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!

Fall Inspired!

I'm super excited to give you a sneak peek of my contribution to the upcoming Fall Inspired Issue of Fat Quarterly!  I'm also doing double duty with this project and entering into Rachel's Celebrate Color contest for October!

You will find the tutorial to make these in the new FQ issue!

They asked for our take on the Bear Paw block and I thought the little paws would make the perfect coasters...and I couldn't resist making a rainbow!

So don't forget to buy your copy of Fat Quarterly later this week and check out the other great entries for the Celebrate Color contest!

I also made myself this zippered pouch for my upcoming trip to NYC. 

 I'm a little depressed that I won't be going to the Sewing Summit, so I used a precious Aunty Cookie scrap that I've been hoarding.

And how could I not use some Momo Wonderland scissors?

Let's not forget the Kei bunting! :)  

Burp!

Burp cloths that is!  I made 4 sets of three coordinating burp cloths to sell at the bazaar.  I'm not making a lot of baby stuff other than quilts, but these are so quick I thought I should whip up a few.

Love my new tags!!!  Thanks again Stefanie!

All bundled up and ready to be priced.  Pricing is still so hard for me!

Watermelon Neapolitan

This quilt is otherwise known as, "If I were a quilt I would look like..."  Sometimes quilts come together so easily, it's like they make themselves.  I started this quilt at 8 last night and finished it at 1130.  I love it!  It came out exactly like I wanted--don't you love it when that happens?

The entire front and binding are made from Essex linen/cotton blend in various colors.  The neutral background color is sand, but I'm not sure of the names of the rest.  I cut (2) 2.5" x WOF strips of the coral, pink, and green fabric; (4) 2.5" x WOF strips of the ivory, (32) 3.5"x 10.5" rectangles of the Sand background.  I sewed 5 of the strips together then cut (8) 4.5"x10.5" rectangles from those.  I repeated this step with the remaining 5 strips, but I alternated the order.  Then, I sewed a 3.5"x10.5" background rectangle to either side of the pieced strip.  When piecing the top I simply alternated directions of the block (and alternated style of pieced block).  Ta-da!  A cute, modern 40"x40" baby quilt!

I had exactly the right amount of this Amy Butler print for the backing.  Seriously, it was destiny!  I'm obsessed with the colors in this print.  These large scale florals are hard to use in pieced fronts, but for backing they are perfect!  This will be yet another for the bazaar (though I'd love to keep it!)

Sweet Talked

As a lot of your know, the Sewing Summit is approaching.  Sadly, I will be unable to attend because we have a wedding NYC that weekend (I'll be making a trip to Purl Soho to comfort myself).  Ali talked me into making a couple of things for the silent auction--so I'll sort of be there!  I made this wall hanging:

It's my own paper pieced pattern.  This was a practice run for the Pillow Talk Swap, but it turned out pretty nice so I feel good about donating it!

I added some hand stitching to make it pop a little more.  

I also made this storage basket based on the popular Pink Penguin tute.  I made it a bit bigger so you can put more in it.

Please, for those of you going, someone please bid on my items!  I'd be so humiliated if no one wanted them!

Birthday Bag

I had a busy week and didn't get much sewing done, but I did manage to finish this bag today for my best friend's birthday.

The exterior is a Joel Dewberry Heirloom print and a grey herringbone suiting fabric.  I used this fabric for the exterior of my Goodie Bag Swap bag earlier this year and I love it!  Speaking of the Goodie Bag Swap, signups are starting soon, but I can't decide what level I want to sign up for.  Last time I did advanced.  I love advanced bags, but I just don't think I have the time to commit to one.  I may opt for something easy this round.

The interior has a zippered pocket and is made with a Robert Kaufman print

Button detail.  I learned that there are some buttons too big for a zig zag stitch!  I had to manually shift the bag every time the needle moved in order to sew this on!  Major pain in my butt!

Baby Quilt and a Boy Named Ralph

I finished up this organic baby boy quilt the other day, but I haven't had any time to post it since I was busy prepping for a garage sale with a friend of mine.  I really love these fabrics by Cloud 9!  I think I'll make a girl version too.  This was quick and simple, made from 5 fat quarters and very little planning. :)  

Oh, about that garage sale--people are nuts!  No, I will not sell that item I priced at $5 for 25 cents!  Are you crazy?!?!?  I'd rather give things to Goodwill than sell them to some of these people!  I don't mind bargaining, but at least be reasonable!  I sold about half of what I had out so I'm happy.  It's nice to get rid of all those tiny toys kids seem to collect!

After the garage sale we went to a birthday party for one of Roarke's friends.  The party was great, but I started not to feel so good.  By the time we got home, all I wanted to do was lay down.  I spent the next three hours curled into a ball on the cold tile of the bathroom floor wishing I could just throw up and get it over with!  I hate feeling nauseous!  I'd much rather have a few seconds of hurling than hours of nausea!  Anywho, on one of hubby's visits in to check on me, the kids came in too and he proceeds to tell them that "Mama is on the white phone with a boy named Ralph."  This causes me to burst out laughing (because I'd never heard that phrase), then moan in pain because my stomach hurts so much.   Roarke then dead pans, "I think she has a bird in there (my stomach)."  Dude!  You're killing me!  Stop making mommy laugh and let me be miserable in peace!  This fun filled evening was topped off with a horrible, restless sleep followed by Cian waking up screaming for his pacifier that he couldn't find, then the alarm clock going off because the kids had been playing with it.  Obviously, we're taking it easy today and I'm mostly sitting on the couch reading.  I don't even have the energy to sew, so you know it's bad!  Here's hoping I feel 100% tomorrow!

Oh, and Roarke finally decided on a costume for Halloween!  Now I just need to find a 2T Luigi and we're set!  Let us not discuss the irony of our last name and his choice of costume--if you don't know what I'm talking about, good!