Wednesday 25 January 2012

Study Revamp..

These photos are quite embarrassing, but I'm sure that everyone has a room which they dump things in, either when visitors come, or where there is nowhere else to put it... Well, I decided it was time to clean my 'dump space' and make it into a usable area, where I could keep my sewing machine permanently set up, rather than lugging it into the dining room when I wanted to use it. Check out these before and after picks..







There is still a few other little things I want to do, but I LOVE IT! I actually cant wait to work in here, a big contrast to closing the door and ignoring I had this room completely.. Plus, I have a place for one the two chairs I bought at a second hand store, which I am also planning to revamp.. keep your eyes peeled..

Friday 13 January 2012

Quilted Babushka Cushion


I made this cushion for my beautiful niece Isabel.
I have been working on it for the last couple of months and while the journey has been both exciting and frustrating, I am happy with how it turned out.





I wanted it to be a little bit vintage, so bought a range of mis-match materials, as well as used a few I had already.


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I first cut half of each kind of material into random width strips, then ironed over the edges, ready to pin them together.
I had had this image in my mind of the material strips being woven in a pattern, and after pinning them together, overlapping and filling gaps, I sewed any seem that I could find.


I had cut out a 'pattern' from baking paper and pinned it to the sewed material pieces, cutting around it leaving a 1cm overhang for sewing.


The next thing I needed to do was attach the face. I found a bowl in my cupboard that was roughly the right size, traced it and then cut it out. I ironed the edge and then attached felt eyes and mouth through blanket stitch. When I was happy with it, I then sewed it onto the centre of the head. I then repeated this process and made a smaller version
(I think the face looks a bit funny on the baby babuska, but my husband insists that it is fine)


I decided to make the front piece into a cushion (without stuffing), and the back piece into a cushion (without stuffing), and then attach the both (inside out), turning in the right way and then stuffing. Zippers had always gotten the best of me, so I was unsure at the start, how I was going to seal the bottom, as it needed to open and close to remove the smaller babushka. Well.. after leaving it for a while, waiting for some inspiration, I had taught myself, through reading many others blogs, how to sew a zipper. Unfortunately, this was after I had passed the point where I should have done it for this cushion, so decided to sew some hair ties into the seam and then some buttons for them to hook over. I actually think this was a better option, and love how it turned out.


I think she liked it... The smaller doll is exactly the right size for her to hold at the moment. I am a bit biased, but isn't she just adorable.




Tuesday 10 January 2012

Ruffle Bottom Onesie



As many of you know, I have recently welcomed a niece into my life, and after four nephews, was truly excited to make some pretty girly things.. I have only been blogging for a little while, and have only in the last month or so, been gathering some ideas from the blogs of others... like this gorgeous ruffle bottom onesie.

You can find it here - 

I had been avoiding pulling out my over locker, but decided that this was the project to do it. BUT after pulling it down, realised I have put (or carefully lost) the cord, so I had to go with the second option in this tutorial, using pinking shears.
I also added a cup cake applique to the front. The next time I approach this, I will probably put the ruffles a little lower, as they seem to rest just above the bottom (as well as get my over locker going, as I think it is the better option for wear.


Below are some pictures of my finished product. It wears well, however, I am very interested to see how it survives a wash.