ZAKKA from the heart :: A Book Review

Now this gorgeous little book arrived just before we headed off on our travels to New Zealand and it has sat on my desk waiting patiently ever since.  

ZAKKA from the heart by Minki Kim

When it arrived, a couple of days before departure, I had a quick look through it and, in my alternate world where I have lots of spare time, I thought I could make one or two of the projects for our trip.  I hastened out to the studio, picked fabric, found my Annie's stabiliser and even got some zips ready.  Alas it was not to be, and I admitted to myself that it was merely a diversionary tactic from actually having to pack!

That being said I would love to plan to make several items from this book.  I love it when books have an at-a-glance photo page of all the projects in the book ....

So much eye candy but so many useful, as well as beautiful items.  Well that is a loose definition of zakka - beauty in the mundane or as Wiki puts it "everything and anything that improves one's home, life and appearance."  As such you would expect the styling and photography in the book to be nice and it really is.

There are a couple of projects that could top my list of makes.  They are the Roll Cake Pencil Case ....

and the Small Dome Purse ....

Each project comes with a detailed set of written instructions and, more importantly for me, a series of photos.  Whilst I love reading when it comes to making I am a visual learner - one picture really does say a 100 words for me so these are invaluable.  And just look at that cute patchworked sewing machine - what's not to love?!

The other big bonus of this book is a set of full size pattern templates in the back ...... that actually came out along the perforated line neatly, instead of tearing into the pattern!  That aside, I do like to have access to full sized patterns rather than having to print out and stick together.

This book is published by stash books, an inprint of C&T Publishing, and available from Search Press in the UK and Europe - click here to take a look!

I had not heard of the author before so it was nice to read more about her in the author's bio at the back of the book and you can find Minki on IG @zeriano

Dachshund Cushion No 2

My youngest daughter is also rather partial to dachshunds and, with her birthday being just a month after my eldest, it only seemed fair to make her a dachshund cushion aswell.  My eldest received this one here.

This pattern is also by Juliet at Tartan Kiwi (psst she has 25% off her patterns until 31 December 2016 if you use code Happyholidays2016) and was lovely to make - even though I was somewhat apprehensive about some of the tiny pieces.

For the first time whilst paper piecing I bothered to get my light box out and it made such a difference.

I worked through each section and was pleasantly surprised at how quickly they came together.

It was lovely seeing him come to life ....

.... but not so lovely seeing his backside when he was complete!

He was at this stage for a while before I was able to get a big enough cushion inner.  He finishes at 20" and I didn't want to lose much of the background otherwise he looked a bit funny!

Finally all finished and gifted ..... just a little late!

This is another finish on my 2016FAL - Number 5 on the list.  I really need to check on this list.  I know I haven't made great inroads on it but I think there are a few things that I have done but not yet posted about - nothing like the end of the quarter to get you motivated!

Linking up to Let's Bee Social over with the lovely Lorna!

Finish Along Quarter 3 No 1 :: Dachshund Cushion

Both my girls are majorly into dachshunds at the moment so, as we won't be getting a real life one, I thought they might like fabric ones.  I bought two patterns from Tartan Kiwi and set to making the first one for my daughter's birthday at the beginning of September.

If you look at the scale of the cutting mat you can see exactly how tine some of those pieces are ....

I was running a little late so all she got was this little block in an envelope with the option of it becoming a mini wall hanging or a cushion cover!!  This block measures 6 1/2" x 8 1/2".

She chose a cushion cover and I happened to have a rectangle cushion inner, but it still took a few weeks to finish!

Making do with what fabrics I had, and also not really knowing what I was going to make with it when I started, meant that it truly became patchwork as I made it up to size!  It was finished a week ago but I only had indoor shots ....

The sun was shining today so I took him outside!  And I had the realisation that, in my hurry to get him finished, I made the cushion cover without giving the front any quilting - can't believe I've only just realised.

However, I still think he looks pretty good.  I make my covers a couple of inches smaller than the cushion inner and that way they are plumped up well.  I think that's a saving grace for this one with no quilting.

I made a zippered opening on the back with some white and orange fabric I had in my stash.  I have to admit that I forgot how to put in a zip so some unpicking ensued but I got there in the end.  However, I used a zip I already had because I didn't want to wait any longer.  It was smaller than it should have been and I was lucky to be able to get the cushion inner in there ..... I certainly have learnt my lesson and will wait next time until I have the right zip for the job.

And in its final resting place!

Dachshund No 2 is in the works - again the piecing was finished in time for my other daughter's birthday but I didn't have a cushion inner the right size to finish it.

This is my first finish for Quarter 4 and is No 1 on my 2016FAL Q4 list.

OMG - October

Quick in and out today stating my OMG for linking up to Heidi at Red Letter Quilts:

My goal for October is to quilt and bind this feather quilt for my daughter ....

This has not been quilt I have really enjoyed working on but I hope I fall back in love with it during the quilting.  I have to wait for the backing, my daughter was very specific with the backing she would like and it's not even in the country yet, but as soon as it arrives I am going for it!!

Pick a letter, any letter!

My Mum turned 80 in August.  What do you get for your Mum when she turns 80?

What do you get someone who has most things and has just decided to start decluttering after 30 years in the same house?

What do you get for someone who, after a few hard years, decides to buy herself a soft top sports car a week before her birthday?

What do you get, or make, for someone when there is only a week left until their birthday?

Why you make a Scrabble mini quilt of course!!

My Mum and I, and indeed all the children, often play Scrabble so it seemed appropriate.

My daughter, 12, now plays with my Mum, 80!

I loved the way this turned out in the end .... although part way through I was beginning to worry it wasn't going to look as good in real life as it did in my head!

I used twin needles to attach the white grid fabric and decided to use those as the quilting lines aswell.  It gave a zig zag appearance on the back of the quilt, which I actually quite like - speed, efficiency and good looks too!

Now the question is what to make her for her 81st?!!

Linking up to Finish it Up Friday today.

My kind of birthday ....

Today is my birthday - hip hip hooray!!  Yesterday a card came through the post and I assumed it was a birthday card when in fact it was a card from the lady whose quilt I recently returned after longarming it.  This is what she had to say:

 

"I would like to thank you so much for the lovely quilting you have done for me on my applique quilt. In particular the additional spirals on the sunflowers and the extra detail on the leaves. I am sure ...... will be most thrilled when they receive the quilt ....."

 

The quilt in question can be seen over here.  What a fantastic birthday present to get!

 

The morning started with presents .... lots of handmade ones and my youngest daughter made us all pancakes.  It doesn't get any better than that.

 

I thought my daughter had bought this set but when I asked her where she had got it from she told me she had made it and just put it in an old package she had!

 

 

I am just blown away by their creativity sometimes .... and all this made in secret without me knowing about any of it!  My eldest daughter is cooking dinner tonight and I don't have to do any clearing up - bliss!!

 

 

 

I have also had time in my studio and am well on my way to finishing my Rainbow Mini quilt for an IG swap.  Hopefully it will be a finish tomorrow for Finish it up Friday and there will also be a giveaway announced. xx

A week of finishes - Day 3 ....

.... a Harry Potter cushion for my niece's birthday!  This is another project that was on my 2016FAL list.

 

I cut the squares at 5 1/2" to give a finished cover size of 20" and then appliqued on the animals and H.



 

I learnt why some people use a pressing cloth whilst ironing on the applique .... I have rather shiny patches where I ironed over the seam.  I have never experienced this before and wondered whether it was because I was using Heat n Bond for the first time rather than BondaWeb?

 

I quilted it with a small stipple stitch on my longarm machine.  It always makes me laugh to work on something so small on my longarm machine because my frame is 12ft long!

 

And we have a cushion!!

 

And whilst we are on the Harry Potter theme here's a stitching my daughter made for her friend's birthday.  She was delighted with the result and her friend let out a squeal when she opened it so that was a great result. x

Linking up with Lorna today at Let's Bee Social.

Happy Mail and WIPs ....

On Christmas Eve we went over to my Mum's for a family meal.  We got back at just gone 5pm and the was a 'Unable to Deliver; postcard from the postman.  It was international and it required a signature ......... it would be available to collect from the depot on 'the next working day'.  That was 5 days away!!  I thought I knew what it was but had to try to forget it was sat in the locked up depot.  I was there early on the 29th and it was well and truly worth the wait.  It was my prize from Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts for my entry into her Dog Gone Cute link up.  Thank you Lorna and your very generous sponsors and thank you to everyone who voted for my quilt!

 

The prize, on the quilt that won the prize, on the bed with my daughter, whose quilt it is, underneath!!!

 

 

There are 23 fat quarters in there, Grecian Water Colorstory.  The colours are delicious ........ I have never owned any Kona Cotton before so there was quite a lot of squealing going on in this household.  Now, of course, I have to find the perfect project for them .... that could take some time!

 

I finally made it back into the studio after what seemed like forever, but was probably just 10 days, and have started lots of things.  First is a long term project from the Farm Girl Vintage book.

 

This was a little present to myself and I have decided to make all 48 blocks.  I have set myself the challenge of one block a week, which should be easily achievable without becoming toooo addictive.  So far I have made 3 blocks, so I am a little ahead of schedule!

 

 

With the fourth all cut and ready to be sewn!

 

My niece is a huge Harry Potter fan and it is her birthday at the end of the month so I have started a cushion cover for her.  I can't get a decent photo at the moment which shows the true colours.  I am hoping that shoe will love it.

And last, but not least, I have started on my Bee commitments for the month.  It's been a few years since I have joined in with any Bees and I am so looking forward to getting to know and sew for the member in the Neighbourhood Block Swap, Stash Bee and The Bee Hive.  This block is the January block for The Bee Hive.  I really enjoyed making this last night and have the second block cut out to make today.  Oh, is that another one also cut out?  I have, in my wisdom, decided to make an extra block of each Bee block I make this year.  I thought it would be a great idea to have a quilt top to put together easily at the end of the year and it would make a lovely keepsake of the Bees.  Well that's what I am saying in January I'll have to see if I keep up all this good work!

 

So back into it now after the 'flu, Christmas and the New Year and I am really looking forward to the year ahead, both in terms of sewing and family.  Lots of lovely things planned and adventures to have.  Linking up today to Let's Bee Social and WIP Wednesday. x