Thursday 20 February 2014

Fabric flowers using up scrap fabric

 
 
These fabric flowers are a great way to use up some of your bigger scraps.  You could make smaller or bigger than I have or even join bits together. And I had to go and collect all the sticks that I have been throwing over into the orchard that fall on my driveway!
 
You will need
Strips of fabric
Glue gun
Sticks
Needle and thread or sewing machine
 
First you need to cut strips about 13cm by 115cm, some of mine were shorter, just used up what I had.
 



Iron them in half long ways then cut out like below, rectangle strip in about 10cm then scallop the cut raw fabric edge, scallops about 7cm wide.






Next open out and run a gathering stitch all along the folded ironed edge. (forgot to photgraph that bit!)  And normal stitch along scalloped edge.



Then gather up along floded edge then you are ready to glue.




Tie the end in a knot and place onto stick and glue, you can fiddle round to make it a nice little bud if you feel the need.


The just start glueing round bit by bit and holding just till it sets till you have a nice looking flower.








Idea was from here so take a look for a more detailed tutorial.

Tuesday 18 February 2014

Our little caravan

Last April we bought a 1976 Anglo Pullman 16 foot caravan.

It wasn't in too bad condition but smelt old, the curtains didn't meet, the walls were shiny dark brown paint and we started reading the Vintage Caravan Magazine and this is what happened to her!! We haven't done anything to the outside, not sure if we will either, maybe does need a bit of red!!

Here are some before, during, finished and using pics of her.  She doesn't have a name yet, any ideas?




 























 



My baby turns 4

 
Our baby boy turned 4 last week, time has flown by and this is what he is got for his birthday.  A road map car quilt.  I think his lego will live on this quilt!
The pattern was a freebie from spotlight, you can find it here.  Very easy to make and could use any pattern fabric,  I got some from spotlight and some form Etsy.
 
 









 

  



He is also right into tools and fixing things at the moment and we had 3 other birthdays this week for little boys so made them all their own personalised tool belts.

Happy Birthday big boy!






 
 



Monday 17 February 2014

Scrap Bag Swap 2014

For the past 3 years I've taken part in Nin's Scrap Bag Swap.  I just can't load the photo up so have a look at her site.  We all get given a person to send a bag of scraps to and then get one in return from someone else.  Its great fun and this is what I got this year.



I love them all and have already made some fabric embroidery hoops for the spare room, just needed a couple more to finish it off.  But not sure they look right!  The screws were already there and was trying not to put more up but what ever way i position them it doesn't seem to be quite right!
 
There is a blog hop on with different crafters making things to give you some ideas on what can be make with little pieces of fabric so go and have a look.
 
I can't seem to move some of these photos around, blow it!
 
 
Mon 10th February Tartankiwi – Paper pieced koru
Tuesday 11th Make. Life. Beautiful. - Dolly Outfit
Friday 14th Mousehouse – Pocket Organiser

Monday 17th Catalina's Cottage – Hexie love
Tuesday 18th Make. Life. Beautiful. Scrappy Quilt Part 1
Friday 21st One Paisley Apple – Fabric Flowers

Monday 24th Kiwi at Heart - Scrappy Rope Coaster
Tuesday 25th Make. Life. Beautiful. Scrappy quilt Part 2
Friday 28th Works in Progress – Scrappy Pot Mitt and Trivet

Monday 3rd March NZ Green Buttons – Floral Wreath Tote
Tuesday 4th Make. Life. Beautiful. Childs Bike Seat Pad
Friday 7th Catalina's Cottage – Giant Star Quilt
 
 





 



Monday 10 February 2014

School books covered with fabric

The kids have gone back to school and preschool and this is a great way to use up some fabric from the stash!!
 
 
 

You just cut out the fabric like you would be cutting duraseal (sticky back plastic for you foreigners!)

Then run glue stick over bit of front and back just to hold it before you sew.  For the dark fabric I sewed on white fabric rectangles to write names otherwise on the light colours you can just write on fabric.




Then run glue stick just round the inside edge of book.  Wait till glue dries then you are ready to sew.


I just sewed round edge of fabric just to hold it there.


And thats it, done!