Quilted Flower Coasters

Back to an old favorite. My mum loved the Christmas coasters I gave her a while ago but did not like that she had to put them away once the season was over and couldn't use them year round so I decided to make her another set this time with pretty spring flowers that she can keep out year round. Daffodils are the welsh national flower and tulips are her favorite. She loves them and the fact that she doesn't have to put them away.

Tea Cozy

I'm not sure if many of you will remember when I made my sister a carrier bag holder a little while back. I had more of the same fabric and wanted to make her a tea cozy to match. Most members of my family my sister and her husband included drink a lot of tea so it made sense. It was the perfect Christmas gift for them and they loved it.

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Reversible Bag

On our last visit to the United Kingdom to visit family, my niece gave me some fabric that she had purchased to make something with but had never gotten around to. She didn't have time to make anything with it so I wanted to use some of it for something for her. I picked two fabrics from what I was given and made a reversible bag for her. That way she could choose which fabric she was in the mood for and change it when she wanted something different.

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Fish Themed Quilt

A dear friend of mine had to move to Georgia this summer. before she moved, she had picked out the fabric for a quilt top. The plan was for me to teacher so she could make it herself. Then life took on a mind of its own and she and her family ended up moving before we could get started. The kids and I went to visit them during the holidays and I brought the fabric back with me. I put it together in my spare time and sent it to her in time for Christmas. I was able to piece the back together using 6 fat quarters and leftover fabric from the front of the quilt.

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Lego Caravan

This is a birthday present I got this year. I finally got around to making and finishing it. It looks awesome up close. I love VW caravans, takes me back to my childhood.

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Colorado Quilt Store

While visiting friends in Evergreen, Colorado during thanksgiving week my wonderful friend took me here. It's one of the quaintest quilt stores I have ever seen. They didn't sell fabric unfortunately but all the quilts there were for sale and reasonably priced too. Needless to say I couldn't leave without getting one for myself. I forgot to take a picture of mine but as you can see I was spoilt for choice.

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Fabric Baby Book

I recently made a baby quilt for some friends (please see the post from July 26th 2013). While at the store purchasing the fabric for it I spotted a fabric panel that had the pages of a baby book on it and thought it would make a perfect addition to the blanket so I bought it then and made it to send to them for baby's first Christmas. It was perfect for him as it matched the blanket which his parents loved.

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Pet Blankets

I bought 2 cheap fleece blankets from a local store. Cut each one into 4 pieces and sewed one of each sort together. I'm going to take them to our local humane society. One of our cats decided he was going to try them out in advance and it seems he approves. I may have to keep one back just for him :-)

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Flower and Photo Cards

I needed a break from all the sewing I have been doing lately. I decided to revisit an old love and make a few cards. The first one I made was from some stamped images I found whilst going through all the stuff in my craft room closet. I had repeated the image a few times with the idea of doing this ages ago, I just never got around to it till now. 

The rest I made were just photo cards using pictures of flowers that I have taken. Again put aside for the right time. It feels good to get stuff done. I am such a procrastinator. 

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Hand Sewn Cowboy Quilt

After my success with the hand sewn quilt I made for my mum, I decided to make one for my dad too. He turns 80 this year. My dad loves everything cowboy and America related, this made my fabric choices pretty easy. I have been working on this all over the summer. 

We took a trip over to the UK to visit family and I took it with me so I could keep working on it. This also allowed my dad to get a sneak peak of my work in progress. I even had the chance to sit under the shade of a tree by a stream on a beautiful day in the fabulous grounds of St. Fagan's castle in Wales. One of my favorite places to visit when I go home. 

I wasn't able to finish it while I was there, even though I tried very hard to, but finally it is finished and winging its way to my dad in time for his birthday.

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Travel Cushions

I bought some cheap travel cushions from Target. They were only $3. each. I made a paper template and used it to cut out some pretty fleece I had hanging around. I sewed the pieces together to give me these more comfortable looking and feeling cushions. I made them for friends who have an upcoming road trip to their new home in Colorado.

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No-Sew Blanket

My friend wanted me to make her daughter a soft snuggly blanket. she supplied me with 2 pieces of fleece that she had chosen for her each approx one and a half yards. No-sew blankets are awesome, I love these things because they are so quick and easy to put together. and the bonus is no sewing is involved. I'm trying to figure whether a rotary cutter or a good old fashioned pair of scissors are better for the job. I used my rotary but will probably need a new blade when I'm finished.

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Skirt Fringe

My daughter has had a growth spurt lately and some of her skirts have become a little to short for my liking. I cut a bandanna into strips and sewed them end to end. I then sewed them to the hem of the skirt making them at least 3 inches longer than before. Problem solved.

 

 

New Cutting Table

After nearly putting my back out cutting out the pieces for the baby quilt I decided it was time to get a better cutting table for my craft room. After some online research I found the perfect thing here(http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2012/07/make-a-counter-height-craft-table-from-shelves-legs-and-a-table-top.html). A trip to Ikea was required. The finished thing is great, the perfect height.

Baby Quilt

Juliet and I are both friends with an awesome couple. Recently they found out they are expecting a baby.  We got to work straight away, not knowing if it was a boy or girl allowed us to use both pink and blue. Once we knew it was going to be a boy we were able to chose our binding and get it finished. With time to spare....roll on July. It was  so awesome to see baby Ethan wrapped in his quilt.

Cherry Pip Bag

Made these one day a little while ago with my friend Juliet. She wanted me to show her how to sew and these seemed a pretty good place to start. They can be used in the microwave, heated for 1 minute 30  seconds they can sooth all your aches and pains away. They hold the heat really well. The most important thing to remember when making these is that both the fabric and the thread used have to be 100% cotton. Flax seed can be used as an alternative to cherry pips.

E-Reader Pouch

 

 
I found this awesome cowboy hat fabric in the clearance section at hobby lobby and thought it was perfect to make my dad a pouch for his E-reader. I hand quilted around each hat and added a zipper.

 

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Kitchen Runner

 I made this runner for my dear friend Sandra. I have made a few things for her kitchen using this selection of fabric. I have been saving the remnants each time to make something else so that it all matches. On this occasion I wanted to make something to sit on her island.

 

I used heat resistant batting so that hot things can be put on it safely. I hand sewed it also so I could take it anywhere with me while I was making it. I have to say this is my favorite thing to do these days. It looked pretty cool when finished and Sandra loved it.
 

Hand Sewn Quilt

Last year I bought a couple of quilt kits on clearance from Jo-Ann's. My plan when I bought them was to make a quilt for my mum. The kit was made up of hexagons, a shape I have never used before. I made the decision to hand sew it. This gave me the added benefit of being able to work on it anywhere.

 

 

 

It was very exciting to watch it grow. I had to take a break from it on and off due to traveling. But when it was finished It looked great. I was enjoying the hand sewing side of things so much I wanted to keep going so I hand quilted it too.

Made with love from start to finish. I gave it to my mum for her birthday in January and she loves it and it is getting lots of use.

 

 

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