October's One Monthly Goal

Here we are in October. It's time to select this month project goal. What to choose for this month's goal? There are so many things I need to finish but let's sew something different this month. I have 3 Giraffe's to make. This is how they should look like when I finish them.

 I have cut them out and  I have started. I need to finish them. These three all have little owners to go to.

 I have linked to post to Elm Street Quilt blog post. So pop over and check out what everyone is working on. you may even want to join us.

Until Next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Under the Pressure Foot # 24

I had the pleasure of spending the weekend with a great bunch of ladies. Though there was a little work involved with me taking the shop, it also meant I had some serious sewing time.

The view out of the large windows where we were staying. That is the Port River. So we had plenty of wildlife around including dolphins, birds and people walking their dogs.
I always have great plan to finish more than I can but I would rather take more and then I have a few projects at hand for me to work on depending how I feel. There was only 1 must do project and it was to make up Diggles the Dragon (a Funky Friends Factory pattern which I stock) who has been on my To Do List for quite a while. Plus the need to do it this weekend was the fact I had a expert on hand to ask for advice if I get stuck and she was making another one so I can look at her finished one if needed.

It took me a quite a long time to complete it but I finished it, in fairness I did start from the very beginning with only the templates cut and fabric selected.

 The dragons made over the weekend plus a ring in. The dolphin is the group's mascot, she comes to all their retreats and is the sister to my shop dolphin.

The other project I worked on was my Victorian Fling quilt which I had made all the blocks and had cut the first border pieces. This is what I ended up with. A new quilt top ready for pinning and quilting.

The pattern for this one is the 30's Fling and you will find it on the Penny Rose Fabrics website, along with loads more free patterns to tempt you. When I popped over to grab the link for you I stopped and added a few more patterns to my collection. This one is going to hang in the shop as a sample of what you can make from one of their Stacker packs and a little extra fabric.

Plus don't forget The Road Home Row Along continues this week. Here is the schedule just in case you need it.

20-Sep Beaquilter http://www.beaquilter.com

20-Sep Heleen Pinkster Quilt Design http://heleenpinkster.nl/

20-Sep Moose Stash Quilting http://moosestashquilting.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/the-road-home-blog-hop.html

20-Sep Rebecca Mae Designs http://www.rebeccamaedesigns.com

22-Sep Words & Stitches http://bethstrand.wordpress.com

22-Sep Quilt Art http://quiltartdesigns.blogspot.com/

22-Sep I CAN QUILT 2 http://icanquilt2.blogspot.com/

22-Sep Any Pattern http://www.anypattern.com

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

More Giraffes!

I made up Funky Friends Factory Raff the Giraffe at the beginning of June using Tula Pink Eden range which has been a hit. I made him for a customer. So of course I then had to make a shop sample as I shared him on my social media accounts. This led to my goddaughter asking could I make her one, which I couldn't refuse. She pick out pink with white spots and a cute little stripe to go with it.
Plus I had a request for a grey and yellow one like my current shop sample.

So I spent an afternoon finishing off all three giraffes. The purple one was nearly finished but the other two were only cut out ready for sewing.

Followed by an evening of stuffing and chasing a cat who decided he was a lion who wanted to hunt flat giraffes. Denim wasn't quite impressed when I stood they around him, so much so he attacked the yellow and grey one. I wish I got a picture but it was over before I go the camera ready.

Diggles the Dragon is next for me to try and make a shop sample up.

Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia

Pattern testing Raffe the giraffe

I am pattern testing Funky Friends Factory Raffe the Giraffe pattern as I had a special order for a finished one. Now I don't normally make them for the customer but this was a special case. Below is my shop sample that was made for me.

Fabric cutting under Raffe' s supervision.

He is starting to take shape. He isn't too hard to make as long as you follow the instructions. I found it helpful to have the pattern pieces on hand.

Finally got all the pieces together, no leftovers. So I must of got it right even though I did see the back legs on the wrong sides. When I matched the fabric up to the legs they didn't match up. This straight told me I had sewn them on the wrong way. Really it was an easy fix. The hardest part was sewing the hoofs in.

Nearly finished here.

And here he is completed. He was a little easier to make then Larry the lion but both are achievable for an experienced sewer.

He has now left me for his new home but I have kitted him up in this fabric with a pattern if you are tempted to make one like mine. Available at Cynthia's Ark.

Until Next Time 

Keep Stitching 

Cynthia

Under the Pressure Foot #13.

What have I been up to? You may guess what this post will be about if you have seen some of my Instagram posts and my post of More animals are moving in.
That's right I have been making up the shop samples  from the new Ric Rac, Melly & Me and Funky Friends Factory patterns that arrived. The patterns are all available to purchase now at Cynthia's Ark. By making up the samples this allows me to create kits with the fabric we have in stock. Sometimes it is just easier to purchase a kit to make up especially if there is a sample of the finished items.

Hedgehog Circus is the first one I tried. This is the first time I have make a project by Ric Rac and I do like to try a pattern from a new designer when I start to stock their patterns to get me a feel on how their patterns works. It helps me help the customer if they get stuck or need help choosing a pattern to their skill level.
Hedgehog Circus was a clear winner. With good clear instructions (as long as you remember to follow them). They were easy to make and you could have lots of fun with the body fabric, like I did. These two were finished in no time. I still need to sew their little noses on but I couldn't wait to show you.

The second pattern I tackled was the Plattie the Platypus from Funky Friends Factory. It took me an evening to make Plattie and is an easy pattern to make if you are new to making soft toys. I can see him in lots of fun colours. After I made him I thought he would look great will some on my hand made felt for his bill and feet. I might have to make some more felt to have a go. Plattie is available to purchase in kit form now using the Riley Blake Design fabrics pictured.

If you are in Australia there is a special offer in the current issues Patchwork & Stitching and Handmade magazines from us when you order any of our soft toy kits until the 31st October 2015.
There is 3 more soft toy samples still to be made so tune in again to see how I go making Melly & Me Black Sheep, White Sheep, Funky Friends Factory Diggles the Dragon and Ric Rac newest pattern Elliot the guinea pig.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

More Animals are moving into Cynthia's Ark

There hasn't been any decent sewing time this week. Just a few stitches in my Farmer's Wife Sampler binding. My Double Wedding Ring Bed Runner did get pinned. So what have I been up to then. I have had 2 new shipments of soft toy patterns, a couple were top up stock like Funky Friends Factory Larry the Lion and Melly & Me Black Sheep, White Sheep. The rest are new and we all love something new, don't we!
There is 4 Ric rac patterns, Baxter, Rumble & Clomp, Hedgehog Circus and their latest pattern Elliot.

I am thinking I will have to make some of the Hedgehogs for the shop.
The other shipment was full of Funky Friends Factory patterns. More Larry the lion patterns plus we now have Plattie Playpus, Diggles the Dragon and Puppy Dog Pete.

I think there will be a shop sample sewing session so we can put some kits together. Some fabric selections for 2 new patterns and one that I had a special request for.

Tune in next week for the sewing session post. We will see how easy these patterns are to make.

                                            Until Next Time

                                            Keep Stitching

                                             Cynthia

Under the Pressure Foot #6

Welcome to the next instalment of Under the Pressure Foot. I am happy to say this week there has been something under the pressure foot. I have been making another lion from the Funky Friends Factory Larry the Lion pattern( pattern and kits are available Here.) I know I have a sample already but I did not sew it and I have been asked to run a workshop on him and for me to do that, I am more confident doing that if I have made the item first. Plus I want to see what he would look like in Penny Rose Civil War Miniatures fabrics and then if he turns out I will add that version to the kit list.
Larry is not a beginner's project but with some basic knowledge he is not too hard to make. There was a few tight spots to sew together and a couple thick spots where you need to go slow so you catch the head mane and ears, but I got there with a couple of puckers unfortunately. As long I don't end up with any holes because I slip off a seam. Now ready for stuffing.

I inserted the eyes I think next time I will measure and mark the spots before inserting the eyes and then I just had to finish his face off.  Do you like him made from the range? I know I do.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia