Back to school - kit bag

 It's the beginning of September and now suddenly it's back to school, and my granddaughter, Abi is starting school - so this week I'm making a little bag for her P.E. kit -

 

I have used 4 floral prints from the Little Bird Told Me fabric range from Lewis and Irene -
38cm x 30cms for the bag, and small pieces for the letters and flowers.
I fused web to the back of the fabrics for the letters and flowers before cutting them out - it makes it so much easier when stitching the shapes in place - no pins needed!
I used the Big Shot machine and the following dies to cut out the flowers and letters -
Flower, layers and leaves, by Dena Designs - 657690 -
http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/657690/sizzix-bigz-die-flower-layers-leaves
for the capital  - Lollipop Shadow Capital letters - 657892
http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/657892/sizzix-bigz-alphabet-set-4-dies-lollipop-shadow-capital-letters
and for the lower case letters - Lollipop Shadow Lower Case letters - 660112
http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660112/sizzix-bigz-alphabet-set-4-dies-lollipop-shadow-lowercase-letters
Remember when cutting out letters the fabric needs to be right side down on the die because the letters and cut in reverse.
The letters and flowers were fused into place one side of the bag -

I placed the letters about 12cm from the bottom edge, and 5cm in from the edge, but this doesn't have to be exact., and added the flowers underneath and to one side. I stitched all the letters and flowers in place as this bag may take quite a bit of hard use!.
To make the bag I folded it in half, right sides together and stitched the side and bottom - leaving a 2cm opening 2.5cm from the top -

and I used a zig-zag stitch to neaten the raw edges.
A 1cm fold was made around the top edge, onto the wrong side, and then folded over again 2 .5cm and stitched down -

The opening in the side seam allows a ribbon to be threaded through as a drawstring.
The bad is complete and can be turned right side out ready for use. If you like you can pull the ribbon through so that the knot is hidden inside.
I think I might have to make a new bag for her big sister - but that can wait until later.
Next week is a mystery.
Have fun stitching.
Angela

Half Hexagon cushion cover

 As it's nearly September I've started thinking about back to school and off to Uni - and that I haven't managed to complete many of my half completed projects!
so I've combined off to Uni and finishing something, and made a cushion to brighten a student room.
These half hexagon friendship braids have been lying around for ages - obviously they were cut using the Big Shot and the Half Hexagon die - 660175 http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660175/sizzix-bigz-die-5-half-hex

So I cut some navy fabric stripes using the Big Shot Plus 660020http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660020/sizzix-big-shot-plus-machine-only-white-gray

and the 2 1/2" strip 658328 http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/658328/sizzix-bigz-xl-25-die-strips-2-1-2-wide , and used them to join 3 of the strips together -

I trimmed the top and bottom to make the edges straight and then just added a backing in the same navy to complete - I am going to insert a cushion pad and then slip stitch the edges together -

 

 So I'm feeling pleased with myself - one less thing to finish
Next week might be back to school - or it might be a mystery quilt.
Until then have fun sewing.
Angela

Wonderland Bird Decoration

  HI there. Do you remember a couple of weeks ago I used this same die to decorate a baby bib - well now I'm thinking ahead to Christmas - I know it's early but I don't want to have a mad rush in December -

Doesn't this make a lovely decoration - and all you have to do is cut out a pair of birds in red - using the Bigz die -http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660887/sizzix-bigz-die-wonderland-bird, and of course a Big Shot Machine - http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660200/sizzix-big-shot-machine-only-white-gray , and cut the a pair of wings and eyes from white felt. 

I used sparkly red and white felt but plain will work just as well.

Stitch the wings and eyes in place first, either by hand or machine.

Then stitch the 2 birds together to complete.

Now these can just sit on the Christmas tree, or you could string them on ribbon or thread and hang them.

I have lots more ideas for this die so I think you will be seeing him quite a few more times between now and Christmas.

By for now.

Angela

Wedding bunting

 I hope you all enjoyed the Festival of Quilts - it was lovely meeting some of you for the first time and renewing acquaintance with others. I have to admit that I saw very little of the quilts because by the end of each day I was very tired, but I loved those that I did see.

So back to normal life now - and I have some friends getting married later this month - so I am making bunting for them - I love making bunting - it's so easy especially when using the Bigz Equilateral Triangle die - 660119 - http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660119/sizzix-bigz-l-die-triangle-equilateral-4-3-4-h-x-5-1-2-w-unfinished and the Big Shot Plus Machine - 660020 - http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660020/sizzix-big-shot-plus-machine-only-white-gray .

I used the Plus machine because I could fold spare fabric by the side of the die, and not have to cut strips from the fabric

I can cut 10 triangles from the width of 112 cm fabric, which will make 5 pennants, so you will need 14cm by width of fabric for every 5 pennants you want to make. 

Here is my selection of fabrics - I have 6 prints and plains, and a plain cream that I have cut double the amount of to make sure that I have enough pennants as I am making 12 m of bunting. I have calculated that I need 7 pennants for each metre.

Here I have stitch the pennants, R.S. together, leaving the top edge open. I have turned them R.S. out and then pressed a 6 mm seam to the inside, and stitched across. 

Here they are with the top corners stitches to string - I have quite a few more to stitch but a good film and a glass of wine this evening should see it complete.

Until next time - keep stitching

Angela 

Bird and bear bibs

 I have some new favourite dies -

I think these look good on little bibs, but I also have other ideas for Christmas!

The dies are -660883 -  Loving Bear -http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660883/sizzix-bigz-die-loving-bear and 660887 - http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660887/sizzix-bigz-die-wonderland-bird

I love the simple shapes - they are ideal for applique - although for the bear I have embroidered the eyes and nose as the pieces are so small.

To make the bib I cut a triangle 42cm across and 24cm to the point -

and I cut off the points on the top corners.

I fused Heat and Bond to the wrong side of mid grey and aqua coloured plain fabrics and, using the die and the Big Shot, cut out the bird in grey and the heart/wing and the eye in aqua

I fused it in place and then stitched around the shape so that it will withstand multiple washes.

 

 The backing was cut in towelling, the 2 pieces were stitched, right sides together, leaving an opening in one side -

When the bib is turned right side out the opening is slip stitched together.

To complete 2 small pieces of Velcro were stitched on the corners of the bib -

remember that one piece will be on the right side and the other will be on the wrong side.

The bear bib is made in the same way, but I fused the pieces on in stages to make the stitching easier -

If-the scarf is stitched a piece at a time you don't need to keep stopping and starting and securing the ends of the threads

and I stitched French knots for the eyes, and a few satin stitches for the nose -

then the bib is put together in the same way as the bird bib.

I've given one with a bear on it to my daughter for her little boy, and I think I might be making a few more. You can make then personal by adding the baby's name, using one of our alphabet dies - http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/657837/sizzix-bigz-xl-alphabet-die-word-play is a good size and quite fun because it's irregular.

That's all for this week - I hope I'll see you at the Festival of Quilts - I have lots of dies to demonstrate - so come and say hello to me on Lady Sew and Sew, or Beth on Cotton Patch, and Mandy on Abakhan.

Enjoy the show if you're coming, or enjoy some sun and sewing.

Angela

 

 



Turbulence of butterflies - part 2

 Hello again, I'm starting to get excited about the Festival of Quilts - I hope you are too.

I have finished the little butterfly quilt that I started last week -

 

First of all I hand stitched the butterflies - because I had 5 hours travelling in one day so thought I would put the time to good use.

I wasn't sure what to do for the quilting - which is done by machine (as I don't have anymore long journeys planned), and then I thought of using the butterfly as a template to draw around to quilt -

 blue butterfly is the template, and I used an air erasable pen to draw around it -

 

I only used the large and medium butterflies as templates, and I spaced them in the blank areas of the quilt, and then shadow quilted around some of the fabric butterflies as well.

I like the back of the quilt too -

 and think I might make some cushions with just quilted butterflies.

I have started making another butterfly quilt and this time I'm going to fuse the butterflies in place, and then layer up the quilt and stitch around the butterflies as the quilting.

Meanwhile - I thought the butterfly die would make a nice decoration on a hairband for a baby - so with some white stretch lace, and my trusty Big Shot machine - http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660200/sizzix-big-shot-machine-only-white-gray  and the Echo Park Butterfly Trio Bigz die -http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660448/sizzix-bigz-die-butterfly-trio

I cut out 1 small and 1 medium butterfly from double sided fabric (I did this by fusing 2 layers of fabric together with heat and bond).

Then it's really easy to cut the stretch lace to the correct length - and pleat the ends, and overlap and then stitch -

Pin and then sittch the butterfly in place to conceal the join -



I stitched initially with back stitch and then added French knots to add texture to the centre.

I think I'm going to be making quite a few of these!

So that's all for this week - hope to see you next week at the Festival of Quilts -

there will be 3 of us demonstrating the Big Shot machines and Bigz dies -

I will be demonstrating with Lady Sew and Sew,

Beth will be with Cotton Patch and

Mandy will be with Abakhan

Hope to see you next week.

Angela



A turbulence of butterflies - baby quilt

 I'm not sure this is a correct name for a collection of butterflies but it got stuck in my head!

A friend has just had a baby girl, and so I thought I'd make a little quilt for her and, as I really like the new Echo Park range of dies, I decided to applique butterflies on it - and this view is where I started - and where the name turbulence originated.

Here is an image of the die that I have been using - Bigz die 660448

 

http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660448/sizzix-bigz-die-butterfly-trio and I used the Big Shot http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660200/sizzix-big-shot-machine-only-white-gray

 I decided not to use the butterfly body's to keep the design simple.

 I used Heat and Bond on the wrong side of the fabrics - which I liberated from my stash - which I applied before cutting out.

I then cut outs of all three sizes of butterflies, and just scattered them over the background fabric, which is a cream print, also from my stash.

then came the job of trying to arrange them - but not too much so that it remained quite an informal arrangement -

This was just a bit too rigid - too much of a straight line -

this was closer - but seemed a bit too wide - so it became this -

I think I'm happy with this now - so I have to fuse the butterflies onto the background and stitch them! Yes that's all and I was hoping to finish it today - not really realistic but I'll have a go. So next week will follow on with the stitching and quilting of this quilt - hopefully.

Until then - enjoy the school holidays, and get ready for Festival of Quilts - 2 weeks today - see you there.

Angela

 

 

Final blooms

 It's not such a sunny day today - but the flowers in the garden and on my cushion are still looking lovely.

I have enjoyed embellishing this cushion, and in fact could have done more - but you have to decide when enough is enough - so for now this is the completed cushion.

To remind you the die I used is Bigz Die - Flower Layers and Leaves by Dena Designs™ 657690 http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/657690/sizzix-bigz-die-flower-layers-leaves along with the Big Shot Machine http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660200/sizzix-big-shot-machine-only-white-gray to cut e sponge shapes for the printing - I used some silk paints that I've had for a long time for my printing, but you can use any fabric dies for this project.

So here are the images of the embellishments on the flowers - I've used a mixture of embroidery threads, machine threads, and a selection of beads -

The net and the beading give some definition to the rather blobby printing!

 Beads and net have added focus to the flowers

Back stitch around the flowers have added gentle definition at the top of the cushion -

Extra beads in the centre adds interest -

 

French knots at the centre of this flower make it stand out more, while the leaf has been outlined with a single machine thread to gently highlight -

Here there are 2 leaves embroidered with the same colour - but the top one has thicker stem stitch for the veins, while the lower leaf just has a single thread for variety -

 

To complete the cover I stitched a plain back onto it and inserted a cushion pad, slip stitching the opening edges together.
So here it is completed -

 and here it is in the garden - a bit washed out by the sunlight - but looking good!

I hope you've enjoyed this little wander into printing and then embellishing, of course you can play with lots of different flower shapes and put more beads, net and embroidery on yours - however you like it enjoy making it!!
Now I'm going to have a cup of tea and enjoy my cushion and flowers on the patio - and start thinking about Festival of Quilts - which is only 3 weeks away. I hope you've got your tickets and booked travel and accommodation if needed. I see you there.
Angela