10 things I love about you!

HaPPY Friday everyone!!!!

My first week back at school seems to have dragged!! But I am looking forward to a weekend off!

Tonight I've been reminiscing about my favourite movie: 10 things I hate about you!! Loves it- I mean have you seen Heath Ledger in this movie. This has gave me a great idea I am gunna share some information about myself, here are 10 things about me!

1. I was born in Sunderland and I grew up here! I guess that makes me a mackem
2. I'm a primary school teacher. Two years working with 4 year olds: Pure bliss!!!
3. I adore america. I often convince myself I'm an american just born in the wrong country!
4. I hate eggs!!
5. Ceaser salad pizza from Rosas on long island is the best food in the world! i've just discovered a restaurant that sells them in Sunderland- I'll keep you posted on how good it tastes.
6. I've only been quilting for about 6 months! I'm loving it
7. I'm scared stiff of needles yet regularly give blood- sucker for a treat!
8.  I went to a small school called Argyle House School: it was the best days of my life!
9. I'm a camera Nazi! live life so that it is worth the memories!
10. Disney world is a real life fairytale and the more hours I spend there the more magical it becomes!

For those who don't know me I hope you feel like you know me more now. For those of you who do maybe you found out something new!
Pay it forward!! Next time you blog tell others about yourself.....

Till next time: Keep Crafting

Ashleigh x

Half term crafting continued

Wooo!! Here's to celebrate one month of blogging- look at how many projects woohoo!! I'm loving it!

I have an obsession with hearts (nearly as serious as my owl obsession!!)
Heart garland, heart clocks, heart earrings, heart everything so today I desided to make a homemade heart for a birthday gift.
Heart hangings are my favourite creation because it usually takes minimum effort with maximum effect. It also gives me an excuse to use some of the gorgeous material I've bought but had no use for.

So I picked some fab patchwork fabric and chose the heart shape (big fat heart this time). To finish it off I added some 'home sweet home' ribbon to the front and hung it with red ribbon.

I got to use another new setting on my sewing machine- setting the needle slightly to the side so that I could finish the stitching using my machine.

What to make tomorrow....

Til next time: Keep Crafting

Ashleigh x

A beginner attempts Cath Kitson!

Todays project was the free project kit from Cath Kitson's book Patch.
I'm sooo proud I managed to complete the tote bag and it looks soo pretty.

I found the pattern really hard to follow as a beginner I didn't understand some of the technical terms such as a slip stitch but I perservered making a few changes along the way e.g. i straight stitched the patches together using my sewing machine instead of using a slip stitch and I blanket stitched the pattern onto the bag.

I love my new blanket stitch mode on my sewing machine!

Its not perfect but I love it- Here's the finished product.

I'm now looking forward to a week off school with lots of crafting!

Till next time: Keep Crafting.

Ashleigh x

America America...

Hi everyone!
My latest project is a cushion made with american fabric. My nana wanted a cushion for her friend at calligraphy class. So we worked together to make this project.

 My nana cross stitched the panel and i made it into a cushion with some lengths of fabric making the patchwork effect by straight stitching them together.
I made an 18x18 cushion so gave myself a 2 inch seam allowance (20x20). Measured and cut out the material using my rotary cutter. I made a envelope back by cutting two pieces of fabric 15inches by 17 and 10 inches by 17. This time I remembered to face the seams upwards when joining to the front panel this time- always a good thing!!
Next time I make a cushion I am going to put a zip in the back of my cushion. I don't no how to do it yet tho!! My janome has a setting so I'm hoping to try it out in the half term holidays - I will let you know how it goes! I've also got some cushions to make for school with calico material.

Until next time- Keep Crafting!!

Ashleigh x

Christmas projects

Since I've been poorly bad this week I have been looking for some crafting TLC. I have looked at starting some christmas projects.
I've started my historical sampler cross stitch that I have found in the world of cross stitching magazine.

It's the second one in from the left. Although the other patterns in the magazine are also awesome. This is issue 184 (November 2011- I think).

Here is my project so far....

I will keep you up to date with the progress of this project.

Fabric fabric fabric

I thought I would share with you some of the fabrics I have recently bought.

I've just discovered red rooster fabrics- which are lush!!

The first panel I bought is called winter wonderland.

Unfortunately I haven't decided what to do with it yet. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Continuing my love of red rooster fabrics I chose to buy a panel called Buttons and Blooms and matching material. I've already used some of my fabric on a cushion I created. I'm planning on making another cushion and a patchwork throw to match (I'll keep you posted). Here's the material...

I also bought some matching owl fabric- Gorgeous! Got to love Christmas money!

Here's the cushion I made using the fabric....

I used an envelope opening at the back so that the cushion can be taking in and out as you can see at the top of this picture. What do you think?

Keep Crafting

Ashleigh x

Welcome

Hiya
Welcome to my new blog!
With most of the women in my family avid crafters it was inevitable that finally I would follow in their foot steps.
Recently, I've started to turn my hand at a few different crafts- mainly quilting and cross stitch.
I've created this blog to track my projects and to share my ups and downs.

After using my nana's sewing machine for a few months it was pretty clear that I had fallen  for quilting. So for christmas I had a little word with santa investing in my new sewing machine. A Janome. Here it is ....
 If your anything like me having a new gadget to play with is pretty exciting. This sewing machine is awesome I would totally recommend it to any newbe. As a novice I have found this sewing machine easy to use with loads of handy tools to help you out- I especially love the hare to tortoise tool as it stops me from going way too fast when pressing the peddle.

Project 1

This weekend I desided to make the patchwork heart kit I had recently bought.
I've never really been one to follow instructions properly especially when they aren't very clear so I basically chose to attempt this one blind and thankfully the end product was totally worth it.

I cut the heart into 6 parts and straight stitched them together. I then chose to try out a pattern stitch on my janome to make it look a little more profession. A great idea if I do say so myself. So easy to do- set the machine to a pattern stitch and just keep the material straight as it passed through the machine- hey presto a lovely pattern down the seam.
I made the back plain with calico and finished with a button and ribbon.

Til next time: Keep Crafting

Ashleigh x