Christmas is coming...

Blimey, what happened to October? Well the plinth experience was amazing, I'll post a detailed update tomorrow.

There are 52 sleeps until Christmas and this year I have pledged to go homemade... thankfully November at http://www.sewmamasew.com/ is featuring lots of wonderful 'homemade holiday' ideas everyday. Check it out.

The 4th Plinth

This is the 4th Plinth, situated in Trafalgar Square, London. Next Tuesday, 22nd September 2009 from 12noon until 1pm I will be stood on top of it as part of Antony Gormleys oneandother project.

Every hour, 24 hours a day for 100 days different people will make the plinth their own. The project started on 6th July and will run until 14th October. It is 8 metres high and measures 4.4 x 1.7metres.

Each of the 2400 places were allocated by ballott and I was one of the lucky 33,827 applicants to be to be offered a place.

I will be up there next week sewing morsbags and throwing them out to the crowd to help raise awareness to the damage that plastic carrier bags cause to the eco system.

To find out more about Morsbags please visit www.morsbags.com.
To find out more about the plinth and to watch the live feed of what is happening visit www.oneandother.co.uk .

A huge thank you goes to everybody who has offered their words of support and encouragement, especially my husband who has had to deal with me being as kiddy as a kipper since I found out that I had been selected.

Remember - Carry a bag not Carrier bag!

Did I mention I'm scared of heights? Mmmm time to test the theory - there is nothing to fear but fear itself!

Pajama Party Sew-along

The wonderful people at http://www.sewmamasew.com/ are hosting a pajama party sew-along during the month of September, visit their blog to find out more.... I bought some fabric a while back to make myself new PJ bottoms, so I'm going to have a go..... watch this space for details.

Festival Of Quilts

Oh dear, I have been missing in action for some time.... but I have been busy... In August I attended the Festival Of Quilts, a four day event at The NEC in Birmingham, UK. It is the biggest quilt festival in Europe, with lots of workshops and lots of stalls full of beautiful fabric and notions to spend your money on.

I was there with Morsbags, and we taught the public to make over 300 bags over the four day event. It was tiring but exhilarating at the same time and I can't wait until next year.

I can't believe that it is September already, I really need to start thinking about making some Christmas gifts... time to look for some inspiration.

Tissue Holder

Today I decided I wanted to find a project that would use up my ever increasing collection of fat quarters... because let's face it I will never get round to making a quilt with them, after searching the internet to no avail I decided to make a little pouch to keep a handbag sized pack of tissues in.... I would rather look at a fabric pouch in my handbag than a packet of tissues.

I made twenty all together, excellent for Christmas stocking fillers (I know it's not even August ), small gifts, or just to keep yourself and they couldn't be easier to make.

You can get three pouches from 1 fat quarter!

How to :

1. Cut 2 pieces of fabric 6.5" x 7".
2. With right sides together sew 1/4" from the edge all around the outside, leaving a 2" opening on a long side for turning.
3. Clip corners, turn and press flat. Remember to press the opening to the inside.
4. Bring the short edges to the middle, overlap by 1/4" in the middle. If you have used two different fabrics make sure the fabric you want for the outside of your pouch is on the inside.
5. Sew 1/4" from the edge along each short side (the sides with the folded fabric meeting in the middle), I went across these edges twice for extra strength.
6. Turn right side out and fill with handbag sized tissue pack. You may need to cut an opening along the top of the pack of tissues to make it easier to get them out, if like the pack I chose it had the opening at one end only.

The size could be adapted to keep facial wipes or baby wipes in quite easily, they are so quick and easy to make.... go on , give it a go!

Tomorrow I'm going to attempt to make some bunting, wish me luck.

Summer Wrap

After much delay I finally made a Summer Wrap as featured in the June 2009 issue of 'Sew Hip' magazine.... this one was for my Mum as a birthday gift, I think the look of surprise on her face was because she couldn't believe I had made it!

It is made using a Jelly Roll of assorted fabric strips, easy and quick to make. The hardest part was deciding in what order to sew the strips. I now want to make another one, only this time for myself... ideal for a summers evening walk along the beach... or as cover up for the evening.

Thank you to Tracy Cushing who designed it - excellent instructions and I love the fact that it is moebius wrap... so much easier to wear than a pashmina as you are never worried about it falling off your shoulders!

For those of you who have yet to discover 'Sew Hip' magazine I would definitely recommend it, it is full of beautiful ideas, most suitable for beginner level , but be warned your 'To make' list will just keep getting longer.

Kindred Crafters Coaster Swap

The postman has delivered my coaster swap package from Angelune - Wow! Four Beautiful coasters and a matching bar towel. The coasters are stitched onto cork - genius.... I never would have thought of doing that! I love the colours, thank you Angelune.

Check out Angelunes blog - http://angelune.wordpress.com and her etsy shop at - http://angelune.etsy.com

Fabric tray

I have just made myself this fabric tray from two Amy Butler fat quarters - quite easy to make.... I know I will be making more of these.... keys, spare change, necklaces... the possibilities of what you could keep in them are endless. And the plus... I had some fabric left over for another project.

A slow week

Last week I injured my back and have been laid up as a result so no sign of a 'Summer Wrap' .... I have however chosen the fabric for the Kindred Crafters Coaster Swap and hope to make these at the weekend.

Yesterday I cut out 50 Morsbags ready for sewing, and managed to sew 10 mini bags last night. I love the fabric on these two.

I am planning a 'Sew~in Sunday', check back then for an update.

Summer Wrap

I love the bright colours in this Jelly Roll. I am going to make myself a 'Summer Wrap'. I fell in love with the idea as soon as I saw it in the June edition of 'Sew Hip' magazine. The wrap has been designed by Tracy Cushing and is ideal for a beginner. I can't wait to wrap myself up in the finished wrap on a summers evening. I will post my progress as I go..... watch this space.

Coaster Swap

Last night I signed up for another internet swap - this time it's coasters. The swap is hosted by Sara and Donna at kindredcrafters1.blogspot.com ~ check it out for details. If you are interested sign up by May 8th and mail your swap by June 1st. There are lots of great links to tutorials via Sara and Donnas blog - well worth checking out.

For me, the big plus of this swap is that coasters are so simple and quick to make that even a beginner sewer can make them in no time at all. Plus it's a great way to use up all those scraps of fabric.

This afternoon I have made 8 more Morsbags. Morsbags is why I started to sew again after a 20 year gap. We did 'needlework' at school but it wasn't really my thing - we made an apron and a dress, however learning to sew Morsbags gave me the confidence to try other things....

So what is a Morsbag? It is a simple tote shopping bag made from fabric that otherwise would have been thrown away and ended up in landfill. I have made Morsbags from old duvets, old curtains even old shirts, the bags are then given away free to friends, family or unsuspecting members of the public to discourage them not to use plastic bags.

My mantra is 'Carry a bag - not carrier bag!'. Please check out morsbags.com for more details of how to become part of the wonderful morsbag community.

First top made for the 'Spring Top Sewalong'... although it is more of a tunic , with side splits. I made it from an old sheet and it is lined with cotton. I made it without a pattern, sort of made it up as I went along but I am really pleased with how it turned out.

I am planning to make another couple of tops on Sunday, but anything could happen between now and then!

Fat Quarter Swap

I have just packed my 'Fat Quarter Swap' ready for posting in the morning.
The swap is part of a flickr group - check out www.flickr.com for details, this is my first swap and my parcel is going to Denmark - I can't wait for the next swap or to see what three fat quarters my swap partner has chosen for me. I am not posting a picture as I want it to be a surprise for my swap partner.

There has been no progress on the spring top - but I hope to change that this weekend! Watch this space for details........

Spring Top Week - Getting Prepared!

Today I went shopping for fabric and a pattern for 'Spring Top week.' My problem was there was too much choice. I bought 3 patterns and have yet to decide which to make (although I may make more than one).

I also got some fabric, enough to make one top, detailed in the picture above...... it is being pre-washed.... I can't wait to get started on it.

'http://madebyrae.blogspot.com/2009/03/spring-top-week-you-know-you-want-to.html

'In for a penny, in for a pound.....' I have decided to join in this sewalong.

I plan to shop for a pattern at the weekend. I have only ever made one top for myself before so this could be a challenge. I will post my progress , or lack of, as I go along. Why not sign up and join in? A girl can never have too many tops!

This was the 'charming handbag' from Amy Karols ' Bend The Rules Sewing' book I made for my swap partner. It was posted off yesterday... I hope my swap partner likes it.

I made it slightly larger than suggested in the book and added a wooden button and some elastic cording to help keep the bag closed.

The flower pin is removeable.

A place for my thoughts and projects.....

Well this is one of my '101 things to do in 1001 days'.... to set up and maintain a blog. Hurrah, one thing ticked off the list. (I have not yet completed the list...)

I aim to post details of my sewing projects together with more general musings about life in general.