Blog Tour - A Spoonful of Sugar

I can remember one of my first ever blogs that I started reading was - A Spoonful of Sugar.  Lisa Cox and her daughter are an amazing team and over the years I have loved reading all about their crafty pursuits and there have been so many of their tutorials and recipes that I have made.  Over many years we have developed a friendship and I am so thrilled to be part of her Blog Tour for her first book - A Spoonful of Sugar : Sew 20 Simple Projects to Sweeten your Surroundings Zakka Style.

Lisa loves sharing her knowledge of Sewing with everyone and the projects that she has designed in her book are great for everyone.  So many of the projects can be made as gifts or makes for yourself.  I just love the Treasure Bags and Handy Eco Shopper.  I am really into practical sewing these days and love presents that I can make to give to friends and family.

We have some family members and friends expecting new babies in the near future so I just couldn't wait to make the Boutique Baby Bibs.  With sweet English Paper Piecing Style Hexagons - these were so sweet to stitch up. 

I recently got some of the new Garden of Dreams - Liberty collection from Ava and Neve and these were perfect for Fussy cutting the cute little characters out of and such vibrant colours. This is such a sweet children's collection.

Not only is there the hand sewing detail with the Hexagons but also with some hand quilting along the bib which just finishes them off perfectly.  The pattern was quick to sew and these will be just perfect for when new babies arrive.

The Bibs are also reversible.

I loved sewing these and I can not wait to get sewing with some of the other projects in Lisa's book.  This also will make a great gift for someone (Mothers Day is around the corner).  

The Blog Tour Line up - join a whole host of talented makers 

April 26            Jodie Carlton                          Ric Rac

April 27            Minki Kim                               Minki’s Work Table

April 28            Melissa LeRay                         Oh How Sweet

April 29            Jemima Flendt                        Tied With a Ribbon

April 30            Beverley McCullough               Flamingo Toes

May 2              Sedef Imer                             Down Grapevine Lane

May 3              Nadra Ridgeway                      Ellis and Higgs

May 4              Amy Morinaka                         Chick Chick Sewing

May 5              Caroline Critchfield                  Sew Can She

May 6              Kristyne Czepuryk                   Pretty By Hand

May 7              Bronwyn Hayes                       Red Brolly

May 9              Anorina Morris                        Samelia’s Mum

May 10            Peta Peace                              She Quilts A Lot

May 11            Faith Essenburg                       Sarana Ave

May 12            Angie Wilson                           Gnome Angel

May 13            Sharon Burgess                       Lilabelle Lane Creations

May 14            Stacy Olson                             Stacy Olson

May 16            Ayda Algin                               Cafenohut

May 17            Jennie Pickett                         Clover and Violet

May 18            Wynn Tan                                Zakka Art

May 19            Lisa Cox                                  A Spoonful of Sugar

Please join us for an Instagram Sew Along from June 1 – August 9. We will be making projects from A Spoonful of Sugar: Sew 20 Simple Projects to Sweeten Your Surroundings Zakka Style. There will be five rounds, each lasting for two weeks which will give you plenty of time to complete a project or two from the book.  Our good friend, Amy Sinibaldi from Nana Company is the Guest Judge, with fantastic prizes for the winner of each round, plus a Grand Prize Winner, generously sponsored by Alisha from Ministry of Fabric. We really hope you join in the fun! #ASPOONFULOFSUGARSAL

Happy Sewing

Jemima x

Strawberry Biscuit Blog Hop

Today is my turn on the Strawberry Biscuit Fabric Blog Hop and one of my favourite fabric designers - Elea Lutz has done it again with her amazing new range - Strawberry Biscuit.  Strawberry Biscuit for Penny Rose Fabrics is available now and will certainly leave you wanting to add plenty of it to your stash.  The sweet prints with Strawberries, Flowers, Ribbons and bows and the cutest ever characters makes for a wonderful collection with vibrant deep colours.                                

If you have been a fan of Elea's previous ranges - "Milk, Sugar and Flower" and "Little Joys" then you will fall in love again with this delightful fabrics.

I am a big fan of Reds, Blues and Pinks and the shades of these fabrics are bright and bold.  With beautiful and delicate scallops and the character prints are so sweet with lots of opportunities for those who love to Fussy Cut.

The Mini Quilts and Cushions featured are my latest pattern - Sweet Treats.  I knew these fabrics would be perfect for these Sweet inspired treats and just the right colours to show off these designs. 

The pattern for "Sweet Treats" is available in my store. 

The pattern features all 3 designs with both Mini Quilt or Cushion Instructions included.

Rectangle "Sweet" Cushion

Sweet Treats Mini Quilt or Cushion

Round Doughnut Cushion

Elea has a real attention to detail with her character prints containing lots of detail to tell the story of these animal friends.  If you love Puppies then there are lots of cute little dogs you will adore.  I think my favourite prints would have to be "Scallop" and "Daisy" - these are so versatile and I just love the colours of these prints in this range.

Strawberry Biscuit is available now and is distributed in Australia through Millhouse Collections.  I can not wait for Elea's next range - "Apple Yard" - which all ready has me dreaming up new designs. 

Nest up on the Strawberry Biscuit Blog Hop are

Stacey - www.stacyolsondesign.com and 

Ange - www.alittlepatchwork.wordpress.com

Happy Sewing

Jemima x

Amity's Garden Quilt and Cushion Duo - New pattern release

Last year - my youngest sister announced she was Pregnant.  Well anytime people announce they are having a baby it is special and it immediately means I get "the excuse" create a new handmade gift.  Once she knew she was having a little girl - it meant I could get designing something very sweet and girly for her arrival.

I knew exactly what design I wanted to create and I had my own two girls help to pick out these beautiful Liberty Fabrics in Pinks, Purples and Apple Greens.  These flowers and butterflies are set among this amazing Japanese Linen that I had been hoarding for just such a special project.  Together these fabrics are so soft.

"Amity's Garden" was then named once my sweet little niece arrived - and she is just so delightful.  This set features a Cot size Quilt and matching Cushion. 

Photo courtesy of Homespun Magazine

Amity's Garden was featured in February's, 2016 issue of Homespun Magazine.

I decided to hand quilt the quilt and cushion - I used matching Auriful 12wt threads to outline the flowers and butterflies and then used a stencil to outline hearts into the background of the Quilt.  These made for a special feature of the quilt (although difficult to see from the photographs).

Amity's Garden Quilt and Cushion Duo is now available as a 

PDF pattern in my store.

Also available wholesale through my distributor Creative Abundance for stores looking to stock this and other patterns in my range. 

Happy Sewing

Jemima x