TGIFF - It's Here!

Welcome to TGIFF!  I am your host for today so please feel free to make yourself comfortable and stay awhile.

I originally had grand plans to show off my finished entry for Fiona's awesome Holiday Memories competition but, alas, the blurghs have hit our house and the thought of doing anything, other than sprawl on the couch, leaves me in a cold sweat.  Luckily for me, the competition doesn't close until Friday 4 October so I still have time to get my project done (and so do you!!).

Never fear, though, I do have another finish to share with you today.  YAY!  In all honesty, I actually have had this done since... ahem... December... but it somehow missed my blog.  Lucky that.  ;)

This is based on the Road Trip Quilt, a free tutorial by Cluck Cluck Sew.  Due to the shock of colour I've named it "Paint Shop Explosion".

I loved pulling the fabrics for this quilt, basing the colour palette around this print by Alexander Henry.  The stack was so bright and fun that I was in love.

But... as often happens... the plan didn't come to fruition quite as expected and, in the end, I reallllly didn't like it.  I mean there is a lot going on here!

Dramas didn't stop there with problems with the quilting (in the end I just opted for stitch-in-the-ditch along the horizontals) and then I somehow managed to end up with 2 (yes, two!) joins in the binding on the corners.  Ugh!

I went with a solid dark blue binding as the top did not need anything else going on.  I'm happy with this decision.

For the back, though, I had a bit of fun with a race track print, thinking it could double as a fun little activity mat.  Just add cars!  ;)

After all that, it wasn't a dream quilt to make - and that might explain why (a) I've yet to reveal it until now and (b) it was never gifted as intended but is instead in my linen cupboard waiting to see if a little man ever graces our house.  Hopefully someone will end up loving it (other than the dog)!

Well, that's enough from me.  Now it's your turn.  Please play nicely and remember to:

1. Say "hi"
2. Comment on the other links
3. Add away!  :)

E.

Toddler Travel Chair

A good friend is about to embark on a dream overseas holiday with her husband and adorable 8-mth old daughter so she asked me to make her a travel chair / harness for bub.  To save me time searching she even kindly pointed me towards the Fab Travel Chair tutorial by This Mama Makes Stuff.  Perfect-o!

I didn't have any pre-quilted fabric so started by spray basting the alphabet cotton onto some batting and got to work with some black thread and rustic lines following the grid.  Simple!

Then it was just an easy matter of piecing it altogether, sewing on the velcro and viola!

One quick and easy travel chair, perfect for an 8-mth old on an overseas holiday.

It packs up nice and small so can be easily thrown into a suitcase or bag, as the need arises.  And, because children can be sloppy at times, I also made a drawstring bag (using this tutorial) to stash it into when on the run.

There will be no nasty food smears through Mum's handbag now.  Win!  :)

Unfortunately I don't have an adorable baby or even an ugly doll (Becca!) to show off the beauty of this little harness - so you'll have to take my word for it.  Or you can always pop over to the tutorial to see it in action.

Like the author says, though, this is no 5 point harness but it should come in very handy during their weeks on the road.  Fingers crossed!

E.

Linking up with TGIFF, hosted this week by Laura of Quokka Quilts

Finished Stitches with Wendi Gratz

Want to join me in a fun little challenge?  The amazing Wendi of Shiny Happy World is currently offering up her embroidery samples with the aim for YOU to make them into a finished product.  Be it a pillow or bag or quilt or whatever, it doesn't matter.  All you have to do is finish something within the month and send her a picture to go in the running for some prizes.  FUN!!

I jumped online early this morning to grab my favourite (sleeplessness sometimes has its perks), Duck Duck Robot.  I am soooooooooooo excited.  Fingers crossed it doesn't take all month to arrive.

I have literally been drooling over this fun pattern for the longest time so am stoked I now get the opportunity to play with it.  Stay tuned to see how I finish it off.

Want to play along?  Then get in quick because, at only $0.01 + postage, the samples are selling out FAST!  Click on this link for more information - Finished Stitches Embroidery Challenge

Now QUICK, run, and grab yours.  GO!

E.