TGIFF - More Cushion Covers

I'm preeetty sure I said I'd put my sewing machine away for the season not too long ago, didn't I? Ah well, humbug. On Wednesday my colleagues called on a secret mission. You see, another colleague is expecting a little boy with his girlfriend, just a few days after I'm due, and just like they got us a little something they were looking for something for them.

They'd been thinking along the lines of a onesie and a t-shirt with some cute applique like "little brother/big sister", only they couldn't find something they liked which got them wondering whether I might not applique something onto bought clothes if they got me the fabric and utensils. I gave it a thought and said I could.

When I got off the phone I got thinking some more. I don't have any experience with applique. Would it turn out well enough? Is "well enough" enough for me? They'd have to buy the things. And get them to me before I could start. Do I even like working with things that I didn't choose?

So I called them and proposed to make two samey yet not same pillows from my ample stash if they sent me batting. Whilst they deliberated I already pulled my fabrics and got playing - like we do. Shortly afterwards a courier brought me batting and a gift card to make up for my stash expenses.

for the baby boy

for the big sister

So yeah, I whipped up two sibling pillows in two sessions on Wednesday and Thursday and sent them to the office on Thursday afternoon. Hope they'll be well received.

Happy sewing!

TGIFF - Whale Cushion for the Nephew

Sorry for the terrible pics but it got done in time, is ready to be wrapped up until Christmas, and had to be shared - N's whale cushion. Inspiration courtesy of Oh Franson - I made up the block as I went but next time I'll definitely buy her pattern and save myself the math trouble.

Happy weekend and happy sewing!

Linking up with TGIFF which I haven't done in ages, this week over at Quilt Matters.

Cushion Quick Fix

With all those wonderful but time consuming stars and snowflakes I needed a quick fix and decided to wing this into a front block for a cushion. I'll definitely buy the pattern if I decide to make more so I won't have to fret about math, cutting and adjusting in the future.Yesterday I just made it up as I went, same as I do with the stars and snowflakes.

The pillow will become my nephew's Christmas present. He keeps on stealing his mum's Kirby cushion and I think he deserves one of his own. Yay, that's one me-made Christmas present this year (excluding the guest in my womb). It'll be completed with a quick envelope back and some simple quilting. Nothing fancy, just a satisfying quick fix which, I dare say, is terribly cute.

Happy sewing!

Cushion Update

They're finished! (You've got to take my word that there's a second cushion cover in the vicinity.) Only a few words and more pics as I'm really tired but still eager to show them off.

Quilting took the front from a bit boring to really pretty. I'm so glad I went with straight lines and chevrons.

And I do do love the cushion covers all made up and ready to be used!

Both front and back.

Such a long way from this dull brown!

I can't wait to get a pic of both pillows on my sister's sofa, probably tomorrow, and I know she can't wait to finally have her cushion back. After six months. Catching up with projects is fun!

Happy sewing!

New, Old Project - Cushion Covers for the Sis

Still catching up on old projects.* I actually had to look up since when I've had the fabric for this project. End of September? Ouch, that means I've been planning it since mid-September! On top I've had my sister's sofa cushion for all of those six months... Well, better late than never.

Fabric, batting, and interior fabric have been cut. Pieces for the envelope backing have been assembled and are ready to be quilted.

Yes, quilted - I'd planned to keep the cushion covers really simple, maybe even completely unquilted, to finish them today but then fancy struck. Wouldn't the mirror balls be set off just great by a bunch of straight, angular lines? This is the first backing piece showing my efforts and proving my thinking right.

I love where this is going and I'm sure my sister will be delighted, too, but I also know that I won't be finishing these pretties today. Not least of all because my water soluble marker is giving up the ghost...why do these things always happen on Sundays?! Anyway, I'm looking forward to spend more time with this new, old project.

Happy sewing!

*Dreaming up new ones as well, though. It's *tough* not to and focus on finishing up only.

More Needlework Whilst Convalescing

Thanks for your kind well wishes. You're all so lovely to spare a moment for me!

The cold symptoms are pretty much gone, the bed rest is and has been more about, well, resting. I was very lightheaded and nauseous on Monday which got me the extra round of downtime. I've been getting better since with all that sleep and no nothing but today I got half an hour in the park with my nephew and sister to get my blood pressure going a little. (He's still cute as a button!) Afterwards I was knackered and had a proper midday snooze but it was a very welcome change and more importantly needed. Can't risk a cold start on Monday but need to ease into being up full time again.

Well, enough with the whine and onto the interesting bit. Tada!

I've taken up working on the Red Riding cushion cover again. Can't believe how long I've been stalling this but somewhere along making plans for the hand quilting and deciding on an owl I'd hit a creative wall that I tore down yesterday. I'm using this as a guide. Whoop, getting all excited about this project again.

Happy sewing!

T.G.I.F.F. - The Blogiversary Giveaway

Do you recall my blogiversary giveaway back in March? Geesh, so glad this parcel finally managed to arrive in New Zealand last week. It was one of the reasons to take a break a few weeks back but now all is good. Additional perk, I can finally show you the package I tied!

Not only did Juliet not pressure me about my slow pace but I'm happy to say that she loves it and even has a hard time fighting over everything with her kiddos. Sometimes I'm glad that, for now at least, I only have to share things with my husband who's he not into fabric - so it's all mine. Mwahahaha.

Here are a few shots on our windowsill - I thought you might have tired a little of my dining/sewing table.

Oh, and I'm planning to put up a picture tutorial for this one.

Happy sewing!

Linking up with TGIFF over at Textile Diva.

W.i.P. - Red Riding Returns

The sun is back. Warm temperatures are back. Yes, both aren't a permanent fixture yet but I'm sooo happy and excited. I just love spring and summer.

Anyhow, I've been very slow working on my Little Red Riding Hood cushion cover. You saw it last three weeks ago. Although I finished the tiny corner elements, I was lost for ideas to fill out the whole triangles and I still am. I knew, however, that I wanted to add the baby girl's initial to one of them.

Alas, the name was still a secret and my hands tied. No longer! Little C has finally been born - oh, she's gorgeous - and I got working. I found the letter here and freestyle transferred it to the fabric. Thank goodness for trick markers.

The first pic was taken yesterday evening in artificial light, the second one this morning with the trick marker lines erased. Now I still need inspiration to strike for the rest...

I aim at finishing it in about two weeks. Originally I'd planned to have it ready for postage the minute after the announcement, yeah, plans, but now I'm thinking I want to present it personally. So giving the new parents a few weeks to settle in before invading their happy baby bubble seems like a good idea to save them - and me - stress.

Stats

Finishes - 0

Ongoing Projects - 4
EPP hexies - 52 finished flowers + 14 nearly-theres
baby things
Grecian Waters/Emerald HST quilt - finished the top!
cushion cover

Stalled Projects - 1
EPP parallelograms/stars

Planning Stage - 5
Wedding Anniversary quilt
Quilt for the husband - will possibly be downgraded to a pillow case
Two summer dresses & a skirt

My list really isn't changing at the moment. I'm okay with it, though. Still de-stressing and enjoying the better weather.

Happy sewing!

W.i.P. - Red Riding in Aqua

This is what I'm currently working on.

After finding out that my sister is having a boy I'd put this block aside but then it came to my attention that a friend who's having her little one really soon is having a girl. So I rescued it from the UFO pile, decided to make a cushion cover, and turned it into this little top.

I'm currently quilting it by hand.

Some of you know that I'm not overly fond of pink, so when I remembered this unloved leftover from the pixelated Kirby I thought this was a good project to reduce the amount I still had. Turns out it's perfect! Turns out I love it next to those aqua stripes and lagoon pindots. So much that I wonder whether I'll be able to give it away rather than stash it for when I'm having kids.. haha

I told you that I usually only give away things I really like. It can make giving pretty complicated...

Stats

Finishes - 1
Easter egg fabric basket

Ongoing Projects - 4
EPP hexies - 52 finished flowers + 14 nearly-theres
baby things
Grecian Waters/Emerald HST quilt - finished the top!
cushion cover

Stalled Projects - 1
EPP parallelograms/stars

Planning Stage - 2
Wedding Anniversary quilt
Quilt for the husband - I might have come up with the design! More on that soon.

Happy sewing!

Linking up with Lee's W.i.P. Wednesday.

W.i.P and Instant Gratification

With a big project like Yoshi on your plate you just have to have some instant gratification in between. Here's my assorted collection.

At first I made a little pouch for my sister's Nintendo DS. Great! I got to play with my cute fabric hoardings and had something for her to not feel left out at the big Yoshi reveal.

As the weather turned colder after a mild period and I'd lost my hat before Christmas I had to knit this. Thankfully, I hoarded enough of the colour last year to have two skeins left! I love this pattern and have used it twice before. This time I added a few rows in stockinette to the Windy City Hat pattern so that it'd cover my ears. Two or three too many but it's still fab. (Also, I used 5 mm needles, not 4.5 mm.)

 

Finally I made two more cushion covers for our sofa. I wasn't in a too good place, emotionally, after our return to Bavaria and wanted something a little less cheerful and a bit more sober to go with that, so thought of these fabrics acquired nearly two years ago. Yep, Kristy, we do use our fabrics, eventually!

My mood has improved a ton since last week and I don't actually consider the cushions uncheerful. I enjoy them a lot!

To give you a clue about new projects on my mind - the lot of orders from the beginning of the year has started to arrive (more in a Stash on Sunday post). I'm glad I picked Kona Sage as extra fabric for my planned Grecian Waters HST quilt. Only I'm not entirely convinced of making it an all solids quilt anymore. The pretty leaves print that came in the same parcel is definitely something to consider throwing into the mix!

Now, without further ado, my revised W.i.P. list.

Finishes - 4
Yoshi quilt - don't miss tomorrow's post!
Pillow covers
DS pouch
Knitted hat

Ongoing Stalled Projects - 2
EPP hexies - 32 finished flowers + tons basted
EPP parallelograms/stars

Planning Stage - 4
Wedding Anniversary quilt
Grecian Waters HST quilt
Quilt for the husband
Tons of baby things

Happy sewing!

Yoshi 5.0

On Thursday last week I did sod all for Yoshi and it felt great. Yep, acceptance really freed me. Also, it was a day to socialise. I finally met up with a fellow sewist and blogger and her family who are living close by. We had a lovley chatter, her toddler boy is gorgeous and it was so nice to be out and about and not stuck in the flat all day apart from grocery shopping.

After my return home it was time to take a shower and doll myself up because of more socialising and fun times. My husband and I had a dinner date before attending his school's Christmas concert in the evening. So I donned one of my me-made skirts and off we went. We hadn't had a date in ages and went to a very nice Spanish tapas bar and steak restaurant. We can rarely afford to go out like this, so it was an early Christmas present. It was absolutely lovely and I enjoyed every minute of it.

No pics, I'm afraid, but I'll show you something I finished on Friday morning to spruce up this post.

My sister-in-law bought this lovely Ink & Spindle print in a sale and I turned it into pillow covers in time for Christmas.

Want to see more of Yoshi? He'll return tomorrow!

... to be continued ...

Happy sewing!