Sunday, October 30, 2011

KENDRA'S KINDLE CASE

I was going to call it Kendra's Kindle Kase, but then I realized the initials were rather offensive, though Kendra is decidedly not.  Nevermind.

I have cobbled my pattern together from a bunch of different sources.  The main one is John's iPad Sleeve at the Moda Bake Shop.  I am doing things a bit differently, however, and using 10-inch squares from my stash of Swiss Chocolate by Amanda Murphy, won on Cluck. Cluck. Sew.  Like me, Kendra loves pink, so I thought this would be perfect, especially since it's totally hot cocoa season in the Northwest.

Fun little projects like this are why I love having Regina Bernina.  She's so creative and smart.  I alternated between stitch No. 60, length at two; and my running stitch, or stitch No. 4, length at three.  Worked out perfectly when done in dark brown Mettler cotton.


And here's what it looks like from the right side.


The second side is a darker pattern with the same sort of gorgeous flower designs.  The stitching will fade into the background on that side, but it'll still look lovely.  I'll post again with more details!

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

I {HEART} THE 80s SWAP

It has been a long time since I posted.  Holy crap!  Recovering from gall bladder surgery was a bit more taxing than I thought it would be, at least on my sewing.

On top of that, my godfather died recently, and I got behind on the I {Heart} the 80s swap I signed up for.  But here are pictures of the Rainbow-Brite-inspired sewing machine cover I made for my partner.  I hope she likes it!


I used a Moda Marbles tropical layer cake to make the striped sides and top.  It was really fun to put this together.


This shot shows the color change best.  The sides of the cover are made from an ombre fabric that went from palest yellow to nearly red.  I used the pale yellow part to line the top/bottom of the cover.  It's also lined it white and can be reversed.


I think this is my favorite part, though.  It's been hard for me to keep my decorative stitches straight on my new machine.  Obviously it's a matter of practice.  This multi-colored little rainbow turned out really well!  I'm quite proud of it.  It goes all the way around the bottom and also shows up nice on the underside of the cover.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

MUG RUG SWAP ADVENTURE FINISHED!

I joined the Mug Rug Swap Adventure a while back, then got very sick with gall stones.  I didn't sew for months!  Which is obvious if you read my blog -- no posts for a LONG time.

My partner in the swap doesn't like colors that are common in my stash, so I searched for quite a bit before finally finding something I liked that I thought she would.  Apparently, I made a bit of a boo-boo.  She said no black, brown or purple.  I didn't take my list with me, and thought it was no black, brown, or pink.  So there's some purple in it.  Thankfully, she indicated on Flickr that she liked the fabrics, so hopefully she won't hold it against me!


Above is the front.  I wanted something simple so I could show off the fabric.  It's Tina Givens' Haven's Edge.  I sent scraps to my partner and kept some for myself.  Lovely!


Above is my version of a label.  I'm not big into the fabric labels with all that info on them.  I want to see the fabric.  All of it!


My favorite square!  The birdies!  It was accidental, though I was trying to make it happen.  Just didn't have to try too hard!  Whew.


And the backing.  I LOVE this fabric.  It's gorgeous!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

MY GALL BLADDER HATES ME

And that is why I haven't sewn or posted in forever!  I have been sick, on and off, for months.  I finally know why -- I have a giant gall stone!  Fun times.

Surgery takes place on June 15.  So sorry I haven't been talkative.  I do have some projects I have to finish -- like a mug rug for my partner in the Mug Rug Swap Adventure 2!  Coolness!  Anyway, keep your fingers crossed that I make it through the next two weeks!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

TUMMY TIME IN CENTRAL PARK

At least, I hope that's what will happen with this blankie.  I made my second and probably last Ribbon Blankie for my friend Deana and her soon-to-be-born son, Eli.  Her baby shower was yesterday, and she absolutely loved the blankie.


It turned out really cute, but I have to say that although the minky on the back is cute and soft and fluffy, I really don't ever want to work with it ever again.  It stretches way too much for my patience, which I must say is lacking.


I said on Piece N Quilt the other day that even though it was a pain, I didn't mind working with it because of the result.  I take it back!

I used a multi-shade teal thread for the top-stitching and a loop-de-loop stitch.  I will definitely use both the thread and the stitch again.  Forgive the pictures -- it's a bit fuzzy!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

RETRO MAMA'S EASTER EGGS

I have a rather retro momma, and I love Retro Mama's patterns as well.  I think the two go together!  Last night, the bus I ride broke down on the way home, so I didn't get anything sewn.  However, I did cut out enough fabric for these adorable Easter eggs from Retro Mama.


Not much left to work with after the cutting, but at least I got rid of some scraps!  Aren't the colors fun?  All kinds of yellow, blue, green, and brown dots!  Perfect for Spring/Easter, and even into the summer.  I cut enough to make eight eggs of four different colors.  I'm going to sift through my scrap tub tonight to see if I have enough to make a full dozen, because that would be perfect!


Now if only I hadn't thrown away that old egg carton . . .

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

BEING SICK REALLY CRAMPS MY SEWING STYLE

I have spent the better part of the last month and a half ill.  First with bronchitis.  Then I got a Migraine in the middle of last week.  And then last Friday, I got food poisoning so bad that . . . well, bad.  You don't need details.

What that has meant is that I've gotten very little sewing done since the beginning of March.  And frankly, I'm rather irritated.  I am two blocks behind on the Patchwork Squared Quilt Along, since I spent the entire weekend in bed.  And I never got any of these cute little things sewn, which I wanted to do before Easter.  Tonight is trash night -- as in make sure I've gathered it all for pick up tomorrow -- and once I'm done with that, I'm going to make some Easter eggs.  Patchworky ones that are kind of random.  As random as the Type A part of my personality will allow.  Wish me luck!

Monday, April 11, 2011

P2 MODERN SOLIDS QUILT ALONG WEEK 2 BLOCK

I have finished my first block for the P2 Modern Solids Quilt Along.  It's a Dutchman's Puzzle!  See the page for a pic!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

P2 QUILT ALONG WEEKS 1 AND 2

Please visit my P2 Quilt Along page for an update!  Thanks!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

THE SOLIDS HAVE LANDED

Check out the P2 page for a picture of the Moda Bella Solids that I bought for the quilt along!  They are gorgeous, and while I've never worked with solids before, I can't wait!  Woo-hoo!


If you visit my blog, I would also really appreciate it if you click the Follow button on the sidebar.  It feels a little lonely here right now.  Thanks!

Monday, March 28, 2011

OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE

So, I've decided to move out of my comfort zone, which is well-coordinated collections in pre-cuts for small quilts.  I'm going to join the guys at Patchwork Squared for their Modern Solids Quilt-Along.  I have a sister who loves neutrals and the like, and I picked a green, a yellow, and Bella Solids Stone to work around.  Ordered my fabric today from Fat Quarter Shop.  Thanks for the discount, Kim!


I'm looking forward to this personal design challenge.  Solids are not really my thing, but I think my sister will love it, and so will her baby!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

QUILTERBLOGS.COM

What's up, people?!  I just got added to QuilterBlogs.com.  How cool is that?  It's nice to start getting my blog out there.  I've been doing it for a while, but until recently, I didn't really do enough sewing to warrant multiple posts in a week, let alone a month.  Things have changed since I got Regina Bernina.  Anyway, check out the blog roll at QuilterBlogs.com, and learn about my blog and many, many others!

Friday, March 18, 2011

I LOVE MY SISSIES

My two younger sisters took a trip to California last week.  They brought back a little souvenir for me.  It is darling.  Excuse the picture -- taken with the cell phone.  But you can still tell exactly what it is.  And if you turn it over, there's even a plug!  You can see the tines.  It's awesome.  I don't want to take it out of the box, it's too cute!  I love my sisters, they are awesome.  And I love them even more for finding this for me!  It's a Juicy Couture charm.

Monday, February 28, 2011

HOLY TWO POSTS IN ONE DAY, BATMAN!

I could resist.  I had to share what arrived in the mail today!


I've been dying to get this fabric: Tula Pink's Parisville in the Pomegranate colorway.  Alas, it was a pain to find in the Treasure Valley, so I ordered it online last Friday.  Last Friday, people, and it's already here!  Thank you, Cathy of Wondrous Woven Fabrics for getting my fat quarter bundle to me so very quickly!  So excited to create with it.  Decisions, decisions, decisions!

NICKI'S PRIZES

I spent the entire weekend sewing!  I was in class Saturday from 10:30 a.m., till 4:30 p.m.  Needless to say, I was pooped.  But I learned some cool tricks with Regina Bernina, so I'm really excited!

Sunday, I made Nicki's prizes from the blog giveaway.  Since she was the only person who signed up, I made coasters and my first mug rug.  Still not digging the name "mug rug."  Just sounds weird.  How about "snack coaster?"  Or "mug mat?"  Anyway, the giant coaster/mini placemat turned out REALLY cute.  Totally going to have to make more of those!

Here are the coasters, front and back.  I switched it up a little and used different fabrics for the backs.  Usually, you use one of the fabrics you make the coaster fronts out of, but I ended up with five coordinating fabrics, and I totally had to use them all!


I used gray thread to do the quilting, and this time I used a longer stitch.  It turned out really well!


The backs are so cute!  I love these stripes!  So fun!

And now to the mug mat.  Sorry, just can't do that rhyming thing.  At least not in this case.  Anyhow, I used the two stripes as backing and binding.  Nicki's initials are NH.


Now no one else can walk off with it and claim it's hers!  Nicki really likes the backing.  Love it!


I really enjoyed making this mini quilt.  So easy and so cute!  It was great.  I'm totally going to make more of these.  I think my momma would like one.  And Nicki absolutely loved it all.  She said the fabrics will coordinate PERFECTLY with her living room decor.  She goes, "I can't wait to take them home!"  Yay!

Friday, February 18, 2011

WIPs, WIPs, AND MORE WIPs

Actually, it's just two WIPs.  Two I've discussed before.  And to announce that only one person signed up for my giveaway, and that was my friend Nicki from work.  You've bummed me out, people!

Anyway, here's the first WIP.  It's the Vintage Ribbons Table Runner from Moda Bake Shop that I've been trying to complete for a while now.  Pretty much almost finished other than sandwiching, quilting, and binding.  I have a three-day weekend coming up, so I'm going to do a lot of sewing!


My camera still sucks right now.  I need a new one.  I'm hoping I can talk my sister into upgrading and giving me her old one!  Anyway, I tried a few "high-in-the-air-directly-overhead" shots of my WIPs.  Seemed to work okay.


The above shot is a little wonky, but I think it shows the colors really well.  The pattern called for solids, and I just don't care for them.  At least not right now.  But the binding will be solid red.  I think that will provide some nice contrast.  I added the aqua because my living room colors are red and aqua.  Works really well, I think!

And now to more baby stuff.  I got the top sewn for Eli's ribbon blankie.  It's looks so cute that I turned it into my work computer's desktop background!


How fun is that?!  I used my favorite prints and tried to be as random as I could.  I'm very visual, and therefore I have a really hard time with random patterns.  I can't do it.  I had to throw them all in a bag and pick them.  And I still rearranged quite a few!

Friday, February 11, 2011

COASTER MADNESS -- 50th POST AND GIVEAWAY!

Holy crap!  It's my 50th post!  And I'm having my first giveaway!  So read to the bottom to find out how you can win a cute set of coasters!

Some friends from work, who are engaged to be married, bought a house together earlier this year.  Their house warming is this evening, and last night, I put together a set of coasters for them.

I've made about four or five sets of these coasters since I got Regina Bernina.  Needless to say, they are stinking easy to put together and look pretty darn cute when they're done.  The pattern is the Sidecar Coasters from Connecting Threads.  Very cute.


I have no idea how they've decorated their house, so I went for something that was sort of mod but still has some old-fashioned flair.  Their house is in an older part of Boise, so I didn't want something too modern.  Forgive the fuzzy pictures.  My camera had an encounter with a bottle of coffee creamer a while back.  Don't think it's recovered.

I like these because you just cut stacks -- almost a Stack-and-Whack -- and then simply shuffle pieces and put them back together.  My favorite fabric is the gray with the big yellow dots.  It's the backing because it's the biggest print.  Love it!

And yesterday, I received a present in the mail!  From Allison at Cluck.Cluck.Sew!  My layer cake of Swiss Chocolate.  Yay me!  I'm going to make all kinds of fun stuff with it!  Woo-hoo!


  

For the giveaway, I'll give you a few chances to win a set of six quilted coasters:
  1. Leave a comment telling me your favorite fabric collection.
  2. Become a follower of the blog and leave another comment letting me know.
  3. Follow me on Twitter @hattjam1008 and leave yet another comment letting me know.
  4. Like Mad Hatter Quilts on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know.
I'll close the giveaway in five days, Feb. 16, and pick a winner by random number generator!  Thanks!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

WHOLE LOTTA CUTTIN' GOIN' ON

Nearly a month ago, I said I was going to my first craft retreat.  Due to crappy Internet service, I've been unable to share everything I got accomplished at that retreat.

One of the big things I got done was my stitch sampler.  I'm in a class to learn all about my new machine, Regina Bernina.  One of our homework assignments, as it were, was to complete a stitch sampler.  I felt pretty lucky compared to most of the ladies in the class -- I only have 85 stitches.  There's one woman who has THE fanciest machine Bernina makes.  She has over 1000 stitches she has to sample.  Whew!  Glad I'm not her!  Anyway, here's the result:


It was a lot of fun to do, and one of my friends, whom I call Crazy, watched over my shoulder the whole time.  I asked her if she was bored at all.  She said no!  Too fun to watch!

And I did a TON of cutting.  I'm 5'10" and I own a very short table on which I cut.  That means I can't cut for long periods of time without getting major back pain.  The house we had the retreat in had a huge kitchen island that was nice and tall.  I set up cutting shop on the island and cut the fabric for an entire table runner for myself.


That's all of it!  It was so nice not to be in pain when I was done with cutting!

After the stitch sampler was finished, I worked on my mom's table runner, which is going to be bargello.  I love bargello, and I've made one before.  It turned out pretty darn good.  So I had a honey bun of Blessings that I'm turning into a runner for Mom.  I already have the tubes finished and ready to cut.


There's four different tubes that I'm going to use.  It's going to be a lot of fun to put together.  I'm even thinking about trying to cut really small strips, like 3/4" to see what happens!  Wish me luck!

And here's an action shot of Regina Bernina because it's awesome!


I'll post pictures of my table runner when it's done -- just have to add the borders and do the quilting and binding!  Woo-hoo!

Monday, February 7, 2011

THANKS, ALLISON!

I'm so excited!  I checked my email this morning and found I won a the Swiss Chocolate giveaway at Allison's blog, Cluck.Cluck.Sew!  How cool is that?!  I picked the layer cake.  Fun times!  Thanks again, Allison!

Friday, January 28, 2011

NAP TIME IN CENTRAL PARK

One of my dear college friends is having a baby boy in May.  Eli has been wanted for years, and we're all so very excited for his arrival.  His mother LOVES green and she's decorating his room with grass painted on the walls, frogs, turtles, etc.  Sounds like a perfect match for Kate Spain's Central Park!


I'm a HUGE Kate Spain fan.  I love her collections.  I'm so excited to play with this one.  Last summer, I made the cutest baby blankie and squishy block for a friend.  I'm going to make an even bigger blankie and a squeaker, squishier block for Eli!  Excitement!  Can I just say that I love the Moda Bake Shop?!

Friday, January 21, 2011

FIRST CRAFT RETREAT!

So, for the first time in my life, I'm headed for a craft retreat!  My dear friend Elena is celebrating her birthday by hosting an all-day crafting bonanza at our friend Robin's great big house.  I work till five, and the crafting/movie watching begins at six.  And because I'm riding with Elena, I had to give her all my stuff last night, including the new sewing machine, which I have now christened Regina Bernina.  Because pretty much anything that costs over $1000 needs a name.  Anyway, I have to say I was a little sad to let Regina go with Elena.  It was kinda like letting a kid leave on his first over-nighter.  'Course, I don't have kids, but . . .

I can't wait to get crafting!  I'm hoping that Robin has a table that's taller than mine, and I can get a TON of cutting done.  That's the part that kills me -- I'm 5'10", and I cut on a really small wooden table.  Can you say, "backache?"  And while I can't afford a new table, I need to get a new cutting mat.  Mine's getting a little brittle.  Hee, hee!  I have honeybun strips to sew into bargello tubes; I have to create a stitch sampler for my machine class (that's project numero uno).  I have fat quarters to cut for this pattern: http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/10/vintage-ribbons-table-runner.html.  I have charm squares to quarter for tiny baby blocks.  Lots to do!  We're spending the night tonight, then crafting all day tomorrow!  I'm quite excited.  I will post pictures when I come back!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

HAVING NICE TOOLS MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Now that I have Regina Bernina, my new 350 PE, I have been sewing like a demon!  It used to be such a fight to sew, but now it's fun to sew again!  I haven't had this much fun since I learned to sew when I was 11!  I've sewed nearly every night since I got the sewing machine.  I've made three sets of coasters, a candle mat, started a table runner, and started three shopping bags.  I'm really excited to sew each time I sit down at the machine.  What a great feeling!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...