WIP wednesday (thursday report!)

I actually worked on a few projects yesterday while we had a bunch of rain from a little tropical storm.  No big deal.  Something about a rainy day and no committments makes me want to make a mess with my fabric!

First up, I've been working on some New York Beauty blocks for a little swap I'm in.  I'm afraid I'm liking it so much I'm not going to want to send it off. I guess I'll just have to make my own.  I just LOVE it!  Can I say that or does it sound lame?

I've been hemming and hawing about this fabric forever.  At one point I decided I'd do a tunic.  Then I decided to make another skirt.  But then my trusty tiered skirt would cut up that big gorgeous floral more than I wanted to. So I've been concocting yet another alteration to that pattern.  It's actually working and I'm rather tickled. 

Come back on Friday for sew & tell and the finishes!

announcing: purse palooza 2012

Announcing Purse Palooza 2012!!

This is a fun event, which I will be guest posting for in June over at Sew Sweetness to get you sewing a purse for the summer! Here's how it works:
1. Every weekday in June, there will be 2 amazing guest bloggers scheduled to share with you a purse sewing pattern review. The review will contain detailed information about what they thought about the sewing pattern, modifications they made, what kind of interfacing they used, and more! Get inspired!
2. Even more exciting...THERE WILL BE A GIVEAWAY EVERY WEEKDAY IN JUNE! That's right, 20 GIVEAWAYS! Your Giveaway Fairy Godmother is Kim from My Go-Go Life - she has some unbelievable giveaways planned!
3. At the end of the event, you will get a chance to show off your purse in order to win some amazing prizes!

My free tutorial: Caliti Convertible Clutch

Pattern Review Schedule
June 4 - Sara @ Sewsweetness (tutorial: bag interfacing)             
               Kim @ My Go-Go Life (Urban Jungle Bag)

June 5 - Meg @ Fashioned by Meg (Anna Maria Horner Art Student Tote)
               Lindsay @ Lindsay Sews (Posie Rosie Little Things Jane Market Bag)  

June 6 - Kaelin @ The Plaid Scottie (Oliver + S Day in the Park Backpack)
               Colleen @ The Busy Bean (something from Amy Butler's Style Stitches book)  

June 7 - Bree @ My Crafty Crap (Jenna Lou Designs Mabel Bag)
               Ayumi @ Pink Penguin (Signature Bag from Kumiko Fujita)

June 8 - Tamiko @ Patchwork Notes (Hexagon Patchwork Bag from Playful Patchwork)
               Jessica @ A Little Gray (Pat Bravo Verona Bag)

June 11 - Jessica @ Sew Crafty Jess (Amy Butler Spice Market Tote)
                 Amy @ amylouwho (V. and Co. Favorite Bag)  

June 12 - Sara @ The Pretty Pickle (Charlie's Aunt Casablanca Clutch)
                Lindsey @ LRStitched (Noodlehead Envelope Clutch)  

June 13 - Erin @ 2 More Seconds (Keyka Lou Bucket Bag)
                Caroline @ Sew Can She (V. and Co. Carry All Tote)  

June 14 - Ali @ a squared w (bag from I Like Orange Too)
                Rachael @ Imagine Gnats (Jen Giddens Pocket Tote)  

June 15 - Holly @ Bijou Lovely (Noodlehead Go Anywhere Bag)
               Katie @ There and Back (Sweet Pea Pocket Purse)

June 18 - Monique @ Sew Fun by Monique (Millie's Market Tote from Happy Home by Jennifer Paganelli)
                Katie @ Swim, Bike, Quilt! (Green Bee Scoop Tote)

June 19 - Jennie @ Clover and Violet (Lunch Bag from Pink Penguin)
                Joanna @ Shape Moth (Emmaline Bag)  

June 20 - Jen @ Bettycrockerass (While Baby Naps Metal Clutch)
                Krista @ The Spotted Stone (The Sometimes Crafter Amanda's Knitting Bag)

June 21 - Katy @ The Littlest Thistle (Noodlehead 2-4-1 Tote)
                Terri @ Sew-Fantastic (In Color Order Lined Drawstring Bag)

June 22 - Elizabeth @ Don't Call Me Betsy (Amy Butler Weekender Bag)
                Sarah @ Fairy Face Designs (bag from the Bag Making Bible)  

June 25 - Amy @ Sukie Don't You Know Who I Am? (Amy Butler Sophia Bag)
                 Heather @ {House} of a la Mode (Retro Mama Granny Bag)  

June 26 - Julianna @ Jednoiglec (Charlie's Aunt Kitchen Garden Bag)
                Jeni @ In Color Order (Bari J. State Street Tote)

June 27 - Kerry @ Very Kerry Berry (bag from Suzuko Koseki)
                Michelle @ I Like Orange Too (Left Bank Granny Bag)  

June 28 - Kay Whitt @ Sew Serendipity Studio (tutorial: adjustable strap with metal slider)
                Amy Barickman @ Indygo Junction (tutorial: installing grommets/magnetic snaps)  

June 29 - Melissa @ Bittersweet Designs (Bella Nonna Boutique Shoulder Bag)

My free tutorial: The Underwater Stripes Bag

Contest Rules
1. Check out all the purse pattern reviews throughout the month and get inspired to sew up a purse of your own!

2. Join the Purse Palooza 2012 Flickr Group.

3. Link up your completed purse to the Flickr Group BETWEEN JUNE 4th and JULY 11th. Your purse must be created and photographed between those dates; purses made prior to June 4, 2012 will be disqualified. The purse may be of your own design, or made from a sewing pattern.

4. You may link up to 2 views of the same purse. More than 2 photos of the same purse will be removed from the group.

5. There is no limit to how many purses you may enter, as long as they were made between June 4th and July 11th, 2012.

My free tutorial: The Urban Jungle Bag

The PrizesFirst off, there will be a team of lovely judges that will choose 1st through 6th place. ALSO, 3 randomly chosen winners will be picked out of EVERYONE who completes a bag! Some great chances to win!! 1st Prize

* $50 gift certificate from Fat Quarter Shop         

* 3-pack of books from Martingale Publishing * $50 gift certificate to Zipit* $70 Pellon gift pack * fat quarter bundle and sewing pattern from Art Gallery Fabrics

2nd Prize

* fat quarter bundle and sewing pattern from Art Gallery Fabrics* 3-pack of books from Martingale Publishing * fabric bundle from Sew Fresh Fabrics* $30 gift certificate to Spoonflower 3rd Prize

* fat quarter bundle from Art Gallery Fabrics* 2-pack of books from Lark Crafts Publishing * $20 gift certificate to The Quilted Castle 4th Prize

* fat quarter bundle from Art Gallery Fabrics 3 Randomly Chosen Winners
*$20 gift certificate to Pink Chalk Fabrics

 The Sponsors
 Thank you to all of the lovely and extremely generous sponsors! Art Gallery Fabrics // Artsy Crafty Babe // Noodlehead // Izzy and Ivy // Serendipity Studio // Martingale & Co. Publishing // Betz White // Sis Boom // Atkinson Designs // Mommy's Thimble // Lila Tueller // Sew Fresh Fabrics // Bari J. // C&T Publishing // Keyka Lou // Clover and Violet // Indygo Junction // Marie-Madeline Studio // Pellon // Pink Chalk Fabrics // Lark Crafts Publishing // The Quilted Castle // Fat Quarter Shop // Craft Apple // iThinkSew // Emmaline Bags // Bag Purse Frames // Zipit // Oliver + S // Ellen Medlock Studio // Charlie's Aunt Patterns // Spoonflower

Grab a button, and let's get this party started!!

<center><a href="http://www.sewsweetness.com/2012/05/purse-palooza-2012.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Sew Sweetness" src="http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab257/bluemerleboutique/resizedpursebutton.jpg"/></a></center>

sew & tell v3.32 - a pot pourri

Hi friends! I'm sorry I'm a little tardy in getting this post up today.  It's been a super busy week and I fell asleep on the couch last night before I got to this.  Plus, I wasn't sure what to share, but I had a few things I've been working on over the last couple of weeks.

My baby quilt collaboration finished another project that was gifted last week.  Fabric selection and piecing by Brynn, quilting by me, and binding by Teri.  Be sure to click on Brynn's blog so you can see her amazing Central Park quilt!

It was a straightforward strip quilt with Anne Kelle, Full Moon Modern and some Echo.  I love the striped binding!  Teri also made an awesome cake with a cute whale on top that matched! I wished I'd gotten a picture of that!

Next up another New York Beauty block.  This is going to turn into a pillow here in the next few days after I sew up a couple more blocks.  I love a little monochromatic color scheming! You can see my (not a) tutorial for this block HERE.

Kona white, Amy Butler Sunspots in Aqua, and Amy Butler Lark (not sure the name of the print).  I'm trying to decide if I make two more of the same blocks or add some more fabrics in.  What would you do?

And then yesterday while I was on a little day trip I stumbled across a Joann's and picked up a few prints.  And I actually have plans for each of them!

Dish drying mats (lemons), Purse (black and white), tunic type top (floral swiss dot).  Maybe I'll be super productive this week!

What have you been up to this week?  Looking for some eye candy?  Sara and Kim both have some awesome Quilt Market Recap posts!  And I have some things I made hanging in one of the booths!  Can you guess where?

What finishes do you have this week?  Can't wait to see!

Linky Rules.  Please follow along for a fun party!

1. Please write the post for sew & tell - or add a blurb mentioning sew & tell to a post written since the last sew & tell.  If you are linking to a post with your own tutorial, please make sure it was a finish from this week and that the completed project is shown first.

2. One linky per person. (please put multiple projects in one post.)

3. Link to your specific post.  (See here for permalink instructions - or email me.)

4. Link back here with a link or a button (HTML on my sidebar).

5. Be sure to visit and leave comments on other's posts!

Please put your (blog)name instead of your project name, it helps us get to know each other better!

BQF + s&t + a winner

It's that time of year again!

Quilt Market is this weekend and so is the Bloggers' Quilt Festival!  You can start linking up your posts tomorrow and there are always fantastic sponsors and prizes!

We will forgo sew & tell this week and I encourage all of you to share a quilt during the festival!

*****
For fun we've started a #notgoingtomarket party!  Follow that hashtag and share what you are doing on Twitter and Instagram!  Last night we took pictures of our feet as we lounged around on our couches. :)  Good fun!!

*****
We are still going to do the spring cleaning party!  I'm just trying nail down a few more details - so keep going!  I know I'm not finished yet either!

*****
and the winner!!

congratulations!  We'll be in touch!

 

Marcia W.said...

71

I would like to make a quilt for my brother. He is a true cowboy and so must be colors he will like -- and since this book gives suggestions on colors too, think it would be most helpful to win! Thanks for that chance.

2:17 PM, May 10, 2012  

sew & tell v3.31 - summer clothing love

Happy Friday friends! And welcome to Sew & Tell!





My friend and 'sewing student' Jessica came over a couple of times in the last few weeks so she could finish up her skirts before she moves.  She finished the one she has on the first time she came over and got the one she's holding up almost finished on her last visit!  I posted about these skirts last spring - it's an adaptation that pattern.

 I have the same fabric that she's holding up and I want to go buy the green Bali Gates (from Amy Butler's LOVE collection) to make one like that too.  I just love these skirts.  Way better than shorts in the hot and humid summers we have here.

While she was making her skirt, I had a project I needed to work on involving pillow case dresses, which I have never actually made.  So before I screwed up the ones I was making for my friend, I tried one out with some Sandi Henderson Secret Garden fabric. 

I ended up using this tutorial, with several modifications.  I'll try and blog about it!

I love the way it turned out!  This fabric is perfect for it! I think sisterlouwho likes it too.

The only problem was that babylouwho thought it was for her.  So I put it on her to appease her. 

So it's a maxi-dress, no big deal. She was more than happy to keep it on.

I'm itching to make more summer clothes for all of us! Stay tuned.

If you haven't entered my giveaway for an awesome new quilt book, Geared for Guys by Emily Herrick of Crazy Old Ladies Quilts, scroll down to this post and leave a comment!

Your turn to share ~ Show us what you've got finished!
Linky Rules.  Please follow along for a fun party!

1. Please write the post for sew & tell - or add a blurb mentioning sew & tell to a post written since the last sew & tell.  If you are linking to a post with your own tutorial, please make sure it was a finish from this week and that the completed project is shown first.

2. One linky per person. (please put multiple projects in one post.)

3. Link to your specific post.  (See here for permalink instructions - or email me.)

4. Link back here with a link or a button (HTML on my sidebar).

5. Be sure to visit and leave comments on other's posts!

Please put your (blog)name instead of your project name, it helps us get to know each other better!

geared for guys book review and giveaway!

I met Emily Herrick of Crazy Old Ladies Quilts last fall at the sewing summit! I was a fan of her boy inspired fabric designs and was really excited to hear about her new book Geared for Guys full of inspiring color palettes and quilt patterns with a masculine edge.

Emily is as fun and sweet as they get! I was really happy to participate when she asked me to to review her book and be a part of the tour!  I received a copy via PDF and am really happy how easy it is to read on my iPad.  I've not ventured out much into the world of eBooks, but so far I like it!!

I love how inspiring the patterns are in the book.  As we all know, it is a challenge to sew for the boys and men in our life.  Emily has successfully married color and design to create eight guy-friendly quilts that I would enjoy too!

There were two quilts in Emily's book that I was immediately drawn to.

I love the grays with a pop of orange in Odd Ball.

And Switch Back is an awesome pixelated version of the ever popular chevron!

I really love the simplicity of her designs in this book.  Things that work really well playing a lot of solids with masculine design.  The focus of the quilts becomes the colors and the patterns - not necessarily a bright focal floral like some of us, ahem (me), might be used to.

If you would like to win a copy of Emily's book Geared for Guys just leave me one comment (with email) answering the following question:

- What is the best thing you have made for a guy in your life? OR What would you LIKE to make for him?

To continue hopping along for more chances to win visit the lovely Pat Sloan for her review tomorrow.  Of course you can visit Emily's blog each day to see where the giveaway is for that day!

I'm so excited I might actually bust one of these out for my guy this summer!

sew and tell v3.30

Amy is not here today, she needed a break after forgetting how to say the word no. I reminded her of how to say it and sent her to her room for a little break. Don't think she will stay there, stubborn little thing, so while she is on her rest time ( AMY...get back in there!) I will share my Sew and Tell for this week!!!!!

I was able to accomplish my View Master block and tutorial

And my New York Beauty Block number 4

Can't wait to see all the great stuff you guys are working on too!!!!!  Have a great weekend and thank you for sharing!




Your turn to share ~ Show us what you've got finished!
Linky Rules.  Please follow along for a fun party!

1. Please write the post for sew & tell - or add a blurb mentioning sew & tell to a post written since the last sew & tell.  If you are linking to a post with your own tutorial, please make sure it was a finish from this week and that the completed project is shown first.

2. One linky per person. (please put multiple projects in one post.)

3. Link to your specific post.  (See here for permalink instructions - or email me.)

4. Link back here with a link or a button (HTML on my sidebar).

5. Be sure to visit and leave comments on other's posts!

Please put your (blog)name instead of your project name, it helps us get to know each other better!