7 :: The Den, part 2…

 

As promised, this one is all about the cushions.  They have been mentioned briefly before here and here but now I can reveal them in all their glory.

I bought the pattern from Oh, Fransson ages ago just because I liked it and so it sat in my documents waiting for inspiration to strike.  I had to adapt it slightly because I wanted rectangular cushions rather than square.  I just followed the basic construction of the wonky blocks until I got the pieces to fit my cushion pad.  I was on a much tighter fabric allowance, particularly with the linen than what was suggested in the pattern.  In fact, for the cushion below, Elizabeth said to use the plain fabric on both sides of the printed fabrics and then you cut them off afterwards and I certainly couldn’t afford to do that with my linen.

As I mentioned before, the grey linen is from here and is just wonderful.  The colour is perfect and it was so good to work with.  I had no fear in machine-quilting the layers together. I decided to buy a fat quarter bundle of the Birch Fabrics from Ray Stitch after seeing it at Fabricworm back in the summer.

Also, I didn’t want to put zips in, so I made envelope backs as is my usual practice.  This time I decided to move out of my comfort zone and experiment with the one-step buttonhole foot on my sewing machine.  I selected some coordinating buttons from my button jars and added three to the back on the closure.  This also saved some linen as I didn’t have to have extra forming the flap underneath because the buttons stopped it gaping.

This one uses All Star 2 that I bought from Hawthorne Threads.  Their delivery is superb – sometimes my fabrics arrives quicker than it does from the UK!

 

 

For this one I used a variety of fabrics that went with the bee fabric that I bought a while ago, (from here, I think) and the gorgeous Anna Maria Horner voile from Saints and Pinners, plus some grey geometric from my stash.

 

I love the buttons on this one.

 

For the last one, I used up the remaining fabrics from the bundles I had bought, in an effort to tie them all in together.

I think the difference in colour of the linen on three of the pieces is where it was starting to get really tight in the linen quantities and so I think the weave must be going the other way!

The cushion pads are 40 x 60cm and I bought them from John Lewis.

I have ideas for some more cushions to go with these, but it is a good start and they have got the seal of approval from No2.  So I’m happy!

6 :: No words…

 

 

5 :: Selfridges…

Having worked at the opposition for many years, I feel absolutely no disloyalty in admitting that my favourite of the big London stores is Selfridges.  They seem to be able to have fun the whole year round in their visual merchandising and that, I love.

I don’t get an awful lot of pleasure in admiring the designer collections but it was fun to see No2 and his friend looking in disbelief at a mobile phone that cost over £100,000!  Can you imagine dropping that one in the bath?

Today, I made the necessary but unwise decision to venture into the West End.  It was hell on earth but this amazing display in Selfridges made it well worth the visit.  The glitter balls were on pulleys and were moving up and down this vast stair well. 

 

Add some fun Christmas music and I almost forgot the crowds.  Rather boringly, my main purchase other than a jacket for No2, was an iron!  I have killed mine trying to descale it… not good when you’re in the middle of a Christmas craft marathon.

4 :: And so it begins…

As usual, come December, all the hand-made gifts that have been swirling around my head for the last six months start to come to fruition.

 

A new venture this year for me.  One that puts into practice the classes I went to back here and here.

 

3 :: The Living Room Floor…

 

…is getting a splash of colour, albeit a temporary one.  I have just enough space in front of the piano to tape down a quilt to get the layers sandwiched together.

 

 

I find it incredibly back-breaking though, crawling around putting the pins in.  And, it is REALLY annoying when you’ve just crept into the middle on your knees and someone rings the doorbell!

 

There are some pretty good matching seams on this one, even if I do say so myself!

 

Quilting: the perfect hobby for cold weather.

2 :: The Kitchen Table…

This morning when I ventured out to go food shopping, I was unable to resist buying these ornamental cabbages and lilies.

 

Equally, I couldn’t resist buying this tray at the Christmas shopping event I went to last week.  Initially, I thought it would be perfect to put my paperwhites on when I bring them inside in the New Year, but it seems a shame to let it wait for another month to enjoy it.

 

Now that we are in December, I feel the need to make a start on some seasonal decoration and what better than Clementine's?  Or gingerbread scented candles?

 

It is creating a splash of colour right in the hub of my home.  And created exactly the right feeling for a cosy dinner with friends and family tonight.

1 :: Splash of Colour…

This post is killing two birds with one stone – as it is December 1st I thought I would join Gina in a blogging Advent calendar and it also goes with Silverpebble’s Splash of Colour project.

When I look outside my window, it is grey, grey, grey accompanied by the remains of yesterday’s snow and not very inspiring.  But when I looked around my workroom I found lots of colour to brighten both the day and my mood.  Take a look…



      






I feel better already.