Craftsy Class Giveaway!!!!

I'm sure most of you have heard of Cratsy, but if you haven't you MUST check it out!  I SOOOOO wish this was around a few years ago when I was clumsily teaching myself how to sew through blogs and tutorials! You can take classes on how to make quilts, bags, garments, etc.  There are even non-sewing related classes like cake decorating, paper crafts, knitting, and crocheting!  Classes are much less expensive (some are FREE!) than you can find at your local shop and you can take them in your pajamas! 

Anywho!  I got to try out Tara Rebman's new Quilt as You Go Patchwork Bag Class and now I'm giving away this pouch I made using her method along with her class to one (lucky!) person!  

Tara's class is super easy to follow and is a great introduction to quilting and bag making at the same time!  She is a fabulous instructor!

Tara teaches you her easy method to create her adorable Tinker Tote bag:

And a sweet clutch!

Aren't they cute?????  Perfect for the summer!  All you have to do is

 CLICK THIS LINK TO ENTER

If you have a Craftsy account already, just use your login information.  If not, signing up for Craftsy is free! Only one entry per person and you have until Thursday, July 4th to enter!

Another Super Tote!

My good friend, Tracey, asked me to make a bag for her to take to Quilt Market this week.  After (much) debate, she finally decided on a slightly modified Super Tote!  She loves linen so I used Essex linen blend in Sand along with some colorful appliquéd petals.  Like my first time making the Super Tote (read about it here), I added a lined, exterior zippered pocket.  Check out my tutorial on how to add the zipper here  it works slightly differently since it's for the exterior and not the interior, but the basics are the same.

Still, my absolute favorite part of this pattern is the gusset that gives the bag so much depth and body!  For interfacing, I used Shape Flex (SF 101) on all the exterior pieces--I do not interface the lining of the back or the pocket linings, but I did interface the interior divided pocket that I added.

For my open exterior pocket, I once again lined it, but I didn't add the piping (or fake piping like I used last time). 

This time I added a triple stitch to the strap.  Since I opted to make the bag cross body, the strap was cut a bit wider and a lot longer than the pattern stipulates.  I cut my strap 3.5" wide and used a .5" seam allowance so the strap finishes at 2.5" wide.  I find for crossbody bags, wider is better--you don't want a narrow strap digging into your chest! I added Shape Flex (SF101) to each side of the strap and I cut a piece of left over batting 3" x length of strap.  You don't want your batting (you could also use fusible fleece) to be the exact same width as your strap or you will have too much bulk in the seams.  How long you cut your strap depends on how tall you are and where you want the bag to fall on your body.

I also assembled the lining and exterior a bit differently this time.  Because I was making a crossbody bag and I was having a hard time deciding if I had the strap length right before the strap was attached.  Instead of leaving a hole in the lining for the bag to be turned, I folded the top edges of the lining and exterior pieces down 1/2" and pressed.  Then I pinned around the top and pinned the strap in place so I could test out different lengths.  Once I cut the strap down to the length I wanted, I inserted about 1" of the strap into the space between the lining and exterior.  Then, I sewed around the top of the bag twice.

The applique was a lot of fun to do and added a pop of color to the linen on either side of the bag.  Plus, I got to dig into my tiny scraps!

For the interior, I modified the pattern by adding a flat open pocket to one side.  It is divided into three compartments so there is a quick storage space for keys, a phone, whatever.  I also added a magnetic snap closure instead of a zipper.  These are quick and easy to do and, frankly, after all that applique, I was anxious to hurry up and finish this! :)  Seriously though, moving the strap location made putting a zipper with ends on the side seem a little crowded.

So if any of you are going to Market and see my bag, please say hi to the sweet lady carrying it!  Her name is Tracey and she rocks! :)

If you want to make your own Super Tote, you can buy Anna's pattern here

2012 Projects in Review

I love making mosaics of everything I make in year!  It's fun to see the progression and remember projects I loved (and some I didn't!).  I couldn't fit all my quilts into one mosaic so this is part 1!

Here's part 2!

I made a lot more than quilts this year!  Here is a sampling of some of the other projects I managed to finish.  I couldn't include every bag, scarf, and pouch, but you get the idea!  Here's hoping 2013 is just as productive!  Happy New Year!

This Train is Slowing

As much as I'd love to show you a bunch of completed projects day after day, this train has to slow down!  I'm moving in two weeks.  Yikes!  So the blog may be a bit quiet here soon, but I'll still be checking in regularly on Flickr!  I'm going on a little girls-only vacation next weekend with a few quilting friends--you may have heard of them: Kaelin, Ali, Cherie, and Cara!  We're camping out in my empty house in Tennessee.  We're going to christen it with lots of new fabric after we explore the local stores--did you know Leah from Burgundy Buttons lives there?  Oh yeah!  I made this bag for my trip!  I was actually pattern testing for Michelle .  Check out the bags you'll be able to make with this pattern:

Hello!  Fabulous!  The pattern will be available for sale really soon.  Don't worry, I'll keep you posted!

I made this one too because it went so quickly!

I finally cut into my Recess layer cake and made this quilt top!  No more precious Recess!  The pattern is from Cluck Cluck Sew called Easy Bake.  I forgot there were only 40 pieces in that layer cake so instead of a 6x7 layout I had planned, I had to go with 6x6.  Yes, I could have done 5x8, but I don't like narrow quilts.  I'm not narrow so why would I make a narrow quilt? :)  I had thought about keeping this one, but my oldest kid told me it looked "crazy nuts" so I guess it will go in the shop when it's done.  I can make a matching pillow with my 4 left over blocks too!  I was thinking of making a custom appliquéd pillow for whoever bought the quilt.  The blocks that are left are the light colored ones so a bright red or navy monogram would look super cute. Ok, just thinking out loud there.

I hope you all are making progress on your precious QAL items!  Check out Darci's pillow

And Michelle's blocks:

Tanya's block

and I know we're all drooling over Amy's quilt!

Nashville Nikki

I'm headed to Nashville for a workshop at the beginning of March so I made a new bag!  This is the Nikki Tote designed by my friend, Michelle.  The pattern is wonderful!  Her instructions are really clear, but to be perfectly honest, I only read through them once because I've made so many bags.  I shrunk the pattern down a tad (I printed at 85%), but I wish I would have made the full size, I like a big bag! 

I also didn't make the cool handles Michelle designed because I didn't have any buttons on hand and I was impatient.  :)  I used an Anna Maria Horner home decorator weight for the exterior and Essex Yard Dyed in black for the handles.  

I sort of love the inside more than the outside!  I used Riley Blake's So Sophie dots for the main interior and then some Denyse Schmidt Hope Valley and Heather Ross Far Far Away II for the pockets.  Love love love how these fabrics work together!

I also finished hand quilting this little mini!  I'm now thinking of doing something similar on my big Good Folks bee quilt!  It will take forever, but that quilt is so special I think it deserves special quilting!  Now I have to decide if I want to do an all over pattern like on this mini or if I want to quilt each block differently.  Decisions!

This is what I'm cutting into tonight for my friend, Sara.  I think I'm going to try Holly's herringbone block!

Stuffed and Stuff

I'm keeping it short because I'm too full of Thanksgiving food and too tired from Black Friday shopping.  Here are some things I've been working on:

My completed bag for the Goodie Bag swap.  Pattern is the Melanie bag from ithinkisew.  Good bag, poor pattern pieces and instructions.

Button detail (it's on both sides).

Inside has an open pocket that is divided into a larger and smaller side (smaller side for a cell phone).  All fabric is Echo.

Christmas pillow listed in my shop and using my Wonky Alphabet pattern, also in my shop.  

I really like how the letters come out when I shrink them!

The red fabric was a random JoAnn's find.  I never buy much fabric there, but I really liked this print.  The binding is Just Wing It by MoMo.

Yep, another Christmas pillow for my shop.

 Used a scrap of an old Laurie Wisburn fabric along with some Ruby for the front.

The back is Joel Dewberry's Modern Meadow herringbone.

And yet another binding in Just Wing It!  I really love these stripes, can you tell?

FYI, 10% off right now in my shop with the code TWEET10!

It's Almost Time!

Bazaar time that is!  I'm nervous, excited, and anxious for my bazaar on Saturday.  I still wish I could have made a few more things, mainly some larger quilts.  I only have one lap sized quilt to bring and it's on the small side.  Everything else is either a baby quilt, household item, or pouch.  Oh well!  Too late to stress now!  I did make this banner today to hang in front of my booth.  Yes, I'll take pictures of my booth!

I also made this craft apron to wear so I can keep any last minute emergency items handy.

Another last minute project were these Scrabble-inspired coasters.  I love this idea!

This is the quilt I will be donating to the bazaar's silent auction to benefit a women's shelter.  

This is the only Christmas-themed item I have (besides the matching coasters in the same fabric).  I'm just not too excited about holiday fabric in general, but I loved this text print!  

I've had these tote bags done for a while, but I just recently finished sewing the handles on.  I wish I would have had time to make a few more!

Stay tuned because next week I'll tell you how to get a cute scissor/monkey shirt like this....on sale!  It comes in purple, white, and red.

Drawstring Bags

I'm sure a lot of you follow Jeni from In Color Order, but if you don't, get your booty over there and check out the tutorial she just posted for these bags!  I whipped up four of them last night and I LOVE them!

What's funny is that I'm not even a big fan of drawstring bags!  ha ha!  I just wanted to make some to sell at the bazaar (hope that's ok Jeni) and when I finished, I didn't want to sell any of them! The only change I made to Jeni's pattern was to add a layer of Shape Flex interfacing to the exterior pieces only.  If I had used home dec weight fabric I would have just followed her instructions, but I thought the quilting cottons needed a bit of help.

My favorite is the bird one.  I was really pleased how the coordinating prints I chose worked there.  It's always difficult for me to know what's going to look good together on a finished project.  Sometimes it looks great as a pile, but not so much in the end.  I probably should have chosen different linings for a few of them, but live and learn!

Selfish Sewing

While I'm still working on projects for the bazaar, I have taken some time recently to make a few things for myself.  The other day I made that Aunty Cookie pouch and a few days ago I whipped up these voile pillow cases.  That's right, VOILE!

I had originally bought this fabric with the thought of making a dress (maybe like AMH's tunic tutorial), but I've come to realize I need to stick with my strengths, and clothes are simply NOT one of them!  ha ha!  So I thought I'd indulge myself with some voile pillow cases.

One of the projects I've had set aside for myself for a long time has been a queen sized quilt with Little Folks voile on one side and Folksy Flannel on the other.  I don't have time to start a new quilt project right now, so I felt that pillow cases could tide me over until I make my fantasy quilt.

Speaking of AMH, I made this bag (for my upcoming NYC trip) from my favorite Loulouthi print!  The pattern is from ithinkisew and is called the KELLY bag!  Eeep!  How perfect!

I did modify the pattern some.  I used Shape Flex to interface the exterior.  I cut muslin the same shape as the exterior and basted it all around.  I wanted to give the bag some more weight, but I didn't have enough fusible fleece OR canvas so I had to make do with the muslin.

I also added large open pockets to both sides of the bag.  I did this by folding down the pattern piece about 1.5" below the marking for the magnetic snap and cutting two pocket piece PER side (so 4 total).  In retrospect, I would have made the pockets sit a bit lower, maybe 3-4 inches below the snap.  I interfaced one side of each pocket with Decor Bond.  I sewed the top of the pocket pieces right sides together, then opened the piece to place wrong sides together and topstitched the top portion.  Repeated for the other piece.  Next I placed the pockets on the interior pieces and sewed a line up the middle of the pocket pieces, creating two large open pocket per side (so 4 pockets total).   You can make the pockets any size you want depending on where you sew.  Then I basted the pocket pieces to the lining pieces and sewed according to the pattern.  The interior is made with fabric from It's a Hoot, Just Wing It, and Aviary 2.

This pattern is SUPER simple and I highly recommend it!