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Daisy and Lavender Cushion

6/1/2025

Another project - another kit from that VERY long list - and it's another cushion! This pattern is the Daisy and Lavender Cushion, from the book Cushions and Quilts by Jo Colwill, and was purchased from Cowslip Workshops back in 2017. I finally made a start on this cushion cover back in September 2024. The daisy petals were machine quilted in place, and I like tweaking patterns, so I've addded Suffolk Puffs as the centres, to add a bit of texture...

...the lavender stems and flowers are hand embroidered using DMC embroidery thread. The back of the cushion was "labelled" in a very simple way - I just wrote out a few words on paper, traced it onto the linen fabric using a lightpad and a Micron Pigma pen, and then hand embroidered over the words. As well as adding some lavender, I've scattered a few daisies amongst the words too...

...once the applique and embroidery were completed, this project was packed away while I focussed on other things - and a couple of days ago I finally pulled it out again, determined to get it finished before I started anything else! A row of bound buttonholes is used to fasten the cushion, and these can be quite fiddly to make. The fabric that wa sused is pulled through to wrong side of the cushion opening, and I folded the raw edges over and slip stitched the edges in place so it looks neat in the inside too...

...a long strip of fabric is neatened and threaded through the buttonholes to close the cushion cover, knotted at one end and tied in a smart bow at the other end...

...a very large pillow insert was used for the filling, as the cushion is approx 24" x 24" - now it's completed, I really don't know what's taken me so long to get it finished! This really has been a lovely project to make, and another one ticked off that long list of kits - now I just need to update that list ready for 2025 and see how many I can work my way through this year!

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Declutter Challenge 2025 - Day 1, 2 and 3

3/1/2025

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Day 1 of the Declutter Challenge 2025 that I'm taking part in was garbage. All the rubbish that is taking up space in your sewing area, such as empty boxes, packaging, old receipts etc. Although I didn't think I had much in the way of rubbish, I did have some pretty boxes that Moda kits had been packed in. The kits have been made, and I really didn't need the boxes anymore, so they made their way to the recycling bin, along with a couple of broken plastic storage boxes that I'd had for simply ages and didn't use. It felt very therapeutic, and literally took less than 15 minutes to do!

The second part of the challenge for day 1 was to get out your sewing machine. Well, mine is out on my sewing table permanently, but I did get my smaller Bernina out too.

Day 2 of the Declutter Challenge was all about the things that really don't belong in your sewing space - the things that get dumped there and really need to be rehomed elsewhere. I'm very lucky to have my own sewing studio so I don't have to use it to store anything else, so I just wiped the widow sill down and packed away my festive quilts that had been on display.
The second part of the challenge was to clean your sewing machine, so both of my Berninas had a real treat - they were both cleaned, oiled, and had a fresh needle put in.

Day 3 of the Declutter Challenge is all about the capacity of your sewing space for magazines and subscriptions. I used to have a very impressive collection of magazines, but when I retired, I cancelled all the subscriptions that I had for quilting magazines, and donated several boxes of the ones I had to a local quilt group. I still have a couple of boxes of them, so went through them and decided to keep my favourite Norwegian ones, and the others will be donated to charity shops.

Part 2 of today's challenge is to go through your email inbox - something that I do regularly, but still found a few companies that I could unsubscribe from to limit the amount of emails I get.

The final part of today's challenge was to pick a project to work on during the challenge and work on it for 30 mins to see how much you can get done. I chose my Daisy and Lavender cushion that I didn't get a chance to finish at the end of December, and managed to mark out the placements for the bound buttonholes and to make the fabric tie that will hold it together once the buttonholes have been stitched. All in all it's been a very productive day!

#declutterchallenge2025
#jgidqdeclutterchallenge2025
#reclaimingmyspace2025

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Update on my List of Kits - 2025

1/1/2025

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Back in January 2022, I was feeling very overwhelmed by the amount of kits that I had stored in my sewing studio, So I made a list of all the kits that I'd bought over several years - each one was photographed, and I documented the name of the kit, the designer, the year it wa sbought and were it was bought from. During this process, I quickly realised there were several kits that I no longer loved as much as I had when they were originally bought, so I sorted through them, and donated a few to my quilting friends, local craft groups and charity shops. Each January since then, I've sorted through the remaining kits and updated my list. Anyway, these are the ones I've still got carefully packed away in my sewing studio - hopefully I'll be able to get a few more made this year!
As you can see, I've recorded the year it was purchased, the name of the pattern, the pattern designer and the shop they were purchased from. You can click on the pictures below to enlarge them...

...these are the kits by Australian designers...
2014 - Wartime Sweetheart - Faeries in my Garden - Faeries in my Garden
2016 - Flying Santa - Lynette Anderson Designs - Little Quilt Store
2016 - Friends For Christmas - Lynette Anderson Designs - Puddleducks
2017 - Wonky Santa - Lynette Anderson Designs - this was a gift

2018 - Winter Playground - Lynette Anderson Designs - Little Quilt Store
2019 - Tree of Life - Lynette Anderson Designs - Cross Patch
2020 - Rambling Stitches - Hares Nest - Poppy Patch
2022 - Tuesdays Child - by Susan Smith - fabric pack purchased from Pincushion Pantiles

...these are the remaining Norwegian kits...
2010 - Høytidsengler - AnnAKa - Lappelåven
2011 - Roseveska - Kari Renolen - MyQuilt
2011 - Toalettveske - Elin R. Roland - Gift
2011 - Rosa på shopping hverdagsveske - Kari Renolen - Lappedilla

2011 - Varlige tulipanhus - AnnAKa - Lappedilla
2011 - Nissefar med rensdyr - Tilda - Gift
2013 - Ugler - AnnAKa - Lappedilla
2020 - Spis Fisk - AnnAKa - Lapp-Elisa

..and here are the rest of the kits in my "collection" - honestly, I have no willpower when it comes to kits, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can complete a few more of them this year without buying too many more!
2005 - Boo - Sandy Gervais - Quilters Haven
2010 - Luna Notte - 3 Sisters - Quilters Haven
2011 - Fowl Play II - Bramblepatch - Bramblepatch
2014 - Amelia Bag - Monkey Buttons - Monkey Buttons

2015 - Run Rabbit Run - Jo Colwill - Cowslip Workshops
2016 - Vintage Bouquet - Jo Colwill - Cowslip Workshops
2019 - Thimble Blossom - Buttermilk Basin - KIS Quilting Ltd
2017 - Celebrate Christmas Advent Calendar - Sarah Edgar - Pretty Fabrics and Trims
2020 - Gingerbread Biscuits - Sarah Edgar - Pretty Fabrics and Trims
2020 - Christmas Tree - Sarah Edgar - Pretty Fabrics and Trims

2019 - Merry Merry Snow Days - Bunny Hill Designs - Six Penny Memories
2019 - 12 Days of Christmas - Corinne Lapierre - Corinne Lapierre
2020 - Bali Bag - Two Aunties - Little Quilt Store
2021 - Kismet Pouches - Little Patch Pockets - Little Patch Pockets

2022 - It's a Cinch - drawstring bag from ByAnnie - purchased from Oh Sew Sweet Shop
2022 - Grab Some Grub - lunchbag from ByAnnie - purchased from Oh Sew Sweet Shop
2022 - Forest Friends Bear and Bunny - by Kathi Campbell - purchased from Coast and Country Crafts and Quilts

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Declutter Challenge 2025

1/1/2025

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This year I'm taking part in the Declutter Challenge 2025 - where the aim is to clean out the excess, to make room to create. Clearing out the unwanted, the unnecessary, the no longer wanted. Getting rid of the garbage, the duplicates, the forgotten, the regrets, and the stuff we have grown out of. And when they’re gone, it will leave you with space that you forgot you had. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. And here you will find inspiration for your quilting in the year ahead. Check out the Just Get It Done Quilts website where you can find the signup for a daily email reminder, the declutter blogs, and more!
I've also joined the Declutter Challenge FB group, and some of the pictures on there are certainly far worse than the state of my creative space! I'd already had a quick tidy up in my sewing studio before I joined, but there is still plenty of work to be done!
Before we start, there are a few things to prepare, such as gather together a few boxes to collect items that will be donated, what can be recycled and what is rubbish. I just need to take a couple of "before" pictures, and I'll be ready to start.

#declutterchallenge2025
#jgidqdeclutterchallenge2025
#reclaimingmyspace2025

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Daisy and Lavender Cushion

Declutter Challenge 2025 - Day 1, 2 and 3

Update on my List of Kits - 2025

Declutter Challenge 2025

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