Colour, beautiful colour!

Ever since I started quilting I have been collecting fabric from one of my favourite designers - Anna Maria Horner. The way her different fabrics go together to create a beautiful bright array of overwhelming colour always grabs me, and makes me feel so so happy!

My long term aim is to use the fabric I have collected to make a quilt for myself, but I couldn't resist the AMH mini-quilt swap on Instagram, and thought it was a good way to have a taste of what sewing with this fabric will be like!

My swap partner seemed to like a mixture of bright fabrics with low volume, and I felt like I was up for a challenge and trying something new. After flicking through my quilting books I was grabbed by 'The Night Garden' quilt by Sarah Fielke in her book 'Quilting from Little Things'. This quilt involves sewing 'notorious' Y-seams and also uses a 'Step-Down' technique for piecing, both of which I hadn't tried before.

I have to say that without this brilliant Y-seams tutorial from Fresh Lemons Quilts, and Sarah Fielke's Craftsy class which walks you through the 'Step-Down' piecing technique, I would have struggled. But after studying both of these, this mini quilt came together nicely, and I really enjoyed the Step-Down piecing especially.

I decided to hand quilt the mini using Perle 8 cotton, and went with a Cotton and Steel sparkly binding.

For the back I used a lovely Loulouthi print, and I love the texture that the hand quilting brings to this.

 I hope my swap partner loves this mini quilt as much as I do! 

Linking up with Finish it Up Friday and Sew the Library.

Sew Cute Tuesday

I am hosting over at Sew Cute Tuesday today. 

So pop on over there if you want to find out a bit more about me!

Sewing fear number two ... conquered!

After successfully conquering my fear of sewing curves earlier this year, it was time to face the next challenge: making a structured purse/handbag. I have made a few tote bags in my time, but I wanted a bag with some more details, a different shape, and most importantly a zippered closure. 

Enter the Penelope Purse from Clover and Violet! I had seen this pattern being reviewed on Instagram recently, and I'd also read a few blog entries about other Clover and Violet bags, and how great the patterns were. Most importantly for me I could use the interfacing and fusible fleece that I had on hand (as I can't buy anything like that here and have to get it from overseas).

The final push came when a friend, who was leaving to return to America, said casually that she really needed a new purse. I knew I had to make one for her! 

I just love the end result, and I was so reluctant to give this away in the end!
It wasn't a quick make, but the instructions were really clear and even the zipper came together without any trouble!

Because I was a bit pushed for time in the end I didn't include the inside zippered pocket, but there is still a pocket which will fit a phone.

The bag is very roomy inside, and it fits snuggly under your arm, nice and secure. 

Now I just need to make another one for me!

Linking up with 

It's summer, and time to thank the teachers!

With only one son in Elementary school this year, we just had one teachers gift to make, and Mr. 8 knew exactly what his teacher likes - cats!

He really wanted to embroider a cat, so he drew his own drawing, I reminded him how to sew back-stitch, and off he went...

I helped with the eyes and whiskers, but otherwise he did an amazing job by himself. The original plan was to incorporate the embroidery into a bag, but we decided that it looked so cute by itself in a hoop, and so I finished it off with felt on the back and a ribbon to hang it by.

For the tote bag we chose some cat fabric, and then Mr. 8 chose some other fabrics to match, including cute Lizzy House mice!

I made the tote, following Svetlana's great tutorial. The only changes I made were to make my own handles, and to apply a piece of velcro on the front pocket.

His teacher was thrilled with the presents, and it was nice to make something extra special for her as she is leaving the school and returning to the USA.

Linking up with