Cross Stitch, Applique and a Fun New magazine

I was certainly in a cross stitch mood recently. After doing the cup outline piece I stitched up this cute little cat in a mug design. It is all over Pinterest along with others from a set.

I inadvertently did the outline stitches in 2 threads instead of 1 but I am still happy with it.
I will be making this one into another tea mat using my scraps.

I have been busy this last week going through all my craft room boxes. I have managed to move quite a lot of the store for later boxes so there is much more room for my using now boxes. Things are looking much better. At the same time I have sorted and ironed all my scraps ready to start the Splendid Sampler and I have also filled another floss box. The floss skeins are down to the last bag or two now.

As a bit of a cross over project I have combined doll clothes with applique and thread sketching. I have a thing for pictures out of fabric or thread. They just call out to me.

This cute little A-line skirt is being modelled by one of my Australian Girl dolls. The 18" A-line skirt pattern is already on my facebook page as a free pattern and this 20" size skirt will be up soon, also free and including the pumpkin applique design. The applique will fit just as well on the 18" skirt.
If you like doll clothes then check out my Doll Designs blog and my Etsy Shop.

On Friday I discovered Daphne's Diary in the newsagent. The colours and designs and layout was irresistible. I have limited my magazine reading to library magazines on Zinnio for a few years now so it felt good to buy a lovely magazine in the flesh.

Once a magazineaholic always an addict. The first thing I did when I got home was to look up back issues. The only ones I could find in Australia were the two previous editions. It has been going for 3 or 4 years in Europe but I am sure it hasn't been here long. I am not prepared to pay for back issues from the Netherlands but I did pay $14.99 for each of the back issues on eBay. The newsagent one cost me $10.95 anyway so I thought the price was bearable. I can't wait to get them.

You can cut out these shapes...

...and create a necklace picture.

You can read about designers.

You can read nice stories and get craft ideas.

The back cover is a lovely sheet of paper with no text.

Hope you are having a wonderful crafty weekend,

Val

Working on my latest doll clothes pattern

It is just so nice when things work out. This pattern is so easy to customise. I have looked up some steam punk outfits and have fabric all picked out and ideas almost gelled to go from cutesy to a modern edge with the same pattern.

Post by Val Spiers Sews Doll Designs.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

Creating some images for my blog header

I wanted to add some nice colour to my Doll Design blog so I played with inserting pretty fabric looking images inside the line drawings of my designs.

I normally use Fireworks for this type of thing. I find it easy to use without to many features that I don't need.

This is how they look. Pretty cute, I thought. In Fireworks you copy the floral image then 'paste inside' the drawing outline.

I figure a lot of people use Photoshop so I looked up how to do this in Photoshop. It is a whole new language for me! Not sure I want to swap to photoshop. My understanding is that it does do more than Fireworks but it is mainly for photo editing. I suppose if I want to make some nice marketing photos for my doll patterns I need to look at it.

Anyway, to do this in Photoshop you need to draw your vector shape on one layer. Get an image on another layer. With the image layer above the drawing layer, right click the image layer and select 'Create clipping mask'.

I haven't quite finished the blog header but I put up what I got done the other day because I really liked the look of it. Better than white space, anyway. I will finish soon.

I am still sewing lots of doll clothes. This time last year I was making a little Christmassy sewing things every day of December. I got 22 done. See my blog archive for Dec 2103. Scroll down to 23rd Dec where they start. I looked through them all and the gnomes are my favourite.

I made this bright little dress yesterday. The white bib is stitched on top of the bodice. I can see a lot of potential here for different shape front pieces sewn on rather than pieced. I am also playing with pleats so this skirt is pleated rather than gathered.

Why not visit my Doll Designs blog to see my latest pattern and check out my blog header.

Merry Christmas,
Val

A Christmas Present

My mum collects anything to do with The Twelve Days of Christmas. The local quilt shop near mum's place had fat quarters of this cute fabric by Anni Downs
I decided to make a place mat and two coasters to give to mum for Christmas this year.

The fabric has the cutest pattern.

I FMQ'd 'Christmas 2014' and 'valspierssews' on the bottom corner. It is visible but not a feature. I still have to soak out the marker pen.

You can just see where I quilted with a pear and a partridge over the centre.

I put a corner label on so the edges are sewn into the binding. The angle is on the fold and I just stitched across it. The backing fabric is cute too. I wish I could afford several metres of this collection.

The coaster is a bit bigger than normal so a cup and a biscuit fit on.

I pieced it with two pieces back and front. I left the diagonal seam mostly open on the back so I could sew all the way around the outside then turn it through the gap. I quilted with a cross, catching the seam in the back.

My other sewing has been doll related. I am supposed to be making some vest samples for the next pattern but just couldn't help making a little tote bag. I hd the idea drawn up in my notebook and I had some new pink fabrics. The bag is about 5" square.
I also had some fun making a little bag decoration.

The back has a zipper pocket perfect for a little girl to use as a coin purse.

My latest doll clothes pattern publication is a dress. See the link in my right sidebar at the top.

I am quite pleased with my finishes this week.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

Busy Sewing

I know this week should be a Welcome to the North Pole update but it seems everyone has gone a bit quiet on that front, including me. I plan to do the next update in November. At least I will have my quilt out of storage and will have a chance to do some on it before then.

My time is now taken up with designing and making doll clothes. It is such fun. Not so much fun writing the instructions but I only have to do that if I want to publish them. The pattern business seems to be working out quite well so far. I have only had the blouse and the pinafore up for two months and I have made a dollar a day from sales. Whether it keeps going will be the test.

I published Snugfit Witch the other day. You can see all the pictures on my doll blog here.

Next I am working on Snugfit Carol, a cute dress with a couple of different sleeves and divided collars.
I have all the garments from my Knitfit Classic Skivvy design and that is going to be a free pattern. Before I publish either of them I am going to ask some of my PDF pattern friends to give me some feed back on Snugfit Carol. I don't want to publish the free Classic Skivvy as a showcase of what I can do before I get some feed back on what my layout and instructions are like.

This is pink Carol with the detachable collar -I am also working on a collection of detachable collars.

The collar will have a hook and eye but I can't find any in my sewing room just yet.

I also want to make a collection of vintage aprons. The tulip apron is my first.

Here is the pile of tops I made from the Classic Skivvy pattern.

Actually on the sewing table is red Carol. I made the ruffles with my gathering foot. I am getting quite good at getting it just right now. I also changed the thread on my overlocker so I could do white rolled hems on the ruffles. The cream thread had been on so long it had nearly run out. I am not a fan of changing the overlocker threads. Even though I just tie a knot and pull the new one through it seems such a nuisance.

I am going to make a Christmas fabric pinafore that will be just long enough for the red ruffle to peek out of.

I am trying to keep my latest projects wrinkle free so they are being hung up wherever I can fit them. Some are on the back of folders. Others are on my cabinet handles. I made the little coat hangers with pipe cleaners.

Other than sewing I have been reading a lot and walking on the beach and riding my bike. I love what I find on the beach. I was excited to see a hermit crab in this gorgeous shell last week.
I took the photo on my phone and it enhanced it a bit. It is a bit hard to see his little legs.

I am enjoying a book by Daniel Silva. He has written a series of books about a reluctant spy called Gabriel Allon. They are interesting thrillers.

And finally a picture of my new sewing room. It has tiles and a door and architraves now.

I hope everyone is well.
Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

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

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

Craftsy sale and some doll pattern progress

The Craftsy banner below is an affiliate link and I receive a commission if you join Craftsy or purchase anything through this link. It is a great sale! Even with postage the yarns and fabrics are a good price.



On the dolls clothes front I have been working on the instruction modules. I have several modules that can be used in more than one pattern such as sleeves and collar instructions. This first set is for my first pattern which is a blouse with several variations.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

Welcome to the North Pole SAL for July

After struggling along trying to work in the restricted space of my temporary sewing room combined with a lack of resources - some in storage and my pocket money going towards rent and storage costs - I have finally decided to put all my quilt making and general patchwork on hold until get into the new house, towards the end of the year.

Instead, I am going to concentrate on the doll clothes side of my sewing. It is small all round and it also means I can pack up some of my sewing stuff to get a bit more organised.

In keeping with the Welcome to the North Pole theme I have created a small scale Christmas applique scene as a border for a pinafore skirt. I forgot to put in something to show the scale but the drawing is on an A4 sheet with a bit more taped to the end to make it 15 inches. The houses are about 3 inches tall.

I hope everyone working on their Welcome to the North Pole quilt has made at least some progress through July. The months seem to go so fast! Please link up your post or photo in the Linky. There are always lots of lookers. It is such a great quilt.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

An InLinkz Link-up