Ladies Wallet

I haven't been posting many projects that I've sewn lately but I have been sewing. I have two bags to post about that I tested but one can't be shown till June and the other until after 27th Jan.
I've also been busy making a couple of Dresden Plate table toppers. One is nearly finished and this is a ladies wallet I finished a couple of days ago. I had made one just like it previously and the lady I made it for ordered another one to give her friend as a birthday present.

Thanks for stopping by.

~ Maria ~

Blog Problem

Hi

I'm calling on my followers to help me out. Someone please!!!!!!!!

In the photo below this is how my blog normally looks when I click on the bookmark 'Mia's Creations' along the top of the screen next to 'Print Friendly'.

For about a week now when I click on that same button my blog appears like the photo below. It's minute and I can't read it. I haven't done anything different with my blog except add a 'pin it' button. I can't be sure but I think the problem started after that. Also when I've finished writing a post and click 'View blog' it comes out minute. The only time it works properly is if I type in the full URL.

What I'd like to know from my followers is are you seeing my blog in the normal way or are you seeing it like the second photo. A couple of my friends here said they couldn't get onto my blog at all.

Thanks for your help

~ Maria ~

I've been nominated.

I have been nominated for the Liebster Award by Nissa over at nissaMade.

It's an fun "award" passed from blogger to blogger as a way to network and acknowledge some of your favourite blogs.  A receiving blog must have less than 200 followers. 

To participate:
1. Thank and link back up to the one that nominated you (Me).
2. Answer 11 questions asked to you by me.
3. Tell us 11 things about yourself.
4. Nominate 11 of your favorite blogs that have less than 200 followers
5. Ask them 11 questions.


Here we go.....


Thanks Nissa for the nomination.



Questions asked of me

 1. What's your favourite day of the week?
So long as I can sew I love them all.

 2. What would you be doing right now if you weren't responding to this?
Probably sewing or checking the internet.

 3. What's your favourite crafting or sewing tool?
It has to be my cutting mat and rotary cutter even though I've cut my finger twice with it. LOLL

 4. How many posts to you write a week?
Depends on if I've made anything to blog about but I try for at least once a week.

 5. What made you start a blog?
I wanted to share my creations with other bloggers and also find new friends.

 6. What skill would you like to have or learn that you don't have right now?
I'd love to be able to free motion quilt some beautiful intricate designs.

7. What's your favourite thing to shop for?
Fabric of course.

 8.  Link or post a picture of a handbag you have been lusting for.
Amy Butlers Weekender Bag

 9. What's your favourite vacation spot?
North of Spain

 10.  Do you play a musical instrument?
Only when I was in school but never since.

 11.  What's your favourite chip/crisp flavour?
Salt and Vinegar.


11 Things about me.

  1. I love chocolate and cakes.
  2. I'm a morning person for cleaning and organizing and an evening person for sewing.
  3. I love to organize things but that doesn't mean I'm really organized.
  4. I'm an optimist.
  5. My zodiac sign is Libra so I'm well balanced. LOLL
  6. I'm a pinterest addict.
  7. I love cats and dogs.
  8. I like watching any movie that gets me emotional.
  9. I admit I spend too much time on the internet.
10. I hate to cook.



Blogs I've nominated.

Alicia http://artyandcraftylittlethings.blogspot.de/
Jenny http://downtosew.blogspot.de/
Nati http://natipatch.blogspot.com.es/
Stephanie http://mycalicoheart.blogspot.de/
Sandra http://suddenlysandra.blogspot.de/
Kathy http://sewcraftykathy.blogspot.de/
Marisa http://passionetcouture.blogspot.de/
Ayu http://whitenroses.blogspot.de/
Susan http://so-sue.blogspot.de/
Deb http://asimplelifequilts.blogspot.de/
Natalie http://carryhers.blogspot.de/

My questions to the wonderful bloggers I have nominated.

 1. What's your favourite colour?
 2. Do you like to design your own patterns or are you happy make things from other designers patterns?
 3. Do you enjoy cooking, if so what's your favourite recipe?
 4. Which is your favourite season?
 5. Which bad habit would you like to quit?
 6. Why did you start blogging?
 7. Have you traveled abroad and if so where?
 8. Do you prefer cooking or housework?
 9. What's your favourite thing to do on a rainy day?
10. Do you have a pet and what is it?
11. If you could have one wish what would you wish for?

~ Maria ~

A time for change

The time has come to make some changes to my lifestyle.
 Giving up smoking and being more active.
I've already started cutting back on the cigarettes but now it's time to do something about the active part.
Since I was a teenager I have always been involved in sports from gymnastics, trampolining, running, swimming, a bit of ice skating and aerobics and walking for the past 12 years which I did faithfully but for the last 5 years I've given it all up and mainly sit and sew, blog or search the internet. It's starting to take it's toll.

Not only am I putting on the pounds it's not doing my health any good. While checking through the blogs I follow I came across a post over at Geta's blog. Geta is planning on doing a 30 minute walk and a 30 minute work out everyday for the next 21 days starting from Monday.
I've decided to join her, at least the walking LOLLL. Start off slowly and all that. Having someone to join in with you is a great intensive to keep going. I'll post about my progress as I go along. My main reason for doing this is my health and if I manage to loose some pounds along the way that will be a bonus.

If you'd like to join us just print out this free printable over at Mama Jenn

The more of us taking part together the more fun it will be and we can support each other too. Geta is start on Monday so I will too.

Here's to a healthier lifestyle.

~ Maria ~

Diamond Dish Drainer

First finish of the year.
I posted about this dish drainer on the 1st Jan and it's taken me longer than hoped as I ran out of thread and had to wait for the two day holiday to finish before I could buy more.
This was ordered by a lady who wants to use it to drain her dishes on when she has guests.

 

It measures 80cm x 125cm.

I used the machine method of sewing on the binding to the back of the dish drainer and then folding it over to the front to stitch, so much quicker than doing it by hand and kinder on the eyes.

I bought fabric for the backing and thought I'd wash it first. Good job I did because the colour ran. Went out and bought another and that one ran too. By this time I was going to just put a white fabric on the back but the lady wanted it green so off I went and bought a third piece. This one was fine.

Whilst making this I also cut up squares to make a rag quilt but ran out of fabric so now need to buy more.
Tomorrow I'll be starting on a test bag so everything else gets put on hold until that one's finished.

Linked to http://quiltville.blogspot.de/2013/01/mystery-monday-link-up-jan-7th.html
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2013/01/07/made-by-you-monday-135/
http://ladybug-blessings.com/ 

Thanks for stopping by

~ Maria ~

Home Sweet Home Create Along

Last year Liz from Moments had a sew along that lasted the year for making things for our sewing rooms. Unfortunately I joined in late because I hadn't come across it but this time I'm ready to start from the beginning as Liz is having a Create Along. This should be fun and instead of doing a monthly sew along this one is a quarterly one. Each quarter is assigned to a specific room in your home and you can create anything, it doesn't have to be sewing related.
Pop over to Liz's blog and take a look. The first quarter is assigned to the living room and or dining room and Liz will be giving links to some ideas for you to try tomorrow.

Click on the button above to go to the Create Along.

~ Maria ~

Happy New Year and a WIP

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Just popping in to wish you all a very Happy New Year, may it be a healthy, happy and prosperous year for everyone and may it be one filled with creativity and inspiration.

Starting the New Year with and order I have. This is what I've been up to for the last few days. Slow going but now the new year is in I'm hoping things will speed up a bit. They'll have to because I've already got the longest of lists.
This is going to be a dish drainer ordered by a lady amongst other things she is wanting for her kitchen.
Half of it is completed.

 

Other half nearly completed. I'm hoping to finish the top by the end of the evening but I have a trip into town to buy fabric so I'll see how I get on.

~ Maria ~

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 ~