Dresden madness!

I didn't realise I hadn't blogged these cushions- uploading pics to Google + takes forever, so by the time they're done, I feel like I've already blogged it! It's not till I went back through the albums....well, here they are!

I've made these before,  and have been itching to do a cushion for me, like this one. And I'm slowly making my bedroom over, so why not some big boofy bed cushions?

I used mainly fabrics from 'the pool room', ie my extra faves! Some were hard to cut into, but so worth it! The white fabric is a bargain- in my op shopping haunts I found a bolt of 'cotton/linen' for $3.25! I should have measured, but I wasn't fussy....but there will be LOTS of usage, it's a lovely fabric to work with.

  

Some simple quilting...

I found this cotton sateen in the furnishing section at Spotlight, and thought matching backs for all the cushions would be cute (after first thinking what a great frock it would make!) Some green binding 'makes it pop' according to my stylist aka Little Miss!

Another one I did was using some fabrics I've been collecting  from scrap packs! They are all made by Leslie, from Maze and Vale. Her fabric is- Just. Gorgeous! I'd wanted to try this type of quilting for a while, and thought this was a good project for it. 

 I love big fat squishy cushions, great for sitting up against while reading in bed!

To assist my pillow obsession, I came across this book, and snapped it up! Actually, I got it between the squares one and the Dresden, but can't be bothered changing all the pics around! I'm loving these cushions, as they are like mini or doll quilts, just cuddly haha.

So, another Dresden project. Hey, if you are onto a good thing, stick to it!

A colleague at work is having a baby, so I made a little quilt to gift from the team. I'd made an earlier one that I still love (and have, it will be listed for sale soon!) but some detective work proved that this colourway suited her better.

Oh, the best bit about the Dresden stuff? Quick! The longest bit is picking the fabrics! If you've never tried them, do it! My top cushion was a one day job!

 

I did some 'echoey' quilting (yep, I'm sure that's a real word haha) with a yummy stripe binding- that isn't on the bias, it's a diagonal print. 'Make me a candy cane toy' was the request from the Little Miss!

  I used a vintage sheet for the back, which thankfully she loved!

I'm not 100% happy- for some reason, I thought I'd go around the Dresden's a few times, and did some Dresden quilting in the big white space- but left too much unquilted space for my liking! Of course, I only noticed after I saw the pics...and it was gifted and up in the baby's room! Oh, well, next time!

I received a possible order for a similar quilt on the back of this one, from another colleague- but unfortunately they have had to pull out- so it will also be listed for sale. keep and eye out here for the listings/announcement/whatever-shop I decide on opening!

A Bit Belated.....(and probably a bit long)

 So I picked myself up last weekend from the sadness of giving that lovely quilt away- and moved onto the next one! I first saw this quilt at the first kid's class we did at Millrose Cottage, and wanted to make it pretty badly! So on Saturday just gone I went to my 4th (4th!) class at Ballan, and got started on it!

I'd asked for a fabric pack made up- the 'choosing of the fabrics' isn't my favourite bit! I like a pack, bundle, layer cake, anything that saves me too much 'thinking about it'. Unlucky for poor Liz working that day the fabric packs weren't there, but lucky for me she quickly helped me put my own together- and I helped too! So breaking me out of my comfort zone a bit....

 the original

 

mine

We all got a Dresden finished nearly finished  for the day- 2 girls were hand piecing (eek!) and us others were probably just chatting too much! A great bunch to sew with. Judy was a fantastic teacher, pulling us into line, great explanations, and I'm soooo not worried I can't finish this now. In fact, I got home and continued on, completing 180 Dresden 'petals' but bedtime. 

So why do I travel an hr from home to do a class when a) I can teach myself most things via the net or books and b) I always buy extra fabric and really shouldn't be let loose in that shop at all?

The class includes a great lunch, at the cafe next door, and you pretty much don't think about a thing for the whole time you are there. 'Would you like a coffee?' on arrival, to afternoon tea, at the perfect time you're getting snoozy from a big drive and longish day.

 

 menu

As an added bonus the farmer's market was on that day, so a 'breakfast' on a chicken sausage in bread was a great start to the day too! I think I'd have to do the Farmer's Market on a 'non-class' day, as I don't want to waste sewing time haha

I realised on the day I hadn't blogged about the 2nd 'kid's class' Little Miss and I did over the last school holidays! Nearly the same group...

 they all got on like a house on fire, as did us mums! 

 the 'workroom';

  half a rhino;

 and Humphrey aka Dozer

a 'loon' of rhino's??

bottoms (heeheehee)

and 'stacks on!'

A seriously awesome place!

CHA Craft Swap

 I cant remember now where I saw the details for this swap, but I thought it looked like a good idea, something to mix it up a bit from my day to day 'sewing for myself' theme I've got going on.

My swap partner details arrived, and Rachael was my swap partner. After spending the weekend with Abbe and co, I got back on the Dresden bandwagon and thought a vintage-y style cushion could appeal to most people, and got cutting! It was mainly machine sewed, but I hand stitched the Dresden onto the backing, and hand quilted with Perle 8 thread.

I added a little label to remind her where she got the cushion (I cute idea in the official 'swap rules', I haven't done that before!) and a zippered back.

And I close up here- I blatantly stole the got the centre circle inspiration from here and here!

Due to the size of our items we did a pick up/drop off meeting, as the cushion was huge and my pressie heavy! Here it is....

a cute heat pack named "John", just what this single lady needs! Guaranteed to cuddle back!

and some of Anne Marie Creations signature items, parachute silk earrings.

 

The girl and i picked it up on our way out to dinner, and she had a bit of fun with him while we waited for our friends to show up.

"Burping" the baby!

 

 and unintentionally looking like a tired mama!

It wasn't as funny when he was 'stolen' off me and warmed up for herself when we got home! I'll allow her that one night, then he's mine!

Big thanks to CHA and Rachael for the swap, it was heaps of fun!

I used it!

I got this tool the other day on my trip to Amitie, hoping it would kick start me into

making Dresden Plates.

It sure did! Well, that and the gorgeous Liberty sample pack I bought. It's good value, I used a small bit for this cushion, and have heaps left for other projects. Like more cushions, I guess.

The middle piece is a scrap I received, Cindy blogged about it, it fit perfectly with

the rest of the Liberty's.

I need a new cushion insert to puff it up, but I love it, and as it's for me, that's

all that matters!

I've signed up here for a swap; have you?