I wanna be a fabric designer!!!!

Ok so this is my secret ambition, my dream job is to be a fabric designer, up until now I have done nothing about it apart from fantasize about setting my own business up when I move to Australia. I did however recently enter a handprinted fabric swap and it has really inspired me to learn more, teach myself and hopefully really do it in the future.

So this week I taught myself how to screen print using photo emulsion, and I have to say, for a first attempt I'm pretty pleased with my results, what do you think?

I definitely have a lot to learn, but hey practice makes perfect (hopefully). So my mission now is to read more about printing, learn how to design on my computer, think about setting up a studio once we get to Australia and decide how I will need to kit it out (for sewing, designing and printing).

So now I can get some of these ideas out of my head or out of my sketchbooks and make them real!!!

WIP Wednesday (no.11)

Wow its WIP Wednesday and its been ages since I took part but I'm really trying to get back into the swing of things. I've written my list for Winter Stitching that Sarah at Fairy face designs is hosting and I thought that making sure I do WIP Wednesday will hopefully help to keep me on track.

Here goes:
Completed projects

Sarni's Quilt, not yet blogged about but for a friends birthday (will post about it soon)

Dolcies Dress, I made this months ago for my friend Sarni's daughter but never buttonholed it, well I finally did it this week so yay its finished, been handed over and it still fits!

 Pincushion, my little doggy design was already finished but its now been packaged up with a few more goodies and posted off

Pretty little pouch, also finished and posted

Pouch for a friends birthday, I'm going to cheat a little and use this one that I made earlier

Bee blocks, I only had to do one this month as its my month over at Sew Bee Joyful so just had to make my Piece Bee With You block, designed, made and posted this ballerina girl

WIP's:
My Naked Beds Improv quilt, finished except still have half of the binding left to hand sew onto the back

2 tiny playmats for friends new babies for tummy time, these both need quilting and then im going to attempt something interesting in the binding

A pram quilt that needs the stippling finished around the border and then binding, my baby has out grown the pram pretty much though so this might be put to one side for a not yet born baby

Block for a lovely ladies special birthday, this is about halfway there (sorry no pictures yet)

Handprinted fabric, I've made up a lino block but hopefully will get some ink down on fabric this arvo!

Not been worked on:
2X sisters wedding quilts
My living room curtains
My living room roman blinds
My Brit Quilt Pillow Fight Cushion (i'm thinking, i'm thinking! Will work on it this week)
1 Birthday pressie for a crafty camper, i've bought some bits and it will be quite an easy make but her birthday is not until the new year so no rush
Skill Builder Quilt - no progress made

Farmers Wife Quilt - no progress made

New Christmas stockings - need to buy some yardage of felt

Lots to do, so need to keep working away to get it done. Head over and check out the other great WIP's

Octobers Fresh Sewing Day

Hey im linking up with Lily's Quilts today to show you what I have been up to for the last month, also because im a small blog (less than 50 followers :-( ) im linking up to this also

So this month I have made the following:
Ballerina girl for Peace Bee With You

2x Pretty little pouches, 1 for this swap, 1 for a friends birthday

I used a linen for this pouch, and based the design on a lovely charm square I received in the UK Japanese Charm Swap that was hosted by Cindy. I did a little bunny embroidery with a fluffy tale as my partner likes embroidery.

This pouch also uses the Japanese bunny fabric as well as some that have been in my stash for years! I'm glad I chose a contrast zip for this one, I think it helps to lift it.

Pincushion for this swap

My improv quilt for me

It just needs me to finish hand sewing the binding and me and hubby will be snuggling under it on the sofa for the winter.
So head over to Lily's Quilts for some other lovely makes and help support the small blogs like mine that would love to grow a little!