Maybe it is the sight of the trees turning golden or that sort of nesting feeling that comes with the nip in the air and the promise of chillier days ahead, but my SewJo seems to have returned. Whatever it is, I have been sewing and working on projects that have been on the table for a while. First up is my new camera bag and I am really excited to share this with you.
Read MoreHi everyone and welcome to the sewing room in 2020. New Years Resolutions….mmmm…..well, like most people, I never struggle to make them, but can I actually keep them, this is the question. This year, one of my resolutions is to use up some of my fabric stash. I sometimes wonder what on earth I am doing with so much fabric - I would have to live three lives concurrently to have any chance of using it all up and how tragic would it be not to use it - I love all of it. So I pulled down a plastic box from on top of my cupboard and inside were some remnants of home decorating fabrics. One of them was this really beautiful piece of silk taffeta fabric, which had been carefully folded and stored in tissue paper. It was one of the those lucky finds in a bucket somewhere long ago and has been periodically taken out of it’s hiding place, lovingly stroked but then put away because I wasn’t sure what to do with it. It has gorgeous floral brush strokes and pops of embroidery to highlight the flowers and has a sheen and exoticness all of its own.
Read MoreA while ago (actually 4 years to be precise) I made a ‘Weekender’ Bag from Amy Butler’s pattern. It was not an easy make, especially for someone like me who had never used piping before and is not all that comfortable with zips. It actually turned out remarkably well and I have used it plenty. It is not brilliant though and I have often thought about making another one …. with hindsight. Recently I saw on Instagram, a beautiful version made by ‘a.crafty.fox’ and was suddenly inspired to try again - helped by the fact that I am just finishing up my second ‘Shoreham’ quilt, I had a million scraps left over and figured the two were a match made in heaven….or is it hell.
So here we go again - a text print weekender bag…..take 2.
Read MoreDesigning and writing a new quilt pattern is not an easy business! Especially when the project concerned is a seaside quilt and it’s October! Of course I know this is completely the wrong time of year to be popping out a design that is all about summer holidays - but then…just as this project has taken me much longer do than I ever intended, I figure that all you stitchers and quilters out there need time to plan. What could be nicer on a dreary winters day than making a project for the summer days to come.
Read MoreRecently I bought a couple of beautiful little Japanese embroidery books on Etsy and was totally inspired by them to make an embroidered bag. I knew before I began that the embroidery would be the easy bit for me....the bag making...not so much, but I also wanted to challenge myself to make something a bit more upmarket than the few patchwork boho type bags I have made before.
Read MoreHello there,So this blog posting is about 3 things. A scarf, a bag and an embroidered pendant.
Read MoreWell, it's nearly the weekend and I just wanted to pop up this little post in time for bank holiday. I wish it was a little warmer and sunnier, but still, it is May and summer must be on its way. Talking of summer, this week, I have been working on a little project that has been on my 'to do' list for over a year and as we are thinking of arranging a short holiday in June, it was finally time to get on with it. It's a summer bag and I love it so much that I feel as if I am on my way on hols already.
The bag is called 'The Right Turn Bag' by Anna Maria Horner for Janome and you can find the free pattern and instructions here:
Anna Maria demonstrates every step of the way in the video tutorial, so I am not going to say much more except TA DA.......!
If you want a fun weekend project and have lots of scraps to spare, then have a go and you can experiment with some of the decorative stitching (which you never really know what to do with....LOL) on your sewing machine. The bag is light and roomy and perfect for holidays and easily fits in your suitcase too.
Otherwise I am just about to embark on quilting my steamer trunk quilt. It is layered up and ready to go....
So I wish you all a Happy May day weekend from Yorkshire. Love Ruby x
