Tote Bags

Hi Everyone, I'd like to share with you two handmade gifts that I've made for my nieces ( a long overdue one I might add!)

First up is this library tote bag.  One of my nieces loves anything that has hearts on it and this was what I came up with!



front

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I did a 7" x 6" patchwork piece - 1" squares using mostly pink fabrics (her favourite colour), cut out a heart shape pattern on the front piece of the bag fabric and blind stitched them together using the reverse applique method.     I've also hand quilted the heart shape 1/4" away from the seams using Pearl Cotton No.8.  

back

For the back, I've fussy cut the girl on the swing from Fly a Kite collection for Riley Blake Designs and framed it with the same Essex Linen/Cotton as the front.   I've used Hopscotch print from Sarah Jane's Children at Play collection for the remaining back piece.   Isn't the girl adorable!   I've used the same pattern as the Liberty Tree Tote that I've made during Handstitched Class.   It measures at 12.5" width x 14" height without handle.


And here is the other tote that I've made for her older sister.   For this one, I've used Elizabeth @ Oh, Fransson!'s quilt as you go method for the blocks but I've done my log cabin wonky style.   These blocks were mostly made from my leftover scraps.




front
 

For the handles, I've used cotton webbing, I chose Floradots in Violet from Erin McMorris' La Dee Da collection for the lining and added pockets to it.   This tote bag finished at 15.5" width x 14" height minus the handle.

back

I've enjoyed this qayg method and eventhough it has used up 2 spools of quilting thread, I do love the effect it gave.   I'm thinking of making another one for myself! ;)

 

Hope you'll have a lovely week ahead and thanks for visiting!

I'm linking up to Pam's Threading My Way with Threading Your Way Bags & Totes Linky Party

 and Wendy @ Handmade Harbour's Handmade Monday

Value Dance quilt progress

I've made the on point squares for the Value Dance quilt over the weekend.

Then I started playing with the 40 hour glass and 40 on point square blocks.   It's lots of fun to play with colour value!   This was the layout I had planned originally...

However... I started playing with them some more while piecing them together and ended up with this arrangement instead! 

Due to me being lazy at not numbering my rows, I got my light and dark on point squares mixed up!   I've only realised after seeing this photo of the finished pieced patchwork!   Did you spot my mistake?   Anywho... I've unpicked the bottom rows and I'm happy to report that my first value quilt top is complete!   I could not be happier with the end result...

Value Dance quilt

Value Dance quilt in black & white

I am so pleased with this one.   The layout really makes the colour value pop and my worries of not being able to tell light from dark are no more.   Again, I followed Rachel's tutorial over at Stitched in Color and ended with this beautiful result.   The finished top measures 53" x 62", a perfect lap/couch quilt!

I'm thinking of using flannel for backing as I've not used one before.   I'm also thinking whether to omit the cotton batting altogether as flannel alone is warm enough for the warm and humid climate in my part of the world.   Any thoughts or suggestions??

As for quilting it, Rachel has done straight lines outlining either sides of the diagonal hourglass seams and I'm planning to do the same as I'm not sure what else to do...


Happy quilting!

Give Away Winners !

Thank you all so much for entering my give away last week!  I love reading each and every one of your comments and thanks for sharing your random facts!  A big warm welcome to all you new readers, I love having you here!

Ok, on to what you really came here for.  Mr. True Random Number Generator has picked # 137  as the first winning entry which is KellyS:

 

and # 7 as the second winning entry which is Oops-Lah :

Congratulations to Kelly and Vreni!   I'll be emailing each of you for your addresses and send off your package once I hear back from you!!

And thanks everyone else for playing along!!  =)

HFWYG? quilt along update

 I've finished a few more blocks for the How Far Will You Go? quilt along.

Week 13 :  Crazy Ann Block  - 10.5" unfinished

We've used foundation paper piecing method for the half rectangle triangles.


Week 14 :  Farmers Daughter Block - 10.5" unfinished

Week 15 : Pinwheel Skew Block - 5.5" unfinished

The centre pieces were foundation paper pieced and these blocks had partial seams around the border. 


Week 16 : Wandering Foot Block  - 20.5" unfinished

I have run into a problem with piecing "Y" seams for this one.   Even after numerous attempts and more unpicking, I wound up with stitches visible on the front and puckers in the corners!   I'm thinking I just might unpicked them again and sew the "Y" seams by hand and I while I'm at it, I'd want to redo the curve piecing as the one on the left side of the block doesn't seem flat!

Hope you'll have a great week ahead and thanks for visiting!

Follower Appreciation Giveaway

The entries are now closed, winners will be announced soon!

Hi everyone!  As the heading shows, I recently hit 102 followers here on my little blog over the weekend, a pretty big milestone and one I'm so grateful for.   I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you visiting me and reading and of course commenting on my blog.   I read all your comments and they are a real pick me up!   You have been so great to me these past few months since I've started blogging and I want you to know how very much I appreciate all of you.

As a thank you for your time, support and for being such great blogger friends to me, I wanted to have a little giveaway - I have 2 Chicopee by Denyse Schmidt charm packs to give to two of you!!

Each charm pack includes 30 6" squares

The rules are pretty simple :-

- Firstly, since this is a Follower Appreciation Giveaway, you MUST be a follower.  Leave a comment letting me know you are.  Don't worry if you're new here, just follow my little blog and let me know that you did.

- For a second entry and just to make things more fun for me to read, please tell me a random fact about yourself.

That's it!   The giveaway is open to readers everywhere in the world!  


Just a reminder though, if you are a no-reply blogger, be sure to leave your e-mail address in your comment so I can get a hold of you.

I'll be using a random number generator to select two winners from all the entries.

Entries close on Tuesday, 13th November, 9.00 am ( Malaysian time ).


Good Luck!

Value Added Quilt Along

A new and very interesting quilt along has started - Rachel (Stitched In Color),  Leila (Where the Orchids Grow),  Amy (Bad Skirt) and  Jolene (Blue Elephant Stitches) are the hosts of the Value Added Quilt Along. 

Last week, they've shared lessons in value and each of them has shown just how colour value makes a difference in quilting.   I think together these 4 blogs are amazing resources for the quilting community. 

I've been reading the QAL posts for the Value Added series and have been learning alot!  Everything that has been shared so far, has been very educational and I think doing a value quilt might actually strengthen my skills in picking fabrics overall.  I love learning more about colour, and fabric choice and how to use them to my advantage.

Last week, I've randomly pull lights, mediums, and darks out from my stash and came up with this pile. 



in colour

in black and white

Since I'm new to value, I've posted it on Flickr and sort for advice on my selection - wasn't too sure about the blue napsack print.   And as Rachel has kindly pointed out, the said print along with the light grey that I've selected, fell under the in betweens / borderline fabrics and suggested to use a dark and white solid in order to be able to read the value pattern I had envisioned.
Thus, this is the final pile of fabrics I'll be using : 

in colour

and in black and white

I'm hoping as I continue to build my experience, I'll do better with those tricky borderline fabrics! 

There are four quilts with rhythmic value patterns in this quilt along and each hosts shares a step-by-step directions for one value-oriented quilt that they've created.  I've decided to go for Rachel's Value Dance Quilt.   It finishes at 52" x 62" and there are three parts in her quilt tutorial.   "Part A" is about the fabric requirement and how to make the hour glass blocks, "Part B" will be the on point square blocks and these blocks are for the patchwork portion of the quilt.   "Part C" is about the assembly and borders to finish the quilt.  "Part A" was posted last week, and I've made these over the weekend...

I hope you'll check out the value added series and maybe join in the quilt along?

Have a lovely week ahead and thanks for visiting!




Linking up to Beth at Plum and June's Let's Get Acquinted! Monday Link Up

Cushions...

I think cushions / pillows are such a fun and inexpensive way to add some colour to our homes and this week, I was in the mood to make a couple of sweet pillows to add to my sewing room.

I've been seeing alot of chevron patterned things around and was inspired to make a chevron pillow cover using vintage sheets that I've been hanging on for a while.  There are a few ways to sew a chevron pattern being the easiest is to use striped fabric where you cut strips of fabrics on a 45 degree angle and sew them together to create the zig zag pattern.   There's a great tutorial over at Made if you would like to check it out! 

My chevron pillow front however, is made from half-square triangles using Jeni of In Color Order's tutorial, only my squares started off at 4" and I trimmed them down to 3.5".     

I quilted straight loose lines echoing the zig zag pattern on the white background.   The red striped binding is machine stitched to the front and hand stitched to the back.

I've made an envelope backing with some more pink and blue floral vintage sheets. 

Next, I wanted to repurpose an old t-shirt, so I followed V & Co's tutorial on how to make a ruffle pillow.  I've found that Vanessa's tutorial was very easy to understand and the ruffle rosettes were lots of fun to make! 

Can you believe it!  This 14" x 14" pillow came from one medium sized t-shirt!?

 

I love how the vintage sheets add an old-fashioned charm to an otherwise modern looking design and I {heart} the t-shirt decorative cushion - it's so soft and smooshy!!!

 

 

Have a great day and thanks for visiting!