Framing Fabric

I loved this print so much I decided I wanted to stare at it every day:

Michael Miller's Flora And Fauna - Hummingbirds - Turquoise

Eventually I'll have pictures of both hung up in their new spot...

Free Motion Quilting vs. Me

I love the look of free motion quilting.  I had yet to try it yet just for fear of spending hours with my seam ripper and the TV.  I eventually want to use free motion for my next quilt, so I grabbed some scraps and put together a quick potholder.

I put together one disappearing 9 patch square using 3" squares. Finished pot holder size is about 8.5".

I added a double layer of batting...

Crossed my fingers... and started!


My stitch lengths weren't so hot:


and the back was embarrassing (wtf was I doing):


So... I spent some time with the seam ripper... adjusted the tension... tried again. (repeat more seam ripping and tension adjusting) It started to look a bit better. I still have to work on getting nice rounded corners and losing those 90 degree angles....



My stitch lengths improved a little, but I can still see many flaws:


I prefer not to look closely at the back:



but if you zoom in really close it looks cute!


Tada! Not to shabby for a first try of something that I'm just going to get dirty in the kitchen anyways :)

Kitchen Curtain

I'm not sure why it took me so long to do this.  My old curtains were so boring that I completely forgot about them.  But not any more!

I finally found the perfect fabric for them!  The day it arrived I was so excited that I refused to go to bed before it was done.  It took me less than hour to actually sew it.  I used the old valance as a measurement guide and double folded the edges in using 1/2 inch.  This was so simple.  So very simple.

I played around with the idea to make two vertical panels, but the space between the window and the start of the (ugly) cabinets isn't big enough and would just look weird.

The old curtains were maroon and the desert sun really killed them. They're nearly white in spots on the back in the shape of the blinds.  Here's the before:

Blueberry Cake Bars

Little Birdie Secrets recently posted a recipe for Blueberry Cake Bars that just looked amazing! I still had some Michigan blueberries sitting in my freezer that would be perfect for it. So far all they have been used for are lots of blueberry muffins... so I gave it a shot.

And this is what came out:


They taste just as good as they look!



You can find the recipe on her site here: Blueberry Cake Bar Recipe

Union Jack and Trinidad Passport Covers

My friends husband from the UK asked me for a passport cover with the Union Jack on it.  I figured it wouldn't be that hard so I pulled up Photoshop and started measuring.  TIL: The red diagonal lines are not even!!  That threw a little kink in my plans.  So I figured out the measurements for the most part, cut everything, crossed my fingers, and started sewing.

I made two passport covers because my husband was like "Oh! You make him one and not me!" once I got done with the first one. So poof! Out came a Trinidad one.
 

The flags images I started with:

Here's a quick photo shoot of my process for each one:

I love these things! The left one has reached it's destination in time for their vacation to the UK in a couple of weeks!

Amy Butler August Fields Duvet

As soon as I saw the August Fields Duvet on Amy Butler's site (free pattern & pdf) I wanted to make it! :)  And here it is courtesy of my husband in his favorite Vibram Five Finger Shoes that have been permanently attached to his feet.  I love it so much!  This is by far the biggest project I have took on and is really (way to) heavy.

 I used the pattern for the queen sized duvet sized at 86" x 90".  It suggests to use 19 different home dec prints, but mine has only 15 and I think it worked well.

 

I also hate ties and buttons on duvets because they allow chunks of my comforter to fall out in between the gaps... so I ordered a massive supply of white zipper tape from ebay and used about 4 feet of it on the bottom for a closure.

Ooom nom nom. I love zippers!

If anyone decides to make this pattern - don't make my mistake.  I followed the directions and made the back of the duvet too.  This is what would have been attached to the back.  It's all home dec fabric too.  Once I got the top layer pieced, that was heavy enough as it is.  If I would have attached this to the front I wouldn't be able to lift it let alone sleep under it. (and yes, I read Twilight)

Now I have this piece just sitting there and I have no idea what to make it into.  Suggestions?  Maybe a picnic blanket for all those picnics I don't go on because I live in a desert?

Instead, I lined the back with a queen sized sheet in aqua. I'm so glad I did. I like the weight of the duvet now but my husband hates it and won't admit it because I know he doesn't want to hurt my feelings. He wants it to be super light and I don't blame him, this thing is way to hot for the summer :( and we've already replaced with a different one in the meantime.  But this does mean I can buy more fabric and make another lighter one! ;)

Pink Baby Blanket

This blanket was finished just in time to be shipped off to our cousin's little girls 1st birthday!  I hope she likes it!

This is my first quilt EVER.  The cotton squares are mixed with light pink dot minky to match and stitched in the ditch. Sewing with minky was a brand new experience that will never be repeated in a pieced blanket.  I kept a can of air next to my machine and had to blow out the bobbin area often and crossed my fingers that the fabric wouldn't move.  My seams matched up pretty well.. I only had to rip out a few and redo.  I pinned like crazy... pinning on either side of a seam helped a lot.

A huge reminder for me next time - re-read measurements!!!  Binding is 2 1/2"... not 2".  This was my first time making bias binding using the tube method.  It looked confusing in some of the tutorials, but I was wrong.  It was so easy.  My biggest problem is I get bored fast trying to cut all 200+ inches of it.

I just had a whole stack of fabric come in the mail today... and I think I have my next quilt lined up assuming I can decide on a style...  :)

I basted it together with spray. How in the world do people have the patience for pinning?!? Am I missing a secret to it?

The finished quilt measures about 50"x50".

My Favorite Fabrics

Amy Butler's Paradise Wine is one of my favorites right now.  I bought a bunch and I still have no idea what i'm going to do with it... but first on my list were pillows just so I can stare at it more.  It will end up in a quilt someday... as soon as I can figure out a pattern that I like.  I've been thinking about a New Wave quilt or a Tumbler.... still not sure and I still have to purchase the rest of the fabrics I'd like in it to keep with a 'red' theme.

The Andrea Victoria collection by My Minds Eye is also amazing.  I snatched these up the second I saw them.  I was lucky enough to get them when I did because they sold out the next day.  I'm in a big turquoise mode... and red.. and turquoise and red together.  Someday I will have a craft room that will hopefully be as creative as hers: Crafty Intentions Craftroom.

I think the New Wave Quilt would look great in this fabric with white sashing.  I'm just waiting for the white kona to finally go on sale.  I've already got the Darlene Zimmerman's "Fat Cats" ruler as suggested on Oh, Fransson!'s blog.

Andrea Victoria by My Minds Eye

I Love Totes!

This bag turned out to so perfect!  The bag size is perfect, the strap lengths are perfect....  I used the super simple Market Bag tutorial over at Film in the Fridge.  (She's got some really sweet quilts over there too)  I also added a pocket to one side and a zipper to the other... because I just love zippers.  I'm totally carrying this thing everywhere....

Om nom nom nom...

The outside fabric is Amy Butler's Full Bloom in Coral (Home Dec) and the inside is brown twill.

Rag Quilt

I thought this would be a fast project.  The cutting of the squares took me a few days (I get bored quick), I sewed them all together in one night... and then the cutting....  I learned never ever do this with out rag quilt scissors.  I bought the Fiskars pair at JoAnns for a whole $10 at 50% off and the rest of it I cut over the course of a few nights while watching tv.  (and my hands didn't hurt!)  I've washed it 3 times so far - fixed a couple of holes where I cut a bit too far in... and here it is!  I do love this blanket but I wish I would have made it a few blocks bigger.  That and the fuzz is still coming off everywhere....

Thank you knitandtonic for your pattern!

New Fabric: Carnaby Street

I found an awesome deal today at the quilt store. This is Robert Kaufman's Carnaby Street. It's so pretty!!! (and was 50% off!)

Boob Cover

I made a quick and easy Nursing Cover following the tutorial at Prudent Baby. I just had to run to the store really quick to get the D-Rings and boning material. I made it a little wider than the measurements - just left it the width of the fabric... I figured it couldn't hurt!

I also added a quick little pocket in the side made out of diaper cloth for easy wiping:

Plastic Bag Holder

I'm sure everyone has something that looks like this:

We reuse them as trash can liners and the rest we recycle at the store.  Opening this cabinet under the sink is a bit frightening.  So I made this:

It's home dec fabric by Amy Butler.  There's a simple tutorial over at Basil Bush's blog.  My plastic bags are cute now :)

New Bag

I'm really proud of myself on this one.  I've actually been using this bag!!   I used Michael Miller's Whimsy Surf fabric and the pattern is from Sweet Pea Totes on Etsy.  This bag went together pretty easy.  The pattern didn't list how long the straps should be so I over guessed and made them WAY to long... so after 2 weeks of putting it off I finally adjusted them today.   It was my first time with pleats and a magnetic clip.  I also added a zipper pocket on one of the sides, a key ring, and made the other side pocket a big bigger to add a couple of pen slots.

Hip Momma Diaper Bag

For a first try it's not that bad because it came out looking like a bag.  There's so many mistakes I can not even begin to count them.  The obvious one I am fixing - the velcro was not supposed to go in that spot on the outside of the bag and it will be removed.  Hopefully if I ever make this bag again, it will line up a little better and come out more like the tutorial at A Mingled Yarn - Tutorial: Hip Mama Diaper Bag.

 

  

 

Purse Organizers

Trisha has been making these for her new Etsy shop: CuteGoodness

This one I made for a friend and she loves it! ;) If you have NO idea what this is, view the items at her shop -- she shows how it is used.