10 minute block

I saw this block on a forum and was intrigued, and yes it does take 10minutes to sew, however the, basting backing and quilting is a whole other matter, especially as I free motion quilt on my trusty old Janome.

todays sample quilt

This is my version of a sampler quilt, using a different block and quilting each block differently. This was from someof the batik left from my circles quilt and I love the contrast of black with colours. I found a black and purple batik in Florida which I thought made the perfect backing for this quilt.

Morning peeps, not been on for a while, I have been busy making quilt tops ready for my trip to the USA in four weeks so I can buy my backing fabric over there as its much cheaper and more quilting supplies.
Here is a little patchwork bag I made with a matching make up bag, I also attached a tab in the seam with a clip to attach my keys to which makes them easy to find in my bag. Will attach my quilt tops later.

Spring has sprung, and have finisheded my quilt that I have called 'day of horrors'. I started this a while back, I had purchased a batik jelly role whilst in Florida last year and then realised it was only a half jelly roll. I sewed all the strips together in the the jelly race format, cut out semi circles and appliqued them to white squares, I quilted as you go using a zig sag stitch and variagated thread to highlight the circles on the white squares. I finally found a batik fabric at The Peacock and the Tortoise in Perth which is a great shop with a fabulous selevtion of fabrics, to use as backing. My Day of Horrors then started when I attached my borders and my backings, my machine was throwing wobblies, I was making stupid mistakes.

Its finally finished and washed and here it is all my own design, stitched and quilted by me.

not quite quilting but?

I downloaded a pattern from allpeoplequilt.com for a grab bag, which takes 1/2 yard of fabric. Being me, I had to be different and I cut up an old leather jkt and used some silk I had laying around for the lining, very quick and easy to make up, I'm now making one in white leather I have from a skirt I had in the 80's or 90's, no I am not a hoarder lol.

Forgot to say I have been making lots of mug rugs, for the unititiated this is a little quilted mat which is larger than a coaster as you have room for your chosen beverage and also a sweet treat, here is one I have made for my frend Kate who has an incredibly sweet tooth and cannot have  a coffee without a biscuit.

 

Afternoon peeps, here we are in the middle of February and we have had 4 seasons in one day today, suns out at the mometn, but we've had snow, wind, rain, hail you name it.
Today I'm posting a pic of my steppings tones quilt, this is a pattern from MODA bake shop, using a layer cake ( 42 x10" x 10" squares for anyone not in the know) and a jelly roll (2.5" by 42" WOF-width of fabric) strips you cut two strips from one piece of a  jelly roll  strip 10" the length of one of the layer cake pieces, sew these on opposite sides of your square.Then you cut two pieces from the same strip which are 14.5 and sew these on opposite sides to create a border. Then take another stirp and you cut two pieces which are 14.5" sew these on opposite sides and then you take two 18.5" strips attach to oppoiste sides which now creates two borders around your original square.Finish all of your 42 blocks the same way and then cut into quarters. Now comes the fun part rearrangeing all the quarter blocks resweing into large blocks and then rows and voila you quilt top, which you sandwich with batting(wadding) and backing fabric and then quilt by your chosen method, I free motion quilt on a plain old ordinary Janome machine. My DH does not understand why you take a piece of fabric cut it up and resew it, well what can I say he is a man, thanks for looking

Well that's January nearly a gonner, think its going to be another quick year. I brought a half jelly rolly of batik fabric back from Florida last year and hadn't a clue what to do with it, for the unitiated that is a a bundle of strips of fabric which are  2 1/2 inches wide and width of fabric long which is usually around 43-43 inches.
I eventually decided to sew them together long wise and then keep going until I had a panel. I then cut 9 in semi circles which i appliqued onto white 12 1/2 squares and then fancy stitched using variagated thread and using the quilt as you go method.I am please with the results as this is my first 'modern' quilt designed by me. I still need to find a tonign fabric for borders and for the backing, at the moment it measures 72 x 72 inches and when its finished will fit a king size bed.

Quilting board has a project of the month for January which is little quilted boxes made from quilted squares, these are so easy and so useful. Here is a couple that I have made they take very little time and can be used for sweets or toiletries. I have a couple on my desk that I use for pens and scissors.

Morning and a belated happy 2014, I haven't blogged for a while, but my resolution for 2014 was to get back into the groove. Apart from Chistmas cards and a few orders mostly I have been sewing and quilting for the past while. I've become totally addicted to patchwork. My first love was always sewing but I was a dressmaker specialising in wedding dresses and got away from that.

Here is a picture of a wall hanging from a Jenny Rayment class I took in November Jenny is an aboslute star and is the doyen of fabric twiddling. Its kind of like origami with fabric and it was totally facinating.

Hopefully I'll be able to post more pictures and keep you updated on my quiltng progress soon, hugs and kisses Norma

Paper Tart

Are there any other Paper Tart's out there? I cannot resist paper pads, I just love touching and admiring all the lovely colours and designs. We are off to Florida in a few weeks, (my darling sons are going to share looking after the dogs) and I have had to have a stern talking to myself, not to bring back any paper pads. I have brought the big thick ones that the Americans do so well before, furtunately my DH has not spotted them in the suitcase or else he would not have paid the excess baggage charges we always seem to incur :). I do have a list of other crafting goodies I would like to buy, but I really need to keep my luggage allowance in mind.

Anything goes

The papertake weekly challenge is anything goes. I used a digi stamp that came with a CD free with a craft magazine coloured with a mixture of Pro and Flex Markers. I used an 8x8" card blank covered with a purple card from my card stock and then paper from my stash. I then punched around a piece of the same purple card with a Martha Stewart around the page punch, matted another sheet of matching paper and stamped a sentiment,then applied a purple bow. Obvioulsy in a purple mood this week.

Use Beads

Morning Crafters, only in East Kilbride does it snow in May and then the sun shines, a snapshot of the weather so far this morning and its only 8.30. The Fab n Funky challenge this week is use beads. I printed off a digi image of a dragon from a CD that came free with a magazine and the design is elegant inspirations. I coloured with pro markers, used gilding flakes to highlight the wings and tail, and now my craft room is bathed in golden hue as the flakes go everywhere when I use them a bit like glitter. Then I applied micro beads to the tummy and the horns. I mounted on a background paper taken from a DCWM pad Once upon a Time and applied gold rhinestones for emphasis.

A stitch in time

The CRAFT challenge this week is a stitch in time. As my other love is patchwork, I pieced my background papers into a patchwork design, which with some trepidation as I have never sewn paper on my beloved sewing machine before I used a zig zag stitch to outline each square. I used a Nitwit stamp that had come free with a magazine to stamp the girl and the boy mice. I used kumihimo cord as thread around the bobbin and across the little girl mouse. I stamped each image twice to layer it up for effect.

Make it sparkle

Okay this may be a different idea of sparkle than immediately springs to mind. I have used balck and white, I found some little pots of glimmery stuff that has been in my stash for several years. I used silver over a black embossed image. I had these sparkly butterflies from a visit to Orlando and used some nice sparkly rhinestones to highlight black ribbon.

Pink, Pink, Pink

This weeks 'Fab n Funky' challenge is Pink, I think I may have mentioned before that I am a pink girl, however I usually choose baby pink, this time for a change I have chosen a darker cerise colour.

I used an embossalicious folder to emboss a piece of white pearl card, which I then coloured with a pearl pink ink pad. I mounted this on cerise card, I used the same cerise card to die cut some swirls which I highlighted with Ranger perfect pearls. I used a Molly Blooms stamp image coloured with promarkers.I then place some nice pink flowers with craftworks candy in the centre to emphasise the swirls.

weather with you

This weeks Papertake challenge is weather with you, we have had 4 seasons in one day this morning, and its feeling chilly, so I am entering my lovely little girl in her winter outfit. LOTV stamp I seem to be using these a lot just now) coloured with promarkers. I used tinsel for her 'fur', cut the hesagon shapes with my Pazzles machine and mounted on matching pink paper. I am a pink girl as I do love anything pink.

C.R.A.F.T challenge

This weeks C.R.A.F.T challenge was based on a layout sketch designed by one of their GDT. I decided to use a lovely LOTV stamp with this cute little elephant blowing bubbles, which I coloured with promarkers, however I cut off the bubbles and used balloon buttons. I then cut out an edged circle from patterned paper, cut out a smaller corresponding circle from toning patterend paper. I found a stamp that linked in as it had a heart surround, which I used a red ink pad, I then coloured the message with the chisel tip of a promarker and stamped it on a smaller die cut of the main image. I edged the die cut with the red ink pad. I used matching ribbon placed veritcally and some little red rhinestones as a highlighting feature.

1-2-3

The Fab 'n' Funky challenge this week is 1-2-3, which is  create a card using 1 image, 2 patterned papers and 3 embellishments. I printed the paper and image from a Forever Friends CD ROM. I used pearlised paper to print on as this creates a really nice finish. I cut out a black square and cut a heart shaped mount in the centre. I then place one of my patterned papers behind the black card, I then cut a circle in the patterned paprer and inserted my image inside the circle with his paw outside. I used my cricut to cut out the name and the 21 in black and cut a shadow in matt gold card. I assembled by placing the black part onto a white 8x8 shaped card, cut out two strips with my other patterned paper and a spellbinder die, which I put vertically on each side. I used a die cut champagne glass to embellish along with the name the age and some gem stones in each corner. 1 image, 2 patterned papers and 3 embellishments.

One patterned paper

This week's Papertake challenge is one patterned paper and anything else you fancy. I have chosen pink gingham paper. I edged my card with pink ink from a stamp pad, I then mounted a piece  of white card onto a piece of pink pearl paper and  rounded off the edges with a punch. I cut out fancy corners with a spellbinder die in my patterned paper and applied a strip of paper across the centre of the page. I stamped a LOTV image using a grey Adirondack pad this gives a softer image than using a black ink pad, coloured with promarkers, cut to size mounted again on pink pearl paper rounding the edges of both as before. I applied a baby pram charm and 3 pink buttons.

Christmas

Christmas, yeah I know we have all only just recovered from the last one,  but the C.R.A.F.T. challenge this week is Christmas. The organised crafters amongst us apparently start their cards well in advance. Can i just say I am not one of those, I am fairly organised but usually start in September. I had to get my brain working for this one,i embossed white card mounted it on red and then put on a white 6x6 card,, and then repeated the process in a rectangular shape, placed a ribbon and a bow, and then mounted my main image which was from a Lili of the Valley stamp and coloured with promarkers, the colours look better in real life, as the light green has gone yellowish in the photo, (not an expert at photography) I really need to download somekind of photo shop programme so that I can post better pictures. It is on my to do list honest. have a good day everyone.

Papertake weekly challenge

The papertake weekly challenge this week is 'Bingo' i went for a bottom line, with blooms, ribbons and gems. The blooms were die cut with a spellbinder die, and I put micro gems in the middle. The ribbon was from a roll, I brought back from Florida either last year or the year before and was probably from Michael's. The gems  and the butterfly were also from Florida. I have been saving them - as you do, when you get something you like, isn't it amazing how we don't want to use bits  but keep them good?

Fab 'n' Funky challenge # 166

This weeks's Fab 'n' Funky challenge is spring colours, I have chosen pastel blues and greens, I made a gate fold card, lined the inside with a stripy 6x6 paper and used a matching pattern on both the front openings. I stamped with Lili of the Valley 'its my party' and coloured with promarkers.

ABC challenge

Things have been a tad hectic this week in the Smith household and I have sadly neglected my crafting, as a result I have only entered one challenge this week which is the ABC challenge Kraft which refers to the colour brown.

I also managed to stamp this lovely little girl from Lili of the Valley , coloured with pro markers, I then cut out some parcels in shrink plastic with my cuttlebug , coloured these and put them at the bottom. I used a spellbinder label die, which I printed 'I Hate dresses' as to me the little girl is dressed in a tiara and dress but her boots indicate she is a bit of a tomboy.

hopefully next week I will be back up to speed and life will let me get on with my crafting.

Papertakeweekly challenge

My card this week is for the Papertakeweekly challenge using the current sketch and layout. I selected purple and white for this card as I am using it for one of my friends birthdays and purple is her favourite colour. I embossed the background and the purple strip, used a spellbinder die to cut the corners, and the squares, I then used a Penny black stamp, coloured with promarkers, I stamped twice and layered it up.I applied a purchased sentiment with a purple ribbon bow.

Fab 'n' Funky Challenge

Happy Easter everyone, first of all can I thank Fab 'n' Funky for selecting me as the winner last week woohoo! This weeks challenge is box'. I have made a chinese take out box from an old Anna Griffin stencil, stamped with a Lili of the Valley stamp, coloured with pro markers and used an embossing pen and gold powder to highlight areas on the geisha's dress. I then made fans with pleated paper used a die to cut some flowers. I placed a geisha and a fan on each of the four sides and the roses on the top where the box closes.

Love Grows

The second card was using  green, brown and pink pearl card, flowery paper from a 6 x 6 pad and a stamp from Lili of the Valley, which I coloured with pro markers, I stamped the sentiment onto white card  using my hazelnut adirondack pad and cut out using a spellbinder labels die, I edged die cut with a matching promarker pen. I have decided to enter this card into the challenge

Fab n Funky challenge

The Fab n Funky challenge this week is Pink, Green and Brown, I had a couple of plays using these colours and made two cards. The first one  was using coloured papers as backgrounds and a Joanna Sheen housemouse stamp, I then added some paper roses in the corner.

shopping trip

I have been pretty immobile due to a gammy knee, last week my DH changed my car for an automatic, yippee. As we have two large dogs it made sense to get a big automatic car, and to keep my little runaround which has now been delegated as hubby's car. Of course now that I have the automatic, I had to take a run out to my local craft shop to road test the car you understand. A pity about the wobbly shelves in the shop but don't worry as all the goodies that fell off landed safely in my basket. I have made this card using the new dies that landed safely. I used silver and white pearl card, I embossed the card with an mbossibilities folder, cut out a frame from the silver and then cut and embossed on the white and the silver using one of the new spellbinder dies, adnd added some die cut flowers.

Fab 'n' Funky

The Fab 'n' Funky challenge this week is sentiments, I have chosen to make the sentiment the focus of attention on this card and decorated around it. The card is a soft gold pearl, which is perhaps not obvious from the photo,  but I feel it gives a soft almost art deco feel. I embossed the sentiment and the border around it with black embossing powder as the black ink on its own appeared grey on the gold background. The corners are cut from a spellbinders die, ironwork accents.

ABC

This is my entry into the ABC challenge this week, I am obviously in a drama queen mode as I've used black and purple for effect, but I like it. I used a stamp that I bought from a USA web site at least 10 years ago, coloured with watercolour pencils added some foils to highlight. I then cut round the stamped image mounted onto purple card and used glossy black cardstock as the back ground. I used a strip of double sided tape top and bottom and applied soft purple glitter.

Well I've completed my three days of four hours back at work this week, I have never felt so tired in my life, however off till next Thursday so a chance to recharge my batteries and craft. I have been playing with my Lilli of the Valley purchases from last week and one stamp I love is Cho with Parasol, I have two completely different cards with the same stamp.

This one I used some eastern inspired papers for my back ground and I coloured Cho in pastel shades to contrast, I then cut and folded a strip of the background paper to make a fan with a pearl in the centrte.

My second card I wanted a dramatic feel, I stamped a background onto my card using a rose stamp and black and red inks, I then stamped Cho on white cardstock colouring in blakck and red, which I mounted onto red pearl paper and a bigger square of black cardstock. I finished by cutting butterflies from my spellie dies and using some 'bling'of rhinestones on the butterfly and the botom corner, as you can see two very different cards from the same stamp.

Hello all you lovely crafters, I had a lovely day at the SECC last Friday spending my pennies on crafting goodies. I was very good as no machinery or gadgets purchased. I fell in love with some Lili of the Valley stamps so I had to buy some, a bit like shoes a crafter can never have too many stamps. I stopped for a chat with the lovely Barbara Gray from Clarity Stamps and bought some gilding flakes, a few stamps and some Adirondack ink pads. I also bought some bits and pieces for jewellery making, all in all a very successful day.

Here is a card I made for my father in law's birthday using one of the Lili of the Valley stamps. I used green background paper, and two strips of stripey paper which matched the colours I had used to colour my image. I then decorated with some eyelets on the left hand side and  I wrote a little tag 'Resting my Eyes' that is my delightful father in law's war cry he is never napping he is always 'resting my eyes'.

Thank you to all tke kind crafters who have been directed by 'Buttons for Brains' and who have left lovely comments, I have tried to attach a followers button, hopefully it will work, I am very new to this blogging malarky and am learning by trial and error. I am aleady getting into hyper mode, the ICHF craft shows are at the SECC in Glasgow this weekend and I am sooo excited. I missed the Autumn show as I was in a hip to ankle cast, its the first time in a lot of years I have missed one. The card today will hopefully be me on Friday with lots of bags of crafting goodies,  Norma.

I am entering this in The ABC Challenge which is L for Love, I was challenged by "+" ButtonsforBrains to enter a few challenges. I can't resist a challenge x Norma

This is my entry into the Fab 'n' Funky challenge using pastels. I used a 6" x6" card covered in
pink background paper. I then applied a 5" x5" square of striped paper, applied a one inch strip across the card with brads. I stamped a Joanna Sheen housemouse image on white card coloured with H20's then mounted this on pale green pearl paper the same colour as the striped background. I applied 3 paper flowers in the top corner.

My patchwork quilt is taking shape, here is one of the 12" by 12" squares which make up the quilt, I need 42 of these 6 rows across and 7 long which will then have a border of the dark blue material used in the centre of each block, so far I have sewn 24 blocks so it is taking shape. The proof of the pudding will be when I add wadding and backing and try to quilt it all together. The fabric is by Fabric Freedom, I had some fat quarters from a craft show and then managed to order more from Lady Sew and Sew.

Today I am off for lunch with my dad, here is a card I made yesterday, I used cream as the base stamped a poppy stamp, 3 times onto white card, coloured with promarkers, repeated this on shrink plastic. cut a mount from green card and then mounted the shrink plastic images on top of the mount. I had forgot about shrink plastic and found a stash when I organised my bits and bobs into new boxes last week. This organisation has been on the cards since before Christmas when my lovely joiner friend John built mirrored wardrobes in my craft room with lots of shelving and now I can lay my hands on everything and remember what I actually have.

learning to blog

I have finally given into peer pressure from Buttonsforbrains and set up a blog, so bear with me as my blog will  hopefully grow and change as I learn. I smashed my kneecap 6 months ago and I am finally in rehab (no not that kind)and my wonderful mother in law has been a tremendeous help so on Saturday I made her a card for Mothers Day. I used some papers from my stash, spellbinders dies papillions and bitsy flowers and a Penny Black Stamp flutterbye. I couloured in my image with Promarkers and used pinflair glue to mount.

I have recently attempted patchwork quilting, I have sewn since I was a child but never attempted quilting,For me first attempt I selected squares and triangles and fabric from fat quarters bought at acraft fair last year. I used 3 aquares on each side and the triangles (4 to make a square) in the middle.I made a travel jewellery role  lined with pink felt and a make up bag for my besties's birthday.