I've recently had a good clear out of my fabrics and I sent a large bundle of Laurel Burch scraps to a quilter in need! After I'd posted them off I found this FQ from the "Felines and Canines" collection by Laurel Burch. I teamed it up with this bright blue/gold stars print and some red/gold spot (again both fabrics by Laurel Burch) and made a small pouch to keep my phone charger and camera cable and bits and bots in when I go on my hols. I've got a huge Laurel Burch holdall (bought about 8 or 9 years ago from my local quilt shop, Quilters Haven) that I usually take with me when I go travelling, and this pouch goes with it perfectly/ The pattern is "Anna's Sminkepung" by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa... ...when I had a rummage in my button tin I found some small cat charms that are the same as the cat on the fabrics, so added one to the front of the pouch as a little flourish. Now I'm all set for my travels!
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While I was "in the zone" for making tote bags, I whipped up another one ready for my holiday this summer. These fun giraffe prints are part of the Laurel Burch "Jungle Songs" collection that have been lurking in my stash for several years, and teamed with a jade green Laurel Burch print for the lining they were perfect for the project I had in mind. I used my favourite tote bag pattern, "På Quiltelaup" by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa. Trying to use up my extensive thread stash as well as my fabric one, I quilted this with a YLI variegated green (shade is called "Amazon Rainforest") and black thread for the straps and binding... ...I added a centre panel of pockets to the lining, based on a pattern by Elizabeth Hartman, that I've used several times before, and added a narrow strap to hang my keys on so they don't get lost in my bag. I've had these tiny silver-coloured "hand-made" hands for ages, so as I'm trying to use up my "stash" I stitched one to the pocket binding. The top edge of the tote bag is finished off with a strip of binding using the same fabric as the straps, and slip-stitched by hand to the lining... ...I was so pleased with this tote bag. It's really roomy, especially with the extra pockets, and will be really useful in the summer when I'm of on my hols with Mr F - there'll be no-one else on the trip with a bag quite like this one. I've already got a really large Laurel Burch tote bag that I bought a few years ago that I when I'm travelling, and now I'll have two to choose from!
My mum is a huge Laurel Burch fan, so when I needed to make her a gift for Mothering Sunday, I knew exactly what fabrics to use. I'd had these Laurel Burch "Jungle Songs" fabrics in my stash for a few years, and thought they would be perfect for this tote bag pattern "På Quiltelaup" by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa. I didn't have enough "Jungle Songs" fabric to use the same cutting instructions/ layout that the pattern suggested, so used the same fabric for lining the pockets as I was going to use for lining the tote bag... ...rather than the quilting blending into the fabrics, I wanted it to be a feature, so used a YLI variegated turquoise/teal quilting thread. The quilting lines were marked with a Clover Hera marker. Straight rows for the bag, diagonal lines for the pockets. I used a selection of Laurel Burch scraps in contrasting colours to make the prairie points, and by coincidence this black/gold "Cherry Blossom Festival" by Andover fabrics (another one that's been in my stash for simply ages) went perfectly with the "Jungle Songs" and was just what I needed for the handles of the tote bag. ... ...I added a narrow strap inside the bag for my mum to attach her key-ring to, and bound the top of the bag with the same fabric that I'd used for the handles. These "Wonder Clips" by clover are perfect of holding all the layers together, and you don't get stabbed with pins! The prairie points at the top of the bag are held in place with a button, and this bright purple one in my button tin was perfect!... ...here you can see the lining of the pocket - I used the same blue/green Laurel Burch print that I used for lining the bag... ...and here is the finished tote bag. My mum has a few Laurel Burch bags, and she certainly won't see anyone with one exactly the same as this one!
I've been cutting up my worn out jeans again!! This time I've teamed up the denim with a bright doggy-print. This is a Laurel Burch fabric that I had been saving for a special project and decided to use it for my sister's birthday - what could be more special than that??..... .....I layered the doggy-print with some fusible pellon and a piece of flannel, to make a very structured lining, and added lots of rows of quilting in a grid-design, using a navy blue Mettler quilting thread..... .....this is the bag inside out. I have neatened the bottom and side seam with a black and gold Laurel Burch print, and added a key-holder to the top edge. I used the same fabric as the lining to bind the top of the bag, so when the bag is turned out the right way, you will see this gorgeous fabric on the outside too..... .....a really cute pair of dotty leather handles were the finishing touch to this tote bag. I added a label to the outside when I sewed the sides together, just incase she forgets what a fabulous sister she's got!! Happy birthday Becky - hope you like your pressie!! (Becky is the sister that designed my blog for me a couple of years ago for my birthday - and she's now helping my sister Lisa to do a blog too). |
About me...Hi - welcome to my quilting blog! My passions are my family, my dog, my friends and sewing, not necessarily in that order! Archives
July 2023
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