Welcome to the North Pole SAL August 2014

I have started to pack up some of my sewing things in anticipation of the big move early November. The house will be locked up today when the garage door goes on and the kitchen will go in next week. I love the kitchen. I will post a few pictures soon.

I feel like a bit of a poor hostess not working on my Welcome to the North Pole blocks but I do hope some of you have managed to get a bit done this month. It is quite exciting to see some of the quilts started last year almost finished now.

I hope you will post some progress in the linky at the bottom of the page.

In keeping with the applique theme at least, I have created a small Tribute to Spring with some flower pots and flowers that could be used for applique or stitchery but I think it would look great with a bit of both.

It is so easy to put patterns in my Craftsy store so that is where I have put this one. It is free to download. If you are not a member of Craftsy yet please sign up through my affiliate link in the left hand side bar. I get a small commission when new members sign up.

I have just been down to Brisbane for a visit with my mum and we went up to Tea and Niceties (32 Eagle Heights Rd Tamborine Mountain). What a lovely high tea we had. Well worth a visit. Especially now they are in their new garden location. It was $55 each. My favourite thing is the tiny scones. We even bought a teacup and plate set like the ones they use. It is a design they had made just for them. I haven't got a picture of the cup design and I scoffed most of the goodies before remembering to take a photo. Pathetic I know, but you will just have to visit for yourself.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

An InLinkz Link-up

FNSI

I managed to get some sewing done. The little applique pinny has been hanging around for a while so I got busy and finished it off. I am thinking the applique pieces are just a fraction too big. The dress bodice is my vest pattern cut a bit shorter.

I played around with the basic skivvy a bit. There are still a few tweeks to make it perfect. Here is Jessica modelling it with the jacket I made before. Unfortunately there is no coordinating skirt or pants so she just has her shorts on.

I used a narrow zig zag stitch to sew all the seams and hem. The pieces are just a bit small for the overlocker. Today I will make the few changes to the skivvy pattern and work on a new doll tote bag pattern.

It is overcast and not very pleasant weatherwise today so it will be good for sewing.

Make sure you have a look at what all the others have been up to at Sugarlane Quilts.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

Friday Night Sew-in

I signed up for FNSI this month. I haven't been visiting very many blogs this month. I thought it would be nice just to browse around all the ones in the FNSI list.
There is still time to sign up over at Sugarlane Quilts.

I want to do lots of doll clothes sewing to try to get a bunch of pattern trials done.

We have been popping round to watch the new house go up. This is my sewing room.

On the way back from the house one afternoon we saw a whale! He was jumping up and rolling over and flapping his flipper. In between jumps he would come up and puff. It was very exciting. I zoomed in with my coolpix camera and just had to click quick when I saw him pop out. At least you can tell it's a whale :) Well I can anyway.

Looking forward to the Saturday after Friday night so I can visit everyone.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

First in a series of dolls clothes patterns

I have just published a pattern for an 18" doll blouse on my Craftsy shop. This first one has been a fairly long process but now I hope to add to the series quite quickly.
I love to create systems. My doll clothes system consists of three size types:

• Snugfit - this fit is as it sounds. Fairly snug blouses and dresses and light jackets and the like.
• Loosefit - this one is a series of patterns suitable for mid weight fabrics or garments that are meant to be loose like PJ's or over shirts or a raincoat.
• Largefit - is for heavy weight or thick fabrics and outer wear garments.

I set about creating Snugfit patterns for a variety of garments. The bit I am excited about is that the pattern pieces are swappable. All the sleeves in the Snugfit series can be used on any of the garments. All the collars designed for back opening garments can be used with any of these garments. I have even made a cute vest pattern that can be used to make a dress or a sleeveless top as well. 

I had all my test samples done for the blouse and realised I still needed to test out one of the methods for finishing the armhole on a sleeveless blouse. I didn't just want to make another sleeveless sample so I added a fancy yolk overlay to make it look like a western shirt. I think it looks really cute. I will be keeping an eye out for some smaller navy buttons. The ones I have used are just a fraction too big.

I was surprised that the plovers have had another batch of babies. 3 tiny things. These two hatched out the day before this picture. I took this on full zoom from across the road. There is a third one but I couldn't see it at the time. I am happy to say that there are still three babies after a few days now.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val