This beautiful stitchery design is by Rosalie Quinlan, and as soon as I saw it I knew I just HAD to make it. I bought this kit from Under The Mulberry Tree back in August. At the time it seemed far too early to make a start on projects ready for Christmas, but now the days are getting cooler and the leaves are changing colour and falling fast, what better to do on a cold evening than to curl up on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate and stitch away a few hours. This kit included pre-printed linen and two skeins of Cosmo embroidery thread.
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I follow several Australian designers blogs, and recently saw this stitchery kit - Hope, Love and Friendship - it is designed by Rosalie Quinlan. I was able to get mine from Under The Mulberry Tree in Australia. It comes with pre-printed handkerchief linen and cosmo threads. Another kit all ready to start stitching when those cold winter nights are here! I recently used up the last of my "Simplicity" fabric and was searching for another range to use for toilettry bags. I particularly like designs by 3 Sisters for Moda, and their newest range, Etchings, is gorgeous. Luckily my local quilt shop, Quilters Haven have got several bolts of this in stock! So, while I was at quilt group on Thursday evening, I picked up a fat quarter bundle to play with..... .....these fabrics are so pretty - I really didn't want to cut them up! But, I had bought them for a particular project, and as Mr F was on a shoot all day on Saturday, I was able to get the sewing machine out and get creative..... .....a few hours (and a little bit of swearing!) later, I'd completed another Toalettveske. I used the grey script-print for the lining, and then I decided to trim this toilettry bag with some vintage lace (had a good rummage in a charity shop recently and was amazed at what I found). I have got used to this method of inserting zippers now..... .....I even had enough fabric to make this matching cosmetic bag too. More vintage lace trimming - I bought metres of lace from a charity shop for just a few pence. I love it - it looks so pretty..... ......this set is a present for a very special friend - but I can't let on who she is just yet though, incase she reads my blog! I really can't wait to cut up the beautiful fabrics in the kit that my friend Eva gave me, and make one for myself as the other two were given as gifts - the "Simplicity" one was for my sister, for her birthday, and the batik one will soon be going to a new home. I often get comments and emails form people wanting to know a bit more about the Norwegian patterns that I use. I was recently asked where I got the pattern from for this bag "Ut på kurs" (yes it's another AnnAKa pattern!) for keeping all my equipement in when I go on a class. When my friend Hanne came to stay with me last year she bought me this pattern and the kit as a present (she has the most WONDERFUL quilt shop, Lappedilla, in Norway.... .....the pouch that attaches to the front is made with plastic pockets so you can see all your equipement. The instructions in AnnAKa patterns are in Norwegian, but it has very good diagrams, so I was able to follow those.... .....and this is my version - photographed in the summer!! It was a bit tricky to make, but the diagrams are very good, and I was really pleased with it. If I get really stuck, then I use google translate which is quite helpful. My large cutting board - 24" x 18" fits in easily, along with all my rulers..... .....and the clip-on pouch holds all the bits-and-bobs like rotary cutters and pens and smaller rulers. It really is very useful. I altered mine a little bit, and instead of using to ties to close the pouch I used magnetic fasteners. If you want to buy any AnnAKa patterns, you can contact Hanne at her shop - her website is in Norwegian, but if you send her an email she will be able to help you - happy sewing! I've been shopping at Fancy Moon again - first of all this caught my eye - a black and white print From the Dressmaking Collection by Amy Barickman for The Vintage Workshop & Indygo Junction, this fantastic, retro Sewing Notions Fabric features scissors, buttons, needles and thread and all kinds of sewing paraphernalia..... .....and from the Larkspur Collection by Alexander Henry, this gorgeous watery print is filled with bold, seeping colour and strong, simple flower shapes to create a fabulous contemporary print..... .....Spring Street Blue, by P&B, this fabulous contemporary fabric depicts a happy little street scene of houses, bikes, trees, chirruping birds and flowers rendered with design references reminiscent of 1950's atomic era illustration with sprocket shapes and quirky line drawings overlaying the bright, spring colours of this fresh and delightful print..... .....and finally - beautifully detailed birds, butterflies and rose blooms adorn this rich design of scrolls, sheet music, letters and notes, and motifs from the French Journal Collection by London Portfolio for Michael Miller. I saw this fabric at Chilford and wished it'd bought it, so was super excited to find it at Fancy Moon. I've been asked by a friend to explain a little bit about the difference between ordinary sewing needles and embroidery needles. Not just any needle will do for embroidery. "Embroidery" or crewel needles have a long eye which makes threading the needle so much easier when using multiple strands of thread, and a sharp point to the needle so that the stitches can be worked close together and there is more control for placing the stitches. The most popular sizes used in embroidery are size 7 and 9. In contrast to this, most people tend to use "Sharps" for general sewing as they are a general purpose sewing needle. They are the most common hand sewing needle found in the home and are used by dressmakers around the world. Their short round small threading eye provides added strength during sewing. Well I have finally managed to make another one of these toilettry bags (Toalettveske), this time using a selection of purple batiks and a tiny piece of lime green - and lined with a purple sprig-printed cotton (I also used this fabric for the binding). This time I managed to make it all by myself, including the tricky zipper, without the assistance of my Norwegian friends! As soon as I saw this stitchery designed by Leanne Beasley, I just knew it was another one of those "I've just GOT to have that" moments! This beautiful kit comes complete with screen printed hankie linen and 12 skeins of those beautiful Cosmo embroidery threads so you can get stitching straight away. I ordered this from Quilt Fabric Delights and it arrived just a couple of days ago. Now - where are my embroidery needles? I really need to make a start on this beautiful design - oh and the Cosmo threads are just simply GAWJUS!!! This morning Mr F and I drove off to the Autumn Quilt Festival at Chilford. I have been there a few times before, and I was really looking forward to seeing lots of gorgeous fabrics and threads, quilt displays, meeting friends, having a delicious lunch and maybe a little bit of shopping too..... .....well, I wasn't disappointed - there were lots of fabrics to chose from, and some excellent quilts were on display. After we'd had a good look round at all the stalls we had lunch, and then it was time to go back and have another look at the quilts - .... .....it was impossible this year to pick a favourite but there were two that I really liked. Firstly this one by Dot Carver from Devon - titled "North of the Border" - the class was called "Back to my Roots" and the accompanying note stated that the heather colours of the "braes" and the strong shapes of the thistle provided the inspiration as her family roots are firmly in Scotland ..... .....and secondly this quilt by Freida Oxenham, Peeblesshire - the techniques she used are computer design (EQ5), hand and machine piecing, hand and machine quilting, hand embroidery and beading..... .....there were probably lots of people there who I didn't get a chance to say "hello" to, but did manage to stop and chat to two of my quilting friends, Lesley and Mary (these ladies were responsible for me finding out about Janette the longarm quilter) and Mr F kindly took this snap of the 3 of us..... .....there was even time to do a LITTLE bit of shopping hehe!! I really like sewing toilettry and make-up bags, so I was looking for suitable fabric - and just look what I found! These beautiful Lecien fabrics were from Sew and So's -they will be perfect for making small bags..... .....then I found another pretty green Lecien fabric on the Monkey Buttons stall, again for making toilettry bags. I also bought some cream and gold fabric for Christmas gifts, and some special fabric sheets for printing photographs onto. it was nearly time to leave, when Mr F spotted some "country-style" fabric that he thought I could use to make him a quilted waistcoat to wear when he goes shooting - hmmm - well, any advice on how I go about that would be gratefully received!! - oh well I suppose he DOES deserve a pressie for taking me to the quilt festival ;) One of my sisters, Lisa, is also a quilter and crafter and this morning I took myself off to Norwich to deliver her birthday present. She took me to a delightfull place for a cuppa - Biddy's Tea Room. I don't know how I was able to resist the yummy-looking cakes that were on display.... .....it was so quaint inside and was absolutely filled to the brim with all sorts of old-fashioned things, it was just like being in my granny's lounge - there was even a treadle sewing machine table that had been turned into a table for two. I definately know where I'll be going for afternoon tea the next time I go to Norwich.... .....I just had time to do a little bit of shopping before I came home, and quickly took a picture of this handsome piper who was outside Marks and Spencers. Wonder what he's wearing under his kilt!! |
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July 2023
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