Zippy Purse - Dumpling Challenge with Linky

These dumplings were a lot of fun.
We are using the dumpling pattern from Michelle Patterns. It is a free PDF download pattern and a good tutorial.

There are so many cute faces and extra bits like ears or handles or even legs that you can include.
There were a couple of difficult moments as I made my first one but nothing I can't hide.

Here is my first one. Don't tell anyone but the lining ended up on the outside :D

My second dumpling has Annie's Soft and Stable as wadding. Quite expensive but it gives it a nice firm and flexible finish. If there isn't a cat embellishment then it has to be a chicken. Chickens are so versatile just like cats.
I attached this one to my good old selvedge tote.

That's my little fold up hair brush and lippy in the purse.

Of course I couldn't sleep at night if I didn't at least try to do something a bit different. This next one is not an actual dumpling but many of you know that if it is not a cat or a chicken it has to be a teapot. So here is my attempt at a teapot zippy.

I know how difficult it is to write instructions and I know I tend to leave out some vital steps but for those who pretty much know how to make a zippy purse I have added a PDF with the pattern and some basic instructions.

Download the Teapot Zippy here

Today is my first go a a linky party. I know there are a few of you who were going to make a dumpling so please link up your dumpling blogpost. I will leave it open till the end of December for others who feel the need to join in.

Link up with the your post not your whole blog.
Say you are linking up to this page on your blog post.
Only link with your dumpling purse post. We will have other zippy purse challenges next year.
I still love to get your comments even if you are not linking up.

Dumpling Zippy Purse Challenge Linky Party

WIP: Cat Quilt

Such a flurry of activity since last Wednesday. I did a bit more on Nanna's Farm but great progress was made on the cat quilt. I now have some of the rows sewn together and when I make a note of what has been doe so far I feel like it is under control.

Bug Fabric had a great sale last week so I bought some cute cat fabric for the backing and cat words fabric for the 1st and 3rd borders. I probably should have bought another yard of the backing fabric but I so wanted the bird fabrics and I had to get a yard of each. Seven yards is the limit in the post pack before the postage jumps and I couldn't afford to add another seven yards. It worked out at about $7.55 per metre (since we talk in metres) even with postage. The bird fabrics are Nature's Walk Journal and Nature's Walk Birds by Clothworks. I will post pictures when I make something with them.

So far I have sewn two of the sides of 4 1/4 inch squares for the 2nd border and have the other two piles ready to sew. Ages ago I pieced the binding and ran it through my Simplicity binding and bias machine to fold it.

I have been doing quilt as you go by putting wadding on every block and quilting around the applique. It is quite easy to sew the blocks together and press the seam open. I will do the borders in strips with wadding and quilt them before sewing them on. I will then spray baste the backing on in one piece and stitch in the ditch down and across the blocks to hold the backing on place. The quilting is not as glamorous as long arm quilting but I like to do it myself.

I was looking at Pinterest and found a lovely Christmas quilt that comes in a book. With practiced ease I clicked over to The Book Depository UK and bought the book with Paypal. I didn't even have to move. I so love internet buying. I paid $15.39 and free postage.It's called Welcome to the North Pole. The picture will take you to their site.

I was wondering if anyone else had this design and would like to work on it during 2013. It is now my latest WIP . The pages are nearly all stuck together with drool. Not really. I like to keep my books like new. But I just love all the little houses.

This week I am linking up with:

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

and Applique Thursday at A Quilting Reader's Garden

Tuesday Treasures

Just had an urge to share my cute mugs and spoons with everyone. I get a lot of pleasure from using them. I bought them last week when I had lunch with the daughters and my mum at the Tea Centre cafe in Brisbane. They have all sorts of Japanese and Chinese pots and cups.

Thanks to Tuesday Treasures with Melody I can get away with non sewing posts. Go visit and see what others treasure this week.

I discovered a Friends Sharing Tea blog linky and have linked up there too.

I think linking up can become addictive :D
I have also linked up with Antiques and Teacups. She has the most delicious looking Earl Grey and chocolate cake recipe.
Maybe one or two more - Rose Chintz Cottage Tea time Tuesday

Happy Quilting

Val

Posted with Blogsy

My Japanese Teapot

Spending way to much time as usual surfing the web I rediscovered a list of BoMs at that lead me to two wonderful teapot BoMs.
The Tea Time BoM is on now up to block 4 of 12 and it seems they will be available all the time. The blocks are in the right side bar.

The Asian Teapots at Angie's Bits and Pieces are lovely but most are now available by subscription only. I will be using them for inspiration for some personal projects.

I have been taking pictures of my classical teapots for a while now and drawing silouettes and applique elements but seeing the Asian ones made me get out my little Japanese pot with the birdie on top. I use it a lot because it has a strainer bowl inside but I like to keep it in the cabinet so it will be safe. It was a gift from DD1 after one of her trips to Japan a while ago.

I put together an applique design using fabrics from my stash. I would love to buy some fabrics just for making teapot blocks. Maybe next year. I like the finished product but already I can see where I will make a few little changes to the shape. I quite like the bit of wonkiness at the base of the cup but I think the base of the teapot has to taper in a bit towards the bottom. It looks a bit like a saucepan now.

This 12 inch block will be number two in my collection of blocks with my favourite things as themes. Things like cats, chickens, owls, teapots and anything else that takes my fancy. Since this one is a valspierssews original I am happy to share it. I haven't made the changes but I am sure you can fix it if you want to. I have made up a PDF with photo, layout and reversed elements.

I am linking up with

Finish it up Friday over at Crazy Mom Quilts

Link a finish Friday at Richard and Tanya Quilts

Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story