Saw II

I'm so enjoying my garden at the moment!

The colours are wonderful ....

...and the fruit and veg are coming along nicely!

But there was one part of the garden that I haven't tackled yet!  Today was the day!

Ah there's nothing quite like the feel of a power tool! So satisfying (even though I was terrifying my kids in the process!).

Not bad eh?

And with all fingers and toes still intact (!!) I whipped up a journal cover for youngest daughter's friend.

Fabrics chosen and cover design by Bethany!

So a fairly productive day I'd say!

Hope you've had a great Saturday!

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

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

I Don't Do Minimalist!

I don't do minimalist styling in my home, and it would seem I can't do it in my sewing either!

I have an eclectic taste in fabrics and styles, which is perhaps why this journal cover just didn't feel like me!



This is a birthday present for my daughter's 14 year old, purple loving, friend. I tried to go for a more grown up, less scrappy look, teaming the purples with some delicious soft grey Irish linen.



But it just looks too naked!!  I had to quilt on some lines on the front and back, and even auditioned other buttons to glam it up, but I resisted and stuck with elegant simplicity!



I really like it now that I've sat with it for a while (& the birthday girl loved it too!).  But I don't think I'll become a minimalist any time soon!

For the Love of Purple!

A young member of my family has a birthday coming up, and I needed to make something suitable for posting.

So I thought a Journal Cover & notebook would be ok - girls always have secret things to write, don't they!

Sadly, the rubbish light today is making these pics appear more blue than purple!

Now this young lady's favourite colour is purple - a girl after my own heart! Feel the purple-love!!



I was recently given a lovely collection of buttons, and thought this cute wee guy worked v.well with the dragonflies in one of the prints.

So that's my make for today!

Tonight I have my youngest's school Spring Spectacular Concert, her first in her new school. She's performing in the band and choir!

I will try not to cry!

I hope you are having a lovely Tuesday!

Live Your Dreams!

Details of my Valentine's Day Heather Ross Giveaway are here!



This is a journal cover for one of my daughter's friends.

The inspiration for this picture came from here.  As you can see, I tweeked the design a little. 



My journal covers are only 9" tall, so there was some tiny stitching involved in this picture.  I messed up the hairline around the face a bit, but it still got the teenager nod of approval despite that blip!

Check out the vintage button, with a not-so vintage pen!

So, that's another satisfied customer!

Happy Friday everyone!

Jxo

Something out of Nothing!

Anyone who knows me knows I love using scraps and keep even the smallest pieces!

I've even influenced some of my students in this vein, some of whom are now known as the class 'bin-hoakers!' (they take the fabric scraps out of the bin at the end of class!).

My friend's 'pink-loving' daughter has a birthday next week, so I made her journal cover out of lots of pink scraps!



If you haven't tried improv piecing, give it a whirl!  It's quick, easy and so satisfying as you see random scraps of fabric morph into a cohesive piece of quilting.



The lovely thing about using scraps is they bring back memories from past projects, or remind me of someone who donated their unwanted scraps to me.

So there we have it - something out of nothing!

I hope you've had a productive weekend! 

Music and Pandas!

That was the brief I was given for a secret santa present my daughter needed for her friend!

I decided to go with a musical themed journal cover, but I couldn't get hold of musical fabric in time.

So I replicated the 'sketched' musical score idea I used on my other daughter's flute case.



The inside of the cover has more of the aqua blue (a favourite colour of this young lady) and my eldest daughter just happened to have a fimo panda cookie charm in her stash, which I sewed onto the front.



My duaghter has given this her seal of approval and reckons her friend will love it! Phew!

Nearly There!

For my Thursday and Friday classes, it is the end of term!  Here is a wee summary of what the Thursday crowd were up to:

This is a selection of journal covers and travel sewing pouches which the ladies made in just 2 weeks.  Aren't they fab!  I didn't get taking pictures of everyone's, but trust me when I say they were fabulous!

Well done to the ladies in all my classes, for producing such wonderful creations, getting to the end of term, and putting up with my chaos and mistakes!!  You have been a privilege and a joy to teach (well, most of the time!).

The patterns for the Journal Cover and Travel Sewing Pouch are now available in my Etsy shop.

I have just one more evening class next week and a Saturday workshop, and then I am officially clocking off for 9 days!

I am so much looking forward to my first real slice of time off since Christmas!

Well, this weekend I am nursing a sick girl back to health, watching Wimbledon, and trying to stay in my PJs for as long as possible!

Hope you have a relaxing one!

It only hurts when I laugh!

My Wonky Star cushion class finished this week.  Here are some of their fabulous creations!

And what you can't see here are all the wonderfully inserted zips in the bases of the covers!  Well done ladies!

My Friday class produced some gorgeous Beach Huts cushions, using a paper piecing technique, but I will be taking pics of those soon at our Exhibition.

Next week, starts a new project making Travel sewing pouches and journal covers.  Here are some samples I've made for class, and some extra journal covers for June Birthday pressies.

The first journal cover shown here is for a young friend who really enjoys baking with her mum.  Now she can keep all her favourite recipes in her own notebook.  I made it from a pair of jeans, including a pocket on the back of the journal cover, and even the buttonholed closure tab was the bit that holds the trouser leg up when they are rolled up into three quarter lengths!

The linen/lace journal cover is a recycled cushion cover that my pet goat (cleverly disguised as a dog!) decided to chew the corner of.  I particularly liked this cushion cover because of the vintage buttons on it, so I'm pleased to be able to put them to good use again!

Following my sports day antics yesterday, I now ache in muscles I didn't even know I had places! Even my armpits hurt (what's that all about!!).

My Friday night will now consist of sitting down, drinking port and having to endure the England footie match on TV (my husband's English - I've no choice!!). 

Hope you have a lovely Friday evening!

Here Come the Girls!

My girls have had a run on 'it's my friend's birthday soon mum (wink, wink!)'.  

That usually means one of two things for me - get down to the shops to buy something or get down and busy and make something!

As I come out in a nervous rash at the very thought of going shopping, it usually boils down to option no.2!

So here are the pressies I've managed to whip up this week:

1. Slouch Bag (for a 13 year old friend - posted about here.)

2. Pencil Case (for a 16 year old friend) with pvc lining and stuffed with sweets and nail polish!

3. Journal & Cover (for a 13 year old friend)

4. Make up Bag (for a 16 year old friend) also stuffed with sweets!

Made from my old jeans - I might just have to make another one of these for myself!

So let's hope that's the birthdays sorted out for another wee while.

And finally, just time to show you the gorgeous scraps I won from Reene:

Reene has amazing taste in delicious fabrics and I'm sooooo going to enjoy using these!  Thanks so much Reene.

Happy Friday everyone!

I've Made it!

Firstly, thank you everyone for your lovely comments and congrats on my 1 year blogiversary post yesterday!  I've had so much fun reading through your comments & choices.  I completely forgot to say when I'd draw the winning number, so I'll wait until Thursday and do it then.  

Good luck everyone (you'll need it 'cos Hadley has entered and she wins everything!).

                                              ********************************************************

I've made it to the end of my Handmade Christmas Present list.  This will truly be a Handmade Christmas (Kirsty eat your heart out!).

Every member of my family will receive at least one handmade gift from me.   

Including teachers' pressies, the totals are:

3 mugrug/hostess box sets

7 journal/diary covers

3 sets of change trays

6 Tea bag wallets

3 tissue pouches

6 make up bags

1 gift bag

2 cushions

1 Batbag/toy pouch

1 laptop sleeve

2 doll quilts/pillow sets

3 mini baskets

3 pairs of crochet fingerless gloves

1 crochet headband

1 cot quilt for a Christmas baby (still to arrive!)

and a partridge in a pear tree!

I mentioned above a crocheted headband.  I got carried away making these cute flowers from a pattern Sarah gave me.

And I thought they would look lovely on crocheted headbands.  My youngest always wears headbands to tame her magnificent thick, blonde locks, so this will be an extra wee stocking filler for her.

Modelled by Daughter no.1

And one last pic (or 2) of the diary cover my hubbie requested.

Of course, just because I've finished my list, doesn't mean I'll be sitting back on my laurels. Oh no!  

The kids finish school today and tomorrow, which will mean a demand for Christmassey activities (hopefully not involving shops!) and I might even get a UFO from the summer finished (more on that tomorrow).

Hope you are getting organised and not getting stressed!

Judith xo

Saturday Sewing

Well the present making fervour continued a pace yesterday.

Here's what I got done:

For my sister (to accompany a teabag wallet & tissue pouch):

For my mum (to accompany the mugrug/hostess box set):

A journal cover

Teeny tiny crochet heart by Attic 24

For my eldest daughter:

Journal Cover

Recycled crochet trim from lovely Terri

For my middle daughter (the footie fanatic):

Journal Cover

After seeing these book covers, my husband decided he would like a cover for his new 2012 diary, so I managed to get some pieces cut out from leftover Indigo Berries.  Will show you more when I get it finished.

My sister & her family are visiting with us today, and I can't wait to give them all their hand made pressies!  There is definitely more joy in the giving than the receiving!

Have a restful Sunday!

Judith xo