Fabric Christmas Postcard

Is this too late in the year to begin your Christmas projects?  Probably.

I set the challenge down to my friend Ronda a few weeks back.  That challenge is to exchange quilted/appliqued Christmas cards.

I, of course, had to give it to her first before I blogged about it.  I don't usually exchange cards until after December 1, but, I had to break my own rules this year.  What's life if you can't break a rule or two now and then?

I got the inspiration from Pinterest.  I must apologise, I have modified someone else's design slightly, but I can not acknowledge them as I have not saved their idea as a pin.  If someone finds it, let me know and I will acknowledge this person.

Let us start with the finished product:

While I prefer everything to be properly finished I chose a design that, was not.  It was more naive in finish.

You will need:

Visofix
Phellon (or fusible batting)
Cotton fabric (in red, white and green)
2 buttons

These are so easy to make.  Here's how it was done:

1     Cut out two 6" x 4" rectangles for each postcard that you wish to make.
2     Cut out two pieces of stiff interfacing - 6" x 4" - attach one piece to the wrong side of the pieces          that you cut out in point 1 above.
3     Fuse Visofix to each of the red, green and white fabrics.
4     I then used my Sizzix cutter to cut a 3" red circle and a 3" white circle.
5     With the white circle I cut these freehand through the middle to make the shape shown in the              picture above. I also freehand cut the leaves.
6     Remove the backing from the Visofix and iron down onto the backing fabric, as shown in the              picture below:

7     Cut out one piece of phellon (or you could spray glue attach a piece of batting) - 6" x 4" for each        card. Attach to the rear of the front piece with the applique and sandwich the three layers                    together holding together with pins or clips.
8     I then free motioned quilted the three layers together around the plum puddings.

9     Then, using one of the embroidery motifs on my machine, found a motif resembling snow flakes        and placed these randomly above the plum puddings and the leaves, also freemotion around the          perimeter of the card.
10   Hand sew the two buttons at the base of the two leaves,

And there we have it, I finally made eight of these cards.

This will become a yearly tradition.

Give it a try, they're quite easy to make.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

PS and Merry Christmas to one and all.

Sewing mishaps and the AQC (Australian Quilt Convention)

I will start with my sewing mishap this week.  I wasn't going to blog about it at all. 

I decided I would because not all sewing adventures can be a success.  We come up with a bright idea, and then, nah, didn't work out.

I wanted to try the Receipt Holder Tutorial by Lisa Amundson available for free on Craftsy
 So here it is:

What I think were my mistakes are:

• the interfacing I used was too thick for the job
• I didn't line up the flap closure evenly
• my top stitching is questionable

Maybe I should try making it again, don't know.  I have a policy of making something again when I've had problems with the design or sewing.  I think I'II have to follow my own advice.


Yearly the Australian Quilt Convention (AQC) hits Melbourne at the Melbourne Exhibition Buildings.

I ummed and ahhhed about going this year.  You know how it is, if I go, I'II buy more fabric and stuff I really don't need.  Even on the Saturday I still toyed with the idea.  In the end I decided I would go on the Sunday.

My main motivation behind finally deciding to go was that I wanted to visit the Sizzix stand run by Annie's Designs (www.anniesdesigns.com.au).  I'd exhausted the range held at Spotlight and I had questions that no Spotlight or Lincraft staff could answer (don't worry I'd tried, I'm over the blank looks and wrong information).

While searching online I was alerted to the fact that the Sizzix machine was the only one on the market that would accept dies from other machines.  However, I didn't want to try it, until I could confirm it.  Also, I really didn't know what my machine was capable of and the types of dies that would go through the machine. The only way I would be able to get this information was to talk to a Sizzix expert.  So off to the show I went.

The fabulous thing is, after talking to Annie's Designs, that my Fabi Sizzix machine can not only cut through eight layers of fabric, it can with some extras cut paper and balsa wood without blunting the blades!  I also discovered a wonderful wide range of dies that go through my machine.  Annie's Designs were so helpful, if you're in Australia and use Sizzix machines, get online and look at Annie's site.

That's what I've been up to (besides work), what have you been up to?

Sandra

Patchwork bag.

One post a week is my personal challenge. Almost didn't think l would make it this week!

What prompted my latest creation was the need for a birthday present. I've had many good ideas along the way, and many good suggestions by others.

What caught my eye on Pinterest was a bag.

I went to this site:  https://www.pinterest.com/source/patchworkycia.blogspot.com.es/   Found photos and no instructions.  I tell a lie, I found instructions, but in Spanish.  Using Google translate wasn't exactly helpful.

I also found this same bag at:  http://www.handmadiya.com/2014/06/blog-post_5.html?m=1.  Again Google translate let me down.

So, between these two sites and one other I was able to construct a bag.  I guess what prompted me to finally decide on this bag style was the fabric.  The fabric inspired me to begin this bag.  Japanese fat quarters I'd had in my stash that I'd forgotten I had.

Here is the bag, without the handles.  I almost ditched the handles, they had to be hand sewn on:

Here's the bag before it's had lining and formed into a bag, I used my Sizzix machine to cat squares of 4 1/2":

I like this bag, too bad I don't have any of this fabric left.  I am pressed for time, so this bag can't be mine, it is going to a good home.

Where are your sewing adventures taking you?

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Sizzix 657605

Is it called stress patchwork, if you are sewing blocks with no purpose? Just sewing patchwork for something to do?  Maybe it is.

Using my Sizzix machine, and using the 657605 Rectangle 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" I've been putting together these blocks.  I'm unsure whether their end intention is for a baby quilt, lap quilt or full size bed quilt.

This doesn't help my dilemma of what to give a friend for her 50th birthday (she already has a lap quilt as a gift some time ago).

Spotlight are running out their Sizzix range for fabric, so I am trying to collect as many cutters as I can at a reduced price. I am a convert to this machine.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

My sewing machine and l are becoming Zen

All my sewing stuff has been packed away now for a period of time that appears to be forever.  It now has its own space, and so do l.

So, with only a few days to Christmas a bit of madness has struck my world with the urgency to finish gifts. Two down, one large one to go.

Using my Sizzix machine, l used its flower dye to create this appliqué on a couple of hand towels.

I also completely finished this baby quilt.

Well, it's a beginning.

Maybe moving house and doing Christmas lunch was not one of my brightest idea!


Merry Christmas everyone, and if you don't celebrate Christmas, be good to each other.

Happy sewing,
Sandra (LOL)

Zig Zag madness

After some contemplation, over many discount sales. I finally decided to buy a Fabi, Sizzix Fabric Cutter.

I'd hesitated because, I thought they wasted fabric. Well, yes they do.

I'd also hesitated because, I thought, well, I thought while I was still young enough, I could do these things without assistance, that I should cut fabric with a fabric rotary cutter.

Cutting with a fabric rotary cutter is good, but, cutting triangles of any form can be a pain.

So, I'd been watching and contemplating this cutter every time it came up during discount sales.

The Fabi cutter is not the large sort, but allows me to purchase all those lovely angles I like.  It is easy to use and accurately cuts angles.

So I tested the cutter making this quilt top:

I used some left over monkey fabric from a pair of men's pj's I made in a previous post. Some orange fabric I picked up in a bargain find.

Here is the cutter.

I'm afraid I have to admit, that these cutters save time and effort.

It accurately cuts, much better than manually cutting the triangles with the fabric cutter. Sewing? Well, I also have to admit, it made the job a lot easier.

Have  a good time sewing this week.u

Sandra

PS After much investigation, I have found a newsagency that can get hold of BurdaStyle and Patrones magazines for me.  My sewing life, is almost complete!