Isaac Quilt

I Made a blue tones quilt for my cousin. I used squares on point to create the chevron look. I’m pleased with how it turned out. But there are so many different tones of blue and it was difficult to find ones which went together. 

Blue Hues

I took my mum to a quilting exhibition at Glasgow in February 2020. Little did we know just a month later we’d be in lockdown and have plenty of time on our hands. Thankfully I’d bought a few jelly rolls and charm packs at the exhibition to make a quilt for my own bed. I wanted a more grown up quilt with calming blues and French linen style patterns and textures. I’d not found any fabric like this until I saw this stand at the exhibition. The pattern I copied was off Pinterest. It took me a couple of months to do the quilt top and just recently in January 2021 finished backing it and binding it. 

Lyall quilt

This was last minute idea and I was running out of time to finish it before the baby got too old for it! I used some of my scrap stash. I do love navy and grey together. It was another variation on the disappearing nine patch.

Calvin and Andrew quilts

I hate half square triangles. I tried a few strategies to make sure they lined up but I just couldn't get it to work! So on calvins quilt I changed to rectangles on point instead! That wouldn't have worked for Andrews quilt though. I enjoyed the process of designing and figuring it out. I used layer cakes and jelly rolls rather than full width fabrics.

5th addition

After the Safe arrival of baby Elijah I had to add another heart to my bro and sister in law's quilt. Hopefully be last one! But they keep saying that! Another beautiful smiley baby boy.

Elijah Quilt

Time for another baby cot quilt. I made it to fit a cot this time...accurately! I saw this design on Pinterest for a baby boy blanket. The nursery for my nephew number 4 is grey - elephant grey! I chose greys and blues for the quilt to match the colour palette of the room. I also used the quilting method to stitch around each square. This is a first for me and again something I saw on Pinterest quilting detail. It looked straight forward enough for my simple skills. I stitched the front with the batting but not the back as I don't like seeing the stitching all the way through the quilt but understand the need to sew in place the batting. I like the final outcome, it should fit baby until he's about 12 years old! the fabric for the binding is moda in midnight blue.

 

Change of Direction

After spending countless hours of my life over the last few months scrolling through Pinterest posts on up-cycling and shabby chic painting projects of old furniture I felt rather confident at giving it a go.
Our newly decorating Period style living room needed something of a cabinet/display unit for one of the alcoves. A new modern wood unit would not suit, plus I didn't want a unit so tall that I couldn't enjoy the beautiful Laura Ashley bird wall paper. On the Gumtree hunt I found a 1930's style china cabinet with glass shelves. Perfect length, height and depth for the alcove.
It was the usual dark, stained, heavily varnished wood you'd expect of the era, with a simple scalloped edge to the glass doors.
The internet say use Annie Sloane paint, its amazing and just the job. I read up on it, watched a number of Youtube videos of people using the paint and how to apply it etc. I chose old white chalk paint.
It does not do what it says on the tin. It took three coats and it still wasn't a top paint finish. Then I waxed over the top as suggested by Annie Sloane - it takes some of the paint off. So the finish of the unit is definitely more shabby than chic. I took off the back board of the unit and cut out the silky type fabric usually lining these style cabinets. I used off cuts of wall paper to cover it to match the wall it would be stood against.
Overall I like the unit and the colour. I am pleased with the result but to be honest next time I would sand, prime, paint and varnish. 

Classroom cushions

I have a new class in August, P1! I am so excited to start this new adventure. So as part of my story corner I am going to create I made 4 cushions. I used fabrics from my stash that I have been waiting to use for ages but had no reason. So here they are. My favourite is the blue pirate fabric with the bright pink back which matches the pink of the pirate fabric. 

Baby Ellis crib Blanket

I used the left over fabric from Ewen's quilt to make a disappearing nine patch crib blanket and a sookie tag blanket. I used fleece for the back of the sookie blanket this time mainly because I had ran out of terry towelling.

I do like the disappearing nine patch design as it is quite versatile in the combinations that you can make with it.

Baby Ewen Quilt

Here is the latest addition to the babies' quilts corner. I had one of the robots fabric already and after a sneaky visit to the local Aladdin's cave of fabric Letham Crafts in Angus, I found a coordinating robots fat quarter and some coordinating spotty fabric. The red bias binding was left over from the epic bro and sister in law quilt. I am glad I made such a large amount of binding in one go as I've not had to make any more for about a year! I managed to make three items from 3 fat quarters. a quilt, changing mat and a sookie blanket.

Baby Ewen seemed to like lying on it and then puked, so it must be good!!!

Using up Scraps

During what feels like the hottest day on record here, I decided to stay in the cool of the kitchen and do some sewing! I wanted to make use of the fabric scraps I have in abundance. My sister in law asked me to make a terry towelled cover/mat for the baby changing mat. I had made 2 or 3 and today thought I would sharpen up the design.

I made two roll up changing mats to put in a baby change bag. I used bamboo terry towelling for the back as it is really soft and will feel warm when baby is on it. I also added tabs with poppers on so the mats do not unravel in the bag. They are compact enough to fold/roll really flat yet big enough for baby. I used left over fabrics which are bright and cheerful.

2 Fat Quarters

I bought this delightful fabric in Barcelona last July. The blues and greys with a hint of citrus green are the colour tones for our new living room. I used the two fat quarters to make new coasters, using a simple design and three rows of top stitching to create a bumped effect.
 
The cushion uses a new trick for me - pleats! There are not all perfect but I like the overall outcome. I had some grey spotty crochet trimmed binding lying around too so used this to edge the start of the pleats and the edge of the envelope opening on the back.
 
And the last of the fabric I used to make a diary cover for work. No one will mistake their diary for mine now! Again I used the grey binding as a page finder.

 

Eadie Quilt

My niece who has recently turned 7, told me she wanted a quilt as I had made one for each of her younger siblings and she hasn't had one. We went to the craft shop together and she chose all her own fabric. It had to be flannelette didn't it? She likes this fabric as its cosy and soft. I don't really like sewing with it as it frays very easily.
After some discussion with my 7 year old niece we settled on a pattern and here it is. I do like it and she loves it! It keeps the heat it she says!