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!
Friday, January 21, 2011
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!
Monday, December 6, 2010
SMELLS LIKE NEW SEWING MACHINE!
So, I finally got a new sewing machine. I've been balking at sewing for a long time because I was getting very frustrated with my 35-year-old machine. Can you imagine? I have been saving up for a new Bernina, a B 350 PE to be precise. I don't need all that fancy stuff -- yet. But I wanted a 1/4"-inch foot and some quilting capabilities. I now have them!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
STACKED COINS LAP QUILT
This past weekend, I finally started the stacked coins lap quilt for my youngest sister. She and her husband, who is back in the country for her graduation, leave for Sydney, Australia, on August 23. Needless to say, I haven't much time to finish.
However, I did decide to attempt speed piecing, a technique I've seen frequently, but was always scared to try -- I just didn't think I could pull it off. I pulled it off!
Isn't that a lovely string of coin pairs? I was so very proud of myself! I finished all five columns of coins in about three hours. If I hadn't breaked here and there to talk to my mom or have something to eat, I probably could have done it even faster.
Here's how the columns progressed:
ConnectingThreads.com collections usually only have 20 fabrics in them, so there are repeats in each strip set. My very orderly brain has a real problem with being random when it comes to design. Speech, notsomuch, but that's a different blog altogether. Anyway, I just can't be random, so I decided to make it very rainbow-ish. And kinda bargello.
Can you tell what my design wall was on Sunday? Oh yes, it is a closet door. I have yet to find the perfect wall for my large piece of flannel. I think it might be on the wall next to this door. Permanently.
A pattern is emerging! Of course, it'll be broken up nicely by the sashing, which is also already cut. That was a pain! And I brain farted and started cutting the sashing up for the backing instead. Oops! Thankfully, I figured out my mistake before it was too late. Whew!
I love it! I think it's looks great. I can't wait to get the sashing done. I have to square up the strip sets first, but before I do all that, I have to bake a cake for work, cook some ground beef before it goes bad, and go all the way to Pocatello, ID, which is four hours away, for my sister's graduation! Sheesh!
At least all the coin sets are put together! And the sashing is cut! Hooray!
However, I did decide to attempt speed piecing, a technique I've seen frequently, but was always scared to try -- I just didn't think I could pull it off. I pulled it off!
Isn't that a lovely string of coin pairs? I was so very proud of myself! I finished all five columns of coins in about three hours. If I hadn't breaked here and there to talk to my mom or have something to eat, I probably could have done it even faster.
Here's how the columns progressed:
ConnectingThreads.com collections usually only have 20 fabrics in them, so there are repeats in each strip set. My very orderly brain has a real problem with being random when it comes to design. Speech, notsomuch, but that's a different blog altogether. Anyway, I just can't be random, so I decided to make it very rainbow-ish. And kinda bargello.
Can you tell what my design wall was on Sunday? Oh yes, it is a closet door. I have yet to find the perfect wall for my large piece of flannel. I think it might be on the wall next to this door. Permanently.
A pattern is emerging! Of course, it'll be broken up nicely by the sashing, which is also already cut. That was a pain! And I brain farted and started cutting the sashing up for the backing instead. Oops! Thankfully, I figured out my mistake before it was too late. Whew!
I love it! I think it's looks great. I can't wait to get the sashing done. I have to square up the strip sets first, but before I do all that, I have to bake a cake for work, cook some ground beef before it goes bad, and go all the way to Pocatello, ID, which is four hours away, for my sister's graduation! Sheesh!
At least all the coin sets are put together! And the sashing is cut! Hooray!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
DESIGNER GEEK OUT
So, I just had to share because I'm a geek like that. I follow Kate Spain on Twitter, and she tweeted for suggestions the other day. I offered mine, and she mentioned me in a reply! I'm a dork, but I'm okay with that.
Monday, July 19, 2010
MORE DETAILS ON THE LAP QUILT
I'm still using my cellphone to take pictures, but I set up the fabrics in a nice bright spot and I've edited them to look a little more lovely and bright than they usually come out.
Here are the charms that will become the coins. A ConnectingThreads.com charm pack only has 20-ish charms, so I bought four. They're only about two dollars a piece, so it's not bad.
My sister LOVES pink, and this collection, called Antoinette, is very pink. It's darling, in fact. I picked pink fabrics for the sashing and binding because Mary will love that. Here's a shot of the sashing fabric. It's a pale pink on white design.
So lovely! I do my bindings on the bias, and I love using stripes for the binding fabric. It just comes out fun and funky. So here's the binding fabric. It's a medium pink background with darker pink printing. Very cute.
That will make some fun binding strips, won't it?! And for the back, I decided to use the focal fabric from the collection. It's background is white, which is kind of a bummer. It'll probably get dirty fast if Mary uses it for a lap quilt on the plane. But the pattern is so pretty, I couldn't not use it!
I'd say these came out pretty good for cellphone pictures! As for the pattern, it's a Stacked Coins Baby Quilt from Moda Bake Shop. Mary's only about five-foot-four, so I'm not worried. And then she can either hang it up or use for when she has kids!
Here are the charms that will become the coins. A ConnectingThreads.com charm pack only has 20-ish charms, so I bought four. They're only about two dollars a piece, so it's not bad.
My sister LOVES pink, and this collection, called Antoinette, is very pink. It's darling, in fact. I picked pink fabrics for the sashing and binding because Mary will love that. Here's a shot of the sashing fabric. It's a pale pink on white design.
So lovely! I do my bindings on the bias, and I love using stripes for the binding fabric. It just comes out fun and funky. So here's the binding fabric. It's a medium pink background with darker pink printing. Very cute.
That will make some fun binding strips, won't it?! And for the back, I decided to use the focal fabric from the collection. It's background is white, which is kind of a bummer. It'll probably get dirty fast if Mary uses it for a lap quilt on the plane. But the pattern is so pretty, I couldn't not use it!
I'd say these came out pretty good for cellphone pictures! As for the pattern, it's a Stacked Coins Baby Quilt from Moda Bake Shop. Mary's only about five-foot-four, so I'm not worried. And then she can either hang it up or use for when she has kids!
THE FABRIC IS HERE!
My fabrics for the coin lap quilt are here! Yay!
It's not the greatest of pictures, but it works. Those cute little pinwheels will now be put aside for this little lap quilt. I only have a month to complete it -- I seriously doubt I'll need the entire month, but when you're working with a machine that only had one speed, it's really hard to piece something quickly and accurately. It has to be slowly and accurately. I think it's time for a new machine. Maybe in January!
It's not the greatest of pictures, but it works. Those cute little pinwheels will now be put aside for this little lap quilt. I only have a month to complete it -- I seriously doubt I'll need the entire month, but when you're working with a machine that only had one speed, it's really hard to piece something quickly and accurately. It has to be slowly and accurately. I think it's time for a new machine. Maybe in January!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
SOMETHING CUTE TO WHILE AWAY THE WAIT
So, I'm waiting for fabric from ConnectingThreads.com to make a lap quilt for my sister who's moving to Australia. While I'm doing that, I decided I would take the Tweet Tweet Charm Pack my mom bought me, and make half-square triangles out of the fabric.
My god-kids were here today, so they helped me sort my darks and lights, and we got to work. Emily, my god-daughter, wants to learn to sew. That was kind of the plan today. However, even though she's six and has the IQ of Albert Einstein, she decided to run an index finger across the blade of my rotary cutter. That's what I get for assuming she knew better! So, no sewing for Emily. Just some tears and tissue paper. But she watched, and we did a fun little technique I saw on Moda Bake Shop -- making four half-square triangles with one pieces of Charm Pack. Put the together RST, sew 1/4" all around the four sides, slice once on one diagonal, slice again on the opposing diagonal, and -- VOILA -- four half-square triangles. I haven't pressed, but I'm going to do so to the dark side, as it were, and go from there. Here are some pics. Excuse the quality -- these are with my cell phone.
So, a little jumble of unpressed half-square triangles. Fun times!
I tried to show off the different ones I've cut so far. I have about 12 more pairs to sew and cut. I'm thinking pinwheels, but I'm going to let Emily choose, since it'll be for her.
Here's a preview of a pinwheel, if we go with that. I'm trimming the squares down to three inches. Closest measurement I can get! Fun times.
Enjoy the pictures. Love this fabric collection. It is darling. So very fun.
My god-kids were here today, so they helped me sort my darks and lights, and we got to work. Emily, my god-daughter, wants to learn to sew. That was kind of the plan today. However, even though she's six and has the IQ of Albert Einstein, she decided to run an index finger across the blade of my rotary cutter. That's what I get for assuming she knew better! So, no sewing for Emily. Just some tears and tissue paper. But she watched, and we did a fun little technique I saw on Moda Bake Shop -- making four half-square triangles with one pieces of Charm Pack. Put the together RST, sew 1/4" all around the four sides, slice once on one diagonal, slice again on the opposing diagonal, and -- VOILA -- four half-square triangles. I haven't pressed, but I'm going to do so to the dark side, as it were, and go from there. Here are some pics. Excuse the quality -- these are with my cell phone.
So, a little jumble of unpressed half-square triangles. Fun times!
I tried to show off the different ones I've cut so far. I have about 12 more pairs to sew and cut. I'm thinking pinwheels, but I'm going to let Emily choose, since it'll be for her.
Here's a preview of a pinwheel, if we go with that. I'm trimming the squares down to three inches. Closest measurement I can get! Fun times.
Enjoy the pictures. Love this fabric collection. It is darling. So very fun.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
LOOK WHAT I GOT THIS MORNING!
Block number two of the Mystery BOM! Yay!
Of course, I haven't even begun block number one. Oh well! Gonna work on it tomorrow. Out to dinner tonight with the family!
Of course, I haven't even begun block number one. Oh well! Gonna work on it tomorrow. Out to dinner tonight with the family!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
CHARMING STACKS OF FABRIC
I didn't get as much sewing done this weekend as I'd hoped. I ended up helping my mother clean out the house I grew up in. I cleaned my own house. I babysat my sisters Doberman. I was a little busy. But last night, I finally sat down and sorted out the two charm packs of Moda's Blessings that I bought. Mom bought me a honey bun of the same fabric, so I was able to use both charm packs for the placemats.
I'm going to do reversible disappearing nine patch chargers, rather than your typical placemat. Mom's table is oval, so large placemats really wouldn't work very well. And she likes funky things, so there you go!
I'm going to do reversible disappearing nine patch chargers, rather than your typical placemat. Mom's table is oval, so large placemats really wouldn't work very well. And she likes funky things, so there you go!
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