A sewing update

Goodness look how easily I fall back into bad blogging habits. 

I'm slowly trying to establish some sort of a routine in my life, as everything has gone to pot over the last 8 - 12 months.  The wonderful Rose started a 28 day challenge on the DTE forum last month and I'm hoping it will help me find my way.

I have managed to do a little sewing during my blogging drought and thought I'd share that with you today.

This friendship bag was made to hold an 18th birthday present for a family friend.  My idea. Of course I leave everything to the last minute and couldn't get it finished on time.

Friendship bag

Fabric panels and coordinating fabrics

Other side

It turned out really well and is very cute, I'm sure I'll find a home for it soon.  There is a bit of an interesting story about the fabrics I used.  The panels were purchased from eBay with the intention of using them for a quilt for my niece. Some months later I won a fabric pack as a door prize at a my local quilt shop.  I later realised that the fabrics were from the same range as the little panels, what a coincidence.

A couple more  pairs of underpants have been made.  After a few adjustment to the pattern I'm really happy with how they fit.  The Hawaiian print cotton Lycra cost only $1.00 for 1m at the RSPCA thrift shop.  The black Lycra was purchased several years ago and never used.  Buying the elastic is the most expensive part.  I must get myself organised as I'm in desperate need of a few more pairs.



Perfect fit undies



Last but not least I finally finished my vintage sheet quilt top.  Hmmm it's only taken how many years.  I was all set to use an old woollen blanket as batting and one of Mum's old flannelette sheets for backing but it's a bit bigger than I anticipated.  Finding or having the space to lay it out so I can sandwich the layers is proving difficult.  Sounds like another excuse really!! 



Being queen size it's difficult to get a good picture



I'm planning on using the sheet on the left as backing

I really need to apply myself to finish this quilt, it will be perfect for summer, nice and bright and breezy.  Stay tuned for updates and a whole post dedicated to vintage sheets. 

Have a lovely weekend

Cheers Lisa

Friendship bag

I've been wanting to make one of these cute little bags for ages. My niece is having her 14th birthday today, that gave me the perfect excuse to do some sewing.

After a quick browse around Spotlight (quick and Spotlight never go hand in hand with me), I decided on the above fabrics.

The finished bag

It was fun to make and not too difficult either. I plan on making some more, next time using some of my leftover vintage sheets and old jeans. Maybe I'll make a larger version and use it as a handbag!

This is the link from p.s. i quilt, friendship bag tutorial

Have a lovely weekend

Cheers Lisa

Sewing...what sewing

You would think with a blog title like mine that sewing and crafts would be a prominent feature on these pages, sadly they're not.

For that past six months, gosh maybe even a year I've been experiencing sewers block or sewers constipation as I prefer to call it, everything is ready to go but nothing is happening.

Sure I've done a bit of sewing here and there, a couple of bags, two aprons, some hand sewing and mending. As for quilting or dressmaking, its a no go area.

I have a few theories for my lack of sewing enthusiasm; not enough space to lay out fabrics, sewing room too cluttered to swing a cat in, lame excuses I know.

The beautiful piece of fabric below is one of the main reasons I've stopped sewing, strange but true. Ages ago a dear friend asked me to turn this beautiful sari into a bed throw and cushion covers. Being the ever obliging friend I said sure, no problems. That was until I saw it, I thought to myself oh s**t, how am I going to cut this up without all the beading unraveling. My answer to the problem was to put it away in the cupboard and hope for a miracle, pathetic I know.


I think I've convinced myself that if I'm not working on this project then I shouldn't be doing any sewing at all. Does that make sense? Silly I know, I'm my own worst enemy. Anyway I've decided that its time to face the sewing demons, confront my fear of stuffing it up and just get started.

To help shock or shame me into action, I'm exposing my hoard of UFOs. If I can get the ball rolling with the sari then there will be no excuses with these unfinished quilts.

These just need to be quilted - angel wall hanging (was going to be a birthday present for my aunt) and three baby quilts (the baby's are too old for the quilts now)

Boarders need to be added and then quilted - queen bed size - Japanese fabrics, single bed size - Laurel Birch fabric, 9 patch pizazz wall hanging

These are still in the construction stage, applique butterfly quilt, kaleidoscope quilt and hand pieced quilt (started in 1993, first attempts at patchwork).


There are most probably a couple of others not mentioned here, I don't want to overwhelm or depress myself too much! This is just the quilting stuff, I don't even want to think about my stash of dress fabrics or wool. Hmmm serious fabric and wool hoarder here!

Goals for this weekend - clean out sewing room and clear cutting tables.
Daily goals - try to spend one hour each day knitting and one hour of hand or machine sewing.

Watch this space for updates

Do you have many UFOs or are you a finish one project before moving on to the next sort of person? Do tell.....

Click on the photos for larger images