something got done

It would seem that I am becoming a once a week blogger. 

I can only blame that on lack of 'stuff' happening around here.  Really, I do more sitting and hand stitching hexies or reading than anything lately.  Oh, and baking, because there's something about having cake in the evenings that I simply can't resist.

I do have some finishes to share though.

I finished some dress orders - no pictures of the dresses, but trust me, I have one completed, one cut and on the go and one, well, ready to cut.

I am a sucker for scraps, and though I said no more swaps until after the baby comes, I just had to get in on the Scrappy Swap.  We are trading a FQ's worth of scraps and a handmade item that's been made with scraps.  I love that part - it really forces me to look at my own scraps differently and then create something worth giving from them!  

I've seen Anna Maria Horner's feathers floating around Flickr and Pinterest and just knew I had to try one.  This was the perfect opportunity.

I pulled scraps that had pinks and purples and blues and after a few tries, I this came off the ironing board.

And, I am proud to say, I resisted the temptations of my stash and did everything with scraps.  

I turned the feather into a pouch.  I am not 100% happy with how my zipper turned out this time.  I skipped the fabric tabs on the ends and I regret having done that as it messed with my mind and broke three of my needles.

In any case, this feather pouch along with a good size FQ of scraps will be off to my partner next week.  Oh, and there is a surprise in the lining...

As of this morning, I am also finished with my Stack n Whack quilt top.  On Sunday, I saw that one of the friends I had attended this class with was already finished her top and that gave me the push I needed to finally get my act together.

Not a great picture, but really, taking pictures of quilt tops seems a little difficult to do alone.  You get the idea anyway.  I also had just enough of the purple fabric to cut enough for binding.  

All that's left is getting a backing and bringing it in to the quilter.  

Hehe, I say that's all that's left, but it might be a long time before that happens.

a colourful post

Okay, so here I am... on Wordpress... so please excuse if things don't look quite right.

I've been busy busy busy sewing dresses and tunics for my upcoming tradeshow in October and then I decided I needed a break from them.  So I got to work on a swap item!

I joined the Modernista Homemade swap this time around.  We have to make something for the kitchen and my partner asked for something pretty specific, so I won't share that part yet.  I have to wait for fabrics anyway before I can even post any progress or sneak peeks.  For the small item, I chose to make a bunting as that was also something she hinted at being able to find a place for.

Because the large item will be all prints with a neutral background, I thought to make the small item from all solids.  I really like this bunting and I think it looks pretty good on my own wall... Might have to make another!

I've also been plugging away at my Hexy MF project.  The last few nights I've pulled out my hexies and made at least one flower an evening.

Then yesterday I wasn't feeling very well, so I parked myself in my rocking chair and made a bunch more.

Now if only I could find the other finished flowers I made!  I put them away somewhere 'safe' but I can't for the life of me remember where that 'safe' place is!  I seem to have that problem more often lately.

That's why I try not to clean up my sewing space too too often.  I only end up losing stuff.

Today I also received some happy mail!

My pouch from my Pretty {little} Pouch Swap partner arrived!  Alisa from Making More With Less send me this beautiful gray, orange, and aqua pouch.  Big enough to hold my hand sewing and pretty enough to leave sitting around - I mean look at the bikes and the row of fancy stitching!

I was quite surprised to find out that my partner was the same person I sent to!  That's the second time that has happened to me - and both times have been super swaps.

a bit of this and that

Yay! My Pretty {little} Pouch Swap partner, Alisa from Making More with Less, received the package I sent out for her!  Now I can show you the back side of the pouch.

I wrote her name on the back with fabric marker and then embroidered her name, using what I think is the stem stitch, on the pouch.  She had asked if her partner would do this because then she'd be guaranteed no one else in her house would claim her pouch. 

The whole lot: I included some chocolate and a small stack of solids and prints.  I can't remember exactly how many I cut, but for every solid colour, I included a coordinating print. 

And just because I always like a post with pictures, here's some things I've pinned lately.  There are so many quilty things I want to try, but I really have no reason to try.  

I mean, I don't want to make a quilt of feathers or modular cathedral blocks, I just want to make a few! 

source

source

well, maybe I want to make a whole bunch of these feathers... not sure what for yet...

source

I first saw this block on Flickr with color and fell in love with the coloured version.

What do you do if you want to try a technique or block, but you don't want to make enough for a quilt or something? 

and I'm done!

I was so excited to finish the pouch for the Pretty {little} Pouch Swap that I broke my own rule and sewed past 9pm.  

On the plus side, I finished the pouch and I absolutely love how it turned out!  I kept waving it around in front of my husband who was also duly impressed.

On the down side... I broke my rule and as usual, something happened.  I cut my finger with my rotary cutter.  Typical.

Remember, I chose to join the advanced ranks?  I was a little nervous about this pouch meeting advanced specifications, so I made it using three different challenges for myself. 

1. I did some relatively difficult (at least for me) piecing with lots of parts.  Not a perfectly straight result, but still looks good.

2. I did some paper pieced applique - something I very rarely do.  I do paper piecing often, but not much hand stitched applique.  Again, not perfectly lined up, but lets just focus on the colour here, and you won't even notice.

3. I added some hand stitching to both sides.  I was a little stumped on how to add hand stitching to the star, but I think it worked out good.  On the back side, I tried a stitch other than the simple running stitch to embroider my partner's name on the pouch and I also love how that turned out.  

Course, I can't show that part yet because she might just check my blog and that would ruin the surprise.

It is a square pouch finishing at 8.5" on all sides.  

I really hope it meets my partner's expectations of an advanced pouch swap.

covert robin - check!

What I started, I have finished! 

That's always a good thing, eh?

 My last post I showed some peeks of the swap item I am making for my covert robin swap partner.  

Now I show you what I have made from said sneaky peek.  

I am particularly pleased with this bright little pouch.  I love the contrast of brights against the dark blue linen.  Maybe next time, I will try with smaller hexies.  

I used this tutorial from Sew Together to draft the pattern for the pouch.  I made it smaller than they did, and my pouch measures about 8" wide, 4.5" high, and 2 inches wide on the bottom.  I think it's a great size for storing some sewing machine feet or stashing candy.  

No fancy schmancy zipper ends on this pouch.  Just plain jane zipper-ends-here style.  And since the outside was so bright I thought to tone it down on the inside with a neutral print, simple black on white. 

I will be posting more about the pouch and how I came to make it on my partner's blog sometime in April, after she has received it.  I'll let you know where and when.

Updates!

Hello everyone! 

We had a good weekend over here.  And I got a few things done.

First, as I mentioned I joined the Mouthy Stitches swap on Flickr.  We had to make a zippy pouch for our secret partner based on their mosaic posted in the group.  My partner definitely favoured applique and pinks and blues.  

This is my pouch for her.

The front is a picture just for tea time.

 The back is just for fun.

I'm even proud of the zipper!

I have never done applique in my life, and so this is a first for me.  I think it turned out pretty good.  

I only showed sneak peeks on Flickr for everyone to see, so if anyone is here from the Mouthy Stitches swap - lucky you!  You just saw my whole surprise!  

But... is it for you?

I appliqued cotton on a linen type fabric and I embroidered the steam and picture frame.

I love my special touch - the tea bag is appliqued on tea dyed fabric.  

Sometimes, I make me happy.

Ahem.

Sunday is always a nice day.  How can it be bad when you have church, family and friends all in one day?

I was also at West Edmonton Mall on Saturday selling my wares.  I had my dresses and skirts up for display along with a few things my sister had made.  All in all, I think for a first showing, I did acceptably well.  Nothing to be disappointed in this time!

My table from the front.

And the side, showing the rack my husband made me.

Then to top it all off, I received two swaps today!  One all the way from Portugal and the other from the States.  I love good mail days.

See! 

Told you I had a good weekend!