Happy as a Clam. When R & D meets R & R

Sometimes being creative can be a drain. The constant demand for new ideas can actually block the flow of inspiration and the deadlines and work that come with creating new patterns for publishing can mean there is little time left to actually play, think or dream of new projects.

So you just have to hit pause. Which is exactly what I have been doing for a couple of weeks. Don't get me wrong, there has been no rest! But rather a little respite from the deadlines and compulsory sewing and writing.

It has given me the chance to play a little and in doing so I have found new ideas for work. How lucky can one be when the research and development of new projects actually can be playing with fabric and having fun?!

One idea I have been wanting to try for a long time is some machine appliqué clamshells. One evening a stack of the new Tilda Cottage Collection was calling to me, I was in a festive mood and it has some perfect christmasy coloured prints.



I used my tried and tested technique for turning under the raw edges of the clams and then machine appliquéd them to a linen base. You will have to excuse the poor finishing of the clams, this was certainly a case of the head working faster than my hands! I was in such a hurry to get the idea out of my head and tested that this was only ever intended as a practice piece. Of course, I couldn't resist finishing the piece and turning it into something useful! I just made up enough clams to cover the base of my scrap of linen and I let this this determine the size of the pouch.



A quick bit of hand embroidery, add some lining, wadding and a zip and I have a zippy pouch. For the hand embroidery I printed out the wording I wanted using my computer and traced it on using my lightbox and a Frixion marker as I never trust my poor handwriting to do it freehand.



I always print a few different sizes on the sheet so that I can choose the one that has the best fit when I hold it up to the project rather than having to go back and forth trying different ones.

I squared up and trimmed the embroidered outer and then cut the linen backing, lining and wadding pieces all to the same size. The linen outer allows the pretty Tilda prints to do all the talking, I really love how these prints can be so festive but without a hint of christmas images in them.



For the lining I used a salvaged piece of stripe shirting. I love how its simplicity is the perfect match for the outer. I used Vlieseline 279 cotton mix wadding which gives the pouch a little structure but a lovely soft handle.

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I do hope in the run up to Christmas there will be more time for me to play but for now I must get my head down and meat my end of year deadlines! I hope you all get the chance to work on some pretty and frivolous projects too, all work and no play is good for no one!

Stockist enquiries for the Tilda fabric which was supplied by Groves Ltd can be made by contacting groves@stockistenquiries.co.uk where they will be happy to assist you. The wide range of Vlieseline products can be found at Lady Sew and Sew and Six Penny Memories.


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Baggy Pouches

Baggy pouches.....saying that makes me think of that song with the line baggy trousers (I do hope someone else knows what on earth I am on about!)

Anyway, I am not here to fool around, no I haven't been quiet for so long only to come back and lark about. No, I mean business. And the order of business is to let you now about some splendiferous new patterns from the very talented Aneela Hoey.

A few weeks ago I had the immeasurable pleasure of pattern testing one of these new releases for her and I would like to share my efforts with you, because quite frankly I blimmin love them!




Its been hard keeping these beauties quiet and out of my Instagram pictures for the past few weeks, I put them into action the moment they were finished!



I love the superfly tips Annela gives on utilising those machine embroidery stitches you try to forget you have (come on admit it, you know you ignore them). It was fun trying out different combos and I am head over heels with the ones I used on the yellow Heather Ross pouch.



I used a beautiful charcoal grey 100% silk thread from Au Ver A Soie, it stitched so perfectly! Aneela has great pointers on how to line them up evenly with the curved top of the pouch and I couldn't resist adding in a little leather tab. Seriously, I seem to be putting these on everything lately!

Talking about the curved top, the shape of the pouches are perfection, I love that they are different from that standard boxed corner zippy pouch. They make you look oh so clever with their fancy shaping but really it is so straightforward and simple.



There are two sizes included in the pattern, the large is wonderfully roomy, holding two full cakes of yarn for my first foray into colour work knitting. I used Thermolam fleece for my pouches, it gives great structure and body to the pouch without adding any stiffness.



And thats not all, the clever lady also has two more patterns out too. I know they will be perfect for the organised person and the person who is not so organised who could use some help! Go and check them all out here!

Big pouch, Little pouch, Cardboard box

Ok so I lied about the cardboard box, but does anyone remember those dance moves?!

I have a gazillion things I should be doing, we all know how it goes though. The slightest temptation is enough to draw me away from things that need doing to things that shouldn't really be done.

I spied Katy's gorgeous little 9 patch pouch over on the Sizzix blog on Monday, the rest is obvious....

A big pouch for the man's birthday next week, using up an orphan block made from every last teeny tiny scrap of Oakshott Lipari that the lovely Karen sent me in my secret santa. Its a biggun at about 13" for y'know, man stuff!

I also had to make up a little cutesy 9 patch for me, just because I deserve it so much ;-) I used some of my precious scraps, some silver ricrac and the very last of my yellow Annie's Seed Catalogue print for the tabs.

And the pretty pouches just keep coming, I won this lovely from Sarah at Silly Banana Sewing

The pouch is beautifully made, the zip ends are so neat as well as the piecing and it is lovely and solid. I'm going to be using to take my epp out and about everywhere with me in the hopes I will finally get the rose star quilt top pieced! And the Summersville was a lovely bonus as I have neither of these prints in my stash, thank you so much Sarah! (And i hope the sickness leaves your house soon! x)

Finishing in style

The end of the third quarter is upon us and that means confirming what I have achieved. I know without checking the only things left on my list are the few Zakka projects that I missed and my mums birthday present.

The present was made a few weeks ago, just not blogged.

Mum had asked for some Cath Kidston cushions to brighten up her sofa, I used a pack of 4 cotton napkins that cost £15 from the CK shop and simply added some white cotton backing at £2 a meter, not bad for 4 cushions :-)

Mum was very pleased with them, yay!

Now about the Zakka projects, I had thought it would be very cool to make every single one of the projects in the book, but I ended up missing a few as I couldn't sew along each week. Of course I made more of an effort on the week's where the projects excited me, looking back though there are some that I missed that I am not sure I will ever make, sorry patchwork ribbon!

I also missed the pot-holder and tote bag, I expect these will get made at some point when I need a gift although it may be a while for the tote, what with the Mouthy Stitches swap going on and my current collection I am having my fair share of bags for now!

Today though I needed a little gift and thought I'd use the house pouch project

Of course I had to make one for myself too!

So that's me dusting my hands of this quarter, for the first time I wont have done everything on my list, but I don't care.....I have so much to look forward to in the final quarter!

Zakka Tweed Pouch How I Love Thee!

Swoon! This is by a mile my most favourite project from the Zakka book so far. I don't really tend to read ahead in the book (which is silly because then I rush to get the supplies but I love the surprise!) but I did flick through and saw this one some weeks ago and have been waiting for it to come around ever since!

I have had a very lovely but very long M&S tweed skirt in my altering cupboard for months now, it was a bargain 50pence at my local charity shop and it just needed shortening, so I am not sure why it spent so long in the cupboard?! Anyway, I am glad it did because I used the extra length to make up the pouch!

I love this little project, it is so 'me' I used up some tiny scraps of my favourite prints that I have been saving to make the hexi's. That was the last little hedgehog, if anyone knows what line it is I'd be really grateful of the information.

I also used my new Metro Circles that Cindy from Fluffy Sheep Quilting delivered to me at the FQR. I have been wanting some of this for ages now, usually when I really want something and finally get my hands on some it sits in the fabric cupboard becoming more and more precious! Not this one, it barely had time to get fold creases before I whipped it back out!

My 9" zipper (as advised in the book) was too short (perhaps my local habby lady cannot read the box labels?! I love it in there, they still have old wooden drawers with all the habby in and you have to ask for it. Anyway I took her word and didn't measure it, so decided I would add some zipper tabs in Metro Circles again to lengthen it.

I used my new Aurifil Wool Thread in orange to top stitch the zip and corner details, thank you Kelly!

Not having any fusible fleece I simply used cotton quilt batting, I do wish I had interfaced it too as I prefer a firm pouch (Oooerr!) but never mind, I still LOVE it! 

Since the retreat I have been feeling a little low, I think a lot of us have, inevitable really after all the excitement. But I also felt that really I was a bit of a slap dash amateur compared to all the amazing people at the retreat. This wasn't helped by quite a few projects going awry since I got home. I am so glad I found time to make this little pouch despite a very busy week, it has really made me happy again and a little more confident in my ability! 

I think I can safely say I now have zippered pouches down to a T, time to move onto something else that I struggle with......where to start?!"

The one where I bodge it!

So far I have been loving taking part in the Zakka Style Sew Along. All the projects in the book are lovely and it is great to have the extra motivation to get it done in a week. I also like that I have been pushing myself to try projects that are a little more involved, that perhaps I would normally take a miss on because I like getting things done quickly.

This week has tested me! I can honestly say this weeks project was the hardest thing I have ever made! It was frustrating because all the techniques are ones I am familiar with. I think it was my choice of zippers that made it a chore! Putting the metal zip in the back was no bother and I LOVE the effect, lovely shiny brass zips are my FAVE at the moment. But I didn't have the required 20" zipper so decided I would use a chunky double ended coat type zip that I had lying around. I actually liked the chunky-ness of it, I soon ate my words thoughts! Trying the tease the zip into the binding wasn't going to work with those big teeth, then I cut the zip to length too early and too short and it all came apart! After a lot of cursing, sweating and pulling I got the zip back together and I ended up having to make a little tab to go on the opposite end of the big tab to stop the whole zip falling to pieces.

I thought I was on the home straight, just the binding to do, but then alas I trimmed it too short and couldn't join me ends together ...AAAARRRGHHHH!! In the end I just overlapped them and sewed it down. I have got a raw edge showing on the binding and I HATE it, it will bug me but I am hoping the perseverance and work that I put into the organiser will MAKE me use it and not notice the faults!

Thank goodness next week is the tweed purse - chunky metal zip and tweed - SWOON! Can.not.wait!

Jumping on the Zakka Train

I have A LOT of birthday presents to make over the next month so when I saw Zakka Style at The Book Depository for only £5.99 including postage I knew buying the book would make much more sense than buying presents!

It helped that I had been admiring all the cute projects being sewn up in the Zakka Style Blog Hop, everyone seemed to be making such cute things, I didn't want to be left out!

The lovely charm pack arrived on the same day - my prize in the first quarter finish-along sent by Clover and Violet Patterns, so pretty!

So first up we made the sewing pouch. I say we because this is a present for my 7 year old daughters friend and my daughter felt it only right that she make it up. I did all the measuring and cutting, she did the sewing. Very proud of her I am too!

I decided it just wouldn't be a Zakka pouch without the little bird so I made a quick lino cut and used that to stamp the pouch. I hope it is well received by the friend, she has a very keen interest in sewing and I know she is getting a machine for her birthday so hopefully this will tie in nicely.

Then today I got stuck into the next project in the book, a pencil case but as this is going to be a gift for my mother-in-laws birthday I determined it to be a spectacle case.

A very quick project to sew up

Luckily I have the same initials as my MIL so if she hates this I can keep it!

Oh how did that little lino birdie sneak on the back ;-)

I got word a couple of days ago that my FQ Retreat name tag arrived safely at its destination, so now I can reveal the front.

To my relief Jo was really pleased with it and not p***ed off that I had basically copied one of her embroidery designs! I was so taken with her wonderful woodland creatures hoop that I wanted her tag to have a bit of that unique and amazing design on it so everyone at the retreat would know what Jo was all about. You can see what she had to say about it here!

Before I go I just HAVE to show you this cute tape I picked up today in Totnes, I went on an impromptu outing with my Mum, she had the day off and came over, which hasn't happened since last July! We had a wonderful  morning looking in lots of pretty shops (Totnes is great if you love handmade, vintage and quirky). I fell in love with the Belle & Boo tape on the top and the pink tape has cute woodland creatures and even cuter packaging! Luckily my wonderful husband had given me a few pennies, they didn't stay in my purse for long.

Now to go and find things that need sticking together ;-)

Happy post

Apologies for my tardiness in blogging this lovely post that came to me, the gods honest truth is that I started using it the moment I unwrapped it and it blended into my life so well it was like I always had it, then I kinda forgot I hadn't blogged it!

I was very fortunate in the recent Mouthy Stitches swap to have Susan as my swap mamma. She heard that my  'real' partner had been suffering really bad flooding and may not be able to sew me up a pouch. Not wanting me to miss out she so sweetly whizzed one up and sent it my way.

Then a few weeks ago a mystery parcel arrived from Australia. I am such a geek when it comes to international mail. Despite having some friends over I still got all excited, what could it be? I wasn't expecting anything. So I ripped her open and found this lovely inside

I love this little covered button and flower.

Fab label and details!

And all these lovely fabrics too! Look at those funky bunnies.

The pouch was made up by Keera who blogs over at Live-Love-Sew. You should go and pay her a visit. I am very pleased she was my partner!

Not much sewing here the last day or so, I scheduled a little housework and hoovering in yesterday and found myself ripping up the disgusting old brown carpet in the bathroom and painting the floor boards and walls white! Whoops! I did manage to finish this block off though

Now onto painting the hallway  stitching up September's birdie block and basting the Siblings Together quilt!

Sewing to make you warm and fuzzy

What a wonderful weekend I had, I hope you did to!

Saturday brought an unexpected surprise. My daughter had a friend to sleep-over and we ended up having an impromptu sewing lesson. Her mum had only asked a couple of weeks before about arranging some beginner lessons for her but this was totally unplanned. If it had been planned I may have panicked about letting a minor loose on my precious machine and not enjoyed it so much ;-)

Not wanting to change a winning formula we made another pouch, this time a smaller purse size. She picked the fabrics and fussy cut, helped with the rotary cutting and aside from a brief demonstration did all the stitching herself with a little assistance.

I think she is going to be a natural!

Here she is with her creation, very proud!

The finished purse

Not wanting to be left out my daughter spent the time I was sewing with her friend busy sketching a design for her own pouch, which she wants to give to her school teacher. She also showed a blatant disregard for the limit of my skills and chose to make an egg shaped pouch. Cue me panicking about putting in a curved zip!

We did it!

She chose a fabric that is somewhat reminiscent of a psychedelic speckled egg, heaven knows how it got into my stash!

After all that fun we made pancakes and gingerbread men and rounded out the day with a very wholesome walk in the woods by a tumble down castle, ah perfect!

On Sunday I threw away all plans of a day by myself at the local quilt show in favour of more warm fuzzy feelings. I had come across this the previous evening and before I knew what my fingers where doing I was jumping in with both feet.

Lynne over at Lilys Quilts has done an amazing job rounding up many talented quilters (I'm excluding myself from that comment haha!) with the aim of making 50 quilts by the summer for the children of Siblings Together to take home from their camp to remember their experience by. Siblings Together brings together children separated by the care system. Having 2 siblings myself I know how special the bond is and was immediately moved by the work of the charity. I have pledged to make 2 quilts, possibly 3! But wanted to do something immediately to get the ball rolling so I made a few blocks for the group projects.

First up were some simple log cabins, although I must have had my sleepy Sunday head on as I kept getting the configuration wrong!

Then I moved onto a granny square, I only had enough white solid left for one of these, good job too as I could have spent all day making them, I am hooked! I had to get this one packed up as soon as I finished it or I would have had a hard time parting with it.

If you want to help head over to the flikr group here. You don't need to make a whole quilt you could make a few blocks, donate some fabric or wadding or backing. Perhaps even offer to put together a quilt from a top for someone who doesn't have the time. Anything will help.

Having topped up my warm and fuzzy feel good level to the brim I became wonder woman for the rest of the day. I grabbed my Sew.Happy.Quilt top and set to basting, quilting, binding and burying thread and had a finished quilt by 10pm last night! She is in the wash and I'm hoping to get her dry today to snap some pics before we loose the sun for the rain tomorrow!

Sssshh don't tell but I have something to celebrate!

So a few days ago the lovely Susan pointed out to me that I had passed a rather celebratory milestone, 100 followers!

And then today a timely parcel arrived from Indie,

How cool?!

 I am sure she could whip you some up if you ask her! Today I had a lovely friend visiting, we went to University together but don't often get to spend time together. She doesn't do much sewing but that didn't stop me dragging her into my sewing room to play with the new fabric. In no time at all we had cut 3 pouches and sewn up two. 

Then I had to drop my friend back to the station and found a little time when I got back to sew up the last one (my one)

So I sent one home with my friend as her Easter gift

She picked the fabrics and how she wanted them set out and I sewed that little beauty of a pouch up. I sent her off home with the suggestion that she should immediately fill it with a bag of mini creme eggs!

I also made one for myself out of the DS scraps left from my Sew.Happy.Geek QAL.

Who is the third one for I hear you ask?.....Maybe you!

I have an almost Jubilee Britannia colour theme going on with this one, it was my test pouch and the zip ends are no where near perfect on this one, but if you love it it can be yours.

As a special thank you to all my lovely followers I am going to send this to one of you, I just ask one small favour. Leave a comment below, I'd like to know a quilt pattern you recommend for using up charm squares. I seem to have an abundance of rainbow charms (can't think how that came about) and want a good pattern to use them up.

The pouch is only on offer to my current followers, I'd love it if you are new here and want to start following me but I am not doing this as a means of gaining new followers but a way of thanking those who have been with me over the last few months.

Phew, that felt good - what with all the sickness in our house I haven't sewn in over a week, I'm glad I got it out of my system! Hoping for a little more sewing time this weekend and perhaps even a trip to the local quilt festival if I can persuade my husband ;-)

EDITED TO ADD:

I will leave the comments open until Thursday 5th April 9pm my time, then I will draw a winner at random. Good luck!