Friday, January 31, 2014

2014 quilt top and back done!



This week I finished the quilt top AND finished the pieced backing for a small quilt. 

Fabrics included in quilt top: border print from Kate Spain's Terrain collection. Kona 'snow' used as the white sashing. And the prints are a mix of Bonnie and Camille's 'Bliss' fabric and Olive Tree Textiles 'Fandango'. 


The back is pieced because my math skills failed me, but I still am a fan. I knew I was going to have a hard time locally sourcing either a Fandango or Bliss print for the back. But I have to give a high five to Bonnie and Camille for coordinating their fabric lines because the large floral print is from their 'Scrumptious' line and it works really well! I know the background color of this print reads blue on screen but in person it is on the green side of aqua but too blue to call a mint. I wonder what they call this color?  The red polka dot is from their 'Bliss' line and the small print on the end is also a 'Scrumptious' print. 

I love shopping for fabric online, but I am really proud to say all the fabrics for this quilt I found at my Local Quilt Store. I hope to get this sandwiched together with some batting this weekend. I may attempt to quilt this myself in something other than straight lines. I am not much of a football fan. More of a "I'm just here for the food" kind of fan. So hopefully I can tackle this while the game is on instead. :) 



Thursday, January 23, 2014

Show and Tell



Hello January! Where did you come from? I think the snowy weather we have been getting in Pennsylvania has put me in the sewing mood. Over Christmas I attacked my sewing room. Sewing old WIPs, sorting, donating, installing shelves in closets, and folding fabric neatly. All that fabric sorting made me fall back in love with some of my stash. Maybe two years ago, my local sewing store started stocking Moda fabric and during a sale they has precuts available. I purchased what I think they call a candy bar? It had little 2x4 inch rectangles of 4 different fabric lines. Cute, but I never could figure out what to do with with them. That is until this week. I pulled them out and in an instant two little packs turned into the photo above. I don't sew too many blankets but this one is coming along nicely. 

Over Christmas I accomplished some selfish sewing. I finally got around to sewing the Emily bag from Ithinksew.com. Amy Butler used this pattern to highlight her laminate fabrics last year. That is where I saw it first. I used some older Ikea fabric and made leather handles. It is huge! The directions are pretty good. I constructed the handles slightly differently that printed and if I make the bag again I would add 2'' to the handle length. As they are right now, it is a tight fit to wear this bag over the shoulder. 


A couple of old WIPs were all cut out and interfaced. Just needed some sewing time! I made a couple of leather fold over clutches. This one is my favorite. I also did some painting over Christmas. I now have a black wall in my home. I'm really liking it. 


Finished these zipper pouches using scraps. The strip fabric is a beautiful linen cut on the bias. I bought the whole bolt. I want to use it in everything. 

I still have some sewing organizing to finish. When I am done EVERYTHING needs to fit in the closet. Nice and tidy. That is the plan anyways.