Feathery Caravan tote

My first finish for the Q2 finish-along is a tote bag that was gifted to a good friend as a farewell gift from work. 

The pattern is the Caravan tote by Anna @ Noodlehead designs and as usual, Anna's instructions were very clear and easy to follow.

I used a pretty feathery drill for the main bag panel, along with my favourite 7 oz black denim for the top of the tote and the handles.

The only tricky part of this was avoiding  breaking my needle on the metal parts of the zipper!

The pattern includes directions for making a divided pocket to keep knitting needles and crochet hooks in which is such a great idea for a crafty person such as my friend.

I really love this feathers print and have enough of this fabric left to make another one of these totes for me:)

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday @ Quiltstory. 

This project was on my FAL Q2 list for this year so linking up with the 2016 FAL team

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Kirsten.

Goals for the Q2 Finish-A-Long 2016

For the second quarter, I have a few projects to finish off, and also one leftover from Q1 that I need to get done by June...

1. Tula Pixel perfect quilt: most of the blocks are done, but I still have these "B" blocks to sew up.

2. My niece is building a house so I have started crocheting a throw blanket using some of her favourite colours.

3.Spell it With Moda quilt: I have all of the letters sewn but I still need to make the filler blocks then put the quilt top together before quilting it.

4.Noodlehead Makers tote: I only have the outside panel for the tote made so there is still quite a bit to do to finish it off.

5. Fancy Friends baby quilt - I am making it in shades of aqua/teal so it will be suitable for a boy or girl...this is one of the Allie owl blocks.

6. And while I am at it, I am using some of the Doe fabrics by Carolyn Friedlander for a fox mini quilt using a downsized version of the "Fancy Fox" pattern.

7. After successfully sewing the Painted Portrait Blouse recently, I would like to make another version using some Tula Pink prints for the pieced yoke.

8. Pineapple pillow: I had enough yellow scraps leftover from The Big Pineapple quilt for another block which I want to make into a matching pillow. 

9. Caravan tote: another of Anna @ Noodleheads beautiful bag patterns and I have some lovely feather fabric to go with my favourite black denim.

10. Beachside Ripple Crochet rug: I started this to use up the leftover yarn from the crochet rugs I made last year and inspired by the lovely Coast Ripple blanket by Lucy @ Attic 24.

11. Jungle Book baby quilt: another Plus Baby quilt: using some cute prints in peach, brown and minty green.

12. A last minute addition of these Basic Grey "Blitzen" fabrics for a new seasonal quilt pattern which I am testing so can't share much more at this stage....

13. And as my great-nephew arrived a little early last week, I am going to make a play mat/quilt with his name and a few large fox blocks using the Fancy Fox II pattern by Elizabeth Hartman.

Linking up with the 2016 FAL which is being hosted by a great group of bloggers from all over the world this year!

Kirsten.

2016 Finish-A-Long Q1 report

At the end of this first quarter, I managed to get most of my projects from my original Q1 list done and those that weren't finished can quite easily be done later this year. 

1. Anna Maria Horner Painted Portrait dress: done.

2. Anna Maria Horner Painted Portrait blouse: done.

 3. Thimble Blossoms MQS : done.

4. A "Fancy Fox" quilt by Elizabeth Hartman: done.

5. Melba pillow :done

 6. Pineapple quilt: done

7. Skipping Stones quilt for my son - I have the blocks sewn together for the blue quilt but still need to get it quilted and bound...

8. And the green version of the Skipping Stones quilt for my other son - quilt top is made but needs to be quilted too.

9. Fancy Friends MQS: done

10. Pixel Perfect Quilt using a mix of Tula pink fabrics - still in progress!

11. Very Hungry Caterpillar plus quilt: done.

12. Gatherer Cross body bag: done.

13. Carry-all Pincushion: done.

14. Chicopee feathers pillow: done.

15. True Love pillow: done.

16. Lillyella sewing machine mat:done.

Linking up with the 2016 FAL which is being hosted by a great group of bloggers from all over the world this year!

Kirsten.

Fancy Friends MQS

The last secret swap I signed up for at the end of 2015 was the Fancy Friends Mini quilt swap, and now that my #teamfriendsofAllie partner has received her package I can reveal what was sent to her.

She liked blues, greens, aqua and grey along with modern designers like Tula Pink.

And she mentioned that she liked both the foxes and the bunnies so I went with both!

I hadn't made the bunnies before and they were a bit more complicated than the foxes to sew. 

For the quilting, I tried out a denser version of the serpentine stitch which I think gave the quilt such a great texture. 

Then I bound the mini in a pretty aqua blue to match the backing print.

For the extras, I sent a little zip pouch made using one of the "Alphabet spools" blocks by Kristy @ Quiet Play, along with pattern and some "bobbin buddies" which are used to keep bobbin and thread matched up.

And a big thanks to Samantha for being the  #teamfriendsofAllie swap mama!

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday @ Quiltstory. 

This was on my FAL Q1 list for this year so linking up with the 2016 FAL team.

Kirsten.

AMH Painted Portrait Dress

There are so many beautiful fabrics available these days and although I rarely make clothes,  it was hard to resist using some of this lovely rayon to make a dress.

I chose the Anna Maria Horner Painted Portrait Blouse/Dress and made the sleeveless dress version with pockets.

One of the reason I don't tend to sew clothing is having to trace off pattern pieces from the flimsy paper but for the dress there were only a few that I needed.

To ensure I was cutting my special fabric correctly, I even made up a muslin beforehand to check sizing.

The dress came together well and the bias edging around the arms was quite easy to do and finished off the seams nicely.

It is still warm enough here to wear a sleeveless dress and I happen to have a cute wooden beaded necklace that matches it well:)

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday @ Quiltstory. 

This was on my FAL Q1 list for this year so linking up with the 2016 FAL team.

Kirsten.