Category: Home Projects

Quick, get out of the water!

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I love sharks. The name of my blog might have given that fact away already. I’m in awe of their beauty and my dream would be to go diving with them.


When I first decided on the name “Shark’s Dinner” I designed the little logo above that I put on the bags I was making. Bags were my passion before I discovered quilting and now I love both. Anyway, this morning I suddenly thought that I should make a bath mat using my logo. Sadly I didn’t have the time to start cutting or sewing but here’s a quick peek at my pattern and the fabric I’ve chosen from my stash. Hopefully I’ll be able to start cutting tomorrow as I’m really excited about this project.

You don’t see a pink shark every day, now, do you? The reason for this is that our bathroom is all white with pink accents (soap dispenser, toilet brush, beakers and baskets are all pink). Little Miss Bossy-Boots was allowed to choose. No surprises there then.

TTFN!

Categories: Blogtoberfest, Home Projects1 Comment

A Little Extra

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In my last post I promised I would show you the pincushion I was making for my BQS 3 partner.

Voila! I used some Klona cream, Hope Valley and scraps from the mini quilt. I think it looks quite cute although you need some very sharp pins to penetrate the owl appliqué. Maybe my partner will be happy to simply have it sitting on a shelf looking pretty.

PS the back is the same Hope Valley print I used for the wings.

Categories: Home Projects, Sewing implements2 Comments

We are Family

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I just have to show you the lovely portraits Little Miss Bossy-Boots made of us.

From left to right: Little Miss Bossy-Boots, Aron the dog, Me and Master.

While Little Miss Bossy-Boots was busy drawing I took the time to start and finish (!) a small project. My sister showed me a picture of some birds she wanted to make. Guess what, I thought they were so cute I had to try making one myself. They are incredibly quick to make and a great portable project as they are sewn by hand. I love the idea of getting a branch or two in the garden and make lots of birds for Little Miss Bossy-Boots’ room.

Categories: Home Projects, Kid Projects2 Comments

Another Tumbler Cushion

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When I got ready to go to my tumbler cushion workshop with Katy last summer I bought two charm packs to bring. One was Camden Market, the other Happy Go Lucky by Nel Whatmore. In the end I chose to bring Camden Market as the cushion was going to be for Little Miss Bossy Boots and I’m so happy I did. The cushion has been sitting on her bed since and has been brightening up her room. As soon as I got home, though, I started on another tumbler cushion with my Happy Go Lucky charm squares.

I decided to make the tumblers a little smaller so that I would be able to cut out two from each square. Then I added some Kona solids, again from the charm pack that I took to the workshop. I was really happy with how it looked and went to find some fabric for a border. A lovely black cotton with tiny white polka dots was duly ordered and then deemed not right. So the tumblers just sat there until now when I decided that I wanted to finish it. I wasn’t sure how to quilt it but in the end went with straight lines in an aqua colour.

In the end I loved the colours so much that I discarded any thoughts of a border and simply pulled out some ticking for the back.

I inserted a zip for easy washing (you have to with a small child, cat and dog).

The cushion is 22cm x 36cm, not really a size that you find in the shops. However I had a 36cm x 36cm cushion filler that I was able to squish into it. Hey presto I have a very plump little cushion and I love, love, love it.

Categories: Home Projects, Quilts1 Comment

Another Apron

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My friend Delphine asked me to make another apron as a birthday gift. I made two aprons for two little girls last year and they were greatly admired by one of Delphine’s friends. She therefore decided to order one for young Charlotte in the same fabric as the two I made before.

I have to apologise for the pictures, they were taken two seconds before Delphine left with the apron. Yep, once again I forgot to take pictures before collection….

I love the little crochet flower which I made up on the spot.

The pocket with the embroidered name “Charlotte” almost drove me round the bend. I usually use an air erasable pen to write the name I want to embroider. It makes it easy to follow the lines and is mostly gone by the time I’m finished. Well, this time I got out my pen and it didn’t work! I’d used it only a couple of days earlier and it worked fine. Panic set in as I realised that I wouldn’t have the time to go and get a new one before I had to deliver the finished apron. In the end I just winged it. It might not be perfect but does handmade have to be perfect to be special or loved?

On a completely different note, I’ve been struggling for the last couple of weeks as I’ve been in a bit of discomfort after a minor car accident. The doctor has confirmed today that I suffer from whiplash. It’s not bad but does mean that I can’t sit at the sewing machine or computer for too long. I’m therefore really looking forward to starting my new EPP project. Hopefully my fabric will arrive soon. Meanwhile I’ll just go and cut out some more octagons.

We’re off to the local school’s Easter Fete today. Hope you have a lovely weekend!

 

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Done!

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Here it is:

I’m a bit sad as I didn’t have an insert in the right size. This one is an 18″ one that I pinched out of Little Miss Bossy-Boots’ Tumbler Cushion and it’s definitely too big. Poor cushion cover is bursting at the seams. However, I will wash the cover, get a 16″ insert this weekend and then just enjoy looking at it.

On. My. Bed.

Have a lovely weekend!

Categories: Home Projects, Quilts2 Comments

Granny Cushion

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I loved making the Granny Square Pincushion and thought it would be fun to make a cushion cover using Ali’s tutorial for the square with the popcorn flower.

So, Little Miss Bossy-Boots and I trundled into town and she chose the colours for her cushion cover. No surprises there; we came home with a bright pink and a mellow purple yarn. They had a lovely soft orange that I would have loved to combine with the pink but as I had promised Missy that she could choose whatever she liked I bit my tongue.

This is the front and all in all I like it. I made a bit of a mess joining the squares together but I know now what to do differently for next time. In fact I loved making these little shares so much that I’m thinking of taking all my little bits of leftover yarn from other projects and make a blanket.

Here’s the back of it:

Did you spot the giant buttons? Well, yes, hmmm. I didn’t have any in the right colour or size but I really wanted to finish the cushion cover and show it off. They will be changed sometime in the near future, I promise.

I didn’t want to put just a regular insert in the cover but made one using a lovely flowery fabric with butterflies and birds that peek out through the holes especially at the back.

I bought it a few years ago and have no idea what it’s called or who it’s from but I thought it was perfect for this cushion.

Categories: Crochet, Home Projects3 Comments

Pincushion

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Did you read my previous post in which I showed off the lovely pincushion I won?

At the time of the giveaway Ali posted a tutorial for it on her blog Very Berry Handmade and I loved it so much that I said I was going to make one regardless of whether I won or not. I did…and here it is with Ali’s.

The cotton yarn I used is a bit thicker which means that my crocheted square is a bit denser. Maybe I should have used a bigger hook?

I’m still very pleased with it. The fabric I used is a dusky lilac with white polka dots. I love those colours together. The reverse of the pincushion is just as pretty:

Do you like it? I thought as I love the pincushion I won so much I would give this one away (hopefully to be loved as much as I love mine). The first person to write a comment on this post will receive the pincushion and I’m happy to send it anywhere in the world.

Edited to say:

Thank you so much for your kind comments about my pincushion which will be sent to Jane on Monday!

 

Categories: Giveaway, Home Projects5 Comments

Aron’s Bed

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A few years ago I made Aron a big bed to sleep on. He loved it and although I made covers that could be washed it started smelling a bit. The bed was too big to put in the washing machine so just before Christmas I decided to bin it. I was sure I could quickly sew a new bed for him but, alas, that didn’t happen till now.

I had been thinking about it for a while and decided to make a sandwich so that I could take off the top layer, wash it and put it back at the bottom, thus regularly washing one layer after the other. Well, you know what they say about best laid plans… they don’t always happen, do they?

I kept with my initial thought of three layers but now I have two thin ones, one on top and one on the bottom and a thick comfy layer in the middle.

They’re a bit scrunched up because Aron decided to lie on the bed just as I was getting the camera ready. The two thinner layers basically have a thick polyester batting that I sewed into the seam so it wouldn’t move when washed. The thick comfy “burger” is filled with polyfill and will soon become a bit thinner. At the moment poor Aron looks a little bit like the princess on the pea.

I didn’t have any nice fabric or fleece lying around this morning so I just chopped up one of Aron’s old blankets to make a cover. Because the bed is so high at the moment I added about two inches to the seam allowance to accommodate for the extra width. It was a bit much so the cover is too big. I’ll rectify that when I make the new cover. I just want the polyfill to settle a bit before I do.

Although he’s only had it for about 30 minutes, he loves it and I’m quite happy with it too. I just hope that the sandwich method will prove to work the way I imagined it.

Categories: Home Projects1 Comment

Missy’s Room

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Just a very quick post on the state of Little MissBossy-Boots’ room. It’s incredible how much bigger the room seems now.

Mark has finished his part of the work. The plasterer is coming on Saturday to skim the ceiling and the carpet layer will be working his magic next week.

Then we’ll finally get to the fun part: decorating. I’ve got so many ideas buzzing around in my head and I can’t wait to get going. Patience, my dear, patience.

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