Happy Feet!!

I went through different names for this little cheeky penguin (Gege le Pengouin was a close second), but the back made me think of Happy Feet! It is a finish, whoohoo! 

You may have noticed that I made a new paper piecing penguin since introducing him to you a couple of weeks ago. The fabric for his torso (do penguins have torsos?) has now writing on it, to go with the ones on the back of the cushion. Matching alert everyone, I am actually caring about the back as well as the front of my project now! 

I did some embroidery for the eyes - very therapeutic actually. And you will have noted that I may be the only person that can mess up a paper piecing pattern, and there is a little black triangle that should not be there (a bit like an added third ear). Don't ask me how I managed it, I really don't know. 

I kept it really simple at the front - to make sure the penguin strip would stand out. I may add some snowflakes quilting later - but not sure yet. I top-stitched the white bands of fabric. 

For once I am very happy to show you the back of my work. I saw this fabric first on Don't Call me Betsy - and I just had to get it. It is so perfect, the penguins are so cool! I used the Sew Mama Sew tutorial for the zipper, and it is amazingly simple! Why no one told me before - than you Jess for showing me the light!

Here are more details about the cushion:

- Paper Piecing pattern from Pretty in Patchwork: Holidays (the correct version of the pattern here)
- Blue background fabric for the penguin is Leah Duncan Maya fabric (also used for Baby MiH's moses basket)
- Penguin torso fabric is Mon Amie in white found at Plush Addict (UK based)
- Kona solids for the rest (can be found at Simply Solids, UK based)
- Back fabric is Circus - Penguins on Blue by Nancy Wolff found at Plush Addict 
- The flap fabric was in my stash (I think I got it from Stefanie Style Etsy shop)
- Embroidery floss from DMC. 

This is one cute little fellow for Baby MiH's cot! I am quite pleased with my first paper piecing finish! 

PS: Did you read the Susan's post on Le Challenge, she has also got an amazing giveaway - you can enter here! Only a couple of days left to finish your entry! 

All we need is ... a baby {quilting + knitting}

The Moses Basket has been featured many times here, but this is the final post about it - at least without baby MiH sleeping in it (due date Sunday - if you are wondering, that is 2 days, 48 hours, and no I am not panicking at all ..). I promise I will move on from the Moses basket. But as it is finished Friday after all, I thought I should give you a bit more details on the finishing of the bumper and the baby blanket. 

Did you see the latest addition on the window seal - the little rabbit lamp from White Rabbit England 

For the Moses basket bumper {Quilting}

I used two fabrics: The blue one is from the Maya collection by Leah Duncan and the white-ish one is the Moda Grunge Sugar Cookies (with blue and green accents) - for the front, the back and the binding. 

I did not buy the fabrics for this project - I fell in love with the Maya collection, and bought nearly the whole range knowing I would find a project at some point - I was lucky to buy enough of it in the end. So note for the future, if I am that keen on a collection buy enough of it because it will sell out. I bought the Moda Grunge ages ago, and honestly I did not like it when I received it, it was less white than I expected. But it works really well with the blue of the Maya fabric. So glad I had it in the end, it really adds texture and interest to the bumper. 

The pattern is quite obvious. I cut out strips of 2 inches to make a rectangle of 68 inches. I laid the different strips randomly making sure it would be wide enough. In terms of dimensions I had the original bumper, so replicated it - down to the ties to the frame. I hand stitched in the ditch to add some ripple effect, and used some blue Aurifil for the hand stitching at the top of the blue rectangles. I wanted it to look a bit homemade, hence no machine stitching for once. 

For the Baby Blanket {Knitting}:

I did a post the night I started the baby blanket and I knew then it would be something special, but  it looks even better than I expected. I used to hate blocking phase of my knitted projects, but since finishing Umaro and this blanket, this is the step I am looking forward the most now. It just makes the blanket. The yarn is really soft, no itching for me, so perfect for a baby. 

Pattern: Shale Baby Blanket by Jared Flood

Yarn: Hand dyed organic merino silk wool, light worsted DK yarn from SixSkeins (Etsy)

Needle sizes: 5.5 mm circular

Size: Baby size (I did 47 repeats in the end because of I had three skeins)
Final dimensions (once blocked): 85 cm x 105 cm
Result: I absolutely love it. It is not as hard as Umaro, and I remembered the pattern pretty quickly - so a definite TV, cups of tea and biscuits (still 3 weeks to knit it) kind of project. If you have friend expecting a baby who does not knit, make it for her it is the perfect gift. 

 So the blanket has now moved to Baby MiH's hospital bag, and the Moses basket is waiting for one special person. Exciting times! Have a great weekend everyone!

The Pressure {Sewing}

You know that it is going to be your turn soon when two of your antenatal class friends have given birth and you are supposed to be the fourth one... A bit more than a week to go... although we think the little one is just chilling and will be late. Anyway we are nearly there, but not yet. A couple of WIPs on the go - and we are nearly there as well. 

The Moses basket roundabout/bumper binding needs to be finished. I hand quilted it as I wanted a vintage feel.  I may add a blue hand stitch as well - but binding first! 

And I could not resist the little bunny - so cute!

And I making a hooded towel following the  Purlbee's tutorial. I love the Night Owl Carnival fabric from Robert Kaufman. It is the first time I have been working with terry cloth, and I personally found it quite tricky to cut.  Hopefully it will be better to sew together!

I am quite excited to see the finish towel though, will look great on the vintage concertina hanger!

Let's Get Acquainted ...

Hello everyone, my name is Nat, and welcome to my blog. It is the final week at Plum and June's "Let's Get Acquainted" blog hop.  And it is my turn to tell you a bit more about me and Made in Home, the place where I share all my Made in Home projects, quilted, knitted, crocheted, cross-stitched, upcycled, baked... 

Me wearing the Contemporary Beanie Hat 

So I am French, and have been living mostly in Britain since 1998. I was only supposed to spend 2 months here, improve my English, and then go back to my undergraduate studies in France. I came for two months, decided I loved it so much that I could not go back to France - gave up my French undergrad studies and became an au pair for a year. I did go back to studying though - and managed to get a lot of acronyms after my name in the meantime (I have a BSc, MSc and PhD). So much for my parents worrying I would never go back to studying. 

I met my husband nearly 8 years ago (our anniversary is some time this month, we are a bit fuzzy on the actual date), we got married two years and half ago and we are now expecting our first child (very beginning of December) - and the little one will be 3/4 French and 1/4 British. I do/did have a full-time job in finance, and I am now on maternity leave, as Baby MiH could come at any time apparently - although it would be really handy if he could wait until his due date... 

I am slightly bigger now... 

So I mentioned that this blog is not just about quilting, although it is more and more present in my life at the moment. But I am first a knitter - as this is the craft my Grandma taught me when I was little, I learnt how to sew in classes my Mum sent me to as a teenager, crochet came much later (3 years ago), baking sort of come with being French and my sweet tooth. Then I learnt most of the other crafts on internet, thanks to blogs or youtube videos - and the learning is never ending. 

The 'petites souris' cushion for Baby MiH cushion cover

Let me share a bit more...

       - My quilting tips - 

Spend time preparing your fabric and cutting accurately. I think I realised this way too late, but the final result is SO much better. It is therefore key to change your blades - do it now, it is quite expensive, but so much better!

Also I only use some of my scissors for fabric cutting and sewing related activities, and do not use them for paper, in the kitchen etc - so they last longer. 

       - Favourite fabric -   

 If you have been on my blog before, you will already know that I am a big fan of Lotta Jansdotter, Rashida Coleman-Hale and most recently Leah Duncan. 

       - Favorite book - 

I love all the Harry Potter, and more recently the Hunger Games triology. Otherwise crime novels (Agatha Christie is one of my favourite authors). 

       - Favorite quilting tool - 

My rotary cutter - with brand new blades!

       - Blogging tip - 

Good Pictures - it is harder and harder to get some good natural light at the moment (short days and autumn) but it is worth spending the time getting nice pictures - makes it nicer for you and other to read. I think.. 

Thanks to Beth at Plum and June for organizing this amazing blog hop - It is totally what blogging is all about for me, finding a community of like-minded people with whom I can share tips, my projects and will get support from. And it was in fact great to meet some fellow bloggers over the summer!

There are loads of blogs for you to check out this final week... I am off to go and say hi!

         Michelle from The Quilted Tortoise

         Kim from Quilty Doodads

         Stephanie from Smalltown Dreamz

         Cynthia from Quilt Doodle Doodles

         Diane from From Blank Pages

         Laura from Waffle Kisses

         Mary Ann from Rocknquilts

         Angela from Angela B

         Jaime from Stitches to Sprinkles

         Allegory from {sew} Allegorical

         Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts

         Karen from Sew Well Maide

         Christa from Christa Quilts

         Lynne from Bouts Choisis

         Francine from Mocha Wild Child

         Lyanna from Purple Panda Quilts

A touch of Modern {quilting}

I have finally had time to start on the roundabout of Baby MiH's Moses basket - it is amazing how my job did get in the way of preparing for crafting! It is great to be able to make progress with so many projects at the same time... 

**Don't forget to enter my giveaway - open until Friday evening**

Over the weekend, I toyed with several designs for the roundabout, which is basically a very long rectangular piece - and have the final design approved by Mr MiH over the weekend. He calls it a ribbed design - and I suppose it is. The basic design is made up of three strips of fabric (the solid is Moda Grunge, Sugar Cookies, and the blue design is part of the Maya collection by Leah Duncan).

I cut out strips of 3 inches. 

And sew them one next to each other making a wave 'ribbed' design. 

The quilting is probably going to be quite basic - stitch in the ditch to reinforce the ribbed effect, and hand stitch to reinforce the wave effect. 

Finally leaving you with a picture of the 70s template... 

Linking up to Freshly Pieced today, to see the other amazing WIPs click here. It is guest hosted by Svetlana today!

Charm Pack {Giveaway}

Here we are, I am officially on maternity leave and I am THE snoozing machine (dixit Mr MiH). I have not been a lot over the weekend except sleeping - and again today. Is that what maternity leave is like? 

However I did manage to get together a very special charm pack - the one made of Baby MiH's room fabrics (some that I have used, will use, or was going to use but decided not to but still love). Some of my favourite designers are there: Lotta Jansdotter (of course), Rashida Coleman-Hale, Leah Duncan.. 

The charm pack is made up of 20 different fabrics, two charms of each fabric so a 40-piece pack. I put some solids that go with the overall theme. 

So here is how the giveaway works. You can enter the giveaway up to 3 times:

1. You need to be a follower - leave me a comment and let me know how you follow my blog - if you are a non-reply blogger, please leave your email address
2. Tweet about the giveaway and let me know when you have done so (or tweet me @NoasLibellule)
3. Like my facebook page, and come back and let me know

The giveaway is open until Friday 9 November until 7pm GMT. Good luck everyone!