Skill Builder Sampler - block 2

Skill Builder Sampler - block 2, originally uploaded by MandyMade.

Ended up about a 1/4" short again. But at least I'm being consistent!!

Can't wait till friday for the next one. If you want to join in too just pop over to Sewn.

Skill Builder Sampler - block 1

Skill Builder Sampler - block 1, originally uploaded by MandyMade.

I'm joining in on the "We can do it! Skill Builder Sampler" over at Sewn.

I cheated and used a jelly role. Don't worry I regret it, the cutting wasn't good so the patterns ended up looking wonky. I ended up just under 12 1/2" square.

Owl Softie

Owl Softie, originally uploaded by MandyMade.

Note to self: Always take your camera with you or take a photo of the pressy before you rap it!! I had to get the birthday girl to open her present before we left so I could get a photo, on the hubbies iphone!

This little owl is made from one of Saffron Craig's softie panels. I personalised it by adding backstitch around the eyes and beak and added the birthday girls name.

Have a great week.

TTFN

Productive Weekend

It's amazing how just adding one more day to the weekend you can get so much more done!! We got a few things done around the house which was nice, usually we get a bit overwhelmed with what needs to be done then go out for a coffee!! Well you have to start somewhere. So painting Oliver's room is nearly finished, we can now open the front door (the house needs re-stumping) Dad was handy with a temporary fix of one of the stumps, and the window sills to the boys rooms are now underway to getting fixed, yay.

Aidan has decided that he wants to share a room with Oliver and make the other room a play room. So while he is keen to do this we are going to give it a go. With 6 years difference between them I don't think it will last long but it will be nice for a while.

I was handy on the machine too. Aidan and I finally made his belt.

I gave up on the binding maker, the material just didn't want to go through evenly, I think I need a lesson. So I just used the folding method, seemed to work fine. I need to work on my thread tension, so don't look too closely!!

I also made Keyka Lou's Keychain Clutch.

I got the hubby to enlarge the pattern to 150% so I could fit more in. Well you can definitely fit more in! My phone, keys and maybe the correct size version would fit in. It needs a handle though which I thought it might so I added the extra strap. I'm going to give it a spin at pickup today and see how it goes. I don't like taking my whole handbag just for school pickup but still need the phone etc. so this should do the trick. I also want to try and make one attach to the front baby carrier, hmm I have ideas.

TTFN

Made a few changes

I've made a few changes to the look of the blog. What do you think? Can you still see Mandy Made in the header? I'm a bit nervous about the font I used, can all browsers see it?

It's freezing in Melbourne today, can't find my fingerless gloves, I'll just have to sit and knit for a while. Or give my little one lots of cuddles.

TTFN

Skill Builder Sampler

I'm going to participate in my first sew along with Sewn doing the Skill Builder Sampler

Who wants to do it too?

I'm only going to use fabric from my stash, see how that goes. I think I may also quilt as you go, cos I missed that one last year. Who knows I may end up with a quilt or a heap of place matts!!

TTFN

Stepping Stones Pillow

It's all finished and didn't take all that long to make.

I think I spent more time procrastinating over cutting into the beautiful Saffron Craig fabric.

I'm really happy with it, it's the first time I made flying geese, and everything seemed to fit together nicely. I've had trouble in the past with everything not coming together but I used the edge of my 1/4 inch foot instead of the guard and everything turned out beautifully.

I was going to quilt by hand but I just didn't have the time and coming down with yet another cold, so I shadow quilted in a square from the main square and back stitched over the wings which made them pop out. I machine sewed the binding down then hand stitched it to the back.

So if you have a fat quarter pack laying around that you don't know what to do with I recommend making this pillow, great skill builder and a quick project to commplete.

I gave it to my neice yesterday for her 5th birthday, think she was happy with it ;-)

TTFN

I did it

I cut the fabric.

Then I sewed it back together again.

Now how to quilt it. Hand or machine? Straight or something else? Please I need help with this.

I got the pattern from here.

TTFN

Crochet Clutch

I've been wanted something to put all of my crochet needles in for ages and I'd book marked this tutorial by Kim Walus at Moda Bake Shop ages ago, well I finally found the time to make it. The fabric I used was a fat 1/8th bundle from spotlight, perfect size.

The tute was easy to follow, the few things I would change would be to list everything you need at the top, you have to read the whole thing to make sure you have everything, there was some instruction missing from how to attach the inside pocket and hook pocket to the outside, it kind of left you up to your own devises as to how to do this, looking at the photos I didn't do the same as Kim.

I'm happy with how it turned out, it was the first time I'd sewed with plastic so that was interesting. If I was to make another I would leave cutting the top and bottom curves until just before adding the binding, it was a bit messy trying to line everything up after sewing onto the centre piece.

Well I'm off to cut into that fabric I mentioned yesterday, ran out of time! Wish me luck ;-)

TTFN