Join the Owl Revolution!

I've been obsessed with Owl's for as long as I can remember! In one of my original posts I featured my Mr Hooty Hoot Owl that I made for a customer. See a pic of him below:

I recently had a request for the pattern for him, so I posted a link to a rough pattern (very rough). Well I'm very happy to say one of my blog readers has made her own version & I just wanted to share it with everyone as I think she's gorgeous & has a personality of her own.
Thanks Chryssie for sharing the photo with us of your owl!

Here is some more "Owlspiration" - join the Owl Revlotion & make your own version! We'd love to see so if you have any photos please add them to the Sweet Mary Flickr Group or e-mail them to: sweetmary@live.com.au



Oversized Cross Stitch

I recently discovered an artist Jessica Decker making gorgeous oversized cross stitch art. I decided to put the idea & use it to make a cushion.

Here is what I used & the steps I took to make my oversized cross stitch cushion.)

Requirements:

- Thread, I used this thread from Spotlight, you could use cross stitch thread or even tapestry threads

- A fabric marker

- 0.5 meter of cushion fabric - I used a natural linen (you could use ANYTHING you want)

- Some fringing - you could go with or without the fringing as it's a bit tricker

1) Mark your grid out using a fabric marker, mine were about 1 inch wide
2) Complete the grid
3) Draw out your rough design, I did a heart
4) Thread your needle
5) Start sewing your oversize cross stitch
6) The heart shape coming into place

7) Once your pattern is sewn in, you need to wet your fabric fully in order to wash your fabric marker off

8) Dry & Iron your fabric

9) Make your backing for the pillow, I used 2 pieces to make an envelope design

10) Sew your envelope backing on the edges to hold in place

11) Place your fringing on the inside of the pillow (remember to face all your good sides inside as we will turn it inside out later)

12) Pin in place in preparation for sewing

13) Sew all around your edges to make your square cushion
14) Trim your corners (as it will make it easier to get a pointed corner when you turn inside out later)
15) Turn your cushion cover inside out
16) The results minus a cushion insert

The final result

Hello Birdie!!

After Making my own version of Lisa Tilse's "Frankie" Doll. I think my next project with be to re-create her very cute "Hello Birdie Pillows" - they couldn't be simpler or cuter! Lisa sells the pattern for her "Hello Birdie's" at her online shop The Red Thread, you can buy the pattern HERE.....or if you are like me you will just attempt to whip it up yourself! it's a very basic design of a front & back piece put together...and then you simply create the  feather look on the back with whatever fabrics you fancy!

Polly & Pippa the Pillow Dolls

You may have seen earlier in the week my attempt at Lisa Tilse's "Frankie" Pillow Doll (as seen in Australian Homespun Magazine) who I named Polly, as I mentioned I have to make 2 because of my impending twin girls! Everything in double! Thought I would show you the finished product of the 2nd doll who we've dubbed Pippa. Let me know what you think? I think my girls will love them!

Charm Packs & Jelly Rolls - A Cheats Guide to Patchwork

I have a few readers who want to learn the art of quilting & patchwork, and yes it really is a bit of an ART if you take it very seriously (of course you don't have to take it seriously!!). There are alot of amazing quilters out there that are creating patchwork quilts that are nothing short of painstakingly intricate, time consuming & of course the results breathtaking. One of my favourite quilters is Sarah Fielke, you can see some of her inticate inspiring work below.

Of course I don't think I would ever have the patience or stamina to create such wonders....as I've said in the past I'm more of a plain square patchwork kind of girl, and you know if you made your quilt with love then that's all that matters.

 

Start small, start easy! 

My friend Hannah who has only just recently purchased her first sewing machine whipped up the below GORGEOUS patchwork cushion! The front is patchwork & the back is just a neutral fabric & she has designed it like a normal everyday pillow case. As per the 2nd photo you can see she has an opening on 1 end & a simple flap to hold the pillow inside! Very clever & very easy! no zips required! 

Let us know what you think of Hannah's cushion in our comments area below!

Charm Packs 

Making it even easier Hannah purchased her fabrics as a "Charm Pack" from an online shop called Busy Thimbles, they have a cute aray of Charm Packs & Jelly Rolls.

What's a Charm Pack?... Charm Packs are pre-cut packs of fabric squares of beautiful coordinating fabrics, this takes the guess work out of matching/coordinating fabrics & cutting all the squares, the fabric pieces are ready to sew! See below some pretty packs

Jelly Rolls
Or if you want to go even easier you could buy a Jelly Roll, this is a roll of pre-cut, coordinating fabrics already sewn into a line, so all you need to do is sew your lines together to create a larger scale quilt. Of course I find the later TOO easy & to be honest that takes alot of the fun out of it!! 

You could make a very cute cushion like my friend Hannah made in no time! Shop at Busy Thimbles OR simply google "Charm Packs" you'll be spoilt for choice! After some practice on patchworking some small home wares like cushions you can then try your hand at a larger scale quilt. Good Luck! & Be sure to upload any of your creations to the Sweet Mary Flickr Photo Group

Best Online Fabric Store

A few people have been asking me where is the best place to buy fabrics online. By far the number 1 Australian based shop I've come across is Funky Fabrix, run by Shona & Jason in Brisbane.
You can actually visit their shop in Brisbane, so if you're a local you can pop into the store (I dream of going some day!) but for the rest of us outside of Brisbane all their amazing fabrics can be purchased from their online shop!! To explore all the amazing fabric finds click here to SHOP

The online shop is amazing in the way it is categorized into styles, collections, designers, colours etc so it's very easy if you are after something specific or otherwise just browse the hundreds of fabrics.....

Here are some of the fabrics I have purchased since discovering the store, most of these were from Funky Fabrix with just a few coming from overseas designers. The other great thing is the online shop is always having a sale or providing incentives to buy like free postage which is great!

You can also visit the Funky Fabrix Blog

They also have a sister site specialising in vintage fabrics check it out here at 100Vintage

Share your sewing creations HERE!!

Sweet Mary's photo sharing on Flickr.

We've love to see your home made creations so please upload any of your projects here in the Sweet Mary Photo Group! Simply "JOIN" the group & then "ADD PHOTOS" to share your pics!