Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Snip.Sew.Send. ~ September

{Snip.Sew.Send. September Scrappy Star Square}


For this month's Snip.Sew.Send. my favorite (and most stylish) chemist, Lisa, sent 9 different fabrics and asked for a 10.5" square quilt block. The other requirements were very open--use at least a little bit of all the fabrics and include a star somewhere on the block. After brainstorming different blocks, I settled on a version of the Galaxy block in the book(let) Miss Jump's Favorites by Linda Brannock. None of the pieces were intended to meet up exactly or be perfectly symmetrical which really plays to my strengths.

The outer squares and quarter circles were stitched together by machine. The star and inner two circles were stitched by reverse applique. Then the two sections were stitched to each other with reverse applique again.

The block is a little wonky, a little scrappy and a lot hand-stitched. I hope it looks quirky and fun rather than sloppy. I really liked using all the different fabrics and found this to be a really creative and fun challenge. Thanks, Lisa! =]

Friday, September 18, 2009

Meagan's Quilter Bees Block

Meagan of Quilter Bees started us out with a great challenge. She sent an array of rich, solid colored fabrics and asked for a 12.5" square block with the theme "Them's a lot of squares".

[Them's is a lot of squares!}
Again, this block ended up a little different then I initially planned, but I am pretty happy with it. Another member had commented that squares are hard, and they really are. At least little squares are hard. Meagan had asked for squares 1" to 3" in size. I was able to stick with that, but I had to add the red fabric when I ran out of gray.
I'd like to make a whole quilt like this, but I think it would be one of those quilt tops that take years to finish, just adding squares here and there with scraps. And with larger squares.
Meagan, thanks for such a great block challenge! =]

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Schwartzy: the messenger bag

I really like messenger bags. I find them very versatile, useful and comfortable. They've carried my school stuff, the work stuff, my crafty stuff, my picnic stuff, etc.

The messenger bag I was using is about 10 years old and was bought at Target (most likely on clearance). He's more then earned retirement status.
I put together Schwartzy taking into account the features I liked and wanted in my other messenger bags.
Schwartzy has a simple and clean overall look. Great for women, men, teenagers and adults.
Several pockets in various sizes including handy side pockets...
concealed, but easy to access pockets for pens, pencils and my list-taking notebooks...
and a full sized pocket inside for files, papers, books/magazines, etc. (And a key fob so your keys don't get lost in the land of no return.

The front flap has lots of space for personalization such as applique and/or other embellishments.

Schwartzy is 12" x 14" x 4" (h x w x d) which is more than enough room to carry your laptop, files, cell phone and notebooks; or your crafty projects; or your quilt and picnic snacks.

The Schwartzy pattern is available in my Etsy shop. The pattern should be e-mailed to you within 24 hours of purchase.

=]

Monday, September 14, 2009

How do you to showcase a fabric?

{Happy Campers}

Happy news! Friends of ours are having a baby boy in November! We know them from the Volkswagen community and their baby is due very near to one of the biggest VW weekends on the East Coast. (It's not these friends, but they are due again in March so I have some time before that one.) I am planning to make him a crib sized quilt featuring Heather Ross's Happy Campers but I was only able to find one fat quarter. (OK, I found more and some yardage, but I am not paying $30-45 per yard. I don't care how cute the fabric is or how much I like our friends. I think it's extreme price gouging. I'll pay extra because the fabric is hard to find and out of print, but $45 per yard?)
Question for all my quilty friends: What pattern/style do you think will show off the fabric the best considering the limited amount I have? Log cabins? Squares? Some combination of patterns? I would really appreciate any input so I can get started.
Thanks! =]
P.S. Don't be afraid to link to blog posts, flickr photos, etc. I'm visual.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Enough feet to fit a catepillar

Dirty's dad was visiting this weekend and we decided to check out a local flea market. We went fairly early and apparently that's where the deals are. As Dirty's dad was buying a ceramic bowl from the set he collects I spotted a little collection of sewing stuff. Kenmore caught my eye since that is the brand of machine I use. As I opened the little case I found all these attachment feet for $5!
{More attachments than I know what to do with}

Honestly, I didn't know what half of them were for, but I figured I couldn't go wrong since it had how-to cards inside. The vendor offered to sell us the other kit and small box of notions (thread, needles, beads, buttons, etc.) for $4. Um, yeah.

The attachment kit is really awesome. It has several feet for instant hemming from 1/4" to 7/8", gathering, narrow hemming, cording, overcast, applique, edge stitching, binding and zippers. It also has a quilter guide, cutting gauge for scissors, cloth guide, stiletto and the Q-set with one foot and 5 needles. The second kit isn't complete, but is only missing two or three of the feet. I am so excited with this flea market find.

Along with that, I also found a copy of Vickie Howell's New Knits on the Block for a buck. Dirty scored a very cool vintage men's travel kit with several glass containers with sterling silver lids, a wooden brush, trimming scissors, tweezers, mirror, etc. all wrapped in a leather zipper wallet. Wahoo! =]