Finish it up Friday - Two Tiny Finishes!

Today I'm linking to Crazy Mum Quilts for "Finish it up Friday" with two small projects I stitched this week.

Firstly .....

Finish size: 4" x 3"

I'd been trying to think of a way of keeping my lipstick safe when I 'm not carrying a handbag, and then I found a great blog (via Pinterest) .... "Dog Under My Desk" by Erin Ericson, which had the ideal thing ... an easy zippy pouch tutorial.

I made my pouch in two evenings. First evening I quilted the fabric and the next I was ready to put it all together.

I'm really pleased how it turned out, it's light, and at 4" x 3" ... tiny ..... just right to hold a lipstick and maybe a few peppermints!

**********

Then, secondly .....

Later in the week I needed a hostess gift for a neighbour, and made this tissue holder using a tutorial I've  previously used here from Whim Wham.

Whilst making the tissue holder I took a few pictures to remind myself how I made it .... in case I want to make another one in a hurry! Unfortunately, my photos are rather dark as I was stitching in the evening!

Position the handle, and ....

... stitch into place

To ensure the centre stayed central when I stitched across the seam, I stitched each half separately, and then again across the two sides together.

The pin marks the centre ... fold edge just past pin.

Remembering to put one bound edge over the other,
before stitching

Stitch to edge. With needle in the fabric, lift presser foot,
turn fabric 180 degrees,  continue stitching for approx 1"
 before finishing, and cutting off thread.

Make sure the handle is securely stitched!

Finish with a scant 1/4" seam

Stitch over the seam a couple of times.

Trim ends, before turning inside out.....

Push seams out, pin, and stitch 1/4" seams at either end
of holder - again a couple of rows of stitches to be secure.

Turn through to the right side, and its finished!

**********

I'm so excited, before I go, I must tell you why!

Last Saturday I went to a wonderful quilt show, locally, and bought some raffle tickets .... like you do! .... and this Tuesday I had a phone call to say I'd won a quilt!!! This morning a very nice lady was actually good enough to deliver it to me ..... I have to say I was speechless - well almost! I'm amazed, I can't believe it wasn't the first prize, its so beautiful and very large. The work is really intricate and skillfully done ... and all hand quilted!

I didn't have time for photos today, but I will post pictures next time. Just wait till you see it!


Hope you've had a stitchy week!



Hugs,
Barbara xxx

A Very Puffy Pouch

Hello,

I'm so excited to be able to show you my latest finish!

Just to recap for anyone new to my blog: I used a free tutorial from Svetlana of Sotakhandmade, who very clearly said "avoid polyester batting as it's too poofy for these pouches" .... so what did I do???

Well .... I just love puffy pouches!

I mentioned yesterday that I was having problems with my zip! The zipper foot didn't help one iota! And  the seams at either end of the zip were really scant! And I cannot stress this strongly enough .... this was my own fault, because my zip was the wrong length! Oh, one other thing ... I cut my fabric about about an inch bigger all round thinking the quilting would shrink the pieces once quilted! However, I dare say that probably helped .... with fitting the too-long zip!

Ah yes, while I remember .... for those who haven't seen this pouch before .... I coloured in the hearts on the lining fabric and you can read about crayons I used here.

I really enjoyed making my puffy pouch, especially the quilting and colouring in, although it took a little longer to make than I anticipated, mainly due to my using the puffy polyester, and also the zipper being a "tricky little so and so" (it is so reassuring that I am not the only one who struggles with zips! - bourne out by the amusing comments on my previous post).

It was sooooo worth persevering with this pattern, and I am so happy with my "Very Puffy Pouch".

Next time I will try to stick to the pattern ..... tee, hee!

Now, what else can I make before I return to my WIPs?????

See you soon.




Hugs,
Barbara xxx

Linking to:

Crazy Mum Quilts (Finish it up Friday)

WIPs - Quilted Purse / The Splendid Sampler / My Cocoa Sampler

Hello Dear Reader,

My quilted purse is not going so well! It is all stitched together now, but the zip is just half an inch too long, which has caused a few problems finishing it!

Note to self: Next time attach closing tab to wrong side of zip first, fold with a 1/4 inch hem to front, and machine stitch to finish neatly! Otherwise, zip shortening worked well!

Not quite ready for a final photo! Hopefully it will be finished in a day or so. 

The Splendid Sampler: I am still adding my buttonhole stitching .... a little frogging here as the stitches were bunching on the base ..... but it's nearly finished now!

It's been a while since I mentioned my Cocoa Sampler, you can see updates over at Kitten Stitching and the Friday Frolics. 

This is where I'm up to at the moment.

Thank you Jo and Noni for your comments about DMC changing the colours of their cotton .... so I know now that I hadn't picked up the wrong colours by mistake!

Luckily I found that I had been using the exact colour I needed on my Tatty Teddy WIP, which is all but finished, so I was able to use the remainder for this project.

• I've stitched quite a lot of the purple heading. It's nice to start seeing a bit more of the final picture.
• The arch needed frogging where I had used the wrong grey ..... it was much too dark! 

I am so glad I wasn't working on some massive heirloom piece using lots of this grey ...... I would never have dreamt that DMC would change the dyes!



Today I am linking to Eshther's WOW WIP.

Now, I don't know about you, but I'm off to see what others are creating!

Thank you so much for visiting me,  and thank you also all for the wonderful comments you leave me!



I hope you've all managed to get some stitching time this week!

See you next week.

Barbara xx

WIPs - Quilted Purse / Pastel Dye Sticks and The Splendid Sampler

Hello Dear Friends,

If you have visited me before you will probably realise by now that I love to stitch when I am traveling, and, for me, every train journey is the perfect excuse for stitching!

For my latest train journey I prep'd my fabric, and wadding, backed with muslin and searched out a wavy lined stencil I'd made some years ago. I've recently bought some long pins with beads on their ends and found it was possible, with these long pins, to keep the stencils in place on my fabric while I stitched.

This WIP is a tiny purse, from a tutorial by Svetlana, who said "don't use polyester wadding", but I  love the puffy finish polyester wadding gives!

Back home again, I selected some monochrome heart patterned fabric I'd found when I last visited my local quilt shop, which, of course, I couldn't help but buy for my lining, and then I couldn't resist colouring in the hearts with my Pastel Dye Crayons. (In case anyone is wondering, the selvedge said "Hearty 2 You + Me 15.02 by www.Stof.dk). My scrap was approximately 1/4 yard .... so you may well see this one again! This pretty fabric was in a "Scrap Pack", so, haha, I had to buy the whole pack .... consisting of another 4 different scraps! No I won't show you the rest now ... I'll save that for another day!

Lining cut ready for boxing the corners.

Another of my WIPs is the Splendid Sampler block .... "Sewing Machine" by Pat Sloan. 

I know I'm rather late mentioning it (oops, sorry Lara), but I was very lucky to win a signed copy of Lara Buccella's book - "Crafted Appliqué .... New Possibilities" by commenting on her blog hop .....

 and here is the first block I've made using her appliqué method... Sewing in progress.

Is it just me, or do you  find it hard to take pictures of small blocks too?

And what Summer post would be complete without at least a couple of  photos from the garden!

These lovlies must be at least 8' high

Our neighbours have been admiring our Hollyhocks and asking for seeds

And today I am linking to Esther's WOW WIP blog party. Do pop over and see what wonderful creations others are stitching!

As always, thank you for visiting me.

I hope you find time for stitching this week!

Have a great week!

Barbara xx

Spring Purse - Part 3 (A Finish)

I'm happy to say "It's a Finish"!  If you are new to my blog you will be able to see parts 1 & 2 earlier on the blog. 

I've spent the last couple of evenings hand stitching the base into place and finally the zip.

A purse wouldn't be complete without a pocket or two!

The base was stab-stitched to the body of the bag.

I was really pleased with the finish of this base as it wasn't from a pattern and I had to plan the shape and size and was a little worried whether it would fit neatly but it did!

So I'm off out on a walk to enjoy carrying my new purse about!

Hope you have a super weekend.

See you soon!

Barbara xx

A Spring Purse - part 2

Hello again, Dear Readers,

I was working on the base for this purse and thought I'd take a few pictures.

I have used quite a number of layers of material and decided to stitch binding on too, making it quite bulky.

I removed the walking foot and used a standard foot to commence stitching.  Once started I was able to replace the standard foot with the walking foot to prevent the fabric from bunching up.

I think there was a little bit of rule breaking here, as I stitched over quite a few pins!  This made me think of Karen of "Did You Make That" and her recent post.

This still needs considerable tweaking, I have ripped it back where the stitches slipped on the left of this picture and, when I can get it under the needle, will machine it again.

By Googling "how to join the binding on a quilt" I found a great video. I couldn't link to it but if you search for it you will know you have found the right video when you see their blog name: HeirloomCreations.net.  I tried to find their blog but they seem to be changing hosts.  I am not sure if their method will work on my project, as it is a lot smaller than working on a quilt, but I aim to try.

I must show you my lace bobbin pillow soon, when I have time and the light to take some decent photos.

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend, and getting some crafting time in too!

Barbara xx

A Spring Purse - part 1

Hello Dear Readers,

It's a lovely spring day here in England. Very warm for the time of year and I am now thinking what can I carry my sunglasses plus other bits and pieces around in as I will no longer be wearing a winter coat with deep pockets!

So today I picked up the purse I started making last year.

I'm making it up as I go along.

On the front some simple embroidery, Suffolk Puffs and a few hexagons.

And on the back more obligatory embroidery, shisha mirrors, and 1" patchwork squares.

There is an elasticated pocket for mirror or notes and a pen pocket inside (sorry no picture). 

Initially I was going to finish it in the same way as the tiny purse (ie stab-stitch round 3 sides) but now I have decided to add an oval base - just testing here to see how it will fit.

I hope to finish this project soon, but there is still work to do and a zip to add to the top.

Have you had time to make anything over Easter?

Bye for now, Barbara xx

Locket Key Purse

Hello Dear Readers,

We went walking yesterday and spotted these wild cowslips growing nearby on the chalk downland. They are the first we have noticed this year, but with some warm weather they will be out in all their full glory soon. The wild flowers are due to the City of London Commons management system, whereby they don't cut the grass but allow sheep and cattle to graze on the Common which in turn allows a spectacular display of wild flowers to flourish, including orchids, primroses and violets, during the spring and summer months.

That will be a picture worth seeing!  Watch this space.......

Now, have I mentioned that I like to make small things, and love to add embroidery?  The tiny purse I showed recently is one of a group. And I guess you could call this one a locket. I made it to carry my keys during the summer, as many of my summer clothes have no pockets.

The flowers are, from left to right: Sussex Puff with button and beads, embroidered shisha mirror again with beads and woven stitch with french knots in the centre, stitched on Osnaburg (which is described as a utility" fabric, used for tea-towels for example - well, it's cheaper than linen and I like the look and feel of it!).

The back of the purse is patchwork, made up from scraps of patterned cotton fabric, and embroidered with Perlè cottons.  The stitches are: feather, running, long stitch and french knots;  and the front and back are joined with stab stitches to appear to be running stitches.  All these stitches and more can be seen in Sharon Boggon's Stitch Dictionary "In a Minute Ago".

Sharon is on a break at the moment but has been blogging on Pin Tangle for 11 years (mainly about Crazy Quilting and Crazy Quilting stitches) and is also responsible for the brilliant "Take a Stitch Tuesday", which has held the attention of many of us over the last few years.  I, myself, have found her a great inspiration which indeed led me to starting this blog.  (Thank you very much Sharon).  I was hoping to join in with the Take a Stitch Tuesday "event" but unfortunately I was too late as Sharon started her break at Christmas and I started my blog just after that!   If Sharon's lovely blog is new to you, let me assure you you will find lots of wonderful stitching interest there!

I hope you all have a lovely Easter.

Barbara

(I have no affiliation to Sharon and the views expressed above are my own!)

Crazy quilted purse

A while ago I dabbled in Crazy Patchwork and wanted to add lace to this purse, but couldn't find exactly what it needed.

This was my first time stitching velvet and Crazy Patchwork.  Using  stranded cottons, beads, a shisha mirror and even incorporating a perlè bound washer on the lower left of the back.  There were lots of stitches that were new to me - split stitch, feathered chain, double herringbone - and a few not so new - chain stitch, french knots, and lazy daisy flowers.

The Flashing Scissors

The Flashing Scissors

The Flashing Scissors

I then decided I needed to make my own lace.

Next post ..... lacemaking!

A little bit of stitching

When I'm travelling by train I hate sitting with nothing to do, so I stitch!

This is a tiny purse I stitched on my recent journeys.   It is 3 x 4" approximately, with a wrist strap of 10".

The Flashing Scissors -  Tiny Purse

It was embroidered using Perlè thread.

The flowers are Sussex Puffs with buttons and beads in their centres.

The sides were attached to the zip, again in Perlè.   Then the purse was finished by continuing around the three open sides.

I included a name label just for added cuteness, hopefully!

I'm sure I'm not alone in stitching on the go?  If you stitch on the go, what are you stitching now?