Frame Purse...

My first framed purse...

I've finally finished my purse for the Frame Pouch Along and it's only 2 and a half weeks late. Rebecca, from Making Rebecca Lynne, has written comprehensive, step-by-step tutorials for each part of the process, for the week's sew-along. Unfortunately, I have to admit that I used a commercial pattern for my purse. Time just didn't allow me to draft my own patten on this occasion.

The pattern I used, is the Shell Purse, by Nicole Mallalieu Design, or as she is known now, You Sew Girl. Being short of time, I purchased the pattern with a kit, which included the 100mm frame, interfacing and wadding. The only things I needed to provide, were the fabric and seed beads.

I have used material left over from the wedding dress I have been altering. Yes, it was a blue wedding dress. I'll show you some pics of the altered dress soon. I don't know what this material is called, but it forms the overlay on the purse. The main, unseen section of the purse, is made from a very light stretch denim. The lining is a light, blue polka dot cotton. A lightweight fusible interfacing was used on the lining and a medium weight interfacing on the main fabric. Wadding was also ironed to the main fabric. Whilst it appears to be a very soft purse, the wadding and interfacing give the purse a nice structure.  

The pattern was very straight forward to use. Instructions are included for various options. I chose to gather the overlay, but could have chosen a pleated overlay, or none at all. A handle can be added to the purse as well. I found the instructions to be clear, very detailed and easy to follow. In using this pattern, I've learnt some new techniques, which will help with bags and purses I make in the future.

Attaching the frame was rather fiddly, but it became easier as I went along. Using a thimble helped with getting the fine needle through the holes. Finding the centre point of the purse would have been easier, if I had remembered to mark this on the fabric as the pattern clearly said. Oh well, I'll remember to do that next time and it worked out fine.

I had never heard of seed beads, before I used this pattern. I think they really add to the appearance of the purse, especially as the fabric doesn't have a pattern. Because the hole in the seed beads is so small, I needed a very fine needle, which meant a very small eye in the needle. It took several goes to thread the needle each time. Perhaps it's time for new glasses.

I'll show you pics of the whole outfit soon. I am extremely happy with how it's all turned out. I hope the new owner is too...

... Pam

Singlet Appliqué

If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, here's a quick and easy project to make for Christmas: appliquéd singlets...

Notions and Vintage Goodies...

Woohoo!!! Look at the bundle of goodies that I have won over at Create HOPE Designs. All of these notions and vintage goodies were donated by Hopeful Threads. I've enlarged the picture, trying to see all of my winnings and I'm excited!!! Both of these blogs are well worth a visit. Head on over and take a look at the wonderful work that these two ladies are doing to help others.

The wedding dress that I'm turning into a smart, day dress is almost finished!!!!!!!! There's one thing to alter, then I hope it fits and I can show you some photos. It will be worn in six days, so I hope tonight will see it finalised.

Once the dress is finished, I can start on the framed purse to match the dress. I've cut out the material ready to sew and hopefully have all the extra items I'll need: frame, seed beads, fabric to match the dress.... I don't have time for any last minute trips to the shops.

It's been a busy month and I haven't even started my tote for the Solids Only Tote Challenge. Some of the participants have already finished. I'd better get off the computer and head over to the sewing machine.




Linking up with Making Rebecca Lynne for Thursday Think Tank. Yes, I know it's Sunday night. I keep getting later and later. Eventually, I'll be so late that I'll run two weeks together.

Guest Posting...

It's Creative Week over at Seven Alive and today's post is by.... ME!!! If you remember my Retro Flower Power Pillow, I used a lot of appliqué, with a little hand stitching. I've written a little tutorial to show how to do this on a little tote. Head on over and have a look... Appliqué Tutorial by *Threading My Way*

Liebster Award...

Yesterday morning, I was very pleased to receive an email from Amy, over at A Home Made, telling me that she had given me the Liebster Award. It's an award for up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers. Amy gave the award to five blogs, because she enjoys reading them. Thanks, Amy! You made my day.

Here's how the award works:

1. Link back to the blog of the person who passed on the award.
2. Choose 5 up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers to pass the award on to.
3. Post the award on your blog.

I can't narrow it down to 5, so here's 6 of my favourite blogs. I'm not sure that up and coming is the best way to describe them because in my opinion, they've already made it. They are all blogs that I look forward to reading and are written by talented women. In no particular order:

• Cass Can Sew
• Sew Delicious
• Sew la Vie!
• Ricochet and Away
• Craft Couture by T. C.
• Hopeful Threads

If you haven't already done so, take a look at these wonderful blogs. You'll be pleased you did.

Head on over to Amy's blog for lots of fabulous ideas, as well. Amy has recently written a tutorial for her Puffle Skirt. It's just gorgeous.


If I've passed the award on to you and you'd prefer not to pass it on, no worries.

Wrapped up...

I wrote this post for the Crafty Christmas Club and thought I'd share it here as well. As Christmas is our next big celebration, I have used mainly Christmas colours, but the ideas could be adapted to any situation that involves wrapping presents. Just vary the fabrics to suit the occasion.

I've been experimenting with different types of fabric bags to use instead of wrapping paper. After use, the bags can be packed away, ready for next time. This will save the mountains of paper that we tend to use each year.

Pictured above are the easiest bags to make. They only takes a couple of minutes. 

• Sew 2 pieces of fabric, right sides together.
• Use pinking shears on the 3 seams. If using a non-directional print,  only 2 side seams are needed.
• Turn right side out and finish the top with pinking shears.
• Tie with the ribbon of your choice.

The green bag pictured only takes a few minutes longer.

• Place 2 pieces of fabric, right sides together.
• Place 2 pieces of ribbon into one of the seams.
• Sew the seams
• Finish the seams with a zig zag or serger.
• Hem the top.

Drawstring bags can be made as big or as small as you need them. I used this Treasure Bag tutorial. These bags can be part of the gift for the recipient and can be used for a myriad of things.

The last type of bag I'll be using for wrapping, will be the totes pictured. These can be left as is, or tied with ribbons. I've also experimented with using red hair clips to keep them closed. The totes can, of course, be made in any size. They can be reused the next year, or can be part of the gift for the recipient. I used this tote pattern.

Now that I've worked out how I will be wrapping presents, I'd better get moving on making the actual presents.

30 Minute Shorts...

Here are my shorts created with the 30 Minute Shorts pattern, purchased from Create HOPE Designs. Create HOPE Designs are an organisation raising funds to help orphans and their communities. 100% of all funds raised go towards funding this cause. As their patterns are downloadable PDFs, there is no overhead and so you know that all monies are helping children in need, from around the world.

The 30 Minute Shorts pattern, costing only $5US, has been created by Lily Bird Studio, one of ten women who have donated their patterns to Create HOPE Designs. The pattern is quick and easy to follow, fitting sizes 3 months to 8 years of age. There are lots of photos included with the clear and easy to follow instructions.

I added the contrasting waistband to the shorts, as I wanted to match the cuffs and to add just a little extra length to the shorts. The contrasting fabric is Rush Hour, by Alexander Henry.

Kristy, over at Hopeful Threads, is having a fun sew-along for the month of November, using patterns purchased from Create HOPE Designs. You can purchase patterns here and here. Head on over to Hopeful Threads to see what you could win by participating.

Finished Projects for October...

Here's everything I finished and crossed off my To Do list during October.

• Pieces of Love contest  ✔
• Circle Skirt  ✔
• Cushions from T-shirts... 1st cushion finished
• Love Me Knot Dress  ✔   
• Swimming costumes and towels for Ken and Barbie   ✔
• Wedding dress to day dress.. almost finished
• My Little Shopper Tote
• Mending a few clothes
• 3 little bags

Considering I spent one quarter of the month holidaying in Brisbane, I'm reasonably happy with the sewing I finished.

Here's the section of the wedding dress that is being kept and transformed into a day dress to wear to another wedding.

This month I've signed up for a few challenges. The first is a week long Framed Purse Sew Along. Everyone is due to finish tomorrow and I haven't even started.... eeekkkk!!! Looks like I'll be sewing most of tomorrow. Thankfully, being on this side of the world, I'll have an extra half a day to finish. The finished purse is going to match the transformed wedding dress.

My To Do list continues to grow at a fast rate; much faster than I can ever hope to keep up. The more time I spend reading sewing blogs, the more I add to my list and the more wonderful challenges I find and want to sign up for. This month I'm exploring lots of new blogs over at Lily's Fresh Sewing Day and Thursday Think Tank at Making Rebecca Lynne.

Edited: 4 November...

Re wedding dress photo above: All I've done for that photo is cut the bottom of the dress off. What you see here is the actual wedding dress as it was, minus over half the dress.

Silver Star...

Have you noticed the new button in my sidebar? In case you haven't, here it is...

My Flower Power Pillow was voted second in the Retro Pillow Challenge. There are two prizes for each of the winners: a snazzy button and bragging rights. So, bragging is what I'm doing now.

As you may have read in a post from a couple of days ago, I almost didn't join the challenge, as it was taking me way out of my comfort zone. I had only been blogging for one month when I took a deep breathe and sent off the email asking if it was too late to join.

As soon as I received a reply to my email, I knew I wouldn't regret it. Rikka and Keren put together an awesome challenge and I'm very glad I joined in.

Is coming 2nd important to me? No! When I signed up for the Retro Pillow Challenge, I had three aims: build up my sewing skills, meet some new people and have fun. Achieving my goals is important and I most definitely did that. Coming 2nd is just the icing on the cake. It is nice to know that others like my work.

My congratulations to the other winners and to all the participants.

So, here for the last time, is my Retro Flower Power Pillow.

Keren and Rikka are holding their second challenge now; The Solids Only Tote Challenge.

PROJECT:  Tote bag

THE KICKER:  You must use solid colors only, no prints!

TECHNIQUES:  Use at least one of the following:  Applique, Reverse Applique, or Patchwork.

VOTING:  A Polldaddy poll will be set up to determine the winner.

PRIZES:  Winner(s) will receive bragging rights and a snazzy button!

If you think you might want to join in, do it! You won't regret the decision. So far, there are fifteen participants and it's not too late to join in. It should be a lot of fun. Hope to see some of my blogging friends there.



I'm off to bed, still grinning like a Cheshire cat...