October Eight

Wool Patchwork Dye Project

2011-11-05T12:55:00.000-07:00

Ah the ideas that roll around in my head. Like this idea. I love wool and have been collecting pieces here and there and have also pilfered thrift stores for their Pendleton skirts and cut them up for the wool. A few years ago I made these pillows from skirt remnants:

And I've made some patchwork scarves backed with minky:

Now my idea is to make patchwork blankets, no batting or anything, just a patchwork of wool squares BUT then overdyeing the finished blanket with a bright color dye. I got this brilliant idea from the new overdyed rugs that are amazing and beautiful and INCREDIBLY expensive. Someone came up with the idea of taking old oriental rugs, cut into patchwork, sew together and they dye bright pink, purple, green, red, any color really. Some are just dyed and not cut up and patched together. For a mere fraction of a second I considered trying to make one but to dye wool you have to simmer it in the dye and yeah, no way I'm figuring out how to get a rug in a pot on the stove. Here are a few pictures:

So back to my experiment. Purl Soho had a great article on piecing wool which I used as my method, a double seam. Only Purl used felted wool which won't ravel and I used woven wool which will ravel so I'll have to figure that out, later.

I cut up some scraps and sewed them together.

Then I got some dye that works on wool (I bought this at Hobby Lobby but Dharma Trading has awesome dyes and all the other materials which is where I will get the dye when I'm ready to do the actual blankets)

I have a LOT of experience dyeing cottons so I know the chemical process but have never dyed wool. Wow, it was SO much easier! In spite of the fact that you do have to simmer it on the stove, but the dye went right into the wool and the water was clear afterwards which surprised me. When using procion dyes on cotton, the water still have the dye color in it. Anyway, I used vinegar to set the dye, as directed on the dye packet. I also used a tiny bit of the dye, not the whole packet.

Voila, the finished product!

I can almost hear a collective sigh of disappointment. It's not real exciting but I love it! It gives me an idea of which colors look better after being dyed yellow. Here are some side by side comparisons.

I love this one. The white of course became yellow.

And I REALLY love this one because I'm not a big teal fan, now it's more green.

On this one the right is the before, the left is the after. Interesting, not real exciting.

You may be thinking, why not dye them before you sew them together? That is an option but I'm just loving the overdyed rugs concept which says you use one color on everything.

The (sort of sad) Tale of a Quilt

2011-10-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

I've had a collection of Little Folks voile for a long time and I finally got the inspiration to make a quilt, using my own pattern, which I really like, based on the numbers 5 and 10, I made rows of blocks that were ten inches high, pretty simple but kind of fun since it was improvisational.

The voile is amazing to work with. Very smooth and soft, great feel to it, finely woven. Once the top was done (baby quilt size) I decided to use a gorgeous handmade wool batt for the inside. This came from a sheep farm, so it's like wool roving that you use to spin yarn only it had been carded into a flat sheet that was the exact size of my quilt top.

It was so fun working with the fluffy natural wool and I used a solid piece of Coloring Garden from the voile for the back. After pinning it together, I read a few articles about quilting with an unprocessed wool batt. They mentioned encasing the wool in cheesecloth first, to prevent "bearding" (I had no idea what bearding was but if you read on you too will know what it is). So I took the quilt layers apart, bought some cheesecloth by the yard, and encased the wool in cheesecloth, then put the quilt back together, pinned it and free motion quilted.

It was beautiful when I finished! But as always, I wanted to wash and dry the quilt so it would shrink to it's final size and give the quilting a little more wrinkle. Again, I had read online that you should be able to normally wash and dry a quilt with wool batting. WRONG.

I used cold water and a 4 min gentle cycle for the wash. When I took it out of the washer, EEK. It was all wonky. I stretched it out and tried to dry it as flat as possible overnight. Here is the result.

This is bearding. The wool fibers come up through the fabric, in spite of my cheesecloth coverage:

And the fibers aren't sitting on to of the quilt, they are still attached to the wool inside the quilt so you can't remove it all.

So, it wasn't really that sad because,

GOOD NEWS instead of listing this in my shop for sale, I get to keep it! And, it's super warm and cozy.

BAD NEWS, it's kind of wonky. It's about 34 inches wide by 40 inches long so not really great for a human throw but one can never have enough quilty things laying around the sofa for various creatures to use on chilly nights.

LESSONS LEARNED:

1. Don't believe everything you read on the internet.

2. Practice new things using small pieces of fabric first.

3. Natural, unprocessed wool batting in a quilt should be

hand washed in cold water and dried flat, like a wool sweater (duh on my part).

4. Processed wool batting, which is needlepunched and sold ready to use at Joann's or quilt stores, has already been prepared for quilters, pre-washed, super shrunk, guaranteed not to shrink. Probably a better bet to use this than what I did, unless you're like me and you love to experiment.

Farmers and Farmer's Wives

2011-07-27T07:07:00.000-07:00

So, I jumped on the bandwagon a week or so ago and bought the book and started the Farmer's Wife Quilt! I am a member of both the Flickr group and the Yahoo group. The blocks are addicting when you start out. I was making 2 a night but recently I slowed down. I'm using my collection of Urban Chiks Swell and Sweet fabrics along with some Tanya Whelan florals and Lecien Flower Sugar. I can't wait to see more blocks together.

AND speaking of Farmer's....

A few weeks ago we had a terrible hailstorm that ruined my vegetable and battered the pond lilies.

The biggest fatality was the cucumber patch. This picture almost makes me cry. I had to pull out all the plants and throw out the half-grown cucumbers.

Since it was too late to plant more cucumbers, I picked up some pepper plants to replace the cucumbers:

I went out a few days ago and took photos of the recovery effort. The pond has recovered amazingly. There are lots of new lily pads and about 6 lilies blooming! More than usual.

I lost a lot of tomatoes and the plants and fruits were bruised but they seemed to be trying to come back and a few have turned red (these are tiny grape-sized fruits that should be larger like Romas)

The corn stalks were shredded by the hail but seemed to be coming back and growing taller and taller and the corn cobs already starting, YAY

AND THEN.... yesterday evening we had a rainstorm. The wind came whipping in first, then it rained for about 15-20 minutes hard and then settled into a light sprinkles. No hail. This morning I went out to the garden and YIKES. My corn plants were lying on the ground, yes, lying. They are probably 8 feet tall now, maybe taller, and the roots were stool firmly in the ground, the stalks had not broken but they were bending down touching the ground. Rosie had a good sniff and I was lucky she didn't decide to "mark" it. I hope the sun will attract them back up straight again. For now, I propped them up with a garbage can, lovely. A couple of the tomato cages also blew down and covered the pepper plants! I propped them up using a board.

I am seriously wondering how real farmers do it. This is a fun little hobby for me, not my livlihood. I have a much greater appreciation for farmers now. And for farmer's wives and quilting. I'm now working on block 7 and these are tiny pieces. At least I can protect my quilt from hail and wind.

Passion

2011-07-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

So I thought I was tired of sewing. I just couldn't make myself finish the quilt I've been working on for a year or start the new quilt I'm imagining or make another shirt or skirt for the summer. I felt lazy.

And then.... Suddenly I had a project! The Mod Livin Best in Show charity auction Eero Aarnio Puppy decorating event came along. Suddenly I'm staying up late and getting up early to work on it. It's puzzling how this could suddenly make me so passionate. Wish I could be this passionate about my job, hahaha.

Stay tuned for the final project....

Quilt Inspirations

2011-07-01T06:50:00.000-07:00

I have one Kaffe Fassett book, Glorious Patchwork. In this book, he displays photographs that inspired the quilts, along with photos of the finished quilt. I really love this. If you go to his website, the movie that plays has a mosaic of images.

I studied fine art and still remember how I started looking at the world differently when I started to paint or draw it. When I began with black and white, I saw every object as dark or light and imagined how hard I would press the charcoal or Conte crayon to make that shade. Graduating into color was harder and again, I began to look at every three dimensional shape differently. A green leaf is not just green, it is darker on one side, the veins might be lighter, so I would add maybe red to darken the green, yellow or even white to lighten it, sculpting a three dimensional leaf on the paper.

So when I started quilting again a few years ago, geometric shapes around me began to pop out. There is a sign near my office advertising a real estate company and their logo looks like paper piecing to me!

I decided to go out around my neighborhood the other day and photograph inspirations that might become quilts some day. It's amazing the variations. After taking photos, I realized I could either use one photo/pattern for a quilt or I could combine may patterns. I made a few mosaics but I feel like this is just the beginning. There are so many other ways to combine images and so many more images to photograph.

Let me know what you think of all this. It was just an idea I had and I know I've seen others do it, Kaffe Fassett of course, also Cherri House, just wondering how you would translate images into quilt designs? I haven't quite decided yet, just playing with the idea.

SUMMER

2011-06-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

Oh so many things going on, like work. Work. Work. and GARDENING. So little time to sew but here are some things I have managed to fit in...

Following up on my last post, the WIP, here is the finished shirt which I LOVE!!!!

We went to Boston the beginning of June to see my incredibly brilliant niece graduate from High School with a zillion scholarships, honors and she was valedictorian. My brother's house had a gorgeous rhododendron in the front yard and I asked my husband to photograph me (in the HR Summer Shirt) in front. Apparently a bee mistook me for a flower bush and started to attack. Thus this lovely photo that makes my husband collapse in man giggles whenever he looks at it.

That trip was so amazing, watching my little nieces grow into amazing women. My younger niece has two more years of high school but is an amazing singer and is in the high school musicals each year with solos.

We went to Woodman's for lobster, in Essex, MA one day

Explored Boston, Cambridge, went to Harvard, Little Italy, visited a good friend, saw the Holocaust Memorial

Went to Rockport, here's the apartment where my brother stayed his senior year in college, still there, still looks the same, same sign

Beautiful Rockport

AND in other news...
I decided to make a skirt. I used Anna Maria Horner "Little Folks" voile, Forest Hills in Citrus, lined with the solid voile in Kiwi using this pattern from Altered Cloth which is a simple cotton/lycra waistband and gathered skirt. I made it in 3 mornings before work, crazy, yes.

(Rosie has dependence issues)

I don't know if I made the skirt to go with the new shoes, or bought the shoes for the skirt, LOVE them regardless

Self-timer shot

WIP News....

One day I stumbled on this quilt and I fell in love and promised myself that one day I would make a flag quilt. Seeing as it's nearing on the 4th of July, I pulled together all the red, white and blue fabrics that I thought would look good in a quilt like this.

Next post.... I had this idea of finding quilt inspirations by photographing architecture and other things in my city and neighborhood. This will be in my next post! Stay tuned...

WIP

2011-05-25T07:41:00.000-07:00

I am too excited about this not to post a photo. I still have the final touches to add, the button and I have to close up the front placket (or find a cami to wear underneath). The pattern is from Heather Ross' "Weekend Sewing" book that I got as SWAG from the HR Workshop in Palm Springs and the blouse fabric is from Kei Fabrics of Japan from my local Fancy Tiger. Oh and the placket fabric and the bias around the neck were made from Monaluna Circa 50 organic fabric that just happened to match.

I'm one of the last to have finally jumped on this book and I'm really excited to sew more of the women's patterns.

Catching up

2011-05-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

Herb garden planted yesterday, with marigolds

Earthworms galore in my raised beds, turning the clay soil into magic dirt, makes me very happy

Tomatoes planted

Some projects I hope to start on today

RANDOM photos of my home

Angela Adams duvet and shams paired with my quilt/coverlet

View from our bedroom window yesterday

Living room wall that needs repair/painting (I told you these were random)

Fuchsia hanging from my front porch

Hardwood floor in front of the door where it is worn and needs to be refinished

View into my built in

A corner of my kitchen

A Little WooWoo?

2011-04-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

I was able to get home a little early tonight and was doing some sewing in my new sewing room when I looked outside and noticed how weird the light was, it was around 6:30 or 7 PM and the sun was really bright in the West but in the East, the direction I was looking into the backyard, there were dark clouds, so the sun was shining on the trees against this dark background, so cool.

So I got my camera and ran outside to take these photos. All of a sudden, a cold wind started to pick up and I felt some raindrops.

I started to walk inside when I notice, oh.my.gosh.

The most amazing end to end rainbow. I couldn't get far enough away to take a whole photo but I went running inside screaming at my husband to come outside, poor guy, probably thought there was a REAL emergency. "What? What?" LOOK AT THE SKY. Him: "Oh yeah. Like in Cuba."

Whatever.

(My husband is from Cuba, FYI)

I swear to you, five minutes later the rainbow was gone. The sky was full of clouds and it was raining. I felt like I was the ONLY one who saw that rainbow. Besides my husband.

Honesty

2011-04-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

View from the balcony of our 'casa' in Baracoa, Cuba, early morning, 2003

Bear with me on an introspective post.

For the past 4-6 months, the project I've been on at work has been over the top stressful. The project is almost 3 years behind schedule, the client is extremely frustrated and the new management (originally mismanaged, the project management has been replaced several times) is pushing the team very very hard to try to deliver to the customer.   The project has had some pretty high turnover and just when we thought we had a good solid team, lack of funds meant layoffs and 15 people were laid off in the past few months. Add to that the state of the economy and my husband losing his job so I am the only one working, and you can maybe see why I'm having a bit of a stress issue right now.

We all know that "all work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy" but I think our culture has taken that to a new level. In the past few months, I have pushed myself so hard to get everything done that I have made myself physically ill several times. I think women more than men, have the ability to multi-task and get many things done at once and most of us feel a pride in that.   And that's fine as long as you can balance it all.   But when the balance starts to tip one way, watch out.

I hesitatingly agreed to spend Easter weekend at my parents home, they live an hour and a half from us up in a beautiful canyon in Colorado. The hesitation in going is that they won't allow us to bring our dog and she is part of the family and the kennel was full and we had to leave her alone and make all the arrangements for someone to come and check on her, etc., etc. Also, any interruption in my schedule right now just sets me off.

I took Friday off, Good Friday, and used it to get some things done. I woke up feeling stressed and everything I did that day made me feel more stress, I just feel like I can never catch up and get everything done in my personal life much less take time to relax and do things I WANT to do. I scheduled a job interview at 8 AM by phone, a vet appt at 9:30 and had a contractor coming at 11 AM to estimate refinishing the wood floors in the house. Then I had to do laundry and get things ready for the weekend. My neighbor came by to chat with her baby boy and she wanted me to come over later and chat and I couldn't even imagine. What? Take an hour or more from my busy day of getting things done to just chat? Then, Saturday morning I got up, started packing for the one night away, which I think is almost harder than packing for a week's trip. I noticed the floors in the kitchen and bath were so dirty and even sticky so I had to stop everything and clean them. In the middle of moving things out to clean the kitchen floor I literally had a breakdown. I just started sobbing, it was like I was trying to run in a marathon and there was nothing left to keep me going only this was not physical but emotional and/or spiritual.

The photo above was taken Easter morning. My parents left the house very early to sing in the early service at church, my husband was still sleeping, my mother had fresh coffee for me, I was alone and this was the view I had. It was slightly snowing, just tapering off, everything was silent. Inside the house, outside the house. No sounds. I had one of those moments, I want to just break down and cry from the beauty and because it was the first time maybe in an entire year that I had actually felt a tiny bit peaceful and calm. Mostly what it did though was make me realize that I HAVE TO CHANGE MY LIFE SOMEHOW.

How will I do it? I have no idea. Just putting it out there. I will also say, my mother had a devotion book on the table and I sat down and turned the page to April 24. The reading for that day was a suggestion to stop making so many plans and just sit and listen to God, to wait on God. Then I really did start crying. When you life is going at top speed, you don't listen to anyone.   And God doesn't shout.

A peaceful me, Havana, Cuba, 2003

Emerging from the fog....

2011-04-20T06:16:00.000-07:00

And I finally finished "Brenda's Quilt" oddly timed, for her birthday which was yesterday! It will arrive, stuffed tightly into a large flat rate box, today and she has no idea that I was even working on it for her. She picked out the fabrics back in October. Eight months later....

Meanwhile I just finished 8 months on a grueling stressful project at work that suddenly let up last week (thus the blog title) and now I'm in that "what just happened" mode, trying to right myself after being on the merry-go-round too long and hoping that it stays calm for awhile. As I hope this, I am starting two new quilt projects, YAY.

PROJECT 1: Stamps and Money quilt from the Kaffe Fassett book 'Glorious Quilts'.

I started this quilt last year by asking my Bee-Stitched members to make me one of the blocks. Next I have to finish up by making all these tiny squares into larger blocks and put it together into a 92 x 92 masterpiece. Check out this one that I saw on Flickr. I hope mine is that gorgeous.

PROJECT 2: Birthday Quilt for my Sister (deadline: May 21).
Currently obsessed with above-referenced K. Fassett book, I have selected the Salad Days pattern for this quilt which is a very simple pattern made complex by the way the fabrics are combined. That's what I love about his quilts, the colors, they're like making a painting.

I'm planning on using my Za Za fabrics which I fell in love with after seeing this quilt. I'm surprised this fabric didn't get much attention, I LOVE the rich colors.

SHARING THE BLOG LOVE

And last but not least, I would like to share some blog love. Inspired by Greta, here are a few blogs that I love to read that maybe you should discover:

My great bee buddy quilty blogger friend Greta:
Because I Sew So

A crafty blog I found through someone else's blog list:
All Buttoned Up

Someone I started following after seeing her amazing house pillows, from Amsterdam:
leililaloo

Leslie, who started me on my Japanese fabric addiction and now has a precious baby boy:
good-ness

Go share the love, now I have to go to work. Real work, not the fun fabric work.

Quilt Top

2011-04-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

Just a little sneak peek of the Small Plates quilt top I'm finishing up for a friend who asked me to make her a quilt with lots of dark blue in it, something that was VERY hard for me as I had NO navy or dark blue in my collection prior to this. This pattern is from Elizabeth Hartman's new book.

Don't Put Quilting in a Box!

2011-04-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

My response on the new quilting debate.

I would like to start by saying that a quilt is pieces of fabric sewn together into one piece and made into a blanket adding a back and some padding in the middle. Quilting is what you do to make that. A quilt may not even be pieced come to think about it, I think it just means that there are two pieces of fabric sandwiching an inner layer that makes it warm and sturdy, all sewn together in some way or other. That’s it people. It doesn’t get any more complicated.

In addition, the origins of quilting in the United States (quilting has a rich history before the United States) came from those brave and strong women who traveled across the country, from the settled East coast to the unsettled Western territories, in covered wagons. They didn’t have fabric.com, or even any kind of fabric store, they also didn’t have money. They made quilts to stay alive through the winter. I don’t remember any prairie stories about the Missouri settler criticizing the Minnesota settler who made simple quilts. Seriously, are we having this discussion?

I began quilting, in 1983 or 1984, fabrics were calico, nobody used a long-arm quilter, that I knew, and everyone pieced and quilted by hand, in my circle of quilting friends at least. I learned to sew when I was 10 (1969, and on a machine, BTW) and sewed a lot of my own clothing. When I started quilting, I found it odd that people bought fabric to make quilts. OH how far I have digressed.

I was also trained in Fine Art, I have a degree in Art History with many classes pre and post-graduate in studio painting, drawing, color, design. I studied Art in Italy, I worked in an art gallery. I would not tell someone that they were a beginner painter because they used bright colors and used simple shapes. Art is not what is produced but the process and method and history behind it. If you want to equate quilting with art, there isn’t any judgment about what’s beginner and what’s advanced.

Nobody puts quilting in a box! (references to Dirty Dancing completely unintended!). Quilting is not science, it’s not based on facts and diagrams that must be followed or else. It’s an art and a craft. We’re very lucky that it’s no longer a necessity.

I am 51 years old (gasp!) and stopped quilting in the late 80’s because I didn’t like the traditional look of quilts. Also, I work as a systems analyst for the Dept of Defense. I have to work, I don't stay at home though I WISH I could. I don’t have much free time and believe me, after analyzing systems and dealing with people and software and deadlines and pressure all day long where I MUST follow every rule, there is no way I am following rules doing something I enjoy, like sewing fabric together.

I really feel that a lot of this debate may stem from the fact that quilters who have been quilting a long time are jealous that they aren’t getting the attention of some of “greener” quilters. Well, guess what? It’s not just about quilting. It’s also about gorgeous photos and good writing and modern blog headers and personality. I want to be visually stimulated when I’m reading a blog or looking at fabric or making a quilt. I also like to spend my leisure time on positive things so I don't really need debates in blogs, just fluffy writing about fun colors and design accompanied by equally pretty fabric photos, that does it for me. That's also why I need to have colors and fabrics I love. To me it’s not so much about the design and whether it’s traditional or not. And it doesn't really mean that person is an 'advanced' quilter, it just means they are really good at having a blog, or writing about their craft, or selling fabric.

OR, to summarize my verbose thoughts above, you might just say about this train wreck of a topic 'Come on folks, move along now, nothing to see here.'

Having it All

2011-02-24T07:23:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading this blog post and when I tried to add a comment it kept getting longer and longer so I decided instead to just talk about it here.

Gretchen was one of the inspirationalists (a name I just made up!) at the Palm Springs sewing workshop I attended last month. I've been following her blog since then, and really looking forward to reading her book, out later this year I think.

Anyway, I was reading one day that she works full-time and I was amazed, how does she keep up this blog AND work full-time AND do all those other things that life requires? She answers in her post today.

It made me feel better that she isn't going without sleep or totally stressed out all the time but it made ME wonder, why am I totally stressed out all the time and I don't even have a big major blog following or a book deal, huh??

Well, it might be the age factor, darn it. OR, more likely I think it's the fact that my job wrings every ounce of energy from me, leaving me spent and catatonic by the end of the day. I just wasn't smart with money when I was younger so I kind of have to keep my job.

I don't have anything monumental to say about this, just sharing and I will continue to wonder how some women are able to "have it all". I'd be happy just having some of it.

Dreammmmm, Dream Dream Dreammmm

2011-02-18T07:25:00.000-08:00

So, I would love to have my own fabric and sewing shop. I've been thinking/obsessing about this for the past year. Recently I connected with Lauren the new Sew Modern shop in LA, I think it was through the Heather Ross Palm Springs workshop mailing list, anyway, she has opened the shop of my dreams and I found a video spot on Lauren and the shop that I wanted to share.

Oh and near the end of the video, you can see Leslie on the long arm machine, she was at my Palm Spring weekend!

Making Gravlax

2011-02-07T20:03:00.000-08:00

It started when I was reading Lotta Jansdotter's book Handmade Living. I have a love for all things Nordic and I saw her recipe for gravlax and well, cured fish is just so Scandinavian and it's been so frigid here I just had to try it. (Note: I did ask Lotta about it in Palm Springs, she said it was really easy to make and her only tip was that she liked the tail pieces of the salmon best.)

Anyway.... so I bought some salmon and fresh dill and put my salmon curing sandwich together last Friday. It takes 3 days minimum to cure so I opened it up today. The process produces a liquid which you see in the first picture above.

The first step upon unwrapping your cured gravlax is to wash off the salt/pepper/sugar/dill mix. I just ran it under water and kind of rubbed until it all came off. The pepper takes a little more time but it's not too hard.

Next step, which wasn't very specific in the book (or from googling online), was to cut off the skin. I have a very sharp knife but it was kind of hard. I left some good chunks of salmon on the skin. More about that later.

When I was done, I had some nice pieces of fleshy, cured salmon, yum. It was hard to not want to eat some but I waited.

What to do with the skin pieces? I fried them up in a pan, skin and leftover flesh together, and when it was done and cooled, cut it up and fed it to Rosie! She LOVED it. I didn't give her all of it because it does have a lot of salt in it, but I kept some to give her a little each day. Salmon is really good for dog's skin, especially the long haired breeds like mine.

We didn't have any bagels or rye bread or appropriate crackers so I just plopped a nice piece of the gravlax (aka Lox) on a cream cheese smeared saltine and topped it with a sprig of fresh dill. YUM. Later, I made a spread using diced red onions, sour cream, chopped dill and dry mustard, it was wonderful!

And now, back to sewing.

From the NEW North Pole

2011-02-02T08:40:00.000-08:00

Yes, that is the actual temperature when I got up this morning. One of my co-workers told me that if you heat up a cup of water and throw it up in the air, ice crystals come down and smoke rises up. So of course I had to try it. Um. It happens REALLY fast. I didn't see anything but water being thrown, maybe when I'm more awake I'll try it again. Rosie thought I was a little nutso.

It has been declared 'dangerously' cold, all the schools are closed and I have a two hour delay for work, which means a great excuse to get in another blog post this week!

When I finally unpacked from the weekend, I put my creations up on my quilt wall wannabee and they look so nice I just keep admiring them! I have all sorts of ideas now about printing.

I used to do lots of printing on fabric but I used a brush and painted complicated scenes

and then I tried linoleum block printing which was fun but the designs were super labor intensive NOW I have learned from Lotta, keep it simple.

Return from PALM SPRINGS Heather Ross Workshop

2011-01-31T10:42:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning to a light freezing drizzle and temperatures in the teens. Sigh. Oh well, we'll always have Palm Springs! So.....

I just returned from the AMAZING Heather Ross Workshop weekend in Palm Springs, CA. It was such a sensory overload for me; let's see, leaving the snowy Rockies for a respite in the desert, CHECK, leaving the insane stress of my job for 3 days, CHECK, meeting, socializing with, learning from and basking in the greatness and creativity of not just one, or two, but THREE wonder women (Heather Ross, Lotta Jansdotter and Gretchen aka Gertie from Blog for Better Sewing, CHECK. We also had Melanie Falick from STC Crafts/Melanie Falick Books, publisher of many many many amazing and beautiful craft books INCLUDING Heather's Weekend Sewing, Gretchen's first book, coming out soon, Liesl Gibson's Oliver + S book releasing in a month, etc., etc.

But not only that, every single participant in the workshop was a joy to meet and in a short 48 hours we were like a happy little sewing family. OK, maybe that's going too far. BUT it's very rare to be in room with 20 or so people who all have the same passion, while looking at a hipster pool, palm trees and J.Crew photo shoots, which for me was part of the passion.

On to the nitty gritty of the weekend....

We arrived Friday night and Heather hosted a lovely cocktail party in her private garden suite. The Ace Hotel has different room types and the suites with the private gardens, well let's just say I did the math in my head to see if I could live there for a few months. I just love the desert, the light and color and simplicity and beauty. Anyway, it was dark so enough about the desert light. We also had a yummy dinner at a long table in the garden; soft shell make-it-yourself tacos, got to know each other and then went back to our rooms to sink into the funky low beds with lots of white cotton sheets and down blanket and drift into a restorative sleep. BUT NO, it was not to be.

There was an all night party in our wing of the hotel and the party-goers were finally evicted but it was too late, about 6 of us got NO sleep at all. However, the Ace Hotel manager was a love and comped a hot stone massage for me to make it up.

Saturday morning I wandered early to the King's Highway diner off the lobby and ordered a latte. I had met Lotta Jansdotter the night before and there she was having coffee too so we sat and chatted. I have to say this now, I had a latte with Lotta. OK, done. She is the sweetest, kindest soul and asked about ME, in fact I think I just blabbed about my life too much. She shared her breakfast with me as well, especially when I told her that we were having breakfast served in the sewing room. hee hee The latte's were to die for, as well. I really like Lotta as a person, and admire her tremendously as an artist.

Saturday morning was divided into two groups; Lotta's fabric printing workshop and the sewing workshop with Heather and Gretchen. LOVED the fabric printing and when we were done with that, I used my printed linens to sew into a bag and a table runner.

Most every other person in the group has a fancy schmancy clothing item to work on. Next time I will probably bring one, I just didn't know how much time we had but there was plenty of time for sewing more than what I did.

During the sewing sessions, Heather and Gretchen ran around and helped every single person with their project which started with sewing a muslin, which is a practice item that you make first to make sure the pattern fits and adjust it before you cut your good fabric, oh and I have to say, there was a lot of Liberty fabric running around our weekend, gorgeous and I left mine at home, silly me.

Both Heather and Gretchen worked so incredibly hard to make sure we were all having a great time and learning what we came for and ran around non-stop during the sewing sessions to help everyone. I can't say enough about them. And Heather, just a wonderful person all-around. She has many reasons to be snotty and above-it-all but is SO NOT THAT AT ALL, not that I expected that but I think she was even more down-to-earth and personable and generous than I imagined. AND she's expecting!

We were all women, including Butter the dog who was the sweetest little mascot for our sewing and sat on a different Butter quilt every day. Butter's person, Jean, is a veterinarian and brought an amazing collection of quilts with her.

Saturday night was another amazing dinner, this time on the patio by the pool where it was downright chilly BUT we had heaters all over the place (and drinks) so it was cozy and warm. Saturday night was silent and I slept like a baby.

Sunday was kind of a downer, knowing it was our last day but there was plenty of sewing and finishing up this and that, getting last minute fittings from Gretchen and advise and autographs and photos from all of them.

I want to give a HUGE BIG FAT HUG and THANK YOU to all the people who organized this weekend: Heather, Gretchen, Lotta and VERA,

another wonderful self-less hard-working individual on the trip. She did all the behind-the-scenes work and Saturday was her birthday which means she was working really really hard on her day. Anyway, I know, I didn't receive an Academy so I'll stop now.

Did I mention that it's drizzling ice in Denver? And tomorrow the low is expected to -13, yes NEGATIVE 13.

But we'll always have Palm Springs....

Little Brag

2011-01-28T10:54:00.000-08:00

I am literally RUNNING out the door to catch my plane to Palm Springs for the Heather Ross super-cool sewing weekend when I get an email about this.

My pillow was featured in an article in the KC Times. It was about Spoonflower, whom I love.

MOST unfortunately, after two years, the boy on the pillow asked for a "break" from my niece, who is 17 and devasted, poor thing, young love SUCKS, sorry, glad I'm no longer there. Anyway, I can't even show her the article now.

I'll be back after the weekend to report on the FABulous star-studded weekend. It might be more like a needle-studded weekend, hm, that doesn't sound right. Well, I'm off to sit on my suitcase, way too many things in there....

WOW

2011-01-22T19:15:00.000-08:00

I got a Bernina 440 last year and today was the first time I was able to take the Quick Start class. After working 10 hours non-stop yesterday (Friday), I was not really looking forward to sitting in a class all day. But boy was I ever surprised. I learned SO MUCH. For example, did you know...

Thread made in Europe (Germany, Italy, not sure where else) has a left-handed twist and thread made in the US and Mexico has a right-handed twist? And that Bernina's are calibrated to use the left-handed twist thread? Huh. So some brands I learned about today, besides Mettler/Metrosene and Gutermann which I have used before...Aurafil (Italian), Madeira (German) and Presencia (Spain). So do I throw out my other thread? I don't think so.
There are different weights of thread, something I recently learned. The bigger the number, the thinner the thread (all polyester thread is 100 wt. I use 50 wt cotton thread for quilting)
I live in Colorado which is very dry. Thread dries out if it's not used for awhile and should be lubricated, WHAT? I had no idea. There is a product called Sewer's Aid . I bought some.
Clean the lint from the bobbin case (take it apart) as well as under the stitch plate.
Needles. I learned a TON about needles. There is a groove on the back (called a scarf), the hole is indicated by the numeric size, Bernina needles are made by Schmetz (just buy Schmetz, they're cheaper). Only use Schmetz or Bernina (Organ needles are too long but you can use them for up and down sewing only (i.e. not zig zag or anything fancy), other needles aren't shaped right), Universals are not sharp, WHAT? Amazing.

I learned more but I am really tired and my husband wants me to come up and watch Lost. We just started watching them on Netflix, for the first time. Yes we are really behind. Later...

***UPDATE****
I forgot my class included the download of Mastering Your Bernina which is available for PDF download here. Look at the bottom left on this page and click on the 'Mastering Your Bernina Workbooks" link. It's a 200 page manual that includes EVERYTHING that I mentioned above about thread, needles, etc., applicable to all Berninas.

St. Francis Watches my Pond in Winter

2011-01-17T11:56:00.000-08:00

The ONLY reason I am writing today is because I have the day off work for the MLK holiday, YIPPEE! However, work has put me into overdrive stress mode so it's like when you run a motor at high speed for a loooong time and then abruptly turn it off, it lets off a little smoke and just might not turn on again right away. Yep, that's how I feel.

I made a nice body print on the sofa this morning, multi-tasking between reading a book, surfing the net, all while watching episode after episode of My First Place on HGTV until I wanted to buy my first place! I was gently reminded that I was living in my first place. Whatever. I had to turn it off, then.

Speaking of lazy people on the sofa, my husband and I just started watching LOST, (yes we were on another planet for 6 years and never saw ONE.SINGLE.EPISODE). Anyway, we can't stop. Last night I think we watched 4 episodes in a row, yikes. We stream them on our TV from Netflix, it's like drugs. You can't stop. No commercials, 150 episodes available at the click of little finger. It is fun though, we were so into it last night that we couldn't make dinner and ordered pizza and wings for dinner, from the internet. NO TIME TO MAKE PHONE CALLS WHILE BOONE IS DYING AND CLAIRE IS GIVING BIRTH.

But aside from being hooked on TV, I finally managed to do a little catch up on bee squares. A starflower pieced square for Krissy in my red and aqua bee. I cut all her fabric too small and had to re-do using my own fabric but I really love how they turned out.

And a few weeks ago I got super creative and finally had time to experiment with my idea of making "fabric paintings". I hope to do more but have a few kinks to work out. I cut out fabric applique and fused it to 100% linen, then used my free-motion foot to "draw" with black thread. I stretched the finished picture over a canvas frame. It's really fun to do and you might notice I used one in my new blog header.

Last but not least, I am SUPER EXCITED to be on my way to Palm Springs in two weeks for the Heather Ross workshop. Lotta Jansdotter (swoon, my design hero) will be at our weekend and I just can't wait to bask in the rays of these fabric stars.

Welcome 2011!

2011-01-01T09:25:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

It's 10 degrees outside at my home, a great day to stay inside and write some New Year's resolutions....

Blog less - ha ha ha ha ha. Seriously, could I really blog less?
Stop being insanely jealous of some of my *favorite* bloggers who blog 3 times a day and make five quilts per week.
Stop nagging my husband about the husband-shaped indent in our sofa.
Minimize my aggression toward Facebook friends who are constantly posting about how wonderful their life, husband, house and kids are. Really annoying. Oops, I already failed.
Complain less about my parent's idiosyncrasies (because I have none?!) and remember more that one day I will be just like them.
Stop threatening my husband that I'm going to quit my job and start a puppy farm (hehehe, that one will be hard)
Get rid of all the voodoo dolls of my co-workers and managers.
Throw fewer temper tantrums in the workplace.
Eat more butter and take longer naps.
Be proactive and buy more fabric because you never know when some international boll weevil infestation could wipe out the world's cotton.

Well, that's just off the top of my head. I hope you all have a wonderful and prosperous New Year, just don't brag about it on Facebook!

(p.s. I don't nag Rosie for making a Rosie-shaped indent, she's just soooo cute!)

Simple Christmas

2010-12-23T10:33:00.000-08:00

My life has been crazy this month. Work has been really amped up, my husband lost his job, and Christmas seemed like a chore so I went simple.

Book Review! The Practical Guide to Patchwork

2010-11-14T12:07:00.000-08:00

The Practical Guide to Patchwork, New Basics for the Modern Quilter, by Elizabeth Hartman, published by Stash Books

There is a new craft movement today that is only picking up speed as it picks up a whole new generation of creative do-it-yourselfers and quilting is one of the arts that has been picked up and revitalized using new designer fabrics, techniques and even a little new technology. This movement is spreading like wildfire due to social networking websites like Flickr, Facebook and individual blogs.

Why a modern quilting guide? Was there something wrong with the traditional and still very active quilting methods? As someone who sewed their first dress in 1969,

and made their first quilt in 1982, then let my sewing skills atrophy for a while, let me say, this movement is just what our recession tired world needed!

I “met” the author, Elizabeth Hartman by finding her blog, Oh Fransson!, online one day, probably through one of the MANY Flickr groups I belong to that are related to fabric, sewing, quilting and the like. I was drawn to the blog because it was written so concisely, yet not wordy, simple to understand, gorgeous photos of brilliant techniques and perfect craftsmanship. There are a million quilt bloggers out there but Elizabeth is able to boil down all the fluff into exactly what is needed and wanted by the modern quilter.

And so her book, just as lovely, practical and wonderfully applicable to all levels of whatever you call yourself; sewist, sewer, seamstress, fabric artist or quilter!

The book is laid out in the following sections:

All the Basics:

Materials and Supplies

A description of fabric types, including pre-cuts (charm packs, jelly rolls) and how to select your fabric and some basic fabric terminology for the new quilter.

Planning your Quilt

What I like best about Elizabeth is her ability to describe color choices. This is certainly why her quilts are so gorgeous. She discusses how to choose colors, put them together, warm colors, cool colors, using opposites on the color wheel. Truly brilliant.

Step-by-Step Quilt Construction

A step by step guide to all the aspects of making a quilt; cutting fabric, piecing by machine (most of her instructions are for machine sewn quilts), ironing, machine quilting with a walking foot and free motion. Also, a quilt binding tutorial which really shows the steps in photos that is so clear that anyone should be able to figure out those pesky mitered corners.

Projects:

Divided into Projects for beginners, confident beginners and intermediates, these sections contain detailed instructions for making 12 different quilts. Each quilt pattern instruction includes a photo of the finished quilt front and back, diagrams for piecing blocks and the whole quilt, a list of materials including the exact measurement of fabrics and batting, cutting instructions, making the blocks, making the quilt top, making the quilt back, finishing the quilt AND alternate ideas and more fabric options. The alternate ideas and fabric options are genius. Photos of the same block using different fabrics and colors are provided so you can change the pattern, even ideas on amounts of fabric needed to change the quilt. This is why I like Elizabeth. She is not just a teacher or instructor but a mentor; she wants you to use your own creativity. It’s nice to see this humble attitude in today’s sometimes too narcissistic world.

Tips: Sprinkled throughout the book are VERY helpful tips, for example, bed quilt sizes for twin, double, queen and king are provided in the planning your quilt section. Each quilt instruction has a tip or two specific to that quilt, how to make your squares line up more accurately.

The book is so practical and makes the projects look simple and with the clear instructions and photographs and tips, they really are. Elizabeth’s tone in this book is encouraging, learn from me but make it your own. The quilt patterns lend themselves to that philosophy as well.

The only negatives I can think of are that for the quilter who is looking for a piecing challenge, this is not the book for you. If you're looking for a new technical challenge in your quilting, again, the book is not for you.

Modern quilting seems to highlight the fabrics more than the patterns, using simple yet appealing patterns. Sometimes the modern quilt is purposely wonky. This allows the colors and fabric patterns to become more important and this book really takes this to its highest level. If you have never quilted, quilted a little or quilted for years, you will take away a wealth of information and inspiration from The Practical Guide to Patchwork.

Paper Piecing TUTORIAL

2010-11-11T12:14:00.000-08:00

At long last. I've been wanting to do a tutorial but I do so much technical writing at work that I normally have no energy for it, but thanks to a day off for Veteran's Day, and paper piecing square for one of my bees, I had some time to do this.

So, if you think paper piecing is one of those great mysteries, it was to me until I tried it, read along and see if any of this helps. Please note, paper piecing is difficult, take your time and don't get too frustrated if you make mistakes (I'm saying that to myself, too!)

WHAT SUPPLIES DO I NEED?

Besides the basics of scissors or rotary cutter, thread, sewing machine and iron, you will need:

Paper template - this is the marked template that you will sew your fabric to. It provides the sewing lines, the order of sewing and may or may not indicate which fabric to use for each piece. You can find these online, here are a few of my resources: Practice on a simple design, FITF String Quilt, Star templates, Colorwheel Geese.

The square I'm using is called Snail's Trail and is being used by one of my bee members as a wave in an ocean themed quilt.

Fabric - you can use scraps or yardage. The key is cutting each piece so it's big enough after you sew it on the template. It must have at least 1/4" seam allowance over the pattern piece.

STEP 1: Get to know your template. A paper piecing template will have numbers in each section indicating the order of sewing. Since you will be placing fabric OVER the template, you will not be able to see your stitch line. I like to either print my template on vellum (a paper you can see through) or trace the lines onto the back of my template by putting the paper on a window during the day. Just the basics lines. You can also use pins on the front to mark the start and end and sew from pin to pin.

IMPORTANT: You can reverse the pattern by sewing on the front or the back of the pattern. I like to sew on the front. If I had sewn the pieces to the back of this template, the "wave" would have been reversed. Make sure you know what you want if that's important.

STEP 2: Prepare the first piece. The first piece on a template is not sewn. You can either pin it in place, just hold it down OR I like to use a glue stick, just a little glue to hold it down. This piece required making a 3.25 x 3.25 inch center using 4 blocks that were 1.5" each. This pieced square is used as the starting piece and I have glued it to the center of the pattern. In the photo you see that the piece overlaps the stitch line by about 1/4". Very important as you need that allowance for sewing on your subsequent pieces.

STEP 3: Cut and sew the second piece onto the template. I cut my fabric as I go. So first I cut a piece of fabric that fits over the triangle with the "5" on it (pieces 1, 2, 3 and 4 were pieced before putting them on the paper, 5 is the next).

Place the cut piece wrong side onto the template so that when you sew the seam line and fold back, it will cover the "5" triangle with 1/4" over the size. Place fabric on template, WRONG side down.

Now, I turn the fabric over at this point and sew on the line I traced but you can sew from the front size but you'll need to mark the seam line since you won't be able to see it under the fabric.
(in this photo, I did not trace the line I'm sewing on but I can see it and I can see the two points that I'm sewing from and to)

Turn it over to the front again:

Fold it back to the right side and press:

STEP 4: Sew the next piece, piece 6. On the template, find the "6" and follow the steps above to cut a fabric piece (this one on my template was indicated to be white). Notice I cut this piece rectangular. There is no formula, you don't have to cut it the shape of the piece you're sewing onto. My rule of thumb is the bigger the better when cutting.

After the piece was sewn and pressed:

Continue until you've sewn pieces 7 and 8 and your middle is finished.

STEP 5: Finish cutting and sewing the rest of the square. Following your numbers, and using the fabrics indicated on the pattern, continue sewing the pieces onto the template.

FINISHING UP: Here's my finished, untrimmed square:

Turn it over and trim the fabric up to the paper template:

Turn over:

Remove the paper from the back:
TIP: Using a small stitch helps to perforate the fabric. I like to use a much smaller stitch. However, make sure it's not so small you can't rip out mistakes.
Be careful that you don't rip out any seams. Backstitching will prevent this but I usually don't backstitch when piecing.

And here's the final product, front and back! CONGRATULATIONS you did it! Go reward yourself now.

PROBLEMS?
The problem I run into most often is not cutting my piece large enough. In this photo you can see that after I sewed it and pressed, there is a triangle of the pattern that is not covered by the fabric. So I had to rip it out and cut a bigger piece of fabric OR if I had enough fabric already, just move the piece up and stitch so it covers the whole area plus 1/4".
BAD:

GOOD:

Another mistake I made on this block is that I somehow messed up my outer pieces TWICE. The seam ripper is my friend. Sigh. Fortunately the pieces were on the outer edge so it was easy to rip it out and resew.

WRONG

STILL WRONG

RIGHT

OTHER TIPS:
As the pieces get bigger, I find I have to often pin before sewing:

Sewing with pins:

Trimming the Seams: Although they will be hidden, it's good to trim the seams so it doesn't add bulk.

I don't have enough fabric! If you're in a quilt bee and someone has sent you specific fabric to use and you don't have enough fabric (usually due to ME cutting it too small), you can piece the fabric to make it fit. I try to match the pattern if I can and usually it's the part of the fabric that's near the edge so hopefully it won't show. Here is the back of one I had to piece:

Um. Seriously Behind

2010-11-07T15:45:00.000-08:00

So, I just learned today, duh, that there is a Google reader. Doinggggg. I've been logging into my blog and going to my Dashboard to read my subscribed to blogs. I hate it when that happens.

OK, in honor of that, I would love to add some more *favorite* blogs to my list. Do you have a favorite that I don't know about? Please tell!!

Meanwhile, after the de-stashapalooza of last Sunday and Monday (WHEW) I have been busy finishing up a bunch o' commissioned works.

I sold this pillow at an auction to benefit the New England Camp Cedarbrook and the auction winner wanted a second pillow, which only took me 6 weeks to finish.

And today I am finishing up the straight line quilting on a Vespa scooter quilt, commissioned by a friend who bought the center print on canvas in Italy this summer. By the way, straight quilting is MUCH much harder for me than the "stipple" method because it really shows if you stitch a little crooked. I do love using the walking foot with the guide. I just need to practice more. Also, I'm using heavyweight fabrics so I had to rip a bunch out when I checked the back and had puckers.

I've decided to do some free motion drawing with thread on the centerpiece. I think this will look SUPER cool if I practice a bunch first. I'm going to use charcoal thread and the back is a gorgeous natural linen so the Vespa drawing should show up well on the back.

And finally I leave you with this morning's sunrise in the city. It was the end of daylight savings and I opened the curtain to see if it was light out and saw the most amazing sky so I grabbed the camera and ran outside.

Destashing!

2010-10-31T15:12:00.000-07:00

I am swimming in fabric and I will never sew it all. Please help me!

I have listed about half of what I want to sell so check back. My destash shop is here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sewinggeekSTASH

Some things I am parting with include... Heather Ross FFA I and II, Lotta Jansdotter, Ginseng Woodgrain in chocolate, stone and mulberry, Echino Quiet Ground scraps, Oililly, and more. I'm finished for today but will be listing more tomorrow.

Dog Tired

2010-10-29T06:08:00.000-07:00

***Warning***
Introspective Blog Post

Have you ever noticed how dogs just have THE life? They eat, sleep, poop, walk, bark then start all over again. Sleeping is a big part of their life. I realized recently that I don't even know how to RELAX much less sleep, yes, I do sleep, but I normally COLLAPSE into bed and when I wake up 6 or 8 hours later, I start the day running, until I COLLAPSE into bed at night.

I've thought about how this affects my creative side and realized YOWZA, not good. I work full-time and maintain an old house with lots of pets and a Cuban husband (read: used to having a woman do his cooking, cleaning, etc.). My job is demanding and stressful but it pays the bills and allows me to buy all the FABRIC that I want and need. But is this all worth it?

I'm thinking of re-thinking some of my creative efforts like my Flickr life, my Etsy shops, all the online blogs and groups I participate in. I'm in quilting bees and swaps and I trade fabrics and and and... when do I actually have time to be CREATIVE? This is my dilemma.

I have no solution. I recently saw a popular Etsy shop closed because she had just made enough things. I was so jealous. WAIT, why can't I do that? I DON'T KNOW. I'm kind of afraid that I'll disappear into nothingness if I don't keep my fingers in everything.

Yes, I'm a little bit too introspective this morning. I just thought I would see if anyone else felt the same or had any great ideas or inspiration.

For the Love of Coffee

2010-10-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

So um yeah. This was my 14th birthday I think. I'm in the groovy oval glasses, braces and purple shirt. Brothers and sisters and Dad in the back and Mom taking the photo. I really love this photo and the avocado tablecloth and the yellow fondue pot (that was my favorite birthday dinner, that's how I know this photo was was MY birthday) and the oh-so-lovely wallpaper and I would kill to have those dishes now! And love my little sister all excited for some reason. If we took this same photo today, oh I hate to think of it! We're all a little, um, more rotund, some of us are prettier, some of us have a nice thick middle, no braces, everyone has their teeth and Dad, God love him, is no longer shiny-cheeked.

So I'm really not trying to get birthday gifts here (but feel free to send cash!) but since my blog IS my birthday, October Eight, I thought I would remind you that yesterday (ha ha, too late) was indeed my birthday.

I actually had a good day yesterday, even though I had to work all day and my husband had to work late so we didn't really celebrate but I tell you, I just LOVE simple things like making myself a simple but yummy dinner, cracking open a good bottle of wine and vegging in front of a good DVD movie with the pup sitting at my side (only because she wants some of my steak).

That's about how last night went, except... I made the SILLY mistake of opening a really good bottle of wine and wasn't paying attention and drank about 3/4 of the bottle, eek! I fell asleep on the sofa and then woke up when above-referenced pup heard the wind and had to start barking INSIDE the house. I woke up abruptly and thought it must be around 5 AM. Nope, it was 2:30 AM and I was WIDE AWAKE. That's why I confessed to the wine, the sugar in wine tends to give me a sugar buzz about 6 hours later, darn it. So I was tossing and turning and tossing and turning and before my husband hit me for keeping him from sleeping, I got up. Some web surfing for an hour, then back to bed. Usually does the trick.

However, as I was dozing back to sleep at 3:30 AM, I remembered that I was unable to find the metal filter basked for my espresso machine last night and was pretty sure it was in the trash, which I so efficiently carried out to the dumpster the morning before. So instead of floating gently back to sleep, I start to think about how to get into the dumpster in the morning!

I did wake up, to the dog alarm, sigh, and 7:30 this morning and first thing I did was run out to the dumpster. There was my white trash bag and believe it or not, I could see the outline of the filter basket! (BTW, these come from Italy and have to be ordered and God forbid I should not be able to have my morning espresso for the 2 to 3 weeks it would take to get a replacement!)

But the fun was not over. There was hardly anything else in the dumpster so it was on the bottom and I am not very tall. Darn it. I had to go back to my yard, I picked up a rake, some gloves, and set out again to the alley. It was actually not very hard to get the bag out with the rake but I couldn't find the filter basket so ended up having to dump out the trash to find it and then "YIPPPEEEE", oops. I hope I didn't wake the neighbors. That's where the gloves came in handy, sorting through the icky mess and putting it back in the bag. Oh the dog LOVED this part.

So that was my exciting birthday! But it made me happy. Now I'm going to sew and play with my fabric for 3 days because Monday is a holiday, YAY.

Sewing Machine Attachments/Feet

2010-10-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

I bought a new geeky sewing book recently and have decided to use some of my sewing machine feet that have been gathering lint in the feet box!

So I found all my feet and identified each one. There were some I didn't even know their name! Anyway, here they are.

First, let me tell you about the ones I use all the time. They are:

1. Zig Zag foot. My Janome didn't come with a straight stitch foot so I use this one for both straight and zig zag stitching. My old Kenmore did have a straight stitch foot, you can see that one on the right.

2. Zipper foot. I have two of these, one from my Janome (the little square one) and one from the old Kenmore, which I kind of like better just since I'm used to it. It has a bigger foot thing that switches back and forth depending on which side of the zipper you're sewing on.

3. Darning Foot. This is what I use for free motion quilt. I recently broke mine and had to order a new one. Below is a photo of the old and the new one. I couldn't figure out what that little piece of metal wire on the top, that broke off, was SO important but it sits on top of the needle mechanism and moves up and down with the machine.

I circled the broken one so you could see what I mean:

4. Walking Foot. I don't use it often but it works really well when I need it! For quilting or sewing things that slip, like minky.

5. Ruffler. This is a pretty cool contraption that looks a little like a medieval torture device. And it does sort of torture my machine. As it moves and pulls in fabric to create and sew a ruffle, it really causes a lot of motion and I have to make sure it's screwed on tight, it has fallen off during stitching.

That's it! I have tried the rolled hem foot and it's very cool, I just haven't had much occasion to use it.

So, my assignment to myself is to find a few projects that will use these feet and I'll report back my findings to you afterwards.

Iron Stories

2010-09-24T17:20:00.000-07:00

So. My iron stopped steaming when I pushed the burst of steam thing. And it was leaking sometimes and it was really annoying. Mostly it was the no steam that pushed me to buy a new one.

But first, there is more to the story (What you say? How could anything be more exciting than needing a new iron? Slow down there Nellie!)

Upon mentioning this to my friend, and later to the saleswoman at Macy's, both told me that my old iron (note, it is maybe 2 years old at most) probably was clogged because I didn't use distilled water (though I did use filtered water).

On my way home from Macy's with my new iron, I stop at Target and buy 2 gallons of distilled water. I get home and open my new Rowenta (BTW, how geeky is this that I am so excited to finally own a Rowenta! My old iron was a Sunbeam) and start reading the manual.

Not once, not twice, not three times (I got tired of reading), in the manual DO NOT USE DISTILLED WATER, Rowenta irons are made to use with tap water. Over and over again.

But wait, THERE'S MORE!

I find the manual to my Sunbeam, which doesn't ever mention what kind of water but does state that it has an anti-calcium (i.e. hard water) filter built into it. And, it says to occasionally flush the iron with water and a tsp of salt.

Perhaps I could have just cleaned it out?

Oh no. Nobody is taking my Rowenta away now. (BTW, I bought this model based on a consumer report website)

P.S. It was on sale at Macy's (though I notice everyone has it at that price, I think it's a marketing gimmick) AND I got another 10% off, some special thing they had at Macy's.

New Fabric from FANCY TIGER

2010-09-23T15:44:00.000-07:00

I am obsessed with fabric. I admit it. I was SUPER excited when a friend asked me to make her a quilt because I need to buy fabric!!! Seriously though, I did look at my stash but decided nothing quite fit what she wanted.

Anyway... I was working from home and took my lunch break to drive across town to visit Amber, Jaime and the other Fancy Tigerans, (including Bronwyn, the pup) and also showed them my newest quilt since I bought most of the fabrics from them.

I have loved the Monaluna fabrics all along and the Monaco is to die for, especially in person. It's organic but it also just has the greatest hand, it's very crisp and the fibers are tightly woven I think.

So then when I got home, I looked through my stash to see what solids might coordinate and lo and behold, look what matches perfectly!

Oh, and it was about time I bought this Nani Iro fabric. I've been lusting after it for awhile and it is still in the store, I can't believe it! So here it is, living in my home.

Big Quilt Finished!

2010-09-21T06:17:00.001-07:00

I have made larger quilts but this is the first larger quilt I have free-motion quilted on my machine. I see now why they invented the long-arm! My back was aching after hours of sitting there manipulating the fabric but it was worth it, I love the finished product!

I used a Kaffee Fassett pattern from a book but used orange and green fabrics to match our very green bedroom walls. I used some of my stash but also used an excuse of 'needing' to shop for just few more.

The back is all one color and I used a wide white muslin so I didn't have to piece anything. Brilliant if I don't say so myself.

After photographing outside, I took an action shot:

Knit....

2010-09-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

Now that winter is coming, I love knitted things like wool sweaters from Irish fisherman, and the like. I also love all things Nordic, wooly, cold and snowy. So when I saw this fabric, GASP, it was for me! Of course, I don't "need" any more fabric so I just got one yard of each. Not sure what I will make with it but think it would be great in a quilt square.

The company that sells it is Connecting Threads. They are SUPER reasonable price-wise and they use cotton that is grown in the U.S. which is nice for our economy. Oh and they have super cotton threads, too. They don't sell anywhere but on their website so scurry on over there and check it out while I knit me something.

Quilt Design Wall Wannabe

2010-08-31T06:48:00.000-07:00

So I've been wanting make my own quilt wall for awhile now, then I saw Heather's post about her quilt wall and every time I went into Home Depot, I forgot what that pink board was called. Also, I didn't know if I would be able to find room for such a big 'wall' in my house.

SO, yesterday I was at Hobby Lobby and saw these big pieces of foamcore, Aha moment. Measuring 32 x 40 inches, the perfect size for my sewing area!

I brought it up, cut a piece of quilt batting to fit it and used a regular stapler to attach it to the board. I had to remove some framed art on the wall but I then just hammered the board directly into the drywall, oops. Hey, nice thing about owning your own home, you can do whatever you want.

I can actually stand pretty far away from it as well, the room is very long. I put my quilt bee squares up to try it out, pretty groovy!

Fabric Geekery: Liberty of London and Little Folks Voile

2010-08-29T09:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I made a substantial investment. I purchased two yards of Liberty of London cotton lawn from my favorite local shop; Fancy Tiger but YIKERS, it's pricey! Worth a trip across the pond just to get a reasonable price.

The design I picked is called Yoshie, in charcoal. It also is sold in a cherry red color. It was designed by graphic designer Yoshie Watanabe.

Anyway, brought it home and pre-washed it, along with my Anna Maria Horner Little Folks voile yardage, which has such a similar hand. The Liberty is more densely woven and of course, the designs are iconic, though the one I bought yesterday is modern. But the weight of the fabric is so similar. I really LOVE the AMH voile and hope she and other designers continue to use it.

It washes so well, makes me want to only use these high thread count fabrics in the future. Normally when I wash quilting cotton, I have to remove it from the dryer and spend a substantial amount of time pulling the fabric apart that have become intwined in one another due to the frayed edges. Yes, I know you can pink the raw edges to avoid this but I'm too lazy. Anyway, I spend a long time cutting off the frays before drying it so they don't get tangled up again in the dryer. The Liberty and voile fabrics hardly fray at all, they are a dream to wash.

And on the topic of Liberty fabrics.... I made my first Liberty blouse back in the 80s when I lived in St. Louis. I still remember picking out the expensive fabric off a roll at a fabric shop that sold high end fabrics. I have no idea where the shirt is now but I used the scraps in a quilt and took a photo. It wasn't as tightly woven as the Tana lawn, you can kind of see that from the photo:

And lastly, I actually found a scrap of Liberty of London fabric at at thrift shop once! I used it to decorate a linen pillow cover. Now if I could only find an entire roll at the thrift shop, that would be nice. Stranger things have happened, but usually when you're not expecting them.

Rooftops Fabric Alteration

2010-08-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

Oh my. I hit a record number of views and comments on this teeny weeny project I started for the {Urban} HOME Goods Swap! I feel like the credit really should go more to Lara Cameron of Ink and Spindle because she created the fabric, I just sewed on bits of color. (and um, it's on SALE) In my next life, I think I will come back as an Australian fabric designer, they turn out the most amazing designs!

Urban Farm Euro-inspired LINEN Apron

2010-07-01T06:04:00.000-07:00

It started when I saw "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" the other night and the gorgeous Penelope Cruz was wearing these amazing aprons all the time over her Greek peasant dresses (like Penelope Cruz could ever be a peasant!), anyway, I decided I must have one of those aprons and it must be in linen!

So I did what I always do, ordered a TON of fabric, all linen, 11 yards in all, gorgeous, dreamy, peasant-like colors with names like "asphalt", "willow" and "chardonnay".

Then I made my prototype, which I wore all day over a t-shirt and yoga pants. I loved it! It made me feel so much more feminine and I even used the pocket to pick roses out in the yard, it was great! I'm pretty sure I became Jane Austen for a short while.

After the prototype, I made a more polished version which is now in my shop.

Craft Hope Project 8

2010-06-05T06:30:00.001-07:00

Last night I spent a couple of hours sewing together cotton chenille, terry cloth and sherpa into 10 x 10 and 14 x 27 piece squares/rectangles which will be used as RAGS! Yes, you heard me! And I actually got a little teary thinking about it because the rags will be used by the The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies to clean the oil from marine animals in the Gulf of Mexico.

The project is being coordinated by Craft Hope and you can read all about the project here.

At first I thought, well, some corporation could just donate a bunch of new towels for this, how can I make a difference? But then I realized that big circle of life where everyone is involved and that if I can exert some energy toward the effort to help, it just might be a step in the right direction. I hope that made sense! Anyway, Craft Hope is an amazing organization, YAY Craft Hope!

Happy Easter and Living Room Makeover

2010-04-03T07:24:00.000-07:00

Here in Colorado we are just starting to see hints of green. My little rock garden crocus came up earlier this week before we got a blast of cool weather again but it's definitely Spring.

I've been so buy with projects like a complete living room makeover; painting, new furniture and everything. We're not finished yet but getting there. Here are a few photos of the adventure.

Although we have painted the walls, ceiling, stripped and repainted the window frames and got a few new pieces of furniture, we are waiting on slipcovers for the sectional. Once we get those, new curtains will have to be put up and I'll probably finalize what I want up on the walls.

Here are some before and after so far:

I found this funky little cabinet from Housefish and had to have it, we thought it would be perfect for the TV but still be usable later if we chose not to use it for the TV. It's really well-made, sleek and modern. The wood is walnut, doors are painted steel. However, the DISH box didn't fit in the cabinet and we couldn't use the remove if the doors were closed so I found this piece of glass that used to be a console table and I had it stored in the basement. I found 4 acrylic containers at the Container Store, filled them with river pebbles and voila! I was very proud of my little invention. Oh and the TV is new.

My favorite part is finding new things to complete the look! The tax refund money was pretty much gone by the time we finished painting so I was looking for bargains and found a few. (rug was a splurge though I did get a super deal on it)

Home

2010-03-03T07:06:00.000-08:00

Perfect place for a rocker and a cold lemonade, in the summer

Nice open great room, taken from the big kitchen

I really would love a new house. I look at houses ALL the time. I am living in my first home, that I bought alone, that I didn't intend on keeping when I got married. It's tiny and cozy with a huge yard and some days I'm really happy with that, and other days I want to pull my hair out.

Instead of sewing, I've been spending ALL my very precious and little free time looking at model homes AND looking at ways to remodel our current cottage.

About a week ago I went to the Martha Stewart model homes close to us. There are three of them and surreptitiously photographed each one as I walked through (with my new Droid). Of course, they are perfectly decorated with Martha's paints, furniture, linens, everything!

I can SEE myself waking up in the light filled bedroom, walking down the soft carpeted stairs into the great room and that big open kitchen, making coffee, sitting on the porch watching the new garden grow. There is a lovely little second floor room with an alcove where I would set up all my sewing things and look out onto the park while whipping up quilts.

Ah yes, dreams.

We COULD sell our house and move but I've lived here now for 11 years and the thought of keeping it neat and clean to show, not to mention fixing it up to show, and all that work, I just get depressed. I rarely have time to dream about moving, much less do it! Not to mention that bigger mortgage payment.

So I leave you, as I'm now late to work and my husband is asking me why I'm not getting ready, (um, because I am enjoying the garden, sipping coffee with my perfect non-shedding dog by my side? REALITY CHECK). Enjoy my little dream.

Master Bedroom, tastefully decorated with Martha furniture and linens

Master Bath with optional cabinetry which I LOVE

Perfect little crafty area

Perfect reading spot, overlooking park

Red and Aqua Bee 2 Blog Badge

2010-03-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

Below is the html text for the blog badge for the Red Aqua Bee 2 group, just cut and paste into a gadget if you're on Blogger. It will link back to our Flickr group.

WOW

2010-02-18T07:38:00.000-08:00

I just discovered shabbyblogs.com! A big thank you to Heather, I saw the tag on her new blog.

Now I have a cool and funky new blog.

Overheard at Barnes & Noble

2010-02-13T06:29:00.000-08:00

I was in the Valentine Card aisle at Barnes & Noble yesterday and dropped in on this conversation.

Woman 1: She needs to just forget him."
Woman 2: Yes, she does. I don't know, I never felt about anyone enough to get hurt or miss them. Except my husband.
Woman 1: Oh yeah.
Woman 2: You know, when my husband knew something was wrong, or I wasn't feeling right, he would sit me down and ask me what was wrong and wouldn't leave until he knew I was alright.
Woman 1: Yeah, you are not going to find that again, for sure!
Woman 2: No, no, no.

I never looked up to see the women, I didn't want them to know I was listening, even though they were about a foot away. They didn't sound "old" to me, really. I was on my lunch hour and came into the store really frustrated about something at work so it was kind of an escape to listen in.

Woman 1: So did you have your husband cremated?
Woman 2: Oh, yes. I did. And you?
Woman 1: Oh we had a full out military funeral, the whole thing. But we had him cremated, his ashes were right there.

At this point they wandered further from the cards and then I watched them separate and go their own ways. They must have just run into each other at the store, who knows how they knew each other. I watched one of the women walk away, she was wearing a bright red top. I don't know why it touched me but I was almost in tears, right there in Barnes and Noble. I had to start looking at the Electrical Wiring for Dummies book for a few minutes to gain some composure!

I guess I was thinking how we talk about how quickly our children grow up. My niece who once fit in my arms is driving and starting to look at colleges. My youngest niece sends me email. My uncle died in January, the first death of that generation on both sides of my family. But I don't think about my marriage and how one day we will also be old. And one day it might be me in that card aisle running into an acquaintance.

This is what I learned from two gracious African-American women at Barnes & Noble yesterday. Treasure every minute of the love you have. Even when you're picking dirty underwear off the floor or wiping crumbs off the counter for the zillionth time.

Happy Valentines Day weekend.

keeping it real

2010-02-06T18:53:00.001-08:00

MY FAMILY

My husband and I at the Emmys

I'm following in the footsteps of Heather and Kerri and posting my own "real" post.

I've met so many friends online yet never met them in person and for all I know, they are just tiny little postage stamp sized icons which is all I ever see! So here I am in my glory.

My real name is Mary Elizabeth but my family has always called me Bitsy, which was also my aunt's nickname. I answer to Mary and Bitsy and I really hate it when someone who knew me as Bitsy calls me Mary but I don't mind being Mary.

I wanted a white picket fence life, kids, husband, homemaker. I grew up in the 60's and 70's and my mother stayed home with us. I also wanted to travel to exotic places. I never had kids because by the time I got married, it was too late and then my first husband flaked on me. By the time I met my husband Cesar, it really was too late. It's hard on me but I keep busy and don't think about it and surround myself with pets.

Rocky (died in Sept) and Rosie

Speaking of pets. I have a keeshond, Rosie, 4 finches and a fishpond with two koi and 7 goldfish. I have had two other keeshond who died; one in 2005 and one last September, Rocky. I got Rocky after my divorce and he was my best friend. His death was really hard on me.

I started sewing when I was 10 and my mother took my sister and I to a neighbor's house where she taught us. I remember making culottes and a white tennis dress. Later, I sewed a lot in home ec and made so many of my clothes. I stopped sewing in college but picked it up in the form of quilting after college (in the early 80s). I was in a quilt group with women from my church.

I grew up in a church and was missionary in Africa, I also went to Haiti on a mission trip. I wanted to be a missionary so badly but I got homesick! I came home and never went back.

I have been to the countries: Africa, Haiti, Italy, England, Venezuela, Bonaire. I really want to go to France, Holland, Greece, Finland, Sweden, China, Japan.

My husband, Cesar, is from Havana, Cuba. We met when I went on an educational tour there in 2003. He came to the US in 2004 and we got married. He is a photojournalist for a Spanish TV network and won an Emmy for a short film he did in 2006. He has met and had his photo taken with Barack Obama, Joe Biden and John McCain during the elections. I have never even seen a US president in person. I did meet Sarah, the duchess of York when I was with my first husband, at a party in New Jersey. I shook her hand and did not call her your royal highness. I think I was supposed to.

My husband and I come from such different backgrounds but we make our marriage work in spite of all the questions we sometimes get. I don't speak Spanish but he does speak English. He is 12 years younger than I am and I pay the mortgage. I'm pretty bossy and headstrong and he puts up with me. We have grown into love more after we had a passionate meeting. We had to date long distance so it was quite a risk when we got married but I feel so fortunate that he is a super guy.

Here's another list, one of those Facebook things that my niece sent me but it actually reveals a lot about me:

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Mary Elizabeth is my maternal grandmother and my nickname, Bitsy, is also the nickname of my aunt, on my mother's side, Frances Elizabeth.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Watching a sappy movie the other night

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yes

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Only a grownup kid (aka husband) and a fur-covered keeshond.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Yes, I would be my BFF

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
ALL the time.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes. But for the right price, I will sell them.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Absolutely not. Not even if I were promised that I would never have to work in an office again. That's a pretty serious negative.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Alpha-Bits and I also like Honey bunches of Oats but I never eat them.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Yes.
(where is 12?)

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Is there any other ice cream flavor? Mint Chocolate Chip all the way!

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
I don't even know. Whatever is most prominent about them.

15. RED OR PINK? PINK!!!!!!!
Pink first, then red

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
That I don't have any flaws (see number 7 above)

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Wow. Hm. I don't know. I miss both of my grandmothers. I miss my estranged sister. My pup Rocky who died in September. That still makes me cry.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
Only if they want.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Blue jeans and red felt clogs

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Entertainment Tonight is on TV in the other room (good reminder to change the channel!)

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
I would be a tube of cerulean blue oil paint, not a crayon!

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Real lavender, garlic,

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My team at work on a conference call

25. HOW DO YOU KNOW THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
She's my niece!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
The only sports I watch on TV are the Olympics. OH and the Puppy Bowl, if that's a sport.

27. HAIR COLOR? Blonde (real blonde)

28. EYE COLOR? blue, like my father

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes- since I was 15 (glasses since I was in 3rd grade)

30. FAVORITE FOODS? Good food, anything with garlic, fresh or artisan cheeses, French dishes, pain au chocolat, steak, fresh veggies, am I too picky?

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happily ever after all the way

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Love Happens

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? pink

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? I have to have both, wow, I can't choose

35. HUGS OR KISSES? Yes

37. DESCRIBE YOUR PENCIL CUP.
OHMYGOSH, when Nelle (my youngest sister) was about 5, she made me this pencil cup by coloring on construction paper and covering a tin can. That's what I still use!

38. FAVORITE ARTIST(s)?
Mary Cassatt used to be one of my favorites. I really love all kinds of art though.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The Friday Night Knitting Club. I have Telex From Cuba waiting after that.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? My mouse pad is a replica of an oriental rug

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? The news, American Idol and Bizarre Foods

42. FAVORITE SOUND(S) birds singing, the sound of my dogs and husband sleeping (not snoring mind you)

43. BEATLES OR ROLLING STONES: Beatles

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Physically, Hawaii, culturally Africa.
(WHEN IS THE LIST GOING TO END?)

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I'm pretty good at spending money

46 WHERE WERE U BORN? Davis Hospital, Pine Bluff, Arkansas

47. FAVORITE PIECE OF JEWELRY? Anything with meaning, I have some earrings from my 18th birthday, pearls from my 21st birthday, earrings I bought in Florence on the Ponte Vecchio.

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER? On a trip to Havana, Cuba. It was very romantic.

My BFF Wendy who lives in New York

My Scooter

Our house

So, that's me. I'd love to hear about YOU.

2010-02-04T05:48:00.000-08:00

Mary Engelbreit has a new print that she's selling to help Haiti. Go visit her shop! I've been following her since she first started selling her cards in St. Louis, I still really love her work.

Bee-stitched Sewing Bee

2010-02-01T20:15:00.000-08:00

Here are the badges for your blogs, just copy and paste the html code.

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Speaking of gnomes...

2010-01-31T07:55:00.000-08:00

I must have one...

(from ModLivin)

Idea!

2010-01-20T19:01:00.000-08:00

I had this great idea today. I did some Googling and of course, someone has already done it! Haiti Peace Quilts

A combination of quilting and helping the people of Haiti, in Haiti.

P.S. Pink Chalk fabrics blog had a GREAT post on some medical mission relief work in Haiti with links to very graphic photos that really brought home the reality of what survival is like for the Haitian people.

CraftHope and Haiti

2010-01-17T12:53:00.000-08:00

**NOTE*** A better version of my movie can be seen HERE

I visited Haiti in 1987 and sponsored a Compassion child for several years after until she pulled out of the program. All my photos from the trip were slides and this weekend I scanned them all so I have digital copies and made this slide show.

I was visiting the founder of the W.I.S.H. (West Indies Self Help) mission, Tony Wolf, who was working on the Island of La Gonave. Tony passed away many years ago but the mission is still there.

Please visit the CraftHope Etsy shop. Some wonderful women have coordinated the shop and 100% of the proceeds are going to Doctors without Borders for the Haiti crisis. I listed a quilt last night and it sold for $100 which can do so much good right now.

Knitting!!

2009-12-26T06:59:00.000-08:00

With the new craft movement and all, I have looked longingly at all the gorgeous yarns out there wishing I knew I how to knit. For Christmas this year, my father painstakingly scanned in 2000 (out of how many more still left) slides from our childhood and sent all 4 of his children a DVD with the first years. The slide scanning technology is so great, it makes the slides look like brand new photos, the color is still so amazing. I haven't looked through all 2000 (my husband drew the line when we hit around 600 when I was about 13 or 14 wearing short mini skirts and sporting long long hair) BUT this one photo just struck me. My sister and I KNITTING! I love this photo!

Since she's missing front teeth, I'm guessing she's about 6 which would make me 8 which would make this 1967-68. Don't you love the curtains? And the upholstered chair? And the boots!?!?

Anyway, I thought I would share. I wish I could remember that knitting thing now!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T11:36:00.001-08:00

Spoonflower Fabric Designs

2009-12-17T16:11:00.000-08:00

Yes, I've been BIT by the Twilight bug! Coming soon... Edward and Jacob fabric, when you just can't choose one.

Mini Quilt Tutorial on Flickr

2009-11-28T09:03:00.000-08:00

I have posted my mini quilt tutorial on Flicker!

The Apron Family Does Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T19:23:00.001-08:00

OK, so I didn't plan it this way but I ended up getting most of the photos of Thanksgiving with everyone in aprons!

I "stole" this one from my shop and I love it. My new favorite apron.

I made the one my Mom has on for her last year. Dad has a man apron on, factory made. I think I need to make him one. Hubby didn't have an apron on so he didn't make it in the picture! (Notice my Amy Butler curtains there?)

And the star of the day! A twenty pounder, it was YUMMY.

I've been whining for years that I don't have a dining room, wah, wah, wah, but decided not to let that stop me from inviting my parents, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, to Thanksgiving. Wow. I didn't realize that I always just expect Mom to cook. Silly me. Mom was very appreciative. Especially when she left all the dishes in the sink, HA.

What was really fun was first, getting out my great-grandmother's china! It is beautiful and I'm not sure how they ate back in the early 1900's but there are about 5 different plate sizes and the same with bowls. And there must be 12 of each. I also have her crystal which is etched with flowers. It's SO pretty and I love to think about how it's been passed down through so many generations.

Then, my Dad brought a DVD that he made from old slides taken before I was born up to about the time I was 6 years old. They were amazing! The color and everything made them look like new photos. My mother was 21 when she had me and at 29 had 4 children already. And looked like she was 12 at the same time. Seeing photos of my relatives who are in their 70s and 80s back when they were 30, amazing. So much fun. Not to mention my obsession with all things 50s and 60s; the clothes, hair, decor, the old cars (which my father pointed out were NEW to them!). OH, and the furniture. We kept pointing out "I have that cabinet!" "Remember that sofa? Who has that now?" Memories....

I wish I could post some of the photos but I don't have them.... yet. In many of the photos where my mother was dressed to the nines in a long dress to go to some fancy party she said "OH, I MADE THAT DRESS! And that one, too!"

The legacy of sewing lives on. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

More Munki Munki Madness

2009-11-25T06:36:00.000-08:00

I'm finally going to dig into my stash of Munki Munki jammy scraps to make some patchwork squares which will become sachets for a friend's order. It's a little scary actually taking the blade to these HTF fabrics but I hope I can do it. The one with the camper vans is paired with lovely linen fabrics that I already had and can't believe how well they match the colors!

The dogs looks fantastic with some scraps of Essex linen/cotton blend.

And here are some of my other delicious Munki fabrics waiting to be made into something fabulous. The one on top is my current favorite and I just succumbed to buying a quarter of a jammy leg on Etsy to get more! It's like drugs, you get a little and then....

And finally, I scored some flannel Munki Munki at Marshall's yesterday in the way of Holiday or Christmas sweater PJs. These will be used with my other flannels from other PJs and I got enough to share in my shop as well!

Now if I can only carve out some time to sew!

Snow Day

2009-10-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

Well, Denver got a dumping of snow this week so I thought I would share my keeshond playing in the snow.

If you can't view the video, try accessing it on Facebook here.

Mini Quilt Tutorial and Quilt A Long

2009-10-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

I am leading a mini quilt (24 x 36) quilt a long on a fabric forum, the Fabric Obsession. The Fabric Obsession is a community of fabric lovers and we have a fabric coop as well as sewing challenges. If you are interested in following along, go HERE and sign up for a free membership. The quilt a long is in the forum folder called Sewing Challenges, then Mini Quilt a Long.

It uses charm squares with sashing and is a basic pattern that I designed but it's very simple. I made a larger version recently:

Download basic quilt instructions here.

Here's a sneak peak of what I have so far:

New Stuff

2009-10-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

OK, so I had my lunch hour free and I needed a break so I thought I would just hop on over to Hobby Lobby, conveniently located around the corner from my office, and see if they had any curtain lining fabric for a project I have in mind. Oddly enough, some things jumped into my arms while I was there. Very strange.

Kona cotton was on sale and I've been wanting to do this for awhile, just buy a bunch of colors for applique and other projects I don't quite have planned yet. So here you see some of my new friends: tangerine, canary, sour apple, jade, carnation, red and lagoon. It's quite an effort to carry all the bolts to the cutting table and then ask for only 1/2 yard each. But they are so nice there. The people behind me weren't so happy though. Actually, they were fine. Who wouldn't want to stay longer in a fabric department? OH and it was 30% off.

Then I wandered into the embroidery area and MORE things jumped into my arms! Like, this new DMC embroidery floss line called Light Effects. Super cool colors that shimmer and shine. There was this nifty sign that said "DMC Floss 35 cent each" so I thought I would splurge on seven different colors. Apparently, the Light Effects are NOT part of that 35 cents thing, they were $1.99 each, not bad but when you're impulse buying....

OH, and if you're thinking "Well, that's not a lot of embroidery floss." I already have quite the collection at home. Here's just one of my collections.

It's Friday so over the weekend I hope to be creative. I have a pillow to make for a swap (and some of the Kona color might be used in applique for that one), a quilt a long to plan and a zillion other projects in mind, including cleaning the bathroom.

Red Letter Day Quilts

2009-10-19T18:30:00.000-07:00

Wow, I forgot to share the finished Red Letter Day quilt! Elizabeth House designs the cutest fabrics! First Lizzy Dish and then Red Letter Day. I discovered Red Letter Day when I saw this photo on Flickr of a WIP quilt and I fell in love and HAD to find the fabric. I made up a pattern that was really simple and ended up having enough squares to make two quilts and here they are.

Front:

Back:

Front of quilt 2:

Back is ivory flannel:

Andover has a FREE quilt pattern for this fabric called Marble Champ. She has a tutorial on her blog for doing the circles. It's really cute.

OH and don't forget to check out the Flickr group for Red Letter Day!

And now for a BIG SECRET. My favorite bargain bin website for designer fabric has two of the duck prints for $4.00 a yard right now! (to find it, go to the category "New Andover 10/17/09")

Utility Aprons

2009-10-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

I've been on a roll creating those little mini pocketed aprons, I call them utility aprons which is kind of a boring way to describe them. Anyway, I did some for the holidays last year, perfect for craft show vendors. This weekend I made one using retro bowling barkcloth and another one that was teacher oriented based on a customer idea! I used some fun scraps I received from a fellow fabric swapper who has the most incredible blog, Oh Fransson. I'm toying with the idea of publishing a pattern for this one. Let me know what you think.

Oh, and I added a playlist to my blog, enjoy.

Thanks and Inspiration Needed

2009-10-09T07:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the birthday greetings everyone! I know I don't seem "that age" (I can't even say it). I was sort of a late bloomer and like my mother, I've always looked younger than my actual calender age. Part of it due to round cheeks, HA.

This is my parent's on their wedding day (I love Mom's shiny cheeks!)

This is me with my now 16 year old niece in 1993 (more shiny cheekiness!)

And now Susie looks more like this (Surprise! Wearing an apron I made! And she hates this picture but it's all I could find at the moment.)

And I look like this, hehe (YES I am wearing Munki Munki pajamas! NO I did not cut them up and make them into quilts. Ok, so I cut up another pair...)

Anyway, when my Mom was in her 20's, she had 3 children and people used to think she was the older sister taking her siblings out! When I was a recent college grad, I had someone at church ask me if I was looking for the 6th or 7th grade Sunday School classroom. I was mortified. Now I wouldn't mind so much. Maybe.

Anyway... I have hit a creative slump lately and I need a boost of something! I'm not sure what. Hm. I have a lot of fabric.

I had five whole days off work last week and spent most of it doing nothing! I did get a quilt top pieced for a friend's baby gift but it felt mechanical while I was doing it. I want to be INSPIRED.

SO if anyone has ideas on how to crawl out of a creative slump, please let me know! I'll be off punching in numbers at my desk, in my windowless government cubicle. Hm, wonder why I am not inspired?

Happy Wednesday!

October 8!!!

2009-10-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

On October 8, 1959 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, a little girl was born to Les and Mary Jo Walker, their first. Les was 24, Mary Jo was 21. It's hard to believe I am 50 today, I really actually CANNOT BELIEVE IT because I feel so much younger, how did that happen? Well, I'm trying to feel good about it. My father got a scanner that scans old slides and sent me these photos, they are amazing.

My grandfather delivered me, here he is outside the Operating Room. Love the purple feet from the dye.

My mother was all of 21 here, eek. She looks so rosy cheeked and perhaps a little unsure of motherhood.

And my father, all of 24 and looking like a member of the rat pack!

My grandfather was an Obstetrician in the small town of Pine Bluff but he also had a passion for art. The story goes, he went to college to study art but when his mother found out he was drawing from nude models, she made him quit. So he became and Obstetrician/Gynecologist! I don't know if that's true or not but I love it! He was an artist and did beautiful pastel portraits of all his grandchildren and his beloved dachshunds. I still have the portrait he did of me in my bedroom. He also did needlepoint and I have a pillow he made. He died in the 1970s.

My father followed in his footsteps and went to medical school and also became an OB-GYN. And like his father, was also very artistic, which made him a good surgeon but he also had a model railroad and spent hours making the scenery, painting the cars and engines to look realistic. He still has one today, an outdoor version.

My mother went on to have 3 more children, pretty close together, so she spent her younger years pretty much driving car pools, cooking and doing laundry. When the last one of us moved out, she was only 50 (notice I say only???) and she and my father eventually retired out here in Colorado and they live on a mountain overlooking a gorgeous canyon and they hike almost daily.

And here they are today! The reason I am who I am and have come halfway to the century mark (eek) Of course my mother is wearing one of my aprons. :)

GNOMES on DINNERWARE

2009-10-02T20:10:00.000-07:00

I just found this dinnerware on a site I had bookmarked (P.O.S.H Chicago) but hadn't been to in awhile, oh my gosh are they cute! Here's a little more about the store. Lots of other fun stuff there.

Blog Love

2009-09-28T06:31:00.001-07:00

Melanie at Fabric Shopper posted this the other day and I almost missed it! Thanks for the compliment!

And while you're on the Fabric Shopper blog, click on the Christmas 2009 Idea-Zine link on the right side of the page. It's a pdf download with ideas for Christmas sewing projects. And I am also featured there.

Happy Monday.

Crafty Things

2009-09-24T06:18:00.000-07:00

Driven partly by my husband putting a wet glass on our desk, I decided to make some drink coasters using fabric and cork rounds. I had the idea for awhile and finally found some cork thingees locally (they are easy to order online but I wanted immediate gratification) at Michael's.

I used Cicada Studio fabric, lovely hand printed fabric by Michelle Engel Bencsko. This fabric is linen and hemp.

I just traced the cork form onto the back of the fabric, cut it out and used Mod Podge to glue it on. Then after that set awhile, I brushed on a few more layers of Mod Podge to seal it. The Mod Podge completely sealed the edges so there is no way the edges will ravel, pretty cool. Although we do use them now, there are a few things I might do differently next time.

The cork is dark so when the light colored fabric is on the cork, it does darken the color a little. I would use some white cardboard next time to a) lighten the fabric color and b) give the cork some more stability. Which is the second thing I would change. The cork is kind of flimsy and I was envisioning a more stiff coaster so I think a thick piece of cardboard would do the trick.

And one other problem I can't solve. If the glass is sweating, it sticks to the coaster, annoying. Not sure how to fix that.

Fall

2009-09-22T06:12:00.000-07:00

It's been a crazy few weeks. First we were able to go on a last minute much needed vacation to the beach in Mexico. It was hectic getting ready and all and the travel was a little crazy but we arrived and prepared for a great time when my petsitter called to tell me my sweet pup Rocky had died. It was pretty devastating but his health had been deteriorating the past year and though his spirit was strong as ever, I could see his body wasn't keeping up. I made a tribute to him here.

We managed to enjoy the vacation, worrying a bit about the pup left behind who has never been alone but the sand and the surf helped to ease the anxieties.

Now on queue, as the last day of Summer rolls out and the first day of Fall arrives, it has turned downright chilly here! Yesterday we even had a few minutes of SNOW. Eek. But it's making me think quilts and other warm things.

And speaking of quilts, I finally finished my Mod Sampler quilt!

NEW PATTERN

2009-08-30T14:57:00.001-07:00

It's in my shop.

Attention!

2009-08-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

I have a confession. Since this will soon be leaked out to the press, I wanted to tell my loyal fans first. As you may or may not have already suspected, I have to admit that I am, and have been for awhile, an agent in the FIA (Fabric Intelligence Agency). In case you don’t know about the FIA, it is a covert agency, started in the 60s during the Cold War when the Communist regime in Russia threatened to make all fabric gray and only gray. Thanks to the efforts of this small and secret group, the war on fabric was won and color restored to fabrics throughout the world. The FIA is determined to protect fabric and never allow this threat to happen again.

More recently, a new threat arose from the Textile Mafia, a criminal faction that has been methodically stopping print production on the most popular fabric lines (think Heather Ross Lightning Bugs and Denyse Schmidt Flea Market Fancy). Fabric designers who stepped in to stop the mafia were shot (with textile inks, very messy and permanent) and manufacturers were threatened by ink wielding thugs who threatened to replace all colored ink with you guessed it, Cold War Gray. Although not general public knowledge, FIA agents throughout the world have been working to stop this new insurgence of evil.

And finally, you may have heard in the news that with the new regime change in Washington, the old regime is being investigated and the FIA has not escaped scrutiny. We are being investigated for fraud and extortion. Allegations include; bribing popular fabric designers to produce so many fabric lines per year that consumers are going broke, purchasing Munki Munki pajamas on the black market and reselling for exorbitant prices on eBay and the lowest blow of all, FIA agents have allegedly participated in the ‘fabric mortgage business’, taking cuts from the bank who has loaned money to fabric buyers who clearly cannot afford it, thus driving up the prices of fabric and creating a fabric bubble!!

Of course, these are only allegations. I cannot believe any of my fellow FIA agents would participate in any such crimes but we are also human. Overall, I am confident that justice will prevail and the FIA will be seen in a positive light once more.

Apron Pattern

2009-08-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

I have finally finished the updates to the pattern and it's on it's way to print! Here is the Sheri Berry Holiday version of the apron, I just love these fabrics, even if they aren't the traditional colors of Christmas, they just look like a big basket of decorated cookies to me, yum.

Harlequin Holiday Apron Tutorial

2009-08-18T06:46:00.000-07:00

A little change in plans. I will still provide a pictorial tutorial here but I'm also prepared a PDF version of the more detailed instructions that will be for sale in my Etsy shop I will also be selling kits with pre-cut fabric (Sheri Berry holiday fabric!) I will start the tutorial tomorrow! (UPDATE: Argh, as usual life gets in the way of my blog! Tutorial soon...)

Harlequin Holiday Apron Tutorial

2009-08-14T17:14:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a tutorial here to make a harlequin apron for the holidays! Here is an example of a harlequin apron that I made with Amy Butler Belle fabrics last year and have been really wanting to do another one. This is a great way to use up some fabric scraps as well.

I will be posting this within the next week or two with full instructions. For now, I will let you know that you will need 8 different fabrics cut into 5" squares plus about a 1/2 yard of fabric for a waistband and ties which could be the same fabric as one of the squares or something different. You will need less than a fat quarter (18 x 22 inches) of the other 8 fabrics. In addition, I like to line mine on the back so you would need about 1/2 yard of white muslin for that. And to add rick rack to the edges, you will need 4 yards of coordinating rick rack.

I really love some of the new holiday fabrics out right now, my two favorites are Have a Sheri Berry Holiday which I've seen now on Etsy (shops: spiceberry, quilttaffy and pinkpolkadotstudio), Pink Chalk and Fat Quarter Shop, and Michael Miller's Funky Christmas line. Oddly, pink and pastels are big in holiday fabrics right now.

I am using Michael Miller fabrics that I have from last year and possibly older.

Check back for the start of the tutorial soon!

Linen Gingham

2009-08-08T16:26:00.000-07:00

I found this wonderful 100% linen in a gingham pattern today, one in small black and white check and one in larger orange and white, love it!

So to show you just how obsessed I am, I went to my fabric closet and was amazed at how many fabrics coordinated with the orange and white check! Here are some of them...

What I first thought of in the store was a combination with goldfish..

or gnomes...

Little did I know that it would also look great with senorita!

and Lizzy Dish!

and my beloved Freshcut!

and funky summer in the city

AND LUSH PAINT BY NUMBER DEER!

alright, deep breaths, calming down...

and lastly, this sweet Japanese canvas:

I only bought a yard though. Anyway... someday I will stop photographing fabric and SEW. YAY.

Lizzy House - Red Letter Day Quilt

2009-08-07T06:44:00.000-07:00

So I saw this quilt on Flickr and gasped at the fun and funky fabric by Elizabeth (Lizzy) House! There is even an entire Flickr group for this particular fabric.

I'm making this quilt using a pattern that I thought I saw somewhere but can't find it again so I'm making it up. It's pretty simple as you can see. Strips are 2.25" wide by 6.5" long. I thought that would make them square when I sewed three long edges together but I have had to cut almost .5" off so don't follow my directions!

The squares seem really small to me so I'm pretty sure I will use sashing between them. The green and blue stripe yardage will be used for that, though I kind of like all the squares right next to each other, really makes your eyeballs work. We'll see how it goes.

(Aha! I just found the source of my inspiration for this quilt! I knew I had seen it somewhere, though mine only uses three strips of fabric per square.)

Enchanted Makeovers

2009-08-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

I received a thank you note today from the founder of Enchanted Makeovers: "Enchanted Makeovers is a nationally recognized non-profit organization that transforms shelters for women and children into places of peace and possibilities—not just where basic needs are met, but spiritual needs for hope and beauty also."

I donated some aprons to the event and here is a sweet little movie about the event, which was for the girls of Myriam House, a transitional housing program for unaccompanied homeless women in Baton Rouge, LA. The founder of Enchanted Makeovers is shown in the video below wearing one of my aprons! Anyway, it was very touching to see the young girls in the video wearing all different aprons from various Etsy sellers.

Pattern Review: Amy Butler Mini Dress, Tunic & Tops

2009-08-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

PATTERN NAME, COMPANY: Amy Butler, Midwest Modern Sewing Patterns, Mini Dress, Tunic & Tops.

SIZING: Pattern includes Girl’s size 7-12 dress, tunic or top and Women’s size 2-22 dress, tunic, long top or short top

I MADE: Womens’ size medium (10-12) long top

TIME TO COMPLETE (from cutting fabric to completion): Approximately 4 hours

WHERE TO BUY:
This is available in a lot of shops online, regular retail price is around $16, here are a few bargains I found:

Fabrics to Sew Etsy Shop: $12.50:
Fabricsupplies Etsy shop: $13.95:
Above all Fabric: $12.28:

PATTERN AND FABRIC KIT:
Great idea, this Canadian shop sells the pattern alone or with the fabric, also has some alternate model views of the dress unseen in the pattern:
Kit 1
Kit 2

REAL PEOPLE:
Here are some other blog reviews of this pattern:

beezekneesfashions
yourfabricplace
jumpthestitch

And here are some photos I found of others who made this:

+Eva+ on Flickr
Fancy Tiger Craft Shop on Facebook

And this looks fun, a sew-along on the ‘Monkey Foot Designs and Stacy Sews Sew-Along’ Flickr group featuring this pattern or the new Field Bag/Tote! Sew-Along

Back to the review...

FABRIC: I used an Irish linen that I already had, handkerchief weight, and the lining is a cotton quilt weight Amy Butler fabric from the Lotus line. You can use any light-medium weight fabric.

PATTERN: The pattern is printed on regular tan sewing pattern tissue paper and includes three size groups: girls XS to L (7-12), women’s XS, S, M (2-12) and women’s L, XL, XXL and XXXL (14-22).

PATTERN SIZING: Very true! Use the bust measurement.

HOW IT LOOKED ON ME: Since I used linen and not cotton it looked different from the photo on the pattern cover. Also, I think I should have made it a little larger. I “forgot” my bust size was larger than what I thought! (my mother told me that when you get older, your nose, feet and bust grow, what the??? It’s true though, sigh)

INSTRUCTIONS: Instructions were excellent. I thought I found a mistake but upon re-reading it, I was wrong. : )

DISLIKES: Nothing really. I've made other Amy Butler patterns and this was probably the best experience so far. I especially like that it's comfy to wear.

PATTERN CHANGES:
I did not put a zipper in, I can slip it over my head though it is a teeny snug when doing that. I just wanted a more simple top.

For the same reason, I did not add the pockets. When I was wearing the top, I kind of wished I had put in the pockets.

Not really a change but I sewed all exposed seams using the French seam method.

Would I sew it again? YES, already planning on making the dress.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
I definitely recommend this to anyone with basic sewing skills up to advanced. If you are a beginner, the zipper could be tricky but the instructions are very clear. It would be super cute to make a mother-daughter version since all sizes are included! Also, it is super comfortable and cute.

Starting the Top

2009-07-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

OK, I know I am SUPER SLOW but this summer has just been crazy. But starting today, I'm going to be walking through the making of this Amy Butler top! I went to my FAVORITE Denver shop the other day, Fancy Tiger, and Jamie the owner told me she made this top already and gave me some fantastic tips! For example, she said it was really long and she had to cut off a lot and that it was full and she took it in. These are things I will look for as I'm making it. It's made to fit lots of sizes so it's probably best to measure myself to the pattern.

SO, I decided after looking at all my cotton print fabric, that I would get more wear out of this top, and be able to wear it to work, if I made it from a solid. I have this gorgeous Irish linen collecting dust so it is being pre-washed right now! It is handkerchief weight but has more body than a cotton so I'm going to use one of the pictured Amy Butler prints as the facing/lining for the bodice. I can't wait to make this!

Also, Jamie told me it only took her 2-3 hours to complete so I should be able to crank this out soon.

Picking the Fabric

2009-07-09T05:43:00.000-07:00

I'm going to start on this pattern, yay! I have a lot of fabric but I narrowed it down to these two. Unfortunately, I don't have enough of the fuchsia martini but could pick up the extra yard I need pretty easily I think. I like blue and since this is for me, I think either color would work. And there is no law against making the pattern several times!

I considered using two coordinating fabrics because I like to mix and match. Looking at the pattern pieces, this would be possible to do using a different pattern on the top than the bottom. It could also be cute to put a different pattern in the pleated area but for the first time, I'll stick with one fabric.

This pattern is amazingly flexible in that it comes in sizes for girls size 7 through 12 and women size 2 through 22. In addition, for each size, you choose whether you want a dress, tunic, short or long top length! I am making the tunic top length in a size medium for women which is listed as size 10-12 with bust 36". The pattern includes waist and hip but I don't think it applies for this pattern.

The tunic top has a facing and though the pattern layout calls for this to be in the same fabric as the top, I might use a solid cotton for that part since it won't be visible. The facing is really a lining for the whole top part of the tunic which is nice, no messy seams showing.

Amy Butler Pattern Review!

2009-07-02T15:26:00.001-07:00

So, I was asked to review these new Amy Butler patterns here on my blog! I just received them from Amy today and am excited to start working on them. Haven't decided what fabrics to use or anything. Stay tuned for the review, I'm guessing it could be a few weeks away though who knows when inspiration will strike?!

Vintage Destash

2009-07-01T14:32:00.000-07:00

THIS WEEKEND, over the July 4th Holiday, I am going to part with some of my beloved vintage fabrics, patterns and aprons in my Etsy shop. Come by and visit!

Showing Off

2009-06-21T19:01:00.000-07:00

OH MY, I am so flattered! The person who bought the gnome quilt from my shop sent me a photo of her son wrapped up in. So adorable, I just want to hug him!

Quilting

2009-06-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

I finished piecing and backing the quilt and quilted it this morning! It was very easy to quilt the double gauze, it doesn't move as much as regular quilted cotton which kind of helps, I didn't need as many pins.

I have some tangerine Garden Pindot binding from Michael Miller on it's way for the binding, I held a scrap up to the quilt and it's perfect! I'm going on my second roll of this same color binding, I think I have an orange fetish.

SHE'S BACK

2009-06-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

OK, my means for paying for fabric and sewing supplies (aka the JOB) is taking way too much of my time and energy lately. But I seem to find time to buy more fabric and today I finally pieced this quilt, calling it the Far Far Away Citrus quilt, I just love the lime and tangerine linen combined with the double gauze from Heather Ross' new Far Far Away line.

I used my VW Bus pattern and just substituted other fabrics. I didn't plan this one, just did each row one at a time, cutting, piecing and sewing to the previous strip. I enjoy doing it on the fly this way. My day job is so technical and precise that I have to escape that when I sew.

I got my first batch of these fabrics from Super Buzzy and Pink Chalk fabrics but I've seen some good deals elsewhere on the web. It's pricey but beautiful.

Orange and Green

2009-05-01T18:08:00.001-07:00

There's something about this color combination that I really love. I just finished two aprons using a southwest or Mexican motif fabric and ordered more which I'm planning on using to make a funky ruffled apron complete with tulle, how fun is that!?! OK, well I think it's fun!

FEATURE: Oh, Fransson! Quilting by Machine

2009-04-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

I pretty much taught myself how to machine quilt using the free-motion technique. I did make one trip to the sewing machine store where I got some great tips, but everything else I learned by googling and youtubing.

Today I stumbled on a new blog post on Oh, Fransson's for a Quilt-a-Long with detailed step-by-step sections for each stage of making an adorable mod sampler! Please go check it out.

What I really liked was the section where Elizabeth describes machine quilting, everything I learned by trial and error is right there! Fantastic. If you are just learning or even if you know how, you have to read this. And the last step is making and sewing on seam binding, again all simply explained! And you get to see all sorts of her gorgeous quilt projects used in the examples. I am SO impressed.

Also be sure to check out the Mod Sampler Flickr page for posting pics of quilts you make using the tutorial.

Isn't the internet great?

(BTW, this is my first ever attempt at machine quilting, before I got my new sewing machine, eeek)

What Happened to Sewing by Hand?

2009-04-10T22:50:00.000-07:00

I was looking at some hand stitching photos recently on Flickr and was reminded of the days when I used to actually have the time and patience to needlepoint, hand quilt and cross stitch. I made this mini cloth made from linen when I was in Cameroun, Africa in 1986, trying to become a missionary. I have kept it all this time because I made it. I don't know if I used a pattern or not but it's completely symmetrical and all counted.

I still have a book with gorgeous counted cross stitch patterns and this is one that I started but never finished. I still think it's beautiful.

I'm not sure how I lost the sense of being able to sit down for hours and stitch by hand but maybe it's something I can aspire to again some day.

Fabric, Fabric, and more Fabric!

2009-04-09T20:06:00.000-07:00

There have been some incredible sales recently and some incredible new fabrics coming out and DARN IT ALL, I just have to have some! If anyone can figure out how to a) increase the number or hours in a day and/or b) allow me to now need sleep, I may be able to make a dent in all this. Of course I have many many plans for it all but very little time.

Fabric.com was having a 50% off sale and I picked some incredible bargains including some Joel Dewberry manzanita in sky and espresso, LOVE THIS so much:

And some orange and green Joel Dewberry Aviary fabric:

And some Heather Ross double gauze:

Sooo, if I can change the time/space continuum, I'll show you what I'm making soon!

Finished!

2009-04-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

The stacked coin quilt is finished! This is a birthday gift for my niece who will be 10 in July. Can't believe I have something done in advance, hm.

Work has been crazy busy this week and stressing me out so all I've managed to do is stare at my stacks of fabric waiting to be sewn, sigh. Next project is a gnome quilt. I'm having dreams about gnomes, imagining putting them in my garden and making little stuffed gnomes, not sure why!?!?

AND, I had a nice surprise this week when Kris at Resweater asked if she could feature my Pendleton wool skirts-turned-pillows on her blog! Thank you Kris!

Stacked Coin Quilt in Progress

2009-04-01T21:58:00.000-07:00

I am working on a stacked coin quilt, using the Snippets charm pack, actually I used two full charm packs for this. I used Kona cotton in white (I think it's called snow) on the front and Kona premium muslin for the back. The premium muslin is to die for. It's so soft and silky and was $9.00/yd (but was 108" wide as well). I am going to look for this more often. It comes in white or natural.

I'm using variegated thread which is really fun, it's called "pastel" but the colors look a little brighter on the white fabric.

The thread was giving me tension issues on the bottom for awhile and I did everything I could think of; adjusted the tension up, down. Put in a new needle. Re-threaded the machine. Finally I re-threaded the bobbin. I guess that was it, no tension problem!

I hope to post the finished quilt soon but it's been a long week at work so I've been too tired at night to sew.

You can get an idea of the thread in this last photo.

Memories...

2009-03-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

I started this quilt probably 10-12 years ago. I promised myself I would only use fabric scraps I already had and not buy anything new so there are many memories here. I still have not quilted it because I thought I would hand quilt it (hahahahahaha) and now that I am loving machine quilting, I just need to get it done. I am no longer a fan of "traditional" quilt patterns but would still like to finish this and keep it. It fits a queen size bed, too! Maybe for a guest room quilt. The pattern is called Sawtooth Nine Patch and I made it from a book called "Quilts from America's Heartland".

Some of the fabric history on this quilt includes:

The calico fabrics are from the early 80s from the quilt I started in 1981 for my then boyfriend.
The dark blue batik is fabric I bought in Cameroun, W. Africa when I was doing missionary work there in 1986. I also made a dress from it which I still have.
The blue floral is Liberty of London which I used to drool over in a shop in St. Louis where I grew up. I still remember buying this piece, off a big long spool. I made a blouse from it but don't even remember what it looked liken now. This is all that's left.
The dark red Noah's Ark fabric is from a quilt shop in New Jersey where I lived in the early 1990s. I made pants and a vest for a niece or nephew from it.
The dark green Christmas fabric was from a dress or skirt I made my niece (who is currently learning to drive, eek)

That's all you can really see on this photo. Look at all those little bitty pieces! How did I find the time and patience?

Spring Snow

2009-03-26T10:40:00.000-07:00

I'm from the Midwest where we routinely got buried in huge snowstorms yet we always went to school and work and nothing shut down. Yet here I am today, working from home because it's snowing. Self-initiated. I could have driven in, even now, though they've predicted up to 22" the roads look fine. I feel like such a wimp.

After the heat went off, oops, I did turn it back up, I had to take a short break for a cup of hot chai and noticed the birds cleaning out the last of the peanuts in the feeder out the window.

What I really want to do is work on my next sewing project... later...

Sweet Quilt Finished

2009-03-23T06:11:00.000-07:00

I finished this yesterday. I love the way it turned out, especially the birds on the back and binding. I had a big surprise after free motion quilting the whole quilt successfully, no problems, I realized I had not dropped the feed dogs for the quilting. I'm puzzled as to why I didn't have a problem moving the fabric then. I'll have to experiment.

Also, I did not pre-wash any of the fabrics on this. I washed the entire quilt after it was finished though. It worked beautifully. I think.

Ciabatta Success!

2009-03-22T07:28:00.000-07:00

I finally found a bread that I may be able to make successfully each time! Ciabatta. It may be the recipe that I got from my bread class, I don't know, but this is the first bread from the class that I made that turned out perfect. It was SO good with butter right out of the oven. I had to stop my husband from eating it all so we could have some for today.

It's different from other bread making in that you don't really knead it. You mix it in a mixer (with dough hooks) and then when it's rising, you turn it with a spatula 2-3 times during the day (yes, an all day process). The dough is moister than other doughs. When you cook it, you actually slide it out of the bowl onto the baking sheet, you don't form the bread. Anyway, wish you could taste it!

Twitter and Blog Feature

2009-03-20T21:36:00.000-07:00

I was featured here! What a nice article from Melanie at Fabric Shopper! Thanks!

I just joined Twitter, you can follow me by clicking on the Follow Me icon on this page. I'm still getting the hang of it. I feel rusty or something but I'm starting to get the hang of it!

Quilt Pattern Correction

2009-03-19T21:34:00.000-07:00

If you downloaded the quilt pattern before 3/19/09, I forgot to add to the chart on the pieces you need to cut: 8 pieces of multi-dot fabric, 4 x 5.25. The download site has the updated pattern. Thanks for everyone who has commented and if you find any errors, feel free to let me know!

Tutorials and Patterns

2009-03-19T14:18:00.000-07:00

Well, I've decided that I really love putting together patterns and tutorials so stay tuned for more. Next up is the smaller fishes quilt and then I'm going to have a Charm Pack pattern for the quilted tote bag. I love Charm Packs and you can also just cut your own squares if you want.

If you have any requests for any patterns from things you've seen that I've made (check my Flickr and Etsy shop), let me know!

VW Bus Quilt Pattern

2009-03-17T21:39:00.001-07:00

I've completed the quilt pattern and it's available to anyone who asks, FREE! You can download it from here: VW BUS QUILT PATTERN

OR drop me a line with your email address and I'll send it.

Click here to email me!

In the beginning...

2009-03-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

I started sewing loooong ago when I was 10. My parents gave me my first sewing machine when I was in college and I've been pretty much sewing ever since. In 1983, right after I graduated from college, I joined a group of friends, including my Mom, we were all ages, in a "quilt group". I mostly did cross stitch at the time and one of the quilt group members designed and sold cross stitch patterns (she was the Cross Eyed Cricket for anyone who remembers that era!).

I had my first real boyfriend then and decided to make him a quilt. I started it in 1983. Hand piecing it (that means not using the sewing machine!) until we broke up. I later finished it when I was married, in 1994. The fabrics I used (YUK) were so cool to me at the time. I loved all things country (gagggg) at the time and was disappointed that my mother decorated our house so "modern"! (Thanks Mom for having good taste!)

I quilted hearts on every other square as you might be able to see in the photo. The back and binding are muslin, doesn't hold up well, the binding is coming off all over the place, also due to hand stitching.

I just happened to notice the quilt yesterday when I was ironing. I still use it for things like picnics, on the hammock, and in the house. I just had forgotten it's origins and it's age!

I'm glad we have such beautiful fabrics to use now. I stopped quilting because of the whole country stigma. I know some people may still love this look, I just don't.

And in other news, my husband, who probably should have married Lilly Pulitzer and lived in Palm Beach if you saw his wardrobe, was wearing pink shorts yesterday. I finagled him into holding up my pieced PINK quilt. He has no idea why. hehehe

Quilt Pattern

2009-03-15T07:07:00.001-07:00

My current project is another quilt featuring Heather Ross VW Vans pink fabric coordinated with dot and stripe fabrics. I am documenting the pattern, complete with instructions which I will offer FREE to anyone who would like to try it out. It will just be a .pdf file that I can send you and you can print. But I have to finish a few things to make sure I got everything right. This one is a little bigger than the goldfish quilt. I'm also going to document that pattern if anyone is interested. Stay tuned...

Making Quilts Baking Bread

2009-03-14T11:07:00.000-07:00

There is just not enough time in the day. Sigh. I think if I didn't have that pesky 8-5 job during the week I would have much more creative time! But alas, it's a necessary evil and fuels my fabric buys and cooking classes!

So I finished the fishy quilt and I just love it! I learned a few things, too.

1. Even though I pre-washed all the fabric, it shrunk about an inch more after I washed it completely finished. This is probably from the batting which is not pre-shrunk.

2. Washing the fabric after quilting it makes it look like a real quilt! I re-took all my photos after I washed and dried it, I like the way it puckers.

3. I used 100% cotton thread which seemed to work really well and is recommended.

4. I used a 50/50 blend of bamboo/cotton batting and I see no difference between it and a 100% cotton batting. So don't waste your money on bamboo unless you have a different reason for using it. You can buy 100% cotton organic batting, this was also all organic.

5. Linen is harder to quilt than cotton but I didn't have too many problems with it, it's just a different texture, at least the linen I used which is kind of course.

I'm planning to post a tutorial on the blog for this pattern or something similar. Later.

I am currently also baking focaccia! Yum. It's currently rising.

(the focaccia is finished!)