Calligraphy

Regular readers will know all about my love of text fabric.  This is a beautiful example, Calligraphy fabric by Suzuko Koseki.  I bought mine from Etsy seller, Lucky Kaeru.

I have mentioned my creative primary school education before.  Calligraphy was a standard lesson and from age eight we all learnt to write italic handwriting as our normal script with Platinum ink pens.   Sounds idyllic?   It worked better for some than others; for those who struggled with the chiseled nib and ink flow, their work was always a blue smudgy affair  I also  remember going to the secretary's office to have cartridges refilled with a syringe. 

This is my original work booklet- my mum found it in a cupboard recently.  This was my bible and it gives me a big wave of nostalgia seeing it again.

You can see how this style of instructional imagery has influenced the SK fabric.  I found some of my  exercise attempts in ink and shock horror, biro- I think I did these at home.  I didn't stick with the hymn long before going off on on a tangent. 

This page would make a wonderful fabric print.

As I moved further up the school I did move on from my biro scribble.  In my final year, age 11,  I produced a book for a class project on Lindisfarne inspired by the illuminated gospels.  We made books each year, I have my book on sheep and another on Victorians, great mementos of a lively education

I was so lucky to have such a creative education in the state sector, it's stuck with me and every time I choose a text fabric for a sewing project I am reminded and thankful of Mr Cowper and many others.

Straying from the Farmer

Forgive me farmer for I have strayed.  I can only be good for so long without being tempted by another.  Before I joined the Farmer's wife quilt-a-long I ordered this book via Amazon and what a source of temptation it is.

 Now I know where all the quilt blocks come from.  This is not a 'how to' kind of book.  It groups the blocks according to their grid arrangement e.g. 9 patch and you sort out construction from there.  I can see how most blocks work but there are one a two that I am straining to get my head round. I am using this for a different project but there are some beauties that are creeping in to my Farmer's Market quilt.  I am not keen on basket designs and there are quite a few farmer baskets, so out they go and in come some from 5500 quilt block designs.

But firstly, before I wandered off the Farmer's path, block 40, Friendship.  

Fabrics: Suzuko Koseki in the middle, Kumiko Fujita red text.  Round the edge starting top clockwise: Little Apples (a lucky scrap from a swap!), V and A repro, 1974 dog tooth, Alexander Henry Orchard, scrap from my sister and Aussie Denyse print.

And from the interloper, another friendship block.  Fabrics clockwise from the centre: Yuwa labels, Sevenberry aqua flowers, vintage gingham, Sweetwater Authentic news print, FMF daisy dots and a vintage check floral

I am destashing- space is at a premium in this house- stuff is on Folksy as I guess it is UK and maybe European folks who may buy.  Mention you have come from here and have 10% refunded via Paypal!

And visit Lynne's at Lily's Quilt's for Sew Fresh Friday linky stuff and a Farmer's  style giveaway.

June is Marit's month in Ringo Pie and her theme was 'In the Summertime.'  The bar was raised high at the beginning when Corey posted a super cool traditional electric fan block and it continued from there so it has been a challenging month to come up with something.  Ayumi sent me this  You Tube clip of Kumiko Fujita and it starts off with her stunning Subway quilt and that is where my idea started.

What I like most about summer is the light.  Living in the south west of the UK is good for light , we get a generous amount of sun, and mid summer has such long days.  I can't take lots of heat and my skin is pale and burns easily so I am not a sun worshipper but I love being out in the shade or sewing into the evening with the late orange glow coming through.

This block is quite straight forward, I sketched it out on graph paper first to get the shape and the strip widths.   The cutting that took the longest time in the whole process.  The back is an interesting view with the light streaming through.  I used to make tiffany style glass light catchers and it reminds me of those.

Mid week, hold on in for weekend x

(comments are closed for this post due to spam attack!)

Purse/Bag Key Fob Tutorial

To make a Purse/Bag key fob, 

You will need:

lobster clip

fob strap fabric- decor/canvas weight is good 2 1/4 inches x 8 inches

Heavy interfacing- sew in or fusible 5/8 inch x 7 inches

Usual sewing supplies

Zipper foot and standard foot on your machine

1.  Bring the long raw edges together and press down the fold.  Open out.

2.   Bring the  long raw edges in by 1/2 inch on each side and press.  There will be a little gap between them- see pic 2.

3.  Slide interfacing in so it sits along the fold on one of the long edges.  Press if fusible, if it is sew in it should stay in place with the fold.

4.  Fold over along long length and topstitch with a long stitch close to each long edge.

5.  From the bottom of the fob strap, measure 5/8 and press to leave a fold.  Repeat but this time 1 1/2 inches from the bottom of the fob strap.  There should be 2 folds.  Thread on the d ring of the lobster clip to the higher fold and tuck the strap in along the 5/8 fold. 

Using a zipper foot (and you can also move your needle position using your stitch width setting if that helps too), stitch close to the D ring and at the fold.  The folded side is now the back and wrong side of the fob.

With the right side facing up Attach the top of the fob into the seam allowance of the lining of the bag.  It will be secured when the lining and the outer bag are joined together.

Your keys are now safe!

Any problems, email me and I will do my best to help!

2 4 6 8- I appreciate Anna

I have got to know Anna Graham of Noodlehead through Ringo Pie and she is the nicest person and the most generous blogger.   She doesn't know about this post so when she reads it, I'm guessing she will blush, but I love her patterns and I love her blogging.   She gives a lot of herself  and I admire that.  The majority of her patterns are available free on her website and she is always adding more.  This is my version of her 241 Tote Bag, available to buy by PDF 

My day bag which I take to work full of keys, money, tissues, granola bars, bananas and a water bottle is wearing thin so I spent a few evenings this week making this one.  The storage possibilities appealed to me.  I made the outer zipper pocket horizontal for my phone and added some batting to protect it.  Inside, I put in a key fob clip, I live in fear of losing my house keys or the ones to my work place so I always add a key fob to any bag I make.

Recognise the lining?  From my lucky win on Kat's blog , I have linked in to her great news that she has a pattern in a new Zakka Style book full of designers and cute looking makes.  Congrats Kat!

I just know that flash of pink and the little deer will make me smile as I reach for my phone.

I recycle fixings when I make bags- the strap, key fob clasp and the zipper were from some cheapo charity shop finds.  I have no idea where to find zips with bigger tabs, I can only source dress style zips- if you know of a good supply, please let me know!  The strap allows it to be shoulder or messenger style across the body.  It is all sprayed with protector- seems to work well, I've tried it before, and ready to go.  Thankyou Anna, the pattern worked a like a dream x

Here's a mini tute on how to do a key fob dangly thing- it is very easy!

Plans

I have plans for this, I love to wear pink and green together but have not sewn this combination and it is one of my favourites and the easiest way for me to use green.

There are some colours that despite liking them I do not turn to often and green is a big one.  I like to push myself a little so this project is about going to the fabrics that get overlooked as I rush for the red and turquoise.

These colours I find a lot easier.  This sunny mix contains my plans for Marit's bee block  for Ringo Pie.  It was the longest day yesterday, officially the start of the summer (it is raining naturally).  My favourite thing about summer is light- there is so much more of it and for longer,  for my block I plan a big round sun!

Are there colours you like but don't use?  Do share!

Name Game

I always feel rather honoured to be on other peoples blogs whether it is in a blog roll, a special mention or a guest post.   When Cindy got in touch to ask if I would like to take part in her regular Name Game feature on her bright and colourful blog- Live A Colorful Life I jumped straight in!  I know you got a bit of name background only a couple of weeks ago but there's more to read and see here. 

And if you had enough reading about me, how about Poppyprint, Molly Flanders, Crazy Mom Quilts and Little Girl Quilts.