Le Challenge - June- Maritime

There has been a bit of drama surrounding me trying to get this post added but I shall save that for another day.

So here is my offering for the June Le Challenge on the theme of Maritime.

I have not had the chance to do much patchwork or quilting for some time so I thought that this would be a good chance to do some.

 

I have always wanted to have a go at the Mariners Compass but always been a bit put off by how complicated it looks.

I found the above in a magazine I have and decided to have a go at making a mug rug or table centre piece.  It is perhaps a bit big for a mug rug!

 I had a little bit of a struggle stitching it together and the circular edge enticed me to use language not allowed here! 

I like blue, hence my Blog name, and I got a chance to use up some small pieces of fabric left over from making a quilt a few years ago.

 

I did not realise how much I missed patchwork and quilting until I made this.

I wonder what the next theme will be/

Have a good weekend.

x 

 



Quilted and patchworked make up bag

I came home this afternoon determined to actually finish this make up bag which my friend at work ordered a week or two back. 

This is similar to the pencil case that I made her at the beginning of term so I added a Suffolk puff or Yo Yo to show the difference between them.

 A tab to either  pull on to open the zip or to hang it up.

Some free machine embroidery to quilt and add design.

 I added my tabs at either end of the zip which I am so glad that I now do. It makes adding the zip neater and much easier.

 I shall take this in tomorrow and pop it on her desk as a surprise.

I would really like to make some more of these as they are fun to work out what colours to use.

Any way,  must dash as i have some sketchbook work to do for my evening class on Wednesday.

Bye for now.

xx

Quilted Pink Heart

A friend of mine has been making these quilted fabric hearts at our sewing group nights for some time and thought that I would give it a try.

I decided to use free machine embroidery to create the quilting ans some nice pink cotton fabric with  white polka dots.

The heart is stuffed with toy stuffing and I added a little lavender given to me by my Mum's neighbour when we popped back to see her.  I have spent nearly a month drying it out.

I added ribbon to tie the two ends together and to use it to  hang up the heart. I think that next time I will use wider ribbon so that it shows up more and has more shape to add to the overall appearance of the heart.

This was quick and fun to make and I can see more variations of these being made over the coming months.

xx

Many thanks to those of you who left comments with suggestions as to what I could do about my laptop problems.  I have not been able to solve them but \i m up and running on my back up laptop which I have not used much since my last session of exam marking.  I shall sort out the other laptop in due course. 

 



OPAM August Round Up

Here is my OPAM August round up!

I made a total of 5 items last month.  I seem to have missed off a picture of a basic scissor case that I made.  I found a strip of quilted fabric just the right size.  Folded it into three and put a velcro fastening on it.  Nothing cleaver really, but still very useful to hold my largest scissors.

My favourite make in August has to be this patchwork and quilted pencil case which I have now filled with my drawing and painting supplies.

I am back at work now so I do not know how much sewing time I will have but I always seem to have less time during the school holidays than I do during term time(?).

Tomorrow I am off to my little sewing group and I shall start making another case.  My friend was so impressed with her new pencil case that she has asked for another version to use as a make up bag!

It is nice to be asked to make something like that.

Take care all

xx

A fresh start...........Another Quilted Pencil Case.

It was my first day of the new school year today.  No students, just us staff having meetings end sorting things out.  You really do need this time so that the first day back for the students runs a smoothly as possible.  This will be my 18 year and I really do not know where the time has gone.

I like to make something for my colleague every now and then and this year we meet up again to work in the same Year group.  I decided last week to make her the above pencil case which she can use for any pens or for those that you use on a white board or even storing memory sticks.

Kirsty is a very good friend nit just my head of Year this academic year and she loves Purple!
I made a purple quilt for Kirsty's Wedding anniversary some years ago and that too was in shades of purple.  It was also my first quilt so she was very brave to ask!
So I used the same approach as my out sized version ( I have still not told you why it was so large but I will next week).
Strips of fabric patch worked together and then quilted on to woollen interfacing to add thickness and strength.  This time I added some machine embroidery designs along the seams.#

I could not resist adding some free machine embroidery.  I wished that I had added some to my version....only after I had finished it!

Again, I added fabric strips at either end of the zip to make it easier and neater to stitch.  I am definitely converted to this method of adding a zip to a pouch or pencil case.

I made the final length just a bit longer than one of Sophie's pencil case and then finally a lilac lining.
I think that I am going to have to make some more of these.....
xx

Can't grow a MO - Sew a MO

Danielle over at Djcoolbear is starting a charity quilt to help raise money for Cancer Research.

It is very clearly explained on her website with a sad background story about her Father.  It is better for you to read it directly rather then me re-telling it.

Click HERE to go to her webpage.

If you are a quilter or like to sew then this might be for you.  The idea is that you create a block and then applique a "Mo" on to it.  There is a PDF of different styles if you need it and it is intended that the quilt will be raffled, hopefully more than one quilt.

I am going to ask some of my quilting friends if they would like to help out.

Measurements and additional details are on Danielle's webpage.

This is very timely for me......

the sad news I referred to earlier in the week was due to having found out that a friend who,  moved for her job so I did not see her as much, was diagnosed with cancer a short while ago, had sadly died.  Due to various circumstances, a group of us had tried to stay in contact, we lost track of where she was.  We were told that she had gone into a Hospice so we rang as many as we could with no luck. Texts were tried and phone numbers were not answered.  Whilst away my friends heard via a third party that she had died in January!  This was sad news but even sadder due to the loss of contact and the fact that we did not know for 7 months.  Ironically, we discovered that her funeral was quite close to where we all live.  Secondly my Mum was told this last week that another family member has been diagnosed with a brain tumour which has now been removed and will now need chemo with  a 1 hour trip to the treatment and then an hour back for 6 weeks!!  So more worry, heartache and stress for some of my relatives...................

Also we are  approaching a first anniversary of our own  in September for D .

So, I am going to see if I can make at least one block and send it off to help.  If you can not sew or take part perhaps you could advertise this project as there is a button and code that you could put on your blog.  I wanted to do something quickly to help so hence this post.

xx

Patchwork and Quilted Pencil Case

Quite a bit has happened this week which is one of the reasons for my absence from here.  Not all of it good but I shall start with something fun.

Just before going on my hols I did start a patchwork pencil case from an idea that I found in issue 21 of Making Magazine.  I have had my eye on this for ages and finally got on with it.

It is ideal for using up strips of fabric.

The above are some of my favourites and I wanted to include the Amy Butler fabric but had to make a join in it, but it turned out on the back of the pencil case anyway.

I also had some very thin denim look fabric which I thought would contrast well with the brightly coloured patterns.

I increased the proportions of my version by quite a bit as I wanted to put particular items in my new pencil case.  I top stitched down both sides of each of the seams as I was adding thin cotton batting to the back of the patchwork to also add a little quilting at the same time.  I decided that interfacing would not be thick enough.

I made an over sized tab to help make closing the pencil case a little easier.  I also wanted to make adding the zip neater.  I have seen on the Internet about adding a tab of fabric at either end of the zip before adding it and I think that you can just about see it behind the zip handle.  It certainly made the whole process much less stressful!

It turned out quite square in the end.

The reason for making the pencil case larger was so that I could use it for paint brushes and my small paintbox and water colour pencils and other arty items.  There is a purpose for all of this but I am waiting for confirmation before saying anything else.

Love my new make and I can see a few more being made but that will have to wait.

Now, I need to get on with finishing a project off for school which starts in just over a week and seeing as it resembles November outside today I do not think that I can justify doing anything else!.

Bye for now.

xx

Quilt and Patchwork Mug Rugs - Opam 2012

I am having a really good week for sewing and on Friday I managed to complete these two mug rugs.  Had to show it off with a spotty cup and saucer.

This mug rug is made up of scraps left over from a quilt I made a couple of years ago. patch worked together and the white strip is decorated with some built in stitches on my sewing machine.

The other mug rug is made using Cath Kidston fabric which I bought on the Internet a year or so ago.  Again built in fancy stitches have been used to add to the design.

Both of these mug rugs are quite simple as I think that the fabric needs to speak for itself.  I have made 5 mug rugs now and I think I need to increase the difficulty to stretch myself.  These will go with me to the craft fair in November unless I find a use for them before that date.

I have more stitchy  goodness to show you this coming week.

It has been another glorious day here in Cornwall but we have been indoors emptying the living room ready for the plasterer to come tomorrow to do the ceiling then we can repaint the walls and sort out the floor.  It is nearly two years since we finished the kitchen and it is time to start another DIY project.

xx   

Jubilee Quilted Mug Rug Project in Popular Crafts

Several months ago I approached Katherine at Popular Crafts and was asked to submit and idea for the Golden Jubilee issue.  This is the current issue and I was kindly sent a complimentary copy.

This submission was never intended to have a fee instead I am hopefully going to appear somewhere in an issue further along the line and I did have a mention in the blogs to see section a couple of issues back.

Being such an important event I was a little worried about this to start with.  What if my idea was not good enough.  Katherine was very trusting and when I said a Mug Rug with a Jubilee theme I was given the go ahead.

It has to be the most nerve wracking project to date.  Well it is an important event and this issue will be remembered too.

A fashionable pink polka dot mug rug with floral binding around the edge.

You can see roughly when it was made by the lovely yellow daffs. 

Unlike Sew Hip where they took their own pictures, Popular Crafts used my photos in the magazine which is a new thrill and I simply had to use my Cath Kidston spotty tea cup  and matching tea pot which my SIL kindly gave me.

I hope to work with Popular Crafts sometime in the future and a big thank you to Katherine for helping to sweeten the very bitter pill dished out by All Craft Media who publish Sew Hip magazine.  If you are a member of Ravelry pop over and read the comments about this publishing company, very very blunt to say the least.  Basically they have gone into liquidation.  I have kept quite for over a month now but I have been in contact with the liquidators and even they have not bothered to reply!

  Basically , my work was used, I am owed £150 and I am unlikely to ever get paid!!!

I would like to work with other magazines, especially Mollie Makes but I shall want some key questions answered first in future.

It has been suggested that perhaps I would be better off writing a book and putting all of my ideas in one place instead.

Anyway....I am being let out of school today to go on an Art Textiles course in preparation for September, which I am really looking forward to including the train ride down to Falmouth Docks as the course is taking place at Pendennis Castle.  Should be a good day.
x

OPAM January Round Up

Thought I would start of the month with a bit of a round up.  I did forget that I had made all of this.

I had a good session at my sewing group and finished two items for this month  and another few items in the pipeline. 
 I have noticed that the evenings are getting lighter so hopefully there will be better photos on the horizon soon.

I am going to buy some more fabric at the weekend to create some more table top ironing mats for sale as I am taking part in another Craft Fair just before Easter and I think they might go down quite well. 

I have really enjoyed making new items such as mug rugs and ironing mats, useful items as well as being pretty. 

I was looking at the books that I was lucky to get for my birthday and Christmas present and I have been putting some post-it notes in some pages to refer to over the coming weeks.

Been much colder today so wrap up and keep warm everyone.

xx

OPAM - Table Top Ironing Mat

I was given a mini hot iron for Christmas and it prompted me into making something that I have been thinking about for ages.

In the attic it is not easy getting a full size ironing board up the curve if the stairs so a table top ironing mat seemed to be in order.

I still had a few quilt blocks to use up and by adding a few more rows around the outside I made it big enough for most jobs that could be ironed on a table.

I put a loop in one corner so that it can be hung up when not in use.

I added one of my labels for posteritiy.

Just big enough for applique, quilt blocks and adding bond-a-web nd taking to workshops and classes.

Hanging up when not in use.

Next is a little pouch to keep all of the interchangable tips that come with the mini iron.  Use a another quilt block, I think.

xx

PS. Enter Website name comp by clicking on this link

www.indigo-blue-designs.blogspot.com/2012/01/website-name-competition.html and leave a comment to enter.

Quilted Christmas Table Mat

Here is one of my makes this month.  It is a Christmas block made from some scraps left over from taking part in the Around the World Quilting Bee last year.  I decided to make something really simple so I quilt the front onto come wadding.

I used gold embroidery thread and free machined at random all over the outer boarder of the block.

A bit of red for the seasonal touch.

I backed the mat with this lovely fabric and the colours went well with those on the front.

Finally, I added some bright red binding around the edge to neaten and to help keep the shape even.

Voila!  First make for Christmas, it will probably go one the coffee table in the living room.

Next on the sewing table is a table runner.

More on that next time.

Tomorrow we are going to the Eden Project in the evening for Children in Need.  Some of the youngsters from our school are going to be singing as part of a massive choir from around the UK.  So watch the One Show from between 7-7.30pm to hopefully catch and then I am sure it will feature here and there during the programme on BBC 1.

If you live abroad, you may be able to find it via the Internet.

Have a good weekend.

xx

WIP - My first Table Runner

I have collected some Christmas theme blocks over the last couple of years.  Via a swap and a quilting bee.  Enough to do something with but not enough for a quilt, which I doubt I would use. 

Being a part of OPAM 2010 and 2011 I have been visiting Peg over at Happy in Quilting a lot and seen the lovely table runners that she makes.  An idea began to take shape.  The two blocks above are my creations.

 The block above was made my Carol as part of the Quilting around the World Bee.  It has been appliqued and fitted in with all of the other blocks.  I am going to make this my centre block.

I had added some gold thread as part of the applique so I decided to add a little gold machining on each of the blocks.

I stitched all of the blocks that I felt went together and it will fit along the dining room table with a block hanging over the edge at each end.

I have two more blocks to add gold thread to and I have some thin wadding to quilt it on to.  I just need to find some fabric for the backing.

This is my first WIP for September and I intend finishing it this month.  Last Year I got to New Year and realised that I had not made anything festive at all!

I will post the finished item when it is done.

Many thanks for the lovely comments for the August round up. 

xx