A Sew it Together Bag

I bought this fab 'Sew it Together Bag' pattern way back in October from Sew Demented and dearly wanted to sew this bag up straight away. In between illness, catching up with bee blocks and Christmas sewing, I never got time to make it.

I did read reviews on this bag and tried to figure out how to put the bag together by googling other people's photos. The instructions are often difficult to follow and there are only a couple of diagrams to go on. If you decide to make one though, don't be put off as it is an awesome bag to both make and use.

I used a mini charm pack that my bee mate Rachel, gave to me back in July at the FQ Retreat, to make the outside piece of the bag. I then quilted this to make a firm piece of fabric for the outer piece.

Sew it Together bag in progress

The end result is a bag with four open pockets and three zippy pockets.

Sew it Together bag

It is a brilliant bag for carrying around a hand stitching project as it has ample of room to store everything you might need. When the outer zip is open it enables the pockets to concertina outwards so that you can see inside the pockets.

Sew It Together Bag

I just LOVE this bag.

I liked it so much, that I have made another one. My sister-in-law has a birthday between Christmas and New Year so I decided that as a sewist she might like one too. I  have made this second one using some scraps and linen. I learnt a few things when I made my first bag, so this second one came together much faster. We are sharing New Year's Eve together so I can give it to her then.

Sew It Together Bag 2

So that is the last of my sewing of 2013 to show you . I hope that 2014 will bring you many blessings and joy.

Di x

A Christmas Surprise

I had one really nice surprise that arrived on Christmas Eve. It was made by a very lovely Elf who was deputising for my partner in the Brit Bee Secret Santa swap. My partner isn't well at the moment but was thoughtful enough to arrange for someone else to make my cushion cover in the swap.

This is the cushion that arrived by special delivery on Christmas Eve. My husband wouldn't let me open it until Christmas Day, so the suspense was great. When I did open the parcel this is what I found. 

It is so kind of Terri (who you can find over on Flickr) and the clever Elf, Ceri, 

to hatch such a nice surprise for me. Thank you Ceri for doing the sewing on top of your own Christmas sewing, and also thank you to Terri who has been so thoughtful in making sure that I didn't miss out on the swap.

I LOVE my Brit Bee cushion!

Di x

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas

I have finally run out of time… I have a carol service to go to this afternoon so there will be no more sewing for me, this side of Christmas.

I did manage to squeeze in making a final present last weekend, but as it is a birthday present and not a Christmas present, I will show it to you after Christmas.

Di x

More present making...

I have been beavering away this week making presents. These are not on my present list but rather on Younger Son's present list. He commissioned me to make two zipper purses for friends and a birthday card for a third friend. I hope that the girls will like them.

Younger Son chose the fabric, buttons and zip combos and I had the fun of doing the sewing.

The Birthday card is based on the idea of our Bee a Brit Stingy swap. I used both linen and Liberty fabric as well as doing a little free motion writing.

I still haven't cracked the envelope as it isn't coming out just right, however as Younger Son was happy with it, I didn't worry too much as time is at a premium at the moment.

Hopefully I will get the last of my secret sewing finished this weekend.

Di x

More cushions

In Brit Bee we are swapping Christmas cushions and previously I have given you a peak of what I have been making.

I sent my cushion off to my swap partner last week and now that she has received it, I can now reveal my partner and the cushion! 

I was making for Judith and this was how the cushion turned out.

A Christmas cushion swap

And the back...

Back of cushion

I was anxious that I had filled the brief which was Christmassy but without Christmas fabric. I know that Judith likes modern so I was a little out of my comfort zone but I think that I may have pulled it off. I love this block and so I used it again to make a cushion for my Mum. 

My Mum has asked me to make her  a cushion for Christmas so I have made a small 12" cushion. Again these colours are not within my comfort zone but I do like that little bird.

Cushion for Christmas

Isn't it amazing how the same block can look so different? 

I am gradually whittling down my Christmas sewing list and there are still 6 sewing days left!!!

Di x

More Secret Sewing and a Christmas Market

There is plenty of sewing going on in these parts but it is secret sewing so I cannot give you more than a glimpse of my endeavours.

First up, I finished my cushion for the BritBee Christmas swap. My partner gave a good brief which helped enormously in deciding what fabric to choose. I hope that she won't be disappointed when she opens the package. It is always hard choosing for someone else.

Binding been made.

 I never normally quilt the back of my cushions but as it was for someone else I decided to have a go at it. If you notice there is a bit of a Christmas colourway going on here.

This cushion is all ready to be packaged up and sent on it's way to it's new home. Fingers crossed that the recipient will like it!

I have also taken a leaf out of Cindy's book and copied emulated her in making some hand warmers. They are really quick and easy to make. I gave them a trial run yesterday evening when I went to the Lincoln Christmas Market. They don't keep the heat for too long but they are lovely and tactile and most importantly kept my fingers warm.

Christmas present hand warmers

The market was really fun to go to. It was cold, but not too cold, and the wind had dropped significantly from earlier in the day. It was very pretty with lots of Christmas lights and the the Cathedral bells ringing out across the night. 

The market runs to Sunday but Thursday is for the locals so no coaches are allowed on this night. It makes it far less frenetic, and although there were lots of people last night, there wasn't the big crowds you get on the other days. It was a really lovely evening out. I am beginning to feel a bit more like Christmas… which is a good thing as when I was in London on Wednesday Younger Son put up the Christmas tree up. He knows that I don't like it up before the 15th/16th so he was delighted to dupe me. It still needs to be dressed so I reckon that will be a job for Sunday. I cannot believe that he did it…. or perhaps I can. He did give a a cheeky grin and a wink when I saw it.

That tree!

Today I have been doing more secret sewing on the December round of the Britbee quilt. It arrived here yesterday and today I have added the next round to it. I will be giving it to Susan tomorrow, at the Britbee get together for her to work her magic on it, in January. 

Jude's quilt

So that is what I have been doing the past couple of days. I have a long list of Christmas sewing to get on with but that is for another day…

Di x

Secret Envelope Swap

In the Bee a Brit Stingy we are doing a Christmas envelope swap. The brief was to create an envelope and add a few little 'bits' before sending it to our partner.

I decided to go rustic and made this little envelope from linen and the inside (not seen in the photos) is a green Christmas print. I popped this in the post today so my partner should be getting this through the letterbox later this week (well we are a Stingy Bee and only use second class postage!).

Secret envelope swap

I had a surprise when this envelope dropped through the letterbox. Sheila has shown the envelope on her blog and I didn't get a whiff that it was for me. It is gorgeous, and the letter with the snowman on it, is really fun. 

My envelope and 'letter' from Sheila

I know that I will be using that lovely envelope for storing other things once the New Year comes. I think that the envelope I made  is much more amateurish, so I am sorry partner. 

My Younger Son saw me making my envelope and has commissioned me to make one for one of his friend's birthday… now that is a challenge!

Di x