Gifts

I purchased this PVC fabric some time ago with the intention of making several of nieces some bags. It was a discontinued fabric at Dunelm Mill shop. As it is a Disney license fabric I cannot make items to sell on my Etsy shop. When I purchased the fabric, I thought my young nieces would like it as it is 'Frozen Princess'.  All my nieces are princess.

PVC can be difficult to machine stitch without the correct foot.  I use a teflon foot.  They are not a standard foot that usually come with your machine.  But it well worth investing in a teflon foot.  I use it to stitch not only PVC but also faux leather.  Remember to also increase your stitch length and insert a larger size needle.  I refer to use a 90/14 universal needle.

These two shopper bags were made for my youngest twin girls nieces. I am making bags for the other girls. 

The metre of fabric cost £4 and will be able to make about six bags. The shopper bags are the largest bags.  I will upload photos of the other bags when I have finished them. 

Christmas Gifts

 I made two table runners for Christmas gifts.

The first table runner was made with Moda fabrics, machine pieced and quilted with metallic thread.  This is the third time I have used this easy design.  It one of those designs that I use as my 'go to' patterns when I need a quick present.

The second table runner was made using the 'quilt as you go' method.  The fabrics are modern Christmas fabrics.  This runner is another very quick and easy pattern.  

This runner could be made wider by adding borders.  This could be used as a bed runner as well as a table runner by changing the fabrics.

I am planning to made more table runners this year as I really enjoyed these easy designs.

A Quick Trip to Town

I have come up to town for a quick trip to visit family.  I do not come up as much as I should because it is a six hour drive.  I did managed to snap a few photos on my phone as we drove through London.

The London Eye.  On my last trip to town I was able to do some tourist things.  I went on the London Eye.  On this trip there will be no tourist visits as I am here to visit family only.

 Big Ben.

 Tower of London.

The view from the free Woolwich ferry towards the Thames Barrier and the city.

I had really forgotten how much I enjoy being back in the city.  It was wonderful to spend time with my family too.  Thanks guys for a great visit.

Jelly Roll

Over a year ago, on a visit home from university, Baby Girl spotted a jelly roll in my sewing room that she liked.  I told her about the jelly roll race that was sweeping the quilting world.  Oh boy what a big mistake!!  I lost my jelly roll.  A few day later I got a phone call from Baby Girl to inform me that she had finished the jelly roll race top. 

 Baby Girl recently found that unfinished top and presented it to me to sew the borders on, quilt and bind it.  So I paid for the jelly roll, now I am paying for the border and backing fabric as well at the wadding . Then I have the pleasure of quilting and binding it too.  Now I am wondering if I get to keep the finished quilt or will it be claim back by Baby Girl.               

A Special Gift

My dear friend Anne makes the most amazing Christmas ornaments.  

Mr D and I celebrated our silver wedding anniversary in November.   Anne knows that I like to add a new Christmas ornament to our Christmas tree every year.

Thank you Anne. Your gift is so lovely that I will hang it with all my other hearts on my special heart tree in my studio. 

More Christmas Gifts

This year as I went shopping for Christmas gifts for my family and friends, I needed to stick to set budget for each gift.  I have been reading several frugal blogs over the few years. All bloggers state that it is very important to set your budget and stick to it.

This year I wanted to make something special for my three young nieces.  But what should I make?  I then found these beautiful cuddly bunnies and there were three left. Plus they were within my budget.  

When I got the bunnies home I decided that I would make each bunny it's own bed complete with pillow and quilt.   

 The top photo is Jessica's gift.

 

 These are Eliana and Amelie's gifts.

Happy New Year to all my family, friends and followers.  May 2014 be a peaceful, healthy and fantastic year for you all.

Christmas Gifts

I teased you with clips of photos of Christmas gifts I made for my family last month.  I am pleased to say that the family loved their gifts.

  

The green table topper was made for my mother-in-law.  

The table topper with the blue border was a gift for my mother and the other for a special aunt.

I enjoyed designing and making these table toppers that I have added this new design to my workshop programme for 2014. 

November OPAM 2013

I can only show a small portion of these finished projects as they are Christmas presents for close members of my family.

This month I have made two Christmas presents, two pair of large curtains, one birthday present and a table topper. 



Bean Bags

Over the years I have made lots of beans bags. When Baby Girl moved out to her own flat, she asked if I could make her a new bean bag.

So if I am going to make one I might as well cut and make two or more bean bags.  On a trip to Ikea I spotted two fabrics that I thought Baby Girl and Little Boy would like for their new grown up bean bags.

I made four bean bags in the end!! Baby Girl and Master J, plus Little Boy and Missie L. I always make an inner bag to hold the beans so if the outer bag needs washing if is easy to remove.  Beans can get every where so it is important to stitch the inner bag close with a very small stitch and several rows of stitching on a sewing machine.    

Now all I have to do is make a new bean bag for me, maybe sometime later this year. 

Mothering Sunday Gifts

I have made two French Fancy Sewing Rolls. One for my dear mother and one for my mother-in-law as Mothering Sunday gifts.

I have adapted a Mandy Shaw design.  These gifts do not have to be used for sewing items. They could be used as a make-up bag, travelling bag or even as writing/pen bag.

These French Fancies are fun, quick and easy to make. I have started making another one, this will be my fourth French Fancy.

P.S. I will have samples at the Dartmoor Arts and Craft Show in August, which is held in Princetown primary school.  See my main Daisychain website diary for details.

Mothering Sunday

Thank you to my Little Boy and Baby Girl for the lovely flowers, gifts and kinds words. It is a privilege to be your mother.



To my Chicks, Love you both, Mum

Hand Made Christmas Decorations

Each year I like to add to my growing collections of Christmas decorations.  All the decorations on our family tree remind us of some special places we have visited, very special family memories of years gone by, and some are given to us by dear friends.
  

I made the bells decorations for the Quay Quilters Christmas tree at the Methodist Church in Kingsbridge, Devon several years ago.

Dolly Bag

I made this Dolly Bag for my new niece, Jessica last year.  It has six pockets on the outside.  I quilted the bag with Rayon thread in a random straight line pattern.   

I have two patterns for this bag written by two different quilters.  The first pattern is written by an English quilter and sad to say is very poorly written.  The other pattern is written by an Australian quilter and has much clearer instructions.
I would make this bag again but I would change the construction of the bag.  I always try and follow the pattern the first time I make the item then adapt it to my experience of sewing on additional makes if I feel there is a better way of making an item.  

Christmas Gift

I love heart ornaments. I had a small collection of embroidery and patchwork hearts in my studio.

I received this hand made heart as a Christmas gift from Baby Girl on Boxing Day.

OPAM

This year for Christmas I made many gifts.

All the ladies of our family received Make-Up Bags filled with smellies.

I also made a set of Table Mats and a set of Coasters for family presents too.

I am looking forward to spending time in the New Year working on my own projects.  I have spent most of this months making Christmas gifts.

Note to myself- start making Christmas gifts in January 2013 not December 2013. Maybe I should start a Christmas project stitch along!

A quick project.

I have not been blogging lately as life here in sunny Wembury has been busy throwing me some curved balls. Nina-Marie has started a Off the Wall Fridays blog link party and this is all I needed to get me motivated again. There has been much chatter on the Quilt Art forum about a blog link for Art Quilters and Nina-Marie has taken on the challenge to set up the party. Check out the link to see some wonderful work being done by some amazing quilters.

Although this project is not Quilt  Art related, it is a quick and easy quilt that I have started to make for my new niece Jessica.

Arrange your squares and sew together.

 Then measure your finished blocks and cut in half along the whole length of your quilt top.

 Rearrange your cut strips and sew together. 

Now all I need to do is add borders, layer and quilt and blind it. Not forgetting a label!

Happy 21st Birthday!!!