Swaps, Shopping and Stuff

With the August MMQG sewing day happening tomorrow (7 Aug) I thought I should blog the name tag that I made and received at last months sewing day. My sneak peek here included some paper in the left hand corner, did anyone spy that. As everyone seems to be in love with hexagons at the moment I decided to use hexagons for my name tag and made this one for Cathy

This is the one I received from Bec

I have also been making a few purchases lately. Firstly I went to Melbourne Craft & Quilt Show a couple of weekends ago and was very restrained in my spending. I got was Janelle Wind’s first book Pieces of Me, and a this kit to make Melly & Me’s Fat Quarter bag 

I have to admit that I am quite proud of myself as I have already made one project out of the book, started and finished it all in one day. One of the reasons why I purchased this book was for this specific project.

Isn’t it cute, it is a cover for my Iphone and has a small pocket on the front which is the perfect size to hold my ATM/credit card and some loose change. I have also order some fabric from this lovely store to make two bags out of this book.
Actually I have purchased quite a lot from that store recently as well as the fabric I have three Christmas related kits on there way to me, a advent calendar, reindeer stocking and Christmas wreath. There were all part of QFD Christmas in July online event so I am unable to post photos of the patterns but if you have a look over here you can see some pictures of some of the projects I got kits for. Another purchase I made from QFD was this lovely soft flannel

I am going to team it with the FQ pack of Ginger Blossom that my lovely EB friends gave me as a thankyou for running the Round Robin Swap last year. I plan to make a half sq triangle quilt like Esther’s using the flannel as one half of the sq and the cotton as the other half, hoping it will look as I imagine.
I have also been working on the Freckled Whimsey Charm Pack Quilt along and am now up to date.

150 1/2 square triangles

75 four patch blocks

Finally if you like the look of my IPhone cover, don’t forget that I have a PIF open at the moment and you never now I might make one for you :)

I have been sewing as well.. I promise

Before my 2nd gorgeous little boy entered our lives I did get some sewing done. Here is task list I set myself at the start of the year to do before the birth.
C’s cot quilt – top all done about to be sent off to be be quilted and then needs to be bound
Cuddle Quilt for Bastian - quilt top done, just need to sandwich, quilt and bind, I am using Minky as the backing so am quilting this one myself
Single Bed Quilt for Bastian – Appliqué strips finished just need to cut remaining material strips and piece together and then send off for quilting
Finish Cross Stitch for Nursery – Finished, need to make a trip to frame store to frame and hang it

Cot Quilt for Emily – Quilt top

and pieced back both  finished, sandwich ready for quilting

Bunting for Bastian’s room – Not started
Pram Quilt – Have all the materials for quilt top and back but not started

I also got some pyjama pants made for me to use in Hospital and a these cute little baby booties.

I had originally made these to gift to a different new little boy but one Lachlan arrived they seemed to mysteriously make there way to his room :)

Planes & Opters

I can definitely say that my little boy has very definite boy stereotypically tastes, so when I decided to make some winter pyjamas for Bastian, I could not go past this flannelette material that I found at Spotlight. In his words it has plane (or anes) and opters (helicopters) all over it. I think he was impressed with the finished item.

They took me almost a whole day to do, but given that I don't make many clothes and I found myself re-reading each instruction half-a-dozen times I am quite proud of the results. It was also the first time that I used my mums over-locker to finish off the seams.

Weekend Wrap up

Well the long weekend is over and I thought I had better update you all on my list and what I did (and didn't get done)

Here was my list

1. Finish work hours from this week - done and 2 hrs for this week as well, hopefully that means some more sewing time for me this week
2. Sew backing for C's cot quilt together so I can drop it off to be quilted - didn't buy enough material so need to make a second trip to Spotlight
3. Finish nieces messenger bag - Done
4. Finish off blanket stitch on planes for Bastian Big Bed Quilt - Finished one of the two strips, hope to maybe get the rest done today
5. Cut rest of material for Bastian Big Bed Quilt ready for last class Wednesday night - Hoping to do tonight or tomorrow 

The rest of the list will have to wait for next weekend

This is the bag I have made for my niece's 10th birthday

 

It has an adjustable strap, two pockets on the front and one of the back, a magnetic clasp and a zip pocket inside

I am really happy with how it turned out, has given me the confidence to make the nappy bag that I am planning to make now. I used this tutorial but just left of the zip on the actual main bag part. The only thing I would do different next time is use a different interfacing, I don't like how this one has bubbled.

Also I managed to get one of the two appliqué strips finished for B's new bed quilt which is this quilt

There is actual three plans per strip but I found it two hard to take a photo with all three in it. The first and third plane on each strip are the same any way

 

and a close up of the two planes

Princess Tutu

I decided that this year I am going to try and make most gifts that I have to give to people, well children anyway and only I know they will appreciate it. (eg 9 yr Nephew will most likely get a purchased gift)

The first birthday for the year is my niece who turns 3 early Feb, her two older sisters have never been girly girls but Emily definitely is, she is really into Tinkerbell and fairy's at the moment. So with that in mind I decided to make her a pink toned tutu using this tute for a no sew tutu

I actually used pink, purple, white and grey bridal tulle to get the multi coloured effect, I can see myself making a few of these for presents during the year

Advent Blog-along - Day 3

Every year my LQS puts on a Christmas Workshop as a thank you to their loyal customers that attend weekly classes or monthly clubs during the year. I have been lucky enough to be invited to 3 of them over the last 4 years (the year Bastian was born I did not attend enough classes to be included) This years one was today and we got to make a journal to hold some quilting bits and pieces and a notepad. We are provided with the main material necessary and given a list of other items required.

Here is a picture of the front of the journal

The inside, and

the back.

Sorry about the picture quality I ran out of time to take them in daylight will retake them tomorrow and repost

I have to admit I was very proud of myself today as not only did I manage to get the project completed on the day (something that has never happened before) but I was the second one finished, an hr before the classes ended.

Anyway it is just quick post tonight as it is late, but before I go I suppose I should let you know about tonight bedtime reading

 

This was what was chosen by Mummy to read to Bastian tonight

but of course he wanted That's not my Santa and That's not my Reindeer(again), so we compromised. He danced and played in his room while Mummy read her pick and he sat on my knee and we cuddled while we read his two. Mem Fox would be proud three books tonight :)

Granny Square

I really thought I couldn't do if but I am learning to never say never. So here is it the start of my first crochet blanket. It is still pretty rough and no where nice and neat as this one being done over here, but I am proud of it all the same.



One of the reason why I was so determined to learn to crochet is that my Grandma can crotchet really well and has made all her grandchildren layettes when they were born, including on for my Cabbage Patch doll she brought me when I was little. I knew that she had made a receiving blanket for my SIL when they had there first child, however as she is now 96 and almost blind from Macular Degeneration it had not even entered my mind that I would be lucky enough to receive one for my new baby. So when she visited me in hospital after having Sebastian and presented me with this lovely crocheted blanket, I was extremely surprised.



Turns out that as soon as she realised that she was having problems crocheting due to arthistis and eye sight problem she started the blanket for me to put away until it was needed. She started it 5 years before I had Sebastian, before Andrew and I were even married. She wasn't able to finish it my Mum had to do some it of which is why some of the boarder is a nice fine lace pattern and some is quite plain (My mum can't crotchet as well as my grandma) but I can definitely say that it is treasured item that one day I will be able to pass down to my grandchildren.

Mr Electron

A lot of you in blog land would have seen Miss Buttons. A cute little armless lady that can be made in various clothing options seen here, well it turns out that she has a brother.

Ladies and ladies (don't think any Gentlemen read my blog) introducing

Mr Electron

And here is a pic of his proud new owner, just because i have posted a new pic of my darling boy recently

Christmas Quilting project

Okay, Okay I know that I am really really slack at posting, I promised you all (whoever you are) a post a day for 25 days and I failed miserably.

Here is a bunch of update post to give you some Christmas reading.

I finally finished my MIL table runner that was to be one of her Christmas presents and it made it to Sydney along with all the other gifts for her, SIL and FIL safely which was a huge sigh of relief.

Here is what I did



She said that she loved it so I was happy with that.

I loved what she got me as well, because I picked it. For the last two years my in laws have given us money to but presents for the three of us with. This we got some books for Andrew, a bike and helmet for Bastian and I bought myself a Pandora bracelet and a little boy charm. We were very happy with the lot.

Backpack for Baby

As part of the Granny's Magic Bag Block of the Month we are also make 4 projects that sort of link in, so far we have made a frog pyjama pillow, two eggs with legs to hang on a wall, and a backpack, so far I have sort of finished the pyjama pillow and tonight I finished the backpack. I am quite proud of it actually :p

He is a big boy now

I posted some pics in a earlier post of some material, webbing and clips that I bought to make a cloth high chair for Bastian, one one evening later here is the final result.

Isn't he a cute model :)



This is how it looks when not containing a baby



And this is the back, I need to get a second set of plastic buckles for the lower strap, this one is used to secure the chair to the set while the top one comes from the front to hold the child in place, this only works on children that are going to sit up straight, for a baby that isn't sitting up yet unaided it wouldn't work



And this is what it folds down to it is about the size of a small paperback novel, perfect size to fit in your nappy bag for times when you are caught out unexpected, plus some dining place have very grubby high chairs that look like they are never washed, this is when it will come in handy.