Eb New Year Swap - What I Made ...

My recipient was the lovely Brooke who blogs over at Getting Organised, Clean and Creative.

Brooke's choices for the swap were:

1) Cushion (pistacio green and white )
2) Sewing Machine or overlocker cover (any colours lol)
3) Table runner (black, red white)

I knew that it would be either some cushions or a table runner (because they are both things I'd like to make.) I decided to start with the cushions, I had an idea in mind, the only fretting part for me was coming up with a selection of pistachio green fabric when you live in a rural country town! I can't tell you how many hours I spent online looking at different fabrics only to return to my local quilting abode and taking 10cm swatches of a range of fabrics!

You may remember my prototype that I experimented with before starting my final piece from the blog post Scrap Buster Fall Pillow Tutorial it was a fabulous design and I immediately fell in love with it. Yes I know I haven't finished it yet, terribly I slack of me! lol But it will look divine on my couch! Tutorial can be found HERE as well.

I went with the inspiring theme for my work as the "tree of life." Brooke is in the midst of a life make over and I wanted something special that represented this part of her life. If your not familiar with the tree of life, its' about interconnectedness with the universe and finding a peace, harmony and balance in the way we live from day to day. I took this to the final wrapping stage by writing inspirational words on little red love hearts that I stuck all over the final wrapped piece.

Things I'd like to do next time in making the cushion cover, would be to add some quilting / wadding behind the main applique panel, and likewise with the envelope back, perhaps use a more decorative fabric (I was focusing on more of a linen back than a soft cotton for structure.) I'd love to learn how to do a button closure or button and loop on the back of the cushion, but you do have to start with your skills somewhere, and I feel proud in my accomplishment of it.

Thanks Brooke, and enjoy your swap piece!

Eb New Year Swap - Valentines Day Opening!

~*~ Happy Valentines Day ~*~

What an EXCITING day for all the EB girls that participated in the New Year Swap, so wonderfully organised by Emma!

I must say I was overwhelmed when I opened my parcel this morning, my beautiful person was the AMAZING JEN! Jen had not only made me the perfect set of coasters for our 1930's oak table, but she'd added in a vintage retro apron and a beautiful little zip bag (which looks like it would be great to pop my few make up items in!) ...

And to top it all off, was a gorgeous little card!

Jen, you are incredibly talented and I feel so very VERY SPECIAL today!

My recipient hasn't checked in ... so stay tuned for my own work ...

EB Beginner Sewing Swap - Mr Electron

Mr Electron wasn't my first choice when sewing my swap item. Initially I wanted to sew a cute little green corduroy frog that you turned into a heat bag. I don't know about you, my children adore snuggling up at night with their heat bags, Caleb has the most divine little fleece dog one that I brought to soothe him off to sleep from an early age, and now Jaida and Jaxon both have one (as do I to snuggle up to and fall into peaceful slumber.) However being obviously at the end of the winter material season, the only colour corduroy that I could lay my hands on was black, which I tried with dinosaur material, but just didn't suit a sweet little heat warm frog! A dinosaur perhaps?? but we'll leave that for another blogging time!

Back to the drawing board I went. I'm a huge fan of Miss Buttons by Sew Your Own, so I thought that I would love to give Mr Electron a go. I brought the entire kit from Rudy and the Dodo (which is an amazing little online store) and had the Sew Your Own kits on sale at the time (so now I have the pattern to keep reproducing!)

He was quite simple to cut out (obviously when you buy a kit, they provide all the material and felt for you ready to go and just cut and sew, how great is that?) I must honestly admit though I was not quite sure of the hand sewing the final seam up (note to self, read up on this more.) I really enjoyed putting him together, and luckily for us we had a hot glue gun to add the final touches.

The Little B's here certainly looked upon Mr Electron with adoring eyes and I now have another 3 cut up awaiting stitching together (although I'm thinking of adding arms to them??) ..

Mr Electron, little super hero, sure to be adored in any family home, albeit boys or girls!!

Hope AJ enjoys him Em :)

The next lot of Mr Electrons cut out and ready to go ..

Caleb (red) Jaida (purple) Jaxon (yellow)

Our next order will be Miss Buttons for sure!!

Opening Day - EB Beginner Sewing Swap

**Warning .. due to the special nature of this post,
heavy picture viewing ahead**

Well who could ask for a more exciting way to end what has been a busy week in our household. With special red postal slip in hand, young Jaida was happy to hand it over in exchange for Jaxon's special parcel and a "special swap surprise" inside!

Now this weekend also marks a special milestone for our young Jaxon Levi, who will be celebrating his 2nd birthday on 1/11/09 (Sunday.) So what better way to start weekend celebrations than enjoying opening that special parcel from our EB Beginner Sewing Swap.

It seems as though the talented seamstress who was behind our parcel was VIK! Yes she tried in earnest to be sneaky and leave a mysterious postal trail behind her, but I knew I had seen the fabric before on her blog and after a little thinking and searching, I had her REVEALED! *hehehe* .... Darling Vik, you truly deserve the recognition and publicity for your gift!

Heartfelt Thanks, you have spoiled my beautiful Jaxon and made him feel very special, which is something that I really appreciate (sometimes I feel my beautiful 3rd child misses out on many things, but you have made up for all for all of that!)

Isn't this just the cutest little back pack??





Above: Jaida's Wall (for photo purposes)


The flags in detail with sheared edges and the delightful hook ..



How colourful will these flags look on Jaxon's wall?

Below: Jaxon's wall (where the flags will go)

Stocking Filler Swap - Sneak Peek ...

So I have joined in the EB Beginner Stocking Filler Swap, with opening day approaching on October 30th 2009.

The item that I am sending is actually my 3rd attempt at something, after much deliberation and mind changing I finally settled on something that has brought me enjoyment and a sense of "peace" while sewing :)

Tonight I finally finished my item after a leisurely day at the table and machine, just what I have needed after quite a few busy work weeks (and of course many more to come with this being the last school term for 2009.)

Bring on Friday, we will be anxiously watching our mailbox (well checking it each night when we finally get home from work for that special "red mail delivery slip!")

Making Bags - Part II

I received a bag from the very talented ROMI who was also my recipient, how bizarre is that!!

Romi creatively put together a divine Keyka Lou tote bag based on this design from keykalou's Shop (Etsy) but added her own flair and artistic licence with an addititional strip of fabric down the middle. It really gives the bag, a sweet, funky edge to the exterior :) The interior is a divine and is really spacious and features two pockets too! This shape bag is so "me" ...

I'm going to be really "cheeky" and use the photos from Romi's own blog of her bag, because I have no camera right now! *aahhh*

Its' a gorgeous bag and greatly appreciated, I love the mix of contrasting fabrics and colours, and the cute fabric covered button that closes it is really sweet :) I do see today though that Jaida has also taken an intense liking (no doubt because she adores pink so much) so it could get competitive around here to see who gets to the bag first *hehe* Thank you so much Romi, you have a wonderful sewing talent, and I'll be sure to keep checking in at your Etsy store - omigosh's

EB Sewing Bag Swap

I have joined my first ever Sewing Swap from EB. I openly admit that I am only new to the world of sewing, pottering along to my own tune and sewing what appeals to me. I am excited, a little daunted (because there are some very accomplished and talented sewers taking part in this exchange of items) but rising to the challenge with a few potential "bag ideas" laying forth on my table to be completed.

I have been allocated a very talented and creative person to create a bag for, and likewise at the end of this swap, a wonderful and much to be treasured bag will be awaiting for me too.

I've scoured the internet for a range of potential "bags to be", and have "thoughts in mind" to which I'm just trialling at the moment. There are no "clues" here realistically, I'm not sure which bag my person will end up with, I've never created a bag in my entire life, so this is all new :)

I did take advantage though of Heathers Quilting and Fabrics located in the historic port precint of Echuca to gather some materials to "play" and "explore" with while I decide which bag will be the one for my recipient!

The poor night lighting does not due this fabric justice,

its' very bright and very sweet, and what my trial bag will be made of!