Christmas in July project

Final decision was random fabrics in organized coloured rows.

Basic block completed, just need to decide a border....

Thanks again to Lilys Quilts for the free pattern!

DOCS Ted upgrade

DOCS Ted has had a minor upgrade.....

He was a hit at work, however the first comment was "he needs a belt". How could I refuse a request like that??? So, between mum and myself we threw around some ideas, and came up with 2 possibilities : a small cat collar, or a watch band.

Working from those ideas, and since it was the weekend, I went to our local market and having no success on the pet collar, managed to spot a jewellery shop. After explaining what I was looking for, the lady had the PERFECT little watch band buckle - and she let me have it for FREE!! Such a nice lady!! Its a bit hard to see in the pic, but I used a textured tape to make the belt, and added a couple of belt loops for good measure. I may remove the back part of the belt and just fix it at the sides at a later date. I just wants to curl up at the back, and looks a bit ordinary. The tape I used was pretty light - it is meant to be used for stopping seams from stretching on knit fabrics, like the shoulder seams. It was the perfect width, and I even chose it before I found the watch buckle. Coincidence or good luck?? Who cares, it worked!! LOL!!

He also got a V-neck vest, since he was drowning in BEIGE......... Of course, I don't knit, but I found this heavily textured rib in my stash, and it turned out brilliantly - first time!!

Not the best pics - sorry! I was in such a rush to get it done and back to work that I just pointed my phone at him, but you get the general idea! I will try and get some better shots of the whole gang some time this week........

Next project is in the works, too. I was lying in bed this morning thinking about Christmas in July, and how I still have a box of scraps left over from my last Christmas doll quilt. Also, the Canning Show schedule will be out soon, and I have nothing completed yet to go in it!! So I started google-ing Christmas Table Runner, and found a few interesting designs, but then, as if on cue, I was playing on my Flipboard app and found the perfect pattern!! And here it is....

Big thanks to lilysquilts.blogspot.com.au for her free template. I have printed out the pattern pieces and I already have the Christmas prints cut into scraps - just need to decide if I am going to do random triangles or actually structure the traditional red/green/white scenario. Knowing me and structure, I will probably go with the random effect. I have soooo many Christmas print fabrics I could probably make it without repeating one single design! Almost......

Anyway, since its really cold and wintery here in Perth, it may just be an excuse to put on the iron for a bit of paper piecing next weekend. I have done little lately for my own benefit, unless you count a few baby bags for Santas. Time for some sewing just for me. Just because.......

DOCS Bear

Finally got some sewing time! This time and the Department of Corrections Services got their own bear. Basically, it's beige on beige, but maybe he will get a black vest later on?

He has the same shirt pattern as the other bears, but his trousers are all new. They have a flat front and elastic back. His shirt also has proper buttonholes and buttons!!

The girls should be happy with him... I hope....

Ted v2.0

Ted's had an upgrade! LOL!!

Thanks to Mums new embroidery machine, Ted now officially works for Fire and Rescue! The text is only 1cm high. So cute!

Ted also now has a helmet, although not technically the correct style but it's hard when he has a tiny head and large snout! I started out with a plastic ball cut to the right shape and I used a plastic 2L soft drink container for the visor. Glue, peg and elastic, and voila!

More bags, different style....

So, I thought I was finished with bags, but I found a couple of pieces of scraps that were just begging to be used up!

I had made library bags previously out of the green bug fabric but all that was left was a 50x50cm-ish square. I found a piece of green that went well with it and used the square to make a double sided pocketed new mum baby bag, for Santa's Workshop to fill and give to needy families.

I also used up some of a pre-printed cot bumper print that was too narrow to use on its own. I put a 5cm wide gusset down the sides and bottom, plus a band at the top with matching handles. One with shorter straps had no lining, the other has been lined with some light weight curtain fabric. Should have done this to both, but too late now! Both of these also for Santas.

Also made a couple of mini bags, using the most sparkly fabric I could find! I decided that I can make these out of ANYTHING!! LOL!! All I need is an adhesive liner and stabilizer, no probs. However..... Make sure the adhesive is sewable!! This one was a high level, no-sew, so it was constantly gumming up the needle. Online solutions included sewing machine oil to remove the gum off the needle, but I found that some spray lubricant on a cotton ball worked pretty well. Just run the needle through the ball occasionally and it seemed to prevent the buildup.

Anyway, a productive weekend was had by me. Hope you did too!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!