Kris Kringle gift - McCall's M6132

Maybe I just work better under pressure.

As a part of my Kris Kringle gift I decided to make my KK an apron.  Why an apron?  Because if you willingly clean out the fridge at work, you need a special apron to make the task more bearable!  Besides this pattern makes me smile.  I hope it does the same for her.

I have combined two things I know she likes into this apron.  Cats and the colour green!

I had this vintage fabric that I have had for a while, I have come to the conclusion in my life that I need to use things instead of them becoming objects that you just look at or that become someone else's problem when you're no longer around.

This is a lovely pattern, I have used it before.  It is easy to put together.  It allowed me to do some applique and use some of the other types of stitches I don't usually use on my sewing machine to complete the whiskers, mouth, ears and nose. So, if you are looking for an apron to make, this is a bit of fun.

I actually made two of these in the same fabric, the other is for a friends birthday.

I want to make another two, one of which will be for me.  More of that at a later date.

Merry Christmas everyone, the real gift is in the giving.

Happy sewing.

Sandra

Cushion Covers Part 2

I'm not going crazy when I say this, but, sometimes the fabric just needs to talk to you and tell you what it wants to be.

I had chosen the fabrics below to create another pillow case for the pillows on our lounge suite.  The brown and the orange with white are Japanese kimono fabrics and the gold is a quilt making cotton.  Initially the two Japanese prints 'talked' to me, but I needed a third one.  I finally settled on the gold cotton.

Then for the pattern, originally I wanted to do this pillow in the Drunkards Path design with only the two Japanese prints, alas, I did not have enough fabric, that's why I had to find a third fabric. So, maybe some Drunkards Path at a later date.

I finally settled on a pattern called, "Carpenter's Wheel or Star Quilt", I had used this design before in my blog "Happy Retirement".  The design can be found online in Pinterest in many forms.

Well in typical Sandra style I cut enough to make another pillow in this design (could be cushion number 3), but, that's another story...


What will cushion three be?  I don't quite know yet, nothing as 'spoken' to me! LOL

It's Australia Day over here, I'm off to do more sewing before returning to work tomorrow (many a teacher in mourning today).

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Cushion covers. Part 1

My couch is in need of some pillows. This means that l need to make five cushion covers.

I pulled out some Japanese prints, which are cuts from kimonos.  A mix of pieces that are cotton, silk and polyester.

My first cushion cover l have used three fabrics from this lot.  The fabrics, although beautiful, have imperfections - hence the reason they were cut up and sold as fabric pieces.  I didn't go out of my way to hide these imperfections either.

Using the 'Rocket Man', design from Kathy Doughty's book, 'Material Obsession', I created a cushion cover.

Since the block in the book is not meant to be symmetric, l felt this would suit my imperfect fabric. It was more like free styling or crazy patchwork, without the embellishments.

Now for some quilting.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

National Trust Annual Vintage Clothing Sale

On the weekend just past, yes the same weekend as the Australian Grand Prix, that National Trust holds it's Annual Vintage Clothing Sale at Como House in Melbourne.


It's not just clothing, it's fabrics; haberdashery; fabrics; linen's; jewellery; hats; and other odds and ends. The money raised goes towards the conservation and display of the Trust's historic Costume Collection.


Mark this weekend in your diary for next year; and if you're clearing out a house of your parent's stuff and don't have somewhere worthy to donate them to, then donate them to the Trust for this sale. The money goes towards a worthy cause. The quality of fabrics is to die for.  Here is just a little of what I purchased on this occasion.

Happy sewing everyone.
Sandra