Chocolate and Strawberries

Mmmm I hear you say. Well I think so!!

I was asked if I could make some "real" patchwork baby nursery items in pink and chocolate brown.

I found a selection of Moda fabrics that matched the brief.



After cutting out 200 squares(!!), I cracked on making the crib coverlet, cot bumper and comfort blanket (taggie). Halfway into the project I was asked to make a matching cotbed coverlet for the baby's big sister!!

I found organising the layout and machine piecing definately speeded up the process. They were all backed with pink fleece.

The set

The Taggie

The Bumper

The Cotbed Coverlet

I have some left over fabric so I make a quilt to keep - or even sell (how cheeky am I!!??)

Vintage Sheet Quilt

I decided on Thursday afternoon that I was going to make a lap quilt for DD's Godmother!!

She is a lady of the old school, who goes to bed by 10pm and she's always up at 6am. But lately she's been waking at 3am and going downstairs where she dozes in her armchair. So the quilt will be something cosy to pull over herself to keep warm.

I decided to use the fabrics that I received from OhFransson's Vintage Sheet Patchwork Swap.

I also added a couple of length of broderie anglaise trim.

It was made simply with 8" finished size blocks, it was sewn together inside out and then turned out (I don't know if there is a technical quilting name for this!) so I didn't have to sew on binding, and then quilted simply.

I was posted so that hopefully it will reach her in time for Mothers' Day on Sunday.

We have a WINNER

There was a delay in picking of the winner of my 100th Blog Post Giveaway as family life got in the way of crafting - how dare it!!

Assisted by DD, the 20 names were put into the hat (well actually a patchwork basket I got for a swap at Christmas).

And after a thorough mixing, a name was drawn.

And the winner was .......

..... Sarah from Autumn Rose Crafts. CONGRATULATIONS.

She has asked that I make her one of my Camper Vans so I'd best get on with it.

Thank you to everyone who entered. xx

100th POST GIVE-AWAY!!

Well I've at last reached my first century post.

So in accordance with blogland tradition - I'm hosting a giveaway!!

The prize will be a CUSTOM MADE SOFTIE.

I'll be giving the winner a choice - a softie for a boy, a softie for a girl, or a Retro softie.

To enter - leave a comment telling me which of the softies I've already made is your favourite - and why.

My Softies
Originally uploaded by sewtobed

If you mention my giveaway on your own blog, you'll get a second entry into the draw.

Forgot to mention I'll keep this open until next Saturday 14th March 2009.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE xx

Treats for Me!!

As I miscounted and my NEXT post will be number 100, I thought for this one I'd show a few things I've bought for myself lately.

Firstly, with DH's blessing (and cash), I bought a new sewing machine. It's a Husqvarna Quilt Designer II. I got it brand new but for half its retail price. A bargain I hear you say - but it still cost a small fortune!!

It sews, quilts and with some additional software embroiders too. It is all computerised - no knobs to twiddle anymore - and I'm so scared of it I haven't even turned it on yet. (add a blushing face emoticon here). I'm going to take the giant step at the weekend as I have commissions for some real patchwork quilts.

Onto some slightly cheaper purchases!!

I had Amazon vouchers to spend (some curtesy of winning the Crafter..oo Christmas Competition) so I decided to buy some quilting/patchwork books - and got these.

* Traditional Patchwork Quilt Patterns - this comes with some helpful plastic templates.

* Stash-Buster Quilts - the only drawback is that I don't have a stash to bust so that means I'll need to spend more money sometime!!

* Material Obsession - which is filled with some lovely designs

* 200 Quilt Blocks to Mix & Match - great for the basics

and I'm still waiting for Kaffe Fassett's Country Garden Quilts to arrive.

Lots of lovely pictures in them all to drool over and wonder if I'll ever be skilful enough to make.