmas stock for my sister's shop!  I'm pretty sure November will be much quieter (I hope!)!

Linking up my mosaic with Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day.

And if you pop on over to Sarah's blog, you'll find the Bee Blessed BOM for November, a brilliant and easy Strip Step block.

Jude xo