Craft book month @ Craft Buds

This month is Craft Book month at Craft Buds and there has already been a blog hop where numerous bloggers have shared a project from their favourite craft book.

 

A book which I have been using quite a lot this year has been the Zakka Style book, which is a compilation of varied craft projects. There is a wonderful variety of projects in this book, ranging from fairly easy to quite difficult so there is really something for everyone.

One of my favourites was the Delightful linen bag designed by Mette Robl and I chose to use some of the new Umbrella Prints "Elephants Love Water" fabrics for my bag, along with some matching aqua linen.. 

I participated in the Zakka-style sew-along where each week one of the 24 projects was featured and only managed to get about half of the 24 projects done, but I would love to go back sometime and do the ones I have missed.

Linking up with Craft buds.
Kirsten.

Zakka sew-along: Happy Garland Hoop

This would definitely have to be the easiest project in the Zakka book, and also one of the cutest too.

I think these hoops would make great gifts too as they could be used for a number of things - I am using mine to hold a small photo of my kids taken a few years ago.

Mum gave me these little coloured wooden pegs a few months ago and I kept them with this project in mind. Linking to LR Stitched, and also to Fabric Tuesday at Quiltstory

Kirsten.

Just Three for August

I didn't do a great deal of sewing in July as we had 2 weeks of school holidays here in Australia. I was wanting to take my daughter for as many driving lessons as I could whilst we had more time together so she can hopefully get her drivers licence by the end of the year - we did manage to lose one hubcap in our travels (but we did go back and find it though).


Anyway, my 3 goals for July were to:
1. Use some Thangles - done, I used them for the "Echo in the Mist" pillow cover.
2. Do another block for my Swoon quilt - Block #4 done.
3. Make a sewing machine cover - not quite done , just need to quilt and bind it.
I also did a couple of the Zakka style projects - the Elephant bookmark and the Delightful Linen bag, using some "Elephants Love Water" fabrics from Umbrella Prints.

Now, my the three things I have planned for August (along with finishing the Granny square sewing machine cover) are:

1. I have signed up for the next Down Under Doll Quilt swap and we have just been assigned out secret partners, so I would like to make a start on my partners mini quilt . This was my inspiration mosaic (just click on "photo source" to see the links to the individual pics in flickr).

photo source

2. Do another block  for my Swoon quilt......I have block 5 laid out and ready to sew up.

3. Write up my post and finish off the tutorial for the Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop as it is my turn next week:) 

Linking to Just 3 with Tracey  @ Traceyjay Quilts, and to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Kirsten.

Zakka Sew Along - Delightful Linen Bag

Another week, another little zakka project! This week was the "Delightful Linen Bag" designed by Mette Robl.

I received the new Umbrella Prints "Elephants Love Water" fabrics on Friday, and really wanted to use them for this project, but have only had a chance to finish the little bag this afternoon.

 I used the blanket stitch on my sewing machine to applique some of the fabrics,

And some matching aqua linen for the binding and button tab.

I found a cute red wooden button which was just right too.

Linking to LR stitched, and Fabric Tuesday @ Quiltstory.
Kirsten.

Zakka Style Sew along - Elephant bookmark.

I love elephants and have been collecting them for about 30 years now, so I couldn't possibly skip making this little ele bookmark as part of the Zakka style sew along.

Angela at Fussy Cut had a few tips for making this bookmark but I still had trouble turning this out although I only used a light interfacing - the trunk was probably the trickiest part.

I used one of my favourite prints from Ruby - Sundae scallops in lime and a scrap of fabric for the ear. 

Anyway, I love it and will use it all the time!
Linking to LR Stitched and to Fabric Tuesday at Quiltstory.

Kirsten.

Zakka pot holder.

I finished sewing the binding on the potholder after work yesterday, and I am pretty happy with how it turned out.

I used the dark navy linen for the binding as well as for the pockets on the back. 

It can also be used as a a trivet for some pumpkin soup in my lovely pottery mugs........

Linking to LR stitched.

Kirsten.

WIP Wednesday - Zakka Style Pot Holder.

I made a couple of pot holders earlier this week using a Granny square block, as I was not sure if I would do the round ones that are part of the Zakka Style sew-along.

But, feeling overly confident after completing the square ones, I decided to have a go at the round ones. I used scraps from my Echo bags and sewed the strips down onto the Insul- bright in a QAYG method . I am ready to stitch the bias binding down on this one and I hope that it will lie flatter when I am done than it is now:( 

If I get a chance later this week, I may try to make another one using some lovely "A Stitch In Colour"  fabrics that Debbie very kindly sent me. If you haven't seen the pot holders that she made from these fabrics, please go and have a look here and also here - they are all so gorgeous!

Linking to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Kirsten.

Just Three for June

I am going to try and continue with the Just Three things each month as I find them to be a reasonably manageable task - and I am more likely to stick to a list if I actually make one!

Anyway, last month (May) I did get my "3 things" done- 

1. : Finished the DS mini quilt

 2. Wrote and posted the tutorial for the HST mini quilts as [part of Sarah at Fairy face designs {Sew} Get started tutorial series.

3. And I sewed up a few more of the Zakka Style projects. 

So now, these are the 3 things I would like/need to get done in June.

1. Make a Noodle head "241" bag for my Sister-in-law - I have chosen to use some Echo and navy linen, and have the pieces cut out ready to sew up. 

2. Sew something for my Mum for Mother's Day - I made her a bag last year so I need to think of something else this time. I have some of this Echino Lion fabric which she would love.

 3. Make a bag using Annas @ Noodlehead's "Go Anywhere" bag pattern - probably also using the navy Echo "Scattered Blooms fabric (pic above) as I have enough left over from the 241 bag.

Linking to Just 3 with Tracey  @ Traceyjay Quilts, and to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Kirsten.

Zakka style quilt

This weeks Zakka project was the Block Quilt, which is a lovely simple patchwork design.

After using some of the blue Denyse Schmidt fabrics recently for a mini quilt swap, I decided to use some of them again as they look so fresh with the white sashing. 

I quilted it in straight lines along the rows of blocks.

And backed it in a blue print that I think was just right for this quilt which finished at 45 x 60"..

This is going to be given to a lovely lady at my work who is expecting her first baby at the end of the year - not sure if she is having a boy or a girl but the quilt will be fine either way.
Linking to LR stitched and to Fabric Tuesday at Quiltstory.
Kirsten.

Zakka Style - Cloud (and Leafy) mug rug

After my not so neat attempt at needle turn applique, I decided to start again and do the cloud using fusible webbing, ala Quilt Dad which I liked much better.

I used perle threads in a few shades of blue for the stitching of the "rain".

I didn't have any light blue linen so bought some pure linen which as you can see, crushes badly! 

I had some of the grey dot fabric so used it for the binding on the cloud mug rug, and a pretty green for the leaf one.
Linking to LR stitched, to Fabric Tuesday at Quiltstory, and to Little Quilt Monday at Pieceful LIfe with Elizabeth.

Kirsten.

WIP - Zakka sew along : Cloud mug rug.

I am still zakka-ing along. and this week we are up to making the Cloud Mug rugs. I haven't done needle turn applique before so I think my cloud is not as curvy as it should be!

Not sure if I will leave it there or take it off and just use some fusible webbing to attach it like I have done with this leaf.

It is from the Nesting boxes pattern in the back of the book. Much happier with this:)
Linking to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.
Kirsten.




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Zakka sew along - Itty Bitty Teeny Tiny Magnets

I managed to get a bit of time this afternoon to make these magnets. I thought after last weeks fun and games with the pencil pouch that the Zakka projects couldn't get any trickier but these were even more fiddly!!  .

The blocks themselves were easy enough to make as the directions in the book are very clear  - I used a tip from here to make the 9-patches,  I would have liked to have taken the time to quilt these by hand - maybe next time:)  Anyway, they are kind of cute and colourful for putting on the fridge.......
Linking to LR stitched.
And thank you to everyone for their very kind words on the HST mini quilt tutorial!

Kirsten.

Zakka sew-along : Pencil case

The Zakka Style project for week 5 was a pencil case/pouch. This was quite a tricky project and there was a lot of swearing seam ripping involved in making it! 

I decided to use some Joel Dewberry  Heirloom fabrics in the Citrine colourway as they look lovely against the linen.

I have seen a few others using the "pencil case" for storing other items - crochet hooks or reading glasses for example. 

But I want to use mine to keep my rotary cutter in so I added a layer of wadding to the inside. 

And it fits perfectly!
Linking to LR stitched, Sew Modern Monday at Canoe Ridge Creations and Fabric Tuesday at Quilt story (buttons in left sidebar).
Kirsten.

Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

Well, according to Meatloaf anyway. I only managed to do 2 out of my 3 "Just Three" April projects last month but that is ok as I did do a few other things to make up for it:) 
1. The scrappy Swoon block was made into a pillow - complete with groovy orange stitching.

2. I didn't get any further with my Daisy Mae Swoon blocks although I have the fabric cut and the geese made - I only have 6 blocks to go but they seem to be taking forever to get done as I keep starting other projects......................


3. And I did make something for me - upon joining in the Zakka sew along, one of the first projects was a sewing kit so I used some scraps of Echo and linen to make this. And I really love it!

Now for Mays list:

1. Finish off my DSDQ mini quilt so the package can be posted next week. This is the block I have started with:

2. Finish writing a tutorial for a post on Sarah @ Fairyface designs blog next week as part of her {Sew} Get started tutorials series - need to get onto this ASAP!!!  

3. Continue doing some of the Zakka sew along projects each week or so - these are such lovely things to make!

Linking to Traceyjay quilts  blog for Just 3 things, and also to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.
Kirsten.