A little Heart Needle Book

I was surfing through Pinterest and the sites they lead to and came across a cute little heart needle book. I could see some potential for using applique paper and stiff bag interfacing to make the process suit me.
So, instead of cardboard for the covers I traced my heart onto freezer paper then ironed it onto the piece of stiff handbag interfacing I had on my sewing table. I cut it out then reused the freezer paper to make a second one. I wanted to fuse the fabric to these pieces so I cut out two squares of fusible applique paper and ironed them to the wrong side of my cover fabric then cut around them.

Using my teflon mat (it is actually a non stick teflon sheet meant for the frying pan) I ironed the square of fabric on top of the heart shaped interfacing. I peeled it off the teflon mat and trimmed around it to leave a 1/4 inch allowance to turn in.  I clipped and turned the allowance under. This part wasn't quite as tricky as I thought it might be. I did burn my fingers twice but I didn't get any glue on the iron. It sticks in place beautifully and makes sewing the lining and cover together easy.

I am a machine sewer rather than a hand sewer but it would be possible to make the cover using buttonhole stitch. I also struggle to tizzy things up. I love to look at all the beautiful embroidery and embellishments others use on their projects but can't quite get it all to come together. What I managed on the front of this needle book is about as good as it gets in my craft room but it does lend itself to a nice stitchery on the front or more buttons and beads or applique.

When I cut out the felt hearts I just reused the freezer paper heart two more times. I then trimmed it down to make the two inside hearts. I used the one piece 6 times. I am so glad I discovered freezer paper. When I did I bought a whole role of it. It will probably last me the rest of my life.

Now I have a little needle book to mind a needle when I bring one down to stitch something like a button and it won't get lost in the lounge. The one on Pinterest had a ribbon to tie on the right hand side but I am not much a tying ribbons on needle books.

I know what a pain it is to find just what you need in your carefully filed patterns or 'just draw a heart shape' so I have included the half heart image the same size as I used. Draw a line and trace half onto your freezer paper. Fold on the line and cut out along the half heart line so it ends up symmetrical. Heart shape PDF.

I have put together a few basic photos and instructions in a flickr set. You can look at it here.
If you pin one of the last two pictures  from this blog you can always find it later or you can go to the photo set and pin that. Hover the mouse over the image to see the pin button.

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Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

FNWF and a busy week

On Friday my neighbour rang me just before lunch and said "Are you busy this afternoon?".
I expected she needed someone to mind the kids while she fitted something in. She has 4 young children so I try to help out in tight spots. I was quite excited when she asked me to make a red riding hood cape for her daughter who was off to Guide camp after school. It took me an hour and a half.
From this:

To this:

My official Friday night sewing was some cross stitch. It is a round Christmas decoration with three lovely bells. I am doing it on 16 count aida. I am linking up with FNWF over at Gone Stitchin with Cheryll. There are lots signed up. I will be visiting as many as possible this weekend.

I have been busy making all sorts of things. I found a pattern for knitted slipper socks out of thick wool. I have already worn them and washed them. They are very snug over normal thin socks. If you sign up to Ravelry for free there are lots of free patterns to knit and crochet. The slipper socks are here http://www.ravelry.com/designers/yuko-nakamura

I also tried out a new crochet stitch called lover's knot and made a little scarf to wear with my slippers.

I should have posted my Country Cottage Quilting SAL on Thursday. I had the Hollyhock needle book finished. Here it is.

Because the cover turned out a bit crooked I tried again with a new stitchery but the same book cover design. I love the new free stitcheries from Red Brolly.

I changed the insides quite a bit. I used some applique elements from Some Kind of Wonderful and a purse clasp magnet for the scissors.

Several times I have linked up with Applique Thursday at A Quilting Reader's Garden. Last week Angie offered a book as a give away for those who linked up. I am thrilled to say I won a book on making patchwork landscapes. Thanks Angie.
I suggest you have a look at her blog A Quilting Reader's Garden. She has a hexie Friday too.

I have been trying to avoid knitting dish cloths. You all know why :D
They are extremely addictive.
I have collected some patterns in Pinterest and I bought the Sugar and Cream cotton yarn online at Yarn Over. Yarn Over is based in Brisbane. I worked out that buying about 8 balls from them is a similar price as 8 balls from the US.
I knitted a big one and tried using it but it is just too bulky so I have made several 5 inch ones. I think I will have to have a new one for each day because they take so long to dry. I don't fancy using a cloth that has sat damp for a day. I also found that the dark wine colour ran. I will stick to light colours now.

I cut up some Audra's Iris Garden and Avalon to make 2 1/2 inch squares for Nanna's Farm.

I bought a lovely new book about Amish gardening. It is a lovely look at the life of several families in the garden through the year. I love it. The photos are beautiful.

It is starting to get very wintery here lately. I am thinking I will have to try some baking. Nice puddingy things. Perhaps I will make some things to take to the quilting group. At least that way I don't feel obligated to eat them all.


If you are not ready for Google+ you can comment from my Facebook or Flickr.

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Happy Quilting,
Val

Needle book and fabric

When I sewed the stitchery to the front of the hollyhock needle book it went a bit crooked and the tiny prairie points went a bit skew. I thought the best way to get better is to do it again. I loved the poppy stitchery from Red Brolly so I made that up to make a new needle book. I didn't think it needed inside pockets so I have used some of the aplique elements from the SKOW book. I have yet to sew it all together.

I was very surprised to get my new fabric so fast. Just 8 days from America. 40 half yard pieces of Audra's Iris Garden. I worked it out to be $14.75 per metre. I was pleased I found the shop selling the 1/2 yard pieces. It was much better value than the fat quarter bundle. It will be perfect for the Go Wild Garden quilt from Country Cottage Quilting that I will be making this year. It is a nice subdued range, quite a bit darker or duller than I am used to.

I have been wondering what I will have as a home page after Google shut down iGoogle. I decided to go with my blog page. I have added some links to sites I like to visit then I made a list of some shops I often check out. It is now more like home. I set my browser to open my blog page, my email and google plus as tabs on start up. The computer is such a cool tool.

If you are not ready for Google+ you can comment from my Facebook or Flickr.

Val Spiers on Facebook

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Happy Quilting,
Val

Country Cottage Quilting SAL

Shirley from Colours of a Butterfly and myself are sewing some projects from Country Cottage Quilting by Lynette Anderson.
We have started with the Hollyhock Sewing set. The needle case is first.
We plan to post each two weeks. Next fortnight we should be finished the needle case.

After the sewing set we will probably do the Garden Pillow then finally the Go Wild Garden quilt. We haven't really thought about a timeline for the quilt. We will just see how we go to start.

I finished the stitchery for the front of the needle case. It is early days for me and needle turn. I quite  like the way it turns out. Nicer than visible stitching. Not sure I would bother doing a whole quilt this way. The Go Wild Garden quilt is raw edge applique and I will do the blanket stitch on the machine I think.
Anyone with the book thinking they might like to join in just let us know and we can sew together.

If you are not ready for Google+ you can comment from my Facebook or Flickr.

Val Spiers on Facebook

Val Spiers on Flickr

Happy Quilting,
Val

Country Cottage Quilting SAL and the rest.

I just love a good sew along and I am a sucker for a good BoM so I have quite a lot on the go. I seem to be fitting things in quite well so far. I have even made some extras like the fox and my crochet gloves.
I am determined to finish all my May obligations before the end of May and earlier if possible. As soon as the new owl came out I whipped him up ready to sew. My sewing machine is making some complaining noises so the sewing will have to wait a bit.

I got another block from "Summertime" glued down ready to sew and I will try to get a couple more ready. I am making a square wall hanging from 9 blocks.

I got the April Adventure block out and put it onto a little bag pattern. I will put the May block of cute post cards onto a zippy purse.

I spent some time working on my much overdue photo album from my trip last year. It is fun to look at the photos and remember stuff.

I like to use the iPad in bed just before I get up so I made some fingerless gloves to keep me warm.

I am making the needle book from Country Cottage Quilts with Shirley from Colours of a Butterfly. We are warming up to make the quilt with the watering cans on it. We will be posting some progress every two weeks. I did a bit of cutting and sticking to get started.

That's it for another week. I feel much better about blogging once a week. I seem to have more time for visiting and commenting on other blogs.

I am linking up with Applique Thursday.

If you are not ready for Google+ you can comment from my Facebook or Flickr.

Val Spiers on Facebook

Val Spiers on Flickr

Happy Quilting,
Val

Cross stitch

I just love watching the picture come into being.
The Busy Bees needle case uses the chart I got from cross stitch happy. Under the archives in the right side bar is a list of all her free charts. There are lots of nice ones.

P is for pins is free from Brookes Books Publishing. There are charts for the whole alphabet. Scroll down the page. The back is felt so I can use the slit and turn method. Make a little slit in the middle of the felt backing then with wrong sides together sew all around. Enlarge the slit enough to turn. I fill most of the cushion with rice mixed with some lavender then finish off with stuffing so the rice stays in while it is sewn up.

This dragonfly and pond is one I found on Pinterest. It will be another pin cushion.

I have also been making the mug bag that Carin found at Red Brolly. Hers looks great. Visit her blog for the link to the free pattern. I haven't quite finished it yet. I will show it in my next post.

I am going to go to the Craft and Stitches show in Brisbane on the Thursday in a few weeks time. I hope to get something nice to use as a give away prize for all my Australian followers. It is just too expensive to post things overseas so maybe I will get a gift voucher for international followers. I will have to think about it. It is really nice to be part of such a friendly blog community.

Happy Quilting,

Val

One Christmas Item a Month

How can it be 25th Jan already! Luckily I have been working diligently on my cross stitch items to make little Christmas presents for the ladies at my quilting group.

I was able to make up a finished piece into a needle book to show off today. It is so useful to have the 1 Xmas Item a Month group again this year. It gives me just the right amount of motivation without feeling I have to submit an item every time. Thanks Narelle.

I have worked out that I can make the inside cover with two pieces of fabric so that I can sew all the way around the outside edge.

With the front cover closed I cut two pieces 1/4 inch wider.

Stitch all around, clip the corners and turn through the gap in the spine.

Stitch the gap by hand.

I stitched close to the cross stitch on the front then did  a square on the back as well, then stitched in the felt pages.

There is a list of Christmas elves participating on the right side bar of Narelle's blog.

Happy Quilting,
Val

Friday Night with Friends

I love looking at what everyone is making. A good way to see what lots of like minded bloggers are up to is to 'link up'.
Today I have linked up to FNWF over at Cheryll's Gone Stitchin' cubby hole.

Everyone has signed up here.

Be sure to look at what others are doing.

I have to admit that I am not a night time sewer so I worked during the day yesterday on some cross stitch and the table runner and early this morning I sewed up the needle case.
Here is what I have to show.

7,8,9,10 on the 12 Days of Christmas table runner.

A double sided scissor fob.

Nearly finished a pin cushion top.

Sewed up the needle keep.

These three items are gifts for the quilting group next Christmas. I have decided I will make lots of little cross stitch pieces and make them into fobs, pin cushions, needle keeps or pin keeps.

Happy Quilting,
Val

Needle Keep with magnet

Busy, busy I was, making a secret Santa gift for the Beenleigh Quilters Wednesday group Christmas party. The lovely lady likes flowers and pink and green and I wanted to do something a little more than patchwork so I found some cute garden themed stitcheries and one piece of green fabric with flowers. I had to rack my brains for what else I had in my stash and I thought of the batch of little scraps.

I drew up a plan and thought it might be best to have a simple closure that didn't require any manipulation. I find it a pest doing up bows or using buttons. I decided on a small magnetic clasp and when it was finished I realised that the magnet was perfect for holding a needle while cutting thread.

I had seen on Pinterest all those cute felt flowers with beads on them so I added a bead in the centre of each flower. What I need now is a way to make the little flowers more perfect. I just cut these ones out with scissors but there must be  one of those cutters that has a little flower template.

I was quite happy with how it turned out. I think my stitching is improving a bit :)

The mailman delivered two great parcels the other day. One was some felt I had ordered from the States and the other was from a generous blogger Glenda at Patchwork Dreams . She had some silk left over from a project that I commented on and she sent me a nice piece. It's gorgeous.

I have only just started looking at the Birthday give away blog hop at the Quilters Fun blog.

Visit my give away post and all the others in the hop. There seem to be some great give aways.