My First Complete Christmas Present

For my niece Kate who is 9 years old.  A makeup/toiletry bag and a Owl Softie plus I will give her a $20.00.  I found the owl pattern in a magazine and I adapted it to suit.

All my Goodies

I have been busy this past week, firstly I made these for my daughters friends birthday tutorial here from Noodlehead.

Then I made these Cathedral Window pincushions.

and I went on to make this giant Cathedral Window Pillow tutorial found here from Heather at alamode

I also made some 32 minute bags for the kids tutorial found here from Amy at Diary of a Quilter

 I went on to make a pointy kitty tutorial found here  from Wee Wonderfuls

and Wendy the Bird from Lollychops

and of course I couldn't go past trying out Molly Monkey from mmmcrafts

I'm on a roll,  Christmas presents is all I can think of at the moment.  I am feeling so happy with all my little creations.

Pinned Down

Just a quick note to let you know that I decided to change my blog name to Pinned Down,  its a little less complicated than I never knew I could sew.

Noodlehead Tutorials

I have lots of kid's birthday's coming up and I am fed up with buying crap.  The kids come home and say Mum what are you going to buy eg  for Jane's birthday, I say I don't I haven't thought about it yet,  my dd says because she said that she wants a  mushabelly, $20 + a bar chocolate.  My mouth is still wide open at the cheek of it.  Well I'm thinking no more,  I have been searching for cute little gifts that I could sew and I bumped into Noodleheads Tutorial list and found the Gathered Clutch and the little cutie pouch.  I have managed to whip up a few this afternoon.  Another first for me is the Zips.

I really did set myself up on this one

ha I checked a post of mine back in August, where I say I am going for a faultless finish,  what on earth was I thinking?  It all started happy with great expectations,  but then it went on and on,  and yards and yards of fabric later, a zillion yards of thread and a lot of crooked lines, groaning (more like grunting) and moaning,  I had had enough of this quilt.  It's a quilt as you go job and well, I really did think it was going to be the answer to everything NOT.  This method of quilting had just as many difficult areas to tackle as normal quilts do and to be honest I think I would rather not quilt as you go again.  Nonetheless I have finished it under protest (against myself) because it's my daughters quilt and she kept saying Mum when is my quilt going to be finished.  I hate it, I hate all the mismatched sashing lines, all thee... well I won't go into anymore details about my lack of sewing ability, but just to say thank god its finished!!!

Candle Mat Swap

Made from a selection of Charity for a Cause and Park Avenue by Moda, plus some sparkly fairy frost.  This was my first attempt at feathers,  I wouldn't go as far as saying that they are feathers but another few goes and I'm sure they will get better.

The back

I have to admit that the blue and silver mat above is actually my second attempt at this pattern.  My first one below I was unhappy with my binding and the effect my hand quilting had on it.  I thought I could fix it with washing and ironing it until I pressed so hard and long that I scorched the flippin thing.  I am happier with the second but am still tempted to try a third lol.

You can't see the scorch marks on this photo as this is the pre-scorch version.

Cotton Eye Candy

My newly organised thread drawer,  I am hoping not to have to purchase thread until this time next year, well that's what I am telling my husband lol.

Something else I have been working on

 This is my very first go a neddleturn applique,  and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I love watching TV at night and quietly sewin away.  I still have to sew in the beck and eyes of the bird.

This pattern in from the book Material Obession by Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke.  At first glance of this book, I sort of ho hummed and closed it.  Then later I thought I would take another look and I found this pattern that I could not go past.  Here is a glimpse of what I have done so far.

Another Table Runner

Well you do get a lot of good pratice doing table runners,  and they are so quick to finish.  This one is the 3rd one for my Mum in Law's 70th Birthday.  All  table runners that I made for her are all made from the Martinque fabrics by Moda.

The whole top is made from 2" squares,  which was a pain but it makes it easier when it comes to quilting.  I had a lot of fun practicing my circles, swirl thingys.