Machine Applique....

My grandson is into pirates at the moment so when I saw this applique I had to make it for him. The applique came from Applique Corner.    I used Heat n Bond Lite on the back of the applique pieces. It stops the applique fabric from getting wrinkles.  The heart eye patch was perfect for Valentines Day.

                                                                               

Mystery Blocks......

 This is what I ended up with when I took six 10' blocks and some 1'' black strips to our patchwork day.  The first thing we done was to put the blocks together and  do two cuts ( CUT 1), ending with three lots of six.  Move the top piece from lot A to the bottom and move the top two pieces from lot C to the bottom.  Join A & B with the 1' black strip and join B & C with the 1' black strip. You now have a new block.  Do that to all  six blocks.  Press the six blocks and cut as in  ( CUT 2).    Repeat the above again and  cut again (CUT 3).  Repeat the  above  again.     Trim the blocks.  I ended up with 6 x 8 1/2' blocks.  I joined tmy blocks together with the 1" strip, others used 2'' strips but you can use whatever you like. I made mine from Halloween fabric and made another two lots of blocks.   I am going to make s small quilt for one of the boys. They like the skulls and
gruesome stuff.  Another mystery solved.

                                                                           

Snowball Fight........

 I started this project before Christmas but didn't get it finished in time.  I now have something ready for this Christmas.  The design came from Embroidery Garden.   I used the bits of fleece that I had left over from other projects, I cut the pieces out separately and it didn't take long.  I great idea for Christmas and as soon as I saw the design I thought " I can make them for my Grandsons".    I am always on the lookout for boy stuff ( 5 years and older) so any ideas are always welcome.  Even the adults will have lots of fun with the snowballs. I found the buckets at Dollars & Sense and they are perfect.

                                                                                 

Another Mystery !!!!!

Our patchwork group has started again for 2014.  It was great getting back and getting inspiration from the ladies and having a chat and a cuppa.  For our next day we where told by Carol to bring 6 pieces of fabric 10 inches square and some black strips 1 inch wide. The mind boggles, I wonder what we will end up with.

                                                                                   

Owl Backpack ........

I had bought this pattern from Embrotique, The Sewing Loft a while ago.   As my youngest grandson is now five I thought  that if I didn't make it now, he would be too old for it.....       Anyway I dug out some fabric out of my stash and this is what I ended up with.   I have a bit less fabric now........  I am always trying to think of things to make without having to buy more fabric so I can get my stash down a bit..   I loved the way it turned out and it wasn't hard to make. It will be in the post soon as a little surprise for him.
             
                                                                                 

                                                                     

Something New ..........from Something Old.

 Cleaning out my linen cupboard the other day, trying to make room for more craft things, I came across a lot of crochet doilies and a  cream table runner that I didn't like.  I wasn't going to be putting them back so I spread them out on the spare bed.   They sat there for a few days and then I stared to arrange the doilies on top of the table runner.  I left it there for a bit longer and every time I went passed the room  I went in and changed the position of the doilies until I was happy with it.   I pinned the doilies into place and stitched them on with the sewing machine.  I now have a new runner that I really love with a lot of memories.

Cushion for Nathan ........ Using Multi Hoop

I wanted to make something for my grandson Nathan.  He plays football and was named Footballer of the Year..    This embroidery design is 10" x 10".  Now as I only have a machine that  has a 5 " x 7" embroidery field, it took a little bit of working out with exact hooping.   It does look a bit crooked but that is just the photo. This design is made up of 2 designs 5" x 10".   I split the first design and ended up with 2 designs 5" x 5". After I embroidered the first design I split the second design and this time the hooping had to be perfect to line up with the first  design.  This was the first time I had split a design using Sew What Pro and I was so excited with the way it turned out.  Krissy Helvey from Embroidery Sayings and Phrases will make any  subway art for you.  You can join her site through facebook.

                                                                       

Cupcake Potholders !!!!

For our Christmas Breakup this year we swapped potholders.   I decided to try something different and make some cupcake ones. They turned out really beautiful. Not sure where the pattern came from but I just used google and typed in pattern for cupcake potholder.  The pattern was a free one which is always great.
I am going to make some for myself.  They looked so cute and are really quick and  easy to make.

                                                                               

Using Texture Magic !!!!!!

This photo does not do the bag any justice at all.   The flowers are all crinkly and gorgeous, They where done In the Hoop on my Embroidery machine.  I bought the pattern from Embroiderygarden. a while ago and have been dying to try it.   It is layered in the hoop starting from the bottom, the backing, then wadding and then you add the texture magic and then you put whatever you want for the top.  Stitch the flower out and cut around the flower leaving a couple of mm from the stitching, and then with the iron set to steam, hold the iron over the flower and watch the flower curl up.   Magic.   You could make the flowers freehand if you wanted so you really don't need an embroidery machine,  For the centre of the flower I added some tiny black beads to some  glossy accents ( from scrapbooking) and mixed them together making a small raised centre.  It was lovely and shinny and looked great with the colour of the flower.  The bag got a lot of compliments.

                                                                                   

More Christmas Embroidery..........

I loved the way this runner turned out. I made it for a gift for my friend Kay. I bought the runner and added the candle embroidery on each end.  I used heat and gone for the stabilizer on the back as well as a topping. It worked perfectly  and  the back looked as good as the front with no messy stabilizer left behind.  Not sure where this design came from but it has only a couple of jump stitches.  Love that about a design too.

                                                                               

Some Christmas Embroidery..........

My grandson Thomas loved this T-Shirt as his big brother is always fighting with him. I used an iron on cutaway on the back of the design and heat and gone for the topping.  It is a great design and stitched out beautifully. I love that topping all you have to do is tear off what you can and then go over it with a hot iron and it disappears like magic.

                                                                             

Happy New Year ...................

I can't believe that it has been 2 months since I did my last Blog.I hope everyone had a great Christmas. 

  Just a bit of catch up info.  I had my cataract operation and  I can see without glasses which is a bonus.  I have not felt 100% since the operation and I am not sure why.  I go back for another checkup at the end of January so I might get some answers then.   It is very strange without glasses, maybe I don't feel complete without them.  I also have to have more tests in March to see if the Glaucoma has been fixed..

Straight after my operation I had to cover for someone that went on holidays, so I guess that didn't help too much.  I really had to force myself to get ready for Christmas.  I put up the Christmas lights and made some things for Christmas presents. I have taken photos so I will have plenty to Blog about.

It has been so hot here, like everywhere else in Australia at the moment.  I have just finished watering my plants at 9 o'clock at night. Everything is just shriveling up and dying, but we do have water so that is a blessing.  So Many towns are running out of water..

I wish you all a Wonderful 2014

Mystery Bag.........

On the 5th Tuesday of any month we do a mystery project.at the Patchwork Group I attend.  It is called Banana Patch. Carol is the instructor and she gives us a list of requirements to bring on that day.  This time we had to bring a variety of cut strips and enough for the lining.  It can be a bit daunting as we never know what we are making. I loved the way this bag turned out and it is in my favourite colours too.  I think this will become a one of my favourites.  Thanks Carol for your inspiration and your willinginess to share your vast knowledge of patchwork and sewing.

             

                                                                             

50th Birthday Gift..........

A birthday gift for a 50 year old. I loved the way it turned out. Once again I used Heat n Gone stabilizer on top and tha bottom.  Makes life so much easier.  I hate the bits that tearaway leaves behind and I hate picking solvy off the top.   I hope he likes the towel.