Something new.

A machine embroidered pencil case. Inspired by this tutorial.

Fully lined with offset zip. Made from soft denim and quilters cotton.

Very cute :)

Test for Rachel

 

Seems my lofty plans to complete a block of applique per night got lost somewhere between the mundane tasks of mummyland and my intense desire to cast-on my first adult knit. Thankfully I have the applique motivation back now and some progress has been made.

I decided to tackle the largest block first - I'm like that - you know,..... an eat your peas before the yummy stuff kinda girl. I figured if I could knock-off the largest block and be happy with it then the rest should be a piece of cake,..... (so much yummier than peas!)

The tracing, cutting, ironing, cutting, ironing regime is pretty intense. I really need to get a bit of a production line happening. The adhesive product I am using is called 'Steam-A-Seam Light' and I have to say although it is reasonably expensive (I managed to find some at Spotlight for approximately $16 per 5 A4 sized sheets - I am going to need at least 15 sheets!), it is a DREAM to work with and is VERY forgiving of mistakes. In an effort to conserve the adhesive sheets, I have been cutting out some of the inner of each large piece of applique (just the adhesive part) so I can use them for smaller pieces of applique. Unfortunately, this lack of adhesive looked quite obvious on the beige fabric so I decided to rip all the toadstool stalks out and redo them. This involved pulling up many pieces that had already been ironed on. I was quite anxious about whether or not my perfectionism had indeed led to me ruining the block but was pleasantly surprised to see that once I was ready to reapply the stalks, all the fabrics which had been lifted ironed straight back into place with no puckering or obvious damage. A+++ for the Steam-A-Seam!

So, without further ado I share with you the beginnings of block #1 . This block forms the centre focus of the quilt. At this stage it is 90% appliqued (I still have a few bluebells and some brown ric-rac) to add. It will now need to be machine stitched around each piece.

:)

Almost complete.

Close-up of a Fairy.



I have the bug to really get moving on this project now. Hopefully I can make some positive progress over the coming weekend.

J

Last night I sat up sewing away madly and have managed to finish the sashings on each block. I think they look pretty spesh ;)

Realistically, the easy part is complete. Now I need to spend time taking each of these blank mini-canvasses and trying to work some applique magic. I have set myself a goal of one block completed per night but am under no illusions that this may be a very lofty goal! I think I will tackle the biggest block first. If I can achieve its completion surely I can sort the other ones out right,....?

Tonight I plan on doing some experimentation. I will dummy up some pieces to try out applique techniques on. I am thinking I may just raw edge applique the edges of each piece (once I figure out what raw edge applique is and how to do it!). Now the part I most struggle with begins,..... I need to select a stitch type (probably just straight-stitch) and thread colour/s. This is when I wish I had some artistic flair but alas,...... 'tis OK - there is a Princess who needs her Fairy quilt so I won't let a lil hurdle like a decision stop my mission. Even if I am the quintessential indecisive Libran!

J

A brief hiatus,....

Well, that was certainly a long pause. Almost as torturous as a conversation rapidly going nowhere. I can assure you that I have indeed been around and even though an entire year has passed since I dabbled in the creation of this blog, time has not stood still in real life as it has here.

So,.... 'What brings her back?' I hear you wonder ;)

A project.

A big project.

In Jen terms, a FREAKIN ENORMOUS project!

A project that I feel needs to be documented. Mostly so I can hold myself to account and get this thing done on time (yes,... there is a deadline!). I'm also here because this is probably the biggest crafty project I have embarked on to date and I want a record of the process.

Mid last year I attended a Craft Show at Darling Harbour. I like to go each year. I like it best when I get to go without children. I have high hopes this can be achieved again this year ;)

As I wandered around my eyes were immediately drawn to a beautiful quilt. Without a moments hesitation I knew my darling small girl child needed to possess this quilt. See my darling small girl child lives in a world where magic really does happen. She wanders around the house sprinkling 'fairy dust' at anyone who passes her by. Every now and then, with a glint in her eye, she will ask,...'Do you want to see my fairy wings,...?' and before you can answer out will pop her lil chicken wings and she will fly away past you.

At first this magical world scared me. I was at a loss about how to approach such earnest belief in the world of make believe. I am ashamed to admit I even once told my small girl child that fairies don't exist. Needless to say the look of horror and hurt on her face is probably what drew me to this quilt.

At this early stage this is where I am at. Two nights in and with a late February deadline looming;

Background fabric and sashings

Slow progress,.... constructing the blocks

Tea from my favourite tea shop T2 - Ginger Spice - yumbo!

What I was saying about 5mins into the project!

Don't you just love Typo!

I so hope I can make this happen. I want this for her and I want to do this for her. With this in mind I choose to believe;

She will possess it. She will wrap herself up in it and dream about the secret world at the bottom of her garden. She will continue to believe in magic for as long as I can help her to. And when the time comes that she knows the 'truth' about fairies, together we will snuggle under her quilt with cups of hot chocolate and reminisce about how she once believed,..... and maybe,.... just maybe,.... those happy childhood memories will be encapsulated in her quilt.

Least that's how I hope this story goes :)

Wish me luck!

J

A welcome of sorts,...

A new blog.



My first post.



Welcome - and thanks for stopping by. This space is where I will share a little of my world. The part where I get lost in a mountain of craftastic fabulousness. Where yarn, fabric, dyes and even clay combine to create the ordinary, the unflattering and ever so occasionally, the aesthetically pleasing to the eye.



Will it be interesting? To me - yes. To you - possibly not. But it is what it is and share I will - whether you like it or not ;)