Giveaway…

To celebrate the launch of the new Pony Black sewing needles range, I’m giving away 2 packets of Sharps  – perfect for hand-sewing your binding and lots more.

“Pony Black brings you a new generation of sewing needle that is innovative as well as meeting the highest international standards. They are nickel free, ultra-smooth and have perfect points for superior performance. They are offered in the largest range of hand sewing needle sizes for every conceivable craft including sharps, tapestry, chenille and everything in between. All Pony needles are packed in handy, plastic-free and environmentally friendly folders”

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To win these two packets, simply :

1. Follow me on IG, FB or here on my blog www.creativeblonde.co.uk

(Links at the bottom of post)

2. Tell me your favourite thing you like to handsew.

Il pick a person at random on Monday (16th November) – Good luck

Huge congratulations to Abbie @patching_up. You have won these beautiful packets of sewing needles.

UK ONLY

Follow me here on my blog, and share with friends, you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle

Block 15 #Quiltandshine

Hey,

Welcome to Block 15 of the #quiltandshine quilt along, hosted by Dawn from Honeybee cloths and myself. Huge apologizes for the delay in the release of this block

I hope you will agree it was worth the wait, this block shows you how to quilt using metallic threads to a simple quilt or pattern to add shine and sparkle

Its never to late to join in with this quilt along, as the patterns will be available forever, but even if the thought of a whole quilt is daunting, maybe choose your favourite block and create a cushion cover or a table runner using just a few blocks.

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I really love the idea of taking a block and creating a scatter cushion to match

To download block 15, simply click the link below

Quilt-and-shine-block-15Download

Be sure to tag me on Instagram @michelle_creativeblonde so I can see your finished blocks, use the hashtag #quiltandshine

We all need friends and family in our lives especially during these difficult times, keep talking and stay safe xx

Follow me here on my blog, and share with friends, you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle

Island Batik May Blog Hop, plus Giveaway…

Welcome along to the May blog hop, this month we get to use our ‘surprise’ fabrics, they are new fabrics from the Winter 2019 collections.

I received ‘Northern Lights designed by Kathy Brett Engle for Island Batik.

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–> See the full collection here <–

Be sure to check out all the Island Batik Ambassadors to see which new collections they are using, see what they’ve made, and be in with a chance of winning some fabulous fabrics along the way. See the full list of Ambassadors at the end of the post.

The challenge this month was to make something for the home…wall hangings, cushions, rugs, linens, and decorative craft projects like bowls, wreaths, lampshades and baskets.  I choose to make a cushion cover, and as the collection is called ‘Northern Lights’, I wanted to create something that looked like stars. I decided to use my periwinkle paper piece sets from www.linapatchwork.com/.

The 9 fabrics I chose from the collection were…

Tossed feathers – cotton Candy

Sun – Hot Pink

Saskatoon – Berry

Vertical feathers – waterfall

Star – Lilac

Beads – Blackberry

Triangle – Merlot

Star – Mystical Berry

Triangle – Tournaline

 

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After removing the papers, I machine sewed them to the cushion cover (rice – neutral) using a silver metallic thread from Gutermann.

My backing fabric was Tossed feathers – midnight blue

Here is my finished ‘Northern Lights’ Cushion Cover…

Island batik are giving you the chance to win this incredible bundle of fabric ,this time they will select TWO winners, each getting a FQ River Valley pack each.

–> Enter Here <–

I’m hosting a little giveaway of my own, I want you to be in with a chance of winning 4 half yard bundles from this gorgeous collection… I’m giving away; Blanket Diamonds in Iris, Tossed feathers in Midnight blue, Star in Pool and Blanket diamond in Universe.

WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN

To enter to win, simply click on my Rafflecopter link below…

(Please note these are two separate giveaways)

–> Enter My Competition Here <–

Congratulation to Michelle @peetmichelle, you have won my giveaway 🙂

Below is a list of all the other Ambassadors taking part in the blog hop, I’m so excited to see what everyone is going to make with the new 2019 Winter collections

May 4:

Janet Yamamoto American Frontier

Carol Moellers American Frontier

May 5:

Carolina Asmussen Cascadia

Suzy Webster Cascadia

May 6:

Megan Best Glacier View

Emily Leachman Glacier View

May 7:

Connie Kauffman Nordic Nature

Denise Looney Nordic Nature

Week 2:

May 11:

Pamela Boatright Northern Lights

Michelle Roberts Northern Lights

May 12:

Leah Malasky River Valley

Sandra Walker River Valley

May 13:

Gail Sheppard Santa Fe

Maryellen McAuliffe Santa Fe

May 14:

Vasudha Govindan Season’s Splendor

Carla Henton Season’s Splendor

Week 3:

May 18:

Jennifer Thomas Smooch

Joanne Hart Smooch

May 19:

Mania Hatziioannidi Sundance

Sally Manke Sundance

May 20:

Jennifer Fulton Whispering Feathers

Jennifer Strauser Whispering Feathers

May 21:

Alison Vermilya Winter Forest

Sharon Riley Winter Forest

Week 4:

May 25:

Gail Renna Wonderland

Follow me here on my blog, and share with friends, you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle

Mystery QAL, plus a chance to win some Vlieseline Wool Mix Batting…

 

This quarter I joined the #mystery_qal hosted by Tracy @itsatsweetsday.

The mystery is seeing what everyone will create using one chosen piece of fabric, which can be incorporated with other fabrics…

This quarters fabric was this adorable mouse fabric available @lewisandirenefabrics

I paired it up with this beautiful pink solid available @stoffabrics and the navy floral.

The mouse fabric was screaming out to be fussy cut. I had the perfect paper pieces – from Tilda, called the mini flower…

In the middle of creating my mystery item, I was asked by my husband’s Gran to make her a tissue pocket – have you ever heard of one? She doesn’t like to stick a tissue up her sleeve, cause it causes havoc if left in the wash… so this is it, a mini apron. She also uses it to hold her phone, so its with her at all times, which is perfect for anyone elderly.

 

 

I love this Jacquard fabric available from @Stoffabrics, I was keen to show off both sides, so i reversed the fabric on the straps and for the lining…

With only a few weeks left before the mystery quilt-along was due to end, I got busy making my mystery item… I wanted something soft and cosy for my laptop. So I made a laptop case, which has been quilted with Vlieseline Wool Mix batting – my laptop is now super comfy and cosy when I’m not using it 🙂

 

I love this wool mix batting, I used it in my latest quilts, it really is so soft and cosy, and lovely to quilt

 

This batting is so gorgeous

I want to give one lucky winner a lap size piece, perfect for your next quilting project.

Find out more about this product here…

www.vlieseline.com/Products/Battings/266-Wool-Mix

To be in for a chance of winning, just leave me a message here or on my Instagram page, telling me what you’re currently making…

Good Luck

I will choose a winner Saturday 6th April…

Check out the other bloggers taking part this quarter here…

Edith @ ediscraftinglife.blogspot.com
Desert Suz @ DesertSky Quilting
Michelle @ Creative Blonde
Moira @ Quilted Snail
Shirley @ https://mountainbuttons.wordpress.com/
Tracy @ It’s a T-Sweets Day!

You can follow me here on my blog, and you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle @creativeblonde66

Read all about how I came to love quilting, in this month BP&Q mag…

I was so excited when Helen from the British Patchwork and Quilting magazine approached me about writing an article for one of their regular features in the magazine called ‘First and Last’. The Issue is out today, the article tells you a little about me and how I came to find quilting and fell in love with it…

Also inside is my mini valentine wall hanging quilt pattern, made using some beautiful Batik fabrics

 

The quilt I talk about as being my last (not my last ever, just the last one I was working on at the time) is a free pattern which you can download here

My Retro Flowers Quilt

I really hope you enjoy making this, its a beautiful finished size, approximately 40″ x 48″, so its perfect for that ‘go-to’ blanket on the sofa on those chilly nights.

 Have a lovely weekend, until next time… happy sewing

 I would love to hear from you, please leave me a comment

Check out my Instagram and Facebook page @creativeblonde66

~Michelle~

x creativeblonde x

A little bit wild…

Wow, the end of yet another week, or the start of a new one, depending on when you see the week in and out. Today also brings the first day of Autumn in us here in the UK – my favouite time of year, not only because i love to see the changes of the seasons, the cooler weather and shorter evenings, which gives me the opportunity to light the candles in the living room, but its also my birthday – yay roll on the 3rd of October …

This week I’ve completed my ‘starstruck’ Island Batik Challenge, i used a ‘rolling star’ pattern along with the fabulous ‘wild things’ batik fabric, all the fabrics and batting used in this challenge were given to me by Island Batik and Hobbs as part of my year as Island Batik Ambassador …

I used a mixture from the ‘wild things’ layer cake, and teamed it up with some Black solid batik. I love the striking colours, the EPP worked really well, as it added to the crisps edges, although i had forgotten just how time consuming it was.

I quilted Autumn leaves in different Autumnal colours from my Gutermann collection, and i couldn’t resist making some complimentary coasters to go with the starstruck quilted table mat, i just love these prints

I got creative with some gorgeous fabrics from Gutermann using their new collection called ‘blooms’, making a messenger bag with matching pencils cases

This week bring the new issue of Quilt Now Magazine, where you’ll find heaps of inspiration including my travel items; passport/money bag, luggage tags and a tote bag, with internal zip pocket using ‘Japanese Indigo’ prints from Higgs & Higgs.

 

And I have a date for your new years diary… The Fat Quarter Shop Charity Quilt Along running from February to June 2018, with two patterns coming out each month for 8 blocks and a finishing and backing pattern to make the quilt!

Every year @fatquartershop host a charity quilt along in which they post monthly patterns on their blog in exchange for a donation each time a quilter downloads the pattern. In addition, they auction off a completed charity quilt where 100% of the proceeds go to the charity they picked that year. This year, they are very excited to be holding the Threadology Quilt Along that will be benefiting the Make a Wish Foundation. The donation efforts for the Quilt Along are on a good start with Moda and Fat Quarter Shop donating $10,000 each and their goal is to raise $40,000!  They have announced the Quilt Along as well as have the Quilt Along page ready for the February launch! Head on over to sign up 💕 🤗
They even have a Quilt Kit and Backing Set using Little Snippets by Bonnie & Camille to make a Threadology Quilt like the one they made.

That’s all for this week, I feel the week ahead will be a busy one, as it also brings with it the end of the month – where did the month of September go? I’ve decided to add a profile photo of myself, on all my social media outlets, as i receive quite a few comments suggesting it would seem more friendly… so yes here is me!

Many thanks for reading, have a lovely week ahead, until next time… happy sewing

Check out my Instagram and Facebook page @creativeblonde66

~Michelle~

x creativeblonde x

Cottage Garden Storage Boxes…

Follow my tutorials below, on how to make your very own ‘Cottage Garden Storage Boxes’ These stunning fabrics are designed by Debbie Shore and available from  ‘Craft Cotton’ and Hobbycraft.

I chose four of my favourite prints from the collection, to make 3 different sized storage boxes, and teamed them up with some Gutermann thread

 

cottage garden storage box 1

cottage garden storage box 2

 

cottage garden storage box 3 

Each storage using a slightly different method, adding curves, EPP and fussy cutting

These ‘cottage garden storage boxes’ and tutorials has been created by me – creativeblonde.

To see more of my tutorials, you can follow my blog www.creativeblonde.co.uk and/or Instagram page www.instagram.co.uk/creativeblonde66 and www.facebook.com/creativeblonde66

Stockist for the fabrics found in this tutorial

www.craftcotton.com  0161 832 9431

www.hobbycraft.co.uk

 Stockist for Gutermann threads

       gutermann@stockistenquiries.co.uk 01453 883581

My tilda bumblebee table runner…

Bumblebee Tilda Fabric – Table runner tutorial

Follow the tutorial here

What you will need:

 

•       Tilda bumblebee Fat quarter bundle from poppies & polka dots

        http://www.poppiesandpolkadots.co.uk/product/tilda-bumblebee-10-fat-quarter-bundle-10-discount/

•       1 metre of Kona cotton solids – snow white from poppies & polka dots    http://www.poppiesandpolkadots.co.uk/product/kona-cotton-solids-snow/

•       Wadding measuring 48”x12”

•       1” paper hexies x 42

•       Paper for creating  your own petal template

•       Sewing machine, cutting mat, rotary cutter, pins, needles, quality threads, glue pen, scissors, erasable marker pen.

•       Small piece of light fusible interfacing, measuring 10”x10”

•       505 basting spray

 

Preparing your fabric…

Order your gorgeous fabrics from poppies & polka dots -fast delivery and wrapped beautifully

 

 

 

Cutting…

Take these four fat quarters from your bundle and cut out 10 hexies from each of the green, pink and cream fabrics using your EPP 1” hexagon template and cut 12 of the blue. Leaving a ¼” seam allowance all the way round. Using your glue pen, fold the fabric making sure you get crisp corners and edges all the way round

•       From the kona snow white fabric, cut a piece 44”x8” for the table runner main piece.

•       Cut the Wadding to 38”x11” (trim of excess later to measure 37”x10”)

•       5 pieces of backing fabric measuring 8.5”x11” (see diagram below)

 

Preparing your flowers…

Create your petal, use graph paper to get it symmetrical (mine are about 1.5” in length and 1” diameter. Fuse your interfacing to the reverse of the fabric and then cut petals to correct size and shape. You need 5 petals from each fabric design, I loved the bumblebees so much, I fussy cut these for my petals

Blanket stitch

•       Using your glue pen, fix your petals in place on the white fabric.

•       Using a white thread. Blanket stitch round each petal, see photo for below for the finished result on the front and the reverse of the white fabric.

•       Using your erasible marker pen, draw your spiral pattern on the top of the white fabric

 

Joining up your hexies up

To achieve this without stitches showing on the front, put your individual hexies right sides together and use a ladder stitch, pulling your stitches tight as you go, and create a chain of 21 hexies for each long edge of your table runner

 

Top stitch your hexies and then remove the papers…

 

Preparing the back of the table runner

Sew your fabric in the order shown above, using the ¼”seam allowance, right side together, then press seams

 

Baste your top and bottom fabric to the wadding to create a quilt sandwich, I use 505 spray.

Free motion quilting

•       Drop your feed dog and attach the quilting foot to your machine, you can choose any shade of thread ,I chose a bright king tut turquoise thread – shade 927, to show you the design, but I would usually choose a pale colour to keep the delicate feel.

The edges…

•       Create mitred corners, by trimming the excess wadding and folding your backing fabric over twice, to seal your raw edges, and pin in place.

Finishing off…

Pin or baste your hexies in place, then sew your two short binding egdes with a small whip stitch, and secure the corners with small stitches.

Sew each point of your hexies in place, with a small stitch sewn from underneath the edge of the fabric, so no stitches can be seen

Bring out the tea and warm scones, for the perfect afternoon tea

Enjoy…

 

Bumblebee Tilda Fabric poppies and polka dots

Thanks for reading, follow me at www.instagram.com/creativeblonde66

Tilda table runner, with matching tablemats…

The beautiful bumblebee Tilda fabric, is lovely to work with, here is my step by step tutorial on how I created a table runner with matching placemats.

Tilda bumblebee fabric – Placemat tutorial…

 

The gorgeous fabric…

Purchase your tilda bumblebee fabric from poppies and polka dots.

They sell a beautiful fat quarter bundle of tilda bumblebee yumminess.

Plus you will need a metre of kona snow white fabric.

(wash, dry and press all fabric before cutting)

 

Lets begin…

Take your fat quarter bundle of bumble bee fabric and cut the following pieces:

• garden bees ginger 15” x 12”
• garden bees ginger 12.5” x 3.3”
• flowers nest teal 21” x 2” (2 of these)
• flowers nest teal 18” x 2” (2 of these)

From your snow white kona fabric cut:

• 12.5” x 5”
• 12.5” x 8.5”

You will also need:

• Wadding measuring 16” x 13”
• Small piece of interlining for the petals (measuring 4” x 4”)
• 5 petals (3 from the cherry blossom pink fabric and 2 petals from the cherry blossom blue flower fabric)
• 6 EPP hexagons, and enough fabric from the flower nest pink fabric, rosa mollis teal fabric, and the rosa mollis linen fabric to make 2 of each

 

Start by sewing the narrowest white strip to the narrow orange panel, followed by the other white piece onto the other side of the orange panel, pressing your seams open, then using 505 adhesive basting spray, create your quilt sandwich, with this piece on top, then the wadding, and finally the large orange piece as the backing fabric – see photo.

Make up your 6 EPP hexies and sew them together in a long strip, these can now be temporarily basted to the quilt in place.

Next take your fusible interlining and iron to the wrong side of the fabric you are using to create the petals, cut the petals out and baste them also in place on your placemat. Using a blanket stitch, sew around each petal leaf.

 

Sew through all the layers of your quilted placemat along the edges of your hexies, and also down each edge of the orange panel, this will make sure the wadding stays in place – see photo

 

Free motion quilting

Drop your feed dog and attach your quilting foot. Mark out where you want to draw your pattern using a removable marker, I chose a white thread, to give it a delicate feel. Once completed, remove any pen marks.

 

The reverse is kept soft and delicate, when a white bobbin thread is used

 

Attaching the binding…

Sew the long blue strips, right sides together on the reverse of the placemat, making sure each strip is evenly placed, with equal overlap at each end. Press and turn placemat over, to make life easier I then press my raw edge over, then using a whip stitch, sew your binding in place using a white top thread cotton.

 

 

 To make more of these using your tilda bumblebee fat quarters, simply swap out the orange backing fabric and the orange panel and replace with another fat quarter.

 

Makes a lovely gift, check out my tilda table runner tutorial, and create the matching set. Here is  a print friendly link for this tutorial.

tilda placemat

Thanks for reading, follow me on Instagram

 

 

 

 

Tilda bumblebee table runner tutorial is here….

My tilda bumblebee table runner tutorial is up on the Poppiesandpolkadots blog go check it out and get sewing.  The Tilda fabrics are beautiful, And so perfect for this summer sunshine and whats better then relaxing in the sunshine this bank holiday weekend doing a little bit of EPP 🙂 #tildasworld #tildabumblebeefabric #epp #tablerunner #poppiesandpolkadots.

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Happy crafting