"Spring Term" Evening Classes

Lots of night classes started up all over the country this week for the "Spring Term". When I am going to class in the evening I always start out with one carrier bag, then remember that I have forgotten something and add another bag, then, just when I am packing up the car I'll think of something else, a quilt, some rulers, the iron, and throw another bag/box/container in. So there I am laden down with bags and boxes even though I do my best to try and be organised beforehand.  Anyhow, to add to the mayhem I have just made another bag to carry the little portable iron I usually bring to class, except this time I have included a quilted surface cloth to iron on, a pressing cloth and some grease proof paper (which will come in handy when using any of the fusible webbings), so now I have everything together in one place.  I recycled some curtain fabric to make the outside of the bag, lined it with batting to give it some extra weight and sturdiness and then used a coordinating cotton for the inside and the binding, but the real cherry on the cake was the fabric button I had in my stash with the image of a sewing machine, and this was the perfect place to use it.  Actually it is not a button at all but a brad which I glued on, the closure itself is a velcro strip.

Before we start the new term of classes I thought I might share some photos of the wonderful work the ladies completed last term. The quilt they are making is the "Quilt of Memories" I designed specifically with beginners in mind and the one that appeared in "Irish Country Living" (Irish Farmers Journal) over ten weeks as a block a week. Their work is amazing especially when you consider some of them are complete beginners. Most quilt tops are completed at this stage and we will now go on to layer, baste and quilt over the next couple of weeks.

Happy New Year

It's been a couple of weeks or more now since I last posted as I was just taking a short break over the Christmas period, but before I go on to anything else the first thing I want to say is "Happy New Year" to everybody (or anybody?) out there who is following my blog! Hope 2013 brings you lots of happy times and good things come your way in abundance.

So, what have I been doing? Reading lots, going for walks, visiting family and a little sewing. I spotted some gorgeous red dress fabric on sale in the fabric shop just before Christmas, and instead of being sensible and just admiring it, I actually bought it and then of course I had to make the dress for Christmas Day. That would have been fine if I hadn't promised my daughter I would help her sew some Xmas lights into an Xmas jumper (they seemed to be all the rage with young people this year) to be worn on Christmas Day, except that we left it too late to buy the jumper and found they were all sold out! So then we had to start from scratch.  But all's well that end's well. Dress was finished, jumper was made and a few last minute gifts were wrapped up all in time for Christmas.

I used a Burda pattern for the dress which is red tweed with a lovely sparkle going through it, and the collar and cuffs are satin.

We bought a silvery grey jumper, a childs T-shirt and some LED lights to make the "Christmas Jumper"! I cut the motif from the t-shirt and used fusible webbing to attach it to the jumper, then satin stitched all around the edge with silver grey thread. I cut a hole in the side seam  and pushed the lights through it, then pierced a hole behind each snowflake and pushed the lights through one by one, tacking them down at the back.  The battery pack sat snuggly inside the belt at the back.  This could have been a disaster but the whole thing came together perfectly and was a great success! 

The mug rugs are made with bleached calico and cotton. I used a child's colouring book as inspiration for the dogs and then coloured them in with wax crayons, before pressing with some kitchen towel to remove excess wax. They were quilted and finished with double fold binding.

Millie says "Hi there"

Two Christmas Wall-Hangings

As we got most of our Christmas decorations up last weekend and also the tree, it left me with some time to finish those two projects I had started last week.The first one I put together using left over fabric from the Christmas table runner I made earlier and some Christmas decorations I bought in Lidl. They were a perfect match colourwise, but as I only had two, I had to make the centre wreath from felt and some cute Christmas buttons I had to hand. The middle squares measure 6" by 6" and it is quilted in an all over pattern.

The second wall hanging is a variation of the Christmas Table runner, with some decorations hanging from the tree.  I bought the crochet angel and star at a local craft fair in the village along with the little felt house, all purchased from the makers. The ceramic Xmas tree was purchased at the Craft & Design Fair again from the maker. The plan is to fill the tree over the years with all handmade decorations from local craft workers. It is quilted in an all over pattern and measures 15" by 33" finished.

I am delighted with the Table Runner and two Wall Hangings and can't wait to put them out. The house is almost ready for Christmas but I still have loads of small gifts to finish off etc. and some Christmas shopping to do! I hope your own Christmas plans are coming together for you.  Until next week, bye for now.

National Craft & Design Fair RDS

The National Crafts & Design Fair was held in the RDS this week starting on Wed and finishing today Sunday. My friend had taken a booth and I was delighted to be able to call in and see her on Thursday morning, she had had a good day on Wed and was looking forward to the next few days. This is a great place to go if you need to pick up some Christmas presents and would like to support Irish craft workers at the same time. I can't tell you how good it feels buying something from somebody you know has designed and made it themselves (I spent most of my time (and money!) in the Home Industries and Food section). As I was there early on Thursday  morning and it was quiet I was able to chat to the craftspeople I was buying from, they were all so helpful and willing to tell me all about my purchase, I have to say it beats going to a chain store or department store hands down (sorry about the pun!)

The first photo below today shows a Christmas table runner inspired by the brilliant Jenny Doan at Missouri Star, I absolutely love watching Jenny, she is truly an inspiration and makes everything look so easy. Thanks a million Jenny for all the video tutorials you put up on You Tube, it's the sharing of tips, techniques and ideas that brings stitchers/craft workers everywhere together.

I quilted the table-runner in a small heart design alternating one up, one down. I haven't seen this design on any other quilt anywhere, (I picked it up from a pillow sham I had had for years before I even noticed the quilting design) yet it is a nice simple all over quilting pattern that I find easier to do than stipple quilting or meandering.

The other photos show some Christmas projects I have yet to finish using up scraps and left over fabrics after a big tidy up (which was hopeless as I didn't manage to get rid of anything, just moved everything around to a different spot, you know the way it is).

Anyhow I had better sign off now and get on with some other work. I have learned so much already about blogging on the computer and adding the photos etc. etc, but I am still very slow and it takes a while. The weeks come around so quickly but setting a goal of one blog a week up to Xmas is paying off, although I still have a lot to learn and am just about making it every Sunday evening!

Tumbler Quilt on the Double

This week I finished the two boys quilts I am working on (see blog dated Sun 11th). I pieced the tops in a Tumbler pattern using two charm packs for each quilt. A charm pack is a bundle of fabrics all cut to the same size, in this case 5" by 5" square. The tumbler pattern is a very good way of getting full use out of a charm pack as there is very little waste. There are ten tumblers across by ten tumblers down, 100 altogether. As there were only 42 squares in each charm pack I had to add 16 to each quilt from my fabric stash. Both quilts were "stipple quilted" before I added the binding and labels. They are now all ready to be wrapped up and posted out, and hopefully they will reach their destination before Christmas Day. I named the two quilts after the charm packs I used, the first one is called "Peak Hour" (Riley Blake) and the second one is "It's a Strike" (Benartex). I hope the boys will be pleased. 

"PEAK HOUR"

"IT'S A STRIKE"

Decision Making Time

Decision making time at our house this week! Yes or No? Will we or won't we?

If the truth be told, my daughter and I didn't have much deciding to do but my husband needed a bit of gentle (only gentle, mind) persuasion. And the answer was a big YES.

Having had our last dog for more than sixteen years, it was difficult to imagine anyone taking her place. She provided us with lots of happy memories and will always have a special place in our hearts. But who could resist this gorgeous little thing?

Having visited her twice now, it was almost impossible not to be won over by her. We hope to have her by Christmas (fingers crossed) that is if she is weaned off her mother and has had all her vaccinations. And, even if she doesn't arrive until after Christmas, the prospect of her coming is exciting in itself. So, expect some doggie projects showing up here in the near future!

Not a lot of sewing done this last few days but I have put up some photos of cushions I made during the summer. Nine in total but can you spot the log cabin pattern I was demonstrating this week. I used a mixture of left over "Toile de Juoy" and linen to make this one and it actually turned out quite well.

Irish Country Living - Preview
(Click to enlarge image)

To watch the online video tutorial that corresponds to this article, click here.

Bye for now!