Table Runner & Coasters

Hi

This took a little longer than I thought. In fact the coasters took me longer than the table runner. I must remember never to bind coasters again. Sewing up the seams on the binding was so fiddly. The table runner measures 16.5" x 41.5" and the coasters 4 3/8" x 4 3/8".

 

This was one piece of fabric so there was no piecing to do.

The back I just did in a plain fabric and the binding from the same fabric as the back.

There was just enough fabric to make one of these little fabric baskets. The tutorial can be found at http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2010/12/jennifers-fabric-focus-happy-hostess-gift-box-pattern/

If you notice the inside I've sewn my layers together. That's not in the tutorial but I find it makes it sturdier.
And one last photo. It wouldn't be complete without some matching pumpkins. I actually made these a few days ago, remember my pumpkin post, the colours matched perfectly.

As usual after each sewing project it's off to clean my sewing room. I always say I'll be tidy and organized while I'm sewing but I just can't seem to manage that. It really is like a bomb site. LOLLL

~ Maria ~

Pumpkins

Hi

Yesterday I was just looking around the net looking for a project that wasn't going to take long and wouldn't involve much sewing so was thrilled to bits when I saw that Bethany over at http://sweetbeebuzzings.blogspot.de/
had posted about her Pumpykins. As soon as I saw them I knew that was what I wanted to make. Go take a look at hers and also the link for the tutorial, they're so cute.

I started off making these three which took all of 40 mins to complete.

Guests came round so had to stop but as soon as they left I started making some more. This time more like a production line and ended up with a total of twelve.

LOLLL I think I got a bit carried away with this project. Looking at the photos I think I need a couple more orange ones then I'll stop....... maybe....

~ Maria ~

Please Read CD Sewing Case Update

Hi

Remember the CD Sewing case I posted about on Thurs 6th Sep. Seems as if there's been a bit of a commotion about it. So I'm writing this post in the hope that things will be cleared up once and for all.
The original creation belongs to Jutta over at

                                                           http://faulengraben.blogspot.de/

she saw mine on my blog and that I had had problems with sewing the hinge on mine because of the poor photos on the other link and very kindly sent me her tutorial. Thanks Jutta.
As far as I'm aware Jutta is not giving this as a free tutorial unless she changes her mind. If she does and lets me know I will post the link to my blog.

To read the full story this is what Liz   http://liz-moments.blogspot.de/  wrote on her blog. I've copied the post with her permission.

Hope this clears things up and we can all get back to doing what we love most. Sewing and sharing with others our creations.

Something good, gone bad…..

its amazing that the internet with all its good, fun, creative, exciting, inspiring ideas can also be a nightmare.
Since January I have been doing my Sewing Room SewAlong…every month I have posted links, blogs, inspirations that I found on the net for you to sew.
To my pleasure & surprise my little blog inspired, motivated a bunch of you …for this I am truly thankful. It has made my sewing days more pleasurable !
Till this is month!
I posted a link I found on another blog for this round case. Since then I have been bombarded with crazy emails .

This sewing case looks like one that was created by Jutta at Fraulengraben
Jutta created this pattern 2 years ago and posted it as a freebie for one day as part of a Christmas calendar…which I was lucky enough to become since I am a member of that group…which I had hoped to sew this year in my SAL…which I did not share!
As I was preparing this months Sewing Project post. I came across a link …on another blog…for a round case…that I thought would make an adorable sewing case…so I posted the link thinking you would all love it.
Since then I have been bombed with crazy emails !
I want to get a few things cleared….
When Jutta wrote me and said the pattern looked like hers …I asked her if I should remove the post/link from my blog and she said "  Nein - sie brauchen nix löschen/wegmachen - der "Fehler" liegt ja nicht bei Ihnen." 
“ No – I don’t need to remove anything – The error is not yours”
That meant the topic was closed for me !!!
But due to respect for Jutta & her design…I am deleting the link from my blog. You can still find it in the net but not through here.
Since I am relative new to all this crazy blog stuff and don’t wish to intentionally, break any rules, step on any toes ….
I have some questions for you all…

• Is it a breach of copyright when I post a link that someone else posted …and they could be breaking the copyright rule ??
• does this mean any pattern / link / picture I think looks like another …I can't post since it may be a copy of someone else's ??

With this kind of thinking …that means I can't post anything since everyone copies each others ideas ??
Ahhh…the joys & headaches of the internet! I wonder if Bill Gates knew what he was starting ??
I am going to continue writing my posts like always and if I make mistakes ( which I am sure I will, since I am am only human)  …I am sure someone will let me know.

Tell then ….lets just sew!

Hugs,

~ Maria ~

Sidekick Tote Bag tested for Noodlehead

Hi

Hope you all had a good weekend. I was busy sewing a test bag for Anna at Noodlehead and it's a beauty.
Here's the link to her blog so you can take a look at hers.

http://www.noodle-head.com/2012/09/new-pattern-sneak-peek.html

It won't be on sale until the end of the week so check back then to make sure you get yours.
It really is a lovely bag with a recessed zipper, inside and outside pocket. You can choose from two bag sizes and two styles of outside pockets plus the strap is adjustable. What more could you want.

For those of you who are visual sewers her pattern is perfect. Loads of lovely photos and clear instructions. No wonder I finished so soon.

Ok here's mine. I chose to make the larger version.

I used upholstery fabric as the pattern said denim would work so figured it wouldn't be too thick.
The binding is a very thin pleather to match the pleather strap.

The way the zip was put in was also new for me. It's sewn into the lining.

Great bag and a good size. I'd love to make one in denim some time.

~ Maria ~

Moderated Blogs

Hi

I'm still around for the moment but just a few days ago someone posted onto my blog and rather than a name a load of numbers and letters were present. It seemed a bit weird but the comment was nice, nothing malicious. Soon after my monitor started getting all these lines going across it and then a greenish white screen would appear. After restarting it a couple of times it seemed fine. Then yesterday my monitor packed up. Luckily my son has his own computer so I borrowed his. Connected it up and had no problems all day until today. After finishing what I was doing I turned off my computer but later when I tried to turn it on I noticed his monitor wouldn't go on. At first I was panic stricken, not only has mine died on me now I've killed of his too. LOLLLLL He's not going to be happy.

I quickly returned his to his room and turned his computer on to test it and it was working fine so I came back to my room and connected up mine again to see if it would work or not and it did. Very strange, which got me to thinking it can't be my monitor that has the problem it must be my hard drives. I'm writing from mine now while it's working. Could it be that this comment has done something to my computer, a virus maybe?

I took my blog off moderation a while back because I found that when I go to blogs there's nothing I hate more than having to type in a code to prove I'm human and then waiting for the comment to be moderated.
I'm going to see what happens with my computer but if I find that it's because of this comment that was left on my blog then I'll have no choice to revert back to moderating.

How does everyone else feel about moderation and typing in codes? Does it put you off commenting? I'd like to know as I love hearing from my followers and wouldn't want you to stop commenting just because of a code.

Thanks

~ Maria ~

CD Sewing Case

Hi

Here's another sewing case ready for the sew along over at Liz's blog  http://liz-moments.blogspot.de/ you can find the tutorial for this one and the others there if you want to make one for yourself.

This one was a little more difficult because the pictures on the tutorial weren't very clear. It was the hinge that was the problem but I managed to work it out on my own eventually.

I think this is my favourite of the three I've sewn because you could use it for so many things. It's made from two old cd's so a good recycling project too.

A sewing case.

Or a jewelery case or for hair accessories.

 

Next project will possibly be some fabric baskets.

~ Maria ~

Yo Yo Sewing Case

Hi

I'm back with another sewing case I made up last night for the sew along over at

 http://liz-moments.blogspot.de/

You can find the free tutorial for the sewing case on Liz's blog.

I'm keeping my Yo yo maker in this one so when I'm sat in front of the tv I can still do some sewing.

 

If you look at the photos of the thimble below you'll notice it doesn't have a top. Has anyone seen one before?

This is a mans thimble. Apparently they have thicker fingers than ladies so theirs is different. I bought it because when nails get a bit long the closed top thimbles can be very uncomfortable. Why is it they make life easy for men only????? LOLLL

I have another two projects I have in my mind that I want to do so I'm off to decide which one to start first.

~ Maria ~

Needle Case

Hi

I've completed my first needle case that I've been needing for a very long time. I'm using mine for my sewing machine needles and have labeled each section with the size of needle.
This is part of the sew along I've just started taking part in, I'm a bit late as it started in January but it's going to be fun catching up and the prizes aren't until the end of the year so there's still a chance.
Check out all the wonderful tutorial links and photos of past projects of people who are joining in here at

 

http://liz-moments.blogspot.de/ 

Here's mine.

I'll be making a different one this afternoon.

~ Maria ~

I Have a Button

Hi

It's been a learning experience for me today. I've spent the best part of it trying to make a button for my blog and then trying to learn how to add a code to it. Now it didn't take so long because I had made a wonderfully intricate design for it more like I didn't have a clue what I was doing. LOLL

This is what I came up with.

As you can see nothing special but it's the best I can do for now.
After searching for tutorials to make my button I came across this site.

http://lovenewblogs.com/2012/05/how-to-make-a-blog-button-for-dummies/

as well as using

http://www.picmonkey.com/

which was the easiest part.
I've added my new button and code to the right hand side bar just below my followers. I don't have a clue if it works so I need to ask a favour. Would you please test it out for me by adding it to you blog to see if it works. You can always delete it if you don't want to keep it. My feelings won't be hurt. LOLL

Thanks for your help.

~ Maria ~

My 2nd Triple Zip Pouch

Hi

I started making this one just before I made the Cot Quilt and had to abandon it until the quilt was finished so tonight I sat down to finish the pouch.
I did as I was told this time and used cottons and it was much easier. If on the other hand you want to be rebellious and make it out of denim like I did on my first one I suggest you make it without the batting.

This is the link to the free tutorial if you'd like to make one yourself.

http://aquilterstable.blogspot.de/2012/08/triple-zip-pouch-tutorial.html

I think my next project will be a sewing case. There is a Sewingroom SewAlong over at

 http://liz-moments.blogspot.de/2012/09/sewingroom-sewalongsewing-case-box.html

I've already decided which one I'm going to make so hopefully will make a start on that tomorrow.


~ Maria ~

Cot Quilt & Pillowcase

Hi

Remember last Saturday I posted a photo of my disappearing four patch block that I made. It was the start of a cot quilt that I was making for my friends new baby girl. Well I finished it last night.
I had planned on more blocks but after checking cot quilt sizes on the net I discovered that there were several sizes to choose from so I chose this one, 47.5" x 33". It only needed 24 8" x 8" blocks and because I had originally planned on making it bigger had enough left over to do the pillowcase and also add some to the back of the quilt.

This the largest quilting project I've done to date. I didn't have any fixing spray so my first attempt a FMQ it was terrible. I managed to solve the problem by using some of this. Sorry I don't know the name. I placed it between the fabric and batting and ironed it to stick the two together. I also did this for the back so didn't have to use any pins at all to quilt it. Great stuff. It's sold by the meter and is 150cm wide.

This is the back of the quilt and pillowcase.

Because this is for a baby I didn't want a zip on the pillowcase. I also made the stuffing for the pillowcase with this. It looks like snow. Measurements for the pillowcase are 20" x 13".

I decided to sew the binding by hand because I think it looks so much neater. Took me three and a half hours to do the two.
Here are some more photos some with my two babies as models.

Just needs to be wrapped up now. I thoroughly enjoyed making this quilt and hope to do more in the future, for the moment though it's clean up time.

~ Maria ~

An Outfit for Me

Hi

Anyone who knows me well will know that I really don't like making clothes but sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do.
I had a wedding to go to and needed an outfit. Quickly scrambling through my limited wardrobe I came up with a trouser suit I had made some time ago.

I didn't take a photo of the trousers but they were just black ones to match the jacket. I made the silk flower also and bought a button to sew into the center.

This is the front fastening on the jacket and the little top I wore under it. I didn't make the top.

Now I needed to make something to wear over this outfit. Not wanting to buy more fabric I searched through my stash and found a piece of fabric that I have had for the past 18 years. Yes, you read it right, 18 years. I just new it would be useful one day. Actually hubby bought it for himself back then to make a suit but he's not a suit person so I used it. LOLLLLL Don't think he'll notice after all this time.

I bought 8 meters of a sequin trim and came up with this.

 

It took me days to sew the trim on by hand, all 8 meters of it. When I wore it I flipped one of the front panels over my shoulder so it looked pretty. The pattern was from a Burda magazine. 

And to complete the outfit I used this clutch bag which I made as a test bag for Christine, you can see her Eve Clutch's here http://blog.chriswdesigns.com/2012/05/index.html

Now maybe it's time to take some classes to learn to make shoes. LOLLL

~ Maria ~