A couple of bags..... HAPPY NEW YEAR

I made these bags up as shop samples for a local quilt shop ..... Quilters Angel .... which is a lovely place to play...

This bag is called Sophia (by Moonshine) and it was made using such a lovely fabric... it is heavier than quilting cotton and closer to a linen ... just lovely to work with....
(I think I might NEEEEEED some????)

Little pleats and a yolk then straps joined with metal rings..... a couple of pockets inside and a magnetic clasp

Another Moon Shine design.. this one called Sweet Heart..... such pretty colours..

the floral fabric is an outside pocket and this bag has an oval base so it sits up well by itself....

They were both so much fun to make, and such lovely fabrics..... and they are now on display at Quilters Angel... where of course the pattern and fabrics are available.....

Have you made bags?  I haven't done such fancy ones as these so I was delighted to find they were much easier than I thought... just had to get used to cutting pattern shapes with scissors rather then my darling rotary

These are my project for the month... they are in the sidebar under OPAM with links to the relevant post should you want to see what that tiny little picture is actually about!

Here's wishing you all the very best for 2013... we will be having a quiet evening tonight .. the theory is that if we start the year quiet and peaceful it has more chance of staying that way??????



This last year has been such fun with all of you and I'm looking forward to just as much fun next year

Righto, Gotto Go.... I wonder if I need a new bag????

Needlecases and a Friends ..........

I wonder if there is such a thing as too many needlecases?

I seem to have quite a collection and I use them all....

I just fell in love with the squared blocks in one of the Rural Jardin ranges.... and I wanted to show them off in a little project....

... so this is how I have made some needlecases ...

... of course you can use any fabric and any size ....

I cut up the blocks and cut a backing and wadding to size ....

(these were approximately 4" by 8" to fit the already printed blocks)

... also some pieces of fine ribbon (about 8" long)

placed them together... main fabric right side up.... ribbon mid point at the edges, backing fabric right side down, and finally wadding/batting....

... pin them together holding the ribbon ends carefully in place and ensuring the other ends of the ribbon are well away from where you are going to sew the seams....

sew around the edges leaving a hole for opening (about 1 1/2" will do) , clip the corners.....

.... turn through and close up the hole ... I ladder stitched by hand...

hand quilted 1/4" round the edges ....

cut a piece of felt ... I used doctors flannel .... a lovely soft fabric, not as firm as felt but it is lovely and fine and holds needles beautifully.....

.. here it is marked in the centre .. then sew it down on your machine

no rules... just guidelines and you can hand sew it down should you prefer

tie some beads onto the open ends of the ribbon and secure with a knot....

.... cute little needlecase.....

do you want one?

you can make one too

I have 3 'kits' available to give out

(cut fabric, wadding, doctors muslin, ribbon, beads and some thread for quilting)

just comment... that's all...

I'll have a chat to Mr Random in a few days time

Yesterday I was so lucky to meet up with a bloggy friend and gave one to her (made up!!!) in a little Christmas bon -bon... with a few naughties to eat

Marilyn was visiting our town for a wedding and we joined up for coffee

..... and just a bit of chatting....

Marilyn does lovely sewing and she brought along her lovely project which I have so admired.... I didn't get a picture but pop along HERE for a look... it is just lovely in real life (so is she!!!) 

look at this amazing project bag she made for me..... It is just perfect, perfect....

.... and so beautifully made.....

she really is very clever and does such lovely work... it was so great to chat and also get lots of ideas and tips from Marilyn... so great to meet up...

Righto, Gotto Go... I'm making some more needle-cases for the gifties box....

Home Made for a bloke.....

In the theme of handmade (sort of) Christmas gifts we fixed up some beer for widget's dad.....

I've seen these done several times and was glad I gave it a go this year

"Reinbeer"

Labels printed from this fun site....  

really fun with some christmas pipe cleaners with little bells....

our ham was delicious.....

... it came with a calender that surprised me.... 

.... when my boys were younger in the house I really was against these sexy woman calenders and pictures.... I told them it's an insult to me to have these images.....

... somehow I don't feel the same about this one!.....

(actually I think he needs a bit more meat on him!!)

Righto, Gotto Go..... still sorting those cupboards.... how come when I sort one shelf it makes three times more mess and things to do??????

UFO made into a Christmas gift ......

I have spent a happy couple of hours this morning catching up on blogs and emails... so fun to see what Santa and the elves dropped off around the world

Wishing all of you a wonderful rest of the Christmas season

Here at home we had agreed home made gifts this year so I made this oblong piece into a bag for my daughter ....

This is the picture I included on my list of UFO's at the beginning of the year

I had previously 'candlewicked' the design and added wadding and done the quilting.....

(I think originally the design was for a long cushion)

so all I needed was to add a lining... with pockets... and some rope straps....

I put the seam in the middle on one side .....

... perfect for these warm summer days....

and perfect for me to have finished off another UFO

This little card wallet was included....

.... is it ok for a mother to lie about only home made?????....

Righto, Gotto Go..... frantically trying to tidy up for next year - some of those UFO's have been hanging on too long!

Wishing you a very special Christmas.....

This Christmas I have lit two special candles, one for my nephew and one for my aunt...... there are lots of Christmas memories surrounding both of them.... special family times.....

They will approve of the fact that there will be more than one glass raised in their memory.....

To all of you friends.....

(and I know many of you are lighting your own candles)

Righto, Gotto Go... the ham needs glazing..... (oh my goodness, I just looooooove Christmas ham)... and I will be having desserts tommorrow..... just a bit...... hmmmmm

Please help... missing elf....

Harrington & Hannah ...............

Hubz had an overnight trip to NSW (south of where we live) and I tagged along..... on the way back the signs in Queensland showed that we could get a fine of $30,000 for bringing bunnies into the state ..... 

... there is a good reason for that... rabbits are not native here and when they were brought in and virtually wiped out farming .. so now no bunnies here....

... well, not real ones....

... so when Michelle started her free BOM early this year all about two lovely little bunnies... Harrington and Hannah I was very pleased to join in .....

I did get a bit behind so I've been working hard on catching up.....

...... August's block......

(I told you I was behind!!!)

..... September's Block ......

...... October's block......

..... November's Block.....

... and at last we are up to date....

I had just caught up and Decembers block came out....

H & H have joined in with John Lennon

"All you need is love, love, love...." 

... I just had enough background to join pieces and make up a matching border....

when I add the backing I'll find a nice bold binding

Lovely patterns Michelle, thanks so much

For this project I used a good condition vintage tablecloth for the backings and the felt was from woolen fabric, blankets and jumpers that I have felted up

they are quite thick in places but it gives a textured effect which I am happy with

The patterns for these are still available... just pop into the shop HERE and go to the Free BOM page.  If you don't have wools/felt Michelle sells kits for this BOM... and other lovely goodies.....

I bought her first pattern Folk Art Fusion book this year so I am looking forward to making up some pieces from it in 2013

... this may be my starting point....

... of course the book is available from her shop too! ...

Righto, Gotto Go.... my happy bunnies need petting ....