Friday 29 March 2013

Goody goody gumdrops

 Okay so these technically aren’t gumdrops but I’m taking a bit of artistic licence. Plus I couldn’t think of a better blog post title. Is there a snappy little saying about gumball machines? Well there should be.

gumball machine

This new paper pieced pattern was inspired by my gorgeous friend Erin and encouraged my gorgeous friend Gina. I am very lucky to have such great friends who put up with my moaning about designer’s block, who then give me great ideas, and even test them or specifically buy fabric for them. Yay friends!

I made this little block into a cushion. Just because.

Gumball machine cushion cover

And appliqued a couple of coloured gumballs to the bottom of the cushion for a bit of added interest.
I was surprised to find that in my stash, I had very few large coloured polka dots! This print was the best I had to represent the gumballs. Plus using a fabric like this (Erin’s awesome idea) meant less fiddly paper piecing trying to put the gumballs into the machine!

You know I can’t resist a bit of fussy cutting. And when I found I had a text print with 20c on it… well it had to be incorporated into the block!

Gumball machine cropped

In hindsight I should have used a darker grey for the handle. Live and learn right?

And because I think this is fun – here’s the before and after so to speak. The EQ7 sketch and the fabric version.

gumball machine sketchgumball machine

Not too bad hey?! Want to make your own awesome gumball machine? I have just listed the pattern in my Craftsy shop Smile.

Now the rest of today is dedicated to Bee blocks and getting things finished! Hey speaking of Bees (like that segue?!), we are looking for more Aussies to join do.Good Stitches (can you believe there are none on the waiting list?! What?!). Why not pop over to the Flickr group and check it out. If you sign up, tell Rachel Kristy sent you – then maybe you can join my Bee Circle and we can sew together. Fun right?!

Right, sewing calls.Oh and thanks for the commiseration about breaking my machine. Turns out I magically fixed it (maybe I put the bobbin thingamajig back in wrong? Who knows?) so we are friends again and sewing once more! yay!

27 comments:

  1. Loving the gumball machine :) You are so creative (and clever)!

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  2. Love this - the dotty fabric is perfect!

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  3. Are you kidding me? Cutest thing ever.

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  4. Very cute! I had an applique pattern for one of these a few years back which used clear plastic for the glass bowl and beads for the gumballs!

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  5. Love it! I think this VHC fabric would look great in this block....

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/127349087/the-very-hungry-caterpillar-dots-by-eric?ref=sr_gallery_10&ga_search_query=very+hungry+caterpillar+fabric&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=supplies

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  6. Okay, this is completely adorable! So sorry to hear about your machine struggles in the last post -- such a pain. It's incredible how quickly a sewing machine can make you want to tear your hair out...

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  7. this is fun! Great cushion!

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  8. What a great design, please stop tempting me, I still have a seam ripper and the thread spools to do!

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  9. Wonderful fun cushion !!!!!!!!

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  10. Love the gumball machine ~ great fabrics and what nice friends you have ~ great pillow too.

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  11. So cute . . . and clever!

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  12. The dotty fabric was a great timesaver for the block. Makes a great cushion.

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  13. Terribly cute!
    Esther

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  14. You picked the perfect, snappy title for the post!! And I love that cute cushion. Your patterns and designs are simply amazing!!!

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  15. super cute! good idea using dots too.

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  16. Fussy cutting is challenging enough but I am impressed that you can incorporate it into paper piecing. That 20 cents (see, I could not find the cent sign on my keyboard) really adds a whimsical tone to the block.

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  17. Oh that is too much!! How cute is your 20c and the gumball fabric? Your background fabric is the perfect touch to a wonderful block! I might have to send a few ideas your way...

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  18. Love, love, love! So cute, one of my favorite memories of childhood is getting a gumball!

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  19. Very cute block - I will have toad it to my paper-piecing section in my pinterest board.

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  20. So cute! Love this! Sewing should be fun and this certainly is!

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  21. I used to have a red metal gum ball machine just like this as a teenager that I bought from the original Granny May's when they used to sell cute not risqué. I have no idea what happened to it. What a brilliant design Kristy.

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  22. This is so adorable! I love the use of the polka dot and the 20cent fabric!

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  23. YAY! Love it. Must finish my wallhanging. You always put me to shame! ;)

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