September 4th: Making Friends Across the Globe

One of the wonderful things that has come out of writing a blog, managing a YouTube channel and having an active Instagram account is that of creating some beautiful friendships with fellow, like-minded people all across the world! There are quite a number of you who regularly comment, chat, encourage and inspire me in everything that I publish and upload which makes my heart sing with gratefulness, humbleness and thankfulness! (Whew, so many ‘nesses’!) Words can never do justice to how kind you all are and how proud I am to call you friends, even though we’ve never met!

One act of insane kindness that I’m still blown away with is one made by a lovely lady in the UK whom I met on Instagram, Ayshia. Over the past year or so through sharing photos and having lots of great little chitta-chatta sessions, we’ve crazily discovered how many things we have in common even to a point where it’s borderline scary! I find it so fascinating that someone who literally lives on the other side of the world can be so alike to yourself that it feels as though you’ve known each other for ages, even though we’ve never met!

Anyway, with my birthday coming up soon Ayshia so kindly sent me a lovely package in the mail full of sweet gifts that made me so happy!

FromAyshia1

Everything she sent was just perfect! Lots of UK memorabilia (because I’m obsessed with the country, as you may know by now!): British flag keyring, a pack of socks (that’ll wear everyday with my Aussie Uggs!) and a half-metre cut of quilting fabric with MINI Coopers on it!!! OMG! Then the most adorable draw-string button bag (with buttons!) from Cath Kidston that I’ve ever seen! I love it so much!

But the one thing that I am so grateful to receive is this beautiful cross-the-body bag that she made herself out of such gorgeous fabric!

Me&AyshiasBag

I mean it’s absolutely perfect! Literally! I’m completely blown away by how talented she is and how wonderfully constructed the bag is!

The bag itself features two deep zippered compartments, both fully lined and has a nice long adjustable strap to sling around the body! My favourite type of bag! I’ve decided I’ll be using it tomorrow at the Market Day so that I always have all of my valuables and change safe and close to hand!

FromAyshia2

To Ayshia, thank you so much!! Truly, your utter kindness has blown away and I’m so thankful for our little blossoming friendship! I’ll cherish everything you’ve taken the time to send me and continue to sing your praises whenever someone asks about that gorgeous little bag!

And to all of you who regularly read my blog, watch my YouTube videos, like/comment on my Instagram and Facebook page, thank you for your lovely friendship! Everyday you blow me away with your lovely comments and words of encouragement that it makes all of the hard work and late nights totally worth it!

Thank you!

xx

How to Make a Simple Needlecase!

 With needle packets lying all about my sewing room, some stuffed away in little drawers or packed into cutely decorated tins, I thought it was about time that I made a needlecase to house all of them in one place!

And course, if I was going to make one I just had to film it and show you how easy it is to make yourself!

So with my inspiration coming from this book: Sew! by Cath Kidston, I picked out a favourite fabric, some matching felt and all of the other materials and notions I would need to make my needlecase!

This is how I did it…

Here are the measurement and cutting details you’ll need…

For the OUTER COVER you will need: – x1: 9″x6″ rectangle of fabric* – x1: 9″x6″ rectangle of HeatnBond/Vliesofix/Bondaweb – x1: 8″x5″ rectangle of thin/lightweight cardboard – I used a green scrap piece as I didn’t have any white left! (*You can very easily use a Fat Quarter to make this project!)

For the TAB you will need: – x2: 1&1/4″x2&1/4″ rectangles of fabric (the same used on the outer cover) – x1: 1&1/4″x2&1/4″ rectangle of lightweight iron-on interfacing

For the FELT PAGES you will need: – x1: 4&3/4″x7&3/4″ rectangle* – x1: 4&3/4″x7&3/4″ rectangle of HeatnBond/Vliesofix/Bondaweb – x1: 4″x7″ rectangle – x1: 3″x6″ rectangle (*I was able to cut all three rectangles from one A4 piece of felt.)

And now the list of additional items you’ll also need…

– x1: 11mm snap fastener/stud – Hand sewing needle and matching thread – Sewing Machine (with matching thread as well) – Rotary blade, ruler and mat – Pinking Shears – Fabric and craft scissors – Thread snips – Iron

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Needlecase1

Don’t forget to share with me your finished needlecases! Tag me on Instagram at @3and3quarters or share it on my Facebook page!

If you have any questions about this tutorial or have any future tutorial requests, comment below and we can have a good ol’ chat about it!

😀

Happy Sewing, Friends!

xx