Birds of a feather...

Didi you remember a butterfly coaster I made for Sew,mama,sew?
Yesterday I thought it is better to make a friend of this butterfly.

Some time ago I found this beautiful pattern and  decide to try.
Reduced a little to fit first coaster and started.
It turned out this was a very brave action :) I have to sew little pieces and wavy lines.After one hour I have finished the butterfly.

For the back side I used the same dotted fabric. Added hand stitches to look like the first coaster and bound the same way.

The final look.

Tea or coffee, please!

Earth day - living green

My favourite material for patchwork is recycled fabrics.
This is the basic idea to create a quilt and reuse great fabrics, give them a second life.
My first rag quilt!
A gift for a friend living in a country house.
At the beginning  there were some shirts and pieces of fabrics striped  and checked.
Cut squares, add batting and quilt diagonally. 120 fabric and 60 batting squares .
I became this length finished parts.

Cleaned the floor and began ordering the way I like.
It took me about one hour to find the proper place of each piece.

Numbered each piece and began sewing.
First all the pieces in every row, then neghbouring rows to became an entire quilt.

I like more the back at this step.

Hope after cutting and washing the top will look nice and frayed.
How long it will take me to clip all the seam allowances?

Finally - one more thing.
I found  a great tutorial at Penny's hand blog  how to sharpen the rotary cutter blades.
It is green, too.
Try it! Save your money and the Earth!

Woman's Kimono shoes

Well sometimes I am not only a quilter.
I sew clothes, shirts, dresses even shoes.

Yes I did them.
Following perfect  instructions from Lena's pattern  I have sewn these beautiful shoes.
Adding second color is my tribute to the pattern - I make patchwork even  here.
Look at the sole - some quilting again :)

I would sew a pair for summer and for autumn.
For winter? Not this pattern. I am so chilly. I need warmer shoes for winter.
It is not time to think about winter, isn't it?

Hexagon template for English paper piecing

Anyone who likes English paper piecing knows how important is to have proper Hexagon templates.
Thee are many places for buying them.
I offer you an easy way to print and prepare so many as you need.
You should follow these simple steps.

1.Print the template from here.
Or from here. At the bottom of the page there is octagon templates, too.

2. Fold twice and then again twice (or simply use the dotted lines for folding)

3. Staple the center of each hexagon.

 There is no problem you can see the printed instructions on the back side.

4. Cut round  hexagons carefully.

5.Unstaple and you will have 16 perfect 1 inch hexagons.

Print and cut so many hexagons as you need!
Happy English paper piecing!

One note coaster - tutorial

One Note Samba - this song was heard in my room when had sewing the coaster.
Great present for musicians or for a friend.

 You will need
1. Paper pieced picture.
You could buy the pattern from here, put any other paper pieced 3" square picture you like or simply make application or use a picture from a printed fabric.
2. Four strips cut as written in the tutorial.
3. 6" square batting
4. 6" square back fabric.

 First make the paper pieced note.

Trim the note to 3,5 inches.
Cut two stripes 1 3/4" wiide 3 1/2" long and  two stripes 1 3/4" wide 6" long.
Assemble as shown. I forgot to take a picture, so had to draw a schema :)

 At this step you will have this

Add batting and with the back fabric sew right sides together leaving 2 inches opening for turning over.

 Turn and sew blind stitch the opening.

Stitch 1/4 inch from the end of the coaster.
I have chosen red thread.
Outside the picture I stitched with white thread.

 The finished size is 5 1/2 inches square.

Friday, 13 of April - COLORFUL

Colorful!
This is the name of my last work. A order from a special woman.
I have been thinking about a month what to do. And finally - made it.
Inspired by my favorite Alicia Merrett. Many colors in building combinations.

 I am very proud with quilting. Look at the upper right corner.
I used a special thread- multicolored.

I found it in a charity shop. Amazing!
There was no doubt to buy it.

I think the proper name is OMBRE colored thread.
In fashion, the term ombre refers to the graduation of color in a garment.
Here we have the same effect but multiple.




More detailed photo.

For the back I have chosen colorful striped fabric.

I like the result.
What about you?

Finally - Mummy owl becomes alive!

I have done it.
The pattern for mummy owl - part of The Owl Family.

I was wondering how to show the lady in the Mummy without making pattern very complicated.
She is so modern with bow on the head and clutch bag in hang.
Like real lady she is wearing a designer dress. And lipstick, eyeshadows and mascara. Beautiful!

The other members - Daddy and the baby are same style.

  Check for other stories in this Family :)