Neglecting the blog!

Oh dear. It's been a while and believe me I have been sewing like a mad woman on caffeine....Only without the caffeine!
I've been instagramming as its so much easier to snap a picture and post it for all to see...
I have returned to share some pictures of the progress made. I don't like how you can't take your own pictures to use from instagram off the internet....weird!!!
I've rambled enough take a look for yourselves..

I've been cake decorating with Father making this Cake for Mother dearest!

Layout done and being sewn for the BerryIndieRomance quilt! Love these fabrics!! Glad I have some leftover pieces...They could become a cushion cover....

Decided on the layout for the Citrus berry quilt and also already have a backing quilt fabric for that too...So practical me!

I then thought to myself I'm making all these quilts to be sold...But nothing for myself to keep. So I pulled out all my Lotta Jansdotter stash and set to work on a HST quilt of my very own...It's going to be big!!

This is the first one I made for myself..Plus quilt with a few thrown in extras...this lives in the front room downstairs and has served us well on the cold nights.

The back of the quilt was just a simple rail fence design. It seemed to cruel to make the bars any smaller. Had to show off those prints!!

I also made myself quite some time ago now a large zippered pouch. Which contains my stash of EPP!

I set to work on My Lotta quilt. Making HST's the easy way...... 130 blocks! 6" in size

I then joined a fun looking Instagram swap.....

I'll be sewing the quilt tops soon. Deciding on a layout for the Lotta quilt and Making further Purge projects

Watch this space!!

Cherie =]

The weekend roundup...

After completely forgetting to post yesterday and then getting so engrossed in a movie after blog reading.....Real Steel. You HAVE to watch it! It's a great movie with just the right amount of every good movie element to mark it as a 10/10! Plus Hugh Jackman is in it! Need I say more.....

Earlier yesterday afternoon Mother and I went to my Besties as she was hosting a Macmillan coffee morning. For the past two weeks she bought in cakes and such to raise more donations for the cause. I helped out on Friday and gave her some cookies and cake to share out. Mother and I ate a lot of cake and bought a lot back home with us too....Most of them are gone now......

I also got on with sewing the Christmas table runner tops. I went with 1 of each design in the end

I got the hot pad tops sewn up too

Just need to pull out a print for the backing of these. I'll have to see which one I have the most of.

Today I did an inventory of all the things I've made to sell in my future Etsy shop (still need to work on those labels!) and saw that I haven't made many actual cushion covers! So I pulled out the solid strips I'd for sashing, to make up some cushion covers.

This should roughly be a 20" cushion cover once the back is sewn onto it. I'll make up 3 more perhaps in different styles, using the solids. 

I'll also pull out my rainbow charms and make up a few cushion covers with those too. As well as those triangular prints to make up some covers. 

 Then I decided to join the 2nd round of the Modern She Made Swap this time round the theme is triangles. My partner was very specific and said she liked orange and grey together and would like a mini quilt. So I went through all my scraps to pull out pieces big enough to make a triangular mini. I made a template from news paper and sewed the pieces together until the strips were long enough to cover the template.
They are 3" by various widths I used some linen in there as I don't have a grey solid.

I had to swap some pieces around and add on some extra pieces to make them long enough after they had been sewn together. I just have to cut the final shape then work on the backing. That might just be one solid colour in a nice dark shade. Then I'll double up the batting and hand quilt it. I need to make up some binding..... The finished size should be 14" tip to bottom x 22" along the base. This may be an early finish! The deadline is mid November! So I can make some fun goodies to go with it too.

I noticed I really need some more orange and grey prints in my stash! It was a struggle to find those grey prints. Pink Castle here I come!.....

Siya'll tomorrow =D

FMQ take two!

Another day of labels, but at least there was less than yesterday! That was insane, so many kept on being added to the pile. Today as well as the labels I had to deal with phone calls. There was this one lady shouting down the phone at me...some people can be so impatient!  What did I ever do to them (well besides answer the phone....)
I learnt a few more things today and will gradually be taught how to do some of the other tasks there.

Back at home I chilled out a bit deciding what to actually make next. I remembered my pile of triangular scraps so pulled those out to use. I also grabbed some scrap fabric to use with them, I made a quilt sandwich pillowcase style first....need to turn it right side out....

The thread in the picture is more red than orange.....

I gave Jano a good dusting as he was starting to sound funny....a strange clicking from under the plate, I took it apart to check, but the clicking is still there? Maybe he needs to be properly serviced, but I have no idea how much that'll cost.....I'm not even sure they make the model anymore for me to get parts if they are needed. I can't afford a new machine right now so I hope it's nothing too serious if he does need fixing.

Then I decided to give the FMQ another go just making some random lines. The fabric actually moves this time!

I'll have to work out how to make actual patterns, this was just to get the rhythm of moving the fabric. some stitches were so tiny! I'll watch a few tutorials and read up a few guides to improve my skills. Then I might just be able to tackle those two quilts I have laying in wait.

Siya'll tomorrow =D

August review!!

I still can't get over how quickly last month went. I mean seriously why is this year going by so quickly! Last month I got a lot of random projects done. As well as some cooking, some movie watching, some London Eye going on, the odd trips to the cinema, Volunteering (which I now realise is what took up my sewing time! FOOL!), a few swap goodies and giveaways. Plus a present for Mother.

Those purses from yesterday that I had a problem with the zippers. They are fully functionable, they can still open and close, the purse can still be used for a number of things as seen in the 3rd picture, Do I sell them still as they are? thoughts please....

 I then got on with the not so mammoth task of cutting my beloved fabrics

Then sketching out a design for the quilt I plan to make...this is not finished yet....

As well as making up my own paper pieced blocks from patterns slightly smaller/larger than the size I've made them to (8" x 9") I'll get those sewn up tomorrow

This month has started well already.  A new project. A new job starting Monday....which will sadly effect my sewing time, but I should still get things done during the 'free hours' if I plan my time accordingly. Tis the Younger Giant's birthday this month.....I think a large pillow for his bed lounging is in order!....I should probably make the Older Giant one too....

Tonight I'm linking up with 

Siya'll tomorrow =D

One of those days....

You know the day when you really don't feel like doing anything, but you muddle on anyway in hopes the day will improve?

Yeah I had that day. These quiet days aren't suited to me. I like to be busy or doing something that is interesting and absorbs some time. When I was home I could spend hours with Jano sewing like crazy, taking the odd break when my Brother reminded me to.
Now I'm leaving the house and getting hardly any sewing done. I sew when I get back in, but it's not the same, I liked the fact it was so engrossing and seeing how many things I could get done. I really want to sew now, but the motivation of time isn't there. When I get in I'm usually quite tired....or really hungry!

I made more progress on the Hoop wall hanging today however

I've added another row of rainbow stitches halfway round in smaller sections. You cant not love that Perle cotton! I might put in another row of stitches in the top curve of the 'C' to make it stand out a bit better. Then it will be done and I can make the pincushion. The needle book still needs the pages sewn in not sure how I'll do that yet, but it'll be done soon.

I also came up with a plan for when my placement finishes of how to organise my sewing time better so I can get more things made up for my future Etsy shop.

-Quilts one finished a month- I'm not huge on making them and I think this will be manageable for me
-Mini quilts 18" or 16"- 2 per month. A better size and I can still get some good patterns in even with the size being smaller
-Spend at least 1 or 2 days per month making up binding- Using my solid colours in a scrappy style.
-Make at least four pillow/cushion covers per week.
-4 zippy/snap pouches per week- Either small or large
-Use the weekend to cut fabrics/wadding/etc for projects being made that week

When I think of more things to add I'll put them on the list. This is just a start to know what kind of things I want to be selling in my shop and will give me better direction to keep my time occupied.

A funny thing to end my evening. I heard the TV up still really loud and suspected Father had fallen asleep watching it. So I went down to investigate. Sure enough he was out like a light. I had to shake him a few times to wake him up and question why the TV was up so loud. So what does he reach for first.....his phone! After venturing back upstairs I heard the volume go down and him getting up from the sofa to go to bed! This was just after 11 he usually comes up the stairs around 9-10. Crazy old man!

Until then...

Siya'll tomorrow =D

P.S Tomorrow is the Older Giants Birthday! He turns 24! Funny how the years fly!

Templates...Check....Fabric.....Check.....Ironing....

Check.....Cutting....Check!

Today felt like a really long day.

The placement was good today I was typing up some things on the computer and sorting out paperwork for courses which wasn't too bad. I even had a fight with the printer...for some reason the blue ink cartridge was leaking, however it would only do so on random sheets of paper I was printing. Resulting in some coming out perfectly unscathed and others with a great blue ink smudge across the page! I was not amused and had to print one page 4 times before it came out OK enough to use! The people I work with are really friendly and even offered to let me sit a course on Friday for food hygiene. I checked though and I already have the qualification which will last me another 2 years. There's also and interview skills course tomorrow they said I could sit in on and pick up some advice and tips. I have to get there a bit earlier, but it should be useful and it can go on my CV.

So I got back home and finished cutting the templates I needed.
Then I opened the parcel I got yesterday from Surly Sheep. Shockingly I noticed I had ordered like 1 orange fabric when I really needed some more! I don't quite know how I managed to bypass them, but I did, so I have 5 I think to use for the project...not cool people not cool!
Yes to all people who know I hate red...I ordered them for the good of colour wheel projects!

I ironed all the fabrics after battling with Father as he was trying to steal a few of them....claiming all the rest were ugly!  Then started cutting wedges. Those smaller triangles in the picture will have squares cut from them for my hexies and diamonds.

You can't not love stacks of cut fabrics! The print on top is the 1 orange print that came...I have 4 others from before...I guess some pillows will have to do without! *sigh* I still have some fabrics coming my way, but they wont be used for this project!

We'll I best be off need to get more sleep than usual...It's funny I used to go to bed around 2ish now I'm going to sleep around 12ish! I miss watching movies at night, but them verses staying awake...you do the battle!

Siya'll tomorrow =D

June Review.....Already! Pinch Punch!

I didn't even know it was the First of July until I looked at my clock with the helpful mini calendar on it..

It was then that I realised last month kind of sped by..I mean really where is the time going! One minute its June then seconds later it seems to be July.....Maybe it's me and I have a time disorder....where I don't realise time is even moving!

Once the shock of it being another month already I remembered I have a June review to do.

I decided eventually to upload them to Flickr first as it's easier to make a mosaic that way...so here is my June Mosaic

1. Rainbow Charms, 2. Rainbow wedges, 3. circles for petals, 4. Hand quilting on the front, 5. HST Cushion top, 6. HST Cushion top, 7. HST Cushion top, 8. Brown/Purple, 9. Yellow/ Green, 10. Peach/yellow, 11. Yellow/blue, 12. Surprise Quilt, 13. Surprise Quilt, 14. Surprise Coasters front, 15. Surprise tea towel, 16. Custom pouch, 17. Custom pouch, 18. Zakka Sewing Kits, 19. Zakka Sewing Kits, 20. Pincushions, 21. Giveaway prize, 22. Giveaway prizes, 23. Pincushion magnets, 24. Zakka Sewing Kits- Pincushions, 25. Giveaway prize front, 26. Granny Cushion MAM, 27. Cushion for Danny, 28. Cushion for Danny, 29. Scrappy magnets, 30. Applique blocks, 31. MAM Quilt blocks, 32. Scrapbook Pages, 33. Travel pouch, 34. Pillow top, 35. Scrappy blocks, 36. Jubilee Badge for Mother

My picture folders always remind me just how much I get done...Good think my mojo went at the end of the month! 

This month I'm hoping it returns as I have been working on some new ideas for cushions and quilts! They reminded me I need to get some new colouring pencils! 

Well that's all from me today I'm linking up with

Siya'll tomorrow =D

The Sneak peak reveal!

Yesterday I showed you this sneak peak

However in the mail I got this awesome package courtesy of the ALFALC Swap from Deanna a great selection of fabrics, zippers, buttons and Candy!! =D

Now I can show you the reveal! 4 more zippered pouches! I had fun making these and will probably make more later in the year! My shop stock is coming along nicely. I may open before Christmas so people can possibly purchase some handmade items from me.

When I get some more labels I'll fuse them to the inside of the pouches...I need to get a few different ones for various items..anyone know any good places to get custom labels?

I finally decided to tackle the things on my WIP pile, starting with the blocks for the circular pillows Father suggested I make.

I had enough HSTs to make 4 of them , one I showed previously (but you can see it here with the others)

I think I'll start making some bags next! I have a magazine with some marked pages, so watch this space --->                         <------- HAH!

Siya'll tomorrow =D