Flowers — Fabric and Real

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I just can’t seem to stop trying out these little flowers. This one was very very easy to make.


This is the orchid pattern — I love the effect and had to make it using two sets of fabrics. I was unsure of it but went to a local florist’s shop to see some real orchids and was a bit more satisfied about the shape.


I prefer it with the darker fabric as the centre.


Yet another — these are way too addictive. I can envision a small wall-hanging with branches and flowers of varying types. Or these could be used to adorn small needle books — the list just seems to go on and on.

I tried this one last night. I’m not thrilled with my fabric choices for it but I’m looking at all of these as a learning experience right now.

Some more of the flowers out on the roof garden. I have no idea what they are, but they’re absolutely gorgeous.

These wonderful warm afternoons seem to equate a sleepy kitty. This may be one of my favourite pictures of Smudge.


A Few More Little Things

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I couldn’t resist making just one more of these needle cases — nor, it seems, could I resist adding lots of sparkly beads! I think this one is my favourite so far — that fabric, to me, is just SO cheerful!


I couldn’t help myself! On the weekend, I went through the Kumiko Sudo books and picked out about 14 more fabric folding designs I just have to try — as well as picking out 14 sets of 2 fabrics each for them!

This is the first one. I love how it turned out.


I find the backs of these little pieces almost as fascinating as the fronts.


This was the second I just had to try — and, of course, a little bead in the middle.

I received this award from Peg for my first finish on her challenge. 🙂 Now to try for a second finish!!
I think Smudge is very content in this photo. Just about to fall asleep, I bet!


Happy Canada Day — Teddy Bear Style

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It is a beautiful day — absolutely perfect summer day and great weather for Canada Day!

Some of the other bears heard about Beebs‘ and Tiny Bear’s adventure with the quilt yesterday and were clamoring for their chance. So a Canada Day teddy bears’ picnic was organized.

Here they are with their little Canadian flags, waiting for the bread and honey to show up.

And waiting — and getting into a circle so they can all access the plate easily.

Finally, the plate with the bread!!

The honey showed up, they started to enjoy their treat and the first casualty — Paws (the bear on the lower right) was ready for his afternoon nap.

It wasn’t long till they all had succumbed to the wonderful full feeling and had to have a bit of a nap.

Happy Canada Day!!

A Teddy Bear Afternoon

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“A nice sunny afternoon is perfect for an outing,” thought Beebs and his little sidekick. So off they went to the roof garden. Beebs is a 27 year old bear whose name is a short form of Basic Brown Bear.

“This bench isn’t very comfortable,” they thought.

Then Beebs spotted this draped over the bushes! He had heard rumours of a teddy bear quilt in the making and was very excited!!


He marched over and grabbed that quilt, spread it out on the grass and immediately sat down! That was a lot of work for Beebs!

Then Tiny Bear had to investigate too. “Beebs,” said he, “this is fabulous! Now we have a quilt to sit on when we come out to the garden.”


They sat, looking around and were oh, so happy to have their own little quilt for outings!

Then Beebs got out a book and they had a little read.


It was a lot of excitement for two bears so they decided to have a wee nap.

It was time to go back in — and they had a little rest on the bench before gathering up the quilt and their book and going back in.

And Lester was watching from the window, to make sure the bears and their quilt had no problems!


And this is my first finish for Peg’s Finish Five challenge.

A Few More Little Things

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This has definitely been a week of making little things — and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. These needle books are so much fun to make that I just can’t seem to stop!

Then I got into the folded fabric origami patterns in Flower Origami by Kumiko Sudo. They are amazing! It is wonderful to see something like this appear from 2 circles of fabric sewn together. This was my first attempt that I initially thought was too dark, but I think I’ll make another and turn this into a little needle book.

These are from another pattern in Flower Origami. I love making these. Three done and I think I’ll make one more. I have a feeling these are going to get incorporated into my Four Seasons summer quilt.


The back of these little flowers fascinates me. There is absolutely nothing about this effect that I don’t like!

Of course, one little bead had to be added to the centre of each for a bit of sparkle.

And finally — a picture of Smudge reclining on the window sill on a hot afternoon.

Nest week I’ve got to get back to some larger projects, but I sure had a lot of fun this week playing with little things.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

My First Pin Cushion

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I’ve wanted to make a pin cushion for ages and finally took the plunge. I’m so fascinated by the yo-yo’s that Lettie at Polka Dot Pineapple uses that I just had to use one for the centre!


This is the other side with, of course, another yo-yo. I did not do a great job on this at all as I used little bits that I cut up of a cotton batting for the stuffing. Aside from taking next to forever to cut up all the little bits, it was incredibly hard to pull the needle through with the thread to make the divisions! Next thing on my list? Something to use for stuffing that’s a bit easier to deal with!

The yo-yo’s are just too much fun to play with! I can see making more and more things that might require the odd yo-yo or two.

We don’t often get pictures of the boys together. They get along but don’t seem to curl up together. So this is a real delight for us!

A Kitty Sewing Case

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This seems to be my week of working with little things. I tried another one of the Kumiko Sudo fabric origami designs last night and, while the fabric I chose wasn’t quite right, I was really impressed with the result! No pics of that, though!

I took Annemiek‘s advice and gave up on the scallops on these little needle cases and made another with this fun kitty fabric, this time made totally by hand. And Annemiek is right — it is much much easier without the scallops! Although I’m still tempted to try sewing one with the scallops by hand.


And, of course, I had to find a fun button for it.


The inside will definitely wake someone up!


Although the flash sort of caught his eyes, I couldn’t resist this picture of Lester with the lamb.

Fabric Origami and Yo-Yo’s

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I have been dying to try some fabric origami from Kumiko Sudo’s books. This design for a little needle case is from her Flower Origami, Fabric Flowers from Simple Shapes book.

The front:


The inside of the front — I just couldn’t resist and added the yo-yo!

There are 4 little pages of felt for needles.


The inside back cover with another, smaller yo-yo.

The back cover.

And the spine adorned with — yes, you guessed it! More beads!!

The book is actually much more squared up than this photo seems to show. Must have been the angle at which the photo was taken.

Now that I’ve tried one of the designs, I can’t wait to try a few more. There is a pattern for one that I think will be perfect for my Four Seasons summer swap quilt.

Seems Smudge is as unimpressed with all this bead stuff that’s going on as is Lester.


Beads and More Beads

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On the weekend, I wandered over to Fabricland and was happily surprised by the items they seem to be carrying now! Beads. Lots and lots of glorious wonderful beads. Embroidery floss. Fons and Porter notions! Normally I never find much of anything to spend money on at Fabricland but this weekend? Oh, my — it was amazing!

The best part was that it was a sale day — 50 per cent off everything. I was thrilled. Picked up lots of beads and some embroidery floss.

I made another one of these needle cases from Kokoro no Te by Kumiko Sudo. This time all in blues. I decided the little blueberries, or whatever one wants to call them, needed some glitter. This is the front with all the glittery blueberries.

The back.


The inside. There are 3 pages for needles and pins as well as the inside of the covers.

I never really thought of myself as attracted to glittery things but I’m having so much fun with these beads!! Now I’m looking for things that might just need a bead or three to give them some sparkle.

Lester, it seems, is not as captivated by beads. Good thing — can you imagine what a great big kitty paw like that could do with little loose beads?? And before anyone asks — I have the beads in a small bowl while I’m working with them, which bowl is out of kitty reach!


A Few More Diamonds

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Most of these diamonds are from Linda Franz’ Quilted Diamonds 2 book, although a few are also from Quilted Diamonds. I amended a few of them in EQ5 to turn them into basket diamonds as I wanted every diamond in this set to have some sort of curved piecing.

I had a few inquiries regarding the size of the diamonds. They finish at 4″ by 7″. I took a few photos with a ruler, just to give you an idea.


This is the diamond design from Quilted Diamonds 2 that started my passion for hand piecing curves. There’s something SO satisfying about doing these!

Amended a bit to turn it into a “gift” diamond. 🙂


Smudge with his lion — we found these funny little lions in the grocery store around Christmas and decided the boys each needed their own!