Handbag and Crocheted Shawl

In the meantime, as well as trying to finish my two challenge quilts for the retreat, I have been making gifts for a few friends. The red and black handbag below is about the simplest handbag anyone could make. I call it a stitch and flip handbag. I started sewing by stretching the wide red strip across each corner  and pinning it down. From there, it's just stitch and flip on the wadding. No gussets, it's just sewn across the corners on the inside at the bottom to give it a bit of shape. There are no special catches, just a pretty button and a bit of cord. Inside are a couple of pockets for phone and keys. A couple of different sized Suffolk puffs provide the decorations. I'll post a similar one I made at Xmas in Georgia. They look very different but are basically the same style.

It's always nice to have busy fingers when you are watching TV. This triangular shawl is a very simple one, just trebles with a pretty picot edge. It will keep my friend's shoulders warm when she is in hospital.

St Bats Retreat May 2014 coming up!

 Here is a little bit of the quilt detail . You can see how an "eye spy" quilt could be as much fun as a book for early learning.

Each year I go on a quilting retreat, usually in the Blue Mountains somewhere. It's my job to organise a challenge for that retreat. I set the parameters, make up the rules and remind people to get going every three months.
 For 2014 we are all making children's quilts. These quilts will be donated to a local Sydney charity which helps families in crisis. The quilts will be displayed at the retreat and prizes awarded to the best. St Ives quilters have generously organised people and businesses to donate prizes. It's always fun marvelling at the beautiful creative sewing that retreat members do.
 I'm doing two quilts. One  is a traditional scrap quilt (above). I used a lot of leftover scraps of novelty and children's fabrics to make this "eye spy" quilt for children to have fun with. I have made the quilt top for a second one and now have to quilt and bind it. Hope I finish it in time!

Easter Gifts

I don't usually give my grandchildren eggs and lollies for Easter because they get heaps from their parents and others. This year I sewed something for the two older boys. Felix needed a new library bag. I made him a monster one in  when he was in Kinder and he's still using it. When I asked him what he wanted on it he said he wanted a guitar. Very cool indeed. Fortunately I also had some black fabric with musical notes on it. I know he'll love this.

Theo gets a book cushion. It's made of white linen.The front has his initial on it and the back has a black pocket to fit his current book in. The fastening of the cushion cover has four buttons and the handle has two buttonholes which simply attach to the buttons on the back opening. I made this ingenious invention after I had forgotten to put the handle on Felix's book cushion. It works a treat and I like it better than attaching it to the seam. Happy Easter everyone!

Cushion Covers

I had seven blocks left over from the beach quilt (see last month's post) so I made an extra block, sewed them together  and added a few borders. Two cushion covers emerged. I had fun figuring out the colours within the limitations of "leftovers". I like a challenge which defines limitations.

Jane's Quilt is called: MAROUBRA

Hello, I've just finished a big quilt. It's a housewarming present for a friend who moved to Maroubra. She wanted something that reflected this beachy suburb. She liked a quilt I had pinned on Pinterest which had half square triangle blocks. There was no pattern so I collected a bunch of beachy looking fabrics and made lots of blocks. Ruling up halfsquare triangle blocks is pretty tedious unless you have company so I took it along to my craft group and we ate cake and drank coffee and chattered while I ruled up 150 blocks. The time passed quickly believe me!

Here is a photo of the whole quilt (above). I like the touches of sunny yellow.

In the photo above you can see the backing fabric I used, the label and some of the quilting. Lyn Hudson in Portland did the quilting in a continuous wave pattern - very appropriate. The wave pattern added curves to an otherwise angular quilt.

I used a leftover block fro the label and leftover binding to edge the label.

Above is a close-up of the half square triangle block and the wave continuous quilting.

Here's a picture of the random strip binding I love to do. I cut random-length strips 2 and a quarter inches wide, string 'em together, iron them in half and my binding is made. I use the left over scraps of fabric to do this so of course they fit in beautifully.

THE Christening Gown

The christening gown was made for Theodore's baptism in 2008. Unfortunately I happened across a beautiful pattern for a Victorian gown put out by Vogue which I fell in love with. I said "unfortunately"  because I'm not an especially good dressmaker and don't really enjoy making clothes. My oldest grandson Felix had worn the family christening gown which had been sent out from England especially for him in 2005. It was a beautiful thing (see below) made by his great great grandmother in 1911. It was very sad that it was just too fragile for Theo or Jarvis to wear. I repaired holes and lined the bodice but the cotton voile was literally falling to pieces. That was when I decided to make the Vogue gown.

The top two piccys are of the gown made in 1911. The last picture is the one I made for Theo and Jarvis. I was so lucky to have friends who had skills to help me: Lucy did the delicate little grub roses on the smocking and the collar. Marie did the beautiful smocking. Noela did the buttonholes, leveled the hem and sewed the hem. The rest I did. So there are lovely memories of Bathurst friends who contributed towards it. Both Theo and Jarvis's names and the dates of their baptisms are embroidered on the inside hems of the petticoat. I think the beautiful collar absolutely makes the gown into something special. I didn't have time to crochet the lace myself but it's all cotton. The gown is a soft creamy silk which feels beautiful.

Another Baby Quilt

Yes I do realise I haven't posted much lately. It's mainly because I have been so busy helping out with the family since baby Jarvis was born. My days are taken up with pick ups and dropoffs for the older kids. School, footy practice, music lessons etc -  all have to be dealt with. In addition I've been doing a lot of cooking. My flat is a mess and I've done very little sewing. BUT (never start a sentence with "But") I have managed to finish a quilt for a baby girl.

This quilt has been done with vintage fabrics given to me. They used to belong to an old lady who "dressed dolls" in the 50s and 60s so the prints are mostly very small ones. They make a charming baby quilt don't you think? It's been done once again in my favourite post and rail block, mainly because I thought the size of the strips (2 1/2 " X 6 1/2 ") suited the sizes of the small prints.

What do you think? My usual inclination is to choose bright clear colours for children's quilts. It was a challenge for me to use pale colours. These are much more muted and subtle but I still like them very much.