One Block Wonder January Link Up

It is hard to believe that another month has come and gone and it's time to link up your
          January, Around the Block, blocks!! 

Don't forget you only need one block done from January's block pattern to be able to link up and get in on this months prize draw.

is generously sponsoring a

$30.00 

Gift Certificate 

Pam also has given us a 20% discount code for the month of January for 

the Meadowblooms line 

"BLOOMS20"

So you still have a few days to take advantage of that savings too!!

I am so excited to see what you have all created with this months block! I know I heard a lot of compliments on the pattern, but I also know it may have intimidated some....so I hope you all tried and love this block as much as I do....it's kinda my favourite.....don't tell the other blocks though.... ;)

Link Up is open till Feb 4th

We have a winner.....Julie 

I 'll be sending you and email to let you know!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Sneak Peak of February's One Block Wonders Pattern and.... a Mon Ami Give Away!!!!

Here's a good one you don't want to miss......Mon Ami from Moda!

Rita from

has donated some Mon Ami fabric!! 

One for me to build a sample  block

for February's Hug version of the One Block Wonders BOM

and one for a lucky quilter, maybe you!!!!

There's lots going on this month...

we are still finishing up January's block....find more info here....

The winner announcement for this give away 

and The Link up for January's block will happen on January 29th

.....and now....we are having our first sneak peak of the next month's block....

the pattern and tutorial will go live on February 5th....

So hopefully the lucky winner will receive their FQ bundle

 in time to create their own mini with February's block pattern!!

I am loving this Hugs version.....

the Mon Ami fabric suits this fantastic mini quilt!!

So don't wait another minute....

fill out the RaffleCopter ballets for your chance at some awesome fabric...

and share some love with Rita from Fabric Please!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Double Duty Day---And a way to Give Back

Pillow Case

I had come across this dress idea a few years ago 

and was glad to find it again to add it to a DDD post. 

What a cute simple little dress or top, and even better,  a chance to be able to give back a little.

Who thinks of these ideas? To turn an item we use everyday into a sweet little dress ....

and there are so many other ideas too, but first the dress. 

 Here are some of the versions and patterns I found when I Googled:

 Each Picture is a link to it's pattern or tutorial......

PDF Pattern from Nancy's Notions Little dresses for Africa

Other Pillow Case Ideas:

Skirt

Garment Bag

Shorts

Grocery Bag

YouTube Video

Have fun....

I'm sure you can find even more great ideas....

Oh and a FYI......

Click on image to find out all the details and mark your calendar!!

Let's Celebrate....Table Topper or Wall Hanging

Building Joy 

or which ever season you are celebrating table runner or wall hanging!!!


Valentine's

 Spring/ Summer

Shown in Soft Dreams from P&B Textiles

The example is being made with Winter Wonderland by BunnyHill for Moda with Kona Lipstick and Snow for the front piecing. The applique and backing is Essentials by Wilmington Prints. 

The brick sections of this pattern will also work great with some leftover  jelly roll strips!!

Pattern can be found here.

The pattern has be revised and includes full instructions and reverse letter templates for the included appliqués...Joy, Noel, Be Mine and Hello Spring

But the fun part is you can appliqué anything you want into the middle section....just depends on what  you want to celebrate!!

I used Heat'n'Bond light for the applique and also added a lightweight interfacing to the back of my centre section to add some weight to the fabric for appliquing. So just trace the letters on the heat and bond and rough cut them and apply to back of fabric according to package directions. Then cut them out and apply to your centre section.

Check out Dafont.com if you are looking for some new font alternatives

There are lots of free fonts available, just know that you will have to play around to see how large to print them, each will be different!

I used a blanket stitch to overcast the raw edge. I set my stitch to 3.5 width and 2.5 length (Pfaff PassPort)

Joy Version

If you want the option of a wall hanging, just add folded squares of fabric to the top two corners during the binding process.

Hello Spring

Another Q1 Finish in the 2016 Finish Along

I finished the first bag in the 2016 Bag of the Month Club!! My second bag finish of the year, I am on a roll for sure.....

The January Backgammon Bag was designed by Betz White

Tab and a twist lock over the main bag opening, adjustable strap

both outside slip side pockets have magnetic closures

One inside zippered pocket

 I want to add some insider information here, lol! Sometimes things go exactly as planned, and other times things go a little off track.....I chose to make my pockets out of a different fabric instead of using the main bag fabric; the backgammon wedges in the print fabrics were suppose to end up on the bottom, so the linen would be a buffer between all the patterned fabrics, but I cut my first pocket out upside down.....so I just went with it, lol! Then the lock tab was suppose to be linen and the clock print for the lining, until I glued the lock on the wrong way.... :0
All this to say.....it all worked out, I still love it.....sometimes we just have to except things as they are.... beautiful can happen many different ways....
And the bag is carrying around some secret appliqué, which I will show you in a little while when I can....

Not on my list but I thought I would share: 3rd Bag
I just finished testing a lunch bag pattern for Emmaline Bags called The Luxi-Lunch Bag, pattern coming soon.....it uses the new B size internal wire frames...
This bag has a lot of room, if you can't pack enough food to keep you from being hungry....you must be really hungry...lol

My First Finish for 2016 Finish Along Q1

I have joined the Bag of the Month Club every year since it's beginning, though I have yet to make all the patterns. So one of my goals this year is to complete a pattern from a previous year
 before I get to sew the bag from this year's months. 

The first bag pattern up is a design from Betz White called Backgammon Bag and it's adorable 

and motivated me to get going on my goal.......

So from the 2 previous years of 12 patterns I had sewn 2 bags, (insert cheeky grin) so I had 10 patterns to choose from. I chose to make the Convertible Bag by Sewing Patterns by Mrs H. 

 I have to say, I learn a lot every time I make a new bag. This is not my area of expertise for sure, but thanks to Google and YouTube, and even designers who answer your questions (thank you Mrs. H), I'm getting better at this.

If I can share a tip or two....read over the instructions, take your time, as they say "measure twice, cut once", use Google and YouTube for visual help, and most of all...I always think of the first one as a trial run :) because the second one is always easier to make.

This was my first time using a foam for the structure of a bag....(it was not S&S) and what I learned... I love the look it adds to a bag, but I am not a fan of working with it....lol! It got tricky in some spots for sure. I am so thankful for my Janome 1600P (straight stitch only machine) It handled the bulk like a pro!!

And because the foam is not adhesive I added some straight line quilting that turned out great!

Love adding bling from Emmaline Bags!! First time adding the Handmade tag!!

I now have pliers in my HobbyRoom! I need to add a hammer, an awl and a tool box....lol. 

Tip: remember to cover your hardware with a double layer or so of some scrap fabric to protect it while you pinch the tines shut!!

 I was so proud of myself for getting the flap lining, directional fabric, going in the right direction. I almost missed thinking about it. Then it would have been upside down when I opened the flap.

Note to self: when you use a home dec/ light canvas  weight fabric and the pattern tells you to use your main fabric for the zipper pocket area...change to a quilt cotton, lol! Oops way to bulky, but I got it to work!

 Don't you just love the little pleat that was made at the bottom of the bag!!

I'm really happy with the way this bag turned out!!

Pattern Review:

I had a few issues with instructions in this pattern, but let me start with, I broke the rules and did not read through the instructions before I started...lol...but in my defence my brain works better with the words and the doing at the same time. If not I don't always understand what the instructions mean(don't always understand this way either...).

I should also add, I did not make this convertible.

I left off the items to make this convert into a backpack.

1. I wish there were more pictures for us visual learners.

2. I found the fabric used in the tutorial made it harder to interpret the pictures that were supplied.

3. I didn't understand why the zippered pocket lining was made with the seam down and the fold up. It seemed to me the pocket would be stronger with the fold at the bottom?

4. I found one area of the pattern more confusing than it needed to be, getting that cute little bottom pleat, again all in how our brains work,  but like I said,  the next one will be a breeze!!

Conclusion: 

So worth the effort....

It's a great grab and go size, and with 2 zipper pockets and 2 slip pockets, should keep all your stuff organized.

Sneak Peak:

Now I get to work on the new year, January bag.......

I picked my fabrics:

 and started to sew......I need to ask, am I the only one who has trouble getting the Pellon Fusible Fleece to fuse??? What am I doing wrong?? I could not get it to stick no matter what I did...so I ended up quilting it in place......eeeeer!!!!!!! (the quilting did turn out nice though)

and then I cut out my first pocket upside down....lol

So instead of the colours being along the bottom of the pocket they are at the top. So of course I repeated for the second pocket too. (some mistakes are good...I like it!)

 Have a great week everyone!!