My Fabric Flowers have been Featured

Remember a while ago I cut my finger and wasn't able to sew. In order to keep me busy so I didn't loose my mind I decided to make some fabric flowers.
Today Pam wrote to me to let me know they'd been featured.
Thanks Pam, I love your blog and the way you've set up your linky parties.

If you haven't come across Pams blog yet make sure you go over and check it out as well as the other lovely creations that have been featured.

 

 Click here

~ Maria ~

Just For Me

It seems I'm always making things to either give away or sell so now that Christmas is over I wanted to make a few things for myself before the New Year comes in.
First off is this tea towel that I bought the summer of 2011 when I was visiting my parents in Spain. It was too nice to use as a tea towel so made it into a table topper.

It has a recipe for Empanada Gallega (Galician Pie) Galicia being the region of Spain I'm from.

The boy and girl are dressed in the traditional Galician style clothing.

Next I needed a draining mat for when there are just too many dishes to drain on the draining board. You're probably thinking, you wash by hand. Well actually not often, they go in the dishwasher but sometimes I do like to wash them by hand. LOLLL

I measured the size of my work surface where I wanted it to go which was 29.5" x 18.5" and used fabric that remained from when I made my curtains.

The binding has always been a problem for me. Not the sewing but the strain it puts on my eyes sewing it by hand. I tried different ways of sewing by machine but wasn't happy with the results. Then I came upon this tutorial where the binding is sewn to the back of your work and then top stitched from the right side. Results at last!!!! I think I can live with this method.

This is the right side.

And this is the wrong side

Done following this tutorial there is no way you can not catch the binding on the bottom which was one of my biggest problems, that and the sewing coming out wonky. I think this is the method I'm going to adopt from now on.

Next thing I'd like to make for myself are some fabric trays and some tray toppers.
Not long before the new year so I'd best get cracking. These two projects took a day each so I'm hoping to make them quickly.

~ Maria ~

Saddle Bag

Hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas yesterday. Mine was a most unusual one to say the least.
First of all I got it into my head on Christmas Eve to swap my sewing room upstairs with my bedroom downstairs. Yes I know I'm mad but that's me, once I decide on something it has to be done. So all my sewing stuff, fabric, computer, sewing machines you name it it all came downstairs. Dismantled the big double bed and took that upstairs. All in all I think it took about 9 hours to do the both. It was good exercise before Christmas Day. Hubby and son helped move some of the heavier objects. Christmas Day I felt like I'd been hit by a lorry so hubby made Christmas dinner, well sort of it was Kentucky chicken and fried potatoes. I made trifle for later. Both were delicious. So now in my new sewing room I can chat to hubby if I want to as the room is off the sitting room. I'm hoping the move will give me new inspiration for the New Year.

Ok now onto the Saddle Bag I completed before Christmas.

The design is by Gary Fletcher. Gary is a trained pattern maker, designer and graphic artist and is at present doing bag designs for his spring collection. Gary is also a member of one of the yahoo sewing groups that I'm on and this is where I got the pattern from. He very kindly gave us the pattern to do as a sew along.
Some have completed it and others will be starting in the New Year so I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone's finished bag.
If you'd like to take a look at Gary's pattern you can go to Fashion Clique. In the bottom left hand corner under instructions you will see the 4 phases for making the bag. The pattern has loads of large clear photos and instructions and should you get stuck you can find Gary's email at the bottom of each phase. Best of all it's a FREEBIE.
The pattern doesn't call for batting or quilting as I did but I wanted to make sure it would be pretty stiff. I also used upholstery fabric and made a pleather strap.

It has two side pockets and a front pocket. I also added a strap attached to the lining so I can keep my keys where I can find them.

The inside has loads of pockets but I just made two. I've found just recently that the more pockets I have the longer it takes me to find what I'm looking for. Must be old age, I can't remember which pocket I've put things in.

I'm so looking forward to Gary's future designs. We should be in for a treat. I'll let you all know as soon as they're out.

~ Maria ~

Santa Felt Ornaments

After my post last night I quickly went onto google search and just by chance came across these lovely santa ornaments. I've been looking for some like this for ages but couldn't find a free tutorial. So I quickly cut some out and her are a couple I made.

These are so quick to make that you could make quite a few in an afternoon. If you'd like to make some for yourself go to this free tutorial which also includes a tutorial for Rudolf the reindeer felt ornaments.

~ Maria ~

Happy Christmas & Happy New Year

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Wishing all my wonderful followers and visitors to my blog a Very Happy Christmas & a Happy New Year.
I've had a wonderful time sharing my creations with you this past year and have loved every one of your lovely comments. May you all have a safe and joyous holiday.

I doubt this will be my last post before the new year, only the end of the world would stop me and that didn't happen today. LOLLLL

My best wishes to you all

~ Maria ~

Take A Peek

Christmas Day is nearly upon us so just thought I'd share a few of my decorations with you.
First off, the tree. Most of the decorations have been made by me just a few are bought ones.

Christmas wouldn't be right without my robin on my tree. I've had him for about 20 years. The Angel I've had about the same amount of time, some years I'll have her on the top of the tree other years I'll have a big silver star. I made the wreath many years ago and the little presents on it are just match boxes.

About 10 years ago I went to classes to learn how to make flowers from dough, I made the snowman in the bottom left hand corner that dough. He's stood the test of time well.

This is a Santa pincushion I made a few years ago and the penguin belonged to one of the kids when they were small so he's about 20 years old. The wreath is just a wire coat hanger that I wrapped in tinsel and added a bow.

Two snowmen I made last year with fleece and the second one I used the cuff of an old sweater for the hat and scarf.

Lastly is this tree I made about 16 years ago. It's made from a wool coat that my mum made me when I was in my 20's and thought it would be perfect for this project. Back then I didn't have a clue how to quilt so it was trial and error. I don't know how I managed to put the binding on those corners, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to do it now. LOL

This has been quite a picture heavy post so thanks for bearing with me.

~ Maria ~

Fabric Flowers Finished

Finally got round to finishing off the fabric flowers I showed you in my last post. The link to the tutorial is on there too.
I finished them off by adding stems for which you can find the tutorial here, and some felt leaves which I just cut out freehand and stuck to the stems with some hot glue.

I then found a glass jar, cut out a circle of burlap and tied it with some ribbon that was given to me last year by my friend Suzanne.

I'm really pleased with how they turned out and they are now on my kitchen table adding some much needed colour.

~ Maria ~

Fabric Flowers. It's like Spring in December

Not being able to sew yet has been driving me nuts. In desperation to find something to sew that wouldn't be too difficult with one finger out of order I came across this tutorial for some pretty fabric flowers.

Here are the one's I made in the last couple of days.

The perfect project for using up scraps and sitting in front of the tv.

These can be used for so many things like embellishing bags, purses or anything you like.

 

I'll probably put stems on mine to put in a vase. Add some colour to the dreary days.

~ Maria ~

Christmas Tree Skirt

I've been wanting to make a tree skirt for ages but just haven't had the time. A couple of days ago I came across this small table cloth I've had for a few years and never used. It was stuffed away in the wardrobe out of sight. It actually looks better in the photo.

I'm still not able to sew much after cutting my finger so made it really simple. A no sew tree skirt.
I ironed a piece of fusible interfacing to the center back.

Then I folded it in half twice.

Cut the center corner.

And that's it. With the interfacing on the back it will stop it from fraying and all I have to do is slip it into place before decorating the tree, which I have now done. Quick and easy.

~ Maria ~

Oven Gloves and a WARNING

On my last post I wrote I wasn't in the mood for sewing but then a bag pattern came in for testing and I was thrilled to bits to be able to sew it. It's all very hush hush at the moment though, you won't be able to see it until June 2013. LOLLL

After that I quickly started making a pair of oven gloves for my friend who provided the fabric. It's so pretty don't you think.

I used the tutorial over at Skip To My Lou.

I made the cuff narrower on mine.

 I made this Christmas tree about a couple of weeks ago. The pattern was given to me a friend but you can find a mini tutorial for a similar one over at Sweet Bee Buzzings.

Again this fabric was given to me by my friend who I made the oven gloves for. This is a dissappearing four patch block that I'm making into a quilted trash bag holder for her.

Now for the WARNING!!!!!!!!
Look at the next photo.
 

Yes I took a chunk off my finger with my rotary cutter that jumped the ruler and sliced away half of the side of my finger right up against the nail. LOLLLLL This isn't the first time. Actually it's the second. Funny thing is it took a while to register that the sound I thought was the fabric being cut was actually my finger. Then I saw the blood!!!! I quickly added pressure to hold it together and ran downstairs to put it under the tap hoping I could do a DIY job on it. LOLLLL After not being able to stop the bleeding I calmly waltzed into the lounge and announced that I needed to be taken to the all night emergency clinic.

Luckily because I had put pressure on it it stuck together and didn't need any stitches. The nurse cleaned it and put antibiotic cream on it and then bound it up. I have to change the bandage every other day and take and antibiotic capsule every 6 hours. So PLEASE lady's wear your gloves when cutting fabrics with your rotary cutter.

It's taken me forever to write this post with one finger out of order LOLLL and now it's starting to throb like crazy.

I had to laugh when I was watermarking my photos. Who on earth would want to claim the last one as theirs. LOLLL

Safe sewing.

~ Maria ~

Felt Snowflake and Ball Ornaments

These two ornaments are really quick to make but the felt I used on the snowflake was a bit on the thin side.
I glued a silver button on the front and back of mine.

These could also be made with paper or card. I think the next ones I make will be with card. You can find the tutorial for the snowflakes here.

Next I came across a tutorial here for this scrunch felt ball ornament. I used batting scraps for this one.

I'm kind of running out of steam when it comes to Christmas ornaments now. I have a tree skirt to make and then it will be time to put up the decorations.

~ Maria ~

Crazy Nine Patch Potholders

Here are some more potholders I've just finished. These took forever as I'm not in the sewing mood so had to force myself to finish these off.

I used the tutorial over at Oh, Fransson for the Crazy Nine Patch Lattice Quilt.

~ Maria ~

Matilda Faux Leather Handbag

Back in March I tested the Matilda Dance Tote for Christine. The pattern has two sizes plus a faux leather one. They both went to my daughter. She was here visiting the last 10 days and I noticed her bag was getting a little worn where the ties go through the grommets so she asked me to make her another one.

Here it is. Her new bag. This time I made just two large pockets instead of four in side plus one small one for her cell phone. The large pockets are quite deep and she kept loosing it. LOLL

This is the base of the bag. The pattern doesn't tell you to do this. I just did it to make sure the fusible peltex stayed in place. Also I didn't use any sew in interfacing like it says. I guess it depends on how thick you faux leather is. Mine was pretty firm so left it out.
 

This is the inside. Recognize the fabric. Yes, it's from the table set fabric I posted here. I still have more left which I am making Dresdens with.

~ Maria ~