Friday, September 30, 2011

September 2011: Crafty Creations and WIP

I know i haven't done one of these in a few months so here's what i've accomplished throughout September [with tutorial links too!!!]...

Grandpa Quilt [completed]

Birthday Buntings [completed]

Robot Quilt [WIP]

Cross Quilt [WIP]

Bee Connected Bee Blocks [completed]

Bee Connected Bee Blocks [completed]

Aqua and Red Block Bee Block [completed]

Always Bee Learning Blocks [completed] using this [tutorial]

Aqua and Red Block Bee Block [completed]

Aqua and Red Block Bee Block [completed] using this [tutorial]

Sew Australia Block [completed] using this [tutorial]

Sew Australia Blocks [completed] using this [tutorial]
 
Mod Mosaic Blocks [completed] using this [tutorial]

Always Bee Learning Cathedral Windows Block [completed] using this [tutorial]

Spiderweb Block [completed] using this [tutorial]

Red and Aqua Cross Quilt [WIP]

Rocket Launch Club Pouch [completed] using this [tutorial]

Fabric memory card game [completed]

+ Quilt [completed]

Burp cloths [completed] using this [tutorial]

Wallet [completed] using this [tutorial]

Baby Tag Toy [completed] using this [tutorial]

Not a bad effort i'd say!!!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Cheery Sewing Day :D

 Yesterday, after my horrific Wednesday at work, i decided that it was time to have a sewing day dedicated to just me, well mostly anyway, to cheer myself up!

About 6 months ago i lost my wallet and just have not had the chance to replace it yet [i know you'd think i could have found the time in 6 months but i promise you not!] so i decided that i would just go ahead and make one...


I purchased the outer Japanese laminated cotton a while ago from [Etsy] to make a raincoat for my little Heidi Bear but i thought it wouldn't be too bad if i just pinched a little for this...


and the inside fabric is a red graph paper print from [Pink Castle Fabrics]. I used this [tutorial] and went by it step by step. It was great, really clear instructions with photos and all so i didn't have any troubles whatsoever. Giselle didn't even play up as i feed those extremely bulky seams through which was even more astounding!

I also decided to make a few burp cloths for a friend who is expecting her second child...


I had some squares left over from my + quilt so joined them together to create the first one and used some of my lovely new prints for the other two. I used this [free pattern] from Cloud 9. I like that it's cut out so it fits around the neck nicely. Every baby should have something pretty to vomit on i think! I will definitely be using this pattern again in the future.

I also made this tag toy...


It's for my friend's baby niece. I have been invited to a tea party housewarming at my friend's house and her gorgeous baby niece will be there so i thought I'd make her a little something cute and crinkly. I used this [tutorial]. I struggled a little bit to keep it all lined up in the machine but i think it still turned out alright. I think that next time i will use corduroy on the backing instead of minky to avoid all the slipping around.

The remainder of the day was spent running errands. But then once the kiddies went off to bed, i had a nice long soak in a fabulously hot bath! Jealous?! :P hehe

+ Quilt Complete!


I have finished my spur of the moment + quilt! I am really pleased with the way it has turned out. I used yellow spots for the back and a red on white Leicen for the binding. Pardon the poor photography but if you haven't hear, we are having flash flooding, monsoon rains here in sunny Melbourne so the good photos will need to wait for a brighter day hehe.

Each square is 3" finished with 14 across and 14 down making the quilt about 42" square - lap/baby sized.

I have also been working on some other little projects today so tomorrow i will have another creative post for you :)

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The day from HELL!

You know those days that you never want to revisit again?! Yeah i had one of those...it was a day filled with chasing lazy people, getting treated like dirt and all round just %$#&#$*Q&#$($%!!!! Pardon my french!


The positive news of the day is that i rode a bike 3 km by myself today! Go me!!!! I know it's not far but pretty good for someone who couldn't ride on Monday morning huh?!

I might explain more later but i'd rather pretend this day didn't exist at the moment haha. Hopefully i can go home and do some sewing and forget about work completely!

Happy Mail Stash Sesh....

I'm addicted...to fabric of course! If you haven't already noticed, i have been purchasing a lot of fabric lately...i just can't help myself! Today i collected these from my post box...


A half yard Ta Dot Bundle...


...these random prints...


...and the rest of my Sarah Jane!

The package from [Pink Castle Fabrics] was sooooo heavy - i couldn't wait till i got home so i opened it in the car hehe. I have already promised some of the pinks to miss Heidi Bear to make her some clothing and as for the rest...i'm not sure yet hehe but i'm sure it'll all get used up for something.

On the way is some Little Apples...well a lot of little apples actually. I can't wait!!!

Monday, September 26, 2011

...she's got a ticket to ride...

...a bike that is! Yes you may remember that i might have mentioned in passing that i signed up for ride to work day...even though i couldn't ride a bike haha! Well now look...






OH YEAH! She can ride now! With only 2 weeks until the big day i have a lot of practice to do, and i also need to source a bike that's the right size for me [turns out i'm pretty short hehe] but i am definitely riding in the right direction hehe!

I absolutely MUST send out a massive thanks to my work colleague and good good friend Leah [below] who was/is my teacher and mentor through the process [yes i did learn on my lunch break haha] and who is encouraging me the whole way through :)


Leah, you're a sUPeRsTaR!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Christmas Mini Quilt Inspiration...

For Christmas, on top of everything else i make, i usually like to make Heidi Bear a new dolly quilt and some cute dolls clothes so have been looking back through the past year's flickr favourites for some inspiration...


I am almost certain i will be going with the mini kaleidoscope quilt in the very middle by [Kristy/handmaderetro]. I just love everything about it, including the colours. I think i will need to quiz Kristy at the next Sit and Sew day hehe.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Weekend sewing fun :)

 On Friday night i attended the [Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild's] Sit and Sew Evening at my local quilt shop - [GJ's]. After a long couple of days at work i wasn't really feeling all that motivated to sew and chose not to bring Giselle [my machine] with me. Instead i basted the below quilt...


I decided to quilt it yesterday morning before heading off to the show and spent a little time this afternoon binding. I think that basting was a great use of the time because i generally put off the basting for quite a while because i don't particularly enjoy it hehe. I might baste at the SASEs [Sit and Sew Evenings] more often. I also cut out some wonky star pieces to make a cushion for my boy's new revamped room.


This afternoon i also finished off the above Christmas present for my little cousin - a fabric memory card game. I purchased a sweet little card suitcase to put it all in and now it's ready to go :) Next i plan to make up the [Cozy Car Caddys] and the travelling chalk mats.

As for the rest of the afternoon, i think it might just be time to run a nice hot bath, light some candles, grab a cuppa and just relax!

A day at the show!


In the past few weeks the kiddies have been asking 'is it show day today' and the frequency increased quite dramatically even in the past couple of days so we decided that yesterday we would spend a day at the Royal Melbourne Show. We went with my sister and father in law in tow to set out on the epic adventure.

The kids were only interested in two things [as most children are] - rides and showbags. So we started the day on the tea cups and cars...


We found a 'Cars 2' race track and the kids loved racing around, although Heidi's poor little legs could only take her around the track a couple of times before they could pedal no more hehe.


Brooklyn enjoyed ignoring all of the traffic signals haha!!


My sister-in-law and i went on a couple of rides together including the one below that span us around and around and then backwards again, as well as a rollercoaster and one that took us amazingly high, upside down into the air while dangling from a seat...i felt a little nauseous towards the end of the day hehe.


After the rides and eating of looooots of fairy floss [or 'fluffy' as Heidi likes to call it] we grabbed some showbags - Heidi choose Dora and Barbie and Brookie chose the Bombers Showbag [of course!] and the Cars 2 Showbag.

I got myself a Hello Kitty showbag hehe and a couple of Bertie Beetle ones [YuMMy!!] and then we all headed home and fell asleep hehe. And we're still recovering!

PS. I forgot to mention that this is my 201st post! Whoop Whoop!!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Bek Brown...Sewing Teacher?


Yes that's right! I am now officially a sewing teacher :) Here's how it all came about...

Mum and i went to a random fundraiser last Friday night for a local girl's high school. It was a fashion show at a reception venue with a 3 course meal - it was really nice! We sat in a table next to a girl named Felicity and her mum who have recently moved to Melbourne. Before moving, Felicity was being taught to sew by and elderly lady and was looking for someone to teach her here...here's where i chime in hehe...and Ta-Da!

Felicity is interested in making a dress so we decided on a slightly altered version of this one that she fell in love with...


Seeing as it didn't take long at all to work out our fabric requirements, we made a little zippy pouch each [shown at beginning of post]. I also sent Felicity home with some fabric and a zipper to make another pouch to practice zips.

We'll be meeting once a week for an hour lesson and i am looking forward to next week's lesson already!!!
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