Therapy Sewing

Sometimes, you just need to sew something you want to sew.  That was today's project.  I love It's a Hoot.  It's one of my favorite lines, if not THE favorite.  There are some prints I don't care for, but, on the whole, I love it!  This pattern is from Alison (Cluck, Cluck Sew) and is called Easy Bake.  It's one of those patterns where, after you read it, you feel like doing a *face-palm*  DUH!  So super easy like regular square patchwork, with a little twist.  This will probably be one of the quilts I sell at the bazaar.
***Update:  this is NOT a disappearing nine patch, but I can see why people would think it is.

Lightning, again!

When we first moved into this house two years ago, it was struck by lightning the second day we were here, effectively killing our TV.  Who says lightning can't strike twice?  This time, it fried our TV and our computer!  Now I'm going through the oh-so-fun process of an insurance claim.  We didn't wait to replace our items--the new TV was up after only two days!  I can't handle screaming kiddos in the morning without Sprout!  After some debate, we decided to purchase our first Mac!  I'm really excited and have my fingers crossed that the lightning stays far, far away!

In sewing news, I started working on items for a local bazaar in October.  I'm trying not to wait until the last minute to sew things.  My goal is in work on a WIP or custom order project, then work on something for the bazaar.  These will be Keyka Lou curvy clutch wristlets.  The fabrics on the left are exteriors, on the right are interiors.  I sort of chose fabric willy nilly. I need to get some more hardware to finish these, but it's a start!

Finishes and Loot

I finished this custom request Modified Bento Box quilt for my friend Sara.

I made this mug rug for my Pretty {little} Pouch partner since I chickened out on writing that on her pouch.

Then, I received all these wonderful goodies from Krista--who was my secret pouch partner.  Isn't my pouch fab?  I suggested maybe a pouch to put my kiddos' snacks in so I could keep crumbs in my purse to a minimum.  This couldn't be more perfect!

This is the back.

The inside has laminated fabric and is insulated!!!!!

A Sunday Morning Kind of Pillow

I made this last night after finishing a quilt (can't share that here because the recipient reads my blog sometimes).  I've had this in my head ever since a friend of mine lost someone close to her unexpectedly.  She bravely shared some of her grieving process with her Facebook friends, often posting inspirational quotes.  This is an oldie, but a goodie. :)  

George Michael was right, you gotta have faith!  ha ha!  I raw edge appliqued the letters down in a free motion style.

I used a different font style for each word.

I made "love" the largest, as a nod to the quote.

The background fabric is Basic Grey's notebook paper fabric.

I added black piping around the pillow.  This was the first time I've done piping around a pillow and it went really well!

I had already made the front before I picked out the back.  

Strangely, I had this Robert Kaufman print that matched the colors perfectly!  It was fate!

Happy Sunday everyone!

Notice Something New?

EEEEEK!  I'm so excited!!!!!  I have a new blog header (and etsy header)!  Isn't it too cute?  Recently I asked Stefanie--a friend of mine who designs wonderful stationery as well as sews super adorable stuff--to create some tags for me.  I'm participating at a local bazaar in October and I wanted something with my shop name and info on it that I could tie around items I sold.  She came up with the great logo you see above!  I promptly asked if she could do a little more work for me and design a header for my blog and etsy.  Poof!  A few hours later I received the total cuteness above!  I'm in teal butterfly heaven!

Please, please, please check her out!!!  Click HERE for her stationery store--which, by the way, has buy one get one free until the end of July with the code "SIZZLER"!  Um, hello?!?!?  F.R.E.E.  Click HERE for her etsy shop where she sells patterns, quilts, and some great destash fabrics!  I'm getting absolutely nothing for promoting her,   I just think she's wonderful and deserved some recognition for her awesomeness!

Thank you so much Stefanie!!!  I look forward to meeting you in person next summer when we move to Tennessee!!!!

Pretty {little} Pouch Finished!

I finally finished my pouch for Round 2 of the Pretty {little} Pouch swap.  I feel a lot of pressure since I'm co-mama for this swap!  Hopefully my partner will like it!  I paper pieced the flying circle of geese block--after I shrunk it down 50%.  The circle finishes at 6" square.  I used some pretty teal colored linen and various pink and green prints for the geese.  

For the back, I fussy cut out one of the Ruby Star Rising ladies, appliqued her on, then added some decorative stitching.  I thought about embroidering a phrase below the lady instead of the stitching, but I wasn't sure how my partner would feel about "I'm a lady, damn it!" :)  I thought it was funny, but you never know if someone would be offended by that or not.  

The lining is a pink floral print from Heather Ross.  I love this swap and I can't wait for Round 3 (coming this fall for those who are curious)!  If you want to know more about the frame, glue, and template I used, see my previous post.

Pouch Practice

I had never made a glue-in metal frame pouch and I knew I wanted to make one for my Pretty {little} Pouch Swap--so, of course, I had to make a practice pouch!  I made my own template for my 8x3 metal frame.  You can download my template HERE!!!  I used the tutorial found here.  The only thing I did differently was to use fusible fleece on my exterior and light-weight woven interfacing on my interior.  Oh, and I got my frames and glue here.  I used an old Anna Maria Horner Garden Party fabric for the outside and a Little Folks Dobby stripe voile for the inside.  I have something a bit more elaborate planned for my partner, but, for a first attempt, I'm happy with how this came out!

In other news, I did finish my next MBS project!  Unfortunately, I can't share it yet!  I love it so much more than my first version!  I guess that's all for now, I need to get back to my next pouch.  I'll leave you with a picture of my cute babies, who aren't so little any more!