Teesha Moore Patch Swap - 1st Arrival

I was sew excited! My very first swap has arrived in the post from. Momta3luv2Quilt (Tisa) 

Aren't they lovely?

I had forgotten just how nice it is to get proper snail mail though the letterbox.

And just the colours I asked for...all autumnal

 I can't wait for the next ones to arrive.

Though it may take me a while to collect enough to make my journal cover as these are quite small. I think mine may have been a bit too big. I will have to make them a bit smaller next time.

Introducing Lady Annabell

Had an amazing 2 Saturdays a while ago at Carlisle University making Annabell whilst SewGorgeous made Clara.

She is 21 1/2" tall. Has knickerbockers, net underskirt, voile underskirt, gold over skirt and an antique lace collar as an over-skirt. her bodice is layered silk with machine embroidery, cut & slashed to reveal the under-layers.

 

She may one day adorn the top of the Christmas tree when I have a house big enough for a tree over 6 foot tall. I'm not sure what Barbie will then do. 

 She has been around for a while now ever since the day she broke her leg and had to have major surgery involving the glue gun! She is resplendent in her voile frock, wings, tiara & wand. All made in the dead of night when SewGorgeous was very little and was thrilled when she was finished. She has become a bit of a tradition now and I don't know if I would be allowed to replace her with Annabell!

 

Maybe when SewGorgeous gets her own house she can go and live there!

I've Joined Another Swap

Uh OH I've Joined another Teesha Moore swap - I haven't received the ones from the first one yet! 

Mine however have been received and I've have lovely feedback. Thank you girls sew glad you liked them and the little extras.

I need some more patches myself as I don't have enough to make my journal cover yet so there is method in my madness! 

They are also ideal to make by hand with my now very limited supplies of craft items since most of it is packed away. All I have left is my scrap box and a few buttons and beads etc. Makes one be very creative! 

I'm looking forward to seeing who I've to make them for. Only one partner this time and 3 patches again.

I will of course post on here the comings and goings of all this.

Teesha Moore Patch Swap - Part 2

I had two partners for this swap - this is for the second one, AngelaDawn

Again I I sent a few little extras for a surprise

AngelaDawn was a little more difficult to choose fabric for as she didn't have colour preferences on her profile I just hope I picked some things she liked.

A pretty butterfly one

A vintage style one with a bit of fabric left over from the bag I made and posted earlier on the 12th February 2013

and this one for her love of flowers.

I can't wait to receive mine. I dont know who or where they are coming from.  It's so exciting!

Teesha Moore Patch Swap - Part 1

I mentioned earlier that I had joined a swap on swapbot for Teesha Moore patches.

Well I duly sewed and stitched and posted them off to their recipients on Tuesday 12th February. Both have flown over and now at there new home in America.

This was to 2 partners and this one went to, BennysMumma

with a few little extras for a surprise

 her profile said she liked black and red & white combination so hopefully this one fitted that.

She also said she liked purple so hence this one.

and this one is a bit of a surprise - I just liked the pattern and stripe combinations. Hope she does too!

I can't wait to receive mine. I don't know who or where they are coming from.  It's so exciting!

Birthday Gift Bag from SewGorgeous

Talking of bags I had a lovely surprise one birthday to receive this beautiful little bag made by SewGorgeous

It uses a matching pair of crocheted doilies. 

It is lined and decorated with ribbon, beads and a little Suffolk puff (yo yo) and mother of pearl button in the centre.

Both sides are the same

Inside is also a little pocket that does up with a small popper and has another mini doiley on for decoration.

It fastens with a popper and has a gold metal chain for a shoulder strap.

A very pretty spring or summer bag.

Summer Vintage Style Bag

Sew Gorgeous managed to be given a large stash of scraps from a locate quilter. Amongst the pile were the remains of a couple of dresses that included the pockets and trims etc.

I was inspired by these to make a bag. I used calico for the base, edged in spotty trim. All of the fabric, pockets and flap for the fastening apart from the calico & the red lining came from the stash.

Front of bag

Back of bag

I added two handles using the spotty strip and some red gross grain ribbon.

Two inside pockets - one small...

and one a bit bigger.

I lined the inside with bright red fabric and another strip of the spotty trim.

I then had lots of fun adding a load of Suffolk puffs (yoyos), vintage buttons, bows, etc.  I love the prints on the fabrics.

I think it looks a little like Cath Kidston style although it wasn't meant to!

Bunting Awaiting

OK I admit it. I have failed.

I bought this adorable little set of 4 fat quarters in Hay-on-Wye during a little holiday in November 2012. 

Isn't it beautifully packaged?  I promised I'd make some Christmas bunting for the fireplace and didn't managed to fit it in amongst all the Christmas rush.

Something to look forward to for this Christmas though. Unless someone can come up with another idea I can use it for?

I also managed to buy a considerable pile of books there too. Hay-on-Wye has over 40 book sellers in one small little town and some fabulous other shops too. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Fabric Covered Boxes

As an idea for Christmas gifts I taught these fun fabric covered boxes.

The Rectangular one fits an 'After Eight' box of chocolates perfectly...

which of course were eaten during the lesson!

The pattern and instructions can be found here

The Pyramid Box could be for for packaging that special gift - maybe a piece of jewelry, a bottle of perfume or just a little home made item. 

Or a bunch of teeny tiny teddies like these.

The Pattern and instructions can be found here (you will need the Rectangular instructions as well)

Rosette Brooches - A Couple More

I have a feeling I'm going to be find these all over the place. Just found these in the back of a dressing table drawer.

The one on the right is made from an old felted wool jumper.

The one on the left is like the ones in the previous blog.

I think some of them may become a give away shortly - so watch this space.

Very Elaborate Belts

I made these for SewGorgeous a while ago when the drop waisted look was very in and low slung belts were the rage.

I started with the correct waist (or hip) measurements as they aren't really adjustable other than letting the ribbon bows that you tie become looser. The tie could go at the centre front or on the hip.

The first one is just a straight piece. I Started with a strip of  pretty fabric that came off the bottom of the skirt that that it was intended to go with as the skirt was too long.

Added Ribbon, Braid etc. all stitched on with zigzag machine stitch using gold metallic thread.

Then finally added these 2 beautiful motifs to the front and another one to the centre back.

all stiffened using vylene and lined with satin.

It does up with a ribbon thread through ribbon eyelets. A bit like you would have on a Victorian corset.

 - O - O - 

The second one I shaped. I made this one to go with jeans or a long denim skirt. The tie was intended to sit on the hip. I deliberately made both ends have different designs on..

No Fabric to start this one. All lace, Ribbon, Braid, Gimp, Gross Grain Ribbon and a some beaded lampshade trim! Well why not?

Again all stitched on with gold metallic thread

Does up with a double ribbon you tie with a bow- also with a bead sewn on the end of each ribbon.

I think I could reuse these now as very pretty curtain tie backs for a door curtain.

Wicked Queens Apple Decoration or Pin Cushion

Goodness knows when I made this. Found it under the side board bizarrely. It is a Christmas thingy but could also be a pin cushion.  This one never got onto the tree and I guess never into the Christmas decoration box as it was a little large.  Maybe that's why it was under the sideboard! It is now packed away with the other Christmas decorations in the loft rather than languishing sadly where it was.

The pattern & instructions for this can be found here.

Crochet Vintage Bag

A while back SewGorgeous was just getting into vintage stuff sew I found this vintage 1940s style bag pattern and made her this. 

It is basically a large crocheted circle folded in half. I used a silver lurex and green vintage 'wool' that I'd had for years.

I embellished it with other elements like the pale green leaves and the pink buds from this crochet pattern and added lots of buttons, frills,

ribbon roses, embroidered it and threaded it with ribbon.

I backed it in a green cotton.

and lined it with a heavy sumptuous satin for a luxurious contrast

and even if I say so myself I think it is rather fabulous darling!