Happy New Year everybody lol a bit late or early if we talk Chinese New Year

Well... a New year or New beginning is always exciting and makes everyone think about what we would like the new year to do for us all..

I'm feeling pretty good about the new year the new fabrics are just getting better if thats possible.

I had some issues with my machine and was getting a little grumpy and disillusioned about it. It cost a bomb it was 8 months old and my tension was driving me nuts. I sew ALOT and expect it to keep up with me.

I took it back and it was gone a WEEK. I'm sure you can imagine when I was calling daily how annoyed they were getting with me. I was told "were waiting on the Husqvarna tech guy to call them back." grrrrr

 Well after having a sook about it to a friend (you know who you are) she suggested I call Husqvarna Australia.

Well guess who I rang first thing in the morning. Yip and guess what...... the part required was in the mail by lunch time.

So Husqvarna called my shop and it was sorted. and then the sun came out and I heard Birds chirping.......I have it back and it now works perfectly.

But Guess what else I did that same friday!!.

I had been thinking for a while I wonder what an industrial machine will do for me? Well I found a cheapie on Gumtree. I LOVE it. Its so quick and really reliable stitches. Its great especially for straight lines which really is the majority of my sewing.

I especially enjoy attaching binding, its just fantastic a MASSIVE time saver. Anyway I fit it in my room (thank gosh) so full speed ahead. !! gotta love gumtree!!

With my new machine I have pieced Washington DC

the first instalment of a BOM (block of the month) hosted by Pat Sloan called Globetrotting. You can find all the details here  and when you have finished your block, there are actually a few places to post them there is a FB page - Quilt Along with Pat Sloan FB group or a Flickr page

I used my scrap It will be Aqua/Green/Pinks and Purples, I am doing it as a skill builder really. 

Love the centre star. 

The block finishes 26" and is very easy to make.  Just a lot of HST's, a centre square, rectangles and a 1 1/2 " border. Very simple instructions check it out..

So January has brought me some drawstring bag orders from my Etsy store. Which is lovely but it gets me thinking about my worth and the quality of my products. My products are high quality I do spend some time on them and having them at $20 is really a little ridiculous. 

Its insulting to me and also my competitors So I have upped my price to $30. 

my bags are top stitched, overlocked.

I know its regulation but I have care labels

they have a first name appliquéd 

I only just designer best quality cottons.

and then

My fav finish this month is my Mini Swoon Quilt its for my table... just in case it gets cold... well it will be nice and cosy!! lol  

o-my isn't it Devine ! I had some left over layer cake from April Showers by Bonnie and Camille. I was wondering what can I do with this left overs. ???? I visited Camilles site for some inspiration .....             

light bulb !!!  I haven't done the swoon yet. 

Camille's Mini Swoon recipe cost $6.50 and uses 2 x 10" squares and background per Swoon. The recipe doesn't actually say that you can use a 10" square so I was a bit nervous that I wouldn't have enough. But it was fine. Phew

The other thing I have been playing with this week is my little Toddler pillow cases. I have actually altered my pattern for my roll up pillowcase tutorial for cute toddler pillow size. hehe 

I am offering these as kits in my shop for $15

I have been using my new line of fabric Riley Blakes Giraffe Crossing. its just the cutest fabric ever. They are adorable.

sorry for this post being so long.... I have started it so many times !!!

happy Sewing 

Shout out for the 2014 Handmade Coop Pillowcase Drive for POK

So I have been busy. 

On my Quilt Guild FB page there was a shout out for the Handmade Cooperative pillowcase drive. They help provide some Pillowcases for oncology kids which is just an awesome thing to do.!

this is Handmade Cooperatives FB

this is Handmade Cooperatives Blog

this is Pillowcases for Oncology Kids FB

I actually followed through the links and got a pillowcase tutorial I had seen previously I was pretty excited to start making one so I made one using the tutorial. 

After finishing I measured and I may be being slightly anal 

but it wasn't the size the Handmade Blog asked for so I cut and hemmed again. 

Lucky it was bigger and not smaller.

My attempts

I am so happy I have made these. 

Attempt 1 & 2 were from my stash 3 & 4 are from my shops fabric.

My Free tutorial is available via my shop its a PDF booklet.

I love this easy pattern. I will be making a ton of these.

Because I will be making sure when I make quilts I will be making matching pillowcases. 

These 4 will be going to the Pillow drive. 

I will also be making more as they are particularly low on Teenage boy Pillowcases.

PS I went and bought 4 new pillows for the photos. lol - $5 for 2 at Big W. Bit of a bargain!

join along! 

Cherish Blocks for January 2014

Yip I'm getting in early. I needed to do something other then a gift...hehe

Does this cut it. 

lol.... hmmmmm, no its still a gift really but anyway it was actually a really quick Block. 

Even easier if you have pre cut 5" squares.

The tutorial for this Block/Quilt can be found here.

Kelby Sews

Jan 2014 Cherish Do good stitches - check!

Still sewing

And the winner is...

Thanks to all who participated this has been my first inlinkz. 

I certainly had fun reading all the blogs finding out who is making what and I am so happy to be in this little handmade community. 

I will also be happy and relieved for the big day to be over... as usual. 

And back to Quilts.... woohoo

as per the random generator Erin has won the design roll. 

But I can't help myself and I want everyone to win so I have chosen 

3 Fat quarters for AJ & Kim each. Hope you like them ladies! 

 1, Boy Crazy 2, Fun & Games 3, Boy Crazy (RileyBlakeDesigns)

1, Spots ToT 2, Priscilla 3, Sidewalks (RileyBlakeDesigns)

they are all in the mail today.....    thanks for playing Ladies!!! Merry Christmas

Gifts Galore!!!

so I am getting through my list of things todo!

then crazily I'm adding to my list... lol

So far I have completed the nieces peek-a-boo bags and I think they are the sweetest... no pattern I freestyled. lol But I believe a pattern will be written and I may add some kits to my site. (including name to be appliquéd)
After christmas.

Fabric Riley Blakes Summer Breeze

Fabric Available via my shop Sold out of Jelly Rolls though. 

At this point Just FQ Bundles & Layer Cakes.

Also finished a really quick gift a wired 50's headband. Its totally cute 

and I will be making some of these myself!!.

Fabric Tula Pinks - Acacia

Tutorial (inspired by) so you want to sew

I say inspired as  had already cut the fabric. I didn't fold on the selvage. Its super easy!

No pattern just Free-styled using some scraps to embellish this plush towel. 

with some Appliqué.

I have already made a Baby quilt in Boy crazy for Mel's Baby Shower 

so just going with the fabric I have already gifted!

This is actually a Birth pressie for the newest member of our family. 

Nephew - Jago Born December 12 2013.

Fabric -  Boy Crazy and some Shades Basics Lemon & Cobalt.

This was suppose to be a baby shower gift but my machine was having issues so I have only just finished it now will be going with the towels.

an appliqued onesie. Scrap fabric - Big W onesie.

A secret santa gift!! shhh its a secret..

I have to say I love the look of these and I am so happy I made one for myself first. It works great. 

Tutorial available here

I have also blogged about this previously and this is my one!

Still Sewing!! kelx

kelliottmagic.com Christmas Handmaid-en Give-a-way!!

Ok so, I know I have a lot to make in the next week and I'm sure a lot of you are taking the time to make some bits n pieces.

Making the most of your talent as hand maid-ens! 

I have been giving hand made for many years.  I love it! 

But this year I am in the position to reward some hand maidens with FABRIC!! 

YAH !!

I'm feeling rather generous as I have just won some Anna Maria Horner fabric via stitched in colour.  & I'm going to pay it forward!!

I have created a inLinkz. 

All you have to do is add a photo of what you have made for a gift this christmas this is your entry!

Rules

• Made with Fabric.
• items Made since Monday this week!!

Well I better get cracking!!!

FYI,  I will be entering, but I won't be able to win prizes they are all yours. 

Prizes... 

Prize 1 is the Joel Dewberry Bungalow Design Roll (aka Jelly roll) this up to 50 images

if more then 50 images are posted then Prize 2 well be gifted as well

Prize 2 is a Riley Blake Designs FQB in their 11 Basics Shades. (Great for stash building)

if over 100 gifts are shown I will add more prizes!

have fun

*Remember closes Monday morning 6am EST. 7am Brissy Time!!!

I will only be posting within Australia (internationals unless you want to pay excess postage)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Imagine my excitement getting an Email from.....

Rachel from stitched in colour.!!!!

Well it gets better, I have been apart of the Cherish Do good stitches Group for a while now and have loved being apart of the group. It has been really fun plus I have had my boundaries pushed on more then 1 occasion. Which is what we all need.

I can't upload any photos as they are protected by flickr but check out some of our quilts. 

no really....   Check them out!!


Stitchers Door Prizes a snip it from Rachels Blog!! click the link to see the rest!!

Today, three super-lucky stitchers win a gorgeous 8-piece bundle of Dowry by Anna Maria Horner's from Marmalade Fabrics!  Drumroll please....







it was ME woohooo how exciting!! 

The Ruby & Pearl palette bundle belongs to Kelly aka kelliottmagic.  Kelly serves with the Cherish circle in Australia, making quilts for Needy Stitches and other local causes.




Pretty Pretty!!

As a stitcher I feel pretty Blessed!!. Can't wait to see if any of our Quilters get a prize as well..fingers crossed. We all work so hard.

Thankyou Marmalade Fabrics!!