How to spend your day off!

I've not been at work today, so after a lot of doing nothing this morning, I got down to starting a project that I've been planning for a while. We've just had our bedroom decorated after nearly 2 years with bare plaster, and seemingly centuries old carpet, and I wanted to make a couple of new quilted throws.

When I purchased my Crafter's Companion Build a Block Curves set, I was sent a free strip roll from their Country Yard fabric collection. In fact, there was one with each of the sets. As they are the perfect colours for what I wanted, I have decided to use them to make some simple, large blocks for the quilts. The pinks that were included have been put aside for another project at a later date.

This afternoon has been spent planning the layout of the quilts, how to sew the strips together for best effect, and of course sewing the strips together.  Watch this space for the next instalment!! 

Take care,

Cxxx

Applique House

Here is the third in my set of sewn applique card. They are for a group of friends - seven in total - so four more will appear through the rest of the year!!

This one uses Crafter's Companion Cottage Applique die set, with lots of little scraps from my box. This was ironed onto a piece of calico, then quilted onto patterned and plain cotton. 

The frame is cut with Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Squares from a 12x12 sheet of DCWV Luxury Cardstock Stack. It's finished off with flat back pearls, paper roses, and printed and satin ribbon.

Cxxx 

Applique Card - Flowers

Was feeling adventurous with this one. I wanted to do some sewing and be able to use it to create a card. I started by ironing on Heat & Bond Lite Adhesive (which is sewable) to pieces of fabric from my scrap box, then used Crafter's Companion Die'sire Spring Flowers Mixed Media dies to cut out the shapes.

These were ironed onto a piece of white cotton and sewn with my sewing machine. This was placed on a piece of patterned fabric, and with thin wadding and interfacing underneath. I used decorative stitches on my sewing machine to quilt them together. 

I used red tape to attach this to an 8x8 card base, and cut a circular aperture with Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Circle in a piece of Kanban British Birds card, to provide a frame and cover the edges of the material.

Finally, I finished off with ribbon and paper roses.

Cxxxx

Scrappy Quilt - Finished!

Managed to bind the quilt over the last couple of days. Nothing complicated. 

I cut 2" strips from a piece of random green cotton fabric in my stash, and joined them to make a piece of continuous binding.

The length was folded in half and ironed, then sewn to the back of the quilt. Because I am lazy and don't always have the patience for hand sewing, I then top-stitched the binding on the front.

It is not, by any means, a perfect specimen of a quilt, but Molly seems to like it - so I'm happy with that.

Cxxx

Scrappy Quilting

Needed something to do today that was pretty mindless - in that I didn't need to concentrate too much. So I decided to make a scrap quilt - but in a very scrappy way. I didn't bother much about lining things up, or quilting straight lines. 

When I first wanted to do patchwork a few years ago, I bought charm packs in various colours - and there was always some that I just didn't really like. So this is a combination of all the ones left that I didn't want to use - along with a few other bits and pieces to fill it out. 

I'm really not bothered that it's a bit all over the place colour wise - it'll be for the dog, so she's not going to be bothered. I've backed it with fleece to make it a bit cosier for her.

Next job will be cutting some binding and finishing it off. But I'm pleased with it so far.

Cxxx

Flower Canvas

Morning!! Didn't get round to posting yesterday, so thought I should get on with it this morning. So I have a little canvas to share, made using Crafter's Companion Spring Flowers Mixed Media dies. 

I used a little canvas and painted the edges dark blue, then added strips of white canvas from a roll to make the edge look neater. 

I cut the flowers out of denim (2 layers) and the canvas roll (3 layers). I also used Funky foam (1 layer).

The sentiment is from the Die'sire Sentimentals Nature set, stamped with Midnight Versacraft onto canvas roll.

Cxxx

Bauble Ornament!!

Not long to go now until the new Crafter's Companion Die'sire Cut In Create a Card dies launch on Hochanda, so thought I'd pop back on and share another of my makes.

For this one I have used the Sparkling Bauble die, cutting the outline only in cream felt, and the detailed version in pale green felt. The circular base is a Debbie Shore Fabric die.

I used Stick and Stay to bond the solid cream bauble to the dark green circle, but it didn't want to work for the detailed bauble. So I used Collall Textile Glue instead! I also used it to fix the ribbon to the reverse side of the circle. After blanket stitching most of the edge, I stuffed it with toy stuffing, and then finished off the blanket stitch.

Hope you enjoy the shows on Hochanda - and I'll be back tomorrow to share my last couple of samples.

Cxxxx

Snowflakes are falling!!

Morning. Tonight is the launch of the one day special on Hochanda, of the fab new Christmas Cut In Create a Card dies. Here is another sample I made using the Ornate Snowflake die.

This is a drawstring gift bag, made using the instructions that you can find HERE. I changed the measurements to fit the size I wanted - but all the principles are the same.

The outer bag is really cheap honeycomb fabric, while the inner is white fabric with red snowflakes. I cut out the detailed snowflake in the same fabric having first backed it with stabiliser. Then I just used the outline die to cut a plain red snowflake shape to back it. They were joined together using Stick and Stay for fabric. I couldn't use heat on the honeycomb fabric, so used Stick and Spray for fabric, and then machine stitched it to secure it on. 

Be sure to tune in tonight to catch the launch.

Cxxx

Shine Bright!

Back again this morning with more of the fabulous new Cut In Create a Card dies launching on Hochanda on Friday.  

For this cushion cover, I used the large and small stars from the Shine Bright die set. The cover is envelope style, made using Debbie Shore's Leaves White Lacquered Fabric.  I used my Gemini to cut through the silver honeycomb-backed fabric, and then Stick and Spray for fabric to place them on the cushion cover.

A bit of machine stitching around the edge, and free motion embroidery in the centres, fixed the stars to the cover.

There are lots more sneaky peeks from the team appearing on FB, so keep an eye out!!

Back soon,

Cxx

It's a Dog's Life!!

Finally have found some time to blog!! Have been doing really busy things behind the scenes on Pinterest - and even found time to update my own boards!! For anyone that would like to follow me I am Papercraft By Carole - but you for loads more inspiration, follow the Crafter's Companion board too!

Anyway - way back at the end of April, we picked up our puppy Molly. And I did manage to fit in a bit of sewing before she arrived. I made a quilted bed liner using some gorgeous cotton from my local fabric shop, and white supersoft fleece.

The blanket is also supersoft fleece. Never worked with this before - my word is there a lot fluff when you cut it!!

Anyway, although this is all quite straightforward, it was the first time I made and used my own binding. Was quite a process as I made two of the bed liners and two blankets, so needed about 10m!! Am seriously considering investing in one of those bias binder maker things.

Molly seems to like it to chew on - and it's always good fun to empty everything out of the bed for me to put back in again!!

Back soon (hopefully)!!

Cxxx

Day 65 - A bag for my Mum!

Evening!! Just a quick post today as we have family round and I am absolutely shattered after a very busy day!!

I made this to go with the other bits and bobs for Mother's Day tomorrow. It's the reversible tote bag from Debbie Shore's Sew Inspired Magazine 2. I made it up very quickly - so there are a few little mistakes I made - but I'm happy with the way it turned out. And all from pieces of fabric I already had!!
Back tomorrow.

Cxxx

Day 53 - All cut up!!

Evening!! Had a busy day today. Full day of teaching, quick run after work, and a few computer things to get sorted after this. So, another quick post this evening.

Having shared a picture of my newly washed fabric stash, I have now cut into a lot of it in preparation for future projects.

I have matched a pattern with a block colour - and you can see some wadding in there too as I intend to quilt one or two items!! 

It's now all safely stored in my recently acquired sewing basket - waiting for when I have more time to sit and sew!!

Back tomorrow.

Cxxxx

Day 52 - Fabric Stash!!

Evening!! It is becoming obvious to me through doing this image a day, that I seem to have lots of different projects going on at the same time - including things I've started and not got round to finishing - and things I've got a head start on and have put away to finish later. And then I always seem to be starting something new too!!

Well, on Friday I visited my local fabric store as I needed something for an upcoming project or two (any excuse). And I had a bit of a blow out!! So, yesterday I washed and dried all the fabric - I only do this when I have bought off the roll by the metre - not when I have pre-cut pieces. So this morning I had a marathon ironing session. This is one of the few times that I iron - I really don't like doing it - but I also don't like working with really wrinkled fabric.

And now I have a lovely pile of gorgeous fabric ready to be cut up for the projects I have in mind.

Back tomorrow!!
Cxxx