Handwarmers, Totes, a competition win and more........

My main "thing" is quilting but after finishing a couple of big quilts, lately I just needed a few small projects that I could start and finish fast!  And the fun I've had! 

First I made the Fabric Wreath that I showed you yesterday.  Check out my first ever little tutorial if you haven't seen it already.  It's a no-sew project so suitable for everyone!  You will see the Tutorial Link at the top of the page, under the header!

Then, I made a few hand warmers for my mum and a good friend, Georgie who has Reynauds Disease so always has blue hands in the cold.  I filled them with rice and added a few drops of cinnamon to give them a nice smell. 

Next, I wanted to make something for my friend who has recently taken up crochet.  We've been friends since we were 10.  I have always been the one who was into "make & do" and always had a box of some craft or other in the corner whether it was glass painting, jewellery, card making and eventually, my total addiction, sewing/quilting and it's lovely to finally be able to share the love of making with her.  So, when I found this pattern online, I had to buy it and make it up for her.

It was my first time making a tote....... I have to admit, the base was a bit of a challenge so it's not perfect but it taught me alot!

I get fierce excited when I start to see a project come together so it takes a little longer because I need to stop regularly to admire it....... hence this picture of it before even adding the lining and it's turned right side out!

  It's a Crochet Tote.  It has a fine big center to hold up to 5 full balls of wool and then all the way around there are different sized pockets to hold the crochet hooks (or knitting needles), scissors and any other related notions!  I chose bright and cheerful colours because she's young and funky (just like me, ha ha)! 

And finally, I had bought some of the Gorjuss Fabric about 6 months ago and just didn't know what to do with it but finally, FINALLY, I cut into it and made my friends two little girls some bags.  I did some straight line quilting on them (which I love since I haven't mastered free-motion yet) and they turned out cute. 

It's hard not to turn out cute when you are using anything Gorjuss by Santoro........... it's just adorable!

I used a stem stitch and added their names on too.  You can't see the names because I hadn't gifted them when I took the picture so I covered it up with a bit of selvedge!

Now, before I go.............check out my little "win" on Instagram.  I entered a little competition with @colourmehappy2 and I won!!!!

I got orange chocolate ( my fav) (well, one of my fav's), a funky fat quarter, a mini Moda Charm pack, some wonder clips and hexie templates!  EEEEEEEEEK, I'm going making hexies!!!!! How cool...........

Daft pic won't rotate properly - sorry!

A little something different - for me!

This week I got to do something a little different.  Along with one of my buddies in our sewing class, we made fabric covered boxes.  We used kits available at The Quilt Shop, it came with pre-cut sturdy card, box corners and precise instructions.  All we needed to add was our choice of fabric and some pva glue!

I've been dying to use this funky range of fabric for AGES but couldn't decide what to make with it.  Well, this was the perfect chance and I chose to use the umbrella design.  It has lots of colours in it and there are some beautiful co-ordinates in the range but I picked the red spots to co-ordinate with it........because it's a little more girlie!

 If you like getting crafty, this is a super project,  you get to mess around with glue and for a change it's a no-sew project!

And we got to bash around with a hammer............ great for working out the frustrations of the day! ;)

This box is about 13.5" square.  It's called a block box because it's useful for storing your 12.5" patchwork blocks flat. 

 

I know this box is going to get great use......... I have been putting in the blocks I'm currently working on, they're not 12.5" but it's the perfect spot to keep them until they're ready to be stitched together!

 

 

It was easy to make but it does take a little time - all in all, I would say about 3 hours but in that, as this was my first time making one, some of that time was spent checking and double checking that we were doing it correctly.

I think you end up with something a little funky for your efforts!