Blog Archives - Nicola Foreman Quilts

Down In The Garden Stitchery

29/4/2014

Last summer I started a BOM "Down In The Garden" by the Australian designer Leanne Beasley. I love stitchery, and once I started I really couldn't stop! Anyway, I stitched up a storm with Block 1. I avoided the appliqué (not my favourite part of these blocks) and swiftly moved onto the stitchery of Block 2. I avoided doing the appliqué AGAIN, started block 3 and then other projects seem to take over. I re-discovered this block at the weekend, and this evening I've finished the stitchery. My sister gave me some top tips on making the mini dresden plates that need to be appliquéd onto Block and 3, so I'll be tackling those at the weekend. Now I'm off to admire my real garden before it gets too dark!

The Cosy Cabin

27/4/2014

I discovered ANOTHER wonderful place to buy fabrics and threads yesterday, when I went to the Guilt Guild's Regional Day with my friend Helen. The Cosy Cabin was there selling some fabulous fabrics and threads and all sorts of quilting goodies. I really couldn't resist these Gutermann Sulky variegated quilting threads and can't wait to put them to good use!

Etsy Shopping

25/4/2014

Well as I've been such a good girl and using up the fabrics in my stash rather than buying any new ones, I've saved my pennies and been shopping over at my favourite Etsy shop instead! These earrings are all designed by Amanda Davie. Firstly there's "Beautiful Dreamer" made with turquoise beads and dream charms, then there's "Sweetheart Two" which is a classic combination of colours and sweet charms! These feature antique brass finished bird charms, glass pearls, and beautiful red magnesite hearts. Imagine wearing them with your favourite polka dot dress to add a little sass! Last of all "Back Roads" earrings. Pretty robin's egg blue art glass beads are the focal for these lovely danglers. These also have lovely aged brass leaves.

Playing With Scraps

21/4/2014

I've been playing with scraps today, and pulled out some co-ordinating lace trimmings, and made some cosmetic bags using a pattern by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa. This pattern is called "Anna's Sminkepung" and I have adapted it to suit whatever size scraps I have laying around. I like adding trimmings too, lace and ribbon and sometimes vintage buttons. Even scraps of fabric were used to bind the seams - I really didn't waste any fabric at all...

...and here is one of the completed bags. I kept this one quite simple, using 2 different fabrics for the bag, and used the same fabric to bind the zipper that I'd used for the lining, and a narrow lace trim. My eldest daughter (she doesn't sew!) asked if she could have a bag like this when she saw the pile of scraps I was working with - and she's already got 3 in different colours!! Oh well, there's no peace for a sewing-mummy!!

På Quiltelaup - Blues and Creams

20/4/2014

It's been raining most of the day, and my husband is at work all day too, so I've been sewing again! This fabric was a fat quarter bundle in my stash, (bought last year from Sew and So's) that I teamed up with some pretty cream print that I bought on Saturday from Quilters Haven. The pattern is "På Quiltelaup" by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa. I made a pocket panel is made inserted into the lining, using up some of the left over scraps from the outer part of the bag. I changed my mind about the lacey zipper, as I decided it was far to pretty to be hidden inside the bag! But I've got a cunning plan about using that tomorrow...

...this bag is great for using up FQ's as you can see with these two pictures, each side looks different. I used the same fabric for the straps that I used for the lining. I really love the scrappy look to this one...

...well it finally stopped raining long enough to take some photographs. I used some leftover strips of fabric to make a key holder, and added a large blue floral button to each side of the bag to keep those prairie points in place...

...this is much more subtle than the other tote bags I've made recently. I love the linen fabric that was in this bundle, and one is a "waffle" type fabric which has a wonderful texture to it. There are lots of small pieces of fabric left over, probably enough to make a couple of cosmetic bags, and I'll be able to use that pretty lacey zipper too!

På Quiltelaup - Sewing Standard

19/4/2014

Mr F has been busy at work this weekend, and Alice has been working too, so I was home alone with my sewing machine. What should I do? Well I had a very crafty plan! I really needed a large tote bag to take all my sewing sewing supplies in when I spend a sewing day with my crafty friends, so used some leftovers from the sewing mat set that I'd made recently, and used the tote bag pattern "På Quiltelaup" by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa. Once the main part of the bag was pieced together, I marked the straight rows for quilting with a Clover Hera marker. This just leaves an indentation in the fabric so you have a guide to stitch along. I used a variegated YLI thread in black and white - again using everything from my stash!...

...these black and white spots work well with the newspaper print. I made another pocket panel too, based on the pattern I'd downloaded last year, designed by Elizabeth Hartman (her blog is Oh Fransson!) and this really is my favourite go-to pattern when I need pockets inside a bag or a folder...

...2 smart buttons have secured the Prairie points into position, and one of my labels has been stitched into place too. Now I just need to arrange another sewing day with my friend Sue, or get myself booked onto a class or two as now I've got the perfect bag for taking along all my supplies with me! I love how this pattern can look so different depending on what fabrics I've used. And it's great for using up small scraps for those co-ordinating prairie points too. Now, somewhere I've got a nice FQ bundle of blue and cream florals that will work perfectly with this pattern.

The Sewing Standard

17/4/2014

These black and white fabrics were just what I needed for this "sewing-themed" project, and the main fabric was bought a few months ago from Sew and So's at Bungay. I hadn't used any of it as I didn't want to cut it into small pieces, and todays project was was perfect to show case this fun newspaper-styled print, called "The Sewing Standard" . The pattern I used is called "Beyond Measure Part 2" by Roslyn Mirrington, and as it's a download PDF pattern you don't have to wait for the postman to deliver it! However I did have to wait for the postman to deliver this beautiful "Tape Measure" woven tape (ordered online from The Eternal Maker) to embellish my project with...

...I'd already made one of the sewing-machine mats last year, and thought it would be a good idea to make another one for when I have friends round for a crafty-day or for when me and my daughter have a sewing-fest. I quilted the mat very simply with straight rows of quilting half an inch apart, using a variegated YLI black and white thread and added some non-slip matting to the back to stop it from sliding off my table. I made some piping too (this piping cord is polyester and was dreadful to sew with, but will be fine for this small project. Note to self - only buy COTTON piping cord in future!)...

...and here is the finished pocket. I decided I really didn't like the checker-board strip with the newspaper fabric that I'd made a few days ago, it was far too "busy" for this project, so I started all over again, and this is the finished strip - piped and embellished with some woven "Tape Measure" tape. I used a large black#white polka dot fabric for the backing, and a tiny black/white spot for the binding..

...this is a great project for using left-over bits of fabric. Once the sewing mat was completed, I made a matching thread-catcher, so that the bits of thread and fabric etc that usually end up on my new carpet can be popped inside and disposed of later! This was also trimmed with piping, and it that fixes into place on the sewing mat with a pair of button magnets. These were sewn into place by hand...

...as these are not very strong magnets they won't interfere with the electronic part of my sewing machine. The thread catcher is easily removable so the contents can be emptied...

...ta-dah!! Here is another smart sewing machine mat. As I've already got one that I've been using for the past year, I can keep this one ready for when my crafty friends come to visit me for a sewing day!

Laurel Burch Felines and Canines

16/4/2014

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!

Cream And White "Turning Twenty" Completed!

14/4/2014

On Wednesday morning I collected my cream and white quilt from my longarm quilter. This was made using 25 fat quarters of different cream and white fabrics. The pattern is "Turning Twenty" by Tricia Cribbs. I couldn't resist taking a picture or two before I'd had time to stitch the binding on! And this shows a close-up of this gorgeous quilting pattern, "flounce" - it adds a wonderful texture to this quilt, and meanders across it...

...I used a gorgeous cream fabric from the "Noteworthy" collection by Sweetwater for Moda, that was already in my stash. This was machined to the front of the quilt, then it was lovingly hand stitched into place - all 344" of it, and yes I did wear a thimble!...

...this shows the different shades of neutrals that were used - it is a very simple pattern to make, and made with these fabrics it blends perfectly in my cream bedroom. I'm trying really hard to use my fabric/thread stash before buying anything new as Mr F keeps complaining about the size of my hoard! So far I'm doing quite well, although I'm not sure if I can last until the end of the week without a quick trip to Bungay!!

På Quiltelaup - Laurel Burch Giraffes

12/4/2014

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!