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Author Archives: Jenna
I Made A Thing! And Some Moving News
warning: written on this bloody ipad so the links aren’t all HTML. Ugh.
Oh my goodness, you guys have been SO supportive about my battle with depression (see post below)- I was overwhelmed at your kindness! I was afraid when I wrote the post that no one would even read it as I’d been away so long, but I really felt I owed you all an honest apology. Thank you so much!
And I’ve been sewing again! I’m a member of Romsey Quilters (http://romseyquilters.co.uk) and it’s their 30th anniversary this year so we’re making mini quilts to celebrate. Here’s mine:
What do you think? I got the tutorial and templates from Lee at Freshly Pieced (http://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/?page_id=1534) and I’m now hooked on making minis from her templates. Seriously, why didn’t I make minis before? I can nearly get one from start to finish in a single day. Talk about instant gratification!
And we have moving news! Apparently we’re moving Friday the 8th. I’ve paid for the movers, and even paid the extra so they will pack us up. However, there are still things we have to do and pack ourselves. I’m especially protective of my sewing supplies. (Aren’t we all?!)
I promise I’ll post pics of my new house soon! I probably shouldn’t post any now since technically it’s not ours yet and that would probably be a bit creepy…
I’ll be really glad when this moving thing is over. I’m so stressed that I guess I’m clenching my jaw all day long without realising it, so at night I can’t sleep because I’m in agony. Seriously, I didn’t get to sleep till 5:30! I’m so silly.
I hope you are all having marvellous weekends, and if you lived nearby I’d have you over for my housewarming party. If I ever get off my bum and have one. Maybe we could have a sewing day instead…
Jen
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Posted in Finished Products, Finished Quilts, Random Ramblings
Tagged Freshly pieced, mini quilt, moving house, romsey quilters
30 Comments
The Depression Vacation
Wow. I just realised I haven’t posted anything in over 2 months. Sorry! I’m calling it my Depression Vacation.
When I got back from visiting my family this summer, I basically fell apart. (Not physically; that would be on the news!) I’m not exactly sure what happened, but the result has been that I had to go to the GP and get on sertraline (an antidepressant). It made me sick for a while, and actually made me feel worse for a while too. It was nice to lose some weight, but my husband was so concerned that he told me to stop taking it. I kept plugging along on it because I knew that it’s not unusual to feel like shit when you first start an antidepressant. And in the end it was worth it.
I feel less hopeless, and although my sewing mojo still seems to be on holiday, at least I can function. For a while there, even contemplating doing the washing up or cooking dinner would leave me exhausted and low. Sewing and knitting and writing seemed irrelevant as my entire world and outlook turned a dark shade of grey. Probably I need to increase my dose. It’s very difficult to fight against your own brain when it’s telling you that you’re worthless and that no one gives a shit what you have to say. The gigantic effort of turning on the computer and actually writing something seems so disproportionate to the reward that it’s easier to just do nothing. And that’s what I’ve been doing. For months. Nothing.
Also, we’ve been selling our house and buying another. And it’s been pretty stressful. I’ve cried a few times. But it’s not all bad. IF everything goes through, we’ll be moving into a beautiful house and I’ll even have a whole study to dedicate to my crafts! We could be moving in a couple of weeks, or it might take another 6 weeks. :s
Anyway, I’ve really missed being active online, and I’ve really missed everyone. I miss twitter but I can never really think of anything to say to anyone these days. I suppose that’s the depression, really.
So I apologise for being AWOL for so long. It’s been a difficult fall and winter. I’d like to get back to functioning normally, including blogging, but you may have to bear with me as I deal with depression and moving and who knows what else. And if you have been feeling low, go see your GP! I was so miserable before the med kicked in and I cannot imagine being that bad indefinitely. I really waited too long before going. I guess it was a combination of wishful thinking (I’ll get better soon. I don’t need help!) and lassitude (Seriously? You want me to leave the couch? Yeah right…) that prevented me getting help sooner.
But I’m feeling much better than I did, say, 4 weeks ago. And the sun is shining and although I have a cold, I also have David Attenborough DVDs and a Mary, Queen of Scots bio. Add some tea and codeine, and things are looking, if not great, at least satisfactory. 
How’s your winter been?
jen
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Posted in UK craft blog
44 Comments
Manic Monday Linky Party
Still convalescing here…got a bit of a cold and a case of the ‘blahs’. Fortunately it’s half term here so Savi and I both have a week long holiday. Savi’s cough is so rattling and awful that I cringe every time I hear it. Poor kid. It was kind of her to share it with the family… :p Sorry I haven’t done the features from last week – I’ll do a double feature this Friday if I don’t post about it before that.
I sure hope you are all feeling better than I am and that you’ve got a great week ahead!
Linky Party Rules:
- You can link anything you’ve created – an etsy shop, blog or tutorial, recipe or project, whatever.
- You can leave up to 2 links
- Please visit at least one other link and comment!
- I’ll be featuring a few on the blog on Feature Friday
- You are welcome to add my party button to your blog, but you don’t have to!
If you’d like to receive my blog feed in your Google Reader (or any other reader) just click on the Feedburner (RSS) link below.
© J C Excell, 2012
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Posted in UK craft blog
7 Comments
Book Review: The Complete Machine Quilting Manual
Joanie Zeier Poole’s book on machine quilting teaches you what you need to know to start free motion quilting. FMQ can be so scary – where do you start? How much do you do? What designs work best? This manual will definitely help you find your bearings.
Chapter 1 is full of lots of tips regarding different types of quilting machines – long arm, domestic machine with frame (my dream is to own one of these!), and even a domestic machine. And don’t worry that you don’t have a long arm – Joanie explains that she prefers to work on a domestic machine and is quite happy with her results. She also discusses essential and useful attachments, accessories, and even setting up your working space.
Chapter 2 is all about planning and preparations. It helps you choose and plan quilting techniques for different types of quilts along with techniques for transferring them to your quilt. Joanie discusses fabric preperation and even when to starch (answer: lightly and often!) as well as thread and needle types and how to choose wadding.
Chapter 3 discusses the varieties of machine quilting – channel, stippling, background and echo as well as others. You’ll learn about moving from shape to shape on the quilt.
Above is an example of filler designs, and you’ll also learn how to plan and quilt designs based on straight lines – there are more than you think! She also discusses how to practice designs before sewing them.
Finally there is a small library of quilting designs for making your own. I think this is a book which would appeal to the beginner and intermediate quilter – many quilters are terrified at the thought of free motion quilting, but a little knowledge and practice will get you a long way. There are also 4 projects that aren’t very difficult and offer the opportunity to practice your free motion skills.
The Complete Machine Quilting Manual by Joanie Zeier Poole is published by Search Press and is available on Amazon UK and Amazon US.
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© J C Excell, 2012
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Posted in Book Review
Tagged Book Review, Complete Machine Quilting Manual, free motion quilting
2 Comments
(I’m in) Sewing World Magazine ;)
Sewing World Magazine is out now and my quilt is on the cover!!! SQUEAL!!! If you can’t find it in a bookstore/newsagent near you, you can order it from Traplet Publications’s website.
My quilt is a layer cake quilt. I had to scramble to get it done before I went to Texas. To be honest I hadn’t really considered the timing when I asked the editor, Julie, if she’d be interested. Thankfully I managed to finish on time! I am so chuffed they decided to put it on the cover!
Lynne of Lily’s Quilts also has a pattern in this month’s issue – isn’t this table runner wonderful? It’s a jelly roll pattern and I love it! I’m thinking about making it with a non-Xmas jelly roll. So cute!
There’s also a profile of my blog in the magazine. I had forgotten about it completely until one of my students found it! Thanks Nati!
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© J C Excell, 2012
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Manic Monday Linky Party
So you may have noticed I wasn’t here last week. That’s because I was reading – I averaged nearly 600 pages per day, which as you can imagine doesn’t leave much time for anything else. For some reason, when I read fiction I can’t bear to put it down. I simply MUST know what’s happening next. And it’s no good saying to myself After this chapter is over I’m going to do computer chores. I turn into Procrastination Central!
So I’m going on a fiction diet – the only fiction I’ll allow myself to buy is on audio, since I listen to that while I’m sewing. No more Kindle books for me! I need to get some real work done.
How about you? Do you have trouble doing anything else when you read a good book?
Linky Party Rules:
- You can link anything you’ve created – an etsy shop, blog or tutorial, recipe or project, whatever.
- You can leave up to 2 links
- Please visit at least one other link and comment!
- I’ll be featuring a few on the blog on Feature Friday
- You are welcome to add my party button to your blog, but you don’t have to!
If you’d like to receive my blog feed in your Google Reader (or any other reader) just click on the Feedburner (RSS) link below.
© J C Excell, 2012
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Friday Feature and Finishes
Our feature this week isn’t a quilt, but it’s been made with great skill and eye for detail:
Kelli of Seriously…I think it needs stitches made this lovely lil donkey using a Ric Rac pattern (designed by Jodie Carleton). Isn’t is superb? Thank you for sharing, Kelli!
And I have a couple of finishes to report:
Another drawstring bag – this one is the size from Jeni’s tutorial, so you can make one too. I used the eye-catching Modernology range by Pat Bravo, which was provided by Hantex Ltd. If you’re in the UK and want to buy some, there’s a list of Hantex stockists here. If you’re in the US/Canada and want to buy Pat Bravo fabrics, Fabricworm and Fat Quarter Shop sell them. It’s a really beautiful line – silky and rich in detail and colour.
I also finished this 16″ pillow:
It uses the same block that I used in the Je’taime Le Thames bag (below) that I designed for Fat Quarterly online magazine – the Britannia edition, with my tote bag along with a stunning array of other patterns, is still available to download.
Tomorrow I’m taking a coach trip to the Knitting and Stitching Show at Ally Pally, and I am SO excited!! I’ll share my goodies next week. What are you up to this weekend?
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© J C Excell, 2012
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Posted in Feature Friday, Features, Finished Products
Tagged hantex ltd, pat bravo fabrics
5 Comments
Abakhan Sponsors: Klona Cotton Solids & Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern Review
I mentioned in Tuesday’s post that I’d do a review of the Klona solid cotton fabric that I used to make my Tula Pink LOVE quilt.
The fabric was provided by Abakhan Fabrics, where it’s available for £7.25 per metre. It’s a full 135 cm wide instead of the usual 114 cm, so it’s a very good deal.
It’s a bit stiffer than, say, Kona solids, which means (for me, anyway) that it doesn’t really need to be starched before you can work with it. It’s also a bit ‘rougher’, not quite as silky. However, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it means that it ‘sticks’ to other fabrics easily. So if you like to press your pieces together so they are completely flat before sewing, Klona solids will ‘stick’ and stay there until you can pin. Indeed, if you’re working with smaller pieces, you don’t need to pin as long as you’re careful.
I was a bit worried that it would still feel stiff after washing and drying my LOVE quilt, but it hasn’t – the motion of the machines seems to have softened it up considerably.
I had a bit of the Klona red left over, and today I decided to make myself a posh knitting project bag from a pattern I bought from Jeni of In Color Order. You don’t have to have the pattern to make one – there’s a tutorial for a slightly smaller version of it on her website. If you do want larger or smaller bags, you’ll have to get the pattern. It only costs $6.50 and is fantastic. There are 8 bag sizes and full instructions, including the formula if you want to make one to your own dimensions. It’s very clearly written, and I’m so pleased with how mine turned out that I’ve decided to make them as Christmas gifts. It was really quick to make, and the finished product is superb. They look quite professional, and if you wanted you could make the interior out of plastic so it could be a wash bag or makeup bag (my students use a cheap shower curtain to make wash bags).
I used the Klona for the interior, and again it was a breeze to cut and sew. I definitely will use the Klona again, and I really recommend it. It comes in many, many colours so you’ll be able to find one to match, and it’s SUCH a good value considering how wide it is. If you’ve never used Klona solids before, I recommend giving them a try – you may discover a new (cheaper!) favourite!
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© J C Excell, 2012
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Posted in Finished Products, Reviews, UK craft blog, UK Modern Quilt Blog, UK quilt blog, UK sewing blog
Tagged Abakhan Fabrics
4 Comments
Knitting: On and Off the Needles
Hello!! I’ve been intending to start incorporating my knitting into my blog posts, but as you guys know I haven’t been feeling that great lately. I’m happy to report that I’m feeling a bit better, and I’ve even been sewing and knitting a bit too. (I’ll do a full blog post on my mood soon – it’s no good showing only the bad on here!)
So. Finished product first because I’m so pleased with them!
These are from the Narrow Lake Mitts pattern by Katie White Designs. ($5) This is actually my second pair, and the pair I most prefer as the others grew too much and are a bit big now. I LOVE this pattern – it’s fun, it’s interesting and the mitts look so impressive!
The thumb detail is so clever. Ok, Modifications: First of all, I used a sport/baby weight yarn for this instead of the DK weight called for. My first pair was DK weight and as I said, they’re kinda big now. (I wear fingerless gloves ALL the time in the winter, and if they’re baggy they get in the way of knitting and typing, etc.) I used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (available at Abakhan for £4.79) The yarn is very soft, and one 50g ball was just enough to do the pair, so they’re a good value too. I haven’t blocked them yet, so we’ll see how it goes. Also, I used a 3.5mm needle for the entire glove, not just for the ribbing. They’re VERY stetchy and that helped it stay snug. And I did my favourite all purl bind off.
Obviously these are a WIP. It’s from the Merletto Mitts pattern by Jody McKinley. (FREE!!) I’m using Fyberspates 4 ply (Sheila’s sock). And since my sister doesn’t read my blog (that I know of), I feel pretty safe telling you this story: My sister lives in IL in the big ol’ house we grew up in, and it’s freaking cold in winter. So I thought, I’ll make her some pretty fingerless gloves to keep her hands warm for Xmas. So I ordered the yarn and got started. Fast forward to Texas: I’m knitting them at the table and my sister sits down. I pass over the finished one and casually ask her what she thinks of it. I really should’ve thought this through better – I guess I was thinking that if I adore them in cold weather, everyone would feel the same… Instead she declares that she’s never seen the point in fingerless gloves. Either you’re wearing gloves or you’re not. Oops!
And in an effort to be honest, I’ll also share the boo boo with you. The lesson I learned from this is NEVER work on lace while attempting to have a conversation. I didn’t notice it until it was much, much too late, so this pair will be a little quirky. Mods: I am using 2.25mm needles for this instead of the 2.75 and they’re STILL huge. If I was doing it again, I’d cast on about 5 or 10 fewer stitches for the back (which is just stockingette anyway so it doesn’t matter.).
I’m doing the BFF cowl by Ysolda Teague and tiny owl knits (FREE!) with my wonderful friend Bonnie. Again, I’m using Fyberspates. Can you tell how much I love Fyberspates yarn? Bonnie is doing hers in a deep purple colour, and I’m doing mine using Ysolda’s Sugar Mice colour. It’s lovely! I don’t have any Mods for this pattern. But I did kinda mess up a tiny bit:
Oops! I accidentally slipped WYIF instead of WYIB! Think it matters? Should I undo it? Bonnie, what do you think? Would you be appalled to get this in the post??
So that’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully next week I’ll have more of that cowl done, and maybe even a start on a cardigan for winter. (Again with the Fyberspates! LOL) I’d love to hear about what you’ve been working on!
Happy crafting!
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© J C Excell, 2012
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Posted in Finished Products, Knitting, Works in Progress
11 Comments
Tula Pink Sew Along: LOVE Quilt (Sponsored by Abakhan)
This post is sponsored by Abakhan Fabrics (UK).
Hello!!! Today’s my big day: My Tula Pink Love Quilt pattern review is up on Sew Sweetness! Please go have a look – it’s a great pattern and if you’re a newer quilter it’s a perfect way to experiment with negative space, wonky blocks and just a little bit of piecing. If you’re an experienced quilter, it’s a fast, easy quilt with plenty of WOW.
I used Klona solid red fabric for the background; it was the first time I’ve ever used it and Will at Abakhan Fabrics was kind enough to send me some to have a play. I’ll do a full review on Thursday, in case you’ve been wondering about using it.
Thanks for looking, my friends!! And a HUGE thank you to Sara for having me as a guest!!!
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© J C Excell, 2012
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