i like orange, too!

Stitch Magazine... Giveaway!

2011-10-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

I'm in STITCH!!

I'm so excited about this. My first magazine submission!

It's a table runner made of 100% wool felt circles in all kinds of fun colors and natural colored denim. I hand stitched each of the circles to denim charms, then pieced it together like a quilt. The entire instructions are in the magazine, if you're so inclined to make one.

My mom actually called me while I was at the Sewing Summit and said that she was in Barnes and Noble and screeched out loud when she saw it, but I couldn't say anything to anyone really because I wanted to see it first. I'm pretty darn proud of me. Yippee!!

And, I have to say, I'm so in love with this little project! It's now hanging in my sewing room as wall-art because I'm too afraid to let it hang out on properly on my kitchen table with the pigpens... err, kiddos.

Stitch has been out on the newsstand for a couple of weeks now, but I just recently got my copies and haven't had a chance to tell y'all about it!

Who wants a copy?

I've got 2 extra ones to give away!

Just leave a comment down there and tell me about something you plan on making, or you're in the middle of making, or you need to finish, or a tute you'd like me to give... or whatever. or just say hi! It's been a while and I miss all your pretty faces!

Good luck! I'll announce 2 winners on Wednesday by some kind of random drawing.

++++++++++++++++++++++

Dedicated to my Grandma, somewhere, up there in heaven... This is the one I stitched by your side. xo.

From the Sewing Summit and beyond.

2011-10-12T20:29:00.001-07:00

Whew! I think this was the first day since I got home on Sunday from the Sewing Summit, that I'm not too tired! I think the term has been coined, "Summit hangover." What a weekend! I can honestly say, I'm going again next year. Meeting everyone in person was so overwhelming. You see people, look at their name tags, and get all dumbfounded when you find out who they are and put a name with a face. Some of which, I was speechless! Seriously, what do you say to your idols? Nothing. Just a deer-in-the-headlight, silent stare, tongue-tied reaction. It's fabulous. Then, of course, there are the girls that you know you were meant to meet and become BF's with. It's pretty awesome how people naturally gravitated toward one another.

Can you believe I didn't take any pictures until the last day? Total bummer, but I was just so overwhelmed and busy (happily) socializing. Plus, there's tons of pics floating around Flickr, so I can just look at those for good memories! Thanks to everyone that took the time to snap some shots!

Before I go any further, I have to share with you a gift I received the day before I left. ADORABLE!

Rachel from Stitched in Color made this special for me, as a good little host of the Bliss Circle of do. Good Stitches. She made one for each of us hosts! How rad is that? It's a composition book filled with graph paper and a super sweet note written inside, complete with a patchwork cover. LOVE. I took it with me to the Summit and used it for some notes. There was also a mound of pink fabric and quilt labels in the package to use in my next quilt for the group. I thanked her in person at the Summit, but I'll say it again, THANK YOU RACHEL!!

More Summit goodness...

All of the Summit attendees received goody bags. They were loaded with all kinds of stuff! Batting samples, patterns from Izzy & Ivy, Aurifil thread samplers... I still haven't unpacked all the way, so I don't have pics of them. Erin and Amy did a fabulous job getting all these sponsors for us and putting this all together from scratch! THANK YOU ERIN AND AMY!!

One of the nights I attended a Q&A session with Martingale Publishing. There were 12 of us that gave our input on sewing/quilting books, our own sewing behaviors, and the like. We also critiqued the 3 books in the top row and got to keep them. I really love browsing books for inspiration, and these have some pretty good projects in them. The one in the bottom row was won at another Martingale Aspiring Authors panel discussion. Score!!

I attended Jeni B's color class. She did a really good job of explaining color and basic color wheel rules and theories. I had those classes in college, but it was nice to see it translated into pretty quilts and projects. Everyone attending her class walked away with a Kona Color Card. Whoot whoot! I really needed one of these! Thanks Jeni!

The cherry on the loot cake.

I joined the shop hop with 50 other girls on a bus. We visited 3 local quilt shops. Each one offered a slightly different selection and discount. I happily supported all three. I probably needed more aqua like I need a hole in the head, but you know... what's a few more? All of this cotton goodness was either purchased, won, or swapped. This doesn't include a few layer cakes, either. 16+ yards total. Some girls came home with upwards of 25 yards! Now that's my idea of a good weekend.

All of this doesn't even compare to the new friends I've made. Ya, you chics know who you are! I can't wait to do it all over again with you! Too bad we're all so far away :-(

And last, but definitely not least... Cara from Me? A mom?. My roommate for the weekend. Hilarious. Fun. Sweet. So stinkin' cute!! Thank you so much for the invitation. I had a BLAST!!

{The Weekender} If I had to do it again...

2011-10-02T23:13:00.001-07:00

I totally would! (do it again), but I would definitely be changing some things.

I did follow the pattern to some degree. OK, maybe mostly just the pattern pieces themselves. There are some changes that I made, just to keep the sewing from turning me insane.

Here's a bit of what I did for this bag, different from the pattern:

1) I changed the way the zipper panel is installed by making it connect with the interior, sort of like sewing a pouch - you sew the interior and exterior at the same time onto the zipper. The pattern has you sew the lining seperately from the exterior, thus you have to hand stitch the interior to the zipper. It works for everyone else, but I just can't follow it. This way, I can also use a shorter zipper. That 30" zipper is impossible to find! Although, if you go to the Home Dec section of Joann's, you can find the upholstery zippers standard in that length (in cream or black only).

2) By doing my zipper this way, I deleted the side pockets. I wouldn't use them anyway, they're a bit small.

3) I sewed the whole thing with wrong sides together, finished on the interior with bias binding. It's so nice and clean and tidy on the inside. No chance for a saggy interior. I read that was a problem on another review of the bag, so it sparked me to change it. I'm not a fan of saggy baggies.

4) I used fusible hem tape to keep the handles tight against the bag. For some reason the pattern only calls for you to stay-stitch them at 2 points on the exterior. I felt fusing it together would be cleaner. I wish I would have followed some other girls, though. They stitched a big X to keep them in place and it turned out super!

5) For the piping I used fusible hem tape, rather than stitching, to baste it. Much cleaner and my piping ended up a lot tighter, and didn't shift around.

Things I'll do differently next time:

1) Skip all the stinkin' Peltex. Oy vey. I think that super-thick interfacing is way more trouble than it's worth and truly the root of all the sewing issues with this pattern. Now that I've made the bag, I can see that it's not entirely necessary, and probably just a preference of how stiff you want the bag to be. It also makes sewing the piping (perfectly) almost impossible. Next time I think I'll use the lighter weight version, or double/triple the ShapeFlex woven, instead. I don't need my bag to stand on it's own.

2) I'll shorten the zipper length. The method I used allows for this and I'll be able to find a standard size more easily, in any color. I can get by with one that's just a little shorter.

3) Add interior zipped pockets. I totally brain farted on that for this bag. There aren't any interior pockets.

4) Add zippers to the exterior pockets. I think they're just a little too large to not have a zipper. I noticed that if I put anything other than a magazine in those pockets, they bulked out and my stuff (like a wallet) didn't seem too secure.

5) Lengthen the handles. Right now they go on my shoulder, but I'd like a little more wiggle room. Also, delete the Peltex from the handle, maybe just fusible fleece instead, or a dose of double layered woven fusible (ShapeFlex).

6) Change the width of the handle to be exactly 1", and do a perfect double fold handle from 4" of width. I don't deal well with funky fractions, like 7/8". Why not just make it a full inch? (if you have the pattern, you know what I'm saying.)

Although I have all these changes, I am thrilled with the way my Amy Butler Weekender came out, and I really recommend making one. Try following the pattern, I'm just a bad girl and can't follow directions very well.

This thing doesn't look that big, but let me tell you, it is very roomy. I can fit 4 beach towels in this thing!

Hope you like it! I can wait to use it Thursday when I go to Sewing Summit!! See you there!

OMG. She really loves me!

2011-09-21T20:39:00.002-07:00

OMG. She really loves me!, a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

Kelly (kelbysews) is not only an amazing sewist, but she is so incredibly thoughtful! We do a little private swap at the end of each round of the Pretty Little Pouch Swap for being good little mamas and today I received a perfect little package from her. LOVE IT ALL.

I've been eye-ballin' this bag ever since she made it and put it in her Etsy shop (long ago). Lucky me!! She sent it to me with all these little goodies inside! I can't even tell you the joy I got when I opened the package! That California linen has my hometown (area) on it; it made me get all misty, being so far away from there. THE BEST GIFTS EVER. A pretty little bag that I think I'm going to use for the shop hop at the Sewing Summit - it's perfect right? And, of course, those scraps of Orla and fishies, and the Wonderland charm pack. Oh. My. God. I think I died. Heaven.

Ventura County... HOME SWEET HOME :-)

Love ya Kelly!! THANK YOU!!!

PS! Pretty Little Pouch Round 3 sign-ups opened today!! We have about 15 spots open, so get your buns over there and sign up!!!

Bunting for the Sewing Summit!

2011-09-14T21:38:00.002-07:00

Bunting for the Sewing Summit!, a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

When my parents and their friends go cruising in the Caribbean, they make signs for their cabin doors. They use things like fun foam sheets, scrapbooking stuff, puffy paint, glitter and rhinestones. I know it sounds a little trashy, but they turn out really cute. My mom says that they do it because on the cruise, everyone's doors look exactly the same and it's easier to find each other's rooms. If you ask my opinion, I think they do it because they get a little too tipsy to find their own door! hahaha Ya, they like to party.

I thought it would be a great idea to do something along the same lines, instead with fabric (my medium of choice). How fun is this?! A few strands of bunting and hand embroidered blog names so you know who's door it is. A little bit celebration (for the first ever Sewing Summit), and a whole bunch of fun!

ONLY 22 DAYS TO GO!!! Yippee!!

Mug Rug Madness! Holiday Edition

2011-09-14T04:00:00.003-07:00

Hello peeps!

Today we get to celebrate Mug Rug Madness! Erin over at Two More Seconds is hosting another round of "everything mug rugs", only this time it's for the holidays. Fun!

For my mug rug I was given super cute fabric to play with from The Fat Quarter Shop. Ready Set Snow is a brand new line for the holidays from Me and My Sister Designs. It's super cute and I'm loving it's versatility; you can use it throughout the year, not just for Christmas. Lots of polka dots and swirls, fun little Christmas trees, stripes and plaids.

Here's a little sampling of some of the fabrics:

I decided for my rug to be round, sort of like a tree skirt. I traced a dinner plate for the shape, then drew lines; almost like a dresden plate.

I cut along the lines to make templates.

(Not shown: I then traced these templates onto a new paper, adding the seam allowance.)

I cut 1.5" strips of fabric and sewed them together. Then, I traced the templates and cut them out.

I sewed all the pieces together, just like a dresden plate and added a fussy little tree in the middle. Then, I used some simple quilting to pull it all together.

I'm loving it! It's the perfect size for my mug and some treats!

Be sure to make a stop over at the Fat Quarter Shop! Ready Set Snow is currently available. I've shopped with Stephanie lots of times and I'm never disappointed. She's got just about every current line available, not to mention some awesome quilt clubs, quilt kits and fat quarter bundles, of course! You can also find FQS here:

Twitter : twitter.com/#!/FatQuarterShop
FB : www.facebook.com/FatQuarterShop
Blog : fatquartershop.blogspot.com/

OOOORRR!!! You can have a chance to win some over at Two More Seconds! Erin's keeping track of all the blog posts all in one place. Stop by, say hi, enter to win, and find links to all the other fabulous bloggers that are participating.

Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you've found a little inspiration to make you're own little mug rug. :-)

Inherited it from Gramma - Mid Century chair

2011-09-08T22:17:00.001-07:00

Inherited it from Gramma - Mid Century chair, a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

Searching for amazing upholstery/home dec to have this re-covered. Sort of like this one I found on Pinterest. I know their not the same style, but I'm completely ga-ga over that fabric!

Click the pic for more...

I'll be searching for a while, I'm sure.

WIP - Amy Butler Weekender Bag

2011-08-31T23:37:00.002-07:00

I know that I had questioned whether or not to make the Amy Butler Weekender Bag earlier, as I already have 2 vintage bags that look just like it. This weekend I decided it was time. I couldn't have better timing because Megan and Elizabeth were starting their Weekender bags, too! The 3 of us have been texting tips and questions all week. It's actually super cool that we've got the ability to do that, because otherwise, I'm sure we'd be lost (actually, we were a few times). Don't get me wrong, the pattern isn't difficult, if you read it. Then read it again. Wait! go back, you should probably read step "10b" (wink to Megan) one more time. This is one of those patterns that you get yourself all worked up over, for almost nothing. Really, it's much easier than people perceive it to be!

I started cutting (and cutting, and cutting) on Saturday. Here are the fabric pieces needed for the bag; this isn't including the interfacing and notions. (pardon my junk on the floor)

On Sunday, I started sewing. Here's how the pattern says to do the zipper. Nice? Ya... not bad. Put the macro lens on and... not so much. I really don't like to install zippers blindly as called for in the pattern. And, that seam will eventually be covered by a pocket. I don't want another pocket.

So I changed it (below).

I used the pocket piece to make it more finished like this...

Then I thought, what if I could skip all the hand-stitching and finish the bag with biased seams? (the pattern calls for hand-stitching the lining into the bag) I ripped out the zipper for the 3rd time and restitched it like this. It's kind of like making a giant zipper for a pretty little pouch.

I then took the interior pieces and basted them to the exterior pieces with wrong sides facing.

Tonight I pieced the center band/zipper to one of the panels. I've stopped for now and I only have one more side to do! My ultimate goal here is to enclose the seams in bias binding. I think (for myself) it will work out much better and my pattern-code-cracking is going to pay off for this one! woo-hoo!

I should be finishing it tomorrow night, because I want to take it with me on a little Labor Day excursion. When I get it all done, I'll pass on some tips and suggestions for the pattern; such as yardage issues, fabric choices, the elusive 30" zipper... etc.

I'm definitely getting super excited about finishing it! It may have taken me a weekend and 3 nights so far, but it's totally worth the effort!!

Linking up with Travel Handmade Linky Party!! And, be sure to check out Megan and Elizabeth's bags!!

Weekender - Handmade or Vintage

2011-08-24T21:27:00.001-07:00

Weekender - Handmade or Vintage, a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

I have 2 vintage American Tourister Weekender Bags, a blue one and an avocado one, and I love them both. Coincidentally, they are almost exactly like the AB Weekender.... Dare I say, down to the measurements? Do I just use one of these or make myself a pretty new bag with some Viewfinders and Oz dots?

Like, I need an answer because this bag is giving me the heebie-jeebies just thinking about sewing it. I've read all the directions, but something isn't clicking as "oh, that makes sense" when it comes down to the lining and the handsewing. Why not just use bias tape and make life easier on myself?

PS> Please know that this is not an attack on Amy's pattern. I'm thrilled that she took the time to pattern this type of bag; I'm just too much of a chicken to cut into my yardage and spend the whole weekend doing it. I need some reassurance :-)

Traveling Handmade - make a luggage strap!

2011-08-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

It's almost here!! The Sewing Summit is a mere 7 weeks away!! I know that seems like a pretty long time, but really, that's only about 6 weekends! It's easier for me to count that way, considering lately I only have time to sew on the weekends.

I am totally determined (as time allows) to make as much of my baggage and little things that I take with me HANDMADE. I think it's important, right? I mean, I'm so proud to be a crafty sewist and so proud of most of what I make and accomplish, aren't you, too? Why not wear and use it proudly? Why should it just sit in the corner as "another accomplishment"? pfff. Break it out girls! We're just a small community in the grand scheme of things; we need to stick together and learn and share as much as we know, what we were taught, and all the things that should be passed on to the rest. Gosh I'm so excited to get to meet all of you! (ok, I'm putting down the pom-poms now)

One thing that I've come up with is a luggage strap. I know it may seem silly with all the TSA rules and random baggage checks. But, if you're like me, and your luggage has literally exploded during transit, you'll feel what I'm saying here. SECURE IT! Not to mention, you probably have a nice looking black suitcase, just like everyone else, right? A new strap will help you identify it on the carousel! (wink, wink.) Do you really want to use the same old neon green strap as the other guy with the black luggage? Ya, I didn't think so; neither do I.

I scoured the internet for the proper sized buckles and glides. It wasn't easy girls! With all the suppliers on eBay and Etsy, I could only find ONE on Etsy that had all the pieces, all in one shop. Luckily, I've shopped with PurseSuppliesRUs before, so I know that they have a good reputation. Not to mention, they're located in California, not over-seas!! Woot woot! Quick Shipping!! If you go to purchase these pieces from Don (the owner), just let them know that you saw this tutorial and they'll make sure you purchase the proper ones. If there is no listing available, feel free to send him a convo!

You can find a tutorial for this strap via PDF here. I decided it was better than sucking the life of your bandwidth with tons of pics.

43 days to the Sewing Summit!!!

Weekend wrap up.

2011-08-15T19:36:00.001-07:00

This weekend went way too fast! It had it's downs, but it most definitely had it's ups!

I started out Saturday thinking I was going to make a tutorial for a Kraft Paper Fabric tote bag. Meh... that didn't work out as planned at all.

I've had this paper fabric that I got from UniqueShiny on Etsy last year. It's pretty cool stuff, but it's not forgiving what-so-ever. This little bundle of "brilliant idea" went south really fast; not to mention I was getting frustrated with my neck as it screamed for a break - so I listened and stopped while I was ahead of the pain. I'm going to see if I can salvage my idea and the progress I made, but I'm not sure how to do that yet. Back to the dawing board on that one... right now it sits as a plain old bucket shape. Not bad, just not a tote as planned.

Eager to get something complete this weekend, Sunday I was cleaning up my room and came across my AMH Loulouthi fabrics I had paired a couple of weeks ago. My mom had menioned that she needed a new bag for the boat, so I decided to surprise her with one. She loooooovves red. Perfect! Laminate for the outside, bright red for the inside! A brown gingham for the bias binding, a seperating zipper and she'll have a new bag that will work great for the soggy mess that normally occurs with the dogs and the kids at the lake. I tried to make it the shape of those vintage straw bags that you would get in Mexico or Hawaii. This baby holds 4 large beach towels and extra stuff like lotions, extra shirts, blah blah blah. It's huge! I've just got to get some more interfacing to make the handles and it'll be complete. We normally boat aound here until October, so she'll still have plenty of time to enjoy it this year! I'll also be including this for Sunday School {for sewing} this weekend! Stay tuned if you'd like to learn how to make it in ANY size! (smaller than wumba sized like this one)

And last but not least... I received my Pretty Little Pouch!!! Lesley from LesleyandSara on Flickr, sent me this rad package! She made the little bunting note cards, included a little notebook, some SoftLips, and made a FABULOUS pouch with a stamped sewing machine. HELLO, LOVE! I couldn't have asked for anything different. THANK YOU LESLEY!!

Good weekend, if I do say so!

AND don't forget! Travel Handmade just kicked off this week with lots of fun tutes for bag and other stuff to make for traveling! Catch more about it here. I'll be making some stuff with tutorials coming up as well!

Do you wonder?

2011-08-11T04:00:00.002-07:00

Where I've been? I DO!!

Seems as though it's been a little too long to even catch y'all up, but I'll try my best.

Here's the deal... Right after my last post about Amy's quilt, I took off for a little weekend vacation back home in California. Very good times, but every single time I go back there, I want to move back. I don't mean want, like I get that feeling that I HAVE TO eventually. I MISS IT SO MUCH. I don't think we'll last too many more years here in Arizona. There's nothing for us here (other than decent jobs and my parents); it's boring, it's dusty, it's effing hot, and we have only a handful of people we talk to here even after 6 whole years. I would move tomorrow if I knew I had a great job waiting or won the lottery!

How can you resist weekends like this:

Despite my iPhone taking a dump on me the night before my flight, resulting in my 3 alarms on there never going off and I nearly missed my flight as a result, and my horrific sunburn; I wouldn't have changed this weekend for anything!

On another slightly dramatic note, I did something to my neck when I came back. Not sure what it was, but I was nearly bed ridden up until this last weekend, we're talking extreme pain, like 'crying in the middle of the night because you can't roll over' pain. My doctor says that it's from spending too much time at the sewing machine and computer (I say BS), but it's probably true! I was thinking back trying to track down something and the only thing I can come up with is Amy's quilt and an order for 3 Nikki Totes. I was ordered to stay away from my machine for at least a week! My neck has so much muscle tension that it's no longer naturally curved like a "C", it's straight as a board. The doctor says this doesn't happen overnight - I've been going through therapy and it's helping, but not enough. Not being able to sew at a normal level is killing me! I swear, now I know exactly how my kids felt when I took away their pacifiers! Not having the ability to sit at my machine whenever I please is torture!

on a much lighter note...

Here's the Nikki totes that I made for a loyal customer in the Netherlands. She is sooo in love with this bag! This is #4, #5, and #6 for her! The Echino one is my all time fave. (it's better upclose) You just can't go wrong with her prints!

And, lets not forget about the Pretty {little} Pouch Swap!

This will be arriving at my partner's door step any day now and I hope she really likes it. I stalked her for a long time and I think I might have got it right. (finger's crossed) Round 2 just ended, and Round 3 will begin in about a month! THANKS to everyone that participated! Our little roos did such an awesome job and we're so stoked at how much talent is in the group!

And that's about it! I've tried to keep up with all the stuff I've got goin' over on Flickr, so if I've completely forgotten about a swap or a bee, please let me know! But as far as I can see, I'm pretty caught up.

To my Bliss girls: my blocks for my month are done, but I can't get a pic of them until Saturday. This is the first week of school for the kids, so my evening time is a little overloaded until I get the schedule back under control. THANK YOU everyone for being so patient with me!!

OH YA!!! I almost forgot! Next week is the kick-off for Travel Handmade. If you are attending the Sewing Summit in October, you'll want to stay tuned to their site for some good tutes coming up next week for bags and travel related items. FUN!

Dear Amy...

2011-07-17T22:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Amy (aka: AmyLeeeee, my little bunny, AmyWamy, Whammers...)

We've been ~~best friends~~ sisters for about 15 years now, and I want you to know that I love you more today than ever before and I think about you all the time. I hate that we live 12 hours apart (or a $400 flight), and wish that I could spend time with you and your pretty little face EVERY SINGLE DAY!

More than anything, I wish I could be there for the birth of your second beautiful baby and share your day with you (or even the days before or after). Instead, I'll live vicariously through your pics and sit impatiently for the phone call I'm sure to receive from Allen when she arrives... She's going to be beautiful, just like her mama!

And, because I can't be there for you, I'm sending you this quilt. I made it with all my love, for you... For the baby... For the family.

God I miss you!!

Love,

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Michelle

1000 Pyramids – a little tute.

2011-07-13T22:03:00.001-07:00

For the July round of the Lovely Linen Bee, it’s my month to send fabric for everyone to stitch. I’ve chosen to do a 1000 pyramid quilt using my Amy Butler Soul Blossoms and some coordinating Kona Solids. While there are tons of ways to do this, I’ll be doing mine with equilateral triangles. Rather than stitching a normal “block”, we’re going to be stitching some rows.

There are a lot of pics in this tutorial to make it very easy to understand. Actually, it’s pretty self-explanatory. I just like to provide pics rather than being too wordy.

I’ve sent packages to each girl that includes:

(13) linen triangles

(14) cotton print/solid triangles

Notice the notch on one corner of each triangle. My ruler makes you cut them like this. No biggie, just DON’T MATCH these notches.

Make sure you off-set the notch with another perfect corner. This will ensure you end up with “dog-ears” at every corner. You NEED these dog-ears to make sure you’re lining up the sides correctly.

Take one cotton and one linen, place right-sides together (off-setting the notches) and stitch with a solid 1/4”.

Hey, look! That little notch is a good indicator of where your seam allowance should be. Awesome! Please do not use a scant so that everyone’s rows come back to me with roughly the same measurements.

Open and press to the cotton print/solid.

If you chain piece them, you’ll end up with a bunch of pairs like this.

Now, start putting those pairs together like this, with right-sides together.

Stitch them together like this.

And, just because I love my super-macro lens setting so much, I’ve included this pic of how to place the seam at your needle. You’ll know that you have your seam matched correctly if your needle wedges in the corner AND the edge of your fabric lines up with the right-edge of your 1/4” presser foot. I find that if these 2 instances aren’t happening, then my seam is going to be off kilter. (Just an observance of sewing many triangles lately.)

Again, open up these new pairs and press to the cotton fabric.

Here’s a front view of the seams.

Here’s a back view of the seams. Notice that the linen is over-lapping onto the cotton. All the cotton prints should look like this from the back.

Keep stitching until you get one row of 13 linen and 14 cottons stitched together. Make sure your row starts and ends with a cotton print/solid.

And, just in case this happens…

Icky, ugly points!

Don’t sweat it. The linen is so shifty that this is bound to show up somewhere along the line. As long as I can squeeze 1/4” between that point on the cotton, and the edge of the linen, it’s all good!

Please don’t worry about squaring-up or trimming anything! I’ll do it all when I piece them together.

THANKS GIRLS!! I can’t wait to see how they all turn out, and I really appreciate your hard work! :-)

Little Folks +++ pieced

2011-07-07T20:02:00.002-07:00

Little Folks +++ pieced, a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

Sometimes, this is all I need at the end of my day.

Something finished.

Something pretty.

Something just for me.

Something handmade, to LOVE to pieces.

(Click the pic for more)

Haboob - 5 minutes in time.

2011-07-05T21:13:00.001-07:00

Haboob - 5 minutes in time., a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

Pretty {little} Pouch Swap - ROUND 2 SIGN UPS OPEN!!!

2011-07-01T19:46:00.001-07:00

Pretty {little} Pouch Swap - ROUND 2 SIGN UPS OPEN!!!, a group on Flickr.

About 40 spaces left! We'd love to have you!

This is exactly what I needed... A sewing room on a budget.

2011-06-23T05:35:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I finally finished cleaning my new sewing room. What a doozy! I cannot believe how nice it is to have a space all of my own. It's mine, it's mine, it's mine!! yay!

I'm sure most of you know how moving into a new place can suck the life of your bank account; thus leaving not much for extras. That was definitely the case here, so I had to get a little creative to make it comfortable, usable, and most importantly affordable.

Let's start with the beginning...

If you recall, I had this little sewing corner when I lived at my mom's house (also a budget deal).

Then we moved, and what I had here (above) turned into this: A bedroom about 10' x 11', mostly usable space. White walls, ugly blinds, NO ceiling fan. (in Arizona a fan in every room is a must.)

And now... THIS!

The view as you walk in the door. A new coat of a silvery grey-blue paint, about $30.

Looking back the other way.

Some of my fabric storage. I'm not a huge fan of plastic storage, but I like these because the drawers are small enough to be taken out and placed on the table to sort through, like a bucket. I already had a few of them, I purchased a few more on sale at Wal-mart; about $20.

New shelving. It's not "ideal" but I hmm'd and ha'd over it for like 2 weeks. What to do? I really wanted simple LACK shelves from Ikea, but they just aren't strong enough for this stuff, and a deal breaker at $30 a pop ($60+ total). I purchased these simple melamine shelves and simple brackets at Home Depot for a total of about $32; $13 for brackets, about $19 for the shelves. The one on top is wider than the one on the bottom to accomodate my books.

The desk is a fab find from Craigslist! It's the Ikea Galant combination table. I found the main corner piece for $30 from one seller, and the little extension piece for $20 from another seller. The combo table brand new retails for $185. SCORE!!! $50 total used price. I love that it has adjustable legs and I've raised it to a comfortable level for cutting and standing.

Filled some hoops I had with random fabrics to sort of coordinate with the AMH hoop I received in a swap and bring a tad bit of color to this side of the room.

The view from my sewing machine. I've got tons of natural light! The origianal blinds had to go. I replaced them with a mid-grade vinyl blind for about $35. Changing from ugly mustard brown to bright white really changed the whole lighting effect in the room. Much better. You can see my new home-made pressing table over there under the window.

I had about 5 yards of this Alexander Henry fabric. It was supposed to be for a custom quilt that never happened, so I used it for this. Add in 3 layers of scrap batting... PERFECT.

I went to Lowe's and raided their scrap plywood. I found a piece of 1/2" particle board, and had them rip it down to about 17" x 62", enough to cover my ironing board. The piece of scrap board cost $1, and the cutting was free. I found some other 1" scrap strips to frame out the ironing board, also $1. Total cost of new pressing board was only $2!!

A pretty little orange lamp with magic shade! It's pure white when the light is off; the design is on the inside. I think I got it for about $30?

Design wall supplies: 2 sheets of styrofoam insulation, $16. Batting to cover it, $12.

Design wall - 7' x 7'. Total cost about $28.

I don't know how I've lived without this!

1980's chair found at the AZ state university surplus warehouse, $1 !!! I'll be re-covering it for sure.

ESTIMATED BUDGET ROOM COST:

Paint $30

Drawers $20

Shelves $32

Jars $12

Desk Table $50

Blinds $35

Pressing Table $2

Lamp $30

Design Wall $28

Chair $1

Ceiling Fan/Light (not pictured) $18 at Lowe's Memorial Day Sale with hubby's Veteran's discount - yay!

TOTAL ESTIMATE: $258.

Not too shabby, huh? I really spent a lot of time finding the perfect pieces for a great price and it was sooo worth the effort! I come home from work everyday, super excited to get in there and make good stuff.

SEW in LOVE.

Sunday School {for sewing} Pretty Scrap Jars

2011-06-19T00:01:00.002-07:00

Good morning, everyone!

Sunday School {for sewing} is back in session! Today we're going to make something super simple to store your little scraps of fabric, or anything else that can fit into a mason jar such as buttons, zippers and perle floss.

I decided that I needed something to pretty-up my (soon to be installed) wall shelves and also organize my small scraps of fabric. I really wanted to use these jars from Ikea (below). But, the cost was a total turn-off for me. $3.99 x 9 (or 10) = about $40. Yikes, that's a total budget buster. I've used mason jars before and have a few vintage ones, so I decided to head in that direction - and it's WAY less expensive!

Ikea BURKEN jar, $3.99. Photo courtesy of http://www.ikea.com/.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

1. Quart sized mason jars. I used Wal-Mart brand (Mainstays) jars. I chose them over Ball or Kerr brands because they didn't have any embossing on the jars, and I wanted them as plain as possible. 1 box of 12 needed; I used 10 for this project. The cost of Mainstays brand is also a few dollars less than the others. In my Wal-Mart, they are located around the kitchen and storage isles.

2. Kerr or Ball brand SILVER lids with bands. Most mason jars come with gold colored lids; I just preferred the silver replacements. Most mason jars have a universal fit on the rim and lid, (unless you have the wide mouth version). These can also be found at Wal-Mart, your grocery store, Target...

3. Tone on tone fabric scraps in every color of the rainbow, and large enough to cover the inside lid piece - about 3 or 4 inches wide. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Pink, Brown, Grey/Black, White.

4. Hot glue gun and a clean, safe surface to work on. I covered a cookie sheet with foil so that I wouldn't get glue all over the place. Regular multi-purpose glues will also work, but be sure you let the glue dry COMPLETELY.

5. Scraps of cotton batting.

6. Scissors and marking pen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

APPROXIMATE COST = $12 total (vs. 10 Ikea jars for $40) A savings of $28!!

- Box of 12 quart sized jars = $8.

- Box of 12 silver replacement lids = $4

- Fabric, batting and glue found in my craft supplies = FREE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOW TO:

Please read through all of these instructions before beginning your project.

Start by tracing the lid onto batting. You will need one piece of batting for every lid you use.

Cut each circle inside the line about 1/4". The goal here is to make a filler piece for the concave portion of the lid. Be sure to place a little dab of glue just to hold it in place.

Using your hot glue gun, place a thin bead of glue around HALF the rim of the lid and quickly lay your fabric on it FACE UP (you are gluing the lid to the back of the fabric). I also turned mine upside-down really quick and smooshed it on the table to make sure the glue flattened out. When gluing, you want to be sure that your lid is flat on the table and you are placing the glue on TOP of the lid edge, not around the side edge. Working one half at a time will ensure that your hot glue doesn't harden too quickly. I don't recommend holding the lid while gluing - it's metal and gets HOT!

Now, continue gluing the rest of the rim. Pull your fabric gently to make sure it is slightly taught and smooth across the lid.

You should now have something like this.

Trim the excess fabric away from the rim edge.

Now, we're going to work super quick here! Cold metal and hot glue makes your glue harden really fast. Place a small amount of glue in a couple spots around the inside corner of the band. Be sure not to use too much so that it won't squish out the middle when we place the lid inside. And...

Quickly drop the lid inside the band, pressing it firmly in place.

That's it!

Now, fill your jars with pretty little scraps. You'll be a little more organized, and have a wee bit of art to inspire you everyday!

in progress...

2011-06-15T22:10:00.002-07:00

in progress..., a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

Gosh it feels good to be back! I can't wait for Saturday so that I can piece this all together!

And, to everyone that contacted me about yesterday's post, THANK YOU! I really appreciate you all taking the time to stop by and leave a little something to make me smile. :-)

Go clean your room…

2011-06-14T21:04:00.001-07:00

Doesn't that seem like the story of your life? Maybe something your mother always said to you? It's definitely proved to be a good thing at my house! Look at some of the stuff I came across while unpacking and sorting through my sewing stuff. Instant WIP’s.

This was tucked all together in a baggy. I had a little note inside that said, “for Amy’s baby”. Both my best friends are expecting this year. Amy’s having a girl, so I thought this would make for a super colorful HST quilt. Angela hasn’t found out what she’s having yet. But, when she does, I’ll have to think of something equally cute!

At Christmas (yes we are in June already), I got myself the whole collection of AMH Little Folks voiles. I had cut them up for a Plus quilt, but apparently forgot all about it and to the bottom of the pile it went. I’m so glad I found it again!! This WIP is going straight to the top of the list, for sure.

Also at Christmas time, my grandma came to stay with us. She really liked the idea of using my left-over batiks from my Stitches charity quilt, to make a special quilt for her. The colors were perfect for her; she loved aqua, lived by the beach in California, and adored and proudly displayed anything I made for her. My heart actually dropped when I found this bundle and this one is super tough for me to deal with right now, and has taught me a hard lesson: STOP procrastinating. My grandma passed away last weekend and I’m truly going to miss her with all my heart. I promised her that I would make her a quilt with all of this, but sadly I put it on hold to deal with my own personal things. I’m not one to break promises, but I really feel like I dropped the ball on this one and have a sense in my heart that I let her down. Even though I doubt I really let her down (so to speak), it bothers me that I never took the time to finish the commitment I made to her. I’m not quite sure how to deal with it yet, but I’ll have to think of something. I can’t just let it sit there and stare at me. Maybe I’ll make it into a memory of her, for my daddy. He was there when I was telling her about the quilt I originally made from the fabrics and how she just couldn’t get over the pretty aqua colors (as much of it that she could see with her blindness). I don’t know… maybe it’s too soon, but I won’t let it linger for long. I’m actually eager to figure something out for it. I think the outcome will be good for me, my dad, and my grandma’s loving memory.

“Rest gramma. Love you and I’ll see you later.”

Getting closer.

2011-06-13T22:43:00.002-07:00

Room sweet room. Planning - June 2011, a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

I'm about 3 days away from being back here for good. I do say, these things take time! Way too much of it.

This weekend I sat at my desk hoping to get some sewing in, but something like this happened instead:

I poured my coffee, opened the mail to find some aussom fabric, and sat down to scheme. I've got so much to share with you, but the light was so out of balance in my room, that I think I'll save the good stuff for this weekend when I can get better pics.

I miss y'all!!

Michelle

I'm almost here...

2011-05-20T19:52:00.000-07:00

oh goodness peeps! It's been waaay too long, if I do say so. Moving into a new place reeaally takes the wind out of your sails. I have no idea how moving from 2 bedrooms and one bath at my moms house, has gone to absolute chaos in our new place. I can't seem to unpack all the way, and it's bothering me. My sewing machine and fabric is all at my mom's still, and that's bothering me even more. I just don't feel proper sitting down to do my thing when the rest of the house is an ever evolving disaster. Actually, I don't mind that much, it's more like I don't want to hear about it from you know who (he's pretty anal about where everything goes and having order around here). But, we're getting settled and taking it one night at a time...

The other day Ed told me that I should go over to Target and get some new bath mats and some simple but essential stuff for the house. I didn't go. Was he kidding? I said uh-uuhh! This is the perfect place and time to finally make some awesome home goods! Yep, as soon as my machine finds it's way home, this little mama's got a little list of stuff to make and I've convinced him that it's going to be way cheaper than going to Target (wink, wink).

- bath mats, 3 or 4 of them.

-2 new quilts for the boys room.

-a dish towel thingy to hang from the oven.

-some hot pads.

-placemats.

-(super ambitious here) a Cal King quilt for my bed, since we ditched the queen size at my moms. Our mattresses have been wrapped up in the garage for 4 years just waiting for a brand new blankie to cover it!

-maybe some pillows for our sofas?

Also, I'd love to have some pics of my new space, but the camera is lost around here somewhere. We did manage to open a box with Ed's old-school Minolta , but no 35mm film inside, dang it. I'm kind of eager to get some film for it and start shooting. I haven't used a manual camera in forever! I wonder what my kids will say about that? They only know the digital version.

Hang tight, my little peeps... I'll be back super soon!

xoxo
me.

Have you met Jennifer?

2011-05-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

Happy Thursday!

BIG 5 BLOCK PARTY!

Have you met my friend Jennifer of Ellison Lane Quilts? Not only is she a very talented chic, but she's also hosting a BIG 5 party over on her site with each day of the week dedicated to her favorite inspiring blogs and quilters/sewists. I'm still wondering how the heck I got picked for this gig? Check out this line up! These girls are beyond amazing and I'm so thrilled and HONORED that I've been chosen to stand next to them.

Monday - Lindsey from LRstitched.

Tuesday - Mary from Molly Flanders

Wednesday - Jolene from Blue Elephant Stitches

Thursday - Angela from Cut to Pieces

Friday - little ol' me!

The little shindig started on Monday and runs through Friday. Make sure that you head on over the Jennifer's blog and give her some bloggy love, check out the interviews for each of these talented girls, and enter for chances to win some prizes!

Have fun!

Michelle

WIP Wednesday

2011-04-27T19:24:00.003-07:00

133 hexie flower petals - IN PROGRESS, a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

I really don't like to pick sides when it comes to designers and their fabric art. But, really. I have to this time.

Anna Maria Horner: I love you. Your fabrics make my heart (sew) happy!! There is not one line of yours that I haven't liked. Thanks for being an amazing designer!

(click the pic to see the rest of the story at my Flickr)

Pretty Little Pouch finished!

2011-04-24T11:13:00.002-07:00

Pretty Little Pouch finished!, a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

Hey partner! Look what I've finished for you! I think I've got all your wishes covered. The interior is the same as the inside of the strap. I used the brown and yellow Polka Line dots from AMH Garden Party. The whole thing is about 6" square.

The back has a little zipper pocket for stuff like keys, cards, needles and little scissors; anything!

For the strap attachment, I opted for a gate ring. This way, you'll be able to use the pouch with or without the strap. Or, you can use the strap all by itself on your keyring (or something).

I'm lovin' it; hope you are, too!

best weekend ever!

2011-04-23T17:19:00.003-07:00

MMM - RECEIVED -machine cover and hoop, a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

And, it's only Saturday!

First a house to rent, then....

This amazing package I received from Mighty Crumble, in the Make Mine Modern swap!! I am so in love with everything here. That machine cover, the project tote, the pretty fabrics! The HOOP. Oh my gosh. I can't wait to get my new room set up and put all of this stuff in it!!! She definitely hit all the right buttons with this package. Not to mention, if you saw up close how everything looked, you'd be applauding her for sure. The details are beautiful!! So incredibly generous and thoughtful and talented.

And, since you all know from my previous post what an emotional roller coaster I've been on; you can bet your bottom dollar that I got a little misty when it was delivered today all the way from GERMANY.

THANK YOU MIGHTY CRUMBLE!!! xoxoxo

Shut the front door...

2011-04-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

I feel like if I keep saying it that I'll jinx myself. But I can't hold it in, I'm so excited!

WE FINALLY GOT OUR OWN PLACE!!! (can you sense the excitement and enthusiasm in that statement?) We're only renting, but it's definitely a big step for us right now. HUGE.

We moved to Arizona in January '05, with all hopes of a wonderful life and raising our kids in our dream house. With perfect credit we built said dream house, started a business, watched it grow, got shit on by the economy, then humbly failed, declared BK, short-sold house at the top of the market, gave back our cars and toys, shacked up with the folks, found new awsome jobs, went through rigors to get a rental last year, just to have to back out because we found a tumor on husband's skull, watched him live through a craniotomy and intense radiation therapy, tumor free for almost a year now and healthier than ever (like triathlete healthy), and life is finally finding it's way back to happy-ville... right around the corner from the folks' happy shack. LOVE. THAT.

We've made my parents put up with us for about 4 years now. 4 whole years. Holy cow, my poor parents. I can't thank them enough. How do you thank your parents for something like that? I'll have to figure that one out real soon.

I mean, just being approved (without any question) for something like a rental home is more joy that you will know. Having a HEALTHY family again and being able to make the move into the rental home is more joy than you will ever know.

This has got to be nearly one of the happiest days of my life (in a long time, at least). I literally cried when I got the approval text message from the agent tonite. Did I say cry? I meant, I sobbed. Ed came home for his dinner break (from work) and we got the text. I sniffled with excitement, but when he left, I balled my eyes out. I have worked so. fricken. hard. for this. My credit still sucks donkey balls, but it doesn't matter right now. I'll have a roof of my own. I'll have a human sized bathtub of my own. My own potty with the seat DOWN in the middle of the night so I won't fall in... do you see where I'm going with this? It's going to be aMaZiNg!! And, to add a cherry on the cake, I get my own sewing space/room. Not a niche in the hall, not all over the kitchen table; a room. Absolute HEAVEN.

Catching up with Flickr.

2011-04-18T21:16:00.055-07:00

80's Mosaic... just a sampling., a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

I had quite a busy weekend getting some bee blocks done and starting my Pretty littlePouch. I also managed to get myself squeezed into 2 new groups.

Hello. My name is Michelle and I am an 80's junkie.

I saw a couple of my friends join this group, and at first I was going to pass because I've been pretty busy. But, then I saw the deadline wasn't until August. I had to do it. I'm a total sucker for the 80's! This is just a little sampling of things I grew up on. There's plenty more, but I'll snoop around for pics of them later.

I was invited to another group by Bryanna. The FQS (fat quarter shop) Bella Parade is celebrating everything Moda Bella Solids. There'll be lots of activity over there, but no partner. Yay! Self pacing is great!

Over the weekend I managed to get these bee blocks done for the April do. Good Stitches Bliss circle. Amanda (Sasikirana) asked that we make these using whites and brites. Eventually they'll all meld together to make a diamond type pattern. When she finishes it, I'll post a pic. It's going to be awesome!

I'm not a total perfectionist, but I really love when seams match up beautifully.

I also made this one for the Lovely Linen Bee. Paisley's Place Quilts asked that we make a block from Elizabeth Hartman's Mod Mosaic Block Tutorial. She sent us the fabrics, we just pieced it together for her. I have to say that I've never done piecing like this (I know, shocker) but it was good to let the hair down and try to figure out the puzzle. It would have probably been easier if it were my own scraps and linen, but this was all hers and I couldn't mess it up. I got one shot at it and I'm REALLY happy it turned out well. (I proudly wiped the sweat from my brow). Not one scrap she sent was wasted or destroyed! fwew!

Then, I finally got a pic of the 2 quarters I participated in the 3x6 Sampler Mini Bee. I received one more in the mail today, but my camera chip is full, so I'll have to get a pic another time. I'm still missing one block from 4th quarter 2010, and one more block (a dresden plate) that I need to make for myself. And then I think I'll throw some sashing on it and call this one quits. I like all the blocks, but I'm over it... I think people are having a hard time comprehending orange and grey together. I originally chose the colors for my boys and my husband. Something they would feel cool about snuggling with. However, I'm kind of over this color combo now. I sat out of this round, but I'll get back in next time with a new scheme.

Pretty Little Pouch trial

2011-04-17T17:55:00.002-07:00

Pretty Little Pouch trial, a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

Ok, Pretty {little} Pouch partner...

I spent at least 3 hours today staring and playing with my fabrics, trying to figure out something you'd love. I've come up with this little pile of OOP Echino, some linen, a 9-patch, and twill measuring tape ribbon. I'm thinking you like all this stuff, but I want your opinion. HELP!!

PS. Sorry kids! Sunday School is on hold for this week. I've been pretty busy getting some bee blocks and other swap stuff done. It'll be back soon, promise! :-)

Winner!

2011-04-16T20:44:00.000-07:00

Hey all!

It's Saturday night and time to announce the winner of the hexie templates. Thanks sooo much for leaving your comments and sharing your happenings. Sometimes I just don't get enough time to comment on every one's posts and blogs, but trust me, I'm reading them. Even if it's just a quick glance on my phone, I try to keep up with everyone, everyday.

Drum roll please....

The winner is:

Jennie {Clover and Violet} said...

I'm just starting an embroidery series on my blog...so I've been doing a lot of brainstorming on that end! Other than that, most of my time and effort is devoted to a cross-country move that is coming up soon!

-Congrats and thanks for sharing, Jennie! Good luck with your cross-country move! I'll be contacting you by email for your info.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Michelle

DS Quilts Collection for Joann's.

2011-04-14T19:08:00.012-07:00

DS Quilts Collection for Joann's, a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

I might have found something good here! I thought I'd be on the fence about them, but they're growing on me quick. A little more "country picnic" than I'm used to. It's a good feeling to look at these and to think I'm going to break out of the modern mold for a while (or a project or 2).

When I first heard that Ms. Schmidt was designing a line exclusively for Joann's, thoughts of, "what? Serious?", "noooo really?, does that make her a sell-out? (per other blogs I've read)", "I can be to Joann's in 10 minutes to check it out..." I was really concerned that it was a hoax or that it was a copy-cat line, like other designers have negatively experienced. Nope. It's the real deal. There's a little blue label that says, "DS Quilts" on the end of the bolt to prove it.

None of this I would say or think again. I did infact get my hiney to the store to check it out. It was good. All good. The quality is just like your LQS and just as good as her other lines; thicker than FMF and KJR. Some of the prints even resemble some of your old favorites! I'm actually kind of proud of her. Making her fabric accessible to us folks that don't have LQS's that carry her normal lines is a really cool idea. And, from what I undersand, there'll be more throughout the year. Yay!

I'm not sure, but from what I've read there are 21 prints. I think I'm missing one? If you know which one it is, I'd love to know! I opted for 1/3 yard cuts rather than quarters or halfs. This way I was able to spread the cash to get more prints.

Note to Joann's: Please start cutting fat quarters!

Anywho. I dig 'em. Hope you do, too!

Beyond my normal polka-dot love, these are probably 2 of my faves.

PS. You can still enter the giveaway for tomorrow night here!

up for grabs.

2011-04-13T20:12:00.001-07:00

Hey peeps!

I'm terribly sorry for the lull in activity around here lately. I've got lots of stuff in the works, but I'm waiting for some things to come in the mail for a new tutorial... they have YET to arrive. Ho hum. (IMpatiently waiting).

So instead of me telling you what I've been up to, do you wanna share with me? I love seeing what y'all do! Do you have any new tutes? Do you know of any giveaways? Just wanna say hello? (Hi!)

Well then, what are you waiting for? leave a comment below. You may just win yourself a set of hexie templates from TABSLOT! The last ones were never claimed, so they're up for grabs again :-). (sorry previous winner, I tried to contact you.)

This is a quicky! I'll be calling the winner on Saturday night. Please make sure you have a valid email in your profile, or just leave the long text version below.

In the meantime... I found this little poster HERE on Etsy. I'd really like to get it for my new sewing room/area! Yes, that's right! We're finally trying to find a new place. YAY! FINALLY!!

GOOD LUCK!!

Wrapped In Love.

2011-04-10T18:04:00.004-07:00

BLISS Quilt Binding, a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.
CLICK THE PIC TO SEE ALL PHOTOS OF THIS QUILT. If you would like the tutorial on how to make this block, you can find it at the top of this page, call ROMAN STRIPE QUILT

The collaborative quilt for the Bliss circle of do. Good Stitches is finally complete! A clean backing of Kona Celery and a printed binding finished it off beautifully. I have to mention again how proud I am to have done this. And my girls in the circle did a great job of stitching the blocks for it. (THANKS AGAIN GIRLS!)

I'm so sad to see it go, but I know that it will be going to someone who will be able to give it much more love than we (the Bliss circle) can. My husband even said, "what? you have to give THAT ONE away?!" Yes, dear. Yes I do.

Tomorrow this little bundle of Bliss gets shipped off to the Wrap Them In Love charity.

Bye-bye pretty quilt. I know you'll make someone somewhere reeeeaally happy and loved.

in my lap...

2011-04-09T22:23:00.001-07:00

in my lap..., a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

Friday, April 8, 2011.

2011-04-08T03:30:00.005-07:00

Exactly 35 years ago today, at 4:56 a.m., I was born.

yay. so here it goes...

Happy Birthday to me. Happy Birthday to me.

Happy Birthday to mmeee-eeeeeeeeee.

HaPpY BirThDay toooooo meeeeee.

:-)

Now, off to 'bucks to get my free birthday coffee. Then, maybe a day filled with web-gazing for new cotton yummies. (because it's my birthday and I can shop if I want to.)

Emmy clutch pattern - NOW AVAILABLE!

2011-04-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

Hey there, peeps!

Just droppin' a line to let you know my NEW Emmy clutch pattern is now available in my Etsy shop. It's chocked full of easy to follow photos and instructions, and the whole project should take less than a few hours to make. I've written it similar to my tutorials here, so sewists of all levels will be able to follow it easily. Just grab a few fat quarters and you're good to go!

Happy sewing!
Michelle

Sunday School {for sewing} #2 - Zippered Pocket Tutorial

2011-04-03T08:00:00.002-07:00

Hi all! School is in session! Kelly (kelbysews) decided to stop by today and make a guest appearance to teach you a new trick. I met Kelly somewhere between here and Flickrland and have a real sense of each others likes and abilities. She is a total blast! I completely admire her skills and how she keeps it all real. She and I agree that sewing basics, tips and tricks should really be free. If it doesn't involve a pattern, you shouldn't have to pay for it! Today, she'll be teaching you about zippered pockets! When you're done with your little lesson today, head on over to her site and give her some bloggy love. She makes some pretty cool stuff and has some more tutorials!

From Kelly:

Alrighty kids! It's time to put on your big girl panties and break out your zipper foot again! I'm going to give a (fairly) quick tutorial on how to install a large zippered pocket into almost ANY bag pattern without cutting a hole in the lining! I say almost because I have run across one pattern, Anna Maria Horner's Multitasker Tote, where my method won't work. The reason it won't work on this pattern is because the lining meets in the middle on that pattern, not the sides. Once you see my method, you'll understand why it wouldn't work.

It doesn't matter what size or shape your lining is.

You will need to cut TWO additional pieces of fabric the same shape as your lining, only subtract 2-4" from the top. This is not an exact science. It will depend on how high up you want your pocket, the style of the bag, or just what you're in the mood to cut that day. You just want to be sure that you are low enough down that your zipper won't be close to the edge of your lining when you have to sew it to your exterior--so check the seam allowances for your particular pattern. I think mine are about 3" down.

See? I have one piece of lining and two pieces, cut short, that will become our lined pocket.

Ok, I'm sorry for the lining switch, but I think this one shows up a bit better. Get a zipper LONGER than the width of your lining/pocket pieces.

Place one short pocket piece right side UP. Place your zipper on top, right side DOWN. Next place your second pocket piece right side DOWN on top of the zipper.

Line up the top edges of all three layers and pin in place.

Using your zipper foot, sew about a 1/4" from the edge of the fabric. I would recommend leaving the pins in so your layers don't shift. Since you're using a zipper that is LONGER than the width of your lining, attaching it to the pocket fabric should be no problem because the zipper pull doesn't even have to come close to your machine. :)

This is what you should have now. Press the fabric away from the zipper on both sides!

Because we want the pocket to look pretty on the outside and the lining to stay out of the zipper, we're going to top stitch about 1/8" from the edge of the fabric. I just use the left end of my zipper foot as a guide. It's about 1/8" away from my needle. You can eyeball it. The main point is to keep the pocket lining from getting caught in the zipper and to improve the appearance of your pocket.

Lay your zipper, right side up, on top of the lining piece you will be attaching it to. Line up the bottom edges. I've folded the pocket here so you can see how all the layers look.

Using chalk, pencil, disappearing ink or whatever kind of marking tool you can remove later, mark along the top edge of the zipper. I made several dots along the length of the zipper since they are easy to remove than a solid line.

Now move your pocket out of the way and mark a line or dotted line 1/4" BELOW the line you just drew.

Flip the pocket upside down--so you can't see the zipper pull or the top of the lining piece. Align the edge of the zipper with the second line you drew. Got that? The second line--the one on the bottom, the lower one. The reason you drew the first one was to ensure the second line was straight across the lining piece. Because lining shapes can vary and are often curved, you can't always accurately use a ruler to determine what is straight across the lining piece--especially with larger bags. Trust me, this has happened to me and I've attached the zipper to the lining only to realize later that I sewed it at an angle. The first line we know is straight because the bottom edges of the bag and pocket pieces are matched and the edge of the zipper is straight.

Pin the upside down pocket/zipper to the lining piece, making sure the edge of the zipper is even with the second line.

Using 1/4" seam, sew the pocket to the lining. Leave those pins in ladies! It really helps your project from shifting!

Whoo hoo! we have a zippered pocket attached to our lining! We're almost done! Press this bad boy down a bit (I haven't done that yet in this picture)

These are what your layers should look like.

Line up the edges of the pocket and lining and pin in place. If, for whatever reason, things aren't lining up, you may have to do one of two things:

1. If, when your lining piece is laying flat, the edges of the pocket pieces extend over the lining piece, simply trim the pocket pieces to match the bottom of the lining piece

2. If, when your lining piece is laying flat, the pocket pieces don't reach the bottom edges of the lining piece by more than 1/4", you may have redo the last step and move your entire zipper down a bit.

When I made this, my pocket piece was a hair shy from reaching the bottom of the lining, but with my bag seam allowances of 1/2", I knew everything would be caught up there so I did not move my zipper.

Once you have everything lined up on the bottom and pinned, use your longest stitch length to baste the pocket to the lining along the bottom and sides. DO NOT SEW OVER THE ZIPPER!!!!!! Just sew around the fabric part of the pocket. The basting step is important because you will likely have to leave a hole in your lining for turning and it would be a hot mess if you had all those pocket layer flowing free at that point.

Pull your zipper open enough so that the zipper pull is in the lining/pocket area--not over to the side all lonely like it has been through this entire process.

Trim any part of the zipper hanging beyond the lining. You do not have to sew zipper stops even if you cut them both off since the edges of the zipper will be closed when you sew the lining in the bag. Cool, huh? Now just follow the pattern instructions for your bag and treat this lining piece as if nothing has happened.

Now I have a huge zippered pocket in my bag and I didn't have to cut a hole in my lining to get it! I've used this method on at least 5 different bag patterns and it works everytime!

P.S. These two bags are available in my etsy store! Happy sewing!

THANKS KELLY! and THANK YOU PEEPS for tuning in today!

:-)
Michelle

PS. For those of you participating in the Pretty {little} Pouch swap, this would be an awesome surprise inside your partner's pouch!!

BLISS Quilt Top - Feb. 2011 Roman Stripes

2011-04-02T13:49:00.004-07:00

BLISS Quilt Top - Feb. 2011, a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

I'm the quilter for Feb. in the do.Good Stiches Bliss Circle. My job was to design and quilt for everyone in the group. This lovely little quilt will be donated to Wrap Them In Love.

Thanks to:
Carol - {orangebird242}
Megan - {canoeridgecreations}
Wendy - {wendyloup}
Amanda - {sasikirana}
Grace - {weezie lou}
Rebecca - {myfabricobsession}
Elizabeth - {don't call me Betsy
Jackie - {chloeandme}
Linda - {Linda Beth}

You all did a fabulous job with your blocks!!

Thank you to Rachel for putting us all together to create this!

PS. It would've been done sooner, but I bought the wrong size batting, so off to Joann's to get some and complete it.

If you'd like to support charities by contributing your quilty skills, you can visit the do. Good Stitches page on Flickr to sign-up here.

I heart CraftGossip.com!

2011-04-01T19:24:00.013-07:00

CraftGossip.com picked up my coin purse tute! And that's no April foolin'!

NEW SWAP! Pretty {little} Pouches

2011-03-30T21:09:00.001-07:00

Wanna play with us?

Aren't these yummy? I think so. I want one of each, please!

I decided that we needed new kind of swap 'round these parts. So, I got with another pouch lovin' Flickr friend, Kelly of kelbysews, and we put together the Pretty {little} Pouch swap. All types of pouches are welcome, so long as they're less than 12" in size.

It's gonna be {pretty} rad. I hope you'll join us! Sign-ups are offically open April 1st -8th (my birthday).

You can join HERE!

See you there!

:-)

Michelle

Sunday School {for sewing} #1

2011-03-27T13:05:00.001-07:00

Milk Money Coin Purse

Many of you were curious about how to make these little cuties, so I decided it would be perfect for this session. These are directions for a sew-in type frame. If you have a glue-in frame, the same principals apply, only you will glue into your frame, rather than sew it in. These directions are more geared to constructing the body of the bag, so you should be able to apply the same principals to any size/type frame.
Note: If you are hesitant to cut into your favorite fabrics for your first project, start with some muslin or not-so-pretty fabrics to practice and achieve a pleasing size or shape.

Let's begin.

You'll need:
Paper (not shown)
Scissors
Embroidery Floss / Perle Cotton
Thread
Sewing Needle
Embroidery Needle
Straight Edge (for drawing lines)
Pencils
Fabric Scraps or Fat Eighths (for a smaller frame)
Scrap Batting** (For interfacing. You may use fusibles if you prefer)
Metal Sew-In Frame

** The weight of your interfacing really depends on the size of your frame slot. This little frame has a thinner slot, so I’ve only used cotton batting. If you have a larger frame/slot, your may want to beef it up. If you are using thicker fabric, you may want to thin it out. Play with it and use your best judgment. The goal is to fit inside the frame slot without a ton a wiggle room or gaps. If you achieve this perfect balance of fabric and interfacing, you won’t ever need to use cording or clamps/pliers to close the gap (as with other tutorials).

Today we’ll be making a shape like this. No gussets, just simple rounded corners for the bottom.

We want to made a 1/4” seam for our bag. To do this, you can use 2 pencils with a rubberband.

Trace around your frame. Fill in the gaps where the clasp is.

Make a mark where the frame ends, just above the hinge. This will be where you sew your “y-seam” at the hinge.

Find the center of your drawn frame. Use your frame width to create a trapezoid shape. I just eye-balled the top side curve and drew a straight line down about 5”(ish). You may determine how long you actually want your bag body to be.

** If you’d like a fuller bag, leave the top as marked and make the bottom of the trapezoid a little wider. Make sure your hinge mark is still in proportion to the top corner. I highly recommend that you don’t make a simple square shape. The bag body will become flat and it will be difficult to put your fingers inside to get stuff out. With a trapezoid shape you get a little more fullness, and you can easily make any type of roundness or gussets for the bottom.

If you want to be exact, you can actually measure. I didn’t, my eyeballs are great measuring tools. :-)

Cut out your new template. Fold it in half and trim to make it symmetrical.

Using your new template, trace and cut out the fabric pieces. You will need 2 pieces each for the Exterior, Interior, and Interfacing.

Transfer your hinge mark to all of the fabric pieces.

Let’s start sewing!

Start sewing your EXTERIOR. Grab your needle and thread (or machine). Place right-sides together. With a scant (less than) 1/4” seam, start stitching from the hinge mark, DOWNWARD to the bottom corner, across the bottom, and back up to the other hinge mark. Knot off.

Here’s a shot of the corner. When you get there, just pivot and keep going along the seam.

(bad shot).
Now we will do our lining. Place your interior fabric face down on a table. Place your interfacing onto the WRONG side of your fabric. Now pretend they are one solid piece of fabric, as if you were to fuse them together.
With right-sides of the fabric facing, repeat the same stitch line as used for the exterior. Only this time sew with an exact or just slightly over 1/4”.

**By using 2 different seam allowances, the interior and exterior won’t be fighting each other along the seams when place together. Hence, the interior will fit better into the exterior.

Now, we’ll make our rounded corner. This could’ve been done earlier with our template, but I wasn’t sure what shape I wanted until after I stitched everything. You may find you want a square gusset, or some other shape. That’s cool, too!
To make the rounded corner, find a small round object such as a shot glass, large spool, a little tin – anything with a curve that pleases you and in proportion to the angle.
Trace the shape at your corner, and re-stitch ON the line. Trim away the extra stuff.

We need to make sure our lining will fit.
Place the lining inside your exterior. If it fits, great. If not, trim down some of the seam allowance. That should do it. If not, you may need to re-stitch somewhere on the interior piece. No biggie.

Once you’ve determined that the interior fits, take it out of the exterior piece.
Place your EXTERIOR inside your interior, like this. Line up your raw top edges.

Now it’s time to sew the top edges. This is where we make the “Y-Seam”. It’s not hard, just a little tricky. YOU CAN DO THIS.
From the outside, place your needle in the FIRST stitch of BOTH the exterior and interior that you made for the bottom. Try not to catch the other side of the Y with your needle. You should have 3 layers to stitch through – the interfacing, the lining fabric, and the exterior fabric. If you have poked through more than 3 pieces, start over. You notice in the photo, my seam is making a Y-shape. My needle is going exactly through the center of the intersection.

Bring your needle back to the outside. Your first stitch is done, and that was the hardest part. You survived!
Continue stitching with a 1/4” seam, over to the other hinge.

Repeat for the other top-side, but this time leave an opening to turn it right-side-out. Knot it off really good here, so that your don’t rip your seam when turning it out.

Turn the bag right-side-out.

Turn in the seam 1/4” and stitch it closed. It doesn’t have to be perfect; you won’t see this part.

Finger press (or iron) the top seam. Place the top seams into the frame (as far as they’ll go) to make sure they fit all the way around. You don’t want to see any daylight through those tiny holes.

You should have no gap between the hinge and the Y-seam. If you’ve got some serious gap-osis going on, simply whipstitch the seam until it fits. I’ve done it. It happens and it’s no big deal.

To keep the fabric aligned in the frame while I sew it in, I use a little tape to hold everything together.
***If you are gluing your frame, place the tape on AFTER gluing, to keep it in place until the glue sets.

Grab your embroidery floss or perle cotton. I use all 6 strands so that the stitches are in proportion to the holes in the frame. If you were to use a thinner strand, you holes might be more noticeable.
Put a tiny knot at the end of your strand. Insert your needle from the interior, poke through the first hole to the exterior.

Weave in and out of the holes, like this. Finding the hole from the inside can be tricky. Just pretend your doing some embroidery; eventually the needle pops through in the right spot.

Here is what it looks like on the inside.

When you get to the last hole, don’t knot off; stitch back the other way, filling in the other stitches. Try your best to stick your needle back into the same stitch holes you’ve already created. This will help make it look a bunch cleaner on the inside when it’s finished.

When you get to the last hole, you will be on the exterior. Place your needle back through the metal hole, toward the inside. Knot it off and bury your strand in the fabric. Trim your tail from the first knot. Repeat these steps for the other side of the frame.

Your all done!
Wasn’t that easy? To make this bag, it took me about 2 and half hours (hand stitching/note taking/pictures). I’d imagine that without the pictures it would take about an hour and a half to 2 hours, depending on how fast a stitcher you are.
Now go make one for all your friends!

IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, leave a comment below. My email will ding me on my phone and I can respond to it pretty quick! Or, we can just make it like a discussion board. I love comments and chatting!

GET THE KIT!
Some of you don’t have access to these types of frames, so I’ve decided to whip up a few kits. They are available over there in my Etsy shop. Get ‘em while supplies last! :-)

No machine required.

2011-03-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

Today was seriously slow at work. Blogger, Flickr, and Facebook are all blocked from my browser there, and you can only gaze around Etsy for so long before you want every-single-thing you see. Pinterest was working for awhile, but I think the IT department got wind of that one - now it only works some of the time; bummer.

With nothing but time on my hands, I decided to cruise Joann's on my lunch break to find something small to keep these idol hands busy. I found a little sew-in type metal frame, purple #5 perle cotton floss, and a few fabrics (cut by the inch!). I just happened to have some cotton batting in my desk; for whatever reason, I have no idea - but it was there, so included it in my project. And, I always have a bobbin of white thread, and some needles and straight pins stuck in my gel wrist rest, just in case I need them. Today was the day I actually needed them.

I made this little "milk money" coin purse. I used some old Tyvek envelopes (from a shipping company we no longer use) to create and test a template. Tyvek is perfect for testing stuff like this; it looks like paper, but acts like fabric. It won't rip and it sews up wonderfully!

When the templates worked, I stitched it all up by hand. No machine required. No glue, no fusibles. Just plain cotton with a little batting between for softness and stability. The perle cotton floss holds everything together and gives it a perfect handmade touch.

I love this little thing! I think I'll use it for my milk money (ahem, carmel macchiatto).

If any of you are interested in learning how to make framed pouches, let me know! I'd be happy to set up a little tute! Once you figure out where the "y-seam" and the hinge needs to be, it's a quick and easy process.

FYI... Joann's used to have a 1/8-yard minimum. In case you didn't know, that rule has been lifted and they will cut by the inch! I asked for 6 inches (more than an eighth, less than a quarter). hahahhaa! I love that. Could you imagine the look you'd get asking for 6" at your LQS? See! Joann's isn't all that bad afterall. ;-) This whole thing cost about $5. If I had just bought the frame (on sale right now for $2.49), I could have done it with stuff out of my stash. A $3 project? Done deal.

winner, winner, turkey dinner.

2011-03-19T23:07:00.000-07:00

I know, normally you say, "winner, winner, chicken dinner." But, tonite I had ground turkey burritos with black beans and grilled onions and peppers. Yum.

A big "THANK YOU" to everyone that stopped by for the giveaway this week! 186 fabulous comments, but only 2 can win.

Here they are:

EMEDOODLE is the winner of the fabric bundle.

She said, "That's a pretty awesome giveaway! And I've been wanting to try out free spirit's solids! I love AMH fabric so if it's anything like that I'm sure I'll be hooked!

yay! I think you're gonna love them!

MY OBSESSION WITH ONLINE TUTORIALS is the winner of the hexie templates.

She said, "I am so loving your hex's....I so wish I knew how to make them.......TEACH ME PLEASE...grin"

I'm working on that one. Hope you're a lefty like me!

Congratulations girls! Please contact me with your sending info.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Michelle

:-)

Do you like this bag partner?

2011-03-16T18:22:00.002-07:00

Do you like this bag partner? a photo by i like orange, too on Flickr.

This is actually one of the patterns that is coming soon, but it needs one teensy little tweek to the pattern pieces, and then it'll be ready to go.

Click the pic to see a full description, partner. Thanks for replying!!

Michelle

New sponsor and SPRING BREAK GIVEAWAY!

2011-03-14T16:41:00.001-07:00

WwwooooHHhoooo!! It's spring break! And I can officially say that here in Arizona, winter is definitely over. Bring on the heat. Or maybe Mr. Weatherman can wait another month for the serious HEAT. It's a beautiful 80 something here today. Awesome! Bye-bye winter.

So I've been working on a bunch of stuff lately, hence the no-post for about a week. There's definitely more going on than I'll be sharing today; I just don't want to bore you with "this seam isn't laying straight", "ugh, stupid bobbin!", and "Dammit, back to the drawing board".

First off- have you noticed up there in the right hand corner? I've got a wonderful little sponsor! TABSLOT on Etsy. This is the place I got my hexie templates. They're perfect for fussy cutting for little projects, or to piece an entire quilt - like me.

Jill (the owner) is a pretty rad gal. If you haven't been to her shop before, head over and check it out. Jill and her husband make these acrylic templates, they're not mass produced. Their pieces are very simple in design with no crazy or unnecessary lines; just clear, easy to read markings. Visit her shop today and get your own spankin' new rulers. Buy handmade!!

Second - a little update on my hexie project.

I've started the petals for my flowers. Lovely, yes?

Now just to get these all together. 140+/- can't be that bad, right?

The whole time I've been doing this project, I never thought too hard about the centers. To remedy that, I browsed and browsed for ideas. I came across Anna Maria's shop and fell in love with these:

Free Spirit Solids. AMH has them in her shop as a "Sunny Spectrum". How could I resist? It's spring, the sun is out, and I think they'd make an amazing addition to my hexie project. These little pretties will be the centers to my flowers (I hope).

If you agree that they would make for pretty centers (or not), leave a comment, because they could be yours too!! Yes, that's right. I'm feeling the need to spread some spring break love with a little "sunny spectrum" of FQ's.

But wait! That's not all! Wonderful Miss Jill at Tabslot has also joined the fun. She's offering an entire set of her hexie templates! Yippee!

You've got it kids! 2 giveaways! If you'd like to enter, leave a comment below. Nothing major.

Something simple like:

"wow!"

"that's awesome!"

"you rock"

"double rainbows make me sew happy"

"I'll follow you forever if you let me win"

"I have no idea how to make hexies, but I want to learn"

"I'm heading over to TabSlot right now!"

You get the picture. And if you're in the mood, click the little FOLLOW ME button over there. No pressure, it's not that kind of contest.

But I'd love it if you did :-)

This little giveaway will end Friday March 18th at 9:00 Pacific time. 2 winners will be drawn on Saturday. Please make sure you have a valid email associated with your account. If not, please leave one below so that I may contact you.

(Stay tuned, I've got a couple of little patterns about ready to be unveiled.)

Thanks for stopping by today and have a great Spring Break!

Michelle

It's Official.

2011-03-03T09:41:00.001-07:00

I'm going to the Sewing Summit! Just registered this morning!!! If you are planning on going (and I hope you are), registration is officially open. I hope I'll be seeing you all there! It's going to be so awesome to finally put names with faces and talk about my favorite subjects with like-minded peeps. Rad.

Now if Southwest Airlines would open their schedule for October, the package would be complete.

Check it out! www.sewingsummit.com

Hexie Calculator

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

Yesterday I made a little plea for help in calculating the size of a quilt when sewing hexagons. I got some wonderful responses, including one from Elena. She suggested that I check out CD Designs. Oh.Em.Gee. Why had I not found this before?

All I had to do was type in the Width and Length I desire the quilt to be, and then add the hexagon size that I'm using. LOOK! only 872 are needed for my quilt! That means I only need about 150+/- to go.

Oh my. Now I'm extra motivated. I'll be taking my petals with me on the long drive to the mountains this weekend. Hopefully I get a ton of them done!

Thank you everyone for responding to yesterday's post. Much appreciated!

:-)

Me.

help. I need help. (please)

2011-03-01T21:46:00.001-07:00

I need some help... pretty please.

1) I'm still working on my hexies, but I think I've run into a problem with the math. Can anyone figure this out for me?

       I'll be doing a quilt similar to this pattern. I love how it looks - although I'll be using everything AMH, and I still can't figure out what to do for the center of the flowers. But anywho... here's the real problem:

       I have (636) 1.25" hexies (measured along one side). I know enough math to figure out that I have enough petals for 106 flowers. I still need 106 centers, which will bump the total basted hexies to 742.

       My question is this: How darn big with this thing be with (742) 1.25" hexies? Does anyone know of an actual formula? or is there a pattern out there with specifics that I haven't been able to find? If you know of any info and would graciously share, I'd love you forever and ever. I'm just stumped and I don't want to cut more fabric than necessary. Thanks!

2) Is anyone out there an Illustrator (or the like) wizard? I don't have the program and I am far from being any sort of graphic designer, and frankly don't have the time to learn. I'd really like to get with someone who is familiar with the sewing pattern world, to help me update my old patterns, and do the graphics for all the new ones I plan to offer. I've done the whole Alchemy thing on Etsy with some success, but unfortunately Etsy's Alchemy feature is down until further notice. Most of the people out there don't "get it" when I say I need patterns made into PDF form. I need someone who is willing to put up with me, guide me along the design way and to know that "yes, you can merge instruction verbiage and illustrations into the same document." (why don't people get that part?)   I need this stuff to wiggle it's way up to par someway or another. I know, it's a ton of work :-)

     If you, or anyone you know does this sort of thing, I'd love to hear from you! Ideas, cost, a point in the right direction, anything...  Please please please send me an email at ilikeorangetoo at! gmail dot! com.

3) totally off topic, but so cool.

        Have you seen my peeps?! Look at you guys! Holy cow. 102 of you choose to take a peek at this little ol' bloggy every now and then. THAT. IS. RAD. I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to type away my thoughts and crafts and share with you kids!!! I hope you enjoy all of this as much as I do!    If y'all feel like stopping by on Monday, I'm planning a little treat for you!

Just to let you know, if you don't hear from me this weekend, it's because I'm taking my little bubba skiing for his big 1-0. I can't believe I have a 10 year old... a 10 year old?!   My, my, my how time just whizzes on by....

ROYAL MAIL: Mug Rug RECEIVED from Tezzcan

2011-02-28T18:14:00.001-07:00

ROYAL MAIL: Mug Rug RECEIVED from Tezzcan
Originally uploaded by i like orange, too

Speaking of rainbows again... Looky what I got from Tezzcan (from the UK) in the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap 3!!! She hit it right on the nose... Rainbows, hexies, orange and grey fabric, chocolate, ribbon - WOW!! THANKS Tracy - LOVE!!!! She's so generous and thoughtful. Getting mail like this is always a good thing and totally makes my day. :-)

I heart pincusions and rainbows.

2011-02-27T21:22:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! It's Sunday night and I'm still pretty tired. Last weekend I was hit pretty hard with that icky, coughy, fevery flu. That thing knocked me on my buns pretty hard and now my little one, Logan, has it. :-( Needless to say, not much has gone on in the sewing department lately.

So to shed a pretty light on the gloom around here, I finished the pincusion for my partner in the Scrappy Pincushion Swap 3. I really adore rainbows and bright colors. Snooping around her favorites and stalking her for a couple of weeks, I've come to the conclusion that she does too! I mean, how can you not love a rainbow? I hope she likes my interpretation of it. Love, love, love pincushions and rainbows; together they're a perfect match... Like chocolate and peanut butter.

I just can't get enough!

2011-02-15T20:17:00.002-07:00

If you haven't noticed by now, I'm pretty involved in a bunch of groups and other activities. I really love the sisterhood, inspiration and learning that comes with all of the swaps and bees. I seriously just can't get enough!

So tonight, I'm sharing with you some things I've finished lately... There's actually more, but my camera batteries died (again).

First off, a gift to my partner in the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap.

Some hexies made from every piece of AMH Little Folks Voile. Machine quilted and hand bound, with a piece of teal shot cotton for backing.

Sorry, I can't say who's getting it just yet. It still has to arrive on my partner's door step (far far away...). I hope she loves it!

I did this for Franswimmer in the Lovely Linen Bee. She sent us the linen and the pink fabrics, then asked we add coordinating bright colors in a Dutchman's Puzzle pattern. I added the teal Ta-Dot and the lime Dandilions from Flora and Fauna. (must prettier in real life, darn night-time shots with CFL bulbs!)

I really liked this block, it's incredibly easy and there are so many ways to arrange it. So, I decided it would be great for this round of the [3x6] Sampler Quilt Mini Bee.

I made all of these for my hive (#15 - 1st quarter).

And one little inspiration mosaic for the Make Mine Modern Swap. How awesome is all this stuff?!

Some of YOU might recognize these... Thanks for letting me borrow your pics (teehee). YOU TOTALLY INSPIRE ME!!! (and please pardon my piece of potty mouth; I just couldn't help it).

If y'all are wondering what the future holds, I added a little list at the top of my page. A line-up (in no particular order) of things to come... It's all waiting up there "in the queue". As I complete projects on the list, I'll provide a link to either the photos and/or blog entry, just in case you may have missed it. I figured it's a good way to keep all this stuff in some sort of order and to help me remember to do it all.

Hope you all have a great week!!

:-)

Michelle

I got a present today!

2011-02-02T18:27:00.000-07:00

Today I arrived home from work to find this little piece of goodness on my doorstep!

A new book!!! She must have snooped around my Amazon wish list. This completely made my cold day feel very warm.

Kari and I went to high school together and lost touch. Thanks to Facebook, we connected again. Somehow or another, we found out that we each have blogs. I followed her and she followed be back... Kari {a new mommy} is pretty new to sewing and quilting so I've sort of taken her under my wing. I'm no expert, but I love to help people with this kind of stuff (whether I know what I'm talking about or not). I sent her a private little tutorial to piece her first simple quilt-top. She finished it {beautifully} and sent this book to thank me. How amazing is that? Unexpected gifts are always awesome!

THANK YOU KARI!!

Now, I suppose I should send you the rest of the directions so that you can do your quilt sandwich?!

I can't wait to dive into this one. As soon as I am done with the custom diaper bag orders, I'm on going into pattern making mode. Yes kids, that means more quilts and bags! This book is the perfect boost of inspiration. Yippeee!!

Patterns on SALE this week!

2011-02-01T08:27:00.002-07:00

Happy Tuesday everyone!

This week I've got all my patterns on sale. Hop on over to my Etsy shop and check it out! Sale ends Friday at midnight.

Paisley Pear Quilts

do. Good Stitches - February BLISS circle

2011-01-29T16:37:00.002-07:00

Hello everyone! Hope you're having a wonderful Saturday! I know I am. My machine is back from her annual check-up early. Yippeee!!

If you don't already know, Rachel over at Stitched in Color has put together an amazing quilting charity called do. Good Stitches held over on Flickr. February will be my month to host and quilt for the BLISS circle of stitchers and quilters. I've come up with a concept for the quilt, using a modified version of the Roman Stripe block I found over on QuiltersCache. It's really simple and I think the impact of the design will be outstanding.

The block on the site calls for 3.5" blocks that will make up a 12" finished block. I think that the way she does it is cool, but I wanted to change it for a bigger block, a little more impact, and to easily use scraps without any extra waste.

Here's the initial concept. Roman stripes are simply a square that is half solid color, half stripes. I can't decide which layout to go with yet, and suppose that we can wait until all the blocks are received to make that decision.

For the color and fabric scheme, I've used a little inspiration from Tula Pink's new Parisville. I really like the clamshell print in the Mist colorway. For our quilt, we'll be using anything from limes, aquas, blues, shades of violet; anything on that side of colorwheel. A very cool palette. Please try to use your scraps. I do not expect anyone to use Parisville, although your are welcome to. The design here is not about using your best fabrics, but more about the use and impact of color.

I've put together a little tutorial for everyone, simply because I don't know everyone's level of ability. This is very simple and can be completed in 1-3 hours, if you plan it right. We'll be using a simple foundation method. There are plenty of other ways to get this together, but I'd like everyone to stick to this one, so that all the blocks are the same.

Normally, most groups have been doing (1 or 2) 12.5" blocks per person. I'm going to switch this up a bit and ask for (8) 6.5" blocks; which is the same amount as 2 big 12" blocks. My reason for not having everyone sew them together is because I'm not sure of the layout yet and I think I'll be able to mix up the blocks a little better.

So, let's start!

SUPPLIES

(8) Kona White 6.5" squares (about 3/8 yard)
(40) print or solid scrap pieces. (varying finished widths of 1/2" to 1-1/2" and about 3"-9" long. Please no wonky shapes.)
Marking pen/pencil (disappearing or water soluble)
Rotary Cutter
Rotary Mat
Acrylic Ruler

PREPPING

Press and cut your fabrics.

For each block (6.5" square of Kona White) draw one line on the center, and one line 1/4" from the center. The center line will be your stitch line.

Place one strip of fabric along the 1/4" line.

(sorry, bad pic. make sure your strip hangs over the corner edges)

Pin in place.

Sew 1/4" seam along the edge with the drawn line.

Your seam should resemble this.

Open the strip to the front side and press.

Lay your next strip on top of the first strip and sew with a 1/4" seam.

Press the seam open.

Continue to add strips all the way to the corner.

Your piece will look similar to this when all strips have been sewn.

Here is the backing of your block.

From the back, trim the strips even with the edge of the white fabric. Besure your square keeps at 6.5"

Voila! All done! Simple enough, huh?

Essentially, this would also be considered half of a typical "string block".

Things to remember for the BLISS circle:

Please try to keep your blocks at 6.5". This will make piecing it all together so much easier.

Use cool colors such as limes, greens, teals, aquas, blues, lavenders, and violets. You don't have to use your best fabrics! The colors are what's key here.

Make 8 blocks total. This is equal to making two 12.5" blocks.

Please check the discussion board on Flickr for the schedule and updates, and don't forget to post pics of your blocks for everyone to admire!!

HAVE FUN and THANK YOU for participating this round in the Bliss circle!!!

:-)

Michelle

Quilty Giveaways: Don't Forget

2011-01-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

Quilty Giveaways: Don't Forget: "... to enter the Paisley Pear pattern giveaway right here on the Quilty Giveaways blog. Giveaway closes tomorrow! ~ Norma Don't forget to..."

Shame, shame, shame.

2011-01-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

Shame on you. You know who you are. Fabriholics who hold on to their fabric until there is none of that print left anywhere. What reason do you have for selling a fat-quarter or a scrap for $45 freakin' dollars? That's called price gouging. It's mind boggling. IS there a valid reason? I can understand maybe an average HTF or OOP price of around $10; that's reasonable, I've done it. But pushing $40-$50 for the same square of cotton that everyone else is selling... Not fair and unbelievable. It doesn't make sense to me. Why would I pay your price of $45 when I can get it from another person by trading or swapping or (only) paying $10?

I'm sorry. You've lost your brownie points with this fabric collector.

That's like paying $6 for gas on corner A, when corner B is selling it for $3.

Or, like buying homes and flipping them to raise the value of the neighborhood.

Guess what? You've just over-inflated a very happy market for no reason.

Gouging Fabric Flippers.
Shame.

OFFICIAL ENTRY - Blogger's Pillow Party!!

2011-01-25T17:53:00.002-07:00

It's Fabric Tuesday at Quiltstory everyone! So I thought I'd sharea about my pillow I just finished today!

When Rachel over at Stitched In Color announced her Blogger's Pillow Party, I had to join. Had to. Why would I miss this? I couldn't pass up the opportunity to make myself a spanky new pillow and join the fun!

I've put in the last few stitches on the binding tonight; just in the nick of time!

You see, I have an old dark leather club-chair in my bedroom that was just begging for a little personality. It couldn't be to pretty or too plain. It's my husband's "sit, watch TV and eat ice cream" chair; so keeping it less frilly was a must. I decided to use Innocent Crush for the pluses and a linen border, with one little plus hand stitched with floss. I paired it with some Momo Freebird in an eggplanty color for the binding to bring out some of the darker colors in the palette. A buttoned closure was added in the back (my first time using my buttonholer {pat on the back}) and voila! A new piece of (manly-ish) prettiness for my room. It is a little more plump than I wanted, but I'm sure it will be squished down and perfectly comfy in no time.

I might not have done it perfectly, but it works. I'm pretty darn proud of me.

(chalk another one up for learning something new)

Thanks Rachel, for inviting me to party along! :-)

Nikki Tote Bag now available!

2011-01-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

It's here! It's here!!

So many of you have asked about the Nikki Tote Bag pattern (thank you!) and you'll be happy to know that's available now in my shop! I've made it super easy to understand and have included many clear photos to guide you along.

Thanks everyone for your continued interest in this pattern. I truly appreciate it! Now, go get one and start sewing!!

:-)

Me.

Ps. Don't forget to tell your friends, too!

Quilty Giveaways: Paisley Pear Quilts (Giveaway too!)

2011-01-22T20:57:00.001-07:00

Hey kids! Head over to Quilty Giveaways (see below) for a chance to win a copy of either Pretty Little Squares or Metro Link! Check out the post below from Norma (THANK YOU NORMA :-)). When I opened this post today, I was speechless. What a great way to start and end the day. Thank you EVERYONE for your continued support. It makes me so happy to create and write for you everyday.

From QuiltyGiveaways:
"Here is how you can enter to win.

Spread the Quilty Giveaway love. You know you love the site so tell others about it! Blog, tweet (@ PetitDesignCo), or FB post about this giveaway and include a link.
Head on over to Paisley Pear Quilts and tell me which pattern you would like to win.
Leave a comment or follow me!

Giveaway will close Jan 28th and winner will be chosen Jan 29th. You can't win if I can't contact you!!! Make sure you read this post to find out if you are a "no-reply blogger" or leave a disguised email in your post (suzyq at! email dot! com) so that spammers don't find you."

Original Post:
Quilty Giveaways: Paisley Pear Quilts (Giveaway too!): "Today I want to introduce you to one of our awesome sponsors Michelle is the creative genius behind this cute little shop with some very..."

Scrappy Linen Tote (Part 3)

2011-01-20T21:34:00.000-07:00

CORRECTION!!! YOU WILL NEED MORE THAN 2.25 YARDS OF FUSIBLE INTERFACING. TRY BUMPING IT UP TO 2-5/8 YARDS. So sorry, I forgot to add the handles into the measurements. Make sure you have enough before starting these last steps.

* This is step 3 of 3 in the Scrappy Linen Tote tutorial. If you would like to start at the beginning, click here*

Here is the last steps for making the Scrappy Linen Tote. They go fairly quick, so be prepared to enjoy your new bag today!!

If you've been following along, you should now be here:

Next, we will concentrate on the interior lining.

We need to take some measurements.

First, measure the width of your bag.

My bag (and yours) should measure roughly 16" across. Add 1" for seam allowance.

Next, measure the length from top to bottom.

My bag measured 18.5". No seam allowance is needed for the length.

My final cutting dimensions:

17" wide x 18.5" high

Cut 2 pieces of fabric and 2 pieces of fusible interfacing using your final dimensions.

For instance, I cut my 2 pieces @ 17" x 18.5". Yours may differ slightly.

After cutting the fabric and interfacing, you will need to fuse them together.

Place right sides facing and pin together.

Sew a 1/2" seam along each side and the bottom, leaving a 5" gap in the bottom seam for turning.

** Sorry, no picture here, but you will also need to sew a 1/2" seam along the bottom of your exterior bag. Turn the tube wrong-side out. Lay flat, making sure there is a seam along each side. Simply stitch the bottom closed.**

Now comes the gussets. Pay careful attention to these instructions. Each piece has it's own dimensions.

*I highly suggest doing this part with scissors so that you don't over-shoot your mark with a rotary blade.*

Ok, grab a marker, an acrylic ruler, and your scissors. Mark and cut these dimensions from the bottom corners of the interior and exterior bags.

INTERIOR BAG:

Mark and cut a square = 2.5"wide x 2.5"long from each corner.

EXTERIOR BAG:

Mark and cut a rectangle = 2"wide x 2.5" long from each corner.

This difference in measurement is due to the exterior bag not having a side seam allowance.

To make each gusset, open the square and match the side and bottom seam like this. Place the seam allowances in opposing directions, butting them against one another. This will ensure your outside seams will match perfectly.

*I don't recommend opening the seams flat for this step. The open seam is not as strong and may split open over time or with a heavy load.*

Sew the gussets with a 1/2" seam allowance, back-stitching at both ends.

SET THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR ASIDE FOR NOW.

It's handle time!

Gather your 4" x 24" pieces of linen. Fuse each strip to a piece of fusible interfacing. You can skip the interfacing if you like, but I would be very careful. Linen is very shifty. This stabilizes the fabric and gives the handles much more structure and strength.

Fold each piece in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Press with iron to make a crease.

Fold each side into the center and press.

Fold in half again and press.

Topstitch along BOTH edges. The short ends will be hidden in a seam. You may leave them raw.

Pin your handles to the bag with raw edges aligned.

I placed my straps lined up with the strips on the fabric, centered, about 4" apart.

Machine baste the straps 1/4" from the edge.

Next, mark the centers for each bag to easily align the bag pieces.

Place the exterior INSIDE the interior so that right sides are facing. Make sure the handles are sandwiched in between the interior and exterior.

Open the side seams and pin all the way around the top seam. Be sure the interior side seams are matched to the exterior side seams.

Sew around the top of the bag with a 1/2" seam.

Pull the bag through the hole in the lining.

It should look like this once you get it pulled through.

Now,

*Stitch the hole in the bottom closed.

*Push the interior back into the exterior.

*Press the top seam.

Topstitch all around the top seam.

I like to do a double line for my finishings.

To achieve this, you will need to stitch 1/8" away from the seam. Then, 1/4" away from the first stitch line.

THAT'S IT!! You're done!

Enjoy :-)

Sewing Spaces Focus - WIP Storage

2011-01-19T06:00:00.150-07:00

Check out this post at Shruti's site, www.13woodhouseroad.com. She is doing a bunch of post about sewing spaces. I was thrilled when she asked me to do a guest post for it! Read on to find out my simple solutions for WIP's! Also, visit her site for a ton of inspiration!

For many years I crafted at the kitchen table. Nothing ever had "it's place" and was normally pushed from the table, to the couch or a chair, and eventually into a plastic bag somewhere in a closet or a corner. I recently made my own little nook for sewing and crafting in the hallway. This didn't solve the problem of storage, it only gave me a new surface to pile it on. I soon found myself trying to think of how my projects (works in progress) can stay organized and stored neatly so that I could (and would) get back to them without losing pieces and parts. Keeping everything in a tight space can be tricky, but I think I've managed to keep it under control.

Here are some ideas I've come up with to keep my projects organized and handy when on the go.

HEXAGON PROJECT STORAGE:

This is an old bucket that was filled with tennis balls for the dog.

Currently, it's holding my fabrics for my hexagon quilt. I've got it organized by fabrics that are cut already, fabrics that need to be cut are in the plastic bags, and basted pieces are in the disposable Ziploc container.

I use this little Ziploc lunch tote to hold my hexies that I am stitching. It's perfect for the days I carpool, and fits in any purse or bag.

SMALL PROJECT STORAGE:

Again, I love using these containers! They really do come in handy and are inexpensive. And when you're not using them, it's back in the kitchen for another use.

This one is holding my Blogger's Pillow Party project. It is only a 9.5 cup capacity; holding 1 yard of fabric, buttons, and 3 pieces of patchwork. I also use them when doing mug-rugs, pincushions, embroidery...

OTHER PROJECTS:

This unit holds all of my quilts and projects that are in limbo. I try to keep them in baggies on their own shelf so that nothing gets mixed up. I can easily fit a quilt-top (completely sewn) on one of those shelves.

In here I have:

-2 quilts that are cut and waiting to be pieced

- a bag that is missing a piece and waiting for the new replacement fabric to arrive

- a make-up bag that I am trying to make a pattern for.

STORAGE ON THE BOARD:

This back-board is where I have started keeping bee-blocks and swap items. The blocks you see here are stacked and pinned to the board so they stay nice and wrinkle free.

Having a small space can be tricky when it comes to storing your projects. Using baggies and clear plastic containers may not be the prettiest storage, but it has helped keep my WIP's organized and simple to find.

Thanks everyone for taking a peek into my WIP storage solutions. I hope you are able to take a little bit back to your area for use! You can find more of my storage space back at ilikeorange, too! or over on my flickr.

Happy crafting!

:-)

Michelle

Scrappy Linen Tote - Part 2

2011-01-18T20:06:00.001-07:00

*This is the second post in a series of 3. To start at the beginning, click here.*

Are you all ready for part 2 of the Scrappy Linen Tote tutorial? Well, even if you're not, don't fret. Keep working at your own pace. I will be adding this as a page up there ^ with the complete instructions, all in one place. This way, you will be able to follow anytime, at your own pace!

Here it goes.

This is where you should be to start the next steps. Your 2 panels should be trimmed and squared to about 18.5". If you have more or less, don't sweat it. As long as they are the same length, it's all good. The next steps aren't crucial to have exact measurements.

Your seams should all be pressed in one direction on both panels. Either all to the left or all to the right. This is important - don't skip this part.

Next, simply sew the two panels together to make one big panel. You should have one large panel that has 32 strips. Press the center seam in the same direction as the rest.

Stop. Let's think about how we're moving on.

Are you using fusible interfacing? Keep reading for your next steps.

Are you planning to quilt your fabric? Scroll down until you see the word *QUILTERS* on the left.

Take your piece of fusible interfacing and lay it on the ironing board with the rough fusible side facing up. Place your panel on top of the interfacing with the right side facing up. The interfacing will be adhered to the backside of the panel.

Using the manufacturers instructions, iron the panel to fuse it in place. BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE IRON TO THE INTERFACING. Big mess. Huge. It will never come off and it will stain the front of your fabric. The only reason I don't have you cut it before fusing is because I am a little lazy and really enjoy shortcuts. :-)

*** Most of the time, especially with ShapeFlex, the best results (I find) are when I use a hot steamy iron, gently gliding around the fabric with bursts of steam. If you lift and press, and lift and press, you run the risk of missing spots and getting uneven results. (this is just my own opinion and experience)

When the fusing is complete, take it back to the mat and trim around the edges, removing any excess interfacing. Nothing perfect, just trim it right off.

{{{ BOBBIN CHECK }}}

Are we good on thread? good. moving on...

Now, topstitch again, along every single seam, from top to bottom, like the photo above.

*QUILTERS* If you are planning on quilting your fabric, now is the time to do it. Baste your batting to the panel and quilt away!

You should now have finished either TOPSTITCHING or QUILTING. Fold the panel in half, right sides together, and pin it along the side seam only. My pins are on the right side of this photo. The fold is on the left.

Stitch with a 1/4" seam along your pinned side only. You should now have a tube-like structure. Try your best to press the seam in the same direction as the others.

TOPSTITCHERS: Go back to the machine and carefully topstitch this last seam.

QUILTERS: This is going to be your side seam. You may want to topstitch here so that your side seam will be flat and not bulky from the batting.

Look! it can stand up on it's own!

Ok kids. This is all for tonight.

Next up: the eazy-peazy interior, handles and assembly!!! The last steps, and they will move really quick. The worst parts are over. Take a deep breath and a good stretch... Pat yourself on the back, you've done a fabulous job!

I'll probably be back on Thursday night with the rest. Hang tight!

Have you taken pics of your progress? Send me a link! I wanna see!!!

Love takes time.

2011-01-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

Just a little update on my Blogger's Pillow Party entry...

It's taking me some serious time, but I think the worst part is over. (This is 19 square inches of pure pain in my patooty.) 361 little 1" squares. I've used the fusible web method to piece it together. I highly doubt this (brilliant idea) was invented for use with linen and cotton combined with such teeny little pieces. However, beyond all the whining, sliced and burned fingers, I have to admit that I am truly in love with this!!

McLovin'. For sure.

Now just to quilt it, slap a back on it, bind it, and stuff it. Good thing I've got 11 days before the deadline!

New Tutorial - Scrappy Linen Tote (part 1)

2011-01-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

Scrappy Linen Tote Tutorial

Part 1

This is a tutorial for my Scrappy Linen Tote. It's a perfect size for books, needlework, and the market. I'll be breaking it up into a couple of posts so that you have time to absorb and complete each section. I've also included a ton of photos to guide you through the process. This project is super simple, as I will only be using items that are simple to find, or you may already have on hand. No hardware, no pockets (though, you may add your own); just simple construction and very utilitarian. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Now, let's begin!

Supplies:

FABRIC: For this bag I've used Anna Maria Horner's Innocent Crush fabric and 100% natural linen.

*1/2 yard cotton fabric for interior.

*approx. 3/8 yard of 54" wide linen. (if using cotton, adjust your yardage to about 1/2 - 5/8 yard.)

Subcut Linen to:

- (2) pieces = 4" x 24" each (for the handles)

- (3 or 4) pieces = 1.5" x Width of Fabric (WOF)

*(32) 1.5" strips of scrap fabric - random pieces 10" to 16" in length.

-For my bag, I cut 1.5" strips from the short side of my fat quarters.

*2.25 yards of light/mid-weight fusible interfacing, such as Pellon SF-101 (ShapeFlex)

-you may also choose to use cotton batting and quilt your bag instead of fusing the interfacing. In this case, you will need (2) 20" squares of cotton batting and 1 yard of 20" wide lightweight fusible interfacing for the interior.

TOOLS:

*rotary mat (preferably 24" x 36", no smaller than 18" x 24")

*acrylic ruler

*rotary cutter

*scissors

*masking tape

*pins

*coordinating thread

*iron and ironing board

OPTIONAL:

1/4" presser foot (piecing and topstitching)

Blind hem, edgestitch, or stitch-in-the-ditch presser foot with ability to move needle left or right (topstitching)

Let's begin!

Press and cut your fabrics as indicated in the fabric requirements.

With masking tape, make 2 lines on your mat, just over 19" apart. Place the tape just outside the lines. You will be cutting on these lines, so you will want to see them. The tape will act as a guide for your scrap placement.

Now we will begin making our fabric for the exterior. The goal is to make 2 panels, each containing 16 strips.

Place some strips (8 or 16) along the right line of tape so that they stagger on the left. You don't want the left side to touch the tape. Your longest piece should fall no less than 2" from the left line.

Next, take a WOF strip of linen and fill in the gap between the prints and the left-side tape. Cut the strips with scissors as you go.

You should now have something that resembles this.

Now, flip the pieces of linen onto your strips, matching the short ends.

(ie. place right sides facing)

Stack your strips, keeping them in order.

(You may also choose to number your strips with a water soluble marker)

Take you strips over to the machine and sew along the short edge with a 1/4" seam. Chain piecing makes this super quick and will help you keep your pieces in order.

Keep the chain together and take the pieces over to the ironing board.

(I chose to not cut the threads between the pieces, so that I would not lose my order.)

Flip the linen up and press the seam. Your seams should also be pressed toward the linen.

Keep your threads in tact and take the strips back over to the machine for topstitching.

The photos below show 2 different ways to a 1/8" topstitch. Either way, you will be completing the stitching onto the linen, not the cotton.

Use your blind hem or edgestitch foot, moving the needle all the way to the right or left.

Or, use your 1/4" piecing foot (or any other foot) and stitch 1/8" away from the seam, onto the linen.

Take your strips back over to the mat.

NOW, you may cut your threads.

Keep the strips in order and re-position the linen ends along the masking tape.

Place your ruler along the line and trim the ends so they are even.

Repeat on the right side to trim the cotton strips. Your strips should now all measure about 19".

Take your strips back to the machine and sew them together on the long edge of each strip.

Sew all your strips together to make 2 panels of 16 strips.

Because these panels never end up straight along the top and bottom edges, you will need to trim your panels to square/straighten them up. My panels squared to 18.5" high. Do not worry about trimming the sides.

We'll stop here for now. I will be back on Tuesday night to show you how to finish it up!

Have a great week everyone!

;-)

Michelle

Planning... Blogger's Pillow Party!

2011-01-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

Hey kids! Have you heard? Rachel over at Stiched in Color is having a Blogger's Pillow Party! Fun, right? Right! You should definitely head over to her blog and check it out. There's even a giveaway each month. It's a win-win situation. A new pillow for you and a chance for some new stash. Perfect! I'm in.

Time is ticking away for this month, so I decided it's time to get stitchin'. I did some doodling at work today and ended up with this. (gotta love the highlighter art!) I know it's all been done before, but I really am loving the +'s lately. The eye-wandering tesselations are really cool. I especially love them in mini form. Actually, I love anything in mini form.

I was really in love with my idea until I got home and attempted to try it out.

You see, I was going to use a method I saw on OhFransson a long time ago, that uses fusible interfacing to quick piece squares. However, I started to draw my grid on the interfacing and miscalculated my measurements a wee bit. Dang it. This stuff only comes 20" wide, I need about a 29" square. Maybe I can find a way to make it work. We'll see.

Maybe I'll go with plan B or C? (as soon as I figure out exactly what they are)

Or... Maybe I'll go with D - re-create my log cabin afghan in a different color and scale it to pillow size? hhhmmmm... The possibilities are endless!

Have you joined? What are you doing for your pillow? Post a link here!

upgrading.

2011-01-12T19:46:00.000-07:00

awww, crappy. I finally hit 200 photos on Flickr. Not that it's totally crappy, I just was trying to avoid paying for the Pro account (I'm cheap like that). Sorry kids, no more uploads to my Flickr until Friday. Good thing - because that's the day before Saturday, which is when I will be uploading my first tutorial for a tote! I think you're gonna likey.

I guess it's official. I'm a pro. (ha. ha. ha.)

I was also thinking that if I'm upgrading there, I might do it here and turn this into a .com... But I'm not sure of the pro's and con's yet.

Any suggestions???

Thanks in advance :-)

PS. I've got a grand total of 420 hexies basted. Yay! Only about 750 to go!