English Paper Piecing - Hexie Quilt Finished.

Hello

Yeah, I have finally finished my Hexie Quilt.  It has taken some time.  

I started in 2017 with a jelly roll scrap bag and a good selection of cut strips from my stash.

These ended up in this little box as hexies ready to go.

The very first line.

This project has been on several holidays along with days out, sewing group, my summer sitting in the garden sewing and lots of winter days when I couldn't work.  In my defence of taking such a long time, there has been many other projects completed while this has been in the wings waiting.  I did finish it last year but had been putting off making it up into a quilt until this last week.

Trimming the edges after quilting diagonally along the edges of the hexies.

Used the Singer 201 in the table, this machine does such a good job.

The quilting shows up better on the back.  The gloves are really extra grip gardening gloves but they work brilliantly giving better grip on the quilt moving it under the machine.

Glad its finally finished.  Phew.

cheers

Sharon

PS.  In case anyone is wondering, there are 2500ish hexies.

Knitting Needle Holder made on Singer 222K

Hello

My friend's Mum asked me if I could make her something to hold her knitting needles in.

I didn't need any encouragement, any excuse to use my Singer 222K.

This is what I came up with.

Anita uses 8" needles, as I am not a knitter, didn't even know that needles came in this size!  Thought they were the long ones.

Hope she likes them.

Cheers

Sharon

Christmas Elf has been Busy with Felt and Leather.

Hello

Happy Christmas, wishing you all the best in very difficult times.

This year I definitely didn't want to go Xmas shopping so more home made presents than ever.

The cottage has had a mouse infestation, this little lot moved into the conservatory for a short while.

I started making felt baubles, got carried away 

For Joss, a couple of teeny horse shoe tree decorations with her ponies' names on.

Had a go at leather work, making key rings, its harder than it looks.  I did buy a stitching "pony" to hold the leather while I stitched which made it easier.

For my good friend Steph,  a new leather "gardening pinny" complete with phone pocket made on the Singer 222K. I did put a pair of garden snips in there.   I use one all the time when I am working, to keep my snips and garden wire to hand to save me from leaving my tools in the gardens.

Scallop shell scented candles - sprayed them silver, added sea glass "feet", melted scented tealights using the wicks.

Then just for fun, tried the same idea with little shells.

Transformed curtain rings into decorations for my tree with felt, gold thread, bell and ribbon.

I've really enjoyed sewing this years gifts, much better than visiting a busy shopping centre (apologies to the shop owners).  Did do a bit of shopping at local garden centre and animal feed shop for toys for the dogs.

Here's to a better New Year.

Take care

Sharon

Garden Sieve Xmas Wreath

Hello

The cottage elf has been fairly busy recently as she doesn't want to go to the shops for Xmas presents.  Will show the results of the Great Xmas Pressy make after the big day.

In the meantime, thought I would show you my very homemade Xmas wreath.  I had collected lots of fir cones this summer after sweeping up a path in one of my work gardens, seemed a shame to put them in the green bin.

I started with a very old bentwood garden sieve which I bought in at an auction years ago.  It was full of woodworm so I treated before painting it.  Each cone was wired on, this took for ever.  Added some gold bells and some shells which I had sprayed silver.  A set of battery powered lights were wound around the cones.

Its hung on my summerhouse as my front door is glazed.

All lit up, the lights are on a timer.  They are surprisingly bright for battery power.

I had a little wire cone shaped plant support which with the same type of battery lights, looks great in the dark.

Take care

Sharon

 

Homemade Present for a new Quilter

Hello 

My friend Joss has taken up quilting so for her birthday treat I made her little gift.

A pressing mat to keep next to her machine, it has the heat resistent wadding in put 2 layers in it, just to be on the safe side. The little bag holds some quilting clips I thought might come in handy for her.  To complete the set, a matching pin cushion.

 All wrapped up with a matching label. 

Singer Sewing Family Mansion

Hello

When you manufacture millions of sewing machines you can afford a house like this.

Found this booklet published by the Council sometime after they bought it in 1949.  

Very grand interior.

The Council still owes it but houses itself is closed to the public.  Apparently the grounds are open and there is a bowls club there.  Here is a link to their website Oldway

Cheers

Sharon

Refurbished Picnic Hamper

Hello

I bought this picnic hamper on Ebay for £10.  When it arrived it was grubby but it cleaned up OK using the steam cleaner.

The lining was a bit boring and showing its age.  I took all the straps off which were held on by rivets which needed prising off, this took forever.

Using screw together rivets I fastened the straps back in place on the new lining.  It was bit tricky because of all the layers, the strap, fabric, foam layer for padding, then thin plywood, I don't think I would have been able to do if I had got the other type of rivets that you bash together.

The fabric came out of my storage, I knew it would come in useful one day!  My vintage china plates and bowls fit snugly in the straps. The coffee cups and flask do not go with the vintage theme but the colours are perfect.

I had a few days off work last week, the sun came out so we had an outing.

This is the view from the bench, we were just outside of Middleham where they train the race horses behind us just up the hill were the gallops.  Naughty Burt the collie took far too much interest in the galloping horses we had to leave, didn't want him to get loose and cause havoc.

The little jam jars that I have been saving came in handy for butter and jam for the scones.

Don't know when it will get used again, Autumn is coming but it will be ready for next summer.

Cheers

Sharon