Grumpy old woman gets excited, shock news!

The older I get the more flipping miserable I get! It takes something pretty special to grab my interest these days. (am I alone in becoming a bit of a cynical grumpy sod?!)
It doesn't help that I am fighting off yet another virus. I should become a hypochondriac then at least I wouldn't actually have to feel so damned awful all the time!
Anyway like Ronnie Corbett sat in his oversized chair I am digressing!
Whilst laying in bed wishing I was out in the beautiful sunshine I have organised my calendar for the year re all the shows I want to attend and need to book up. So it's Malvern, Sandown and Birmingham all by August for some serious quilting and textile art exhibitions and fabric acquiring! I really wanted to find some exhibitions in the States so I could go a travelling with him indoors!
Anyway, I still haven't got to the point have I? I noticed that if you join the Quilters Guild of the UK you get discounts etc. In ticket prices. Being the daughter of an Accountant I had to take a peek. I don't think I will really save much money but boy I am joining it. They are involved in all things quilting and textile art including education, running a huge research library and housing a collection of over 600 quilts and pieces in their own museum in York. It is really worth spending a few minutes visiting their website and browsing the collections. Being into "old stuff" I was transfixed by the heritage collection. Have a look, I would love to know which collection you love the best. http://www.quiltmuseum.org.uk/collections/
The work that is involved is phenomenal. To think most of it has been hand sewn too! I guess there was no Eastenders to act as a distraction!
Anyway, as I am now coughing to death I shall take that as a message to put the ol' iPad away!
Until next time "Happy Crafting"
Loads of love
Janie xxxx

Operation feedsack!!!!!!!

Wow!wow!wow! (just realised that reads like a dog barking!!!) Well, I am having a bad hair say do guess I am a bit doggy today!
You know when you suddenly discover something new or surprising that really gets the ol' creative juices flowing? I have made a fab discovery - feedsacks! Yes you read it right FEEDSACKS - bags that were used for shipping foodstuff!!!
Now I always thought a sack was a sack! Rough and hairy smelly hessian.
How wrong was I? Feedsacks came in the most beautiful designs mainly during the thirties and forties. Although they are called feedsacks they were in fact used mostly by flour mills rather than food for animals which is how I imagined them being used.
Manufacturers saw an advertising opportunity with them and hey presto they became a key marketing tool . They were used to make beautiful garments during times of austerity and the pattern making market thrived. Have a look below at some images.
Originals one can be pretty pricey to buy these days but there are some beautiful reproduction versions of the fabrics around. I laid my grubby mitts on some recently. It's so gorj I can't stop stroking it! Oo er missus! A couple of the pieces I got are photographed below.
I am going to use it for a whack ' n' stylee quilt. Can't wait to get going on it.
Have you made any surprising crafty discoveries lately? Let me know .....
'til next week it's feedsacks a go go !
Janie xxxx

whack and stack and sewing tattoos!

Resolutions moi? Am I that bad I need to make changes?!
Ok ok I expect you are HAPPY NEW YEAR'd out by now but I still hope that 2012 becomes your year! I am definately making it mine...
I have had loads of fun over the last few days working on quilt designs and creating samples. All that sexy fabric- oooooooooooooooooooooooooh! Mind you I look a right berk here! Sat at my screen with a very upright chair, big pillow and hot water bottle against the old back! talk about feeling old!
Have you heard of stack and whack? Ok, I know it sounds a bit on the naughty side but it isn't, honest. Stack and whack will be coming to the blog soon so keep your eyes peeled...............................
For now it's time to go back to the real world and make supper!!!! (noooooooooo why can't I afford a live in cook?!).
Stay safe my lovely sew and sews.
Janie xxxxxxxxx

 

ps i just loved this sewing tattoo - what do you think?

Please keep looking for this young man

I want to cry every time I see Andrews face- he looks just like my son did. My son has been stopped three times as the likeness was uncanny.
Please if you know anything however trite you might think it is please contact the police. It is the right thing to do.
Janie xxxxxLarge Square Banner

Merry Christmas!

It's really close now to the unmentionable big day and I have managed against all odds to finish my Christmas present sewing! Yay! My back is still killing but I am determined to have a brilliant time!
I've got lots lined up for 2012. I have been given oodles of fabric from my dear uncle John's home. Sadly he passed away recently which is pretty pants if I'm honest. I have decided to use it to make "memory" bags for the female folk in the family. Got lots of ideas in my head - I think they will look brilliant when finished. It feels really sad but on the other hand his memory will live on through the bags as well as our hearts.
Well better get my sketch pad out and work on those designs ............

Take care amigos and have a peaceful and creative sweats tic 2012xxxxxx

The missing diagram for no sew cushion

This diagram didn't upload with the instructions below. It must have had too much festive spirit!

Sew amazing last minute quick and easy project

Sew ......we are all broke and have suddenly realised we are a couple of christmas pressies short! There is only one thing for it, we are going to have to get creative and quick! If we don't the kids will hate us or great aunt Dorothy will tell the whole family what a selfish old harridan you are!

Having a quick scan around the net I came across a website called Disney Family Fun. It's got some interesting projects etc on it but I thought the one for the blog today was particularly useful.The pattern idea and the pictures below are from DFF

It is a really versatile pattern and can be made in many different shapes and even decorated if you have a couple of spare minutes!

*EASY PEASY NO SEW CUSHION*
You need:
*Fleece that is eight inches bigger all around than your actual cushion size (using two colours looks good)
* polyester stuffing
* scissors
* paper to draw your template
* chalk

*HOW TO CREATE IT!*
* draw a heart shaped template eight inches bigger than you want your finished item to be. Draw an echo of that heart as per picture below eight inches in. Use your chalk for this
* place your two pieces of fleece wrong sides together
* cut to the inner heart line approximately two inches apart to make your strips around the edge do both pieces whilst placed on top of each other for a lovely even finish
* tie strips together - one back one front to secure your cushion Continue until you have about eight inches left to secure.
* stuff with filling, shape it and shake it about etc, possibly swear a bit as you make it look good!
* complete tying it up and hey presto you have the finished article!

Impressed with yourself? You should be!

I just want to take this chance to wish you a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful 2012. Thank you don't supporting me through a pretty tumultuous 2011 x

The blog will be back in January 2012 with lots of new ideas. If you have any sewing queries drop me a comment and I will answer them in the next chapter of Sew Amazing!

Take care and remember to get yourself some crafting "me time" over the break.
J x