By Special Request: iPad Case + Cable Storage

Earlier this year, during one of our weekly Skype chats, my Mum did something she's never done before, she asked me to make something for her.  More specifically, she asked me to make a case for her iPad, something like my daughter, Flicky, had made for her Mac using one of my tutes.

The Green Green Grass Of Home

The old home town looks the same as I step down from the train and there to meet me is... 

...my friends, my Mum, and all my kids

lyrics by Curly Putman (apart from the last bit which is all mine!)

Occasionally I ask my readers to indulge me while I share a post that's less about my craft and more about my family; this is one of those posts.  I know some of you love to see what my kids are up to these days and something of where I'm from, so for you here are four photo collages summing up my April 2016 trip home to England.  On the other hand, if that isn't your sort of thing please click and close me down, I won't be offended, and next time you visit everything will be back to normal - Chris :D

Liberty Love - Happy Birthday Aprons

On a recent trip to Pins & Needles on Manhattan's Upper East Side (explore the store with me here) I came face to face with this Cotton + Steele Melody Miller B&W Typewriter fabric.  

Did You See My Quilt? British Patchwork & Quilting Mag: Aug 2015

It's just one little photo on page 60 but it's long awaited and I'm excited to have a pic of my 'Daddy's Little Girl' quilt included in the August edition of the British Patchwork & Quilting magazine.

Back in January 2013 I pattern tested a sampler quilt for my bloggy friend Sarah of Quilt Candy.  She was writing the pattern for a magazine so I couldn't share much info with you about the quilt but the months went by with no news about the magazine article and in January 2014 Sarah gave me the go ahead to share my photos with you - you can read that blog post and find out more about the fabrics here.

Fast forward two years and seven months from when I made the quilt and I've just found out a photo of my version of the quilt is included in the August 2015 issue of British Patchwork & Quilting magazine.

Here's a sneak peek of how the magazine page looks - Sarah's is the summery lilac Kaffe Fassett version on the left and mine's the wintery red French General quilt on the right.

I love seeing mine and Sarah's quilts side by side in print though separated by thousands of miles in reality!!!

If you'd like to make your own version of the Building Blocks Sampler the project pattern is featured over three issues of British Patchwork & Quilting - June / July / August 2015 (issue #257/258/259) - copies available here.

Note to Mum: Can you drop in W H Smith and see if they've got a copy - it's available from 17 July?  I promise I don't mind if you show the pic of my quilt to whoever's on the checkout and tell them you're my Mum.  If you're going to take it to the club to show Eileen and Jean and to bowling to show to Joan and everyone there and to lunch with Nellie, Rita, Joan and Eileen on Monday send them all my love but maybe think about getting your own copy too ;D Love you xxx

Clicking on a image will take you to a new page of crafty goodness :)
 

   

For Mother's Day - Another Divided Basket

While I was in England we celebrated English Mother's Day.  I wanted to make a Noodlehead Divided Basket for Mum and I thought she'd find one most useful in her bathroom.

Raiding my stash I pulled three fabrics by Lonni Rossi for Andover fabrics that are the perfect match for Mum's decor.
Bare Branches - Patterns 7530-MK & 7535-MKN (2014)
Facets - Pattern 7180-MK (2013)

This is the finished but very empty basket.  I fussy cut the lining so the pattern's continuous on both sides of the basket divide.

It just wouldn't be right to give someone an empty basket so I trimmed some cream hand towels with the same fabrics I used for the basket.

And then I added some bath time goodies.

Now that's looking much better, though having to put the towels upside down (with the open folds visible) so you can see the trim is really upsetting me!!!

The front...

The back...

And here's a few more close up pics just because I love the details on these baskets.

For the handles I've used softer, smoother apron tape along with a layer of fusible fleece to add firmness rather than my usual cotton webbing.

Before I sew the body of the basket I always ensure that the side and bottom seams line up perfectly.

 And it almost goes without saying that Mum loved it and just look at it in it's new home,

Are you making any Mother's Day gifts, do share your ideas with us in the comments?

Click the images below to read more about other Divided Baskets I've made.



Clicking on a image will take you to a new page of crafty goodness :)

     

Essex Linen & Modern Monet Travel Bag Collection

If you're a blogger do you have projects that you make and forget to share?  I've recently discovered quite a few from last year so it's time to air them publicly - here goes!!!

Today I'm sharing a bag collection I made for my Mum and posted over to her last Christmas.  She enjoyed a very handmade Christmas as I also sent her this full collection of goodies for her kitchen - and given that I remembered to blog about these earlier in the year you can read more about them here.

Anyway, back to the bag collection - of course it had to be purple, Mum loves purple, do you remember the purple flower cowl I knitted for her for Mother's Day?

I started with a cosmetic bag...

 

 

...and matching tissue cover.

Then I added a lingerie bag - totally necessary for all her trips and holidays and Mum goes on a lot of trips and holidays!!!

And finally a matching tote

Fabrics:

Robert Kaufman Essex Linen - Yarn Dyed Black

Robert Kaufman Kona Solid - Eggplant

Modern Monet by Maywood Studio Fabrics

Cosmetic bag lining - Bold & Beautiful Basics by Maywood Studio Fabrics

Thread: Gütermann SULKY Col 4109

and the whole collection together

Mum joined us recently in Seville, as eager as we were to meet Oliver - the latest addition to our family.  I was delighted when I spotted the travel bags in her hotel room, isn't it a fab feeling when you see something you've made being used and appreciated?

Have you ever spotted someone using something you've made?


Disclaimer: 
This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.

 

 

   

   

Wouldn't It Be Dreadful...?

“Wouldn't it be dreadful to live in a country where they didn't have tea?” 

― Noel Coward

Are you a tea drinker?  I sure am, English Brekkie or maybe Earl Grey brewed for 4 minutes if you please (yes I do use a timer) with a splash of milk, well not even a splash just show it the milk to tease it.  Sugar?  No way; I can tell if you've even used an empty sugar spoon to stir it.  The best cup of tea anyone's ever made for me - well that would be my Dad's, no-one made tea like him, what I'd give to share just one more pot with him.

So what's the point of this post?  I've found a pile of pics of Christmas gifts I made last year and never shared so here's the first: 

A Christmas 2013 parcel ready to send off to England for my Mum - she's a big tea drinker too.

Her parcel included an apron, oven glove, hand towel and tea cosy.

I don't have Flicky around to model for me anymore so the balcony door handle's as good as it gets - you can rely on a good breeze up on the 23rd floor to add movement to your pics, though I remember I was nervous I might lose everything over the glass balcony wall.  It was freezing too - don't let that winter sunshine fool you.

 

Close up shots of the embroidered pocket detail on the reversible apron.

Floral fabric: Autumn Medley Martha Negley for Rowan #MN44 Citrus;

Zig-Zag fabric: Dear Stella Piper Zig-Zag Orange #172;

Pink fabric: P&B Textiles: Bear Essentials 2 #570F;

Insul-Bright batting;

Aurifil 40/2 thread #2277 - Light Red Orange.

And a couple of pics of the tea cosy and oven glove.

I added a strip of matching Martha Negley fabric to a hand towel to complete the set.

Mum, as always, loves them though she's only using the tea cosy - she doesn't want to spoil the other items, they're just for show in her kitchen!!!

I'll be with you in less than three weeks Mum, put the kettle on and make a brew, can't wait to share a pot with you and have a real good natter x

Disclaimer: 
This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.