Applique Music Bag 2

Another applique music bag.

The birdies in this one got fancier tails, red and pink...

 and blue-green variegated Guttermann Sulky.

This bag also features mice with bead eyes.  Birds or mice might have been enough from a compositional point of view but sometimes you just have to go for it!

I've been wondering whether anyone would buy a bag like this (we can all dream).

This one was made as a gift.  One of the reasons I blog is to make contact with people who also like making things and I am really grateful for the support of other bloggers, so once in a while it's nice to be able to show my appreciation.  Miss Patchy Rose this bag is for you  - I hope you like it!

Finished just in time to link up with Finish it Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.

Sorry!

If you are a Slow Blogger who has been looking for the linky, many apologies.  It is the holidays here and I forgot to schedule the post...

In case it's better late than never, you can find the linky below.   I've had a comparatively fast month of pouches (pay-it-forward finally honoured, hooray!) artist trading cards, a bag, and even a mini quilt -  aided by a little guilt-free time off work (when you're a self-employed gardener and pull something in your back it's not all bad.).

Here's a little pic of a work-in-progress.

I'd love to hear what you've been up to over the last month so link up a post, and show other Slow Bloggers your support by visiting and commenting!

ATCs again

Another couple of cards for the Very Berry Handmade ATC swap.  I think I'm a bit obsessed and you might have to bear with me (or not) for a bit because I keep thinking of other ways to represent the theme of the swap, which is autumn.   I do have an excuse in that our car failed its MOT (the knell of financial doom for UK people) and I'm therefore on a fabric buying embargo.  These ATCs, at 2.5 x 3.5 inches, are fantastic for using up the tiniest of scraps - in this case Oakshott.

Fairly Random Thursday

The chaos involved in WIPs.  Lovely Oakshott.

I highly recommend the book one of my children has left on the floor.  Olivia - a lovely story about a pig, by Ian Falconer.

I used some of the tiny offcuts of Oakshott and managed to complete an ATC for the Very Berry Handmade ATC swap - tiny Oakshott chrysanthemums.  Not sure if I am happy enough with this one - the corners are a bit dodgy.  I should have followed the excellent instructions here instead of trying to bag it out!

Who'd have thought anyone would need instructions for using pins!  (They are nice pins though.)

Autumn colours

Dropping in to share some trophies from the weekend and a reminder to visit and vote for your favourite quilt in the Holiday Memories Mini Quilt competition at Celtic Thistle Stitches.  I won't ask you to vote for mine as there are some really lovely quilts there!

Friday Finish

I finished the applique and machine embroidered music bag I have been making for my daughter.

I didn't want to faff about attaching the lining inside out and then turning it, so I just nestled the lining inside and bound round the top as if I was machine binding a quilt.

Then I made plaited handles so they were a bit robust, and sewed buttons on to cover the fixing stitches.

As a friend pointed out there's a lot of cream in there so I thought I'd better photograph it before it begins its working life this afternoon!

Linking up to Finish it up Friday

Fresh Sewing Day - A month of Liberty!

Not just because the children went back to school.  There's been a lot of Liberty fabric in my sewing this month.

First I finished this mini quilt which I started at the Stitch Gathering as part of a course on Crazy Patchwork.

Then I did something quite new to me which is bag-making.  Just before the summer holidays Ali of Very Berry Fabrics very kindly sent me one of her Liberty maxi scrap bags so I could have a play with it.  So, first I made a Liberty and linen komebukuro bag. I'll post details of how I made it because it was quite satisfying!

Satisfying enough to try a second komebukuro bag.

Then since I was on a bit of a roll (for me) I supplemented some of the remaining pieces with a few more bits from a scrap pack I had already, and made these - two Liberty pouches.  The squares are about an inch across.

Finally I used some of the remaining scraps to make a panel for a music bag.  This is a detail.

On the offchance you are not already familiar with Ali's shop you should check it out as it is full of beautiful and irresistable fabric - she also has a lovely blog, and is a really nice person to deal with.

My one non-Liberty make used Oakshott cottons, and is this entry for the Holiday Memories Mini Quilt competition at Celtic Thistle Stitches.  (Not too late to enter!) It is inspired by collecting pebbles with my nephew on holiday with family, and so represents three of my favourite things.

Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day.