Q2 FAL 2015 - goal setting

 

My 2nd Quarter 2015 Finish-Along goals are:

1. Hand quilt my Meadow Quilt


2. Finish Nathalie's Sew Together Bag


3. Finish the Giraffe and make it into a wall hanging

4. Complete my bag testing for Geta

5.  Make this polar bear into a cushion cover
 

6.  Handquilt my Diamond in Diamond quilt


Linking up to On the Windy Side

Mighty Mouse Pincushion tutorial

Hello - I thought that I would share my tutorial for MIGHTY MOUSE (pincushion) that was originally posted on The Daily Stitch in 2013. I LOVE making these mice.  Here is one I recently made in pink mirror ball fabric!  So cute!

Mighty Mouse [weighted] Pincushion

You will need:
(1) 6 inch charm square [I used Anna Maria Horner ‘Field Study – Spotted in the Crowd Amelia’]
(2) beads or buttons for eyes
(2) 1 inch x 2 inch  [approx – adjust to how big you want them to be] felt rectangles for ears
(1) 6.5” piece of cord (or yarn) for tail
Needle and black thread
Polyfil toy stuffing

Steps:
1. Fold square diagonally, right sides together to make a triangle.


2. Sew along one open edge using small stitches, backstitching at the beginning and the end.


3. Clip corner near stitches and turn so right side out, making sure to use a pencil or chopstick to ensure a tidy point (the nose of the mouse).

4.  Trim off corner (you can trim right to the opposite edge if you want to make a better cone).


5.  Press a hem around the open edge.

 

6.  Baste stitch along this hemmed edge using strong thread (or doubled up thread).

 

7.  Gather thread so the opening is cinched slightly and add stuffing, making sure it goes into pointed nose.

 

8.  Cinch more and add stone if desired (helps keep the mouse upright on an angle).

 

9.  Cinch closed and secure thread.  Sew tail to the bottom near the closure. Stitch felt over this area if you feel the cinched area is untidy or not closed tight.

10.  For the whiskers on the nose, thread three pieces of black thread through near the nose tip and tie each side with a knot close to the body to secure.

11.  Add beads or buttons for eyes.  French knots would work as well.

12.  For the ears, take the felt pieces and trim the corners off so you have semi-circular tops.  Pinch the bottom of one ear together so the ear has some dimension and stitch these gathers in place.  Now stitch to the body of mouse.  Repeat.


14.  Adjust the stone in the bottom to get the desired angle of your mouse.

15.  Now you have a weighted mouse pin cushion!!  Enjoy!

 

Q1 2015 Finish Along - my results

What?  The first quarter of 2015 is already complete!?  Wow - I guess it is time to get a move on!  My sewjo disappeared in September so it is a miracle that ANY sewing has taken place this quarter!  I listed 10 projects to complete and I only managed to complete two.

Aneela Hoey's Fold Over pouch - needed to interface, sew together and post to a lucky recipient!
Yay - I completed this project and posted it to Germany for my 500th Instagram follower gift. When it finally arrived to Germany, the recipient loved it!  Fab pattern too!

Tea Wallets (Patchwork Please) - I prepared fabric to sew ten but still needed to cut the interfacing, then adhere, add ribbon, sew together, add buttons and tea.  I managed to sew four and even gifted them at QuiltCon2015!  Here are just two of them as I forgot to get pictires of the others.

There was another item crossed off my ever-growing to-do list but I can't say that " I " finished it.  This was my Cherry Charm quilt that I needed to baste, quilt, bind and label.  Guess what?  I gave the quilt top to Pennie of Tuppence Ha'penny quilts for her to finish and give to someone special that needs a warm hug from a quilt.  It is now her WiP! 

There you have it - 2/10 (well... 3/10) isn't too bad all considering!

Linking up to On The Windy Side 

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Destash -- part 2

Hello again!!

Thank you to everyone who has sent get well wishes to Jax.  He is now home but still not 100%.  He has been picking at some boiled chicken and plain rice and drinking water so at least he is (hopefully) on the mend.  A week of prescribed antibiotics should help too.  Fingers crossed he improves each day. #ilovemydog

I am continuing my destash!  Please let me know in the comments if there is something here that you would like to buy.  I will reply to you and give you my Paypal address for you to Friends & Family paypal me.  Happy shopping!

Here we go: 
Pearl Bracelets - LIGHT BLUE 
£2.90 plus 61p UK postage



Pearl Bracelets ELECTRIC BLUE - Fat quarters - 2 available
£2.90 each plus 61p UK postage each
 

Pezzy Prints BLUE/AQUA - Half metre
£4.50 plus 80p UK postage

Pezzy Prints NAVY - Half metre
£4.50 plus 80p postage

Pearl Bracelets NAVY - Fat quarters - 2 available
£2.90 each plus 61p UK postage each

Pearl Bracelets Aqua-like BLUE - Fat quarter
£2.90 plus 61p UK postage 

Oops-A-Daisy by Keiki for Moda - 1 yard
£7.50 plus £1.06 UK postage


Thank you for looking!!  I am happy to post internationally too - just leave a comment WHERE in the world you are and I will get back to you with postage costs.

Destashing (for Jax's vet bill)

In September, I started a challenge to myself and called it #amysMinimalistChallenge.  I set a goal of ten things to do and they ranged from clearing out the coat and shoe closet, getting the garden in order and parting with fabric in my stash that I will probably never use or have fallen out of love with.

Today I am continuing that challenge and having another clear out because poor little Jax went to the vet yesterday and spent the night on an intravenous drip to get him rehydrated and his glucose levels back up.  I just spoke with the vet and he needs to stay in another night.  I hate to see him so poorly and I myself nearly fainted when I saw the £ bill and there is no way I will be able to afford it unless I do a destash!

If you are interested in anything listed below, please let me know in the comments and I will get back to you ASAP.  I am open to offers as well!  For payment, please "Friends & Family Paypal" me - I will give you my Paypal address in my reply.

If you are not in the UK and are interested, let me know and I can let you know postage to another country.

Here are the items I hope to sell:

Birch Avalon by Jay-Cyn ORGANIC - Half metre with selvage
£4 plus 61p UK postage

 GeoGrand by Daisy Janie - 5 ORGANIC fat quarters
£14 plus £1.06 UK postage

GeoGrand by Daisy Janie - 1 metre of ORGANIC Ogee
£9.00 plus £1.06 UK postage

Briar Rose by Heather Ross - 20 fat quarters
£54 plus £2.90 UK postage

  

Dear Stella Purple Dot - Half yard piece with selvage
SOLD £4 plus 61p UK postage

Geisha in Bliss by Pat Bravo Indie Collection ART GALLERY FABRICS - one 1.5 metre piece with selvage writing!
SOLD £12 plus 1.06 UK postage

Timeless Treasures Sketch - Half yard with selvage (coordinates perfectly with the Geisha fabric shown above - just sayin') 
SOLD £4 plus 61p UK postage

 

More later folks!!!!  Thanks for looking!

Polar Bear

The amazing and talented Kristy of Quiet Play has been releasing her Zoo Animals Block of the Month patterns over the past few months and March is the Polar Bear!

I was lucky enough to test the Polar Bear pattern a few months ago  and I am so happy to finally share it with you!!

And guess what?  This pattern is FREE for the month of March!  Grab it quick!



I hope you sew one up - just imagine this guy as a cushion, a tote bag or as a part of a quilt - brrrrilliant!!

Where Are You Now?

I am in my living room, packing for QuiltCon 2015 and I am listening to Mumford & Sons.  I thought that I would share the lyrics to my (current) favourite song.

Where are you Now?

Mumford & Sons/Babel

It came to the end it seems you had heard.
As we walked the city streets,
You never said a word.

When we finally sat down
Your eyes were full of spite.
I was desperate, I was weak
I could not put up a fight.

But where are you now?
Where are you now?
Do you ever think of me
In the quiet, in the crowd?

You were strangely less in pain
Than you were cold.
Triumphant in your mind
Of the logic that you hold.

You said no one would ever know
The love that we had shared.
As I took my leave to go
It was clear you didn't care.

And where are you now?
Where are you now?
Do you ever think of me
In the quiet, in the crowd?

But where are you now?
Where are you now?
Do you ever think of me
In the quiet, in the crowd?

And I hear of your coming
And your going in the town.
I hear stories of your smile,
I hear stories of your frown.

And the darkness can descend,
We can relish all the pain.
But I know that's what you love,
'Cause you know I love the same.

But where are you now?
Where are you now?
Do you ever think of me
In the quiet, in the crowd?

But where are you now?
Where are you now?
Do you ever think of me
In the quiet, in the crowd?

But where are you now?
Where are you now?
Do you ever think of me
In the quiet, in the crowd?

Songwriters
MUMFORD, MARCUS OLIVER JOHNSTONE / DWANE, EDWARD JAMES MILTON / LOVETT, BENJAMIN WALTER DAVID / MARSHALL, WINSTON AUBREY ALADAR

QuiltCon2015 prep

In a mad moment in June last summer, I decided that I would book my place at QuiltCon 2015.  I spent the first day of my holiday at my sister's house on her computer desperately TRYING to get the classes and Super Volunteer slots that I wanted.  I think I must have hit the refresh button a million times in an hour!  

Fast forward to today, and I find myself frantically packing odd bits and pieces for a week-long sewing vacation in TEXAS!  

So far I have booked a taxi to the airport, looked at what films I will watch on my 10 hour and 20 minute flight (best choices are The Hundred-Foot Journey, The Maze Runner, Gone Girl, Paddington and Mr. Turner) and have dyed some of my rather boring brown hair purple!  As you do.  I'm obviously dealing with the important things first!

I am so excited to be heading to Austin because I am going to be hanging out with Charlotte and Nathalie as well as seeing a few of my Canadian pals from the Ottawa MQG and the Vancouver MQG.  I also get to meet people in person who I have been following on-line since I started quilting in 2009.  Exciting stuff!

And of course I am looking forward to the food.  This is TEXAS people - I will be eating some Tex-Mex food!  And steak.  And probably more steak!  And hopefully some Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp.

There will be some shopping to do as well.  I love picking up things I am not able to get very easily here in the UK.  Things like Twizzlers, cake mixes and Cheez Whiz.  There will be a variety of fabric and haberdashery vendors at QuiltCon as well so fingers crossed I can be a good girl and keep my #sewyourstash2015 promise and not buy anything much.  

For those of you not attending -- I wish you were!

For those of you who are -- TRAVEL SAFELY. 




#quiltcon2015
#QuiltConEh
#quiltconprep


 

Simple Hanging Tea Towel - tutorial link

Today I am over at the 'Daily Stitch' with my tutorial for a Simple Hanging Tea Towel.   Check it out!!!  I hope you make one or two - and if you do, feel free to tag me over on Instagram @amyscraftyshenanigans.

Happy sewing!

2015 1st Quarter FAL

I love doing these public declarations of what I think I can accomplish over a three month period.  I am always wayyyy too ambitious but at least I am aware of how many things I need/must do!

So this brings me to my 1st Quarter 2015 FAL Goal list.  I hope to complete the following things:

1.  Simply Solids Amaranth bee quilt - baste, quilt, bind, label

2.  HST Quilt - add another border (?), baste, quilt, bind, label

3. Aneela Hoey's Fold Over pouch - interface, sew together, send to lucky recipient!

Image borrowed from www.comfortstitching

4.  Nat's Sew Together bag - everything is cut and ready to sew together
 [picture to follow]

5.  Fresh Lemon Quilts inspired Poinsettia  table topper - finish sewing together, baste, quilt, bind, label

6.  Lizzy House Meadow quilt - baste, quilt bind, label

 7.  Cherry Charm quilt - baste, quilt, bind, label

 8.  FIVE Michelle Pattern Grocery bags - all cut out and ready to sew since August!!

Picture borrowed from Michelle Patterns

9.  Tea Wallets - fabric cut to make 10, need to cut interfacing, adhere, sew together, add buttons and tea

 

10.  Arrows bee quilt - baste, quilt, bind, label

And those are the items I plan on completing.  Wish me luck!!  Linking up to:

 

Amaranth

Several months ago I decided to tackle my Simply Solids bee quilt at one of our #nintendo guild meet-ups.  This was just the right motivation to get me to complete the top.  Yes - I finally got my 'Amaranth group' Simply Solids Bee quilt TOP completed!

If you were in the Amaranth group and kindly made me a block - thank you!!   To make the top a little bit bigger, I decided to add sashing and corner stones to help define each block but now I am not so sure that was a good idea.  Sashing should be straight and knowing me it will look all wobbly and  that is not a good look!  Fingers crossed it turns out straight looking once quilted!

The next issue:  how should I quilt it?!!

Happy days - this only took two and a bit years to get to this stage but now that it is now a flimsy, I can do the happy dance [and discretely add it to the pile of unfinished quilt tops].

Catching up with my belated thank you's

I certainly have neglected my blog for a while now.  Sorry for that!  I am attempting to get caught up and share with you all the things that have been going on recently but these things take time...apparently!  I blame Instagram!!  And the full moon in September!

• Thank you to Lisa of In the Boon Docks and Fat Quarter Shop for sending me an awesome "Sew What" pink t-shirt and 4 mini charm packs from a giveaway on Lisa's blog!!  I WILL eventually get a picture of me in the t-shirt - I promise!

• Carrie of believemagic sent me a wonderful mini quilt called Disco Girl.  I won this in her Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day/Week along with a Creative Girl Art Quilt and pattern pack.

Picture from www.believemagic.com/journal

Picture from www.believmagic.com/journal

• Rachel of mammafairy sews, a fellow HipBee member, threw me a lifeline when I posted about my sewing difficulties at making a Burda tunic.  She offered to save the day and finish my tunic for me!  I had truly abandoned it thinking it would be the most expensive sewing fail to date, so I took up her offer in a flash!  Rachel finished it beautifully - and returned it to me with a pincushion and some needles too!   So very kind - thank you Rachel.  [picture will be added soon]

• Lucy of Charm About You drew my name for a £100 gift certificate to Wayfair several months ago  Thank you so much!  I managed to spend my certificate on this realllly cool storage thing!

Picture from Wayfair

• Thank you Heather and Megan of  Quilt Story for the three baby patterns sent to me in September - I am going to be very busy once I get my sew-jo back, sewing all these amazing things! 

• Speaking of patterns - thank you to crazymomquilts for sending me her Waiting Quilt pattern in her draw celebrating 250 quilts! 

• In the A Lovely Year of Finishes July, I won a Clover & Violet Lucy Hobo purse pattern - thank you so much!

• July was a lucky month because I also won the Celestial Star pattern.  I watched Diane's sew-along with interest and plan to make my own Celestial Star one day!

So, here we are in 2015 and I am just starting to get a bit of a sewing done.  Feels really good to be making a mess again!  I will catch up with what I accomplished October, November and December SOON!

Happy New Year!

4th quarter FAL recap

Here is my original goal post.  Guess what!?  I was completely and utterly unrealistic - again!!  I thought that I would be able to accomplish 10 things in three months.  However, I hadn't factored in losing my sew-jo in September.  The full moon knocked me off course and I never fully recovered from that!

So, I only managed to accomplish two things.  Here is my absolute favourite finish:

4 Things quilt - Love Affection, Attention and Praise
(quilted by Trudi Woods)

4 Things quilt by Amy Cavanagh

Over on Instagram, CurlyBoy hosted the #IGMiniSwap.  I was in Flossys Group and this is the mini I made for my partner:

I made one mini swoon block for the centre (pattern by Camille Roskelly) and gave it a Goosed Border (pattern by Jeliquilts).  I picked three of my favourite colours (green, aqua and navy) as my partner liked those colours too!  Paper pieced, hand quilted, hand bound and washed to become crinkly, I wanted to keep this one for myself!

So there you have it.  Two out of ten.  I'm ok with that!

Linking to Finish Along 2014.