I do!

I had ordered some bating online . A few days later I received a card saying I should go to the post office to collect a parcel and I thought this was it. Off I go this morning thinking I would get some not so exciting but practical bating. when the man appeared with a tiny package i thought he got it wrong, but my name was on it. So I thought the company got it wrong and started to panic a bit. But no, the parcel came from my sister who lives in Congo!! It just brought tears to my eyes! (I know I am a very emotional person!)

And guess what? I got a walk in the park jelly roll by Aneela hoey and a £20 voucher to spend online!!! Love a day that start like that!

So MERCI sis’ !!

I always end up holding everybody’s things when we go swimming and have to hold too many bags. I made this huge bag for going to the beach and swimming pool for this summer holiday. Well, I say summer in a very optimistic way since so far we’ve had 9 days of sunshine and not even consecutive days… but today is shining so I’m in good spirit!

Here is what you’ll need: 1.50m of nice heavy fabric, 1.50 of lining fabric, fabric pen, pins, ruler, scissors, and usual sewing kit.

Start by cutting:

From the lining fabric:

2 rectangles measuring: 23″1/2 X 20″ (that will be the inside bag)

1 long strip measuring: about 60″ X 6″ ( that will be the gusset)

From the heavy fabric:

2 rectangles measuring 23″1/2 X20″

1 long strip measuring: 60″X 6″

2 straps measuring: 32″ X 5″

with the lining fabric place a plate at the bottom corners of the fabric, mark around it and cut on drawn line:

then mark the middle by folding the fabric in half at the top edge. Mark a line 2″ from the middle on each side:

pinch one drawn line:

And bring it to the middle mark:

do the same for the other side, pin in place and repeat for the other lining fabric:

You now need to sew on the pleats doing a couple of back stitches.

pin the gusset in place with the pleated fabric:

sew all the way round and repeat for other side of lining fabric and you should end up with something looking like this:

Now you need to repeat all those steps for the outside fabric:

Now sew the straps together length way:

turn them over and press:

top stitch on both sides:

now is the complicated bit, to put the bag together start by pining your straps on both side of bag:

now insert the outside of the bag inside the lining, so that the right side of outter bag is facing the right side of lining bag (Am I making sense at all here? if not please leave a note and I’ll explain again):

now match the edges and pin in place:

sew all the way round, leaving a gap (hand size) to turn your bag later (I really insisted on the handles area just to make sure):

don’t forget to leave a gap:

now you can turn your bag through the gap you left. It will look a mess but trust me it will work in the end!

it should look like that:

Now all you need to do is insert the lining inside the bag press all the way round on edges and top stitch to sew in place:

I added some sew on poppers on the top edges on each side of the bag:

Et voila! A huge beach bag to enjoy this summer!

now for the challenge; will it take all the stuff I usually bring with me?

It fits! and there’s more room let’s say for a bottle of wine! (I’m French don’t forget!)

I have at last finished my sister’s quilt! That’s lucky because she will soon be visiting! I think it will fit perfectly in her living room. I love the chevrons I think they are the new polka dots! They just look so modern.

I have also finished the baby quilt project I was telling you about here.I was commissioned to make a baby quilt and I’m so glad I finally managed to sew with Aneela Hoey’s fabric range! I just love how fresh and simple it turned out. This fabric range works perfectly for both boys and girls.

I am still working on my parent’s quilt. I have finished one side and will soon be starting the other third of it. It’s a very long and slow project as I decided to hand quilt it but I’m sure it will be rewarding (I have to find some good things about taking on such a huge project!)

I wanted to sew some tiny bunting to sell and just finished two. They would look so nice above a baby’s cot. They will be in the shop for a very small price of £3.50!

When I went fabric shopping I grabbed a really good bargain and bought from the remnant table some gorgeous heavy fabric. I need a huge beach/swimming pool bag to go on holiday. They will soon be a tutorial on here for that one!

I went in most of  the shops I know that will sell cushions and just couldn’t find anything I liked. I had some lace I bought in France and thought it would look nice on dark grey fabric. I thought I would share with you how I made this cushion!

Here is what you’ll need for this project:

1m of fabric of your choice

1m50 of lace

1 14” zip matching your fabric

Matching threads for fabric and lace

All your sewing equipment!

Start by measuring 16” squares out of your fabric you’ll need 2:

I didn’t want my fabric to fray so I sewed the edges using a large satin stitch:

First decide where you want your lace to be, and how many strips you want. I made three in the middle. Pin it:

And sew with matching thread on both edges:

Next pin right side of zip with the right side of fabric:

Sew all the way using a zipper foot:

Do the same for the other side of the zip. Next turn your project right side up and press with iron so that the fabric is hiding the zip:

You’ll then need to sew on the ironed line on both end of the zip. Sew from the edge to the beginning of the zip. Do it on both ends:

To have a nice finish it’s preferable that you top stitch all the way round:

You’re nearly finished, with right side together pin the fabric edges to edges and sew all the way round. Don’t forget to leave you zip open.

Clip the corners making sure not to cut the sewn seams.

Turn your cushion right side out et voila!

You’re all done!

As I said a couple of days ago, I went fabric shopping in order to make my living room cushions. I went to a shop I’m really not keen on and therefore won’t mention its name but didn’t have a choice as I wanted upholstery fabric. I think we all know which one I’m talking about…Aren’t they the rudest people in there? Everything in there is over priced. I don’t get it at all; Is it a fabric shop? a furniture shop? a cafe?   a shoe shop? I’m really confused…. It is completely lacking of warm and welcoming staff who clearly don’t give a toss what you say to them.

Don’t even try asking for suggestions or help, they’ll just look at you like you’ve just asked for the moon…. I wanted some grey chevron fabric and I said to the lady I wanted to make cushions did she have/ no we don’t up here you need to go downstairs. I mean what the hell (to not say anything else)  did she know what I wanted!!!!!???

I cut her right back with a smile (you know as one says: monkey see monkey do. I’m hoping there!) and told her that I wanted cotton…. She was not helpful.

It didn’t help that my two boys decided to go on full naughty mode in there… I ended up raising my voice (a polite way to say shouting really) getting annoyed,crossed, and bothered with everything and everyone… Probably because before that, we went to Clarcks to buy some shoes and don’t get me started on that shop either, what a joke!

Well you can tell I was in a mood…. So back to my fabrics, I ended up buying some really nice linen and cotton fabric. Well, they can be nice for £27 a meter (!)

I then decided to go to my favorite shop in the world to relax and effectively spend more money on fabrics!

I bought a walk in the wood charm pack from Aneela Hoey  (love her!) and a plain white solid charm pack from Moda, I was asked to make a baby quilt. I cannot wait to get started as I always wanted to work with her fabrics but never had the opportunity.

I also bought the half moon modern range from Moda. At first I just wanted to buy the large grey polka dots and grey chevron fabric but it wasn’t in the shop so I bought a charm pack instead (i know no coherence there!) I just couldn’t resist it’s so gorgeous!! I’ll make a simple quilt with it, not sure for whom… (maybe me!)

My eldest saw some really cool fabric in the shop and asked me to make him some bunting. I think I’ll use them to make him another quilt. It’s just too gorgeous for bunting!

it will go well with this fabric I bought at Ardingly festival:

Since that day I’ve been busy sewing two cushions:

I will be posting a tutorial for this cushion soon, but first I’m off making sushis for my friends who are coming over for dinner tonight! Sayonara!