Sunday Stash

A few weeks ago, I was extremely fortunate to win an incredible bundle of fabrics from a very generous giveaway on Red Pepper Quilts. The FQ bundle was supplied by Julie from My Fabric Store and they arrived here last week, all bundled up beautifully together in a pretty rainbow of colour.

This is an amazing and generous bundle of fabrics, with prints from Lotta Jansdotter, Lizzy House, Amy Butler and Heather Bailey. They are a wonderful addition to my stash as I really dont have many reds and yellows, or warmer colours in general really.

Thank you again to Julie and Rita for such a lovely bundle!
Linking to the Sunday Stash with Fiona @ Finding Fifth.
Kirsten.

WIP Wednesday.

I am very pleased to say that zippers are not that tricky after all - I don't even know why I was so reluctant to try to use them. It is not as though I ever had a bad experience with a zipper in my past unlike Ted from "There's Something About Mary" which coincidentally was on TV last week.   

So this week I have cut out some more fabrics to use to make another Triple Zip pouch. I am using all sewing themed fabrics for this one as I intend to use it to keep my sewing supplies in. The main fabric is a print from the Word Play range by Michele D'Amore, along with some Mama Said Sew text prints and a red cross-hatch type print I found on sale at Spotlight to use for the linings. 

It will also match the cover I made for my older Singer sewing machine some time ago too.

Linking to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.
Kirsten.

Just 3 for February

My Just 3 for January list was to:
1. Start on a quilt for my hubby from this fabulous Architextures fabric - quilt top sewn.

2. Make the items for my partner for the Sew Sew Modern Swap - done. I sent a quilted 241 tote bag with matching accessories.

3. Sew up this cute Phoebe elephant pattern by Melly and Me using some grey Ruby fabric: well sadly Phoebe is still in pieces, mainly because I have to get out my other sewing machine to use one of the decorative stitches before I can go any further.

I did make a HST solids bee block for Adrianne though, so I shouldn't feel too badly about poor Phoebe.

So on with my to-do list for February:

1. I have just signed up for the DS doll quilt swap again so once the partners are assigned, I would like to start on making something for my partner.

2. Finish the Feathers bee blocks for Lorena  - hoping to get at least 4 if not 5 feathers from the AMH fabrics she sent.

3. And although I have just made a couple of these pouches, I would really like to make a few more Triple Zip pouches while the process is still fresh in my mind. 

Linking to Just Three at Tracey jay Quilts.

Kirsten.

Getting my Zip on!

I had a lovely time at the Sew-in at our LQS and managed to come home with not one, but 2 Triple Zip pouches!

After studying Fionas zip tutorial late last week, I made a simple "practice pouch" using some Melody Miller Typewriter fabric with some cute orange gingham for the lining.

I used it to carry my sewing supplies in to the sew-in and Fiona had hers in her large Selvedge pouch  which is just as beautiful IRL.

 So, after making a passable attempt at the single-zip pouch, I went ahead to make the triple zip pouches - the first in the pretty Marmalade fabrics with coordinating orange, lime and red zippers:

And another in some Anna Maria Horner Field Study with zips in 3 shades of blue, and some Timeless Treasure crosshatch fabric also in blue for the lining:

I followed Debbie's fabulous tutorial for both of these pouches, but used Marci's alternate ending tutorial to finish them off as she has great step-by step photos on her blog which made it easier to understand. I did find my zipper foot but ended up just using my walking foot to sew these up and it worked just fine to get through the layers, especially at the finish.

Debbies Triple zip pouch tutorial really is brilliant - I really enjoyed the challenge of  making these pouches and will probably make a few more as they are so handy. 

I just need make sure to check each seam more thoroughly as I sew next time to ensure all of the layers are sewn in  properly as it was not much fun trying to get back into one particular area to resew part of a seam it when I was almost finished!!

Linking to Fabric Tuesday at Quiltstory.

Kirsten.

Triple Zip Along

When I visited my LQS recently, I picked up some of the Marmalade prints that I spotted on the shelf, and thought that they would be nice to use together for the Triple Zip Along hosted by Debbie at A Quilters Table.

I had a coordinating green solid which I am going to use for the lining but I only got back to Spotlight to pick up the zips the other day.

(Photo borrowed from Fionas blog)

Anyway, now Deb has the first steps posted, I am going to cut these fabrics ready for the 3ZAL to bring to the "Sew-in" at Rainbow Patchwork, where I can catch up with Fiona again. 

Fiona is very kindly going to help me with my zips as she has a great tutorial on her blog.
I have never inserted a zipper before but they are something I have wanted to try for a while now so this is a great opportunity to give them a go. 

 

Linking to the February challenge at The Girl who Quilts.

Kirsten.

A wet week!

Our town is notorious for floods and with all of the rain we had here last week, were lucky to escape with only minor flooding, although a lot of areas further up in Queensland weren't so fortunate. The cause of all of this terrible weather was the ex-tropical cyclone Oswald which was moving down the east coast of Australia, bringing with it extremely strong winds gusting up to 113 kph/61 knots which was recorded at Cape Byron and there were even some tornadoes.

The photo above is of our neighbours Jacaranda tree that was blown over during Sunday night - I dont think many of us in the area slept last that night due to the constant wind and monsoonal rain! 

And this was what the same lovely Jacaranda tree used to look like when it flowered in November each year - they think that it was over 100 years old. It is sad that we will no longer see it at the end of our street as it is the tree the kids stand under when awaiting for their school bus in the mornings but at least it didn't land on their house or car when it fell!

Even these Rainbow Lorikeets were trying to stay out of the rain by sheltering under the leaves of the Paw paw tree! 

Kirsten.

Another Happy Mail day!

Yesterday afternoon, I received a parcel from  Nydia (the ADD-crafter) who was my secret Sew Sew Modern swap partner. She made a beautiful "Go Anywhere"  tote, along with a very cute stitched elephant mug rug (which I dont think I could use for fear of ruining it as I tend to spill my coffee often), some Spoonflower fabric and a print from one of my favourite designers, Valentina Ramos.

Nydia made the tote in some lovely grey Echo fabric teamed with navy denim and some mustard prints -  the piping and straps are in Bike Paths, and the inside is Field Study which all coordinate perfectly together. It is going to be such a great bag to use as I can fit so much in it and it looks so fabulous.

The stitched detail on the inside pocket of the bag is amazing - Nydia stitched one of the flowers from the grey Echo print in yellow. I think it is my favourite part of the bag - that she took the time to do something for the pocket that is so pretty.

Thank you so much for making all of these beautiful things for me Nydia - I feel totally spoilt.

And fingers crossed my package reaches it's new home soon too.

Kirsten.