Friday 14 October 2011

Ooops!


I'm entering this project into the Celebrate Color competition over on Rachael's blog - Stitched in Color









Recently I promised you a failure, so a failure is what you're getting today!  It's not actually the same failure I promised you so you've got another one to look forward to.

A friend had a birthday yesterday, so at the weekend I got started on her present.  I wanted to make her a couple of pouches with some patchwork and some embroidery.  On Saturday I got the patchwork bits done and took the embroidery to my cousin's to work on whilst we babysat (when the kids were in bed obviously, embroidery and boisterous small children don't mix).  She came home earlier than expected so I didn't get them finished until Sunday afternoon, watching the Eastender's omnibus from the week before, I'm very behind with Eastenders. 


This little gnome is from Amy Ray's Doodle Stitching, the Motif Collection. He took me ages as I just couldn't get him right.  He's still not quite right but it's too late now.



I'm much happier with this tree from the same book.  I only traced the trunk, the flowers, stars and circles I added in free style.  All the colours were chosen to coordinate with the patchwork.

After I'd finished the embroidery, I wanted to get them sewn up as I don't get much of a chance to sew on the machine after work as I get home quite late, but my Aunty came round so it didn't happen.  Monday is shopping night so Tuesday after work I headed up to the sewing room.  Bad idea.

I was tired and I've had a stomach ache since I came off the yeast.  But I knew it had to be done.  The tree was first.  I'd already done the patchwork strip for the top.



I couldn't take process photos as it was very dark.  The fabrics are from a charm pack of Hideaway.  I didn't have any larger pieces of fabric that matches, so I decided to do a patchwork lining.  I added a green zip and the whole thing was sewn up really quickly.



It looks a little odd in the photo as it has a boxed bottom, but I had to take it outside to photograph it, the bench was wet from all the rain, so I put down a tea towel and couldn't get the pouch to stand up.  I assure you it is a normal shape!



I'm really pleased with the lining, I think a patchwork lining works really well.  They were just simple large squares, about 9 in total I think.  Then it was on to gnomey and this is where it all went wrong.

OH NO!!! I've deleted the bloody photo!!  I've been relishing that photo, waiting to blog it for you and now I've deleted it, not only from the computer, but from the camera too... hold on, let me check the recycle bin...  Phew, it was in there!  



See what I've done?  Oh yes, I've sewn the whole thing up with the zip on inside out!  I nearly cried.  I took it downstairs (ready for its photo shoot the next morning - oh come on, as if I'd miss an opportunity to show you a monumental mess up like that!) and sat watching TV and crocheting my giant granny for the rest of the evening.  I mean, you can't mess up a giant granny can you!  Oh dear, what's that... yep, did the entire round on the wrong side.  It's staying like that!  So, Wednesday night, back to the sewing room, quite a lot of unpicking, repairing of patchwork edges that had come undone, sewing with a slightly larger seam allowance...



And here they are together.  Sitting there looking all innocent like they'd done nothing wrong, though in fairness Mr Treey pouch hasn't done anything wrong, it's all that damn gnome's fault.



And the backs look like this:



In other news, I came out of work today after having the shittiest week ever and found a pterydactyl had pooed on my car.  Oh yes, definitely a pterydactyl, no normal bird could excrete that amount of poo.  Here's to a better week to come.








21 comments:

Ashley said...

Oh no... all sounds a bit stressful really! But the pouches are really lovely, I love that tree design. I have that book and have been meaning to do something from it for ages.. but I just dont get round to these things!
Sorry to hear about your troubles at work, it sounds a bit immature of them.. especially at their age..! You did make me chuckle when describing what happened to your car though!! haha xxx

Sandra :) said...

Oh don't you just HATE when that kind of crap happens???!?!?! It happened to me today - I started to sew a panty bag and couldn't remember how to do it! I stared at that thing for 15 minutes and couldn't wrap my mind around how to stitch it :/ I think it's the cold I have that's killing off my brain cells one dozen at a time :D I did figure it out eventually but was less than impressed with my bad case of CRS :D

Your embroidery is lovely - I love gnomeys - and your bags are adorable, despite the less-than-stellar behaviour of one of them! Sorry about the dinopoo and a$$hat ex-colleagues, though - sending you maple syrup hugs to make you feel better!!!

Fiona said...

The little bags are really lovely... in spite of their challenges... great idea to add the embroidery and the patchwork and I am full of admiration of people who include zips (even inside out ones!!)... too much poo at work .... hope your weekend is great...
Hugz

RobynLouise said...

Oh dear Wendy I don't know whether to laugh at how you've described this or console you on all that unpicking and redoing, not to mention the granny square! The pouches look great and just tell everyone that the 'wrong way round' on the granny square is a 'feature' row :D. I doubt there will be many who notice anyway.
Lol about the pterydactyl poo. My cockatiel does poops when she's nesting that would rival the goose's efforts :O!
Cheers,
Robyn

RobynLouise said...

Blogger did a disappearing trick with my comment :(.
Oh well, condolences on the muck ups but the little pouches look great and tell everyone the 'wrong way round' on the granny is a feature row if anyone notices :).
Had to laugh at the pterydactyl poo. My cockatiel does poos when she's nesting that would make the goose blanch so you've probably been victimised by a mummy bird. Look out for trees with nests :P!
Cheers,
Robyn

Allie said...

ROFL - oh how your failure posts make me laugh, girl! You have such a way with words! I love the pouches and got a great big belly laugh out of the zipper inside out. At first I couldn't figure out what you meant, then it hit me. LOL.

They turned out very darling in the end though. Good for you! I can't believe those grown men are having secret meetings, boys WILL be boys. Hopefully you got the bird poo cleaned up....my mom used to have her side view mirror targeted every day, it was horrific. She'd come out and the bird would still be there, and not let her in the car!

Just-Do said...

Yep, definitely the fault of the gnome! You did a great job repairing it; now it looks as if nothing happened to it. Love the matching colours in fabric and embroidery.

Nancy Lee said...

Into each life, some massive bird poo must fall...although when it happens figuratively and literally in the same day it is a bit much to take.
Hugs!
Nice saves on the very cute bags. I hope you have much better week this week.

The Dotty One said...

Oh noooo! I've been there. Pesky zips - never behaving!
The finished pouches do look lovely though so worth all the fiddling with zips. The embroidery is fab.
Was your friend pleased? I hope so! Especially after all that pain!

memmens said...

I love it! the fact that you sewed it on the wrong way, it is so good to know that I'm not the only one who makes mistakes. Glad you got it sorted!

Kathleen said...

These are darling! Your embroidery is fabulous!

Leslie said...

I have made those mistakes on zippers before! lol sorry! but I LOVE your pouches, love the stitching especially...and that patchwork is the perfect touch :)
you are better off without those work people...sorry and hugs!

Anonymous said...

they are gorgeous... just discovered you!! Looking forward to seeing other makes! xxx

Amanda said...

Oh my! Those are 2 seriously cute pouches, the stitching is great, and I love the patchwork.

Elizabeth said...

Thanks so much for linking up to Made With Love @ Sew Chatty! LOVE your pouches! I featured you on the FB page! http://www.facebook.com/SewChatty

Kristy said...

So pretty! Love them both!

Unknown said...

These are just adorable! You did a great job. :)

Have you linked up with Creative Me Monday? It's open all week long and I'd love to have you! You can link up as many projects as you'd like! The link is:

http://www.thesoutherninstitute.com/2011/10/creative-me-monday_16.html?utm_source=BP_recent

Hope to see you there!

chris said...

Adorably done...despite the problems with zippers!

Mindie Hilton said...

BEAUTIFUL! Thank you for sharing, at Bacon Time,love the tree.

Pam @Threading My Way said...

Gorgeous pouches, Wendy!!! I love how the embroidery matches the patchwork and the little gnome is awesome.

Pam @Threading My Way said...

Featured your embroidered pouches and your monster bibs today, Wendy...
http://www.threadingmyway.com/2013/09/threading-your-way-features.html