Friday Finish and start

I have finished a little project for my Neighbour. Her husband passed away suddenly from a stroke two year ago. It has taken her a while to clear out his cupboard. She asked me if I could make cushion covers from his shirts. 

 She grouped together three set of colours that she wanted as cushions. We had a fun afternoon looking at different patchwork patterns and she chose the Crystal star, the hands of friendship and the Ohio Star.

 I tried really hard to make these as neat and straight as possible for her. I don't want her to regret asking me to do this.

 I hope she will like these.

Another little commission I am working on is a Christmas stocking.

The brief is Christmassy but not too much. These are the fabrics I chose. There are Christmas fabrics but also just normal dress fabrics and the lesser spotted Christmas Camper van.

Have a good weekend.

It's been a while

 I have been silly busy. There have been carol concerts, school fetes, a craft evening and a two Christmas parties and several birthday parties.
Some small projects were completed. The weather tissue holder for my Dad

 Makeup bag for friend E.

 Makeup bag for friend A. She has a thing for moustaches…. well this Riley blake fabric is just perfect.

Teacher presents were mug rugs this year. The children chose the fabrics. I am not sure I would have gone with the red Christmas tree. 

I have also done some sewing for a couple of commissions. I will post pictures of those when they are finished. 

Hope you are all having fab Sunday. 

Monday Making

I am making this little table topper for Christmas. Not sure we can get much more Christmassy than  stars and Pine trees.

Husband has a day of today and I promised to help move wood into the wood store. Hopefully more sewing soon.

Busy getting ready for Christmas.

 It's been a busy week. I made a skirt for myself and the oldest daughter (sorry no pictures yet). I sewed a load of little purses (all presents, so again no pictures) and these gorgeous placemats. You can't really tell on the photo but the blue is sparkly and glittery.

 This is what my table looked like today. My mother would like a Christmas table topper, so I am sewing up some stars and pine trees. Well that is the plan. 

I have also managed to make husband his wash bag. I hope he realises how much I love him. Not only was he allowed free reign over the stash but when he chose the lovely Heaven and Helsinki print I didn't object. He will have to show it off at every opportunity though and praise my skills.  Well there has to be something in this for me.

I am waiting for the Domino's man to come. Daughter 2 has asked for it as a birthday treat. They don't get fast food very often, so this is exciting. The fact that it is being delivered possibly more than the food itself. 

Linking to WIP wednesday over at Freshly pieced.

Christmas placemats Scrappy trip

 I like these. I am pleased with how they turned out. They are a maybe a little busy but for Christmas that cab be fun right?

 And then when taking pictures I noticed that this one is missing some cross hatching.

Bother! better fix that.

Happy 2013

Happy 2013. I hope that you had a better Christmas than we had. We were struck down with a nasty bug. First the youngest child had it for 3 days, she infected the oldest, who was ill over Christmas. The nasty virus then decided to visit me. Boy it was a though one. I am sort of over it now. Well I have to be husband has gone back to work, so I am left to cope now. 

But on a positive note our neighbours are grandparents to a lovely little girl. I decided to give the kaleidoscope to her. I hope her Mummy likes it. I know the Grandparents liked it. 

I got all my christmas sewing done before we were all struck down. This little pouch is for my daughter's i-pod and is the last item I sewed in 2012. 

On the whole 2012 was quite a productive year for sewing. I finished six full size quilts and five baby quilts. About 10 cushions, two dresses and three skirts. I can't remember how many small purses I made. I also made 15 tote bags. And two unfinished quilt tops. 

Priority for 2013 finish to two quilts and make more skirts. I also need to learn to make dresses and skirts for myself. Fingers crossed. 

I am linking to Lily's small blog meet. 

Trying to get ready.

It's been a little frantic. I have made a Greek chiton (tunic) for the youngest daughter. All right that wasn't particularly tough. After all it is only a sheet with the sides sewn up and a hem.

 The hair do was more complicated. Lots of hair spray and lots of pins later this is what I came up with.

 The full length photos didn't work out. She is too aware that I am taking pictures and then poses. But Look! She is cross stitching and she can even thread the needle herself. OK not all the crosses go in the same direction and some a slightly different size. However this is her first cross stitch kit and I think she is doing very well.

I converted a gold or should that be base metal with a gold finish necklace into Greek jewellery for her.  All in all not too shabby and her teacher was pleased with the "project homework". Surely teachers must know it's the parents? 

The older child is in a school play this year and is a cook in a Victorian workhouse. Yes, that's right they are doing Oliver Twist but we are not allowed to call it that. Something to do with copyright. 

I have converted some old clothes of mine to  make her outfit. It is a scary moment when you realise that your old petticoat is in fact older than the "woman" who teaches your child. Maybe I am just old. 

I made some earphone purses for friends' children for Christmas. I found the pattern for these in Making magazine. They still need some key rings and some chocolate coins, then job can be ticked of my list.

I aslo made a couple of other things for people but they know my blog address, so no pictures yet.

Of course there are always more things that I need to make but this will have to be it for a little while. We have guests coming to stay next week and I am sure I have mentioned before housework is not my strong suit. So, with that in mind, I am off to find the Dyson.

Make up bag.

 I used Noodlehead's open wide pouch tutorial to make this little make up bag.

 Now those of you who know me will be calling out right now: You never wear make up. Not even on on your wedding day. No, lipstick does not count as make up on your wedding day. Why do you need a make up bag?

 Well I don't. Who says lipstick doesn't count? Anyway it's for my mother in law. She does wear make up.

I used waterproof fabric for  the lining. I would include the link where I ordered it but I can't find the link anymore. Friend Anna ordered it for me, I am blaming her :-)

Now that is one present sorted. Only need to make 2 i-pad covers, 1 i-pod cover, at least 4 zippy purses and 1 pencil case. No worries. Lots of worries but I am not letting on.

Work in Progress Wednesday

 Project Advent Calendar is coming along well. All the numbers are on and the pockets are basted together.

 I need to cut sashing for it.

I am carefully avoiding thinking about the monochrome quilt that still has 20 or blocks to go. Also the EP hexagon quilt is languishing somewhere. I also have a granny squares quilt that needs to be quilted.

I am not even touching on the skirts my daughters want. Partly because they were sneaky and grew, which means I have to trace the pattern in the next size up. Not my favourite job.

Got some post today from M is for Make. Love these prints. Not sure what they will be yet but I think they are a fantastic Dutch theme. I know Patty Young calls the range Heaven and Helsinki but I think she meant Amsterdam.

I am linking to Freshly pieced for WIP Wednesday 

Advent, Advent,

ein Lichtlein brennt. (advent advent a little light burns). All right not yet but I am busy making advent calendars for the daughters.

 I cut 100 squares. Actually I outsourced that part. I got the daughters to do that for me using the accuquilt. So much quicker and quieter. Child labour on a rainy afternoon is much recommended :-)

I added binding to 50 squares. I was going to machine embroider the numbers on but I found that they were too small.

 I spent last night tracing numbers onto bondaweb. I have since realised that I forgot some. Oops

And this is what almost 25 pocket fronts look like. I think the scissors dent in my fingers gone down enough for me to start on the next lot of numbers. Two hours till I have to pick them up from school. No problem.  Ahem.