Small Town Quilt

I just finished sewing a new quilt. The main block is a pinwheel, with strips and squares around it. The quilt pattern came from Sew magazine.

I've called the finished quilt 'Little Town' due to the cute little houses, hills, bicycles and flowers on the fabrics.

Soap Making

Basic soap making recipe:

615g coconut oil
670ml sunflower oil
670ml olive oil
295g caustic soda
930ml water
25ml soap fragrance of your choice

Dissolve the caustic soda in the water. do this in a large bucket or tub and don't breathe in the fumes! The mixture will get very hot - leave it to cool to room temperature.

Melt the solid coconut oil on a gentle heat. Allow it cool and then add in the sunflower oil and olive oil. Stir well. Add in your chosen fragrance oil. 

Once the water mixture has cooled add the oil mixture to it. Stir well for at least 20 mins until well combined. If you want to add in dried flowers or petals do it at this stage.

Pour the mixture into an airtight container and leave for at least 6 months. 

Baby Travel Quilt

Another baby travel quilt - this one in oranges, greens and blues. This was made to order - the request was for something bright & colourful, gender neutral, and with animal print fabric.

The Backing I used was a flannel baby crib sheet, and it felt so soft! The colours help make this quilt light and bright, and suitable for boys or girls. I quilted it freehand in a spiral.

Summer Fete

Last Saturday I had my first Vintage Bee stall, at the Widcombe school fete in Bath. It was a good chance to see what would sell, and to get immediate feedback from customers about my things.

Despite it looking like it was going to rain all day, the weather held up and I had a great day. Sold lots of little things like bibs and brooches, and even sold a bunny and a fox! The little girl who took the bunny home brought it with her birthday money, and Ash tells me 'bubby' came with her to watch the school play this week, so clearly she is very loved! I couldn't be more thrilled, every bunny needs to be well loved!

Quilted Cushion

My Mum asked me to recover an old cushion for her. she is decorating the spare room in blues & cream/white tones and wanted the new cover to match this scheme. After looking through my old copies of Love Patchwork magazine she selected the most complicated patchwork cushion design in there for her new cover!

The fabrics were all ones I already had. The patchwork design itselt was complicated, and I'll admit that I couldn't see how it was all going to come together when I was laying it out, but I followed the step by step instructions and slowly the design emerged!

I'm really thrilled with the end result, and more importantly so is Mum!

A Very Special Bunny!

The bunny dolls from Posie Gets Cosie have been my favourite things to make this year. When a friend requested a custom made bunny, complete with pyjamas and a jumper, the challenge was too cute to resist!

The result is my favourite bunny so far - looking dapper in vintage fabric pyjamas with a patterned jumper over the top and slippers in case he gets cold!

Rosie Cushion

For Ash's Mum's birthday I made her a cushion with her beloved dog Rosie on it. This has been a surprise hit with everyone who's seen it and they all now want cushions with their pets on them!

The background fabric and inner cushion came from Ikea. Rosie's face is felt with free machine embroidery over the top.