Napkins

Years ago when I was lots younger, with young kids, and not a lot of cash, I still wanted to give everyone Christmas gifts. I decided to make napkins! I used the most lovely calico fabrics, enclosing each square with a mitered corner frame. As ugly as we'd all think they are now, I worked very hard on making them perfect, and I used mine untill they died. I think my Mom is the only one maybe still hanging on to a couple. (Love you mom!)

A few weeks ago I went to the Jacksonville quilt show. I had a great time wandering through seeing some amazing quilts, trying out long arms (oh how I miss you Millenium) and looking through shops. Jacksonville very few fabric shops for such a large city, so it was fun to see such variety in one place. 

At one shop I spotted this piece of Farmers Market by Sandi Henderson and not far from that I saw a fabric I'd not seen before. I found out it's by Hoodie, whom I've also never heard of, though she has been designing fabric for years. This line is called Vegie Patch. The eggplant fabric was all I could find at the show. There on the spot I decided to revisit my napkin making. We go through a lot of napkins but I also do a lot of laundry so why not combine the two.... After looking at the line, the eggplant is my favorite, but I want to get the others to make more napkins, four is not enough.

They finished out at about 22 inches. I love the mitered corners. I made these by just wrapping the fabric from the back and framing my focus fabric. The solid green is Kona Grass. Is there anything you made years ago that you've decided to make again? I wonder if in twenty more years I'll think this fabric was a "lovely" choice?

Emptying the Cupboard II

Back when I worked at the most amazing shop on earth, I ordered this fabric. Avignon by American Jane for Moda. I started this sample, the whole bolt of red focus fabric sold, and I lost momentum. I was using a pattern from this book and had even sewn most of the left over odd shaped triangles together for the edging. 

It went into the cupboard and never came out again  

Fast forward two years.....Out comes the project. I realize there is not enough of anything to finish this project, and I'm determined to finish it without spending any more money. After a panic, a cup of   coffee and messing a bit carefully planning, I found some blue kona in my stash, unpicked all those triangles and set them on their sides, then used the kona for the corner blocks and backing. What looks like a wide binding is actually the backing wrapped to the front and the corners mitered. 

Since it will be used as a tablecloth, I didn't use batting. After sewing it together I hand quilted some of the hexagons with a size 5 variegated pearl thread.

Whew! Done, just in time for a picnic before the weather changes!

Emptying the Cupboard I

This will be the first of a few posts on finishing projects. I have this cupboard that Jess gathered all of my unfinished projects into and I couldn't get the door shut. It made me sad. She basically told me to either throw it away or get the silly things done. She can be tough but she did finish a rug for me to get me started. I whined a bit more and then I got started. This is my first finish, now I just need to remember how to go to the post office.

I could also have titled this, "Sorry I Didn't Answer the Phone Mom, I Was Working On Your Quilt" or maybe..... "Yes Mom, Your Quilt IS Done But No, It's Not In The Mail".

 Please, please ignore the lint.

When my mom was out for a visit last year she asked if I would make her a quilt for her guest room. I told her yes, but only if she'd help. So she decided she wanted a Turning Twenty, picked out her fabrics, helped me cut them up, and before she left we almost had the top done. I finished the borders fairly quickly and started quilting it, and then I started working  and my life went kinda topsy-turvy stopped. About two months ago with Jess, Micah and You Know Who keeping me company, I finished the simple (really?) straight line quilting. I used a blue variegated thread which made a nice grid pattern on the back. It finished out queen size with a bit of overhang, I hope..
I should have taken pictures of Micah and Grandpa "helping" me mark the lines... I hollered a lot, they thought it was funny. Sorry mom, even after a washing it'a a bit used (and still full of lint).
Oh, and Mom, it is in a box... I need to set it in front of the door so I won't forget to take it to the post office...

For those that are still reading, and asked where I work and what I do now, this is for you. Through a series of strange timing and weirdly connected events I am now working as an office manager for a small company that specializes in an area of building, both commercial and upper end residential. I really like it and if I can learn everything they need me to do in a timely manner, I think they'll really like me. No, it's not in the crafty creative vein that I love so much but it is a position where I take care of things and people, so now I concentrate on the part of me that likes organization. Judging from the first part of my post I've neglected that side a bit too long eh? It is funny though, I did manage to meld a bit of what I learned about display to make the books that hold the jobs legible. Such a little thing and it made me happy.

Whether She Wanted It Or Not

One of my co-workers had a birthday last week. With only two days to come up with something, I decided on a bag. We don't know each other well, but you know me..... I'd rather make a gift than purchase something. I made it up as I went along because that's the way I roll these days. I may have gone a bit out of her comfort zone color-wise. It's kind of a lunch bag, carry-all type of thing.

 I took these pictures with my phone the morning I finished it.

 I should have been on my way to work.

 The color is brighter than I remember it being. Poor woman, I think she prefers black.....

It's the thought that counts.... right??

Jelly Roll 1600

Have you heard of this? It's one of those things you can easily do instead of doing a million other things you should be doing. I twisted Jessica's arm the other night and made her sew the majority of the top. I first saw it here and also here. Some quilters race to see who can finish sewing first. I have a lot few jelly roll type fabrics sitting around collecting dust  as decoration. We chose the Charisma line and within a couple of hours (way over the fastest race time) had a fun lap size top. It's now in the pile of unfinished projects until I get to the next step.

Do you have 40 strips of fabric lying around doing nothing? You might want to try this for fun!

So Very Behind

On things I want to share......

Been mostly just living in the moment and barely remembering to take pictures. When I do, things can get a bit silly. The results are not pretty. 

You've been warned.

I made another Butterick 4789 from fabric I bought on my last trip to Hilco with Kelly. (Miss you!) I'd been meaning to make it and when I realized how well it went with my skirt, I finally took the time. I love it.

Not sure what I was doing with my face. 

This was the only decent close-up. I was trying to make a point to Jess about relaxing and having fun with photos. She thought I wouldn't be crazy brave enough to post them.

Just before this silly photo shoot, a friend arrived to do a live blood analysis. She had to poke my finger to get the a fore mentioned live blood. That face?? What can I say, I don't like pain and Jess you're mean! 

Poor Charlotte didn't know whether to laugh at me or slap me but she is a kind gentile lady and chose to smile through the the three second ordeal.

This was very interesting. My blood is fairly healthy for my age...... She did have some suggestions for changes I can make that could make it even better and possibly help me to feel more energetic. I'm working on those now. 

 I've been told time and time again that the only reason you all keep coming back is to see the boy. I know it's true so I've decided to leave you with these cute boy shots. Last week we were fortunate enough to wake up with he and his mom in the house. I decided to torment him with the triangle bag again. He's beginning to see it has  some advantages.

He's so fun and so funny! 

Ice Cream Dress

I wanted a gift for a young friend and decided on the Ice Cream Dress. It's the first time I've used this pattern. I love Oliver + S patterns and this one is no exception. 

 The fabric is Fleur d'Paris for Henry Glass.

I hope she likes it!

Bias Skirt

If you don't follow Crafterhours, (you should really check them out, they are nice people who say nice things about me....) then you don't know about this skirt. Jess and I made this tutorial for their skirt week.  It is an easy bias skirt we made from linen and jersey knit. 

I want to wear mine all the time. 

Seriously.

Go to Crafterhours for the tutorial.

If you happen to make a shirt, the skirt waistband and the skirt in the same color fabric, you can have something that looks like a dress but is far more versatile. 

Outtakes.........

We're so lucky he puts up with us.

Hammock vs Uber

Guess who won?

More Mindless Sewing.

Since the deadline for Spring Top Week 2011 was extended through 8 pm tonight, I decided to sew a second top after work last night. I used the left over fabric from my first top and cut a simple tank shape on the bias. For the back I cut it just slightly higher than the front.  I got it a bit too wide so had to fuss with it for longer than I cared. There wasn't quite enough fabric for the length I wanted but seeing quite a few tops in the pool with bands on the bottom that I liked, I decided to do the same thing. I cut the band twice the width I needed, also on the bias. Folded it in half and sewed it to the bottom.... No hemming...Made tape for the neck and arm holes from the bodice fabric. 

Silly flower made from left over band fabric cut on the bias, in one inch strips, folded in half, gathered and randomly sewn into a wonky shape. I just pinned it on the shirt for now.

I wore it all day and it was very comfortable, almost as good as having a knit shirt on. 

Spring Top Sew Along 2011

I really didn't think I'd get anything done in time. Life has just been busy that way....

Long story short, inexpensive seersucker-like fabric from Joann's, Simplicity 2936, and an idea. 

Not sure it was a good idea, but it's wearable and that's what counts.

 Right?

You know who thinks Brink should be in every picture.

I wanted to make sleeves that overlapped at the shoulders so re-cut two pieces on the bias. I decided to see what will happen to the raw hem of the sleeves. I also cut a not too ruffly ruffle for the neckline on the bias planning to leave that unfinished too. 

Not sure I'll use the pattern again. It's basic but boxy. Too wide for me everywhere except the hip area. 

It's not the pattern, it's me. I'm a pear. 

I reversed the ruffle fabric to the "wrong" side because it made it pop a bit more with the backside having a more pronounced slightly shiny line.

I wore it all day. It felt comfortable and I think was adequately cute.

Now to see what happens when I wash it....