I Do

I haven't made many of these for a while, but I got my piping bags (actually squeezy bottles!) out this week to make some cookies for a friend who is getting married soon. Hope she likes them :)

It's been a bit of a crazy week at my house. Two kids back to school (one high school, one Kindergarten) one little girl back to preschool. Then there's

been me back to work, getting everyone to swimming, cricket, ballet, guides, birthday parties, piano, playgroup....... I know you all have equally crazy lives, so I'll stop my whinging now!

I can't quite remember when I managed to get these little crafty bits done, but here's what I made! A little teapot block which will become part of my Pippi Longstocking block for Muriel in the Cocorico Bee. I made it using Kerry's great pattern from Fat Quarterly Issue 8. It was my first try piecing with freezer paper and I'm pretty happy with it :)

Remember those hexies on my swap bag? Well, I had to get my seam ripper out and take these three off because they just didn't fit. It seemed a shame to lose them, so I turned them into a little extra for my partner's swap package. It looks like a potholder, but I didn't use any insulbrite, so I'll just call it a mug rug (or a rather large coaster??!!).

And this is on the back! I think I might even like the back better than the front.

Hope you've found a scrap of time to make something this week too :)

swaps

Last night I finished up this bag for a swap on Flickr. I'm excited about this one as my secret swap partner is someone with great taste who's work I really admire. I soooooo hope she loves this bag!

I'm a bit annoyed with myself because I sewed too many hexies on and had to unpick some. I also didn't think about how some would end up underneath the bag once the bottom was boxed.

If I made it again I would use smaller hexagons so I could fit more into the smaller space.

I used some of my favourite Japanese prints with linen for the outside of the bag. The lining is Kona Robin's Egg. I used the Jane Market Bag pattern from Posy-which is very easy to follow and makes a great bag.

I'd love to show you the back, but I've personalised it in a way that would completely give away who it's for. So here's just a peek ;)

The little touch of lace with the button is an idea borrowed from Amy of nanaCompany who has the most inspired ways of adding a tiny pretty touch to things. Off to the post office to send this on it's way!

christmas cookies

I've been admiring the amazing and very creative paper pieced quilt blocks popping up on Flickr from different Bee groups. Some of my favourites are Ringo Pie, Cocorico and Patchwork 318 (be sure to go check them out!).

I've paper pieced my Farmer's Wife Sampler blocks from foundation patterns, but that's about it.

So I was surprised but very happy when I was invited to join the Cocorico Bee!

My initial excitement turned to panic when I tried to plan my first block and realised how hard it was! I was feeling very out of my depth. I almost gave up because I really didn't want to be sending out blocks that were way below the standards of everyone else in the group. I'm very glad I didn't, because I've already learned so much and it was exciting to see my own design come to life as it was sewn together. The Cocorico girls are such lovely, supportive people with lots of helpful advice and tutorials to share.

So here is my first block! January was Melinda's month and she requested 'Vintage Christmas' themed blocks. Of course my first thought was cookies :)

And now on to the next one! February is a Pippi Longstocking block for Muriel. Stay tuned for that one.....

little red

Look at these fabrics, I mean how cute can you get?! They are from the lovely collections by Aneela Hoey. A Walk In The Woods and Sherbet Pips.

They just make me want to make things for little girls......
Like this! A new library bag for a cute niece who starts big school soon. I pretty much made this up as I went along, but I did check out this tote bag tutorial by Kerry for tips on how to put it all together with the lining sewn in. Love Kerry's work, she's a super talented and creative lady!

holiday stitching

I seem to be unable to be without a stitchy project wherever I go at the moment. My hexagon quilt-to-be is my current portable project. I baste and stitch hexies while watching the kids in the bath, at swimming lessons, sitting in the car waiting for the school bus, on any car trip longer than 20 minutes.......the list goes on. Over Christmas we took a trip to visit family and I decided I should have a week of giving them my full attention and just relaxing without madly making anything!

Hmmm. I guess my addiction is worse than I thought as some hexagons still managed to jump into my bag.

But you know, when I look at this pile of loveliness, I have no regrets (and I swear I only sewed at appropriate moments like when most of the family were napping)!

And they did provide a half-hour or so of peace as two little girls arranged pretty hexagons into flowers and patterns on the floor :)

But wait, there's more!!

A couple more little Chrissy presents made by me :)

Another little hexie pincushion for a sewing buddy..

And a music note ornament for my daughter's piano teacher.

with a Christmas snack :)