April's Stitching Challenge.

Hello,

Last month a challenge was set with Anita Heather and myself to do a small project each month. We each got the same stitchery design and we were allowed to do what we wanted with it as long as it was finished in the month. Anita did the red stitchery and made it into a rotary cutter holder. Now there are no excuses for not finding your cutter Anita!! Heather appliqued her design into a wall hanging. Adding a little ribbon bow to the hat and some flowers to the pattern which looks great. Congratulations ladies.

I also made mine into a wall hanging. First off I was going to make holder for my 6 and a half inch ruler but the design was too long so a hanging it was. It is interesting to see that although two of us made a wall hanging they were completely different. With the same design three different items were achieved all with materials we had on hand at home.I have sent the design for next months stitchery and it is a pattern for a chook table runner.

Happy stitching

Bev C

Sneak Peek of Bag Swap

Hello,

Today I wanted to show a sneak peek of the bag I made in the "Snickerdoodle Dreams I love bag swap." My swap partner is Heather and she lives in the Land of the Long White Cloud otherwise known as New Zealand. I hope Customs allow the bees and ladybirds into the country. I love the end result of this bag and wanted to keep it for myself. I hope you enjoy it Heather.

Happy stitching.

Bev C

Blog meet up and a holiday.

Hello,

Last Thursday I finally had the privilege to meet up with Janelle from www.threadsoffriendship.blogspot.com We had a wonderful few hours chatting about our families our craft rooms and current and past projects. Janelle is the wonderful lady who first sent me an email enquiring when I was going to start my own blog. That was enough for me to get motivated and borrow the Dummies Blogging book from the library and here I am today.Janelle was kind enough to give me this beautiful bundle of fabric. It is in lovely greens and browns and looks even better in real life. I will have to make something special from this. Thank you very much Janelle. We intend meeting up in the not to distant future. In return I gave Janelle the Mug Carrier that I had made in my tutorial. I also machine embroidered a tea towel with a Debbie Mumm design of a teacup pincushion. I added a little tag/bookmark that I had great fun making up. A little while ago I won 2 pages of digital designs from the lovely Amy from www.abundantcuriosties.blogspot.com There was a page that had ladies from the 50's and 60's era which reminded me of the old dress patterns and a page of roses. This all came in a recycled bag that I got at a Earth Solutions Expo which I went to recently. Upon entry you were given this bag made out of newspaper and hay twine to carry the pamphlets we picked up.

On Friday Lucy and I went on a little holiday to visit Ainsley and Julian. We decided to go on the train. It took 5 hours which went very quickly. The train was lovely to ride in with TV screens and music to provide entertainment on the way. Although our headphones didn't work we managed to each do some reading to entertain ourselves. We had a relaxing time with Ainsley and Julian I did some hand sewing and reading visiting a garden centre and going for walks while Lucy had the best time doing band practice with Julian on the WII. Lucy can play the drums so well. Of course they played other games. I had to laugh when they played the game with the cows racing along and jumping over the fences. If Lucy could get points for knocking over trees she would have won hands down. We came back on the train last night and got in just after 8.00pm. It was interesting to "people watch" on the train. We were not far from the Buffet and two French men came up to order the food. The hostess couldn't understand them and asked one of the others for help. One of the workers could speak Italian but not French. It was fun watching them working out what the gentlemen wanted. The French man made motions with his arm like a chicken. He finally walked away with a Chicken Pie and some sort of drink.

I picked some more fresh roses to put on the table. Last week this table was full of my sewing things and I decided to give it a good clean up. Of course everything is just put into the sewing room. Will have to give that a good clean up shortly. The last day of the school holidays here so Lucy is enjoying her last day of freedom. Bonnie has gone to Bali with three of her girlfriends for 12 days. Have fun Bonnie and be safe.

Happy days.

Bev C

My Mug Carrier Tutorial

Hello,

Today I want to show you how to make a Mug Carrier. You will need the following material.

Centre piece 3 1/2 x 12 inches Fabric A

Side pieces 2 of 1 1/2 x 12 inches Fabric B

Side Gusset 2 of 4 1/2 x 8 inches Fabric A

Handles 2 of 10 x 1 inch Fabric A

Handles 2 of 10 x 2 inches Fabric B

Lining 1 of 12 x 7 inches Fabric B

Loop 1 of 1 1/2 x 6 inches Fabric B

Binding 1 of 40 x 2 inches Fabric B this allows a few inches extra it is easier to work with

Pellon 1 of 13 x 7 inches

Elastic 8 inches long by 1/4 inch wide

First off you join the centre and side pieces. Press. Place top on pellon with backing underneath. Then stitch down the seams. This joins the three pieces together.Trim to neaten it all up.

The next thing to do is get the side gussets and fold in half wrong sides together . Stitch forming a casing for the elastic at the top sewing about an inch down.

Next you get the side gussets and attach to the main part of bag centreing the two pieces together. I found it was easier to sew along the bottom first leaving a little at each end then rotate and sew up the side. Before sewing right to the top of the bag insert elastic then continue to sew to the top. Use 4 inches of elastic for each side. Some of this can be cut off depending how tight you want it to be.

To make the handles get the 10 x 1 inch strip cut in Fabric A and join a 10 x 2 inch strip of Fabric B first to one side then another. This forms a tube, use a loop turner to pull it out the right way then press. Make two handles and the loop. Pin the handles to the top of the Mug Carrier in line with the edge of the centre panel making sure they are placed the correct way up. On one side attach the loop. The next step is to attach the binding by pinning in place to the outside preferably starting along one of the sides making sure the handles are down. Stitch mitering corners at the top of the bag. Join the ends together in your preferred manner. Hand stitch the binding to the inside with matching thread. Attach a button or toggle on the opposite side of the loop.

Your finished Mug Carrier should look like this. These little bags are quick and easy to make and would make a great gift for those good ladies out there that are making items for the Mother's Day Stalls. As this is my first Tutorial please do not hesitate to contact me if you have trouble following the instructions. Most importantly have fun, make one for yourself.

Happy sewing

Bev C

"Spring Giggles"

Hello,

I heard the Australia Post courier van arrive this morning, following it was a brass band some cheerleaders and a whole assortment of wonderful happy people as well as choirs singing from above. You may wonder what was happening? My parcel from the lovely Cheryl at www.willowberrydesigns.typepad.com had arrived. I won this pattern sometime last year. I was the winner of her competition to name her quilt. Cheryl kept in touch via email to let me know what was happening with the pattern drawing. Cheryl even made me the cutest pin cushion from some of the material used in the quilt.It looks too nice to stick pins into it yet. I have been collecting some bright materials to make this quilt up. In the photo the colours are lighter. I am sure this will be one bright quilt.Thanks Cheryl it was well worth waiting for. On the sewing front I have been working on my bag swap. After being a bit indecisive I have finally worked out what I am doing.

Happy days and "Spring Giggles"

Bev C