Wednesday ~ random

On my sewing table today is this lonely slipper.  I've been brave and cut into my precious stack of Bloomsbury Gardens, I am not sorry I did. I can't get over how rich and saturated these colours are, they are so pretty!! One down, one to go.

I used the pattern from Suzuko Koseki's latest book Colour Couture. I will blog about them properly once I have finished the second one. 

Another half finished project on my sewing table is this pair of leggings. I bookmarked  this tutorial on the Etsy blog ages ago. I love wearing leggings with skirts and dresses this time of year, but I can't often find ones in other colours than black, grey, brown.  So why not make my own :)

I'm really enjoying this dark and gloomy floral print, it looks perfectly autumnal to me. It still needs hemming, well not really the edges don't fray but I did buy a fancy twin needle so I will finish the hemming at some point ;)

I'm savouring every sunny day now as I think it might be the last before the rain comes. Looking for something summery to eat that I haven't made a million times over already I came across this recipe on Pinterest - It's good! Give it a try if this is your type of thing.

There's just about enough left for lunch tomorrow lucky me!

x Leila

This week

This was our second week back at school, my little Mr. changed schools so it's been an exciting time for us, getting used to unfamiliar faces, finding out where everything is, making new friends. But we are starting to get used to the new routine and I am so proud of how well he is adjusting to the changes!
We have had some surprisingly hot days, soaking up some much needed sunshine, eating Italian ice cream after a long day of water sun and fun!

Meanwhile I have been making slow progress on my Hexy MF quilt

Sewing the rows together is taking forever but I do like where this quilt is headed! I haven't decided on a background fabric yet, I think I might go for some lovely yard died Essex linen... But I'd love some suggestions if you have any!

Yesterday I received some very exciting mail from Liberty Lifestyle, my heart skipped a little happy beat unwrapping these beauties.

I can not bear to cut into my precious stack of Bloomsbury Gardens just yet, for now I am quite satisfied with folding and admiring. :)

Have a great weekend!

x Leila

Green Tea ~ a paper piecing pattern

 Green Tea was supposed to be my first paper piecing pattern but it was stubborn and refused to go first ;) The block is inspired by a cast iron Japanese teapot my mother had when I was little. We never really used it but I loved to lift it up from the Aga and feel it's weight and nubby texture.

The block measures 6" square when finished but can easily be made larger or smaller if you so prefer.
If you have made a few paper pieced blocks before you should have no real trouble with this block. There aren't many small pieces and the construction is pretty straightforward. Matching up those diagonals can be a little tricky, I find basting sections together with a larger stitch length really helps. It makes it so much easier to unpick a seam when pieces do not align properly. I have also added tick marks to help you with this step.

The Green Tea paper piecing pattern is available for purchase in my Etsy shop and on Craftsy.

x Leila

Sugar

I've had a bit of quilters block since I got back from holiday. I started on my next bee block a few times with not much to show for it. I started on a few things for the shop, I have begun drafting a new pattern but my heart wasn't really in any of it. 
I want to sew, make something pretty, create something new but with lack of inspiration and zero determination to finish what I have started I am obviously not getting anywhere!

What do you do when you find yourself in a creative slump?

The thing that helps me is to finally make time to sew one of the many patterns I have been meaning to sew. It very much feels like a KitKat moment when I don't have to come up with a design and instead just play with my pretty fabrics.

So I started with one popsicle block and well, one blissful sewing marathon later (thank god for play dates!) I sat back to behold the sugary sweetness of my new pillow.


 

measures 16" x 24" Popsicles pattern by Ayumi

Just as I was wondering where to put such a girly pink pillow fit for a princess my little Mr. came home.
'is that for me?' 
-Do you like it? 
'uhm, yes' 
-Can you tell what it is? 
....
' ice cream!! will you put it in my room mum?'  
-But yes of course sweetheart! 

He ran back out to show it to his friend. 
'look my mum made this all by herself!' 
 
 Be still my heart.

x Leila

This week...

I have been making slow progress on my Hexie MF quilt

I love watching this stack grow, it gives me confidence there will be a quilt in the end to show for it!

I have been working on some new ideas for patterns, some are in the testing stage others are still just in my head.
I should be working on my next block for Ringo Pie but for the first time ever I am completely stuck. I hope to get unstuck soon as we're supposed to be catching up on our outstanding blocks this month!

And I have a new Tova dress in the makes, looking forward to cutting this soon I think the plaid will be great for autumn!



Just one more week and we're back at school. I can't believe how quickly this holiday has passed, I am not ready for school yet!!

x Leila