Some secret projects - shhh!

There is lots going on behind closed doors here at the moment.  Just some teasing sneak peaks for you for some things that I can't reveal just yet!

But here is a pic I can show you - these cuties - all ready for Perth Upmarket - Sunday November 27th at UWA.

And of course if you can't make it I have some all ready here in my Etsy Shop.

Snowman Tutorial

If you are a reader of my Facebook Page then you will know that this week has been a BIG week for me - lots of exciting things have happened with the highlight definately being my felt Snowmen on the cover of Tickle the Imagination.  They are also included as a tutorial inside the e-magazine.  On a personal level - my eldest daughter won the Junior Girl Champion at the Inter School Athletics Carnival so there has been alot of celebrating going on in this household.

I wanted to share with you on my Blog the tutorial for my Snowmen so here it is - would love for you to share your photos on my Facebook page if you make any.

What you will need 

white felt

red felt

orange felt

red ribbon

white, red and orange cotton thread

black embroidery thread

button

2 black brads

2 pink brads

toy filling

Step 1 - Print and cut out paper pattern and pin onto felt.  Cut 2 Faces from the white felt.  Cut 2 Hats from the red felt and cut 1 Nose from the orange felt.

Step 2 - Using a pencil mark the position of the eyes and mouth. Push through black Brads for the eyes.  Using the black embroidery thread Back stitch the mouth and then push through pink Brads into the corner of his smile.

Step 3 - Using the orange cotton thread sew on the Snowman’s nose using a Running stitch.

Step 4 - Using the red cotton thread sew the Snowman’s hat into position along the bottom of the hat only using a Running stitch.

Step 5 - Repeat for the back of the Snowman.

Step 6 - Fold the ribbon in half and sew it into position in the middle of the Snowman back piece.

Step 7 - place your Snowman front and Snowman back together with the right sides facing outwards.  Using red cotton thread sew around the top of your Snowman’s Hat through both layers using a Running stitch.

Step 8 - Using white cotton thread sew around your Snowman’s Face through both layers using a Running stitch.  Stop about 2cm before the Hat and stuff your Snowman with your Toy filling.

Step 9 - Stitch your Snowman closed.

Would love to hear your thoughts on my tutorial and I hope these will keep you busy in the lead up to Christmas.

NOTE : These Snowmen are intended as decorations only.  They are not a toy or suitable for children under 3 years due to small parts.

Tutorial not for commercial use!

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Progress Report and Shop Update!

Well I promised I would be back in 2 weeks with a progress report on the unfinished projects from my last post.  In hind sight setting deadlines over the school holiday break is probably not the wisest idea ever as every time I wanted to get close to my sewing room there were two little girls cutting, sewing and crafting up a storm ALL OVER the floor in my Sewing room.  But I am more than happy that my projects were put aside for a growing love for textiles and sewing by my girls.  

My Jazzy Jungle quilt - I have finished hand sewing all the animal blocks and now I just have to put it all together.

There has been some progress on my Disappearing nine patch quilt.  All the blocks have been cut out and re sewn and I have several rows together now.  I am loving how this is starting to come together. 

There are so many different ways to do this design but I am glad that I chose plains to go with the striking red Kaffe fabrics.

There sadly has been no progress on the Robot Canvas or on the quilt for my daughter.  I have finished one more square on my crochet blanket.  But we had a fabulous holiday break.

At the recent Perth Upmarket my Bethanie Apron

 - not only the made Aprons but also the pattern was a huge success.  I have now listed the pattern in my Etsy shop so you too can make your very own.  And of course I would love to see any photos from anyone who has made one.

Two many unfinished projects

Look we all know I am a list person - I even have a rule about only 3 projects on the go at one time.  Some people thrive with lots of projects on the go at once - not me - I have somehow let my On-The-Go project list get longer than I can handle.  So this is my way of getting through them.  I am going to show you the state of them currently and then report back in 2 weeks with their progress. (I also like deadlines!)

Jazzy Jungle quilt for my new Godson

Candy Girl quilt for my daughters 9th Birthday (in 7 weeks)

Robot Stitchery - which itself is finished but needs to be turned into a Canvas for a different Godson.

All my squares are now cut for my Kaffe 9 Patch quilt - awaiting sewing!

Still crocheting Squares for my way too ambitious lap rug - only about 15 more to go!

And well to finish off - Here is a project I have finished.

Here is my Liberty Bliss Scarf

I look forward to NEXT winter when I will be able to wear it - I am really happy with how my first completed crochet project has turned out.  I especially love the Liberty Ceaser Tana lawn threaded through the crochet.

Busy Creating!

It is definitely starting to feel a lot like Christmas around Tied with a Ribbon HQ lately.  This Advent Calendar has been designed for our Term Four Sew Along Classes together with Claire Turpin Design.  It has been a busy Term with all of our classes.  The ladies have been making some gorgeous creations and the Term 4 class list will be out shortly.

This week alone I have been sewing 9 of these Christmas Sacks.  It may be only September but orders are coming in quite consistently for these.  I love how individual these always are.  Even though the character may be the same I always use different fabrics and no two names are even spelt the same way.  

I also have started a new quilt.  I made a Disappearing 9 Patch quilt for my Mum's birthday earlier this year.  I love this design and have been keen ever since to make another.  I love how complicated or simple you can make the colours.  With Mum's I choose 9 Kaffe fabrics in pinks,oranges and yellows.  This time this is the colour way I have gone with.



I love these Reds with the Peacock green and blues in plains to break up the bold Kaffe prints.

And speaking of my favourite Peacock colours - here is my "Liberty Bliss"  scarf - it is coming along.  I can't wait to thread through some beautiful Liberty Tana Lawn through the spaced trebles in the scarf.





Still here!

Yes still here - if a post was written for every time I thought that I must go and post at my Blog - then you would get tired of my posting!  I don't think I have ever had as much going on with my Family and trying to juggle a business at the same time.  My girls have really needed my focus lately and that has meant that things like blogging have had to go on the back burner. 

I have been sewing lots of Aprons all ready for Perth Upmarket on October 2nd.

 I have gone to a short course on Crochet down at Calico and Ivy.  Mostly I learnt about all the things I was doing wrong with my Crochet and now here is the start of a Scarf that hopefully will be ready for next Winter.  I am going to thread Liberty Tana lawn through this and I am so in love with the colours from peacock feathers that they were my inspiration for the colour theme of the scarf! 

I have also put the finishing touches on my Smiling Santas Felt Kits - these will go into my Etsy shop hopefully in the next day or two.  Lots of people last year asked if these ready made Santas were available in a kit and well now, in time for this Christmas they are all ready to go.

Behind the Scenes

Lots of work has been going on recently "Behind the scenes".  I have been designing some new items and of course the easy party is almost in designing them.  Then comes a list of things to do to get the items ready for Market.  I have been working with some fabulous women lately to help me achieve this and I truly believe that if you surround yourself with supportive and creative people the results speak ten fold.

This is the lovely Sheena from Sheena Cooke Photography.  She has been helping with the new cover shots for my new Felt Kits.  You will see in the picture what the new kit will be - Smiling Santas and these will be ready shortly.  Once they are ready to go I will reveal the cover shot which I am so pleased with.  

The gorgeous model in this next shot is Lisa Walsh.  She is the face behind many wonderful ventures - Cookie Dough, Cream Butter & Sugar and The Market Mill.  How one lady can be so talented in so many different areas seems just a little unfair (LOL!).

Cant wait to share all these finished projects with you soon.

I have had a new little obsession lately and it all started with this blog In Colour Order.  Putting colour together has always been a struggle of mine.  I draw quite a distinction between artistic and creative.  I don't think that the two are at all the same thing.  I find it hard to draw, paint or sculpt.   My mind does not work in an artistic way way at all - rather the ideas and concepts I have in my head take a long time to nurture and develop.  I have struggled with the concept of the Colour wheel and it has taken many years for me to be comfortable with how I put colours together - definitely not in an artistic way - just more in a Jemima way.

Well when I discovered Jeni's blog I was amazed at how beautifully she puts together colours and in reading it, I  always find inspiration in the colours she puts together.  Not only does she do this well but her Etsy Shop has also been a downfall of mine lately.

These Vintage sheets are destined to become an Applique quilt that I have spied in the book The Practical Guide to Patchwork.  Can't wait to start cutting them up and working with these.  Every time I look at the sheets it reminds me of my childhood.