.: Social Tote prep :.

Following on from my awesome fortune in being part of Camille's class a couple of weeks ago, this weekend I am taking part in a Social Tote class, being taught by the very-talented Lorena!!

I've been slowly prepping all the different pieces, carefully following the cutting instructions Lorena shared with us all on the Facebook group (as an aside, these closed Facebook groups are gradually turning me into a Facebook convert.  How great are they!?  Who knew?!), quilting the side panels and steam-ironing interface to all the pieces that need it.  And using my brand new Frixion pen to label all the pieces - it's so good, I can't believe I didn't have one before - I bought it at my local newsagent.  

The Social Tote is a very detailed pattern, but if you break it down, it's not too scary.  And of course, it helps having Lorena guiding us all through it! - she's been so kind and helpful on Facebook, and I know she will be a fabulous teacher this weekend.

The Aunty Cookie Cookies up there are the tiny pockets - I love them and am so happy they are the perfect size!  I cut out a plastic template for the pockets, so I could be sure to get my fussy-cutting of the Cookies right - I didn't want any heads to be cut off when I sewed the curve!  And the awesome chalk letter fabric is by Amy, from her Spoonflower shop, PennyCandy.  I'm using three of Amy's fabrics for my Social Tote, love her designs so much. 

That's it for today, just one pic.  I'll share more pics once I've finished my prep - just the handles and the pin-cushion to go, and I'm ready to roll.  Happy Monday to you all.  xoxo cat

(edited to link in to Angie GnomeAngel's first Fussy Cutters' Club Link Party!)

.: the start of the pressie line-up :.

I can feel a few pressie-posts coming on, since pretty much all my sewing time lately has been spent on pressie-sewing.  Apart from swaps and bees.  

Just a couple of in-progress pics to share with you today.  First up, a cushion-top, with the beyond-fabulous Tula Pink raccoons, from her Acacia line. I don't know what it is about the raccoons, but I love them.  A lot.  As much as I love all things Melody Miller (the awesome telephone in the middle). 

{{what does the raccoon say?}}

And now, the churn-dash-a-thon.  I really can't believe there are only 12, since it feels like I've been sewing them for a very long time.  A few of them are for specific people - which has meant that specific fabrics have been chosen ... the most obvious one is the piano-cats on the top left, which is for the girls' piano teacher.  Who loves the piano.  And cats.  Are you on board with my thought process?  It's hard to keep up, I know.

The churn dashes are all destined to become hot-pads.  I think.  I'm a little worried about the glittery-fabric on a few of them - maybe they're not made for hot-stuff to be sat on them. A Plan B could be in the works ... maybe they'll become zip-pouches, or a panel for a bag, or even sit in the unfinished-projects drawer for several months.  The possibilities are endless.

Hope you've had a happy weekend.  I'll be back in a couple days to share my Down Under Doll Quilt Swap mini - once it's safely in the mail.  'til then, xoxo cat

.: rainy weekend :.

Lots of rain in Brisbane today.  Here's a bit of what's gone on here. 

{{this went on for a little over two hours}}

{{still going}}

{{Toyota jumps}}

{{floor cushions for a friend's meeting room.  They're tiny, but they're for primary-school-aged kids to sit on, so I figure tiny works}}

{{finally quilting a cushion-front I made last school hols}}

Happy weekend to you - rainy or not - hope it's a good one.  xoxo cat

:: holiday sewing ::

How are your school holidays going?  Brisbane continues to be super hot - though today is blissfully overcast and a little cooler.

We got going early this morning and ticked off back-to-school haircuts, groceries, the post office and the DVD hire-place all before 10.30.

Which meant lots of time back home to sew for me, and a movie marathon for the girls.

I don't think I've shared this instagram pic - eight QAYG placemats, using gorgeous Melody Miller fabrics.  I still need to back these - they're so close to being finished!! 

{{so love Melody Miller}}

And yesterday, I sewed up a test block for Lorena's Anna Maria Horner feather bed quilt.  I wanted to make sure I was ok with the pattern before I cut into Lorena's fabrics, since I don't have a huge history of excellent-pattern-following-ability.

{{it worked!!}}

I am so happy with it, I love the feathers.  Lorena's quilt will be beautiful - her fabrics are all AMH - looking forward to sewing them up for her, and the AusModBee kicking off!

My AusModBee month isn't until August, and I've been deciding between a few different blocks - lots of looking through books and online.  I had just about settled on a Japanese x+ block - I even sewed up a test block on Sunday, with my own guesstimate measurements adapted from Badskirt Amy's excellent tutorial.

{{Tammis Keefe dogs + Pam Kitty Morning buttons + Martha Negley feathers + Heather Ross patchwork}}

And then the very next day - yesterday - I discovered that the second informal instagram quilt-a-long, is to be the exact same block.  AND that Megan of Canoe Ridge Creations, had published cutting instructions for a 12 inch block - exactly what I was after.  

I think I'll stick with this block for my AusModBee as I really love it.  The quilt-a-long (known on instagram as the #xplusalong) will be great incentive to sew up some blocks now though - as my AusModBee quilt is destined for our king-size bed.  I need a looooot of blocks ... I made three more today. 

{{Spoonflower + Yuwa + AMH + Lucky Penny + Martha Negley feathers + Lizzy House}}

{{Spoonflower + Melody Miller + Aunty Cookie + Lucky Penny + Stof  + AMH + a texty print}}

{{Spoonflower + AMH + Push Pin + Love Notes + Flower Press}}

And here's all four - so far - together.  I'm aiming to use all text prints in cream/white/grey as the triangle pieces, so that they bring a bit of calmness to all the crazy colour.   Really happy with them - it's a block after my fussy-cutting-loving heart.

{{loving them}}

And due to all the sewing time, I've now finished watching Season 1 of Once Upon a Time - I've really loved it.  I've seen it on TV when I've been flicking through channels, but never actually watched it.  Now I'm all caught up and ready for Season 2.

And in cat&vee news - Vee took delivery of a box full of Spoonflower awesomeness today!!  We'll be uploading all our bird designs to the shop over the next few days, and post more pics here soon.  

Hope your week has been fun.   xoxo cat

:: Blogtoberfest day 15 - Jubilee Jacks ::

I was folding up my never-ending pile of fabrics-to-be-returned-to-the-cupboard and came across Amy's Jubilee Jacks.  I'd last used them for our Sir Finn McTrickster ipad-zip-pouch.

Amy has designed the Jacks with a perfect 1/4 line around each flag, so they're perfect for sewing-into-things.  And since they're called 'Jubilee Jacks', I thought back to England's Jubilee celebrations ... and thought that those flags should be flying - so came up with a few new ipad-zip-pouch ideas.

So far, there are these two.

{{the little hedgehogs are late for the Jubilee celebrations ... ssshh, don't tell them}}

I've had the little pink hedgehogs - also from Spoonflower - for ages.   They were also sitting in my fabric-to-be-returned-to-the-cupboard pile too ...  The sky in this one is a cute print I bought from Patches, and the grass and flagpole are part of the Reunion line.

{{Amy's Union Jacks are so cute - they're a hand-stamped design}}

The bunting flags are also from Reunion.

{{I think this bunting-version is my favourite}}

Cute, aren't they?  I have more Jubilee Jack ideas - just need more time to sew. 

Don't forget our Blogtoberfest giveway - scroll down to Day 10 for all the details.  Our giveaway closes midnight Australian EST, Friday 26 October. 

'til tomorrow     xoxo cat

:: homie holiday sewing ::

I've been making the most of the school holidays to squeeze in as much sewing as I can, so here are a few pics to share - taken on my phone, boo - my camera has been sent off to Canon to be fixed and I haven't yet come up with a better Plan B.

First up we have a trial-run Lisey Meow Meow bag.  This started out as a birthday pressie for the real Lisey Meow Meow, but it went pear shaped when I tried to insert my first-ever recessed zipper, while also sewing in inside-straps.  So it's become a keeper.

Next up we have a Pipsqueak ipad-cover, which is headed to Vee's house for her Christmas pressie stash.  Here's the front:

{{Curly Pops Go Granny squares across the top, a kei kerchief girl, and some cute purple trees from Amitie}}

And the very cute back:

{{festival of Tula Pink - ladybirds, birds and bees and squirrels.  And a very sweet Out to Sea pirate girl}}

Aaaand the inside:

{{Castle Peeps!}}

Next on the list is a sneaky peek at a bag I have made as part of a Secret Santa Swap, being coordinated by Kara from Me and Elna.  I don't want to say too much about it now, since I am guessing that if my swap-partner sees this pic, she could guess it's destined to end up under her Christmas tree ... I've finished it super-early, so I won't post it til I've got some good pics on my camera.  When my camera comes back from its enforced holiday with Canon, that is ... 

We have got a real Pipsqueak theme happening here, so let's see one more - this one is on its way to GnomeAngel Angie's house already.  Do you see the gnome?!  And the teeny tiny angels!? (they're actually Saffron Craig fairies, but I am pretending they are angels).

{{more Curly Pops, because I love the Go Grannies, and Chicopee orange and pink down the sides}}

Last pic for the day - I used Jen Kingwell's very awesome Carnival Alphabet pattern (purchased last week from Amitie during our trip to Melbourne) - to create two 'read' cushion fronts.  I love love love them and can't wait to get them finished and then think up some more words to make.  The pattern is really straightforward, and the letters come together really quickly - the only real trick is umming and ahhing over which fabrics to use! 

OK that's it for today.  Hope your week is a good one.  xoxo cat

:: sew it, sister ::

A rare day of uninterrupted sewing, between school drop off and pick up.

Here's what I made:

{love}

A Union Jack!! Have been wanting to make one for ages, and I suddenly thought how awesome would Summersville (the red and blue) look with Madrona Road (the black on white text)!! Very awesome, is the answer.  This will become a cushion to keep.

Next - four wonky stars:

{more love}

Cannot tell you how much I am loving the Madrona Road grey/black crosshatch fabric.  Must order more, it just works so well with these colours.  

The star points are a mix of Prints Charming, Kate Spain, Bonnie + Camille Bliss, and I think Heather Bailey ... and that gorgeous rain-droppy fabric I picked up at Purl Soho when were were in NYC that I've never discovered the name of. 

Close-up pics:

{bee in frame from new Echino range}

{gorgeous Melody Miller Ruby Star lady}

{so love the deer wearing specs from the new Echino range}

{so gorgeous donkey by the letter-box from Madrona Road. love this line}.

That Madrona Road grey/black cross hatch is such a revelation, I love it.  Plan to order more, to be the solid for my upcoming Bloom quilt.  Just waiting on Monica Happy Zombie's gorgeous Winterkist to be released for that too.  

Not quite sure what the star blocks will be yet.  I started with the intention that they would become zip pouches for the shop.  We are waaaaay behind on our shop sewing.  But now I don't know.  Will have a think. 

Happy Ekka day off school and work to everyone in Brisbane tomorrow.  Have got my fingers crossed for a little bit more sewing.    xoxo cat

  

:: T is for ... ::

What a gorgeous BrisVegas weekend it's been!  We've been to netball, a party, a family walk or two, another party, church, out for coffee, and spent a little bit of time mooching around at home.   Wish there had been more mooching time, as always.  Never enough mooching.  

The netball season is at last coming to an end ... when you've only had one win and one draw, it makes for a very loooooong season.  The girls have had fun though, and celebrated with a movie night party at the coach's house last night.  So cute.  

Our coach is a very sweet girl - she is only 15 and has done a great job with her little team of first-season players.  Her Mum has helped out a lot too.  So now it's pressie time.  To throw in with the team-pressies, I'm making up a couple of zip-pouches.

So far:

{{this one is for our lovely coach ... her name starts with T ... }}

{{and this one is for our lovely coach's lovely Mum ... her name starts with T too ... }}

Will make a move on finishing the zip pouches up later in the week - before Saturday anyway, when it'll be pressie-handing-over time.  

And now?  It's wine time.   Hope your weekend was relaxing and warm.  And not too filled with driving all over BrisVegas to various sporting events like our lovely friend K .... mwah love, time for a drink, the washing can wait!!    xoxo cat

:: sometimes ... ::

Sometimes, the week goes a little pear-shaped and it's only Tuesday morning.

THIS time, it was all due to some action at the vet with Ted:

{taken with my latest favourite thing - instagram}

Vee and I got back on track today, with some more singsongs screen printing - a couple of different song colours will hit the shop by the end of the week.

Have been playing around with more of our singsongs words, mixing it in with the gorgeous Summersville fabric, and some Aunty Cookie:

{ooh, instagram again}

And this wee cushion went to a wee Irish friend:

{oh snap. instagram}

Here's to the week getting bigger and better in the run up to the weekend, yah!   xoxo cat

:: Summersville ::

Making a start on some cushions for home, using Lucie Summers' gorgeous Summersville range for Moda.   Love it.  A lot.

Have framed 7 favourite prints in white, and am now slowly adding borders.  One down ... :

Happy weekend - fingers crossed for rain in Brisbane, since it's good weather for sewing ...   xoxo cat

:: scaramouche cushion-front ... in progress ::

Scaramouche cushion-front in progress, a photo by cat&vee on Flickr.

Vee and I are playing around with our singsongs designs - this one will end up a Scaramouche cushion cover, in our shop.

Cute, huh.

We've made a border from some of our very favourite fabrics - for any fabricaholics (anyone?), we'll provide a complete list of the fabrics in our Etsy listing.  Or as complete as we can make it.  Soon.

Can I just point out though, that SOME of the fabrics were purchased IN PERSON from Purl Soho in New York last month?  Oh I'm excited.  

Do you all spy the queen?   And do you get why I'm pointing out the queen?  Leave it with you.

 xoxo cat