Saturday, April 27, 2013

Birthday hearts

 
Silk birthday hearts for Ann

I have a collection of Silk Theme Packs purchased from The Silk Route, which seem just too lovely to use, but as I really like the "Hearts for Christmas" pattern by Sarah Wellfair decided that this was a perfect opportunity to make a few cuts!!  Each little pack contains five small pieces of silk, the colours are so luscious and this collection is called "Rose".  My friend Ann adores anything pink and I hope she likes these hearts as her birthday gift.  Ann also loves Pandora Jewellery and has a beautiful bracelet, so I embellished one of the hearts with a piece of Pandora ribbon and added a little silver heart charm.
 
"Happy Birthday Ann"
 

Monday, April 22, 2013

Another Annas Sminkepung

Well, I did threaten to make a few more and this was how I spent my Sunday afternoon.




The fabric collection is by Makower and has been lying around a long time, its called "Emily Accessories".  I especially like the border fabrics depicting rows of perfume bottles and shoes, but perhaps they are for another time.  When my little bag was completed I was disappointed, but can't quite think why!  Anyway, it looks better amongst the spring primroses so perhaps whoever becomes the recipient will also have to be given flowers.
 

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Bags in the Garden

Well, the sun finally shone yesterday and I seized the opportunity to take my camera into the garden and photograph a few bags.  My local sewing group call me the "Bag Lady" and I have to live up to my reputation!!
 
 
 




This bag was made some little time ago at a workshop with Janet Humphrey.  Janet is a very kind lady and generous with her talents.  Together with a sewing friend I have spent many happy hours learning from Janet who treats us to afternoon tea with homemade cakes.  Janet's craft buildings are at the bottom of her very large and beautiful garden and I well remember the day we dyed lace and hung it from her fruit trees to dry whilst sitting in the sunshine drinking tea, ah happy days.  Sadly Janet doesn't hold workshops at The Stables nowadays.














This bag was made at a workshop held at my local quilting store.  I really love the "moody" batik fabric.  Firstly we had to randomly machine pleat the fabric and then cut it up before sewing it back together again!  Well, that's what we do isn't it??  As we all know fabric multiplies when cut and I have used this particular one on many occasions and it appears in Sarah's Travel Journal (India).

 
 
 

 
Another local workshop bag.
 
 
 
 
 
 



I was very lucky to make this beauty at a workshop with Amanda Hall of Monkey Buttons
Amanda's design is called "Southern Belle" and she put together fabric kits in a couple of colour ways, the flap and lining are made using a linen fabric.  Amanda attends many of the large UK Quilt Shows and I'm looking forward to seeing her later in the year for more goodies.


                                        
 
 

This saddle bag design was from Sue Fowler of Daisy Chain Designs.  Another lovely and generous lady and, like Amanda, she can be found at many of our Quilt Shows.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

"Annas Sminkepung"

Gift for Alison's Mother
I've really enjoyed sewing this bag - there may well be more!
 

Sunday, April 7, 2013

AnnAKa Patterns

AnnAKa
"Annas Sminkepung"
 
I was introduced to AnnAKa Patterns by Nicola Foreman and although they are printed in Norwegian, decided to place an order with Lapp-Elisa Quilts, based in Sweden.  The patterns arrived this week and I couldn't wait to begin.  When a work colleague asked me to make a little bag for her mother to keep sewing projects in, I knew I had the perfect excuse except not being able to understand the wording.  However, the patterns had good diagrams and, with the help of Google Translate, here are my fabrics, threads, wadding and trim ready to begin.
 


I quilted the fabrics, added a little lace and am ready to insert a zip, which will sadly have to wait until I make a visit to my local sewing shop next week.