April In Pictures.

April has been really crazy.

Here are the things I made during April.

Links to the tutorial and patterns can be found on each individual post.

I'm pleased with what I managed to get done in April, roll on May.

~ Maria ~

Pencil Cases & Fabric Box

I've been wanting to post this here for days but have been taken over by the decluttering bug. I cleared away nine black bags of unwanted stuff. I feel like such a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Some of those were dare I say it 'fabric'. It was all upholstery fabric pieces that were to small to make anything with other than patch work it into larger pieces. I had so much of it that if I lived to be a hundred I would never have gotten round to it so I was really brutal LOLL.

This is the last of my contribution for my daughters craft fair. It's basically the same as the zippy key fobs I showed in a post HERE and HERE, just that I made them a little larger to make pencil cases. You'll be able to find the link for the tutorial on those posts.

A lady saw my fabric boxes and she wanted a couple so this is the first one. The second one I'll be making with the blue polkadot fabric on the outside and the patchwork on the inside.
I use these boxes for all sorts of things. I have one in the kitchen for my vitamins. They're great for keeping sewing things in and also makeup. Anything you want really.

You can find the tutorial HERE at Seaside Stitches.

Happy Sewing to all of you. I'm going to be visiting my daughter for a few days and then back to sewing when I get back. I've got four bags on order not too mention three from the bag of the month and another one coming on 1st May. YIKES!!!!! I really need to get a move on.

~ Maria ~

I've Been Spotlighted

While looking through my favourite blogs on Bloglovin I was so surprised to find I'd been spotlighted over at SewCanShe.
It seems that my little Zippy Key Fobs were a hit and got the most clicks on Caroline's linky party.
Pop over to see the post and also check out all the wonderful tutorials that Caroline shares every day. Today the feature tutorial is fabric yo yo's.

I've got some more things to blog about but for the moment I'm taking time off to do some much needed decluttering of the whole house. Yes I've lost my mind and have gone crazy.
Yesterday I threw out an old single mattress and 6 black rubbish bags full of cloths and dare I say it fabric scraps. It was tough going buy I just kept thinking 'be brutal'.

 I'm off to visit my daughter in a few days time and then when I come back I'll be back at the sewing machine again.

Happy Sewing to all of you.

~ Maria ~

Craft Fair Collection

Yesterday was another busy day making small projects for my daughter who is going to sell some things at the craft fair.

Here's my contribution.

I saw these somewhere on the internet quite a while ago but can't remember where. There was no tutorial but you really don't need one. Its just circles of fabric cut out, layered on top of each other with a button in the middle. So quick to make and make pretty key fobs.

The most fun part of making these was being able to sew as wonky as I liked.

I also made more zippy key fobs. These are so addictive and today I even made a longer version for my sunglasses.

Here's all the key fobs together.

And I'm also giving her the tissue holders. I'm now way, way behind on my orders as well as the Bag of the Month which I've only made one of but it was so much fun making these. Today was spent doing some much needed cleaning which has made me feel much better already but there's still more to be done tomorrow. Housework is never ending.

I think tomorrow in between doing the cleaning I may just pop into my sewing room to make a few more of the denim circle key fobs.

Just in case anyone comes across this post and missed the last you can find the tutorial for the zippy key fobs HERE and the tissue holders HERE.

Hope you're all having as much fun as I am.

Happy Sewing

~ Maria ~

Wallets, Tissue Holders, Key Fobs, Patchwork Pouches, Oh My

It's been a busy few days here in the sewing room and rather than show everything I've made in separate posts I'm going to do one long post to save me some time.

First off I made these tissue holders. It's the kind of project that when you start you can't just make one.

Then came another two wallets. The first one you may recognize the fabric. It was a piece left over from the blouse I made HERE.

This second one was fabric left over from a cot quilt I made ages ago which you can see HERE.

Then came a couple of patchwork pouches. I'd made a couple before and loved making them. This time rather than sew the squares individually I placed them on fusible interfacing ironed them and then sewed up the seams. Really quick. My friend Daryl also made one of these pouches but hers is huge in comparison and really pretty, you can see Daryl's HERE. There's also an adorable bunny pouch on that post with a link to the tutorial. So cute.

And about an hour ago I finished making these little zippy pouches or key fobs as I call them.

I made the tabs a little longer so I could flip my keys inside if I didn't want them dangling around. They're so much easier to find in my bag now.

These pouches are also handy for carrying change or a USB.

If you'd like to make any of these here are the links to the tutorials.

Tissue Holders

Patchwork Drawstring Pouches

Tiny Zippy Pouches ( key fobs )

Happy Sewing

~ Maria ~

My Zoje Sewing Machine Review

If you're thinking of buying a new sewing machine and can't decide which one then maybe you should pop over to Christine's blog where she's doing sewing machine reviews.

A sales person can give you loads of information about a sewing machine but end of the day it's the person that uses it that can really tell you if it's all it's cracked up to be.

Today is my turn to tell you about my Zoje industrial sewing machine so hop along to Christine's blog and see what I say about mine, see what I've sewn with it and also check out the other sewing machine reviews.

                                                                    

~ Maria ~

Fabric Storage Bin

Here's a quick project that's fun to make and so easy. I have a couple of denim fabric bins in my sewing room that I made ages ago from old jeans and I needed some more to keep my interfacing scraps.

It may not appear so in the photos but it's pretty big. The plain fabric is home deco quality and the floral is cotton. I interfaced both of them but once it was made I really regretted not adding some batting for more stability.

If you'd like to make some you can find the tutorial HERE.

The top can be folded down for a different look and the bin is also reversible for a different look.

I will be making more of these in different sizes but I'll add batting next time.

Happy Sewing

~ Maria ~

Sugar & Spice Bag

A lady saw my Sugar & Spice bag which you can see in my blog header and asked if I could make one like it but with some patchwork and shorter handles.

I've been wanting to make this bag again but just haven't had the time so I was delighted to be making it again.

The Sugar & Spice bag is designed by Christine at ChrisWDesigns where you'll find a beautiful selection of bag patterns. All of Christine's patterns are well illustrated with loads of step by step photos and very clear instructions. Believe me if I can follow them anyone can.
This bag is one of my favourite designs it has loads of pockets, inside and out. The first one I made was on my domestic sewing machine and it's only now that I have an industrial sewing machine that I wondered how on earth I managed to use upholstery fabrics and still be able to sew through so much thickness. On my industrial one this was a piece of cake. If you use the fabrics recommended in the pattern you should have no problem on an ordinary machine.

I decided to patchwork the two outer pockets.
This bag doesn't have a front and a back as both sides are the same. The only difference on mine is the patchwork fabrics vary very slightly.
It has two slip pockets on either side of the outer body.

This is the other side.

I always have such a problem taking photos of bag insides. Inside it has four slip pockets and you may just be able to see on the top inside pockets of the photo there is space for a pen in the center.

This is the base of the inside of the bag which you can see above in the photo. It fits nice and snug and adds strength to the bottom of the bag.

The pattern has fabric zipper tabs but since finding these nice metal ones that are so easy and quick to install I've practically given up with fabric ones.

 

Today I needed a fabric storage bin so quickly made one of those. I'll take some photos and show you that tomorrow.

Thanks for dropping by

~ Maria ~

Strawberry Pincushion.

I've got a hundred and one things to do no time to do them in and I've lost my mojo.

I spent the whole of yesterday bored and did nothing then suddenly at 1am I decided I wanted to make some strawberry pincushions. These took no time at all and this morning I feel my mojo coming back.

I've been wanting some strawberry pincushions for ever, not to use as pincushions but just to hang in my sewing room becasue I think they're so pretty.

If you'd like to make some too you can find the pattern and tutorial HERE.

~ Maria ~

Brown Rose Wallet

Here's another one of my wallets. I want to make a matching make up bag when I get the time.

I have a satin one cut out from the same satin paisley fabric I used to make my blouse which you can see HERE.


~ Maria ~

Yellow Patchwork Pouch

I loved making these drawstring bags HERE and HERE so made a third one. I had some fabric left over from making a cot quilt and matching pillow for my friend's baby which you can see HERE.

These colours remind me of Spring. You can find the tutorial HERE

~ Maria ~