Um.... Hi, here's what I've been up to ;)

Our poor little blog has been rather neglected of late (since October 2011!). So, to catch up a wee bit - Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Valentine's Day...

I am off to a friends wedding this Friday, in Denmark WA. The gorgeous bride Megan asked me to make her some cloth dolls for the bridal car. I looked for a Freebie pattern online and came across the 'Black Apple' softie pattern over at Martha Stewart. He's how they turned out

If you want to see what else I've been up to lately, just check out my Janellybelly Bags and Things facebook page.

Much Love

Janellybelly Xx

When I'm not making bags, I'm...

...doing some recreational sewing - basically, sewing is my therapy ;) I've had this 'Charisma' charm pack for a wee while, so I thought it was time to create with it! Katherine was lovely enough to share some of her leftovers from her Charisma quilt to add to it. I sewed up the 1/2 triangle squares on a day sewing with my friend Julie, then added the borders at the '1st Friday Night Sewing Group' with Lisa, Jenny, Vic & Tracy.

With Love

Janellybelly xx

A Very Special Baby

There’s a friend’s baby on it’s way very soon and I had the honour of making a quilt.  The request was for a Very Hungry Caterpillar Quilt and after a little net surfing we found the perfect one! The pattern is by Jean Ann Wright and sold by The Fat Quarter Shop.



Here it is being basted ready for quilting.



Over a few days I quilted it in a large stipple while the family ate dinner at the kitchen bench!



There was enough fabric left over to make a pillowcase and cushion cover, I now have my quilting mojo back and must get on and finish a few of the quilt tops that are folded away in the sewing cupboard.

                       

I see there is a Grouchy Ladybug quilt…..anyone else having a baby??

I’m off to eat through one ice cream cone….one pickle….one lollypop….

Happy stitchin folks

a little bit of origami

Slowly adjusting back to Melbourne time after a fabulous week in Western Australia with the sewing sisters.  While there, Katherine and I had a go at this little Origami Bag. Quick and simple to put together and looks rather cute I think.



Katherine managed to convince me to give English Paper piecing a go and I think I am now addicted.  So much easier when you buy the pre-cut papers and use special glue to tack them down.  This project may now take over the as the piano quilt and I’ll finish the triangles on the machine!



Happy stitchin :)

Reunited

Cause it feels so good... The Sewing Sisters are in the same state again, Katherine and Kylie arrived in WA on Wednesday afternoon. Since then there has been much laughter, chatting sewing, shopping, snorting, singing, eating etc... Here's a little of the sewing we have done so far.

My 'Andalucia' Hexagon Quilt

Kylie's 'Fabulous Fall' Coming Home quilt (pattern by Camille Roskelley)

& Katherines 'Naomi' Pyramid Quilt

We are off to High Tea tomorrow afternoon with a special bunch of gals, should be lots of fun ;)

With Love

Janelle, & Katherine & Kylie XXX

LOST!

I have been lost somewhere between illness, school holidays and 40th birthday parties (not mine!!).

Sorry for the absence, life kinda got me busy…

My oldest child turned 10 last year and I promised him a quilt (as you do). It didn’t get finished by his birthday (as happens). It did get done while he was still 10 and before his 11th birthday!

 
The colours were chosen by the birthday boy and his obsession with bows/arrows and targets gave me some inspiration for the design. I used the same fabrics in stripes on the back. I needed some help with the quilting as this is a big quilt and was losing inspiration. I also like the sticky bun design. I like the finished result!
 

We have recently rearranged the children’s bedrooms and my little two now share a room which is painted blue and red. The pink and purple quilt belonging to my youngest no longer matched. So, of course it was time to buy new red and blue fabric and this is what I came up with:

 

 

The picnics and fairgrounds fabric by DS was perfect. It was very well received and became a dance stage on this particular day for my 3 and 5 year olds!

There have been a few other quilts progress and many in the planning, but more for another day. My oldest daughter turns 9 this weekend and we are having a ‘LIttle House on the Prairie’ party tomorrow. I have made pioneer bonnets for all the girls and  now it’s time to make cornbread, popcorn balls, and oatmeal cookies. I must say I am enjoying this theme and re-living my childhood days too!

Until next time,

 

Happy stitching,

 

Krafty KJ

202

Yes, this is the 202nd post on our lovely & creative, but poorly neglected, blog. I have been lured over to the dark side (aka facebook) and am ever so sorry for not posting here regularly. I promised some friends of mine (you know who you are!) that I wouldn't just use the blog to promote my 'shop' - but as this is the bulk of my sewing lately, I thought I'd share some of the bags I've been creating lately.

Reversible Denim/'Betty Dear' fabric Shoulder Bag

Girls 'Kokka' Babushka Bags

& an apron I made at work recently.

I am enjoying spending the winter school holidays with my cherubs - sleeping in, cooking, watching kids movies, sewing etc. What are you creating these holidays?

With Love

Janellybelly xx