Bits, bobs and brooches

 

Hi folks and thank you for popping in.
This week I have been using up some leftovers and making some small projects.

They will probably be going towards a charity craft sale later in the year.
I like the idea of making a box of stuff that can be added to
when in need of a "small fix" of sewing, between the bigger projects.
 I used to make things for the school fair but our primary school days are now well and truly over!

 

First up were these brooches..



 

I had a shape in mind and hunted for a tutorial but couldn't find the right one, so after a bit of playing around and a few false starts these were the result. Has anyone else found a good fabric flower tutorial that I may have missed?

It's early days yet and there is a bit more experimenting to do shape wise..
 

 

The very first one was made to put on Mum's birthday present...
 

Next up were a pile of little 4" pockets ready to be made into lavender bags.

Most of the material is left over baby quilt fabric.  

 

 

 

And finally some little 4"(ish!) pincushions.. 

 

 

with recycled denim on the reverse and a little tab for decoration. The cute tab was tape given to me by a sewing friend so I'm not sure of the source, sorry.
 

 If anyone has any other ideas for craft sale makes,  I'd be grateful for some tips?
 

I hope you have a good week.
Vicky x

Three Sails so far...

 

I am having fun with these little things at the moment.

They are scrappy triangles made using the tutorial by Ashley

over at Film in the Fridge which can be found here.

 

I absolutely love her Nautical Quilt so I thought that I would have a go.

They come together pretty quickly and are a brilliant way to use up scraps. 

 

 

 

 

Also found these yummy bits of fabric while shopping at the weekend.

They are by a designer called Beth Studley and they are new to me.
I really like the patterns and am pondering what to make with them.

 

 

 

And finally, Wild Flower pin cushion number 3,

I just can't stop making them! 

 

 This one has a linen/cotton base and to be honest
 was a bit trickier to assemble than the cotton ones.

 



 

It goes well with the cyclamen

 which is lucky as they are about all that's out at the moment,

apart from the snow drops of course.

Green shoots and blue sky

 

Wild Flower pin cushion number 2!

As before this is made from pattern by Anna Maria Horner mentioned in my last post.

 

 

Fabrics were from my stash.

I think this little flower is destined to be a present. 

 

Also this week, I finished a hot water bottle cover.
It's for me this time!

 



My old one was looking decidedly tatty and I have made a few of these for other people.

The button was a present and is handmade by a  local artist Tania Clarke. 

 

 

The patterned fabric is by Phillip Jacobs for Rowan, I think it's Brassica Blue.

The plain fabrics are a selection from what I had on the shelf.

 



I used a piece of recycled blanket and attached strips of the fabric using stitch and flip to make one long piece, before folding it over and binding the edges.

 

The popper keeps it closed and the beautiful button is for decoration and so that I can admire it. 

 

 



 

I love it when the sun comes out and the shoots start to appear through the soil.

Have a good week.

 

A Wild Flower Pincushion

I have been wanting to make one of these for a while.

It's a pattern by Anna Maria Horner and there are a few photos on flickr.

The pattern is free but you have to register with Better Homes and Gardens in order to get access.

 I asked for just a monthly craft update and haven't had loads of rubbish sent through so far.

 

The pattern is simple to cut out, a bit fiddly to sew together around the top, but definitely worth it I think.
 

It is such a satisfying shape, a bit like a mini pumpkin but with petals.

I meant to take a picture on my hand to show you how big it is but forgot.

It is bigger than I thought it was going to be, about 7 inches across.

It just about sits on my open hand.

The fabric is from a selection of Rowan fabrics that I found in the sale.

I have 8 fat quarters so you will be seeing them again!



One for pins and one for needles.

 

I made the pincushion on the left  a while ago now and it is well used.

 

It doesn't matter how many times I try and start using a needle case or tin to keep the needles separate, I always end up shoving the needles in the pin cushion.
 Does anyone else have that problem?

So I decided to make a needle cushion that can sit on the table next to the pin cushion and see if that works.

 

Will let you know!

An elephant's load: pin cushion, jolly molly and cushion.

 

A few more gifts to share now that they have been given.

 

Firstly a pin cushion.

I've made various pincushions over the years but this type is one of my favourite both to make and to use. It's just a simple square made from cotton scraps, backed with a piece of recycled shirt and stuffed with toy stuffing. 

 

 

The front was made sort of log cabin style with some added side panels.
Central fabric is Kaffe Fassett Roman Glass Leafy, which I bought from The Cotton Patch.
 

 

I added a little penguin tab for decoration/interest.

 

I have a pin cushion like this of my own and regularly find my pins mysteriously arranged in various patterns according to colour and shape as well as being infuriatingly   endearingly pushed down so that only the head is visible.

 

Can't think who does that !!

Pressies.

Lots of rain and time indoors to make pressies.

 

Firstly a tea cosy, with applique detail from Poppy Treffry's book

 (she shows coffee pot and egg cup cosies in the book but it's the same idea).

 

Thistle pin cushion..

 

 

Tartan mobile phone case..

 

 

Owl from pattern I bought from Retro Mama's shop..

 

 

 

Pictures not great as I can't get outside in this weather.

Bunting and grain bags to come.

 

Just hoping the recipients don't look at this!!

(And if they do they will just have to guess which is for them)!