Jennie's Threads

It's another year of the Finish Along. And whilst the format has changed slightly to make it more Instagram focused, I've decided to still post a list on my blog as a way of keeping myself accountable and recording my finishes! So firstly I have a few carryover items: Joshua's advent calendar: I got this started but not finished and it wasn't missed this year but I think it will be next year when his Lordship is nearly 2. So I'm posting it here in Q1 in an effort to finish it early and not at the last minute I'm not going to promise that it won't appear on Q2, Q3 and Q4 as well though! And the same thoughts about Joshua's Santa Sack - though I did pick up a great fabric in the post-Christmas sales for this, so his will be different (and a little less pink) than the girls. Again, expect to see this on Q2, Q3 and Q4 - I'll probably not start it until December 2020.... but you never know! Item three is the Sisterhood Quilt block I made on re...

Well I'm pretty pleased with how productive Q4 was - while I in no way finished everything on my list, I did finish quite a lot, and I've started the year really motivated to finish more. So far I've got to 8th January with no new starts! That's an absolute miracle! So my final finish to report here is the reindeer Christmas tree decoration I made for Joshua. It's made from felt and was self-drafted based on a lot of Pinterest images. This was my 11th finish of the quarter. Here is a round-up of the others: Preppy the Whale A Woppet Bucket I finally finished off the Kittens Around blocks into 2 cushions The Kinship batik quilt was finished - this surprised even me to be honest Shark cushion - some epic foundation paper piecing A Christmas decoration for Mia And another for Jessica The special pouch using the special fabric I cryptically mentioned on my original post: a marmalade pouch And a pouch with the travel jo...

Another year is over and it has been a hell of a year. I gave birth to Josh on 18th January and it's been a crazy ride since then - we've had loads of great family times, exploring the local National Trust and English Heritage properties and venturing further afield too. I can't believe that Josh will be a year old in just a few weeks time. Jess started nursery and Mia continues to love school and really excel at everything. I went back to work in June, and whilst it's been hard work juggling everything, with more travel that I was expecting, I still love my job and I'm looking forward to the challenges of 2020. I've also fitted in some sewing - people keep asking how I do it but the reality is that if I didn't do I would be incredibly unhappy - it's what keeps me balanced day to day and whilst on maternity leave it gave a me a focus that wasn't just feed, change nappies, sleep, change nappies, feed.... whilst I love being a mother and I love my ...

This is my final finish of 2019, and I really didn't think I would make it! This is the Summer Sampler which was run a four-month-long block of the month by Sarah Edgar of Pretty Fabrics and Trims. Everything about this project was beautiful: the instructions were beautifully presented, the fabrics absolutely gorgeous, and the patterns are lovely: little blocks, mixing all my favourite techniques: applique, English Paper Piecing, hand embroidery and some machine piecing. And then there's the beautiful little extras - a touch  of lace here, and a button there... it's far and away the prettiest thing I have ever made! It's also quite the departure from my normal style, but I have adored every minute I spent working on this project - so much so that I have signed up for two more blocks of the month from Sarah. The quilt finishes at 18" x 24" and is entirely hand quilted - using the 12w Aurifil provided as part of the kit. I'm hoping to get this up on...

And now for the other piece of fabric I had printed by Print Me Pretty. this was another piece of text - my paternal Grandmother's travel diary from 1957 - Devon and Cornwall. The scale of this print is slightly larger than the marmalade recipe from my last post, so the Lola Pouch ( pattern by Sotak Handmade) I made for this was considerably bigger - my intention was that it could house the journals themselves as a gift for my Dad for Christmas. I just love how matter-of-fact my Granny's writing is. The act of putting the car in the ditch is given equal waiting to what they had for tea! If I'd put the car in a ditch I'd never hear the end of it! For the reverse of the pouch I decided to try my hand at a Cathedral Window panel. This is a technique I haven't done before, but it was something my Granny did a lot of, so it seemed fitting for this pouch. The fabrics are all Quantum by Guicy Guice fabrics, and a Kona cream for the base. It felt like an awful ...