Pouches are the best birthday gifts

It is always hard to find a present for the birthday child especially as they already have everything they want. I made a little pouch for birthday girl last week and it looks like she is happy with it. So I thought it might be a good idea to make two more. The first one for a girl getting 12 so she needs one that is slightly bigger. My son chose fabrics and style (Noodle head) and I was the lucky one putting it together.

It might have been a mistake to promise to fill this with sweets but I had to keep it. Even if I chose to make the medium size it is really huge. The tutorial was great and it was really easy sewing.

He really chose a fun fabric. For the zipper end I tried to fussy cut one of the gorgeous prints. When I was finished I realised it might have been a good idea to put a snap at the end but it was to late. I did not want to ruin the bag again as usually the snaps are not so easy to attach. Next time ... maybe!

Last I put on a charm on the zip and than I was done ready to go sweet shopping :)

Linking up with Finish it up Friday

Sewing for the boy

My son has come to an age where it is hard to find clothes that are cool but not babyish. He had a hard time finind one hoody he likes but otherwise our search to fill the cupboard is usually without success. So the next step is to make them myself. We found a pattern and were eager to start until we realised: there is no place to get farbics! I always thought that is unique to quilting fabrics but that was not true! I love to touch the fabric I buy especially on clothes but we had to order again. I only ordered a "trialfabric" as there are so many different discriptions out there that I got totally confused.

The good thing about that shop is, you can order samples (what I did) and I have to say they are fast! So my morning was blocked with printing pattern, glue the pages together and after cut them again. At lunchtime I was ready to trace the pattern on the fabric and could start sewing. The pattern was straight forward - except: I am not that into cloth sewing so if you want me to make two sides of one template please tell me to flip the it!

So I had to cut the hoody twice ;( Anyway I made it almost through before the rugby training and finished the last three seams after. Just in time before he had to go to bed to have a go! He loves it!!!! And what about me? There are several things I am not happy with: the fabric is to thin, the hoody makes waves, the pocket shows the inside fabric, ... oh I could keep going!

On the other hand he is happy with it and wears it every day! But this is exactly what I wanted isn't it? So I have to forget about the little mistakes and be happy too! His sister already asked for one too so I might go big shopping to make at least one more.

Work in Progress ... or so

There is not much sewing going on in this house at the moment. I had great fun yesterday going to my son's school and making cinamon roles with his class. It took the whole morning but there was also a lot of time waiting while the dough was resting. I was prepared therefore and had my knitting with me. After three days one sock is almost done and the other one already started. These are so fast and she is happy with the fitting :)

no, I did not put the needle there!

There has also been some shopping the last weeks and finally it is all here. My son chose white and blue for his birthday quilt and I have to cut a million squares now. It is going to be awsome ... if it works out :D so wish me luck (I see myself doing the same procedure as last year: quilting at 2 am on his birthday)

If I will ever find time there are some more fabrics I can use  .. I don't know what for but am sure there will be the perfect project one day :) I can start this weekend as my little one is invited to a birthday party and I like to make her a pencil case or just a zipper pouch. 

The last fabrics arriving here might be perfect for a pillow for my little one. Just as long as she is small enough and not asking for cool stuff.

I have a lot of plans the next days including a lot of rugby and taking pictures in action! Happy weekend :)

Waterford and a short stop in Kilkenny

This year the weather during the Christmas break was not so bad and we desided to head south. For only two days we went down to Waterford. We chose a gorgeous hotel in the middle of town which had a swimming pool just in case it would be raining all day. Time to relax and do nothing, that was the plan!

Ok, it is not me doing nothing. The next morning after a nice breakfast we went of to conquer the town. Unfortunately the Waterford Christals were closed that day and only the showroom was open to have a look around and shop. We watched the movie in the hall but shortly after it was finished we headed on to the museum. We had a very interesting guide who discovered with us the story of Waterford and Strongbow. First thing we learned is that Connacht, Munster, Leinster and Ulster are not (only) rugby teams!

Waterford has been a very rich city in the early years but it was also often involved in war and intrigues. Of course the catholic church played a big role in Waterford too. Not a long time ago they accidantly found the cloth of gold. It is faszinating walking around and looking at all the details. Just stunning!

The weather was getting better and we headed of to Hook's lighthouse in county Wexford. I have never been in a lighthouse and could not wait to get there. We chose to take the fast way and crossed the river by ferry instead of driving around.

As soon as you are in the middle of the river you can spot the lighthouse even if it took another half an hour to get there. The lighthouse is open all year and can be visited by a guided tour only. Every floor has its own story and it is very interesting.

It looked so much more fun when I was watching "Eliot, das Schmunzelmonster" a long long time ago. This lighthouse is the second oldest standing but the oldest still working and on our way back we could see the light blinking. It is said they are going to shut it down soon which I found really sad.

The next day we made our way back home. This time we wanted to take the way passing Kilkenny where we could have a short walk around. It was very quiet there (of course, it was Sunday morning). We parked in a shopping center in town and walked of. Shortly later we found the castle where we finished the history lesson. The castle was refurbished so only the outer walls are real while the rest inside is mostly rebuild. Of course we met Strongbow again and one lady was so nice to open the childrens playroom. It is fascinating in a time of tablets, laptop and television the children still get big eyes playing with the toys from a long time ago.

It was a great way to spent the Christmas break and learn a little more about the country we live in. I would love to go again and see the Chrystals and have a visit to Wexford too.

Schnitzel and Boom Swap

I love swaps! It always gives me the oppertunity to try something I usually would not make. This was the third round of this swap but the first for me.  It was also the first time I did a swap on Instagram. It is different to the other ones and there are still some things I need to get used to but it was a great adventure.

There are 950 participants in this swap so we got seperated in different groups. I was in group MofABriawna and it was fun. It was a little more quiet than the swaps I used to participate but that has do do with me not following all in the group. The first email inculded my partner and I had to laugh out lout when I read her name: Anneliese! Yeah, me and my partner shared the same name! How fun is that? The rest I had to read over and over again. Let me show you what she wrote:

Fabric Likes: ......., metallics, batiks, black and white, coral, pale blue, all of the greens in the universe

Greens? Greens! Lucky me homework can be boring so I took out all the magazines and books I had included my green fabrics and some batics I had in stock and started searching for the right pattern. I also used a colorwheel to find a complimentary color to give the greens a little splash.

When I found the Dresden template I knew this is it going to be. I made stripes out of three greens and one orange, cut a freezer paper template for the Dresden and started cutting. After I made the corner on the Dresden I put them together in order so the orange is "walking" outwards.

I love this bird sitting on the wheel. I quilted in rounds in four different colors: red, yellow, green and grey leaving the peaks floppy on the background. I used a FQ of batic blue I had but it was slightly to small for the dresden so the corners now are on the binding which I love.

The only struggle I had was the label. I usually forget about them but this time I tried to use the ones Ali designed. I cut a piece of freezer paper and ironed some fabric on top. It went throught the printer but the sounds were quite scaring. The printer survived and half of the label looked great. The other was wonky! I cut the label in half and put the upper (good looking part) in one corner and wrote on an other piece of fabric for the other corner. I hope my partner don't mind :D

This morning, when my phone woke me up there was the big surprise! Whyle I was sleeping this little mini arrived at Anneliese's house! I was so pleased to read all the comments. I have to thank everyone as this was quite out of my comfort zone. I am so glad she likes it! Thank you for being my partner! I really like what I made :)

This is my first finish of FAL 2015 and I am glad to have something to link up with crazy mom quilts

Finish A Long 2015 - The Q1 List

I am looking forward to our new host Adrianne.

It is going to be an other fun year finishing projects I once maybe a long time ago, I put on the shelf! Some of them have to be finished and some have a deadline but one or the other might just be there because I have an idea and I want to see it become real.

1. Modern Irish Bee Quilt

The blocks are arriving and hopefully this quilt will be done at the end of Q1

2. Modern Stitching Bee Quilt

someone is waiting to snuggle in so time to get it done

3. Games of Thrones Quilt

a quilt all about the house of Tully and Game of Thrones for my boy's birthday

4. Big Fat Beauty Pillow

Made the top and started quilting but I did not like it. Need to rip it and start again so I can replace the Christmas pillow on the Sofa

5. Snowflake gloves

these are going to be for my little girl and she loves gloves 

6. MakeAQuiltMakeAFriend Swap

don't want to spoil the color but hopefully I get it finished in time

There are some more projects on an other list and I hope to get them done too but with three quilts it is going to be challenging enough. So fingers crossed and with a little support from my "designers" there should be at least two finishes!

Happy 2015

Happy 2015

It is a long time ago that I wrote a post but to be honest, the curve ball is still stricking me and I am not really able to concentrate on crafting, sewing or whatever. However it is time to face the FAL Q4. This is the last time we link up with Katy. Thank you so much for hosting the FAL 2014 and hope you have a relaxed 2015 coming up. 2015 we will have a new host and I am sure I am in.

I had already a look yesterday and I am pretty pleased with this quarter. I almost finished my list but lets just have a look: 1. Hexagon-Quilt ...... DONE

I  love it so much! It is absolutely cosy and we fight for it every evening

2. Flying Geese Block ... BINNED

there will be other projects for this fabrics

3. Embroidery ... DONE

finish this and put up in the room for my girl when she comes home from school ... surprise :)

4. Gloves ... DONE

nice, compfy and cosy but this winter is everything than cold :D

5.  PJs for my little one ... DONE

I made these and two other tops for the girls 

7. Modern Stitching Bee Quilt .... not yet

I am really sad about this as I am still waiting for blocks but will start to finish the next days

4 out of 7 is not so bad! My girls are  happy to have new pj's and I am with my new quilt. Thank you Katy for hosting a wonderful year with great tutorials!