This and That

 A lot of this - seeing my DDs at a distance whilst they play at the splendid Adventure Playground (no adults allowed, so I get to sit and sew outside, yay!).

 A lot of this - my DDs doing a council run drama workshop every morning this week - so a little more stitching time for me (do you see a theme emerging here?).

A little more progress on this (my Love Entwined - zig zag border finished, flowers still not complete).

And occasional time just sat doing nothing more than enjoying a soft drink and some chat with my (by now quite tired) DDs!

Scattergun Approach!

I got as far as (machine) basting my borders onto my Love Entwined top.  A fairly laborious process to get to this point.  I:
Foundation pieced strips of fabric together.
Ironed freezer paper zig zags that I'd traced from the pattern onto the back of the stripy fabric piece that I'd made, lining up the seams with the seam lines that I'd drawn.

Ran a line of sewing along the middle to make sure that the freezer paper wouldn't shift.

Cut out the fabric zig zags.

Pieced the corner blocks over paper.

Joined the corner blocks to the long zig zag strips

Marked the top with the position of the border, pinned and then machine basted it down with a line along the middle.

All I need to do now is to sew it down, turning the seam allowance as I go before removing the freezer paper.  Not a difficult thing to do, but quite a long one!

 It makes adding these cones and daisies look like a quick job in comparison!

I decided to make a slight variation on the pattern.  Instead of appliquing one circle on top of another I put one inside another!  I fussy cut a little dot before making a yo-yo that would let it peep out.  It finished the size of a 5p piece, which is what I used to form my flowers.

I think that I'm just about keeping up with the pattern, but need to add some other flowers as well in the next week....so the border may have to be a 'work in progress' for a while longer!

 Of course, it being the school holidays means that I haven't had quite as much sewing time as usual.

As I've wanted to carry on with some of my C&G course too, my DDs and I have been enjoying 'bead week' - so far beads from fabric, Fimo and foil (also beads from a fabric and wire combination which haven't been photographed yet).  Still to come (two more days of the week left!) beads made from other beads and paper rolled beads.

That should be enough crafting fun for all of us, once you add in stamping ATCs, water colour pencil fun and general 'having a go' at other kits in the cupboard.  My girls might not get a chance to be properly bored this summer but I'm hoping that crafts / daily music mini-lessons and plenty of time with friends in the fresh air will get them properly stimulated and then worn out!

So, as you can see, I'm not really concentrating on one thing at the moment, but at least making some progress, even if it is scattered over more than one project!

Sorry for the slightly odd layout of this blog post.  Blogger and I generally get on fine, but one of us is being slightly awkward this morning!

Sewing with a View

 As I sit and sew this week I'm looking out from across an old rose garden to the rolling surf of the North Devon Coast.  It's easy to be distracted by the roses, day lilies and glorious selection of trees (as well as by the members of my lovely extended family!).  I'm not sure that I'll get quite as much sewing done as usual, but I'll be giving it my best shot!

I am lucky to have a family that understands that I can't join them on jaunts to the beach and even luckier that I have a hobby that (mostly) distracts me from minding that I can't join in with them as much as I'd like to.

 

So far I have managed to put this small quilt top together.  I had these scrap HSTs from another project (2 years ago?  three?  Certainly they've been nagging me from the back of my sewing table for a while now).  I finally got them pressed, squared up and laid out this design to use most of them up. It will become a small wall hanging - which might have happened this week if I'd thought to bring along an appropriate backing fabric. (finished size 17 1/2" square).

I made a little sister for this piece as well.  This is only 10 1/2" square (and needs pressing, yes, I know) so will probably have borders of the fabrics used in it to bring it up to the size of a cushion cover.  This pretty much follows today's Quilt Pro 'block of the day' and was just right for the left over HSTs that I had, with the addition of just a few solid squares.  Always nice to be able to use up scraps like these in a purposeful manner.

 

Finally, this is some of the prep work for my first Love Entwined zigzag border.  These are machine stitched, but the corners are going to be pieced over paper.  I'm thinking that I'm going to join them all to make one frame shaped unit which I will then hand sew onto the background, but I'm not sure if that's the best approach or not.  Perhaps I just need to spend a bit longer looking at the view and mulling it over!

Rose Band

 This has been a week of making ruched roses.  I don't think that I'll ever be tired of seeing how a 22" x 2" strip of fabric can be sewn with zig zags of running stitch and drawn up into these highly textured roses.  Aren't they fun?

I added them to a band that had been quilted with a loose leaf design with a few extra leaves added for additional interest.  It's very bold dimensional applique!

That's another hat band finished.

My other applique, on Love Entwined, is a lot flatter.  I've added a little more to it this week, but hope to make even more progress next week.  I might even stretch to a photo!

With hat bands on the increase, it was time to start the hat!

It was time to draw out the shape of hat brim that I wanted (more brim to shade me at the front than the back, as I get irritated if a car head rest tries to tip my hat off if it has a wide brim all around) before starting to construct the hat.

The most fun bit so far?  Adding the brim wire using a zipper foot tight up to it, which has given it a lovely defined edge.

I hoped to finish it today but had to waste time and energy sorting out a washing machine flood - at least in this weather the floor is drying very quickly!  Just the outer crown  and some stitching on the brim to add with a little bias binding to complete the look inside.  It does look plain, doesn't it?  I hope that's an advantage when showing off the different bands I hope to make.

Insetting my Compass

 This week I've made some more cords.  In fact I worked so hard on my cords and beaded cords that I gave myself a blister on my finger - ouch!

Needless to say I decided to something else after that, but I've forgotten to take a photo of the ruched fabric flowers that followed that little escapade.

My other sewing this week has been to complete the compass ring for Love Entwined and add it to my background fabric.  Here's how I did it.

Having appliqued the compass onto the ring with the little dots, I decided to inset that part into the background fabric.  I suspect that I'm not quite doing it to the pattern, but I don't think that it matters, as it's my version of what is being provided!


I started by gluing two pieces of freezer paper together, shiny sides out.

Then I used my trusty pair of compasses to draw a circle (my circle cutter isn't big enough for this size, unfortunately!). 

Using the fold lines on the paper I was able to line the 'hole' up in the centre of my background fabric (which I'd already machine basted the straight and diagonal lines on).

 Then I cut out the centre circle of fabric.

After this I used baking parchment on the circle template and 'tack' ironed it to the background fabric in exactly the right place.

Then it was time to carefully clip the seam allowance to within three threads of the edge of the hole and iron it all down.  Having 'shiny' freezer paper facing both ways holds the fabric to the template beautifully.

 

The next step was to turn the background fabric the right way up (isn't it lovely? it is a Kona Cotton solid called 'Cloud') and put the compass into the window that is just the right size.  I made sure that the points were facing the right way along the basting lines - I didn't want a wonky compass!

I ironed again (baking parchment underneath this time so that I didn't get freezer paper sticking to the ironing board where it was bigger than the compass.

This will stick the insert - for me the compass and ring - to the background fabric.

It was simple to run a line of stitching around to hold it all together before removing the freezer paper and trimming the compass insert to make it neat.

I wish that I'd ironed it before taking this photo - it lies flat in real life!

This week I hope to make some more progress on this quilt, as well as carry on with my C&G stuff which has fallen by the wayside slightly.

Less than a week until the school holidays start and my DD's are able to 'help' with my sewing, so any precision work needs to be thought through now!

Cords and a Hat Band

 I've been having fun this week turning threads into cords in various ways (read 'trimmings part of C&G course) for this particular turning in my crafting skill set!).

Orange isn't my 'go to' colour, but it happened that I'd got a bundle of threads with no other particular use, so, as shown here, I used some of them for wrapping to make this thick cord.

I've also used braid circles, finger knotting, plaiting, zigzag over sewing  and all sorts of other threads along side these in order to make lots of different cords.

Next week I aim to find ways of joining some of them in order to make more substantial braids and trims - or at least, that is the plan!

 My hand stitching this week has been concentrated on this scrumple finish hat band.  I started by using a meander shirring pattern on some fabric. 

After stabilising it I added hand stitching in two different variegated threads and a scattering of beads.

The whole thing was more time consuming than I expected, but also very relaxing!  It required less concentration than any of the other stitching that I'd prepared, so was easier for me to work on during the hot weather that we've been having.

I'm off to hope for a return of grey skies and more moderate temperatures, and to think of more cunning cord making plans!   I should, of course, be making the hat for this to be the band of!

All at Sea with a Mariner's Compass

 I haven't done oodles of sewing this week, but to make up for it, what I've done I've done twice!

This was my first attempt at the central Mariner's Compass for Love Entwined.  I didn't pay enough attention to position of the green back ground / blue points, and when I sewed it to the background I found that I hadn't really been careful enough with my circle template, so although on one side the points went neatly to the edge, they were stranded nearer the middle on the other side.

 

I decided that it was going to be easier to remake the entire compass than to try salvaging bits from the first one, so yesterday I re-made it, a little less hastily!

I should have re-balanced the colours in both photos - the pink is actually a hot pink and works beautifully with the other others, a mix of (my own!) hand-dyes and commercial prints.
The quilt is destined to take about 35 yards of fabric in total, and apart from the background (about 7 1/2 yards) I'm hoping to make it mainly from my stash.  I'm thinking cheerful and scrappy.

Next task on this is to applique 3/8" circles around the compass (32 of them!).  Or use fusible, or sequins, or buttons, or something.  I've got links to at least 4 different methods of making tiny applique circles, so I'm hoping that one at least will work for me.

Can you tell that the back basted tree has moved down the list temporarily?  I've stitched about a third of it and it's so wonderfully portable that I plan to just keep it in my handbag ready for 'swimming mum' and 'ballet mum' type moments when I'm sitting and waiting. 

Hope that you have a fun stitching week too!

Calm before the Love Entwined Storm!

 Mostly this week I've been making / finishing / tidying up samples to complete my latest City and Guilds module, but I did find time to make these two Dear Jane blocks (these ones for myself!).  It's years since I'd added to my scrappy pile of finished blocks, so this felt very good.

 I've also been trying to learn ANOTHER new-to-me applique technique - this one called 'back basting'. 

Of course, I didn't know that I was going to try it out, so wouldn't necessarily have cut out the freezer paper for this method!

Can you see that I've machine stitched around the shape?

The idea is that you stitch to give you the needle turn line - you undo the stitching just ahead of where you then needle turn.  I'll find out how easy or difficult it is this weekend, when I'm going to have some hand sewing time.

 

You might wonder why I've been so interested in different methods of applique.  It started with my C&G and a requirement to learn some dimensional applique techniques, but has taken on 'legs' as I've joined with 2375 or so others around the world who are interested in starting a free BOM applique project by Esther Aliu, called Love Entwined.  Its causing an internet quilt bloggers storm!

The first part of the pattern (first of 18 months - eek!) was published yesterday.  I'm happy to say that it's mostly pieced, and doesn't require us to have our background fabric yet.  I have quite a lot of fabric in my stash, but not a spare 7 1/2 yards of background for this!

Ester has put an amazing amount of work into this, and even if I only manage the first five months (which would lead me to complete the central panel) I think that it would be a lovely thing to do.

Of course, I know that I have 1) limited time 2) limited energy and 3) limited patience, so although I'm experimenting with different hand applique techniques, I might just decide to use fusible applique and machine stitching, as a way of joining in without letting my (sewing) life being ruled by it.

Hope that you have fun plans for your crafting time!

Let Them Eat Cake - Please!

 Hard to believe that my DD2 is 8! 

She requested a circus theme for her birthday.

We bought her stilts, juggling scarves, plates to spin (amongst other things).  Cousins handed over a clown costume made by their shared Grandmother.  I set to and make cakes.

This is the one that she had on her birthday - if she'd been later home from school I'd have had time to add a pennant to the top, decorations along the path, perhaps even a 'gate' over the path too.  Despite this she was still pleased with it!

I was so pleased that my SiL has such a great tin, it made making this cake a doddle.

This was the cake that she had for her birthday.

Another simple design, but quite a big impact.  The first thing she did after blowing out the candles was steal the nose and eat it, before running out to play with all her party friends in the garden again.  Rather cute, two of her friends stayed behind to replace the missing nose with a strawberry!

I've managed to hand over quite a lot of the cakes to other people, but there is still plenty left if anyone wants to drop by and sample a slice in the next day or two!

It was a day of baking on Friday. 

We started early as DD2 was given a cake pop maker for her birthday, so we had cake pops for breakfast.  We've managed to get a little neater at decorating them, but still room for improvement!

I also made and decorated  36 cup cakes (using left over butter icing from the big cakes - so quite quick, I'm pleased to say).

I am so enjoying a quiet (non-baking!) day today, after a busy weekend doing lovely things with both girls.  I'm planning small hand sewing things this week, nothing at all grand or big or requiring much in the way of thought or physical effort.

Hope that you are having midsummer fun too!

Crafting and Crisps - what a combination!

 It's not often that I see and advert and 1) rip it out to put it in the back of my sketch book and 2) Google it to find out more!

What I found was that the latest Kettle Chips adverts have been sewn and painted by Lou Gardiner.  Go and have a look at her site and you'll be able to enjoy not just these images, which just show the basic packets, but also a whole range of her work which is stunning!  The site is beautifully set out too.  I'm still drooling over some of the examples of her work, and wondering if I'd ever be able to produce anything so lovely.  Sadly, I think that the answer is 'no', but that won't stop me having fun in my own small way!

Of course, if I could eat crisps whilst crafting without getting greasy fingers on my projects, that would be another great accomplishment!

I've finished my first 'freezer paper on top' attempt.  I think that you can see that the right hand side was the second one - so at least I've improved a bit, although whether its better sewing or better pinning / layout of the spindly piece I'm not sure!

I'm hoping to find out soon as I'm just preparing another two pieces (the same size as this, 8 1/2" square).  Quite fiddly, but very portable!

Not much other sewing to show.  I've made a sample hat brim (with a different type of stiffener in each quarter!) and then these ice cream post cards, prompted by picking up some doilies in Poundland this morning.  I'm not really a doily person for serving food, but quite like them now and then for card making and scrapbooking!

Applique Week-ay

 Okay, not the best title rhyme I've ever seen, but I've had a week of applique obsession: a delivery of two second hand books on applique (both by Ellie Sienkiewicz who seems to be a 'Baltimore Album Quilt' (and BAQ style) guru, hand applique, machine applique and a feeling that improvement is just around the corner (or perhaps just out of reach, I'm not putting money either way, to be honest!).

This is my finished 3D Baltimore style block.  I've got stuffed seaweed and clams, stuffed and furrowed coral, concertina pleated limpets and a folded hexagon not-quite-a-sand-dollar!

 This second block was much faster to put together - seaside rather than seashore.  This one was created with fusible applique and sketchy machine stitching.  I was thinking pen and ink and children's book illustrations from years ago.

 The applique didn't stop there.  Another two Dear Jane blocks have been completed for Liba's quilt - and they both had tiny applique pieces.

 Here is the new I-6 one next to my 'old' one which has already been sashed.

 This is my new J-13 next to the one in my scrappy Jane.

So, five blocks made for Liba's quilt, none for my own!  I have a whole row ready for sashing and sewing on to the blocks that I've already completed.  I think that I should aim to do this over the summer and make a few more blocks for my own.

In the meantime I'm working on a 'needleturn with freezer paper on top' block (not my design) I'm trying really hard to get pointy points on the leaves and neat non-frayed corners where leaves met stem.  I think that I still have a lot to learn, and I'm not sure that I'll be able to  improve as fast as I'd like.

Any more applique related things?  Well, there is a new BOM being generously offered by Esther Aliu that is starting soon.  Another historical based quilt, called Love Entwined.  As Esther is a master applique quilt artist I'm pretty sure that this would help to hone my skills.  If you'd like to join, check back through her posts to see how to join her Yahoo group.  I'm not sure if I'm up to an eighteen month long project on top of what I'm already planning, but I love the idea of it!

Finally (!), never short on ambition, I bought the 'Dear Hannah' book on Monday evening at my quilt group meeting.  From the same author as 'Dear Jane' this is a mix of applique and pieced blocks.  Some from historical quilts, some invented.  It's good to have a background project to look forward to once I've finished my Dear Jane (which I'm still thinking will be years rather than months!).

After another three books to fit onto the shelves (ah.  Four.  I've just seen 'Spunbonded Textile and Stitch', which arrived on Saturday and I haven't even opened yet), I should be making time for book  sorting / clearing this week.  I don't know how much longer my DH is going to want to see my stack of books on the living room coffee table, as I haven't been able to fit any new purchases onto the shelves dedicated to quilting since the New Year (and I've bought quite a few books, it would appear!). Ho hum.  If anyone has any tips for Tardis like increase of space within the fixed confines of our house, please do feel free to share them with me!

Dear Jane Take Two

 This is my I-13 towards the Dear Jane quilt that Liba started.  This block, lovely though it is, didn't go quite to plan - this is my second go at it this time around. (I'm sorry about the photo, I clearly didn't get the lighting right, as the colours are more similar to the one shown below).

This is the first one that I made, using Liba's fabric that had ideas of it's own about where its colour should be!  The problem started when I sprayed the block with water to make the wash out marker disappear.  This is the block even after it had gone through the washing machine.  Not ideal.  Not at all ideal.  I know that reds sometimes bleed, but this was really quite intense!  It can't be used in the quilt, obviously, so I re-made it in the closest red print that I had to this (and yes, I checked for colour fastness first!).

 Still, here it is next to my own I-13 made some years ago.  I *think* that my piecing has improved slightly, but only slightly!

For light relief (or should that be low relief, ho ho) I also made these machined beach huts. I'm not entirely sure that the proportions are right, but it was a change from hand stitching shells, which is the other sewing that I've been doing, which I'll probably show you next week.  As we're now in our final school half-term my thoughts are obviously turning already to summer holidays!