Colour Makes Me Happy!

I don't know about you but colour makes me happy....  super happy, it inspires me...

One of the the things that I love about quilting is the chance to use colour in a myriad of different ways, and I'm always trying improve how I work with colour.  Then just recently a thing called Photo Card Boutique popped up on a blog that I read (I'm sorry, I really don't remember which blog I saw this in!!) that I wanted to share with you all. 

They have an online store that appears to sell electronic stationary (??) but I really haven't spent any time looking at it.  What I do love is their "Cool Colors" segment on their blog.  Here is one that jumped out at me earlier this week

 

Given the brilliant range of colours that you can get in Kona Solids, I think that these photos and the way that they pick out inidividual highlight colours really interesting and the resulting colour schemes inspiring.  They also give you the hex code for the colour if you're a digital designer. 

In the second photo I really love the way they have picked out the deep purple shade from the middle of one of the tulips, it just brings a whole new layer to the colour scheme.  So, if you love colour, or what to be inspired, or anything like that, then you should go and check out the blog! 

I have been working away again this week, but on a slightly secret project that I will show you after its finished because its a gift for a very close friend and I don't want to spoil anything ahead of time!!

Once Upon a Time... in New York??

Once again I've been awfully quiet... but I've had a really good reason!! I've been completely consumed by finishing one of my WIPs and today I finally got it done!!

This is the "Cosmo" bag from Style Stitches by Amy Butler... Thanks to Sex and the City "Cosmo" always makes me think of New York City!

It's all done in Far Far Away fabric by Heather Ross, and I used the home dec cotton/linen blend, which is a little bit heavier than standard quilting cotton.  Rapunzel in her tower forms the outer pocket, with the Sleeping Beauty also on the outside of the bag

Inside is the Owl and the Pussycat, so the bag is fairy tales all over!

About the pattern itself, it's listed as "easy" in the book, and I don't know if I would agree with that.  If you are an experienced sewer who is accustomed to following patterns, then provided that you follow the instructions then it is fairly easy.  That said, if you're a beginner sewer, this is going to be challenging for you.  My best suggestion would be to follow the instructions to the letter and pin. Pin, pin, pin, pin.  Press.

 I did make a couple of changes - the bag is pretty huge, so I put in a little loop that I'm going to put a hook on so that I can hang my keys and not lose them!

I also made the pocket on the front side (on the inside) slightly shorter and put in a pocket for my mobile!  I LOVE the finished bag!! I made it so that I would have a bage to take things to quilting in and I'm really happy with how it turned out.  It did take a fair bit of time, but it was totally worth it!

While I've been busy sewing away, Spring has finally arrived here!

The weather has been beautiful, and all the trees around our house have started to bud.  Hope that you're all enjoying the new seasons too!

A finish!! ..... and another start!

I've been laid up on the couch for the last week with easily the worst cold/flu bug that I've had in YEARS!  You know the way there is sick, you feel off colour, and maybe don't go to work but all up its not too bad... then there is the other kind of sick, the lie in bed, can't think straight, can't see straight, stare at the wall, sleep all day (and all night) kind of sick? Well I was that second one.... I'm feeling much better now, and did manage over the weekend to get the bindings finished on our new placemats!

 I'm so happy with how they came out! I love the fabrics, it's a good combo of the bright colours that I love and more masculine colours so that they can be something that both Sir Pinkying and I love having on the dining room table.

In a great act of random timing, we just finished building our brand new dining room table (don't you love Ikea?!?) so we're all set to go!  I cut the strips all different random sizes, and then added the grey to either end, so none of the placemats are the same

Finally, because I've finished something, I've also started something new with these beautiful fabrics (that's "Baby Safari" from Northcott in case you're wondering, and some Kona Solids) for a very special friend of Sir Pinkying and I.

 I've done all the cutting, now I've just got to sit down to do the sewing.