Tutorial: Scrappy Happy Trivet

Do you have some pretty fabric scraps that you cannot part with, but don't know what to use them for? Then this quick tutorial might be exactly what you need. Easy step-by-step instructions will help you create a sweet and useful trivet featuring all your precious scraps and make you smile every time you use it. Let's not waste any time and get sewing!

Grandma's Love

My Grandma has a special place in my heart and her love still warms my heart every day. It's the small things like freshly backed sugar rolls, late night tea, a bunch of flowers, a dinner I am cooking that bring memories of her. Our pretend games we used to play together, our trips to the lake and the river near our summer holiday house, our laughs and our tears - it's all a part of who I am now. My brother and I used to spend almost every summer with our grandparents. Each spring our parents would pack us up ready for the summer adventures away from home and send us on a plane trip to a different city for the next three exciting months. It was always fun, and I have to say that we hardly missed our parents, but if our parents managed to take some time off work and come spend some summer days with us all, it always felt extra special.

English Paper Piecing Wedding Ring

Have you heard about the Sip Tea and EPP party me and Megan of Dolly Henry are having every Sunday on Instagram? It's a lot of fun and anyone who loves English Paper Piecing can join us using the #sipteaandepp hashtag. The idea is to share the EPP projects you are working on, encourage each other and share tips, tricks and interesting ideas.

Pink Quilting Bee 2018

What an adventure it has been! Last year I was lucky to be invited to join a group of wonderful girls to go on a year-long adventure - the Quilting Bee. I had no idea what it was and how it really worked, but after reading some history information behind it and some blogs, I thought that it was a wonderful opportunity to help all 11 girls make a quilt each and get help making my own pink quilt along the way. I am so grateful that the girls picked me for this project and let me use my stash for sewing for them.

Each months one of the Quilting Bees picked a particular block and sent us the instructions and colour preferences and then it was up to us to pick the fabrics from our own stashes, sew the block and send it to the Queen Bee. It was fun going through my stash each month and pulling the fabrics that I felt were right for each and every block. Even though I felt quite scared at the very start of this adventure, I am happy I joined the group and got to know the Instagram girls much better. So let me show you all the 12 beautiful blocks that I have made during 2018.

The Sunny Bunny Quilt...

...is finally finished after one and a half years in the making. Looking back I cannot believe that it took me so long to complete this simple quilt, but I have to admit that I was having a "love and hate" relationship with it for a long time. Even though I finished all the thirty blocks back in September last year, it still took me this long to put them all together, quilt it and bind it. Now looking at this lovely quilt, I cannot be more happier and my Little One is absolutely in love with his new quilt that is full of cute bunnies and pretty petals. Perfect for the winter snuggles.

Sweet Strawberry Mini Block

It's tiny. It's cute and it's very sweet. Do you like strawberries? I do! I have been a little bit obsessed with painting mice and strawberries over the last few weeks and one night (instead of sleeping of course) I ended up making this tiny block that I call "Sweet Strawberry". My so Big now Boy called it an "Apple-esque Strawberry". I have to agree, it does look like an apple or even a radish to me, but I am going to stick with the strawberry for now. :-) It is a very quick and easy block to sew and absolutely perfect for small scraps.

Revisiting the Splendid Sampler

The past week I was spending some time working on my all forgotten The Splendid Sampler quilt. At the time of the sew along, I only managed to sew 25 blocks and then I fell badly behind. I was trying to catch up and luckily printed out a few blocks, but then I gave up. Why?

Little Sewing Kit

It's not a secret that I love all sorts of cute little sewing kits, folders, pouches and other special sewing notions. It seems to me that I can always find some time for making a new little pretty thing to keep me company on my sewing adventures. The other day I went to Spotlight to get the most ordinary and boring black buttons for some mending work, but as you can imagine, I simply could not leave the store without some pretties that inspired me to sew this little sweet folder. In pink.

Mushroom Paper Piecing Pattern

I am really excited today! Finally, I am ready to share this super easy, quick and fun paper pieced mushroom pattern with you all. I used to love picking mushrooms with my family when I was little. It always was a delight to take a walk through the autumn woods looking for cute mushrooms of all shapes and sizes hidden among the dry leaves under trees. I think I was hoping to spot a little gnome or a fairy every time I came across a toadstool or any other type of mushrooms really. I always believed mushrooms were little houses for fairy creatures. Look at that tiny Mousy having a strawberry for his morning tea under that large mushroom surrounded by pretty butterflies. I wish I met such a cute creature on one of our mushroom picking adventures.

Work in Progress

It's been a while since I posted anything about my current works in progress. As always, I have quite a few small things going on at the same time that I switch between depending on my mood and the time I have available for sewing. Some of the projects have been planned, some are simply a spur-of-the-moment decisions, just like the project below. I came across that little scrap of Belle and Boo fabric (I keep a small basket on the desk where I put some of the precious scraps). I pulled a few more floral scraps and got lost in playing around with pretty fabrics and buttons. It did not take long for a vague idea to form and I can say that now it's finished. Something quite cute that I will be sad to part with. Pinks, florals and cute buttons. I cannot wait to show it to you.

Sunny Bunny Pouch

When I saw the latest fabric "Dandelion" by Belle and Boo, I instantly fell in love with it. These bunnies flying on dandelion parachutes are simply adorable. I wanted to make something with it for my Little Boy. The only problem is that it's pink. I have nothing against pink colour being used for boys, but still I would like to keep it a bit more boyish, but quite sweet.

The Splendid Sampler: Blocks No.19, No.25, No.27, No.28 and No.33

It's The Splendid Sampler time again. Let's start with the block No.19 "Measure Twice, Cut Once" designed by Jane Davidson. What can I say...this block is all about me. I have to admit, I am always in a hurry to cut instead of checking the measurements, and then I find myself with bits and pieces that are way too short. Just like this block itself. Can you believe it?! Do you see that extra piece on the right hand side? It was not supposed to be there, but because I was in a hurry to grab and use the scissors, I snipped the pink "measuring tape" piece shorter than I needed and there were not any pink pieces left. I really must read this and remember every time I am sewing. Maybe I should make a mini quilt and put it on a wall next to my machine so I can always see this reminder.

The Splendid Sampler: Blocks No.21 and No.22

A small update on my Splendid Sampler progress. Not much to report yet unfortunately. Other projects, everyday chores and most of all, our Little One (that I don't mind at all), take up too much of my time at the moment. But still, this small progress is better than nothing, I suppose. So...here are the two blocks I managed to finish.

The Splendid Sampler: Blocks No.13 - No.15

Block No.13 "Scrap Star" by Corey Yoder. I really enjoyed working on this block. I surprised myself once I measured the finished block (after sewing together all these tiny pieces) - it was the correct size. Yay! It seems like I am learning something along the way. It makes me happy!

The Splendid Sampler: Blocks No.9 - No.12

"Local Quilt Shop" block No.9 designed by Jane Davidson. I had to modify this block just a little bit so I could fit the "Fabric" sign right in. It was such a fun block to sew! It did not take any time for me to pull the right fabrics for this block, I knew exactly what I was going to use.

The Splendid Sampler: Blocks No.5 - No.8

When I saw all the amazing blocks being made by the participants around the world, it made me think. Think of my final quilt and how it would look.

The Splendid Sampler: Blocks No. 3 and No. 4

I think I am in love. Really. Truly. This block was an absolute pleasure to work on. From the first step of auditioning the fabrics for each heart to the very last one of pressing the block with a hot iron. This block No. 3 is called "Lots of Love" designed by Melissa Corry. Easy to sew and can be used in large quilts or just like small items on its own.

The Splendid Sampler: Block No. 1 and No. 2

I am very excited! I have joined the largest project ever (for me personally) with thousands of people sewing along around the world. The Splendid Sampler. Have you heard about it? A whole year of making 100 quilting blocks designed especially for this project.

Flex Frame Tulip Pouch

Last year I gave myself a little gift. A Japanese book called "Pattern Lessons of Patchwork". The book is full of different hand sewn quilting blocks with all the instructions in Japanese, but with very detailed step-by-step photos. The book really is amazing and inspiring.

Little Friends. Mousy Mail Notepad Cover

An envelope, a pencil, a few stamps and a lovely note. "Patchwork, Please!" by Ayumi Takahashi inspired this little project. I was going to try out a smaller version of an envelope paper pieced block featured in this book before making something bigger. The envelope turned out really cute...