Blue....

Wow, where has this week gone?

Everything's blue around here lately- partly hanging on since Xmas, topped with reduced work available for a casual worker, therefore less money. Stress gets you so down you can hardly talk. Well, for me anyway. 

I had a break from Twitter, so I didn't drag everyone else down in my blue. No one noticed I was gone, which was both good and bad I guess! It did make me feel better, forgot about my own predicament for a while I guess!

Anyway, have been busy sewing to keep me busy, calm me down and not stress about things.

Some cutting....

piecing and sewing....

I helped a pal de-stash got a lovely little extra....if you haven't seen Leslie's amazing fabric, go now!!

The Little Miss got lucky too- Jodie had spoilt her, and given us her next sewing project! (And both parcels arrived on the same day, lucky coincidence!) (PS Jodie- she loved the Monty and Pearl card the most I think, I have one on the fridge and she was soooo happy to have her own. Simple pleasures, huh?)

I 'Libertied' my letters Santa bought me....

and have finalised my 'oilcloth swimming tote' pattern. 

These will be for sale soon!

 so, yep, lots of blue, but still some good things to carry me through. Always a work in progress.....

Somebody stop me...

 Well, no, you don't have to stop me, now I've decided to do it I can't wait!

I was making a little belated Xmas present last night, and lamenting on the amount of blue scraps I've got!

See? bursting out of the box. Plus the blue folded fabric that's too big for the scrap box.

So I've gone and printed the pattern and am joining along with Chelsea and a few other friends in the quilt a long. Of course, using my favorite quilter's pattern may have been the clincher.....

Stuff i've been up to.

I really didn't think I had any unfinished objects (UFO's) going on, things that I carried over from 2011. While my friends were rabbiting on, I was chuckling away thinking how bloody clever I was- er, oops, a closer inspection revelead a few!

I ummed and ahhed over this one; I orginally wanted an oilcloth backing, to use as a picnic rung. Cost the better one of me on that. So I'm busy away with a cure for this one. I'll keep you posted.

and I had a little cushion to finish off for the kid. I had the fabric cut out before I did the Little Apples one!

The lump near the cushion is a cat under the quilt!

 the pattern was one I'd ripped out of magazine, so I can't tell you where I got it, sorry!

goes beautifully (if not slightly camouflaged by all the Sherbert Pips going on!)

I really like the backs, too!

The Ink and Spindle experience!

So when my little sister got married last year, just before they left on a 6mth around the world trip I said I wanted to make her a wedding quilt, and asked her what fabrics she liked. The response wasn't very good for my bank balance. So I thought I'd leave the making until she was away, and then she could use it once she was back, rather than have it in storage for 6mths. Oh, and I ummed and ahhed over a quilt or doona cover- in the end the quilt won! 

Then I realised she was back in a couple of weeks! Time to get my butt into gear.

So first step was buying the fabric. Jess had given me a few of her fave prints, then I went in and saw the lovely girls and got help picking 8 different fabrics. My plan was to go all choppy choppy and do rectangles/squares, but....

a trip to Ballarat Patchwork sorted the pattern out.

I also picked up the cotton/linen blend for the background.

Fusible interfacing wasn't in the budget that week, so I spray adhesive-d the circles, stuck them on and raw edge appliqued.

Basting, quilting and binding was a lovely way to spend Xmas- it's a beautiful weight fabric to sew with, and felt beautiful. I felt really lucky to be able to sew with it!

I love getting it done by the skin of my teeth! Just enough!

Ta-da!

Yep, this one came down the beach too!

My little sis and very hairy brother in law arrived back Friday night, so we gifted them the quilt yesterday. Thankfully, she loved it! phew!

(I would have a home for it at my house haha)

Oh, and I have about half of the fabric left! By changing the pattern I scored well!

a few tops

I've been a bit inspired by this lovely lady and her top and dress sewing frenzy- I've been hanging to try the 2 tops she talks about!

So this is the 'Not Sorbetto top', actually a Simplicity 2938. I made it in a 16 with the normal size seam allowances, 5/8 inch. In a wearable muslin!

I then made it in the fabric I wanted, a vintage Ken Done doona cover. This one feels a bit tighter- maybe not as much stretch? Still cute!

I then went back and made a Sorbetto top. This was a 14, but I made the seam. allowances on the sides 1/4 inch.

AND I got my directional print (Hollie Hobbie) right!

The only thing I don't like about these 2 different patterns- the tops ended up too short, even though I only used a 1/4 inch hem. I like the length to sit on my hip, being short-waisted is a pain! There is bias binding around all the sleeves and the neck of the Sorbetto; the 'Not Sorbetto' has facings. 

They both seem similar, but they are also really different. Not sure what ,y fave will be yet, hopefully will get some wear out of them!

I had a cheeky kid take the photos today.

 

Warning- don't trust them. I was asked to turn around so she could a shot of the back 

of my top....grrrrr!!

The last few days

So having time off over Xmas and New Year's means I still have no idea what day it is, despite a full day back at work today! Here's a bit of what happened over New Years.....

LOTS of reading. All the birthday and Xmas books have been read.

and of course, more sewing! I really can't believe I got 2 quilts done over Xmas and NY with this naggy sewing girl....

May I introduce....Snorkle!

Made from Jodie's pattern Pickle.

 she's not being rude, just mimicking Snorkel's tongue

 I went backwards on those steps! Instructions great (well, I read them anyway) and I gave her some help at the end (I can spot o UFO at 50 paces!!)

We spent the 40 dgree Celsius day on New Years Day public holiday down at the beach, so much cooler!

and sucking on ice cubes at Portsea Pub

Snorkel came too, of course.

Happy New Year! It's a Hoot!

So I finally finished my quilt I have spent most of the year on (it seems).

Fabric bought in April (whole fat quarter collection). Picked a pattern and off I went.

It stalled...got picked up here

a

n

d

with New Year around the corner, I got it finished! There was something weird about it

 hanging around till 2012!

So, I picked the 35 degree New Year's Eve to baste;

threw in some spare blocks and some stash pink;

and sat under the air con and sewed!

I finished it on New Years Day, evening, and had a beach day the next day planned (BEST 

place to cool down in 40 degree heat! Swam for the first time in about 2 years!). So.....

oh, and a gratuitous gorgeous daughter shot!