Super Secret Quilt Project Is Completed

It’s done and way ahead of time. No last minute panic sitting up into the wee small hours to finish off this gift. No siree! Way back last October I started making Suffolk Puffs out of left over grey/white/black fabric.

Then I hit upon the idea to make a quilt for my sister’s 50th birthday.

I now had an excuse to use the jumbo template that had been hiding in my craft cupboard forever. It also meant I had to buy some larger pieces of fabric.

Most of these fabric were purchased as black and white prints. With a couple of packets of Dylon’s Antique Grey ( love this colour, just wait to you see the skirt I’m making for myself) I overdyed the commercial rints to achieve my chosen colour scheme. The ‘solid’ greys were my Eco Dyed Fabric.

Once I had enough puffs I whipped up the quilt base , no rocket science here. Just quick and simple.

Next step was to work out the placement of the large puffs, took way longer than I expected.

Nest step was to plan the pattern placements of the smaller puffs.

The puffs were attached to the base when attaching the buttons. This served as the ‘quilting’ as well. All done.

To break up the monotony in every row I have replaced the big puff with 4 smaller ones. It  just adds a little variety. The hanging sleeve is attached and quilt bag is sewn. All that’s left  to do now is the wrapping.

And Finally…..

….I have got back to the super secret quilt project for my much older Sister’s 50th birthday. Gosh I love writing that.

This is the jumbo maker and my Eco Dyed Fabric.

When I took this photo I still had another 48 jumbo puffs to make. Construction is scheduled for the Easter Break, so far so good for keeping to timetable.

More From My Crafty Holiday

Over the holidays I took the opportunity to sort through my fabric shelf. I’m proud to say that I really didn’t have that much to begin with but I have even less now.

This fabric came from a garage sale, somebody had cut out a skirt then lost interest, it’s now a bag. I made half a dozen bags from fabric that originally was planned for other projects.

Alan got a job one night. He attached a heap of Suffolk Puffs to hair clips. Maybe one day I will be able to con, ooops! encourage him to make the puffs as well. Too far?

Holiday Craft Fun

While Alan has been busy replacing the pergola roof,

 

I’ve been inside crafting up a storm. Once the Bedroom Make-Over was complete I started creating Suffolk Puffs for my (much) older sister’s 50th Birthday Quilt.

 

All of the patterned jumbo puffs are complete, I still need 78 more jumbo puffs in my Eco Dyed Fabric.

This fabric is now drying on the line. Still have a heap of large puffs to make but have plenty of time up my sleeve, her birthday is not until August.

I couldn’t find a diary with a full day to a page, including weekends, in a pretty colour this year. Mind you I didn’t spend anytime looking either.

As the sewing machines was up I whipped up a fabric cover for my diary. Just in case I find myself regretting so much pink I have made it reversible. Much easier to find in my bag as well.

Working on a few other projects as well which hopefully won’t take the remainder of they year to finish. Wish me luck.

Does Size Matter?

Men, and women have pondered this all important question throughout the ages. Scientists have conducted study after study.

 

Now we have the definitive answer.

 

Of course it does.

 

And who did this research? Crafters!

I had this Clover Suffolk Puff template for ages. I also have the teeny tiny one, the slightly bigger one, both heart sizes, both flower sizes and the butterfly maker. but then I saw…..

This super dooper blue one.

I don’t know how I managed without it. My life is now complete. And here ended the lesson… Size does matter.

The Crafter’s Way 200–Coaster Brooches

These brooches are fun to make. Chunk the steps into a couple of parts and you will find they are quick to make as well.

You will need: Plastic Coasters just like the ones in the photo. PVA Glue, Acrylic Paint, Fabric, Button, Felt, Brooch Back, Needle and Thread.

Step 1: Paint the front and back of the plastic coasters with glue, allow to dry.
Step 1a: When the glue is dry, paint front and back of coasters with paint. The glue assists the paint to adhere to the plastic. You may need a couple of coats.
Step 2: Cut fabric circles at least 2.5 times the diameter of the plastic coaster.

Step 2a: Thread the needle, fold over fabric 6mm and stitch a gathering thread around the circle.
Step 2c: gently gather up fabric until the circle closes, secure with a backstitch.
Step 2d: Cut the back out of the fabric circle.

Step 3: I have used a handmade Singleton Button. You can get directions here http://trishalandesigns.blogspot.com/2010/04/crafters-way-131-singelton-buttons.html If you prefer you can use any decorative button of your choosing. Thread the needle and secure the button to the fabric circle.
Step 4: Stitch the brooch back to a small piece of felt.
Step 5: Stitch the fabric to the coaster before attaching the felt to the back of the coaster.

More Fabric Brooches

A couple of weeks ago I posted about using these.

After painting I set about adding some embellishments.

I found some fabric leftovers.

I made them into Suffolk Puffs then cut out the backs.




Next step was to sew on the Singelton Buttons before adding the brooch backs.These were fun to make.

Public Holiday Art

Monday was a public holiday here in Qld. I think I must have been the only person who was praying for a wet day. If the sun had  been out I might have ended up doing the washing or gardening. Instead I got to play around with fabric, paint and glue.

I wasn’t looking to create a masterpiece just to have fun. From heaps of very tiny scraps of  Eco Dyed Fabric I created a heap of equally tiny Suffolk Puffs. I then painted a canvas pink and silver and started gluing. Nice way to spend a couple of hours in my studio.

Butterfly Bloopers Part 2

This post should be called Beautiful Butterflies. I think I’ve cracked it. I decided not to go to gym this morning so I would have time to have another go at the Clover Butterfly Maker while I was fresh.I finally feel that I’m getting there.

This inspired me to go back and have another try at the Clover Flower Maker. Lets face it the Japanese simply don’t make things that don’t work, nuclear power plants aside.So it must have been operator error. The flower maker works on a similar principle to the butterfly maker. You need to stitch an inner circle as well as the outer circle. When I started gathering up the thread I inserted my finger into the ‘petals’ and formed the gathering around it. The instructions didn’t say to do this with the flower maker but it did with the butterfly maker. Success!

Mimmis Here We Come

Our first ever consignment order is on its way to Mimmis

Dorset Button Christmas Decorations in every conceivable colour. These are only available at Mimmis. You can’t even buy these in our shop at the moment. Christmas Puffs and Kumihimo Bracelets are also on their way. I will have a small selection of Christmas puffs at the BrisStyle Indie Eco Market this Saturday but the largest selection is at Mimmis. Get in quick. Mimmis opens 11th Nov

Progress

I’ve started working on this years stock of Christmas Decorations.

This is a finished one from last year.

All lined up. These have been bound and are waiting for the next step, the weaving. I posted a tutorial on how to make these last Christmas. Click on the Dorset Button category in the right nav bar.

I’ve got that many again all ready for embellishing with beads. I need to dye some more red thread as it is the one Christmas colour I am missing. I’ll post the finished images when I’m done.

These are based on the Christmas puff from last week but are MUCH smaller.

I’ve used a 3cm diameter circle for these ones.

A little fiddlier to make but still quick & simple.

A tutorial on how to make these will be published in this week’s Messenger column. I’ll post it to the blog on Sunday. 

Yo-Yos, Bottle Caps and Comics

It's very blowy and wet outside, courtesy of Cyclone Olga. Good day to stay inside.  I thought that it was the perfect opportunity to get my head around the book I'm planning. The home computer wasn't in the mood for starting. I think that it was just having a hissy fit because I haven't been on it much lately. While I was waiting, waiting I started cutting some more junk mail up for beads. I needed to replace all the ones I sold on the weekend plus create some longer ones for a project.

Did a good couple of hours on the book. Started to feel a little confused so I thought I needed a little fun. These  are Suffolk Puffs in the traditional manner, made from preloved clothes. Any ideas what the necklace cord is made of. Hint: it's preloved clothing too. And then onto experimenting. Could I make Dorset Buttons from the plastic rings around plastic bottle caps. Yes I think I can. I've just done the outside buttonholing but they certainly seem to be working.

And now for the exciting news. Motor Racing season has started again. Well sort of.It's the 24 hour race from Daytona. It is not V8s, Nascar or Indy but as Alan said they are going round in circles. Me? I can drive in circles. I want them driving fast. I think I will wind a few more beads while watching the last 3 hours. 

Christmas Decoration Tutorial 1

Want to make some decorations? How about having a go at making a Suffolk Puff Christmas Garland?






From paper towel. You will also need: needle and thread, small amount of stuffing/filling, glue and sequins.

First you need to colour the paper. You can use paint, food colouring anything really. My paper is leftover from mopping up dye spills. I have heaps of it.

Now you can use the Clover Yoyo Maker if you have one. Just follow their directions. It is exactly the same except you are using paper. For those of you who don't have one I'll show you how to make a suffolk puff the old fashioned way.

Draw a circle onto the paper. Make sure you cut just inside the drawn line so you can't see it when its cut out.

Thread a needle with coordinating thread. I only used black so you could see it. Fold the raw edge over a little, approx 6mm, and start stitching. You are making even stitches these were about 6mm with a 6mm gap in between. Keep folding and stitching.

When you get back to the beginning make sure that you take the extra stitch back to the first stitch. I hope the picture shows that the thread is in the same place as the tail of the knot. Hold the knot between your finger and thumb, this will stop it pulling through, and gently gather up the paper. The paper towel is surprisingly strong but just the same it will rip if you get too carried away.

The flat shape will start to form into a cup.

At this stage pop a small amount of stuffing into the opening.

Continue gathering up the stitching while gently pushing the stuffing down.

When the puff looks like this secure your stitching with a couple of backstitches. Don't panic if the puff hasn't formed this tight in the centre and the stuffing is showing.

A few drops of glue,

And a couple of sequins will conceal all. Make all of your puffs first, then add the sequins before stringing onto stong thread to form the garland.




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