~Log Cabin Panel~

After the last 2 and a half days spent in flannelette pyjamas on the sofa with some virus, I have felt much better this afternoon. Managed to walk the stir crazy Small Dog round the block (I did manage to get dressed first), albeit felt sweaty and tired afterwards though. Have just had an urge to sew, (that feeling that you've lost a couple of days and need to catch up) and have done a first quick attempt at log cabin patchwork.   I knew how to, but have never had a go before. I used a central 7cm square, and 6cm wide strips of ripped fabric strips, following the method in 'Quilting in No Time' by Emma Hardy.

You'll see some favourite fabrics here from my stash, a vintage paisley eiderdown fabric, some Cath Kidston, Ikea Rosali Spots and  Laura Ashley. I'm still sticking to my 2012 intention of using what I already have. This literally took half an hour - how fantastically quick compared to paper piecing hexagons and hand stitching. Not sure I got the repeat right - should it be random or ordered? -  I couldn't decide...

~Thrifty quilt TaDa ~

Thankyou for all the lovely comments on my last post - I think we're all floral fabric addicts, and it's clear that there are lots of us with unfinished projects too!
Today whilst 9 year old J used all the blankets and cushions in the living room to make 'Yoda's Hut' (?!?) I escaped upstairs to finish my quilt, first sewing achievement of 2012!
I'm proud it's not cost anything to make;  a real make-do-and-mend affair, I love it though it's not perfect and a bit wonky in places! The backing fabric is an old sage green cotton sheet that I was given - it's really good quality, soft and well-washed.  The padding is an old synthetic single duvet cut down to fit with the raw edges zig-zagged on the machine.  It'll be easy to machine-wash when needed. I then machine sewed the patchwork to the backing, leaving a gap to slip the duvet in - I slip-stitched the opening...

Then pondered about whether I should quilt through the layers...Eventually I decided to just make 6 suffolk puffs (or yo-yo's) out of some lovely Robyn Pandolph paisley fabric. Each suffolk puff has a vintage mother of pearl button at the centre, which is sewn through all the layers to keep the padding in place.

So here it is on my bed....

Overboard on the chintz and florals do you think? ...Never!

I think it'll be a lovely snuggly lap quilt when I get my caravan...

All the fabric has been bought second-hand - the Sanderson curtains were charity shop bargains last year and the Cath Kidston and eiderdown fabric were York car boot sale finds. A nice way to use and look at your very favourite fabrics.

Then I had a cuppa and a slice of this...

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend x

~I ♥ Eiderdown fabric ~

I bought some scraps of eiderdown fabric from a lovely lady at York Car Boot a couple of weeks ago and have debated what to do with it. I didn't want to add it to my stash because, to me, eiderdown fabric is the Queen of Cloth - I could look at it all day long.   I love Cath Kidston paisley fabric and eiderdowns too, but I prefer the muted soft colours and the feel of an old 1930s or 1940s quilt. I've never been lucky enough in my thrifting to find a vintage eiderdown or comfort quilt. I regularly covet these eiderdowns at Decorative Country Living. At vintage fairs they tend to be out of my price range. Maybe, just maybe,  I will find one at this week's Vintage Fair at St. Gemma's in Leeds.


In the meantime I will content myself with this little project; a bit of crazy patchwork for a cushion cover. My favourite fabric is on the bottom left. What's your favourite kind of fabric?

~Recent projects~

Well, I've managed to sell a few bits of bric-a-brac on Ebay - enough for me to buy some pretty new flower fairylights for the conservatory. I'm just listing more now, including this recent find, an old sewing tin, complete with contents, including a fab vintage needlecase which is just like the ones in Cath Kidston.

I've also finished a couple of cushions- this one from vintage linen and a vintage hankie which I'm listing on Ebay. It has a feather pad ...

and wooden buttons on the reverse...

and this patchwork cushion, handsewn with love and smiles whilst we were in Cornwall...

...is destined for my best friend, J's caravan. Oops I've spoilt the surprise now; see you for a catch-up on Wednesday,  J!

~The Finished Article~

I managed to get the thrifted chair transformation finished last night - my first project of the holidays completed!
                                                                        From this...

                                                                          To this...

...using some paint I already had and a piece of hexagonal patchwork using lots of vintage scraps. I'm really pleased with it. I backed the patchwork with lining fabric to withstand a bit of wear and tear.

 I love the colour - F&B Hardwick White; a gorgeous neutral grey/green. The nice thing too is that it will remind me of where I was when I did the patchwork - the Yorkshire coast and Cornwall earlier this summer.

~Recent projects and finds~

Here is the first finished patchwork cushion I made; I'm on a roll with this at the moment, dreaming of fitting out a caravan or campervan with lovely cushions and throws.

I found time for a quick rummage in a couple of my favourite charity shops yesterday and couldn't believe it when I found this Brora jersey dress - unfortunately too big for me, but I will put it on eBay later today.

Also at a recent auction where I often buy boxes of odds and ends to rummage through I found this old sewing box and needlecase. The needlecase looks very like a new Cath Kidston one, but cost me pennies and I prefer it because it is old! The sewing box is a renovation project, as it's stained inside.

Funny though that I misheard the auctioneer who announced "A box of Misc."  In my head he said "A box of Mizz" and I wondered what he was on about, was he trying to say "mixed"? My mistake- and one I regularly also make with song lyrics.

~To Cath or not to Cath~

When planning to spruce up my bedroom, I read Miss Thrifty's blog about the Albany Millie wallpaper that's a good lookey-likey of Cath Kidston's Antique Rose wallpaper. About £6 per roll cheaper, granted, but after much deliberation  I decided some things are too important and gorgeous to pinch the pennies over; so I succumbed!  When I got to York's Cath Kidston it was out of stock- aaaagh!, but the ladies there were lovely and helpful and ordered me 3 rolls from a London branch. Husband says it gives him headache; but I absolutely love it and think it was worth the extra pounds.

Excuse the unironed rumpled bedlinen...

Time to get ready and pack for a half-term break now. Have got my patchwork hexagons made from vintage fabric scraps all ready for a bit of beach al fresco sewing...

....and will try not to worry too much about my plants - I've sunk some upside-down drinks bottles and watered them well, so we shall see if they survive.