Ruby's Baby Bloomers

This is a project I have been sitting on for a while. I bought the fabric back in February, but knew they would not be needed until the summer. This was when our Great Niece Maisie reached six months old. As usual  Considering the pattern size I used was for 6-12 months she'll probably need to grow into them a bit. I left them to the last minute!

I made these using the Ruby's Bloomers pattern from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. The book suggests making a set to give as a gift so I chose some contrasting bright and bold fabric. I used ~

Ann Kelle Metro Market Strawberries ~ Red

Ann Kelle Metro Market Cherries ~ Aqua

Anna Kelle Confections Cupcakes ~ Aqua

It took a few attempts to get the elasticated stitching right around the legs, I was certainly well practiced well practiced after the third pair!

I managed to photograph two of the three pairs last week. North Cornwall is now under a blanket of fog so I will re-do the photo to include the 'cupcake' pair as soon as the sun shines again.

Square Deal Pincushion 2

In an earlier post I had made myself a pincushion using a variation of the Heather Bailey Square Deal Pincushion pattern. I said at the time that I would make one for my Mum. She is still using an old pincushion I bought for her from a school craft fair over 30 years ago.

It has been a really stormy morning so it was a good time to get sewing. 

Sewing the corners on this pattern can be a little tricky so accurate cutting out and matching up is essential. It is a little forgiving so don't be put off if you are a novice, just take your time with it. I left the ribbon off again to show off the fabric.

I used Riley Blake My Minds Eye Penny Lane ~ White and Penny lane Dots ~ Blue. With fabric covered buttons in Dots ~ Blue.

Bright Felt Covered Buttons

I have been really busy time over the last month or so with family and open water swimming events. So I will apologise for not posting as often as I would like. Thank you for sticking with me!

 After having a quick play with some bright felt in my stash this afternoon I may have found something to work on and develop.

 

Felt seems to be so tactile and versatile. It comes in so many wonderfully uplifting colours. I hope to try different colours, shapes and stitches to see what i can come up with.  

Finding my feet with Blogger

I really appreciate it when people have taken time to read my blog and have been kind enough to follow me.

I take time to read your blogs too and have been compelled to leave comments when I have seen your wonderful creations...but I'm unable to leave a comment without being 'anonymous'.

I'm trying to sort it out so please don't think I'm ignoring you x

Saturday Sewing ~ 'Square Deal' Pincushion Variation with Covered Buttons

I've spent a fair amount of time picking pins off the floor when I'm working on a project. I'm missing one essential piece of kit - a pincushion!

I can remember buying a pincushion for my mum at a school Christmas craft fair in the early 1980s. It was made by a friends mum who I'd previously watched folding squares of fabric into triangles, stuffing them and sewing then together on her machine ready for the fair.

I chose some Carolyn Gavin fabric, Spring Street Buzzing Garden and Tossed Flowers in blue. Using Heather Baileys free Square Deal Pincushion pattern.

The actual pattern uses ribbon crossed over the pincushion. I haven't used it here because I didn't want to hide the Buzzing Garden design. I covered two buttons in the contrasting Tossed Flowers fabric for the top and bottom to finish it.

This was really fun to make! I'll pick some different fabric and make one for mum soon.

Summer Edible Flower Salad

The garden has started to run riot now that we have had a few days of rain. I usually have salad leaves growing in the greenhouse and tonight I added some of the first edible flowers to appear in the garden.

Borage, Calendula and nasturtium

Blue borage flowers have a delicate taste which is similar to cucumber. While the vermilion Nasturtium and slender calendula petals taste slightly peppery. All three flowers are really easy to grow and borage is especially loved by bees. I would really like to keep bees you know...maybe one day.

Fabric Covered Buttons

Seeing as I can't help hoarding even the smallest pieces of fabric left over from a project, it was about time I try put them to good use. I didn't have much success with my hand button covering tool in the past so I treating myself to a button covering press.

My husband was mildly impressed that his wife had gone out and bought herself a 'fly-press' (albeit a small one). To be honest I have hardly had a look in since. He set it up for me because the instructions were for a different machine which was kind of him. 

I don't think this kindness was completely for my benefit. Now that he has sussed out how it works he wants to make some modifications for his own use. That's worrying because he's a workshop, lathe, grease and swarf kind of man. I'm going have to put my foot down!

Here's my first attempt (after a bit of head scratching!)