Patchwork Blanket

My first project of the year was a patchwork blanket..not quite a quilt...but big enough to snuggle under :)

Here is the process in pictures...

Cut out 150 squares of around 15cm by 15cm. (I used about 15 different fabrics)

End up with a pile like this...

Lay the squares out in a favoured pattern..I tried to mix and match the colours so it was varied...

Find a backing fabric...I used this fleece which was a bargain at £2 from tesco, and fitted my needs perfectly!

Sew strips of squares, then sew the strips together...I prefer the not so perfect look, so none of my squares match up perfectly...

And here is the finished blanket! Its so cosy with the fleece on the back, and super colourful!

My next mission is a full sized double quilt...In fact im starting this weekend :)

p.s I havent been around much lately, My laptops broken so its hard to get on and post! :)

Rest and Relaxation

I have been doing some soul searching this week, after the break down of my relationship and the loss of my job last week. I have spent the past week getting away from it all, on the Isle of Wight.

I have been spending my days researching brands, collecting pictures of items i love, doing lots of sewing and fabric buying!
One day i hope to own my own gift shop, shabby chic in style of course :)

Here are some pics of things i love...

I also love this cushion, and have decided to try and recreate it...

I have sewn all the strips together, and once i find a cushion pad the same sort of length, i will form it into a nice snuggly pillow for my new life :)

I have been on the Isle of Wight for a week now, trying to get over my ex, and looking for a new job! My gran lives here, and as she used to be a seamstress, she has given me loads of lovely bits and bobs for my bag making. She is very talented, and i am so greatful for all the lovely things she gave me. As you can see there's loads! and im taking home another three carrier bags of fabric. Love it :)

Some really goregous lace trimmings.

Some vintage sewing reels from when she worked in a factory.

Lots of lovely buttons :)

Zips and lovely net fabrics.

Lots of padding and Interfacing :)

And my small pile of bags, which i hope to photograph properly soon :)

Please let me know if there are any ideas for project you have, or would like to see me try!

I am trying to broaden my project range, and develop new sewing skills!

Weekend Away...

I spent this weekend at my Dads house on the Isle of Wight. Unfortunately i wasnt there for Bestival, but just a bit of a break.

I stayed in a town called Ventnor, where there is loads of charity shops, and a very messy but cool fabric shop...View from the living room...spectacular!

Anyway here are my bargains from the weekend...

I bought three types of fabric. The first, light denim, i'd wanted for ages! Think it will look so cute with floral fabric on my bags! Or scented denim hearts with vintage buttons. I love it, and the piece it huge for £5!

Next i got a large sheet of calico, just cause! This comes in handy for anything! tote bags, cushions, oven glove fabric...list goes on. £2.50 a metre!

Lastly i found this really long kilt in a charity shop...£2. If i cut of the waistband and iron out all the pleats i'll have loads! I love it with the denim, and i might use it to line some bags, for scented hearts, or maybe just some decoration around a cushion or tea towels!

Bargains i think you'll agree!

Then i found this bag...£1 in a charity shop! Its a Next one, but i could pass it off as designer i think ;) Love!

And lastly, the woven labels i ordered arrived today! Yippee! I love them, Kinda wish the colours were different but for my first ones i think they're pretty cute! £11 for 36 labels which is about 30p a label? Bargain!

I will use one in the next bag i make!

If anyone knows where to get cheap but pretty labels, please let me know!

Im always on the lookout!

Ahoy Sailor and Shabby Chic

Hello :)

I have returned with a new bag, and a finished project which i started months ago!

My new bag is made from gorgeous new fabric from FabricLand in portsmouth. They were both ends of rolls, so for about 2.50 a metre...i actually got about a metre and a half so i was very lucky that day!

I also bought gorgeous new ribbons (also end of roll) so all in all it was a good day! The two fabrics together remind me of sailors and all things nautical. I love them.
I really want to aquire some light demin, i think half denim and half floral bags would be so pretty.

Now onto my project...I started this months ago when i first found my love for sewing. I sneakily went on heaps of fabric websites and asked for samples of their curtain fabrics! I made loads of scrappy hearts, and then forgot about them.

My mum sent me some cute ribbon this week so i decided to dig out the hearts and make a pretty garland for above our bed :)

All free and very shabby chic. (if i say so myself).

Bye for now :)