Snow in a Day!

Yes we had a snow day today! Just a light dusting here in the city!

Rural areas got much more and some schools were closed as a result!

But yippee it's practically all gone now here in Belfast!  This is one of those days when I'm thankful to live in the city!

Thursdays have been shaping up to be productive sewing days for me lately!

I got my 2nd (Judy Newman) Dilly Bag completed:

A lovely friend generously gave me a bag of her scraps, and in it was a luscious selection of these bright Joel Dewberry (Notting Hill) prints.



I started this project over the Christmas holidays, a little bit of EPP to keep my hands busy while watching all those Christmas movies!

Like the first one I made, I quilted the outer bag but this time I added a little bit of piping at the base and some larger pieces from my stash for the top & lining.

Bongo drum anyone!!

If you are interested in making a Dilly Bag for yourself, you can find the pattern here.

I also got another EPP project moved on a stage & started a new paper/foundation piecing project too (dangerous to leave me to my own devices!).  But I'll tell you about those in another post!

Hope you are all keeping safe and warm, whatever your weather.

Jude xo

The Lola Pouch!

I've had the great privilege again of pattern testing for the uber talented Svetlana!

This is called The Lola Pouch!

There are 2 sizes available, and so far I have made the larger one.

Once again, Svetlana's patterns are really easy to follow and well written.  I love the binding detail at the tops of these cute pouches (completely machine stitched), and the option to have your zipper tab tucked inside, or peeping out!

I like this bigger pouch because it is perfect for my larger EPP projects.  Everything fits into the pouch so comfortably, and it's roomy enough to find things easily.

And if you pop on over to Svetlana's blog, you can not only see the original Lola Pouches, as well as all the other versions from the pattern testers, but you can buy the pattern at the discounted price of $6!

Bargain!

Jude xo

Eye Spy On Rainbows!

I had a productive day of quilting yesterday, and got my Rainbow Charms quilt finished!

Wanna see?

Sadly no outdoor shots today, too wet! 

You can just about see the off-centre concentric circles I quilted, which I love on square/grid/angular quilts.

There was always going to be black and white stripey binding (my fav!) and a label for the recipients (pardon the spelling mistake, oops!).

I have managed to find and list 40 'eye-spy' items in the quilt for the 2 youngest members of this family to have fun finding when they eventually receive it.

And of course, my 2 (not so) little munchkins had to test out this quilt for snuggle factor!

Passed with flying colours!

So I can finally get this parceled up and posted over to England.

And for those of you who are rainbow charm fans, I am hoping to soon start selling sizzix cut rainbow charm packs in my Etsy shop!! Watch this space!

Have a great weekend, Jxo

Rainbows!

Just about every bit of sewing I'm working on at the moment I can't tell you about yet!!

All secret squirrel stuff, but please be patient and I will be able to show you all in good time!

What I can show you is the progress on my rainbow charms quilt!

I have the quilt top sewn together now ..

It was raining when I got home from work so indoor shots only!

...and the backing pieced too.

Next step basting and then I can crack on with the quilting.  This will be a thank-you quilt for friends in England (which was supposed to be there in time for Christmas, but don't tell anyone!!).

Well it's still bloomin' freezing here!!  I HATE BEING COLD!!  If I wear any more layers I'll be able to roll to work and back!!

Keep warm!

Jude xo

Wristlet Pin Cushion Tutorial

It's Friday!  Yey!

I hope you are keeping safe in this inclement weather and looking forward to the weekend!

During my last blogiversary giveaway I asked for feedback on what you would like to see more of on quilting blogs.  The unanimous answer was 'tutorials'!!

So here's a great wee make to kick off a new year of tutes!!

Isn't as big in reality as it looks here!!

I am finding more and more how valuable it is to have a pin cushion attached to my wrist while I'm sewing, especially since receiving this cutie from Katy!

When I'm working on larger projects like quilts, my pinnies tend to get pushed onto the floor, into my bin and generally knocked around my sewing room!

Well not anymore!

If you fancy having a go a this 4" finished, economy square pinny, then hop on over to Fabric Yard where you will find my step by step tutorial.  All the fabrics used can be purchased from Fabric Yard.

(And for more tutorials, don't forget to check out my Tutorials page.)

Happy Friday!

Jude xo

Outstanding; In Progress; Completed!

It's Saturday already! Crikey!  Where does the time go?

Anyway, time for a little progress update!

When I used to work in an office I had 3 trays: Outstanding; In Progress and Completed. Still now, years later, more of my work is sitting in the preverbial Outstanding and In Progress trays rather than in the Complete one!

Super snuggly fleece on the back!

The baby quilt I've been making as a shop sample is pieced and quilted.  Just need to pick up some binding fabric and this one can move into 'Completed'.

Over Christmas I started (another) EPP project, so I could be sociable with my girls and watch a ridiculous number of movies with them!

These Joel Dewberry hexies will become another Dilly Bag (you can see my first one here). I'm hoping to inspire some of the ladies in my classes with this cute project.

Finally for today, another project I started over Christmas holidays!

You may remember this pattern I bought.  This is as far as I've got with the back.  I'm up to the armpits (or as we say here, the Oxters!!). I'm not experienced in crocheting clothes, so I'll have to really concentrate when following the next few stages of the pattern (no watching Hugh Jackman movies at the same time then!!).

I hope you are having a 'not too chilly' weekend.

Bye for now!

Jude xo

My First Tunic!

Tunics are my all time favourite item of clothing (part from my pjs of course!) and my Pinterest Dressmaking board is choc-a-block full of them!  I've been itching to make one for myself for ever!

I'm a novice dressmaker, having only attempted simple separates up til now. So I chose the New Look 6068 Easy pattern to cut my teeth on my first dress.

And here it is on me (I even wore it out in public today!)

I used some soft cotton chambray type shirting for the main dress, which I felt complimented the pop of the collar and my own patch pockets made from vintage sheets.  And I couldn't resist a crochet trim round the bottom hem!

Now this is by no means perfect.  I know that the rim at the top of the collar shouldn't be seen (I couldn't fathom the pattern on that part!) and I had to take in the sleeves and skirt sections as there was just too much fabric!!

Also, to make it a bit more shapely, and to accommodate my short waist, I added some elasticated 'cinchers' at the sides, just below the bust darts. I'm really chuffed that my wee invention worked out well, and I no longer looked like I was wearing a sack!!

So what would I do differently next time?

Put the collar in right!
Move the patch pockets further apart, and maybe make them bigger.
Try a summer version with short sleeves.

While some of the steps were head scratching, I really enjoyed making this tunic dress and definitely see more of them in my future.

I''ll leave you with a few pics of the real diva in our house!

Jude xo

Fabric Yard Mega Sale!

Fabric Yard are having a Huge Clearance Sale!

There's 25% off a wide range of fabrics!

Here's a wee word from Alice:

We need to make room on our shelves for the great selection of fabrics
making their way to us in 2015 so why not take advantage of the 25% off
a huge range of fabrics in our MEGA CLEARANCE SALE running in January.

Alexander Henry, Michael Miller, Riley Blake, Makower and many more.

While stocks last!

And if you are a newsletter customer, you get even more discounts!

So go get yourself a bargain before they all go!

Jude xo

Saturday Sewing!

Lots of sewing happened today!

In between the laundry loads & the feeding of the teenagers, it was a productive sewing day!

I got started on some work sewing, a shop sample rail fence cot quilt:

Then we had our first Bee Blessed of the year! We even had a few finishes to show off!

Log Cabin Corners Quilt

Bow Ties Quilt

Double 4 Patch Quilt

Thank you to everyone for contributing blocks to these gorgeous quilts.  They will soon be sent off to bless and comfort those in need.

I finished the day by whipping up some Tilda PJ bottoms for eldest daughter this evening, who picked out the fabrics herself!

A productive day I'd say!

Hope you had a great Saturday!

Jude xo

Happy New Year!

Happy 2015 to all my lovely readers and bloggy friends!

This is going to be an exciting year of changes and new opportunities around here!

But before I get ahead of myself, a wee look back on 2014!

My year in quilts .....

.. cushions ...

and bags!

There were of course many more smaller makes, too many to show here, but December's mosaic alone kind of sums it up!!!

Linking up with Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day!

Wishing you lots of creative fun and blessings in 2015!

Jude xo