Sew Happy BOM

I finished sasching the four blocks of this quilt and added the borders a few weeks ago.  Just to realize that one of the blocks was placed out of sequence.  So, I unpicked the center part, turned it around and stitched back in place.  Now just to quilt and bind it.

Sewing Machine Mat 3

I finished quilting this project. I did free motion, ruler work and some straight stitching.  I really love how this project turned out as well as the extra space it provides to store bits while I am embroidering.

Whilst attaching the label to the back, I stitched some tassels to the front.

Placemats

Hard to believe I started embroidering these placemats at the start of 2023.  Now we are a mere 10 days away from starting 2024.  They are however a labor of love as each panel embroidered for 2 hours or longer with two panels needed to make one placemat.

Blue Wildebeest

Elephants

Panels can be embroidered combining the sun and/or moon, but I chose to embroider the top (orange for the horizon) and bottom (blue resembling water) using the same colors to depict the setting sun's reflection in the water.

Rhino's

Hippo's

Ever since I saw these designs at Kreativ Kiwi, I thought it would look stunning on this tie dye fabric but at the time the blue was sold out locally.  Luckily when I enquired via Facebook where I could find it, I discovered Curtain Dream with a whole selection in a wide variety of colors and at a third of the price.

Giraffes

Sewing machine mat 2

I finally managed to finish the 3 pockets needed for this project.  I lost interest whilst embroidering the 2nd pocket when the whole thing became undone and popped out of the frame during the stitching of the satin stitch frame around the pocket.  So, I put it aside for the time being and worked on other projects.

The first pocket was stitched completely as designed by the Beyond the frame embroidery girls. 
It is a free design which is available for all who register on the site.

The second pocket was mirrored with the measuring tape omitted.
By printing a template with Embird software and carefully aligning it with
the embroidery already done; I was able to rescue this pocket with little damage.

The third one was also mirrored but with the embroidery thread omitted.
Not until it was finished, did I realize that the numbers on the measuring
tape, was also mirrored.

Hopefully this will help alleviate some of the space problems I have especially whilst embroidering when the laptop also needs desk space.  With most of the free motion work already done, this project is nearing its completion.

Sewing machine mat

The last project for 2023 done by our quilting group, was a sewing machine cover/mat.  As I can't put a mat beneath my Brother Innovis 4000, I decided to rather use mine as an extra sewing space by adding 3 pockets to hold notions needed whilst working as I always need more space.  I am still working on the pockets and have to quilt the whole project.  This is what my sewing machine looks like thus far.

Miscellaneous Embroidery

After returning from visiting the kids in England, I embroidered a key fob for all my quilting friends, but completely forgot to take photos.  After asking on the group, one of them did respond and send me a photo.  The design is from Beyond the frame embroidery and are available for free once you register on their site.

Whilst in the UK my daughter ordered the tassels for me from Amazon and the hardware for the Key Fob is from Fabric8.

After responding to one of my adverts on Marketplace, I embroidered two spit cloths for a client.  She ordered bunnies and chose these two from the Morehead Collection called Bountiful Bunnies.  You can find it here.

A few months back gym instructor Beryl, asked me to cover the logo of Postbank on two golf shirts with any embroidery designs suitable for a man.  I decided to do two big cats, a lion and a tiger.  With the logo being 7cm wide, I had to choose designs wide and dense enough for this task. She was overjoyed with the result and me just happy to finish as it was so thick, the thread kept on snapping. 

The original logo

and the two big cats I embroidered.

Once again, I forgot to take photos, but luckily with Embird software, I was able to save images from the designs used.  I had these designs since I bought my first embroidery machine back in 2000.

Embroidered sewing machines for friends

Nothing much happening around here craft wise.  I am helping my son setting up a buy and sell business which is keeping us pretty busy.  The only embroidery being done are 3 applique sewing machines for quilting friends attending a sew away hosted by the local Pfaff/Husqvarna vendor.

The first two are for co-quilter Frances.  The design is from Smartneedle 

which I edited with Embird software and are available here .

I received a photo of above design and low and behold, when I searched through my designs, I had the exact same one!  I had to split the stitching on the applique to be able to embroider that in a different color but with Embird, that was quickly done.  I have no idea where this design originates from.

Sew Happy BOM

I had seriously fallen behind with this quilt between visiting the kids and being ill.  Block 3 and 4 is done and I am busy with the borders.  I am however having trouble getting a coordinating navy fabric for the outside border as I had only a fat quarter.  Never new there are so many shades of navy until you start looking for a particular one...

Sport towels for bowls

My son was chosen to represent the Southern Free State bowls under/30 team at the inter districts tournament held in Klerksdorp.  As part of their outfit, they needed towels to keep the bowls clean.

I embroidered one for each of the 4 team members adding their SFS numbers as well.  

And this what it looked like.

They four young men representing their province.

From left to right:  Mardian Bezuidenhout, Pieter Kleynhans, Phillip Schoon and Trevor Geel JR

Online shopping at Fabricstore

Earlier this year I asked for help to obtain a certain fabric line from the Facebook community and was told about this store and I was absolutely blown away by their variety and prices.  But being a pensioner, I had to bide my time until was I able to shop till I dropped.  You know, you have to buy enough to justify the courier costs, or well, that's my excuse.  Great was my husband's astonishment when he arrived last night after lawn bowls, and it was just fabric everywhere.  And now I am in need of cupboard space as I literally don't have any space.

10 pieces of 0.5m x 1.50m striped pieces (bought for quilt bindings)

Cotton thread

A closeup of two of the offcut bundles, 100% cotton.

7m precuts of 1m x 1m.

Mixed prints for boys consisting of 10 x 0.5m x 1.5m pieces.

Mixed prints for girls consisting of 10 x 0.5m x 1.5m pieces.

Another offcut bundle.

White polar fleece.

Black Faux Leather

Winnie the Pooh Bunting

Mickey Mouse Bunting - 1m x 1.5m for R15 - I mean, really?

Various offcut bundles/remnants - softshell, cotton fleece, 100% cotton bundle, cotton knit (always handy when machine embroidering as you don't need large pieces)

20m roll of bias binding for only R10

Various lace pieces.

10m set for babies

Solid colors consisting of 10 x 0.5m x 1.5m pieces.

It's like having your own birthday party opening up all the packages.