CHARM ABOUT YOU

I have a couple of cute baby projects to share that I made for Sewing Quarter in celebration of Natasha's baby shower recently.

This adorable hooded baby towel is based on one I had as a child, that my kids all used too! It's a combination of soft plush fleece fabric and towelling. Neither of which is easy to hand embroider but I used the brilliant Stitch-n-Tear with DMC perle cotton #5 and it worked really nicely!

I've been doing so much hand quilting recently that I definitely needed a little escape and I've spent some time at my machine whizzing up some quick makes. I'd come across this pattern 'Double Zippers Pouch' and thought I would give it a go. I needed a little bag and a larger one so I changed the dimensions from those given in the tutorial. I got it a little off with the first small bag and the lining is actually too big really but since it's stuffed inside and no one can see I didn't bother to fix it!! It is now home to my wonder clips and basting pins - those two separate zipped compartments are really useful.

The lining worked out better for the bigger bag (I guesstimated after making the outer part! I also didn't use wadding just interfacing) and I adore the cute woodland print. I got the fabrics awhile ago from Pink Castle Fabrics and they are so perfect for this pattern.

I've picked out some of my favourite prints that would work really well for a double zip bag because the prints run in different directions, of course there's lots of cute florals that would work well too but I can't help my love for the sweet cartoon kawaii prints:

Alice in Cream, Minny Muu by Lecien; Little Red Scene, Little Heroines by Lecien; Little Nico Town, Nico Nico Land by Lecien; Minny Muu Ladybug, Minny Muu by Lecien; Retro Cute Cats by Lecien; Bows and Sweets Double Gauze by Cosmo Textile

Pink Castle Fabrics has the best selection of Kawaii fabrics, they even have a Kawaii fabric club so you can get a monthly bundle of cuteness!

I've been making good progress with my Le Challenge 'mix' make (link up opens 15th October) and when I finished cutting I had some scraps that I couldn't part with. So I sat and looked at them and, as I was at my sewing machine, I realised I kept looking at the ugliest plastic bag that holds my extra machine feet and that just won't do! So I started folding and sewing and before I knew it I had made this little handy bag:

Complete with pretty Rashida Coleman-Hale, Cotton and Steel selvedge:

Now my machine bits look a little more loved!

Finally I will leave you with this pretty Autumnal picture of my youngest with pockets full of conkers - we literally have a house full since she collects them on our morning walk back from the school run!

This little mischief brightened my day when we randomly played with loads of toys on the kitchen floor. Kids are so great at creating spontaneous hilarity. Her t-shirt is my motto for this week.

Happy World Book Day! 

I took these two cats to school this morning, passing lots of robots, knights and princesses on the way! I used this tutorial to make the hats, made bow brooches, stuffed a couple of black pop socks and sewed them on as tails. Eye liner nose and whiskers complete the look.

Had to share a picture of the gap toothed baby as well.

I'll leave you with a slightly creepy note that Fred wrote, although apparently he was pretending he was an elf, which makes it less spooky!

My week started with a lovely thoughtful card from a very dear high school friend

Then cupcakes were in order...

because my baby girl turned one!

I decided to write some little memories of her at this stage because I'm not great at filling in those baby books.

And she brewed us all some tea:

This week I've cut all my S is for Stitchembroidery blocks and cut some Kona jelly roll strips to start piecing them together

and it just so happens to coordinate perfectly with the backing fabric I'd picked out, if I have enough I may well use this for binding too

This week I also took a little quiz and discovered I should be living in Portland:

Go and see what city you should actually live in and come back and let me know!

Less blogging more sewing going on around here...

I finished this second Rainbow Log Cabin quilt and it's in my shop

I used happy bright colours and a bit of low volume to balance it out.

There's lots of fun panels, strawberries and a pot of jam?! So cute!

Another custom order from a dear friend, a bright and bold play mat, backed with soft flannel:

This was not an easy make because I picked the highest loft batting. While this will be great for a baby it was not great for my machine. I attempted quilting and it went horribly wrong. So I had a re-think and after seeing Rebecca's post I decided tacking was the way to go. No way was I going to do fmq when my walking foot couldn't even deal, so I turned to what I love - a bit of hand stitching.

Right back to the making, I have another custom quilt and a yoga bag that need finishing!

Linking up: