Shakey Stitches

 A brief warning our next bit of programing could possibly induce a toxic mix of stock and nostalgia as for why two words ROLLER DERBY! Thats right folks roller derby has taken over my life. I started in July and I havent looked back. I am still on my path to greatness but I can already see how it has changed me as a person. As I said it has taken over my life, I train twice a week, go to games on the weekends, I am thinking about it constantly, I listen to podcasts (the first sentence of this post was stolen from the viva la derby podcast intro) I go straight to training from work so I get there an hour early, this means I have a fair about of time for hand sewing. I have also made a couple of outfits for my self My favorite would have to be this skirt. Its a full circle skirt and I used a technique from Handstitched class to sew on the white bias binding. I have just overlocked the bottom in RED! I was supposed to hem it aswell but I was too excited and I had ...

I finally got around to quilting and binding my into the woods baby  quilt . I decided to back it with minky so I didn't use batting. I was very worried about the minky as I have seen so many people talking about how hard it is to work with on the net. I used spray baste and a few pins and it was fine.... I was fine..... I can do anything as long as I take my time and concentrate (positive thinking) I tried a zig-zag binding because I have heard you shouldnt hand sew the binding on baby quilts. I am not really happy with it. I know I need more practice but I still think I would prefer to hand sew my bindings. It really is my favourite step. Now my fox finally has his nose. I step I choose to complete after quilting and binding. Dont ask what goes through my head sometimes. I quilted squares around the  fox about three inches apart. It is such a warm and cuddly quilt. My 22 year old brother has already tested it out and I am sure he would claim it if it...

I was recently involved in a cushion swap run by Sue at  quilted hugs  we each got to choose the colours we wanted and what room the cushion was for. It was a secret swap so the person I was making for was not the person making my cushion. My partner picked green for the bedroom. I was not really sure if the room in was made for really made a difference to me but I'm still learning. This is the cushion I made. The blue-green points that look like flying geese are only sewed down on the long side so they flap. I think they are fun. This is the first project I made using no pattern, tutorial, instructions etc. I saw a similar photo in a magazine and decided to try to make it. It was a challenge trying to work out sizes but I'm pretty proud of my self. I really hope my partner likes it. I always find with swaps I doubt myself so much and I worry that my work isn't good enough. I asked for a yellow and grey cushion for the bedroom. I love my cushion. Isn't it lovely...

With my sewing machine working again I have to get a wriggle on to catch up with the curves class projects. I have a half day at work today so I am doing some sewing this fine morning. I have completed the first project. Curved Bunting. It's a pretty cute project. For now it will be hanging in my bedroom which is a very small room and painted a very dark green. I added the solid white in the hopes that it will brighten up the room a little more. Well I'm off to make some bibs. Wish me luck.

I finished blocks four, five and six and I must say I love them. I am loving the look of this quilt but I can't decide what I will do with it when it's finished. I know, I know I'm jumping the gun a bit. My Mum really likes the blocks and I am planning on making her a quilt for her 50th birthday later this year but I want to make her a lap quilt for nights on the lounge in front of the TV. I feel like lap quilts get very grotty in this house with a certain dog who loves comfort as well as general spills and dirt. I'm not sure if this quilt will be able to stand the amount of washing. I don't want to ruin all my handstitching. I am thinking of making Mum something similar but a bit more sturdy. I have been checking out the clover and violet  flickr group . I love how everyone's blocks are slightly different due to their stitching style and colour choices. It's been really fun. I have finally fixed my blogger as it wasn't allowing me to...

I have a feeling that this year is going to be GREAT! Last year was a hard one for me, so this year I'm starting fresh, out with the old in with the new. I just purchased a brand new car and I pick it up nest week. I have left my job of two years for a job in a totally different industry. I start on Monday, please send me some good vibes I'm so nervous. My new job is part time (only 25 hr/week) instead of 42 plus hours which means a lot more time for sewing but a lot less funds to buy fabric. I am hoping this will teach me to cherish every last scrap and maybe stop me from buying that totally cute fabric that I have know idea how to use and make me think a little more. I made this purse for a friend at work that I'm really going to miss. We are going to have monthly sewing days together. Now if anyone knows where I put the squares I cut out for the siggy swap I would be very grateful. Happy new year!!!

If you had thought I had forgotten about the garden steps quilt along you may have been right. I had pushed it right to the back of my to do list. Then I realised it is silly to have these blocks waiting in a box while I try to do all the other things I want to do. I am trying to do one block a week so then it will be finished and I can enjoy the quilt instead of feeling guilty that it's still waiting for me. So here are blocks two and three I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful Christmas and I'm wishing you all a happy new year!