Sew Useful…

I’ve been busy working on this really useful Chair back caddy, I’m really pleased the fabrics I chose, they are from the Makoti collection by Stuart Hillard for CraftCotton, using Debbie Shore Pattern from her Sew Useful book.

I fussy cut the panel for the smallest pocket, to really show off the fabric.

I made my own bias binding, from the Makoti collection

I also decided to make my own bag straps from the Makoti colletion and Vliseline interfacing

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This bag is great if you’re short on space, and with all the pockets of different sizes, its so versatile

I used Aurifil thread to make this bag, with Vliseline Interfacing and In R Form as the fusible batting, to give this bag extra strength.

Follow me here on my blog, and share with friends, you can also find/tag me on Instagram and Facebook with your makes.

‘Do what makes your heart smile’
Happy Sewing

Michelle

Fat free Easter Eggs…

Hey, hope you’re all well, thanks for stopping by to read my blog.

Here the UK the sun has been shining, the snowdrops and daffodils are opening up and the weather is turning warmer, Spring is in the air, and its certainly given me a boost.

Today I wanted to share with you a Easter Egg table runner pattern I have designed using some FQ’s packs in pastel tones from Craftcotton

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These Easter eggs are created using Foundation Paper Piecing, which is a great way to achieve crisp joins, without any fuss. I love the effect of raw edge applique, in fact its one of my favorites.

Download my free pattern using the link below

Easter-egg-table-runner patternDownload

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Follow me here on my blog, and share with friends, you can also find/tag me on Instagram and Facebook with your makes.

‘Do what makes your heart smile’
Happy Sewing

Michelle

Personalised Nursery Bunting…

To compliment my ‘Cheeky Frog’ quilt, I have created matching bunting, which is available at the link below .

Hope you enjoy making the quilt and bunting.

craftcotton-frog-buntingDownload

Don’t have time to sew, place an order here on my website, to purchase the bunting with the quilt.

(fabrics subject to availability).

Follow me here on my blog, and share with friends, you can also find/tag me on Instagram and Facebook with your makes.

‘Do what makes your heart smile’
Happy Sewing

Michelle

Block 16 #quiltandshine Quiltalong…

Hey,

Welcome to Block 16 of the #quiltandshine quilt along, hosted by Dawn from Honeybee cloths and myself. This block is all about naming and dating your quilt.

I know I hear you, nothing for weeks, then two block come along at the same time, I sometimes get impatient when waiting for the last block of a quilt along, so I’ve taken that frustration away and here it is

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.

To download block 16, simply click the link below

Quilt-and-shine-block-16Download

Be sure to tag me on Instagram @michelle_creativeblonde so I can see your finished blocks and quilts, 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

light at the end of the tunnel…

Can I see the light at the end of the tunnel?

Quilt Now have just released its first publication since lock down, and the magazine is absolutely packed full of inspiration and exciting things to make… and I’m thrilled to be featured inside, in fact I have my first pull-out supplement…

Inside you’ll find information about the history of the Dresden quilt, the Dresden ruler and my pattern to make the quilt with matching cushion, using the beautiful fabrics from Riley Blake ‘Sweet Honey Kisses’

These beautiful photos were taken by Quilt Now…

 

 

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

 

 

Christmas and Autumnal Inspiration…

The inspiration inside this months sewing and quilting magazines is sure to get you busy at your sewing machine… I would love to tell you where you cab find some of my tutorials this month…

Inside this months issue of Love Sewing, you will find my ‘Let it Snow’ cushion. Using the beautiful Christmas fabrics ‘Tinsel’ by Clarice Gifford for Cloud9fabrics from Hantexcreate. I’ve used Vlieseline Interfacing, and Guterman threads. Creating this snowflake, took me back to my school days, of cutting out snowflakes from paper.

Issue 69 Quilt Now Magazine…

“Issue 69 is our big festive special and comes with a bumper Christmas makes book, a Jera Brandvig quilt pattern and an exclusive stained glass window pattern from Sarah Ashford, making it our biggest issue ever! It also marks the start of our brand-new quilt-along with Sarah Payne”

I received the best news on the 17th October… I only found myself on the front cover of Quilt Now magazine with my Christmas Star Quilt…

Absolutely buzzing!!

 

This quilt uses the stunning Christmas collection ‘Moda Bella Solids and Merry Merry Snow Days by Bunny Hill designs for Moda‘. I’ve used Guterman threads and Vlieseline Cotton mix batting – making this the coziest Christmas quilt, perfect for they chilly evenings.

Available to buy from ‘The Sewing Studio‘, with a very special discount code especially for my readers/ followers and Quilt Now readers.

 

The November issue of British Patchwork and Quilting is out now, full of Autumnal and Christmas inspiration, including my ‘Woodland Walk’ quilt. using the beautiful ‘Pinewood Acres’ collection from Riley Blake. Gutermann threads and Vlieseline cotton mix batting.

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

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle

Feeling creative?

Yesterday, was the first day I’ve been home alone for 6 weeks, yes it was back to school time for all four of my boys, and boy did my house feel empty and soooo quiet…

So I set myself a little challenge to create different ways to use an embroidery hoop.

First up, was a reminder hoop, I thought it could be hung by the door, to hold little messages…

Here’s how I made it… Really simple, but quite effective, would make a beautiful gift too…

Then I included a pocket, the fabric I used is a super soft Jersey fabric, so it had a little stretch in it, perfect for a nursery…

Here’s how I made it… My son thought it was adorable, and wants it hanging in his room 😊

These are all great scrap busting projects, but this last one, is perfect if you have a special piece of fabric, or a piece left over from something special you have made…

And there they were… And before I knew it the boys were home, complaining about being hungry and arguing with each other – back to normal, and just the way I like it 😊

Thanks for reading, hope this post has inspired you to get creative.

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

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle

Food for thought…

Hi, thanks for stopping by…

Often we are torn between products, choosing which are best for the desired look we are trying to achieve, and those that are good for the environment.

Well with Vlieseline products you can have both …

So what is Sustainability?

“Sustainable development is a way for people to use resources without the resources running out. …  sustainability that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

 

Vlieseline – responding to the need for change

 

Vlieseline are committed to reducing carbon footprint, offering products made from plastic bottles and other recycled polyester materials. There are many positive reasons for reducing consumption of new and precious raw materials and Vlieseline are able to do this without compromising on the superior quality they are renowned for.

Optimizing environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and transport conditions alongside minimizing use of new raw materials are high priorities and in this way Vlieseline are able to support customers wanting to make their own contribution to sustainability.

There are a growing number of Vlieseline products made from recycled material and the following are manufactured using 100% recycled polyester are:

F220

Lightweight, fusible, non woven interlining used for collars, cuffs, facings etc. on light to medium weight fabrics for dressmaking, home sewing, crafts and needlework. Machine washable to 60° and available in charcoal and white, 90cm wide.

H310

A medium weight, fusible non woven interlining suitable for home sewing, dressmaking, crafts when using medium fabric weights. Ideal for use on garment facings, pockets, ties, collars, cuffs. Machine washable to 40, available in white only, 90cm wide.

Why choose Vlieseline products made from sustainable materials?

1. Synthetic waste materials are recycled and don’t end up in landfill or the sea, polluting the environment.
2. The quality of recycled PES is just as good as that of newly produced polyester but needs considerably fewer resources for its production.

Other Vlieseline products made from recycled materials include;

Battings

80% = P120, P140, P250 and 55%= 249

Sew-in Interlinings

65% M12, S13

Fusible Interlinings

35% =G405 LE420

15% = H180

 

To find out more about Vlieseline products and for ‘how to’ instructions and demonstrations, please visit; www.vlieseline.com

Lady Sew and Sew 01491 572 528 www.ladysewandsew.co.uk

Six Penny Memories – 01207-565728-  http://www.six-penny.com/

Definitely food for thought.  I would love to hear your thoughts too…

Thanks for reading and sharing this journey with me

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

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle

Sofa Sewing Caddy…

Yeah we made it through Monday – happy dance.

Today I wanted to share with you a pattern I designed a couple of years ago, a tutorial I wrote especially for ‘Overdale Fabrics‘. Head over to there online store for all the products used in this tutorial.

The perfect accessory for anyone who loves to craft, whether it be, sewing, quilting, knitting or needlecraft, this is must have. Ideal if you like crafting whilst watching TV.

 

The great thing about this sewing caddy, is all the parts are removable, which makes it easy to interchange pockets, depending on the craft you are working on. Plus, it makes emptying the thread catcher, so much easier.

Materials 
Fat Quarter bundle of ‘Garden at Dusk’ by Overdale Fabrics
Half meter of ‘flower Stalks’ by Dashwood Studios available at Overdale Fabrics
Gutermann thread colour 660
Half meter of H640 fusible wadding by Vilieseline
4” square of Vilene light weight interlining
Few handfuls of ‘toy’ stuffing for the pin cushion

Haberdashery Items
Iron-away marker pen
10” and 7” circle template
4” circle template
Quilters ruler, rotary cutter/scissors
Iron
2x 1” wooden buttons
½” wooden heart button

Download you’re free print friendly tutorial here…

sofa-sewing-caddy

Be sure to leave a comment and don’t forget to show me your creations

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

 

 

44 days til Christmas…

Can you believe it, just 44 days til the big day?! so i thought id share  with you a little Christmas mini wall hanging quilt… let it snow, let it snow, let it snow …

These super cute Christmas fabrics are available from Craft Cotton

A great little piece of Christmas to hang up as we get ever closer to the big day

I was chuffed to bits to be asked to make a cot size quilt from the beautiful new Camelot licensed fabrics available from Craft Cotton very soon ‘Winnie the Pooh’ – they are super cute

I knew straight away i wanted to try out my new sulky transfer pen, and the new pre packs of Vlieseline Stitch ‘n’ tear. The hardest part was choosing which of the adorable Winnie the pooh quotes to use.

I used two strands of Gutermann variegated threads to back stitch the writing. The Winnie the pooh fabric went so beautifully with the craft Cotton Fat Quarter bundle of nursery basics in grey

This quilt measures 30″ x 40″ so its just the right size for a new born’s crib or play mat, ***tutorial coming soon***

In case you missed my last post, I’ve been busy doing a little bit of paper piecing for my October island batik challenge, using the stunning pattern by Nicole –  lillyella stitchery @lillyellasworld. The quote was written by Helen Keller and emphasizes the importance of having a friend by your side. Although it is preferred to walk in the light, solitude and being alone makes this seem undesirable.

Many thanks for reading, have a lovely week ahead, 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