This Week in the Sewing Room

I have been working on a variety of projects during the past week.   First up a decision was made on what to make for the Winter Blue Blog Hop.  Sometime ago  I was give this lovely fabric

Which has been sitting in my cupboard waiting for the right project to come along and seeing that blue is the dominate colour it is perfect for the challenge.    Out of the 20 pieces in the pack these were chosen as they all had a shade of blue in them with the exception of the very first light piece which is quite neutral and blends in well with the rest.  

When meeting with  the co-ordinator of Network Heaven last week I volunteered to make more adult aprons again this coming year.    I was handed a roll of curtain fabric (forgot to take a photo of the roll) and time allowed for the aprons to be cut during the week.    Ten aprons were cut from the fabric

Along with the matching neck and waist ties which are all pinned and ready to go under the needle.

Good progress is also being made with my stocking stuffers.   

Linking with Finished or not Finished Friday.

                      Put your Foot down

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Sample bag

During the week myself along with the two other sewists met with the co-ordinator of Network Heaven.   Anne wanted to discuss the possibility of trying to start up a "cottage industry" for middle aged teenage girls in various Sri Lankan villages.   Her idea was for the girls to learn to sew and make simple shopping bags which could be sold in their villages.   This would give the girls the opportunity to learn a skill which would be of benefit to them now and into the future as well as giving them some money to contribute to their families.

Our purpose was to come up with a simple design that the girls could make bearing in mind that they would be sewing on treadle sewing machines which only do straight sewing.    They do not have access to electric sewing machines which can do zig zag stitching or overlockers.

After much discussion it was decided that the best fabric would most probably be calico due to it being easy to access,  reasonably inexpensive and sturdy.     It was also decided that the girls would need to do French seams to neaten up the inside seams being unable to access an overlocker.  A pocket on the front was also suggested so that the bag could be folded up into itself.    Each of us now has a few weeks to make a sample bag which  Anne will take with her when she visits Sri Lanka next year.

I decided to have a play with the some fabric to see what I could do with the above requirements.   This is what I felt would be easy enough for them to draw up and sew.   I took a few design elements  from a couple of bags that I have and added them together to end up with this.

Here is the inside.  You can see the French seams on the inside.   I did cut the bottom of the bag on the fold in order to save sewing an extra seam.  

As you can see it is not fully lined in order to save fabric.  Only the handles were lined to give extra strength in that area and also topstitched around to give a nice finish.   The bottom corners were boxed but not cut off due to being raw edges.   Here it is all folded up into its outside pocket.

I have not yet seen what the others have come up with.   It will be interesting to see their versions when done.  

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all  

I am looking at you

I popped back into the City during last week to finish off the last of my Christmas shopping.   While standing on  the street corner waiting for the lights to change I happened to look up and saw

George Washington looking down on us.   Next time I am in the City I am going to try and find out who has their office behind the face.

The City is all decked out for Christmas.  The tree in Martin Place

The Stand Arcade

The stunning Christmas Tree in the Queen Victoria Building.    It is the largest indoor Christmas tree in Australia.    It stands 24 metres and  has over 100,000 sparkling crystal ornaments and 65,000 twinkling lights.  

I am pleased to say that my Christmas shopping is now complete and I can even brag that it is wrapped and waiting for the big day.   It is safely stashed away in the bottom of a cupboard as Miss M is coming to stay with us  for a couple of days just before Christmas and we all know that little fingers are very inquisitive when it comes to pretty packages under the tree.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

FNwF

Today the local hospital auxiliary held its annual Christmas street stall.  I along with a few other members spent the morning setting up.   We sell a variety of handmade items such as cakes, jams, gorgeous handknits for babies and toddlers, bibs, little girls pretty dresses, potholders, aprons both adults and kids sizes which prove to be very popular sellers and a variety of knitted toys as well as knitted and crocheted rugs.     One of the members was also selling raffle tickets for three lovely prizes.   I left at lunchtime and business  had been brisk up to that point.   We are a very well supported charity in the community.

After an early start today and having to be back at 8 am tomorrow morning at the local shopping centre for the last hospital auxiliary stall for the year I only got as far as cutting out my stocking stuffers late this afternoon.

These are now ready to go under the needle.

You can pop on over here to Cheryll's blog to see more creative happenings.

Just before I go the next photo is of the sunsets that we have been having over many weeks now due to the bushfires that have ringed Sydney and burning out of control.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Winter Blues

While doing some blog hopping the other day I landed in at Carla's blog  and discovered that she is organising a  Winter Blues Blog Hop.   This entails making something with the colour blue - it can be anything as long as it contains blue in it somewhere.    Now Carla is in the northern hemisphere where January will be rather chilly so she is looking to make something to stay warm unlike me who lives Downunder where summer will be in full swing and I will be looking to stay cool.
If you would like to join in the Blog hop head  on over to Creatin' in the Sticks to find out more and sign up.

Even though the day to post my creation is not until 22nd January I need to get my thinking cap on and put my foot to the pedal.    Game on.

Don't forget that tomorrow night is the last FNwF  for 2019  so pop on over here to sign up and join in the fun.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Waiting to be dressed

Time to get out the Christmas tree.  It is looking very bare.

Nothing like some baubles, tinsel, twinkling lights and a star on top to bring it to life.

Once the main Christmas tree was up and decorated it was time to get the rest of the decorations out.  This is what I call my "plug and play" Christmas tree.    It just sits nicely on the coffee table in the loungeroom and twinkles away.    It is very pretty at night as it goes through its colour sequence. 

My favourite Christmas wallhanging.  It sits just above the dining table.

The dining room table looks like this at the moment.

And the reason for the season

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all

Secret Sewing Stocking Stuffers

Try saying that quickly!!!!!!!  I always like to give a small handmade stocking stuffer gift along with a purchased gift at Christmas time.     My aim is to turn some of this fabric into small gifts.

This will be my OMG for December.

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all