HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wishing you all a Very Happy New Year. May it bring you health, happiness, prosperity and many hours of happy sewing time.
I look forward to sharing more of my projects with you in the New Year.

~ Maria ~

The Abby Bag

Another project finished.
This time it's a bag. It's the Abby Bag by Vanessa Christenson of V and Co.

I made the straps 2" longer and also made them narrower. It's a really large bag so next time I make one I'll probably shorten the length but on the whole I'm pleased with the outcome.

~ Maria ~

Curtain finished

Finished my kitchen curtain yesterday. I lined it as the fabric was quite thin and then made a couple of fabric roses from the lining fabric and pinned them on so they are easy to remove when I need to wash them.

I don't have much time today but I am hoping to get some potholders and kitchen towels sewn up to match

~ Maria ~

My Next Project

I bought this fabric on Boxing Day not really knowing what I wanted it for, I just thought it was so cheerful.
Well today I've decided to make a curtain for my kitchen window then possibly some chair covers and some accessories to match. The kitchen is looking a bit drab so this will add some colour ready for the New Year. Hopefully it will give me a bit more incentive to stay in the kitchen long enough to do more cooking. On second thoughts I doubt it. LOLLL

~ Maria ~

Wall Bill Organizer

Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays.
I spent mine doing what I love the most, sewing. As hard as I tried to stay away for at least a day I just couldn't.
I finished my wall bill organizer yesterday and took photos but they were so bad I had to wait until today when the light would be better. Once again, terrible photos, probably because of where I'd hung it so I had to take it down and put it on the floor to photograph.
Anyway this is my first contribution to being a bit more organized in the New Year. We used to stuff all our bills into one bag before.
Realized too late that I should have made a fourth pocked for the water bills but there is enough space for the phone and water to share together. LOL

~ Maria ~

Potholders

Ok this could possibly be my last post before Christmas although I do have a mail organizer I want to make before the New Year.
I quickly made myself these potholders today as mine were falling to bits. I still have some of this fabric leftover so may make something else for the kitchen.

 I found these at http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2010/04/potholders.html
I think hers are so much prettier.




~Maria~

Scalloped Dresden Bag

I really enjoyed making the Dresden Plate table runner so was pleased to bits when one of the ladies from a sewing group I am a member of sent in a pattern for a Scalloped Dresden Bag.
I'd never made up a bag and lining like this before so it took me a few reads to really be able to picture it. It's not a very large bag but it's pretty. I suppose it could also be used as a clutch bag

The pdf pattern download can be found at http://duringquiettime.blogspot.com/2011/10/scalloped-dresden-bag-reposted.html

~Maria~

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Here's a photo of my finished tree and if anyone thinks I have put up two, no, it's a large mirror behind the tree.
Now I've got the knack of making ornaments I'll definitely be making more next year and a tree skirt that I didn't get round to making this year.

This morning I started making a Dresden plate bag which I hope to finish soon and will post that in the New Year. I also have to make another two of the Pen bags I designed and made for my daughter. Seems like they are quite a hit.

My to do list is so ridiculously long that I really need to go through it seriously and prioritize everything.
I think organization will be an important part of the new year. Maybe sewing some things to help with this.
A wall organizer for bills, pen holders just to begin with. Sometimes I have so many things I want to do going round in my head that nothing gets done. Perhaps if I write everything down in the order that I want to make it I'll have more success.

I've been having loads of problems with my internet so want to take this opportunity to wish my followers, family, internet family and friends a very Happy Christmas and hope the New Year brings joy, health and prosperity to everyone, most of all more sewing time. LOLL

                                                             MERRY CHRISTMAS
                                                          Hugs and Kisses to you all
                                                                      ~ Maria ~
                                                                           xxx

Circle Zip Pouch

I wanted to make something but didn't have much time or energy to start a large project so made one of these circle pouches.
Very quick and easy to make, probably about an hour. This was made using the tutorial over at
http://erinerickson.com/2011/11/circle-zip-earbud-pouch-tutorial/
I did think it was a bit on the tiny side so I enlarged the pattern and also put zipper tabs on the ends of the zip. I think it finishes it off better.

~ Maria ~

Matryoshka Doll, House, Mistletoe and Lollipop Ornaments

Hi

This is the last of the ornaments that I've made. I love the little dolls and house ornaments which will be displayed in my sewing room once the Christmas tree comes down. I couldn't bare to pack them away until next year.

  You can find the tutorials for all of these at
http://mysparkle.blogspot.com/2010/11/matryoshka-doll-ornament.html
 http://www.stayathomeartist.com/2010/12/make-your-own-mistletoe-tutorial.html
http://whipup.net/2011/12/13/guest-post-felt-house-ornament/
http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com/2011/12/felt-lollipop-ornaments-christmas.html

~ Maria ~

 

Boxy Pouch

It's not often that I make really bright accessories but I just loved this fabric.

Looking at the photo now I think it could do with a pretty zipper pull.

I used the tutorial over at http://projectsbyjane.blogspot.com/2009/01/lined-zippered-boxy-pouch-tutorial.html  I wanted mine to be a firm pouch so I added wadding/batting to mine and then quilted the top.

~ Maria ~

Pocket Clutchs and matching Business Card Wallets

Hi

I always have plenty of scraps lying around so these are just the right size for using them up.
The focus fabric on this one is a black crushed upholstery velvet and the lining fabric is cotton.

For the one below I used some denim from a pair of trousers

The last one was also made with upholstery fabric.

You can find the pattern for these over at http://www.keykaloupatterns.com/
I'll definitely make more of these. Maybe some brighter flowery ones ready for when the spring comes.

~ Maria ~

Yoyo and Scrappy Tree Decorations

Hi

I just made these yo yo and scrappy tree decorations for my Christmas tree today. Really easy and quick to make.

Last year a friend gave me some Christmas paper napkins and I thought they were so pretty that I had them laminated. Now I can bring them out every year.
I folded the napkin in half so that it would be double sided.

~ Maria ~

Frayed Fabric Basket

I found a tutorial for this lovely basket at
http://quiltingintherain.blogspot.com/2011/11/frayed-fabric-basket-tutorial.html

I'm using mine as a thread catcher

~ Maria ~

Dresden Plate Table Runner Finished

Hi
How quickly the time passes. I've been having a lot of problems with my internet so wasn't able to post on my blog sooner but for the moment I am back. Probably just as well because it gave me more time to do some sewing.

I finally finished the table runner using two of my Dresden Plates. I'm really happy how it turned out. Sorry about the quality of the photos.

Still have to make something with the other two that are left. As usual though I easily get distracted so have been making a mixture of projects.
~ Maria~

Projects in progress

Hi
Just thought I'd let you see what I'm getting up to. LOLL
This is how I stay out of trouble.
I've just finished sewing together these four Dresden Plates but not sure how I will use them just yet.

 It's the first time I've attempted making them and am following a tutorial over at


 http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/10/plates-for-your-table.html

  ~Maria~
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've also been thinking of Christmas and wanted to make some decorations so started off with these two Felt Ogee Ornaments.

 

 I found the tutorial at
 http://blog.betzwhite.com/2009/12/felt-ogee-ornament-tutorial.html

 And the inspiration for these I found quite by chance at


 http://www.agapelovedesigns.com/search/label/Jewelry

The blog belongs to Maria Isabel and she is a very talented young lady.
Ok, I'm off to make more of these, before you know it will be time to start decorating.

Happy Sewing
~Maria~

Link to Wallet

Hi everyone.
Seems that there is a wallet very similar to mine on the internet that you can buy or should that be mine similar to hers LOLL after all she did make hers first. Since many of you showed such an interest in mine I thought maybe you would like to check it out. Could be a while before I get to do a tutorial.
Here's the link to the wristlet.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/69306107/accordion-walletclutch-sewing-pattern

~Maria~

Pen Bag

Hi
Back in April of this year my daughter asked me to design a bag that would hold 40 large colouring pens. She wanted to be able to wear it across her body, leaving her hands free to carry other things. She also asked that all the pens have a separate slot and that it should have pages like a book. Not asking for much is she. LOL
I searched the internet desperately trying to find a pattern but to no avail. I had no choice but to design one myself.

The fabric was given to me by my MIL and she told me that it was hand woven 50 years ago. WOW!!! gives new meaning to the word stash. LOLLL

This is what I came up with and she was delighted with it. Phew!!!!!!!!

I used Velcro on the side flaps to hold the pens in place securely when the bag was closed

~Maria~

Wallet/Wristlet

Hi,
Last few days I've been pretty busy trying to make my own pattern for a concertina wallet. I finally managed to do it. This is my second design. The first was for a pencil bag for my daughter who is studying Textile and Fashion Design at Uni. I'll post pictures of that one later.
It measures 9' x 5.5" x 1.5" and is plenty big enough for money, keys and a cell phone. Possibly some make-up too.

The inside has 5 compartments

A zipper pocket

Three card slots

It was great fun and a challenge making this concertina wallet. I had wanted to make a tutorial but got stuck halfway through due to alterations I had to make but I will keep trying to write one and hopefully will have a freebie tutorial in the future. I wish that part was a easy as the sewing.
~Maria~

Rubbish????

This evening hubby came come with a present.
Some hubbies will bring home a box of chocolates or a bunch of flowers. Not mine look what I got.

I opened up the knot and found loads of large pieces of upholstery fabric. Large enough for two or three bags and best of all it's free.

He knows someone who upholsters furniture. The ones he brings home are the old fabric that was on the furniture. It still has the staples around the edge. I'll remove them give it a good wash and then sew it up into something useful.

The Olivia Bag that I posted earlier started off like this too.
So a big hug to hubby for my present, not only was it free fabric but he was thinking of my figure too. LOLLL
~Maria~

Getting Ready For Christmas

Not long till Christmas now so I decided to start making things.
This table runner I made for myself. It's the most adventurous quilting I've done to date and am really pleased with the result.

This is the reverse side.

I also made a couple of small wall hangings from my scraps. One for me and another for my friend.

I read somewhere that quilters were crazy because they bought fabric only to cut it up into small pieces and sew it together again to make another piece of fabric. LOLL I suppose they were right but you wouldn't be able to buy fabric like this off the bolt. LOL
~Maria~