Wonky is the new Straight!

Tonight saw the finish of a summer Wonky Star Cushion class.

It is so lovely to see everyone finish their cushions, and for some, putting in concealed zippers for the first time.

Well done ladies! 

And I've been doing a bit of wonking of my own this week (no not the wallpapering in my daughter's room, which most definitely qualifies as wonky!)

This is my wonky corners block for Fi in Hipbees, who sent us some lovely Amy Butler to work with.  This is the final month of year 1 in Hipbees.  The bee is continuing on, however I've made the difficult decision to step down.  I know that I will continue some long lasting friendships through this group, and I wish the new members as much fun as I had!

Another bee coming to an end for me is Modern Irish Bee.



Geraldine, whose month completes the end of year 1, very kindly sent us pre-cut triangles and a definite design to make. 

My month in MIB was July, and this week I got the last of my blocks in -wanna see?

Isn't it great!  Not all sewn together yet, and definitely one of the most modern designs I've ever gone for, but I love it!!  Thanks MIB ladies!

And last, but by no means least, my late Brit Bee blocks for Jennie.

Not as wonky along that bottom edge in reality - promise!

These Seminole style blocks were a real head scratcher, especially for someone as mathematically challenged as I am! Jennie sent us a selection of solids and a picture of an inspiration quilt and let us get on with it!

I hope these will pass, even though one block is larger than the other! (As striking as they are, I don't see more Seminole blocks in my future any time soon!!)

Well that's me all up to date! 

A shed load of class samples awaits my attention, which I'm hoping to get to when the kids are back into school on Monday!

Jxo

All Wrapped Up!

If you don't have a nervous disposition about talking about Christmas in August, then read on!



These are the new Christmas Fabrics I will be selling in my classes from this week.

They are called All Wrapped Up, by Maywood studios and will be available in fat quarters (£2.50 each) and yardage (£10 pm).

When my girls saw them they immediately put in requests for Christmas pjs!!

So no excuses for not being ready for Christmas this year!!

Jxo

'How Much Is That Doggy In The Window?'

Well this one might not have a waggly tail (sorry if you don't know the song!), but I still love his cute stumpy one!

Using Denyse Schmidt's pattern, I dipped into my 'scrap vomit' box of random 2.5" squares and rustled this Scottie Dog up in an evening!

I was anticipating sewing on the orange gusset to be tricky and fiddly, and guess what?  IT WAS!!

But amazingly, there was no unpicking required and I'm pretty happy with how the awkward corners turned out.

So Scrappy Scottie is now on his way to my daughter's doggy loving friend, for her 13th birthday! I definitely want to make more of these, but might try out a few ideas on how to put the gusset on more easily.

Jxo

Getting Ready!

My kids go back to school at the end of next week!  Yippee!

We are all looking forward to some routine after a very surreal summer.

My eldest starts her last year of school.  Eeek!! AS results day last week was a day of celebration and we are getting excited now looking at different universities.

Meanwhile, the 2 youngest put in their annual requests for Back To School pencil cases!

Bethany picked out these fabrics and wanted a flat pencil case.

Lucy (the tomboy) gets 2 because for a change I actually had fabrics that are totally her & I couldn't choose between them!

And Lucy's friend has a birthday this week, so she gets some leftover Fabric Yard fabric - love those elephants!

I have one more 'summer birthday make' to show you, and not a zipper in sight on this one!  More on that tomorrow!

Jxo

No Slouching Here!

Today, another 6 willing students had a crack at my Slouch Bag pattern.



Aren't they brill! (Sorry Susan, but I couldn't not put that winning smile up there!).

And you can get an even funnier pic of Tina's gorgeous vintage bag here!

The construction of this bag is a little unconventional, but despite more than one reference to stuffing giblets up a turkey (don't ask!) they all turned out beautifully! 

Well done ladies!

And if you want to have a go at stuffing your own turkey making your own Slouch bag, you can get the pattern here.

Jxo

Vintage Makeover!

I've recently turned a spare room in my house into a bedroom. 

A wee lick of paint does wonders!  It's only a small room, but I'm enjoying repurposing some items to put into it.

I recovered some mdf (that was previously above my own bed) with wadding and vintage sheets, sewn together in strips, and staple gunned to the back (aren't staple guns the best!!).

I like how the 'head board' is like a type of wall art against the white walls!  Goes nicely with my 'Nana Naps' vintage quilt too, don't you think!



I also rustled up some vintage bunting to hang above the window.

I've a few more items of furniture to makeover before the room is complete. But I'm loving the transformation so far!

Jxo

QAYG Giant Bag!

I wanted to make a 'thank you' to the very special lady who endured enjoyed having my daughter on holiday with her & her brood (5 kids) all last week! 

Because of her large brood, this lady drives a dark blue mini van, not unlike this one!

I just had to use some of the images from a curtain offcut I was given. 

I dug out some brightly coloured scraps and started a log cabin style, quilt as you go (QAYG) large panel. 

All I really knew was I wanted to make a large bag with boxed corners, so I made 2 large panels, and then tapered them til I got the right dimensions.  I thoroughly enjoyed this non-prescriptive approach to creating!

I recycled a belt for the handles, to make it extra strong, and popped a wee yellow car into the zippered pocket in the lining.  Surpirse!

The overall size of the finished bag is approx. 21" x 23", and the recipient loves it (her exact words were 'that's the nicest bag I've ever seen!')!

Ahhhhhhhh!  That's the sound of satisfaction!

Jxo