Drawstring Tote!

I've had the pleasure of testing another of Svetlana's patterns:

This is what you can produce when you follow a well designed and written pattern!

Svetlana has designed this clever tote bag with drawstrings, which means it could have a multitude of uses!  Check out Svetlana's lovely tote and the bags made by all the other testers! They are fab!

And you can 'bag' yourself the pattern here, discounted for the next 2 days!

You won't be disappointed!

Jude xo

Scraps in the Frame!

This week I'll be teaching Framed Purses at my classes.  Here are some variations I have made as class samples:

The rear purse is made from a free sample of deco weight fabric and a scrap of tweed!!  The front purse is made from the leftover triangles cut off flying geese blocks!!  I keep triangle leftovers in a jar!!

Next up, I drafted a paper pieced 'geese' template, and made the pouch using teeny scraps for the geese and Essex Yarn Dyed Linen for the rest.

You will see that I varied the shape slightly of this pouch, extending the corners further.

And finally, an EPP 1" hexie pouch, again using tiny scraps.

The templates for all of these pouches are for a 2.5" x 6" metal glue-in frame.

I hope my ladies enjoy making these pouches this week!

Linking up with Nicky and Leanne's Scraptastic Tuesday!

Jude xo

Today was ...

... beautiful!

“Keep your face to the sun and you will never see

 the shadows.” Helen Keller

Jude xo

Liberty Love!

So did you all have a good Easter holiday?

We had wonderful weather here, and that drew me away from the sewing machine and into the garden.

But there has been some sewing this week.

A few more blocks for Siblings Together ...

... and progress on my Liberty Tunic.



I'm using the same simple pattern than I used for my first tunic, except this time, a more summery version using the liberty fabric I picked up several years ago in a vintage shop in Whitney!

In essence it is finished, but my feeling is it needs a little more ......... finishing!!

Buttons, lace, trim, pockets?  I put the word out on IG and got great feedback (thank you peeps).  I love pockets on dresses so I might add 2 patch pockets, with crochet trim and take it from there!

I need to remember that less is more, right!

Well I have 1 more week off work, and with the kids back to school tomorrow, hopefully that will mean productive sewing time!

Jude xo

Quarter Log Cabin Cushion Tutorial

I hope you've been enjoying some gorgeous sunny weather this Easter!

We have had an amazing 3 days of warm sunshine here, which has meant more outdoor pursuits than sitting inside sewing!

My youngest (with lolly in mouth!) and I at Tollymore Forest Park, Newcastle
(yes, she is officially the same size as me now! Yikes)

However, if you aren't getting much sunshine, or just still want to sew, you may be interested in this easy cushion project!



This 16.5" cushion is based on the quarter log cabin block, simply quilted with a trusty envelope back!

This project allows you to show off gorgeous prints or fussy cuts, like the fabrics shown here (available from Fabric Yard).

If you fancy making one yourself, then check out the full tutorial here.

Have fun!

Jude xo

Quilt Topping!

I've been in the mood lately to make quilt tops!  It's my favourite part of the quilting process (no, not the quilting!).

I had a commission 'boy' quilt top to make for a friend (she will do the quilting & finishing):

I had also acquired some Heather Bailey squares and just couldn't resist piecing them together!

Then there was the (not so) small matter of some flying geese borders on a secret Brit Bee medallion!

And with my latest Scrappy Rainbows quilt top and the Scrappy Stripping Quilt top made in recent weeks, I think that means I've a summer of quilting coming up!!

Wishing you all a great Easter weekend!

Jude xo

A New Month!

It's that time again when I look back over the last month's of makes, gasp and groan at how quickly the month has gone in, and tut and mumble about how much I did and didn't get done!!

It was a busy month working on Bee Blessed projects:

Some Siblings Together blocks and a commission cushion:

And a few quilt tops ticked off the list!

So a 'not-so-Mad-March' was fairly productive in the end.

I wonder what April will bring?

Linking up with Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day.

Jude xo