Skew Whiffy Snooze/Lap Quilt

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Art, Artist and crafter, Blues, Bold Vibrant lap Quilt, Brushed cotton quilt, Cosy Colourful Quilt, Craft from scrap Fabric, Crafty, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Electric blue cotton fabric, From scrap waste to desired object, Hand quilted snooze blanket, Hand quilting, Inspiration, Lap quilt, Patchwork, Patchwork throw, Quirky Fabric creations, Skewed square panel designer quilts, Snooze Blanket, Super Soft Cotton Quilt

I appear to have slipped back into ‘skew whiffy’ mode this past week or so  😉 Spurred on by the sale of my first ‘skew’ panel design quilt, over in my Etsy store, earlier last week. So, naturally, I hot footed it down to the local fabric store to see what goodies I could find for a new version…usually, any excuse to go fabric shopping, but!!!.. this was…a needs must!!

A new exciting colourway for my ‘skewed’ squares design lap quilts. After a manic rummage through the bottom level of fabric cottons in a display unit at the local fabric store, I’m sure the staff thought I was trying to make myself a little den/nest and move in…LOL…(in fact, thinking about that idea – what sheer heaven that would be?? and, just think about how much I would save in fuel travelling there and back??!)  Anyways, I meander…with age, that seems an increasing activity these days  😉

I had set off with a perfect menu of colours for the new quilt in my head…probably due to seeing most of them the last time I visited the store?! Though it’s very much a case of, buy it now !!!!…if you want it kind of store, as it may never make another appearance here again – which at the time I didn’t… as I was doing other projects..So, naturally of course, the colours I hoped for had gone 😦

I shall keep a look out for the colours I wanted every time I go in from now on, and hopefully will eventually accumulate them for a future version  🙂

The fabric, I had set out for, for this project, was brushed cotton/soft flannel to make a really soft cosy quilt again. The store selection on this visit, on the bottom shelf, was very sparse and threw up only a few lime green prints, a vibrant blue and a shadowed cream/lemon, a yucky mustard speckle and a dark bottle green too. Dismissing the mustard I plumped for two lime green prints, the dark bottle green, vibrant electric blue and the shadowed lemon/cream after remembering I had some small remnants of salmon pink flowered brushed cotton and some flowery blue too – how much?? I had no idea at the time…but, thought I could fudge them in somehow!

Having collected my chosen fabrics I then stood at the cutting desk.  ?????…????? Of course if you know me, I don’t work from patterns, just thoughts and ideas, plus, this kind of design is quite random, so, when asked..”How much do you want cutting?” Well, I quickly estimated and thought of a number for the lemon/cream, it being for the backing, borders and strips too….I estimated the finished quilt being approx 57 inches as of the one just sold, so asked for 60 inches PLUS 3/4 of a meter (that’s confusing in itself – though the cutter didn’t even flinch and measured out then snipped and ripped!) I decided on a metre of the blue as I wanted the big squares and strips, then 1/2 metres of the three greens

Boring as this may seem..it WAS a complete Guesstimate of perfection!! When I returned home to cut I wanted the warp for the long stretches of borders around the finished panels, so as not to twist out when sewing them in…AND OMG!! I had just ONE inch to spare between the two long borders = two borders halved = 1/4 inch play each end of the strips…YAY my planets lined up once again – Happy Dance!!

Lots of happy therapeutic stitching of skewed squares later, teamed with the electric blue panels and a complex work out of my limited salmon pink equated into some very vibrant patchwork panels…but a good three days of hard work and it’s ready, and now packaged, for a new loving home… 🙂

I have just enough to make two matching little throw pillow covers, then who knows…???…maybe the cut scraps can be made into little mug rugs.. waste not want not….and create wondrous new things from bits and pieces…watch this space 😉

Crafting in Cotton for Christmas

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Artist and crafter, Artistic moment, Arty, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Christmas patchwork, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Dining Table Place Mat sets, Fun with fabrics, Hand quilted table mats, Modern twist for X-Mas Dining, Original, Patchwork, Quirky original designs, Skewed X-Mas Place Mat Sets, Stylish quirky design in cotton fabrics

…..Unless commissioned for more…My last Place Mat Sets for this festive season 😉

Having grabbed, a couple of meters, of a beautiful gilded holly berry print, cotton fabric, in the summer sale (…and paying for it of course..lol!) I couldn’t wait to set to, on the final ideas for a couple more place mat sets for this festive season. Steadily through the year I have also been sourcing red and green fabrics too… ‘cos, believe me, when it hits September time, all the red and green gets moved from the normal craft fabrics into the considerably more expensive Christmas craft cotton section ~ shame on the store for doing that, I say!! Anyways, I’m wise to that now…but, a super tip for those just getting going in fabric craft, source your stuff early!!! 😉

Going, once again, with my favourite design of the year, ‘Skewed Squares’!! I just love doing them, they’re so simple, takes not a jot of thinking about, next to no scrapage of fabric, even after trimming as you go, AND…best of all…they are super striking,  a fab burst of festive spirit for even the smallest of dining tables ;-D

Set two 🙂

Both these hand quilted sets are completely machine washable and can also be ironed, so will look as good as new year, after year….after year!!

Packaged…and,

…ready, for a new loving home 🙂

Crazy Patchwork Stockings Lovingly Hand Quilted

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Artistic moment, Artsy, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Christmas Patchwork Stockings, Crazy Patchwork X-Mas Sock, Creative craft, Creative crafting, Fun with fabrics, Handmade, Modern Abstract Stockings, Patchwork, Patchwork and quilting, Quilted Cotton Christmas Stocking, Unique, With Love from Santa stockings

Okay…now we are in September, I don’t feel so guilty about showing off Christmassy things LOL 😉

Recipe:  1)Grab a large selection of Christmas cotton fabric off-cuts,  2) Sew any which way (which, slowly, but surely, WILL drive you crazy!!),  3)Trim to desired stocking shape, 4) Sandwich with cotton wadding and backing and then hand quilt, 5)Repeat for reverse of stocking (Or, as I did, reserve a little sanity by doing a plain one with cross hatched quilting, 6) Add hanging loop between front and back pieces, bind, then hand stitched to finish!

A simple, sanity saving, hand quilted plain cream cotton reverse!

If, by this stage, you don’t feel compelled to take yourself off to the local recovery centre….try it all again LOL ….Take two!!

Okay…three solid days of craziness….I’m off to book myself in…right now ;-D !!!

A summer spent SEW nicely!! ;-)

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Artist and crafter, Artistic moment, Artsy, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Christmas Patchwork Mats, Christmas Place Mat Sets, Christmas Table Runner, Colourful Skewed Place Mat Sets, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Cute quirky creations, Fun with fabrics, Handmade, Modern and Traditional Table Mats, Original, Patchwork, Patchwork and quilting, Table Mats and Mug Rug sets, Traditional Christmas Table linens, Unique, X-Mas Dining Place Mats

Not one to renege on my promises…..here is post number three of my get back up to date out of semi-retirement (though, technically if you count the random alliteration post ~ it’s actually No.4 LOL) !!                                                                                                                                              Sew nicely is how I have been spending my spare time, getting stock ready for the Christmas rush (well..I hope ;-)!!) in my little on line Etsy shop . Trying to cater for all manner of tastes when it comes to festive dining??!!….from the traditional, as shown here, in this beautiful hand quilted set of twelve…to many new quirky, colourful, original and unique designs below……

Again, quite a traditional set of twelve, though with a less formal theme aimed at the young at heart…of course 😉

Now then!! If you really want to add some colour to your Christmas mealtimes..??…these ”Rockin’ Reindeer” Place Mats and matching fabric Coasters/Mug Rugs,  should definitely do the trick!! Traditional Christmas colours with a modern ”skewed” design twist  😉

Another modern take! Colour themed around the central printed cotton squares, I have selected and added fabric strips in co-coordinating colours to bring the different coloured backgrounds together as a bright bold set, which can be brought out year after year! As all my sets are made from cotton fabrics with a 100% cotton wadding, they can be laundered in a machine (YAY) and ironed…. to have them looking as good as new after every mealtime!!

Having been caught out last year, by a customer who wanted extra to match a set she’d bought from me (which I didn’t have, but managed to make a coordinating set to match in for her)….I decided to make a few more smaller sets, which can either be bought as stand alone or add on sets for larger dining tables!

And, then back to traditional! A beautiful hand quilted Festive Table Runner  ~ and it’s still not quite the end of August ~ so, still time to get a few more Christmassy things done 🙂 

Sew!! Missing I may have been, but, slacking..well, not really! And it’s definitely nice to be back amongst you All !! 😉

 

 

A Crazy woman should show off her skills…right?? Some, Pretty Crazy Patchwork Creations…

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Artist Crafter and Designer, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Christmas patchwork, Crazy Patchwork Creations, Creative craft, Creative crafting, Fun with fabrics, Handmade, Lovingly Handmade and Quilted Fabric Table sets, Patchwork, Patchwork Place Mats and Coasters, Red Green cotton patchwork, Unique

 

Part Two of a little catch up………………………………………………………………………………. As any Patch Worker knows ~ Scraps Grow…unbelievably so!! Before you know it, you are swamped ….AND, can you throw them away???OMGoodness, NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!                         Here I have a beautiful selection of some of my finest bits turned into useful little items for the table;-) Lovingly handmade fabric coasters and place mat sets at give away prices, ideal for little gifts

Perfectly purple!

Snapped up without a second thought!

Going green is the future…apparently……!                                                                                               To create from scratch would cost a fortune in buying such a selection of fabrics! LOTS of Time and effort to work out these creations ~ but much fun too!

A super set of six…..We all know what these colours represent…..right?! OK, on a whim, I delved into my Christmas fabric selection 😉 Should be a definate NO, NO at this time of the year, I know, BUT, What better time to start, as a lonesome crafter with a little on line shop, to stock up on Christmas creations?? ~ LOL…The height of Summer in the UK! This obviously leads on to more creative X-Mas wonders now, especially if you know me of old,  SO, for catch up post no.3……Cracking on with Christmas Creations….! Watch this space………… ;-D

Sorry To Bore you All with my Busy Week…BUT, I Wish I was Here!!!

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Art, Artist and crafter, Artistic, Artistic moment, Arty, Button faced bags, Buttons, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Crafty creations, Creative craft, Creative crafting, Fun with fabrics, Handmade, Origami Fabric folded Tote, Original, Original art, Patchwork, Peg bags, Peg Dolls, Style, Totes/Bags, Unique

Continuing my quest to make ever more, even quirkier, unique Peg Bags….My week started here! After considering where I would most like to take my washing in order to get it dry ~ having no electric dryer (living in the dark ages and all that) I considered it would be very cool to set off in my orange short set and matching hat to a remote, very deserted desert Island to watch my whites waft in the wind!! Hand drawn , cut and appliqued novelty Peg Bag ~ check out my Etsy Shop for more quirky items and gift ideas!

On a little roll of creativity, I got, interjected with…an urgent request from a lovely lady in the UK…..Could I make her…..An Origami folded fabric tote in the ‘little owl’ fabric, the same as I had made my little 8 pocket pouches???? But, Of Course!! I even gave her the option of a bespoke lining colour and wadding effect!! No sooner had I had her reply, I was racing off to the fabric store ~ before it closed to buy the requested colour – Duck Egg Blue!!

Received request…Sourced Fabric…Produced the next day….Listed for sale…and sold!…all within two days ~ shipped… and my lovely lady received it the day after ~ what a turn around in under 96 hours!!! My lady was so please I received this little note…….

I absolutely love my new tote and pouch 😊
Thank you it’s very well made and is already in use
It is definitely a talking point
I will remember you in the future for more purchases and recommend you to friends and family
Kind regards…

A wonderful result to make a creative crafter very happy!!!

Whilst on my jolly jaunt to source the Duck Egg Blue, I succumbed to purchase a little ‘Scottie’ Print cotton fabric as well ~ couldn’t resist! SO…

And then…..

Another ‘plumped’ up version…using some more of the Duck Egg Blue cotton fabric for the lining………….

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/280529334/tote-and-mini-cosmetic-pouch-duo-set?ref=shop_home_active_26

If you want a conversation starter…this is a good starter!!

Moving swiftly through the rest of my week…………

I had enough ‘Owl’ fabric left to then combined it with a rich burgundy cotton for the lining for another unique tote creation….check it out……….

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/281068022/owl-fabric-tote-free-shipping-super-cute?ref=shop_home_feat_2

back to where I was eventually in the week….Peg Bags ( with included Peg Doll creations for a lovely unique feature)

…Do you know how difficult it is to fashion Peg Dolls with full length Culottes ??? LOL ~ wish my garden was that tidy btw!!!

 

Another little cutie ~ I hope the little fluffy at the back can keep up!!!?!!!

A change of direction from the previous week’s makes…. having some ‘owl’ fabric left over from the commission and a selection of 8 inch squares hanging around for no apparent reason ~ I combined the two ~ into a simply colourful duo Place Mat Set…

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/294711137/little-owls-patchwork-place-mats-skewed?ref=shop_home_feat_1

…on a ‘skewed’ roll again, rounded my week off 😉

Enter a caption

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/294299903/set-of-six-coastermug-rugs-pink-and?ref=shop_home_active_3

Enter a caption

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/280537690/coaster-matsmug-rugs-skewed-squares?ref=shop_home_active_14

Ok!!! I reckon tomorrow is a sewing day off after that week of creativeness 😉 perhaps a little weeding is in order ;-/ ???

SPRING into a new season of pegging out your laundry with a new Designer Peg Bag!

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Artist and crafter, Artistic moment, Artsy, Buttons, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Designer Peg Bags, Felt applique, Handmade, Nature, Original, Outdoors, Patchwork, Posh Peg Bags/Pouches, Unique Peg Bags with wooden hangers, Wash line scene Peg Bags

….

‘Lets tell the world how cute, stylish and unique we are!!…Don’t they knew we have these new boots for a reason??!

One of my most popular designs over the past seven years!!! With another little new twist – NO TWO ARE EVER THE SAME! All hand drawn, cut, and appliquéd to give a uniqueness for the new owner! 🙂 With…the addition of some little button ‘flowers’

Trialling out some very quick drying crepe fabric with a light weight cotton gingham lining for a new range of Quirky Peg Bags! Should that shower drench your washing ;-/……….this little peg bag, if left on the line, should be dryer than dry in no time, compared to your sad washing ;-/! Peg out in style ( and make your neighbours jealous with a new unique, affordable designer Peg bag!

….Taking Drying to new heights!!

‘…keep a little sunshine in your pocket pouch!…. 🙂

Sending myself ‘Skew Whiffy’…Whilst MIA for a while!!!

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Artist and crafter, Artistic moment, Arty, Beautiful Gift ideas, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Designer Patchwork, Fabric creations, Handmade, Original, Patchwork, Patchwork and Quyilting, Patchwork place mats, Quirky 'Skewed' Table Mats, Skew Whiff Designs, Skewed Square Designer Mats, Table Linens

Never having been able to sew a completely straight line on a sewing machine has benefits!!! I think I have found my niche in machining life 😉 YAY!!!!                                                                My ‘Skewed’ Place Mat Sets have been sooooooo therapeutic to make over the past few weeks ~ helping take my mind off some major stresses :-)……Not to mention…at last, getting to grips with some of my Daughter’s lovely gifted to me fabrics – Double bonus – new makes without new expenses 😀

Quite a few of you will already know, that, I get an idea and run around with it until it wears me out…usually it doesn’t take long, maybe one or two (OK…maybe five or six if I’m being honest LOL…) of something, then I’m over it and move on. Though, making these little place mat sets with a ‘skewed’ design has, ironically, been a mind bending saviour! No thought, no measuring, just slash and gash some varying fabric widths and off you go…round and round (should really say..square and square!) ..add wadding, quilt, trim to size and bind – voilà!

This set of four was done to use up almost all the last of these fabrics, after the eight piece set sold overnight!

I love this colour way! We should all eat with more greens -LOL, even if that means the greens are under the plate!!!!!! I should search out some oranges and brown fabrics…as it so reminds me of the seventies somehow??!..my mum did have some eccentric wallpaper back in those days ;-/

Delving into my Daughter’s gifted fabrics once more, with the addition of a little beige gingham fabric from my own stash, gave rise to another set which can be used all year round – and – equally as a Christmas Dining set too! 🙂 Great gift ideas if you are looking for something different and unique!

Just to let you know I do live in the normal ‘un-skewed’ world at times…..I concentrated very hard to sew straight lines with some more of my daughter’s fabrics and printed squares to make a lovely set for kitchen or dining table use 🙂

2016 Peg Bag designs – A new season and new designs

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Appliqued felt designs, Artist and crafter, Artistic moment, Arty, Buttons, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Handmade, Original, Original Patterns and ideas, Patchwork, Unique Original Peg Bags

Colourful, characterful and designed to be different!

Each and every peg bag I make has been drawn by hand, cut by hand and then lovingly hand stitched over many hours, just to add cheer and fun to wash/laundry day to all you folks out there!

With open season on the dining room table…what I really mean is… now Christmas is over, the conservatory is MINE !! Let the crafting seriously begin!!!!!!!

OMGoodness 🙂 🙂 🙂 I’m in my element, making such a mess as I create new little Peg Bags. There is so much fabric and felt adorning my table I may have to resort to sunglasses, even with the depressing days outdoors.

A couple of days and much sewing has resulted in….

Washday at Toadstool town….

And, A cheeky little ‘Apple Bug’ with of course, a few little buttons thrown in for pleasure! Making Peg Bags means lots of routing through my button collections…Happy Days!! 🙂

More on the way soon 😉

A busy time – New Etsy projects and gifts for friends and family too!

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Artist and crafter, Artsy, Buttons, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Cotton fabric, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Cute boats, Fun with fabrics, Patchwork, Patchwork cushion covers, Patchwork totes, Quilted bags

New projects for friends, family and Etsy too – like this latest design!
This little shoulder/hip bag/tote is perfect for everyday use when you just need a small bag for a few essential items! Lightweight, fully lined and colourful too! Padded and quilted with some simple embroidery detail and a few buttons to finish the look! It is completely reversible with an extendible base – just in case you find a little unexpected bargain on your travels!!!

The last few weeks seem to have had me lost in clouds…of….new projects…gifts for upcoming events…for both friends and family, and, I still have a couple on the go, but here’s the finished few 🙂

A little Baby ‘Sprinkle’ present! A little present for my Dear friend’s imminent new grandson 🙂

The first part of a handmade gift for my great nephew twins, some simple little decorations to hang in their bedroom – buoy boy!!! were those little bunting flags fiddly to attach to the wire! The completed boats are only 3” wide by 9” high, so you can imagine how small the triangular flags are. I found some florist wire and a small mixed pack of balsa wood pieces, which have been residing FOREVER in my supply cupboard, so, a Stanley knife and some imagination, plus a couple of holes here and there, a few picture hooks, combined with some leftover fabric to match their cot quilts (I made earlier in the year) resulted in two little boat baptism gifts. I have two patchwork cushion covers also on the go to commemorate their precious day too – more on those soon!

Quilted heart tote. A little gift for my dear friend’s grand daughter. Hopefully big enough to carry essentials for a lovely day out with her grandma :-)!

PHEW! I have much to worry about….will they like them?? I hope so 🙂