Sewing Group's Big "0" Birthdays

We've had a few big '0' birthdays this year in our sewing group. Rather than get bogged down in a large quilt we decided to each do a "page" for each person and make them up into a book. These pics are Judy's book....Judy is the loveliest of women and she was 60 last month. It's her house that we generally meet at and it's just beautiful! She's on acreage and has the most beautiful garden and, as we sit out on the back patio we often see lots of native birds - especially Kookaburras and even the odd wallaby or two! She's on the edge of a creek and bushland so it's understandable. I think I've got some pics of her garden somewhere so will post if I can. Top pic on the left is the cover....I used velvet flowers and touches of embroidery. Next is Carole's page...Carole does the most beautiful single thread, silk embroidery. She's buttonholed around pansies cut from fabric and embroidered the leaves. Next down is Moreen's page...inspired by a card sent to her she has used lace motifs for flowers along with delicate beads and sequins along with textured threads. Bottom is my page with a "sort of" crazy patch feel. The print is from a postcard - can't think of the artist but it's printed onto the fabric you can put through your printer. The guipure motif is an old one from my collection and I added embroidery and beads. Hopefully the book will be a treasured memory.

Jan

M'ladys Passion "Extras"

I decided to give two free designs to the M'ladys Passion subscribers. M'ladys Comfort Amore is a small pillow and M'ladys Butoir is a doorstop (based on the applique design for Month 3) which was great fun to play with. The design could also be made as a cushion if the idea of a doorstop doesn't appeal. I just love the fabric and also designed a bag to go with it all. M'ladys Passion represents the applique bag for Month 2. One of the fabrics we ordered with the outside border in mind is just beautiful BUT didn't suit when it came to the final border. The girls at R&C had three bolts of it so I'm designing a retro bag to promote the fabric. Busting to get in an sew it along with all the other bags I've got in mind. Still more Kaffe Fasset fabric and just got a set of three Heather Bailey fabrics (that JUST cry out to be in a bag) from Col and Marg at Seriously Crazy. Not enough hours in the day! And oday is a beautiful day too! Should be out in the sunshine - Ross is off at bowls and I'm trying to catch-up on things here on the PC. Three sets of instructions for the magazines - have a look at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozjan/sets/72157607548432129/ Just a few of what I've sent over the past few months. Hope your day is as beautiful as it is here, Cheers,

Jan

MORE Bags!

These two bags I made a little while back. R&C Fabrics had the African one in and just had to do something with it! :) It's quite big - I used Fast2Fuse in it and boy I don't enjoy using it!!!! It works well but you DO have to specifically design for it as it's quite stiff and hard to work with. The second bag is from the Chateaux Rococo range of fabrics....I got rather carried away with the range and did two bags, a tablerunner, three cushions and have designed two doorstops with it but haven't made them yet. Got the fabric from Seriously Crazy - a shop that stocks and sells a lot of my designs. They travel around in a big red bus and visit places that don't get the chance to see fabrics etc....out western Queensland and other areas too. They're a great couple, Colin and Margaret. They provide a great service to people in the outback. The bus is well set-up for them to live in and Col has designed great cabinets that hold the fabric and threads and other lovely things that make it easy for them to set-up and then pack away. Would be a great life I think! Just received a lovely parcel from them today with some great retro fabrics and other things too so I'm off on a designing spree again! Have been designing and making so many bags lately I feel like a true bag lady.... Mind you, have lots of other things designed and half made too - must get into them!

Well, hope everyone has a great weekend, I know what I'll be doing! :) Until next time, take care,

Jan xxx

"His" favourite "corner" :)

This would have to be Meg's favourite "possie"!! He has quite a number of them but he does love to curl up on Kirsten's bed and have a snooze. He's now our puss since she moved to Melbourne and I must admit he's well and truly crept into our hearts. Even Ross, who was so adamant that she couldn't have a cat, looks for him as soon as he gets home from work. Needless to say, Ross is the only person whose lap Megs will sit on but I'm the one he curls ups with when it's winter and it's bedtime! Cats are such curious animals...I've always been more of a dog person than a cat but wouldn't trade Megs for the world! His proper name in Ginger Megs after the old cartoon but in a typically Australian way we shortened it to just Megs or Puss he's often called too.

My Favourite Corners

I thought I'd show you some pics of my favourite corners in the house. Here are two, I'll take more pics one day. The one on the left is in my sewing studio. Well, I call it my sewing studio but really it's more a storage area as I mostly handsew and do that in the loungeroom and my sewing machine is on the front verandah.

Some of my cloth doll collection made by myself and my friends. Other special things on the wall also a mixture of my designs and gifts from friends. The three black/silver boxes contain lots of lovely braids, ribbons and other lovely things. The special memorabilia cushion at the back was a gift from Joyce...a very, very special lady.

The other pic is one of the corners in the lounge room. My "shabby chic" area! :) The cute "Weeds" basket was a gift from a good friend. I have all these different little areas in our home as I just love everything! Country, shabby chic, African inspired things etc etc. I sometimes try to "minimalise" but it never works!!!!

Still Friday 26/9

The pic on the right is the detail on the Ruby Tuesday bag - just LOVE the fabrics! The other bag I called "Cairns Central" - not sure why, just seemed a good name! Was fun to do and it has the option of the handle in the top section which was bit tricky but think it worked well OR the shoulder strap which is attached with parrot clips and brass rings. Great bag for shopping I think!

We're having unseasonable weather for spring at the moment and today is really blustery, overcast and quite cool - well, cool for Far North Queensland! :) I'm going to go have a shower so I can warm up and then I'll come back with some more pics and chat.

Jan

Friday, 26th September

This is going to be a BIG catch-up! Been sooo busy lately I haven't had a chance to "have a chat". I've promised myself to set Friday mornings aside to keep the blog up to date so hope I follow through!

I've been busy making bags! This one is not quite finished yet - the girls at R&C are getting some lovely BIG buttons in colours to match the rings on the handles for me. They will be stitched on the straps just above the rings. You can "just" see the pins holding the straps in place at the moment! :) Called "Candy Spots".

The next pic is another bag just completed the other day. I've had a few Kaffe Fasset fabrics for a while now with the bags designed etc but only had the chance lately to get some done. Still got about 5 more designed TO DO yet!!!! This one I called "Ruby Tuesday" - the fabric will tell you why. Blow! The pics aren't where I thought they would be!!! Pretty obvious which is which though I think?

Jan