This year's diary cover was made using one of my all time favourite Cotton + Steel fabrics. It was hiding in the scrap box and only revealed itself when the box was upended in the search of fabrics for the Summer Berries quilt I was remaking. The piece was large enough to make the cover and still have left overs. I may have done a happy dance. I'd always wanted to stitch the flowers.
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My year started with an obsession for circles. I'm mad about them.
No pattern required, simply trace circles of various sizes onto a piece of linen, then start stitching!
Applique smaller circles inside larger ones. Work different stitch combinations for each circle. Keep it random!
I think I'm happiest making it up as I go.
There are a couple of circles I don't love but one of my rules was no unpicking.
I now have something of a sampler covering this year's diary.
I used the left over threads on the inside of the front and back covers.
You can see I had lots of left over odd length threads.
Normally I would end up tossing these threads but it seemed a shame to waste them when the plain linen needed some color.
On reflection I could have staggered the start for each row, so they were not level across the top.
This can be a reference tool if I ever decide to do something similar again.
And I think you'll agree it looks nicer than plain linen.
There are plans to make another circle project and release it as a pattern.
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You may be surprised to read my first project for the new year was not a diary cover. Instead, I made a decoration to pop inside a heart shaped wreath. The wreath stays up all year round and I simply switch the decoration inside depending on the season. The green tin heart decoration I’d hung inside it for I can’t remember how long needed replacing.
Whatever I made had to be green plus colour. The green check and felts worked perfectly.
I have to say it was fun and interesting to see how the colours worked together.
It was a lovely start to the new year!
I'd been mulling over ideas for my diary cover (I start in December). Sometimes an idea is crystal clear and other times they’re murky and jumbled together, like this year.
Making the heart decoration helped me focus.
I decided to needle turn appliqué the bird and stitch the flowers and if I liked it maybe use it on the cover.
I did, but continued to go around in circles thinking about the fabrics, should I or shouldn’t I turn the heart shape into a pen pocket (the one on last years cover was so handy) and would adding buttons and ric rac be too much.
So I was very pleased (and relieved) when I finally finished it.
I won't be releasing either of these projects just yet.
I need to play with them a little more.
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I'm pleased to announce my 2021 Diary Cover is now sold as a PDF Pattern.
No waiting for the post.
Purchase it and have it delivered straight to your inbox.
You may remember reading I make myself a new diary cover every year.
This year's cover has a cute little stitchery that doubles as a pen pocket. A handy addition that guarantees I will always have a pen on hand.
For this year anyway!
The pattern is $8
If you love the fabrics a kit is available for $12 plus P&H.
The kit includes the fabrics, hanky linen to stitch on, ribbon, cardboard & iron-on-pellon.
Pattern, Threads & Diary are not included in the kit.
The Great International Craft Show starts today.
This is an online event.
Check it out here.
Sew Some Joy
Christmas Club
The first mail out starts next week. It's not too late to join.
Find all the details here
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Is there a cut off date when wishing Happy New Year is no longer appropriate? Is it after the first couple of days, week or two? I've never been sure. Since this is my first blog post for 2021 I'm hoping it's still permitted.
Many of you will know my first new year project is a diary cover. Every diary cover is unique, no two are the same design*. A new year is all about starting afresh and for me nothing says that more than a new diary and cover.
The one thing I knew for certain, when tossing around ideas for this year's cover, I had to use the floral print (Shine On range). The colours are happy and fresh looking and I just love them. The stitchery doubles as a pen pocket; something I've used on my journal covers (A4) but not my diaries (A5). I'm very excited about this functional addition!
This was not the only sewing I managed to do.
No I didn't make the bag from scratch. It was started in 2018, with a failed attempt to finish it in the final days of 2020, rolling over to become my first completed Unfinished Project for 2021; and before you ask the fabric is no longer available.
Have a happy and safe 2021 with lots of finished projects!
*Last year my first post was in February, too late to post about my 2020 diary cover, how ironic!
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So excited to finish this year's diary cover. The idea for it was floating around in my head but it was more blur than clear plan. Like last year's cover this year's celebrates slow sewing, because I added a bit here, stopped tried something different, sewed some pieces down, then added more. It evolved and for me there is no better way to design and sew.
I used all of my favourite pieces of fabric. Sadly there are only small pieces left of the floral print and sampler print. At least now I can enjoy them for the next 12 months.
More decisions had to be made about what colour threads to embellish the flowers. I used two strands, doubled, of the Aurifil Cotton Mako Ne12 thread for the colonial knots.
More favourite fabrics on the back!
The decorated end of the page divider.
Now it's finished it really is back to work for me!
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There is one drawback to making new stuff - I'm reluctant to use it. I want to keep it pristine and then I tell myself don't be ridiculous, use it and enjoy it.
I didn't plan to coordinate the projects, I was simply enjoying the effect of the felt on the grey linen and varying the combination of threads and stitches.
This year's journal cover.
There was no sketching out the design it all took place on the fabric. The felt shapes were cut freehand. I don’t always get it right first time, some don’t even resemble flowers, but those that do but are not the right style and size, are popped in a box for future projects. I started stitching before I’d finished cutting, with one rule; once it was stitched it was staying even if I thought, later on, it may have been better positioned. This meant I had to get a little more creative with filling in spaces with extra flowers and a butterfly.
The dilly bag & needle keep.
I used a combination of DMC Stranded Thread, Aurifil Cotton Mako Ne 12 thread and Aurifil Wool Thread 12wt. The felt is a wool blend and lovely to work with.
The felt and linen is available from my online store. Just click on the links below.
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Finishes is how I ended 2017. Now before you start thinking, WOW Marg has no unfinished projects, this is not the case. I simply picked a couple of things I was keen to finish, could be finished and involved as little effort and thinking as possible; sewing the binding down on a couple of little quilts.
It felt great to finally finish the bottom two, as they were started years ago. Back then the plan was to hand quilt them both, but I realised this was not going to happen anytime soon, if ever! They were machine quilted by Rose of Pandora Quilting along with the top two I started here.
All thoughts turned to what I’d make in the New Year; a new Journal cover, dilly bag and needle keep. I really thought I’d start stitching New Years day, but couldn’t decide on an overall design or what materials and techniques I’d use. This took me a few days, loads of designing in my head with no practical application.
The problem was I was focussing on the wrong project, traditionally it’s the journal cover but once I switched to the needle keep, it just started happening.
And then it was back to the journal cover, still a work in progress as I'm having too much fun embellishing the felt appliqué.
Yes it features a bird again, there was one on last year's cover, in the same dark blue felt too. It seems apt, yesterday I had the pleasure of watching a little blue wren flit in and out of the bird bath.
This year's cover will be a constant reminder to spend more time in my garden enjoying the simple things.
Happy 2018!
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There's no reason why I can't re-use a journal cover. I buy the same diary each year and the measurements have never varied. The only thing stopping me is, no matter how much I may love the old one it's time for a change. Sometimes I have a crystal clear idea of what to make, but not this year.
Looking for ideas, I flicked through my drawings and spotted a birdie design.
I'd appliqué it, decision made!
You'd think it would have been easy from this point, but two days later I still couldn't decide what appliqué method to use, needle-turn or raw edge or perhaps felt! It was a relief once the decision was made and the fun part of picking fabrics started.
I think I must love felt appliqué best. It's easy to work with small pieces and embellish them anyway you like.
Used this fabric on the back.
And decorated the end of the page mark.
What's happening first half of 2017.
Postcard Club (Classes)
at Avonleigh Country Quilting, starts 1st week in February.
Please contact Kay & Sharon at the shop for details.
Hobbysew Belconnen
Trunkshow Friday Evening 17 March
Classes Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th.
Please contact the store for details.
Australasian Quilt Convention (AQC),
Royal Exhibition Building,
Carlton Gardens, Melbourne,
20 - 23 April, 2017, Stand 167
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Maybe it was because there was so little time for sewing in the lead up to Christmas/New Year that come January 1, I was twitching to sew something, anything!
I fell in love with this fabric and was over the moon when it arrived before Christmas. Yes it is the same fabric I used in the purse in the last post. And yes, blue and green is my new favourite combination!
It's a combination I've loved since childhood and can remember reciting 'Blue and green should never be seen except upon a fairy queen'. It was only a few years ago, I heard it should never seen unless with a colour in between, and while this is very practical, the idea of only a fairy queen wearing these colours is a far more enchanting and exciting notion.
As you can see I had a lovely time choosing the trims and buttons.
I was having so much fun I had to keep going and made a new dilly bag and needle keep. I'm not usually this coordinated, but it is my favourite fabric for 2016. When you make something to use everyday, you need to love it.
These projects will be going into the Happiness is..... club. The club is all about what makes me happy and these certainly have. There is only one problem - I want to use them now, if I use them I won't have samples, so it looks like I will be making them again.
The Happiness is..... club starts next month. There are five patterns and the cost, including postage is $80. Apart from the patterns, you'll receive a newsletter with constructions tips and anything else I think is handy and interesting. Please note the materials are not included.
I stock most of the fabrics and trims so if you love what I’m using, sourcing it will be easy!
You can sign up through my online store, click here Happiness is..... or email me if you prefer paying by cheque or credit card.
If you live overseas and would like to take part please contact me for the cost including your country.
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