Summer hols 30 day challenge - Days 6, 7 & 8

I would love to say that I have discovered some amazing money spinning/debt reduction secret and I'm about to share it with you here! In reality I have spent the last three days chopping up shirts, ironing and die cutting to produce more tiny triangles for my new quilt idea.

My son was throwing out some shirts this week, so naturally I nabbed them for my stash.

I also sorted out the next batch of material.... 

.....and die cut some old magazines....

...to add to the English paper piecing 'tumbler' quilt I'm working on.

I wish I'd gone more random rather than stripy now, what do you think?

Summer hols 30 day challenge - Day 5

More die cutting of triangles yesterday, my pile of old shirts is almost gone. 

I fear, however, that my iron is about to pack up on me having tripped the electrics twice on Thursday. I've been using a circuit breaker since then but need to start looking for a bargain just in case.

So much for saving money, eh?

Summer hols 30 day challenge - Day 4

Malcolm has spent some time lately getting rid of a lot of junk from the garage with the intention of being able to put his beloved Beemer in there over the winter (a money saving manoeuvre in itself)

 When he bought a motorbike a few years back it was kept in the garage while the car was relegated to the driveway. The bike was sold some time ago but the accumulated 'stuff' that took up residence beside it still remained.

That includes my stash!!

Much of the wool I had was used to make this crocheted blanket 

and what's left fits into one plastic box. The bulk is taken up by material that has been begged, stolen and borrowed over the years and it is long overdue for a sort out.

So, as part of my 30 day challenge, I have begun the process of turning my stash into 

• soft furnishings for our home or the kids uni flats
• Christmas presents/birthday gifts for friends and family
• items that I can try to sell online, either Ebay or in my currently abandoned Etsy shop

This morning I began with my stash of checked cottons, most of which began life as my daughters shirts.

From this....

....via the ironing board.....

....and the die cutter....

 

....to these lovely triangles just waiting to be made up into something new and gorgeous!

So far I've only used the smallest scraps for these tiny triangles, the larger pieces may become different shapes - hexagons or tumblers perhaps?

Dresden Plates - my first attempt at hand quilting.

Some time ago I pieced together some Dresden Plate flowers and I've finally got around to doing something with them!

I managed to make 2 each of the 4 colourways with material from my stash using the English paper piecing method. My favourite toy piece of equipment, my Sizzix Big Shot, was used to cut out my paper shapes.

I love EPP for patchwork as I can be downstairs watching telly or listening to the radio with Malcolm. While my sewing machine is great for bigger items like cushion covers or bags I prefer to do most crafting by hand. Although it's more time-consuming it just seems more satisfying and therapeutic, like making bread by hand rather than in a bread machine.

Also, I have to use Bethany's bedroom (when she's at uni) or the kitchen table for my sewing machine, with the ironing board set up in the living room - not very conducive to the creative process!!

I've wanted to have a go at quilting for some time but found the idea of tackling a whole quilt very daunting, especially with a basic sewing machine like mine (and my even more basic skills!) So with this in mind and the reasons mentioned above, I decided to combine hand-quilting with quilt-as-you go for new project.

Ooops, wait!

I had to remember to remove all my paper pieces before pinning the layers together!!

My first two finished blocks

and the back, not perfect but I kinda like that!

All I need to do now is decide what to make them all into. The blocks are 12" square and there are 8 of them. I could intersperse them with other blocks and use sashing and borders to increase the size. I'm thinking maybe a wall hanging or cot quilt....

..... any ideas?

New adventures.

The Slouchy Hobo.

Sorry if you've been trying to view my blog and it's been dancing about a bit! I've been trying to change it having seen so many lovely ones out there. I'll have to enlist Bethany's help (when she can fit me into her busy schedule, lol), she's just set up her own blog, peaceloveandmarshmallows.blogspot.co.uk and it's sooooo pretty. 
Anyhoo, I promised to tell you about our newest adventure. Bethany and I have booked our first ever craft fair appearances at the farm shop and cafe where she works (more info about her dreamy cakes in a later post!). My daughter is a designer, www.etsy.com/shop/bethanyhunterdesigns, as well as a cake maker and is currently working on designs for notelets and xmas cards. Can you believe it's getting so close?! I'm going to sell (hopefully!) my fabric bags and other handmade items, it's quite daunting thinking of people judging your goods right in front of you!

A bit of a practice on the bed! Some of the items ready for the stall.

I soooo want to keep this one!

If your in the area and would like to come along were at:

 The Country Barn, Widdrington 

www.thecountrybarn.co.uk

Local Produce Fair

Saturday October 13th

9am-5pm

and

Christmas Shopping Evening

Friday November 9th

4-8pm

Previous makes

I haven't got much crafting done today despite being up early to take my daughter, Bethany, to work. My elder son, Sam, had bought some Bermuda shorts on the internet for £2 and they were massive around the waist! I managed to sort them out for him by threading in some extra elastic that I'd recycled from some old trousers. I do love a bit of thriftiness, I'm sure I got a Brownie badge for that! I also had to unpick the top-stitching on the handle of the bag I'm making. I had a bit of a wobble off line 'cos I was hurrying to finish it before clearing up for tea. Does anyone else have this problem? Mine's exacerbated by the fact that I have to share with my model making husband! 

I thought I'd share a few of my previous makes with you. This is one of the first bags that I made, leading to a bit of a bag making obsession! I kept this one for myself and have sold a few to family and friends. The crazy patchwork is made from upholstery fabrics so is very textured and tactile. The random design also makes each bag unique. I can't wait to start on some new designs in lovely autumnal colours

These two cushions were made after pouring through library books on patchwork. I was instantly fascinated by the combinations of colour and shape. One book has a photo of a wall hanging that uses the straight lines of the log cabin design to make a beautifully curved and sensual depiction of sea and sand. My husband, Malcolm, and I recently saw another variation on this theme at our local high school 'A' Level art exhibition. I wish now that I'd taken a photo as it was so inspiring. 

www.etsy.com/shop/LouiseHunterHandmade