A little bit of show and tale!

So in the past couple of weeks I have finished 3 quilts. I figured now is a good time to share them since they have been received (well all but one but the receiver knows about it!!) And then I started getting the pictures off my phone and realized that I made a 4th one last fall and never blogged about it. Maybe this should be multiple blogs but I think I can manage with one post. 

The first is the one from last fall. Hubby's cousin was expecting her first child and she wanted a custom quilt. They live in TX and are big Longhorns fans. She wanted something western but not cute-sy and she liked the colors blue and green. After sketching I came up with an idea and went for it. 

 I did the math and made it strip by strip. And pieced it together.....

Good thing Texas isn't too curvy!!

I used Pellon Batting and a fun fleece backing. 

I'm not sure why I didn't take a better picture of it but in the middle of the state, I quilted the Longhorn sign and then quilted around it until it became wavy lines. The rest was quilted on the diagonal.

I think that he enjoyed it!!

The next quilt was also a custom order. She wanted pink and grey in chevrons and dots and loved sock monkeys. Plus a name on it.

Some sketching....

And then whipping it up!

 The name is appliqued on and the monkey is a combination of applique and hand sewing. This was the basis for the monkey. I didn't use a real bow because I wanted it to be baby-safe!

Here's the finished product.

I used Pellon batting as usual and quilted the chevrons with vertical lines and quilted diagonals with the dots. I did a simple echo around her name and the monkey. Baby is due soon and I can't wait to see pics of her on it!

This next one was a quickie for my cousins baby shower. I hadn't planned on making it but I found this super cute Minky (yes I said that word) panel of the Cat in the Hat and coordinating backing so I had to throw this together!!

 I have heard of stories from others about sewing with Minky and I will never do it again! I don't care how soft it is!!! It made such a mess that I trimmed it outside. And then, with a layer of Pellon batting, it was so thick that I had to cut it down in order to bind it. Such a pain in so many ways.

 I quilted it in Aurifil black and a matching shade of blue. I outlined the cat and then sewed wavy lines between the lines of text. So stinking cute and a day project but Minky is BAD!!! lol

I have decided that this post is getting a little long so I will stop here and continue on with the Purple Monster of a Quilt in the next post!!!

Stay warm and keep on creating!!

~K

Let me introduce you to a couple of my friends.....

So this winter is the worst I think I have ever been through. Lots of things have happened- mostly for the negative and with the excess cold and other personal things going on, it has been pretty tough. I don't really have anyone to talk to about it because a couple people that I thought were my friends have really let me down....but that's another story!

So anyways, as crappy as I feel about things, there are a couple of my friends out there that are doing wonderful things for themselves and others and are fulfilling their dreams so I wanted to take a minute and tell you about them!

The first is my pal Rachel who resides over at Imagine Gnats as well as a few other places around the net. I met her online and got to hang out with her in Cincy at Maker Fair. She is even more amazing in person and her husband is awesome!! She is amazing at designing clothes patterns for women and kiddos. The thing about her stuff that I love it that it is made for people of all sizes! Not just stick people with no curves. She has a wonderful blog and shop and all sorts of goodies on her site so go check it out!

Once you see how awesome she is, take a stroll over to here. Her patterns are currently in PDF form and she is taking the next step to have them printed on paper.This is a HUGE step in the right direction for her but it doesn't come cheap. She is having a fundraiser to help cut down some of these costs. She has some amazing perks for those that donate. With your contribution you can get some of her amazing patterns and even a custom item made by her just for you!! 

So go check her out and give her some LOVE!!

The 2nd person I want to introduce you to is the Fabulous Lisa Sipes. You can read her full story here but let me tell you that she is amazing. She has long-arm quilted many fabulous quilts and won some amazing rewards. She recently moved to Philly and I don't think that town will ever be the same!!!

She has to have the biggest heart that I know. She volunteers in homeless shelters and her goal is to open a home for youth in the LGBT community. She gives selfishly of her heart and her time. She has started a campaign to raise money to put towards her dream . You can read all about it here and feel free to show her some LOVE!!

So I hoped you enjoyed meeting my friends. I promise to be back on here soon with a couple projects I have finished- 2 baby blankets and crazy purple quilt!

Take care and stay warm!!

~K

Mosaic Tiles Quilt Along: Aeroplane Bag

Good Day Folks! 

So happy to be here helping out Lindsay promote her book. I absolutely love it and there are a couple of quilts I can't wait to make!

When I first heard about this I knew it would be fun to make part of the quilt top and turn it into a bag. But what bag? I have a long list of bags I want to make (much to my husbands disgust!) so I thought it would be a good time to try one out. I am absolutely in love with anything SewSweetness so I decided to try out her Aeroplane bag pattern. This is a larger bag perfect for an overnight trip or getaway weekend!!

The next step was deciding on the fabric. Never an easy job. I finally decided on a charm pack of Bluebird Park by Kate and Birdie for Moda. Who can resist some cute squirrels and hedgehogs??

The next step was to figure out how many blocks I needed to make for the bag. I got out my trusty graph paper and worked out the numbers. I decided to use the blue background on the top and the green on the bottom. I made them a little bigger so that I wouldn't have too small pieces.  

Once I had the blocks made and assembled I decided to quilt the panel pieces. I wanted a little more thickness so I put a layer of leftover batting between the fabric and the Soft & Stable. The Soft & Stable was cut to the appropriate size and the batting and fabric were a little bigger. 

I recently got this amazing book by Angela Walters 

so I used this opportunity to try something different on the top- which I loved!

Not perfect but definitely fun to try! 

I kept the bottom a little simpler.

I was thinking about turning it into diamonds but I really liked this look.

The bag pattern calls for zippered pockets inside but I had some extra strips of the blocks left over so I used these to make normal pockets on the inside and I partitioned them. 

As you can also see I used some bright yellow for the lining. I love bright colors inside so that you can see what is lurking in your bag!

I also added feet to the bag. Feet are super easy to do- if you can use brads you can use these! I went with silver and used 8 of them. I always use some extra batting- or in this case Soft & Stable when attaching them to make it a little more secure. 

Here's what it looked like on the outside.

Once that was done I finished the bag as directed and it came out great!!

It was super fun trying out a new quilt pattern and a bag pattern! I am super stoked that I got to be apart of this quilt along with Lindsay and wish her the best of luck with her book as well as her new little guy!!

Take care and Sew on!

~Kim

Yes, I am still around! (Just barely!!)

Happy New Year!!

I know it's a few days too late but things are just now getting mildly back to normal.....as normal as it can be with temps well below zero and a couple feet of snow on the ground which equals no work or school for a couple of extra days!

Since my last posting.....sometime last year....we have gotten all moved in, painted, had one side of family out for Turkey day, got a puppy, had other side of family out for Christmas, went to Ohio to celebrate holidays here, and came back home! Makes me tired just thinking about it!

I finished my first project of the year. My friend Lindsay Connor wrote an amazing book about making quilts in a sewing bee. 

In honor of the book, she put together a Quilt A Long for one of the quilts in the book- Mosaic Tiles. I volunteered to join in and instead of using the blocks for a quilt, I made a bag! (Shocker I know!) And it couldn't be just any old bag, it had to be one by my other pal Sara Lawson! The Aeroplane Bag to be precise!

So anyways, I finished it today...can't show pictures yet but I will share the fabric I used....

Bluebird Park by Moda! How can you resist Hedgehogs and Squirrels??

So grab a link and join in- or just stop by to see what everyone else has made- and check me out on the 15th to see how the bag turned out!!

Take care and stay warm!!

~Kim

The Things I Do For My Friends....

One thing that I seem to complain about the most is how hard it is to be a friend of Sara Lawson's. She has a habit of "forcing" me to make beautiful bags and then keep them stashed away out of the public's view until she says it is time. The bag I made for her book was definitely hard to keep a lid on. Although I must say that since I had to send it to her, it did keep my mind off of it!! (The whole out of sight, out of mind thing!)

The process of making this bag was a lot of fun! We had to pick the bag style that we wanted to make and then the fabric that we wanted! Sara received some wonderful fabrics to use and it was hard to pick! I was super happy when she sent me the Robert Kaufman Brrr fabrics!!! I fell in love with the polar bear once I saw it!

The pattern itself- like hers always are- was great and detailed and a joy to make. I don't have a lot of pictures of the actual process but I did sneak in a couple pictures of the bag before I sent it away.....shhhhh....I probably wasn't supposed to do this!

How can you not love a polar bear holding flowers??

And ignore the mess in the background.....lol

In case you were wondering, here is what the cover of the book looks like...

You can pre-order it on Amazon or order a signed copy direct from Sara! 

Once you get your book, head to the back of it (she saved the best for last of course) and you will see the pattern for my bag- The Sound Check Bag- and look for this picture of my bag-

Love the white chair!

I also stumbled upon this picture from Quilt Market in Houston where Sara was talking about her book! 

Not really sure who I borrow this pic from on FB but thank-you! See my wonderful bag??!! And of course the amazing Sara Lawson!!

So in all honesty, if you want to try and make your own bags, Sara's book is the book to own. She puts her heart and soul into every pattern and she doesn't stop until everything is perfect. She has been known to sew and rip apart seam after seam to make sure that the instructions are clear and the end result is amazing. I am blessed to have her as a friend and if you ever have questions about her patterns or bags, she is more than happy to help you out!!

Take care, stay warm and sew on!!

~Kim

More Catch Up!!

Here they are! Things are craazy here with a closing date set for the house and all the tons of paperwork and 3 weekends of craziness!!

55

 56

 57

 58

 59

 60

 61

 62

 63

Sara is still doing her link-up for all the blocks....I don't know how she keeps it all together! Especially with Purse Palooza going on!!!

55-57

58-60

61-63

We will be closing on the house in Mid-November so things will be getting even more crazy. Here's where we are at now! Outside is mostly done and they have drywall up. Soon they will be adding the interior fixtures!!

~K

My Purse Palooza Bag!!

Announcing Purse Palooza 2013!!

I am happy to be participating in Purse Palooza this year with a special purse sewing pattern review! Here's how the event works:

1. Every weekday from September 30th - October 25th, there are 2 amazing guest bloggers scheduled to share with you a purse sewing pattern review. None of the purses reviewed from the event last year are being reviewed again, so these will be fresh sewing pattern reviews! The review will contain detailed information about what I thought about the sewing pattern, modifications I made, what kind of interfacing I used, and more! Get inspired!

Aeroplane Bags

2. Even more exciting...THERE WILL BE A GIVEAWAY EVERY WEEKDAY DURING THE EVENT! That's right, 20 GIVEAWAYS! 

3. At the end of the event, you will get a chance to show me your purse in order to win some amazing prizes! Of course, international entries are welcome too!

Dot Dot Dash Bag

Pattern Review Schedule
All About Bag Interfacing

September 30 - Sara - Sew Sweetness (Serendipity Studio - Media Frenzy Camera Bag)

                       Kim - My Go-Go Life (Sew Sweetness Lilium Laptop Bag)

October 1 -       Samantha - At Home with Mrs. H. (Chris. W. Sugar and Spice Bag)

                       Rachael - Imagine Gnats (Bari J. Green Living Bag)

October 2 -       Anna - Charmed Liebling (Studio Kat Tandem Tote)

                       Mary - Mary on Lake Pulaski (Primitive Pieces Ewe Old Bags)

October 3 -       Lindsay - Lindsay Sews (Diaper Bag)

                       Joanna - Tutinella (Oliver + S Messenger Bag)

October 4 -       Andrea - Mouse in my Pocket (Michelle Patterns Pleated Wristlet)

                       Elena - Hot Pink Stitches (Sewing Rabbit Tote)

                       Angela - AngelaB (Amy Butler Sophia Bag)

October 7 -       Tiffany - This Crafty Fox (Two Peas Ava Bag)

                        Lana Parks - Moments of Sanity in a Crazy World (Dog Under My Desk Two Zip Hipster)

October 8 -        Allegory - A Thousand Needles (Sew Sweetness Aeroplane Bag)

                        Gina - Gina Pina (Echino Gathered Bag)

October 9 -        Katy - Imagingermonkey (Made By Rae Lickety Split Bag)

                        Ali - a2w (Melly and Me Sleepover Bag)

October 10 -      AnneMarie - Gen X Quilters (Michelle Patterns Strap Clutch)

                        Jaye - Art Quiltmaker (Oliver+S Day in the Park Backpack)

October 11 -      Kim - Kim's Krafts (Charlie's Aunt Anglia Bag)

                        Kerry - very kerry berry (Carolyn Friedlander/Noodlehead Social Tote)

October 14 -      Katie - Swim Bike Quilt (Style Stitches Origami Bag)

                        Amy - Diary of a Quilter (Noodlehead Divided Basket)

October 15 -      DeeAnn (Rebecca Lambert Corduroy Patchwork Bag)

                        R0ssie - Fresh Modern Quilts (Lotta Jansdotter Gardening Tote)

October 16 -      Elizabeth - Don't Call Me Betsy (Noodlehead Super Tote)

                        Laura - Quokka Quilts (Moonshine Designs Bella Bag)

October 17 -      Cindy - Raspberry Sunshine (AMH Right Turn Bag)

                        Emily - EmmmyLizzzy (Pleated Beauty from Bend the Rules Sewing)

October 18 -      Jess - Elven Garden (Emmaline Necessary Clutch)

                        Brenda - Pink Castle Fabrics (Green Bee Vera Bag)

October 21 -      Katy - The Littlest Thistle (Momma Hear Me Roar Tohoku Tote)

                        Joanna - Shape Moth (Emmaline Boyd St. Bowling Bag)

October 22 -      Penny - Sew Take a Hike (Patchwork Bag by Akemi Shibata)

                        Corinna - Another Thing Off the List (Amy Butler Belle Bag)

October 23 -      Teresa - Crinkle Dreams (Drop Top Messenger Bag from Stitch Magazine)

                        Natasha - House Full of Nicholes (Dog Under My Desk Daytripper)

October 24 -      Kay - Miss Print (Amy Butler Birdie Sling)

                        Terri - Sew Fantastic (Michelle Patterns Inset Zipper Clutch)

October 25 -      Emily - Mommy's Naptime (Duffle Bag)

                        Julianna - Sewing Under the Rainbow (Studio Kat Gadabout Bag)

Lapin Noir Bag

Contest Rules

1. Check out all the purse pattern reviews throughout the month and get inspired to sew up a purse of your own!

2. Link up your completed purse on the Purse Palooza 2013 page BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 30th AND NOVEMBER 11th. Your purse must be created and photographed between those dates; purses made prior to September 30, 2013 will be disqualified. The purse may be of your own design, or made from a sewing pattern. You can link from Flickr, your blog post, or wherever else you host your photos.

3. There is no limit to how many purses you may enter, as long as they were made between September 30th and November 11th. Only one link-up per purse please.

*Note: Besides bags and purses, for this event also acceptable are clutches, backpacks, wallets, etc.

Greenbacks Wallet Trio

Prizes

 

This year, there will be 1st-4th prize winners chosen from all those that submit a purse during the event. There will also be a randomly-drawn winner out of everyone who enters!

1st prize - 4th prize will receive an AWESOME prize pack courtesy of Pat Bravo, genius fabric designer extraordinaire! The prize packs will each include 3 Pat Bravo sewing patterns (La Boheme Skirt, Barcelona Bag, and Capri Bag), a pack of Pat Bravo Aurifil Threads (thread pack may vary, as there are 3 different packs), and 10 Pat Bravo fat quarters (fat quarters may vary).

In addition, the 1st prize - 4th prize winners will also receive a copy of Sara Lawson's new book, Big-City Bags!! The book releases November 5th, and you can pre-order your book now!

Retail value of each prize pack: $127.

There will also be one randomly-drawn winner out of all purses entered, and this winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to my publisher, Martingale (as well as a copy of Big-City Bags!).

Retail value of prize pack: $77.

Judging

Purse Palooza will be judged this year by Kay Whitt of Serendipity Studio. Kay writes the most stylish and fun-to-sew clothing patterns and bag patterns out there.

Thank you to all of the wonderful sponsors that are supporting this event!

Pat Bravo  //  Bari J.  //  Emmaline Bags  //   V. and Co.  //

Chris W. Designs  //  Betz White  //  Amy Butler  //  

Artsy Crafty Babe  //   Charlie's Aunt  //   Noodlehead  //

Dog Under My Desk  //    By Annie's  //  Studio Kat  //  

Handmade with Mrs. H.  //  ModKid  //  Made by Rae  //  Indygo Junction  //  Melly & Me  //  Serendipity Studio  //  Anna Maria Horner  //  Martingale Publishing

Grab a button!!

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.sewsweetness.com/2013/09/purse-palooza-2013.html" title="Sew Sweetness"><img src="http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab257/bluemerleboutique/pursepalooza12.jpg" alt="Sew Sweetness" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

 

So when Sara asked me if I wanted to join in on this I was super excited! Of course I said yes and then came the hard part.....choosing a bag that I liked and that hadn't already been done before. Sara passed on a list with a few links in it and I came across a shop that I loved!! It is on Etsy and is by Emma Brennan and is called Charlie's Aunt. She makes vintage inspired purse patterns that are super cute!! I picked the Anglia Bag and love it!!

The next challenge was to find the fabric to use. It calls for wool or other heavy fabric. I wasn't sold on that type of fabric- nothing wrong with it but not quite my style either. I came across this wonderful fabric from Hawthorne Threads and knew it was what I wanted to use. It is called Stamped Flowers in Lime and Leaves in Lime and Navy from the Pure Collection by STOF House Desinger. I then matched it with some Nautical Blue Kona and Aurifil #2784.

This is quilt weight cotton, so to make up for not being as heavy I interfaced it with Pellon 911FF which is my go to for bags. It is a heavy weight interfacing and gives it body. I also used Soft and Stable by Annie instead of the quilted batting to give it extra stability. I used this in the straps, front and back body of the bag, pocket, flap, and tab. I also didn't feel the need to use a false bottom because of the soft and stable.

For the button I used one from my local quilt shop. It was bright red and by Confetti. The snap I used was one I had on-hand and it is in an Onyx finish and is by Everything Mary.

So let's talk about the actual pattern. One thing I liked was that she has a page dedicated to equipment and terms (she uses abbreviations through-out the pattern) and directions for snaps and interfacing. I find it better to have this all in one place instead of in the middle of the pattern. It is easier for those that have more experience to skip over. 

I know that a lot of people really like the full color pictures for each step but I am not one of those. Occasionally I find them helpful but I hate having to use the ink to print them off. Instead of the pictures, she has very simple diagrams that are clear and useful. They are numbered so that they are easy to reference back to. There were actually only 3 pages of directions for the entire bag and they were clear and concise and great. 

The bag itself was really easy to make even though it looks like it might be complicated. It was a little rough flipping the bag ride side out since the top is smaller than the bottom but the Soft and Stable is flexible enough that it can be smooshed up and then ironed back out with no wrinkles! I did have trouble sewing the button on at the end since it was going right on top of the magnetic slap. Not sure how to get around this. I did the best I could and will hope that it doesn't fall off!!

(Note: the first sew-on of the button lasted about a week. I then re-sewed it on with more stitches and some fray check and glue in intricate places and this seems to have worked. I checked in with the author about this issue and she said that she usually uses a button with a shank on it, which prevents this problem and/or she moves the button so that it is off of the snap area!)

Here is my bag:

I am very impressed with how it came out. The snaps and tab lined up perfectly which is always a plus. I love the colors and the pop of the button.

I am definitively going to have to try some of her other patterns out. When I see them I think of Jacki O. using these bags. 

Thanks for playing along with Purse Palooza! I hope that you have enjoyed seeing everyone's takes on these wonderful bag patterns- I know that I have. And I can't wait to see what everyone makes!!

~Kim