Bird in Flight Tattoo...

I dont think i need to explain here...but im contemplating my next tattoooo...LOVE these pics :)

My Slow Way Back

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

It is almost Christmas Day and I am trying to make my wrist have a work out without doing too much. Tomorrow will be two months since I fell and it has been the hardest two months to get through. I got out my sewing machine to make my aunt by marriage, a special gift for her ninety-sixth birthday next month. It was supposed to be for Christmas, but my fall stopped my plans. Sewing is the best therapy for my stiff painful wrist and as I cannot afford physical therapy, I am doing it my way. I am making organizers in dark purple and green butterfly fabrics for her to hang on her wheelchair. It is rewarding to start work again. Hopefully I will be back in full swing soon as the pain and stiffness in my wrist leaves.

 

To know more of what has happened to me since March the 9th 2010 when I underwent bladder sling surgery you can click here.

http://bladderslingsurgerymystory.blogspot.com/  

Knowing what I know now I would never have done it because I have walking difficulties and I am in constant pain. If you are thinking along those lines or know someone who is going to do it, be sure they read this blog to make an informed choice. I wish I had known more and now that I understand doctors don't tell you what can happen, I chose to write about my experience in the hopes it will help even one woman.

2010 Final Round Up

Hi everyone,
It's been a while but that is because I haven't had anything to post about.
I've been occupied with the usual last minute Christmas stitching/sewing frenzy but now I'm happy to say I'm done!
So lots of pictures to share starting with a few Christmas ornaments.

I stitched this one for my ten year old grand daughter Amy



It's the Merry Skater by Little House Needleworks
I also stitched the companion piece from the 2010 JCS Christmas ornament issue for my little grandson Robbie who also started skating almost as soon as he could walk.
I changed the wording to make it the same as the girl skater.



and I wanted to personalize the ornaments so I took a design from the Prairie Schooler Christmas Alphabet leaflet to stitch the ice skates on the back.



This next ornament is Winter Woolens by Stacy Nash Primitives.



I just love this design but then I seem to love anything with reindeer on it.
I sewed some East of India ribbon on the back as I like the way it goes so well with the design.



Still with the reindeer this one is Elizabeth Hammond's Xmas Sampler pillow by Pineberry Lane



and I backed it with the same fabric as the Winter Woolens ornament.

Now on to the sewing/stitchery finishes
This drawstring bag is from Australian designer Leanne Beasley's pattern Precious Things.



I adapted the pattern to make a needle case and pincushion



inside view of needle case



Another drawstring bag and accessories. This stitchery design is by Australian designer Judith Tetley from a pattern called Ivy and the Rose.



Fabrics are Aviary by 3 Sisters for Moda.






Finally a few bits and pieces that I made for our quilt group fundraiser last month
the first is from a free pattern found here





This is from Australian designer Gail Pan Threads and Things pattern


and this is just a tiny tote gift bag made from Thimbeleberries fabrics.



That's it for this time so all that remains is to wish everyone that visits my blog a very happy festive season. I look forward to catching up on my blog reading in the new year.

Margaret

Giveaway Winner!

A quick post to announce the winner of my first giveaway!

Firstly thanks to everyone who entered!! Your entries are muchly appreciated!

So onto the winner...Congratulations to Olivia fro Olivia Writes!

I have contacted you via email so will wait to hear from you!

Hopefully i will be holding another giveaway soom so keep your eyes peeled!

Lil xx

Hot Water Bottle Cover Tutorial

Remember that kilt i bought in a charity shop a few months back for £1? There i was, sat thinking about what to make next...and so here it is...padded quilt hot water bottle cover :)

You will need:

Outer Fabric (Kilt)
Padding/wadding - very cheap from john lewis or fabric shops!
Inner/Lining Fabric (Strawberry)
Thread (try and make this the same colour as your outer fabric!
Bias Binding - not much, about 50cm!
Greaseproof/tracing paper.
Sewing machine optional, but a lot faster with one!!

Lets Get Started!!...

First, draw around your hot water bottle, leaving a 2cm gap round the edge all the way round.

Do this onto greaseproof/tracing paper as it is easy to work with.

Pin this to your fabric and cut out one whole one, a small half for the top and a larger bottom half, so that when placed on top of the whole one, they overlap.

Next place your cut out sides onto the wadding and cut out - leaving a gap of about an inch all the way round. Do this for all three pieces.

Next do the same with the lining/inner fabric. In the end you should have a sandwich seen below.



Pin this sandwich together and then carefully sew together.

Bias bind together the two straight edges from the broken half.

Lay the whole piece, right side up, and place the smaller piece on top right side down. then the larger broken piece also right side down. So that when all turned inside out, the outer fabric only is showing.

Sew round all edges carefully, The machine will go through this as its all thin fabric!

Turn inside out and voila!!

I know mines not perfect, but its my first attempt and i love it!...

Another christmas present in the bag!!

Lil x

Pretty Bunting Tutorial

This is a really easy tutorial for making pretty bunting. It can be used to decorate rooms, stalls and even cars (yes im thinking car window bunting!)

What you will need...

Fabric..This can be all the same colour, or different patterns as i have gone for.
Scissors..for cutting out your triangles.
A cardboard triangle template...Mine is 14cm at top, and 16 on either side.

Some Bias Binding (170cm) in the colour of your choice (really cheap from fabric shops)

Cotton in a matching or contrasting colour to your bunting.

...Sewing machine is optional but very quick if you have one!

Lets get started!...

Firstly you will need to choose your fabrics, I chose ten as this makes a nice length of bunting.

Place your triangle on the fabric and cut out, leaving a cm either side of the cardboard. You can save fabric by turning the triangle upside down each time you cut.

You will need two fabric triangles per bunting triangle (does that make sense?) for front and back!

You should end up with something that looks like this...

Next, place correct sides together and sew down each side - not the top!!

(Quick tip for sewing machine users..Sew down one side, At the bottom of the triangle keep the needle in and turn the fabric - saves time and having to sew each side separately!)


Trim the excess and turn inside out. Press with an iron to keep flat.

Repeat this for all sets of triangles!






Next you will need to work out which order you want your triangles and fold the bias binding over each of the triangle tops. It makes it way easier to do this all in advance and pin in place, like below :)

Sew all triangles onto the bias, making sure it is always folded correctly, and the triangle is sandwiched inbetween! I just do one continuous sewing strip, and sew together the empty bias inbetween each triangle. This will save you a lot of time over sewing each one in individually!

And here is the finished bunting!

Let me know if you make this yourself as i would love to see pictures!!

Lil x

Cushions Cushions Everywhere!

Today i made some xmas presents...cushions

This pretty burgundy one , in the same style as previous ones. So easy to make and so pretty :)

This one i made for myself, out of strips of some of my fabric! I love it. I have filled it with toy stuffing, so its sooooo comfy and soft :) I love the velvet strips and the colour graduation...

Im thinking a ruffled one like this would be pretty!

And lastly a few pics of some inspirational cushions...Im loving the large red rose one!

Dont forget to enter my Giveaway to win an Elf Palette, Handmade Make Up Bag and someother goodies!

Lil xx