better late than never!

I'm a bit late in getting my October makes post up but better late than never! Here's what I made:

When I made the baby quilt for Jo's neighbours, I wasn't very happy with the dinosaur. I felt it was a bit difficult to see his body details because of the fabric I'd chosen. I made another one in a plain fabric and, when I showed the abandoned one to Jo, she said she loved it. So, I framed it with an embroidery hoop and gave it to her. Can you see what I mean about the fabric? All those stars and blue spots with the lines in between them are on the fabric, not part of the dinosaur! Anyway, she now has this on her wall and is very happy with him, stars and all!

Douglas and I took a dealing with a pair of kitchen chairs and a kitchen table which I wanted to make use of in our kitchen. They had belonged to Douglas's mum and really needed updated so that's what we did. Douglas removed all the old varnish and cleaned them up and then painted them that gorgeous blue colour. I then covered the seat pads and made seat cushions to go on top all with the fabric that was left over from when I covered our dining room chairs - shown here. That is the fabric all used up so for £20, I made 8 chair pads and 5 seat cushions. Has to be the best bargain ever!!

My credit card holder finally gave up the ghost. As I'd made it in 2012, that's hardly surprising. In fact, it's amazing that it lasted that long! This is the post from way back then where I showed when I made it for the first time.

I reduced the amount of pockets as I don't carry as many cards these days. Still works beautifully!

Lastly, I made myself a new bag. This is the Bestie Bag from Blackbird Fabrics. I am so happy with it. I used the same denim I had used to make the Mia bag to take on holiday and lined it with the same fabric too. There's still some denim left and a wee bit of the lining fabric. I wonder what I'll think of to make with them next??

So, that's October's makes squeezed in just before the end of November. I wonder how long it'll take me to post my November makes??

piano topper and more holiday sewing

Jo asked me if I could make a topper for the piano which is now at her house. She told me to do whatever I fancied and this was what I came up with. It never ceases to amaze me what you can make out of scraps of fabric!

Jo loved it and here it is on the top of the piano. I love that tiger lamp! 🐯

Next it was more holiday sewing for me. Another couple of blouses using McCall's 5359.

I worked hard to get Emily's cardigan finished. With arthritis in some of my fingers, it's not always easy to knit but I knew I had to get it done and I did. Like Isla's one I showed earlier, it's going to be huge on Emily but that's the way they like their cardigans so who am I to argue?

Next I made myself a bag to take as my handbag on the plane. I wanted one with a zip, with pockets inside and out and the inside had to be big enough to take my iPad. I used the Mia Messenger Bag pattern from Blackbird Fabrics. I am really pleased with how it turned out. It was hard to take good photos of it but here it is:

The zip:

An inside pocket for my iPad:

and another sipped inside pocket perfect for passports.

Next I amused myself by making us luggage tags on my embroidery machine. These are for our suitcases:

On the back we have our names on them.

I made two like this for our bags for inside the plane. Obviously, Douglas's has his name on his! I made his blue - I can't find it right now to take a photo of it! I think he's already attached it to his bag!

I also decided to make the girls their Christmas ornaments just in case Canada Post goes on strike again this winter like they did last year! I'm very happy with these!

Last, I made myself a spec case for my sunglasses. I don't think it even took me half an hour to make but it will be well used!

So that's all my holiday sewing done. We head out on the 8th until the end of July. It will be wonderful to see Debbie and the girls again. It's nearly 4 years since they left and I miss them sooooo much. See you when we get home!

another orphan block quilt, some blocks and Christmas cross-stitches

I finished another orphan block quilt in August. This is orphan block quilt number 4!! -

... with its label on the back. I couldn't be bothered making one on my embroidery machine so dug this one out of the box. I used ones like this over 20 years ago so definitely time to use this one up!

Next I started making more blocks for more quilts. Most of these are just random things I'd seen on youtube or in magazines.

I needed a new pouch to hold my phone, membership card and locker token for when I go swimming. I'm very happy with how it turned out.

Way back in 2020 - during the pandemic - I bought myself this cross-stitch pattern and fabric. I got the pdf chart here. I did little bits of it then put it down. I decided this year I was going to finish it. This is it before I brushed off the chalk lines or ironed it. I love it - the sentiment is so true!

I then bought myself another cross-stitch chart which I had seen on someone's blog. It was quite hard to get a hold of as it's an American chart but I was delighted when I finally managed to find it for sale in the UK. (I just checked so I could give the link for where I bought it but it's no longer in stock - and it looks like the shop has gone too!) This is the chart:

This was my first stitching of it -

... and this is where I was at the end of August.

So that's August done. I'm catching up with myself ... slowly!

1 purse, 2 project bags and 3 shirts

I've been my usual busy self in the sewing room. This time I played around and made myself a wee purse with some of the leather scraps I talked about here in January and here in April. I had seen a tutorial on youtube showing how to make a purse using fabric so I adapted it to make mine out of leather. I am sooooo chuffed with it. Here's the outside:

The inside empty:

And the inside filled with cash. The joke of it is, I can't remember when I last used cash. I got this lot out of the machine in about November last year and it's still all as pristine as the day I got it out! Never mind, at least I have a cute purse to put it in, eh? LOL

I made a couple of project bags for no reason other than I felt like making them. I love them both!

And finally, I made another 3 shirts from my all time favourite shirt pattern, McCall's 5359. I have used other patterns occasionally but I always come back to this one. Mostly because it's so comfortable but also because I've made it so many times that I don't need to look at the instructions.

I did a rough count of all the shirts I've made using this pattern based on the photos I have on my computer. I'm not convinced the count is accurate but, if it is, these three are numbers 32, 33 and 34! I'd say I've got my money's worth out of this pattern!

filling in the blanks and other things

Happy New Year! I'm not sure it's going to be much better than last year but, at least there's a vaccine now which gives us hope for better days. Soon. Fingers crossed! 🤞

Time to fill in the "blanks" which I had made before Christmas but couldn't show on here as the recipients read my blog.

First of all, Joanna asked me if I could make a round patchwork mat to fit a basket she was giving Debbie for her Christmas. We discussed measurements and fabric choices and this is what I came up with.

Front:

And back:

Thankfully, both girls loved it so we were all happy!

Next I made a cover for Joanna's diary. This is something I do every year and sometimes struggle to get the size right. This year I bought the same kind of diary as I had used a couple of years ago when the cover fit well. I used those measurements again and, yes, it fitted beautifully. I hope I remember to do that next year!

This is the front:

And this is the back:

A few days before Christmas, Debbie said to me " Mum, you know what I don't have? Christmas oven gloves!". Needless to say, that was remedied very easily!

After Christmas, Debbie asked me if I'd make a few pencil cases and pouches for Emily's new felt pens and other wee things. I first of all made a prototype of a pencils pencil case. I wasn't entirely happy with it - I know! I am way too critical of my own work! It wasn't a problem, though, as Joanna kindly offered to take it off my hands! 🤣

I re-made it changing a few things here and there. I am much happier with this version.

Then I made another 3 which I hope will store all sorts of wee things for the wee girlies!

This next one is the last of the fabric I got from Jo's blog giveaway. Thanks again, Jo.

The best thing about all of these pencil cases is that they're all made from scraps. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to have reduced said scraps! Honestly, when I'm not paying attention, I'm positive that fabric scraps breed! 🤣

Take care out there. Stay safe. Wear a mask.