fall is here! time for soup!! {craft book month}

Thanks again Lindsay for asking me to join you on the hop!!

As I said yesterday we've moved and I have been having some issues getting our internet set up!  It's been quite frustrating to feel so disconnected, but I'm hoping to re-connect as soon as we get up and running again!  I also need to start sewing.

I quickly perused the other posters so far along the hop to see what everyone was sharing. Lindsay gave us some freedom with what type of craft books we could post from and even suggested we could share a recipe!  Yay!! So since I haven't gotten my sewing room in order yet (I haven't sewn a stitch in 6 weeks! I KNOW!!!) and because I do have people to feed, I thought I would share with you one of my favorite recipes!  And maybe it will be a nice change from all the sewing? Maybe?

Since fall is upon us this recipe is perfect.  Soup and a hearty bread are some of my favorite cold weather dinners. It's Tortellini, White Bean, and Spinach soup from Cooking Light's 1998 Annual Recipes.

Don't you want to dive into that right now?!  You will find the recipe as written below, but I wanted to share some things I do differently.  As written the recipe is vegetarian using vegetable stock and no meat.  However, I don't always have vegetable stock on hand, so I often use chicken broth.  And since there may be someone in my house (ahem, Mr. Louwho) who thinks it's not a meal without meat - I usually add some shredded chicken to the soup as well.

It calls for red bell pepper but I often use frozen mixed peppers because I usually have them on hand. I've used the dried tortellini in place of the fresh and usually just add extra broth or water to compensate, or you can cook it before hand and then throw it in.  In this photo you can see I also added shredded carrots!  Why not?  That's the beauty of soups - you can make them what you want them to be.  Just add more water/stock to reach the desired consistency!

A note about leftovers: The tortellini continues to soak up the liquid and become soggy while the soup dries out.  Sometimes I will just add the tortellini to our individual bowls and pour the rest on top if I know there will be some left over.  It can also be frozen this way, adding the tortellini in fresh when you are ready to eat!

I love serving this soup with some crusty bread like the one from Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day or this Rosemary Peasant Bread from Make and Takes (where I usually use oregano instead of rosemary).

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups coarsely chopped spinach
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 (16-ounce) can navy beans, drained
• 2 cups Fresh Vegetable Broth or 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can vegetable broth
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added whole tomatoes, undrained and chopped
• 1 (14-ounce) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained
• 1 (9-ounce) package uncooked fresh cheese tortellini
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion, bell pepper, seasoning, and garlic; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add spinach and next 5 ingredients (spinach through artichokes); bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 2 minutes. Add tortellini; cook until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with cheese.

Bon Appétit!

I hope to be back soon with some more happenings!  Crossing my fingers we get hooked up with internet today!!  Be sure to check out this post with information on how to enter the giveaways!

Craft Book Month!!!

Hey! Remember me?? I managed to survive the move, but not the unpacking!  We've burned through several gigs of data on our cell phones as we still do not have internet at our house.  I am however still planning on posting tomorrow for Lindsay's fun craft book month blog hop!  I'm so happy she asked me!  Read below for more details on the hop and prizes and how to enter to win them!!

Here are the details and stay tuned for a post from me tomorrow!
xo
PS - I'll update you on the house goings on soon!
*****

It's time for the 3rd Annual Craft Book Month at Craft Buds! This year, we're excited to celebrate all month log with a blog hop of your inspirational craft book projects, a crafty contest, free patterns and prizes!

Don't let those craft books sit on your shelf and collect dust! We want to see what you've been making. That's why I've teamed up with some fabulous bloggers who will be showing off their projects made from craft books, all month long!

Blog Hop

Week One
Monday 9/2: Fabric Mutt / LRstitched
Tuesday 9/3: Stitch This! The Martingale Blog / Stitched in Color
Wednesday 9/4: Fabric Seeds / Pile O Fabric
Thursday 9/5: The Feisty Redhead / Rae Gun Ramblings
Friday 9/6: Sew-Fantastic / Clover + Violet
Saturday 9/7: A Prairie Sunrise / Small Town Stitcher

Week Two
Monday 9/9: Hopeful Threads / Go To Sew
Tuesday 9/10: The Sewing Rabbit / Sewing Mama RaeAnna
Wednesday 9/11: Marci Girl Designs / imagine gnats
Thursday 9/12: Sew Sweetness / amylouwhosews
Friday 9/13: Lindsay Sews / 13 Spools
 Saturday 9/14: Inspire Me Grey / Angela Yosten 

Week ThreeMonday 9/16: Sew Very / CraftsideTuesday 9/17: The Littlest Thistle / CraftFoxes 

9/1-9/30: Link up your craft book project at Craft Buds from your blog or Flickr account, and enter to win prizes. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, October, 1!

 

2012 Craft Book Month Projects (L to R):
Sew Crafty Jess, Sewing Rabbit, Stitched in Color, MissKnitta's Studio

To participate in the month-long contest, just link up any project you've made from a pattern in a craft book. That easy! You'll tell us a little about the book, the project, how you personalized it, etc.

Rules

1) One entry per person. 
2) Your craft book project must have been completed in 2013. 
3) Create a new blog post or Flickr photo (dated September 1, 2013 or later) and link back to Craft Buds/Craft Book Month in your post or photo description. In your post or photo description, make sure to list the craft book you used and provide a link if possible.
4) All winners chosen via Random.org. Some prizes available to international winners, so please join us!

Prizes

Visit Craft Buds and link up your craft book project during the window of Sept 1-30 and you'll automatically be entered to win some fantastic prizes from the Craft Book Month sponsors!

No time to make a project? You can also follow Craft Buds all month long for your chance to comment and win some new sewing and quilting books for your library.

 

I'm still here! Summer news

So many things going on this summer! It's time to move again and well be in our new home in less than a month! They sent me this photo of my kitchen in progress and I was dying with excitement! Counters go in today!

Five years ago this month I turned this blog into a sewing blog! This quilt was one of the first things I stumbled across in the budding sewing blogosphere. So it's only taken me 5 years to finish it but I'm hoping to have it done soon!

 

Let's be honest, I haven't been a very present blogger this last year. But with the start of a new school year with two kids in school I'm wondering if I might just be able to be more regular about it. I hope so!!

Until then, I'm going to be a little absent while I pack up my fabric house and get settled. Not that it would be different from the rest of the year!

See you soon!

{not a tutorial} chevron skirts - V. and Co. style

Or should I say Simply Style! Because that is what line this awesome fabric comes from!

Vanessa of V. and Co. asked me to do a bit of sewing for her again for her new fabric that debuted a few weeks ago at Spring Market.  I had made her an a-line skirt when her first collection Simply Color came out last year.  So we reprised the same pattern in gray and navy ombre chevron.

 This picture is more fun though (Thanks for sharing V!) Her new collection and patterns are too awesome.  Love that quilt behind her.  If you go to her market recap there's a video of the Moda Schoolhouse and she talks a little about the quilt!

 

I used this new look pattern 6843, which is a basic a-line. Of course I had to make a little change. Instead of a sewn on waistband (which always makes me feel like I'm getting sliced through the middle) I made a facing so the skirt sits just below the waist without any bulk of an extra seam.  I know there is a newer pattern out the with a facing but I can't remember where I saw it.  This isn't the only a-line skirt out there.

A-line skirts are pretty simple.  It's important to measure around the hips to select your size.  And remember that pattern sizes have not been subject to size inflation.  You will probably wear at least 3 sizes "larger" than you would buy in the store. And it's okay.  Don't let it freak you out!

The chevron off the bolt is printed selvedge to selvedge, so it's important to know that you should NOT follow the cutting diagrams in the pattern.  Otherwise your chevron stripes will run vertical.  So you will need to refold your fabric.

(L-R)
Photo 1 This is how the fabric comes off the bolt.
Photo 2 Open your fabric up and lay in a single layer
Photo 3 Take your cut edge and fold it over so you have selvedges on both edges.  This will make sense when you lay out your pattern pieces.

It's also important to note that if you are tall or want a skirt that is longer than 20" or so, you will need more fabric.  Those of us on the petite side can use less because of the width of fabric and will be able to fit two pieces along one fold (as shown above - much longer though and you'll run out of room for both pieces).

For instance, I knew I wanted a finished length of 20" (adding a 1/2" for the hem and a 1/2" for a seam allowance for attaching the facing).  So I measured along the fold (center of pattern front and back) 21". And I placed the hem of the pattern along the selvedge where I wouldn't lose too much of the design once hemmed.  If you have made skirts before you know you can sometimes fudge the length and just cut it up or hem it more once put together, but I would suggest knowing going into it, so you don't lose any of the bottom for the ombre effect.

So there's one of the panels cut!  This fabric is so pretty!!

Now the rest of these instructions are if you use this pattern or have to create a facing for the pattern you have.  If you even want to do that!  I won't be offended if you scroll down to the bottom to just look at the pictures!

To make a facing pattern, you pin the darts in and then trace the pattern piece from center to side seam and about 4 " long. I also used a light weight interfacing to stabilize the facing.

You can see in the above photo that the facing piece doesn't reach the side seams.  Once you put the darts in, it will.  (I know this isn't the best explanation and I probably should have taken more photos.  I made this pattern last year when I made the first skirt...)

Be sure to cut the facings like the skirt: one long piece for the front cut on the fold, and two pieces for the back.  Attach interfacing and the sew them up at the side seams.

So once you have your skirt put together, instead of putting on a waistband you can just pin this, right sides together and matching side seams to the top of the skirt and stitch around.  I chose to finish the edges with the serger and then top stitch it down at the top so it wouldn't roll.

I had some fun using the ombre dots from Simply Color for the facing on the gray skirt.  :)

Two other things I did on this skirt was put in an invisible zipper withOUT (!!) an invisible zipper foot using this tutorial. AND I managed to match up the chevrons on the back side seam pretty darn well!!  I had to pat myself on the back for that one.  Just make sure you have your fabric folded matching the lines and you should be able to do that too!

Here are the lovely ladies joining their older sister from last year.  Luckily I had Vanessa send me the first skirt so I would know what size to make it!  I get super nervous sewing for people when they aren't here to try things on in person!

I really loved making these and think I might add a couple to my wardrobe next!  Thanks Vanessa for helping me send a little piece of myself to market. Maybe one day I'll get there myself!

dress up days for a 3 year old

Someone turns three today.  And it's kind of killing me!  Her birthday always make me feel so nostalgic for some reason.  Partly because her birth coincided with our last move and by her turning 3 it signals that it's time for us to pick up and leave again.  Ugh.  Leaving is always the hardest part - yes, I am excited for our new home and another adventure.  But it breaks my heart every time I have to say good bye to friends and a place I've come to love.  But more on that later...

Look who's three!!

I don't know what it is about her, but she breaks the tension, makes me laugh and smile and soothes my frazzled self when I need it. I don't know if that comes with being #3 or being doted on as the baby or what. But she's been a bright spot in the past year full of deployment stress and all of that fun stuff.

Shari from Doohikey Designs for Riley Blake sent me some of her darling Dress Up Days fabric to make babylouwho a dress. I love this pattern so much (Simplicity 5695) that this is the 3rd dress I've made with it!  It comes together so easily and is so comfortable to wear!  And easy to adapt to whatever fabric you might have on hand!

I just love the bicycles and the flowers and the chevrons and the tiles!  It was the perfect fit for this pattern.

I left the elastic out of the sleeves on this one, just for a change and I really like the way it looks!

I told her a few weeks ago that she wasn't allowed to turn 3. She looked at me very seriously and said, "OK mommy. I won't turn 3". A week or so later one of my friends asked her how old she would be on her birthday and straight faced replied, "I'm not allowed to turn 3."

So excuse me while I mourn the loss of my newborn and celebrate her spunky 3 year old self!

throwback tuesday - serger edition

I know, it's usually Throwback Thursday but with all of the serger love I've been feeling from making the skirt from yesterday's post I thought I would bring back a post I wrote almost 4 years ago when I got my serger!  It's a bit of a fun story, I think!

*****
May 2009
Did you know you can turn this:

into one of these?

I have an old friend who I've recently reconnected with and she found out I was sewing again. She said to me one day, "Do you have a serger? I have one I hardly use and I was going to sell it on Craigslist. I will give it to you in exchange for a bag..." I didn't really have to think twice about that one. Now I just need to learn how to use it.

I mean really, did you know this fabric was THIS gorgeous? I didn't. And the more I work with it the more I want to plaster it on my walls. Which I found out you can do! But that's a story for another day.

When I finished it I told my friend I might need to just give her the serger back. I mean, c'mon!! She looks so pretty on my blue chair! It's okay though, I bought some more - maybe I'll make a little bolster for my chair.

*****
I remember her telling me she'd rather give it to me because she knew I would appreciate it and actually use it. And I have!!! Every time I make a new dress or skirt and serge up those frayed raw-edged gathered seams I get giddy.  It's true. I definitely think I got the better end of this deal!

Now I can't speak much on what sergers I recommend as I did zero research when I got this one - but Ido love it.  My recommendation is if you have one don't be afraid of it!  Learn how to thread it, read the manual and you should be all set!

yes you can! Sew Knits with Confidence! aka Nancy Zieman's new book/blog tour + giveaway

 *****GIVEAWAY CLOSED - WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED*****

Wow! Was that the longest title for a blog post ever?! Well, now you know what we're talking about today!

I was so happy to be asked to participate in the blog tour for Nancy Zieman's new book, Sew Knit With Confidence + her 4 new knit patterns.  She sent me a copy of her book and each of the four patterns to review and choose one of the garments to make.  She also sent me a book and pattern set to give away (see end of post)!

I'm not going to lie.  I was reeeeeally nervous about making something out of knit.  I have a serger which is great for sewing knits, but I mostly use it for finishing of the seams on nice non-stretchy cotton.

After reading through the book and all of her great tips in there I decided I could try it, and if it didn't work out then, oh well, at least I gave it a go. I decided to make the 6 panel skirt from the Monterey Collection. It ended up being super fast!  The actual sewing time was easily less than an hour.

Looking back on the whole project I think the two hardest things were unrelated to the pattern!
1. It is really hard to find nice knits in good colors at local fabric shops.  I need help sourcing good knits!
2. The knit I chose - while pretty (milk chocolate brown with gold flecks on it) and drapey - it was VERY hard to lay flat on the floor to cut out my pieces!!

After a call for help on Instagram I tried taping it to the floor to get it flat and keep it in place while I pinned.

I ended up using my fun new tool - the tracing wheel and chalk paper - to just trace the size I wanted onto the fabric.  I made a size medium skirt with a s XS length as I am not super tall and wanted it to hit just past the knee.

Plus I had plans to try out a rolled hem since the knit was pretty thin, I wasn't sure a traditional hem would turn out so well.  And I wanted to learn how to do a rolled hem!


The skirt panels went together very easily! I was pleased with the cut of the pieces that give the skirt a nice flare and flounce just above the knee.


I then decided to try out the hem after being encouraged by several friends at the retreat I went to last weekend.  I got out my manual, got a bagel for some sustenance, and opened up the machine and started changing the settings.

And what do you know!!!??  It was so easy.  All I had to do was follow 3 simple instructions! I really should read the manual more often.

As a side note: I did use a serger for this skirt - but the pattern has excellent instructions for using a regular machine too.  So a serger is NOT necessary for sewing knits.

I love the way it turned out on the skirt!

The last step in the pattern was to put in the elastic in a way I had never tried.  You sew the elastic to the wrong side, stretching as you go.  Then you fold it over and anchor in the seams so it doesn't fold back up!  I tried to take a photo here.

I love the nice clean look of the waistband with this method.

The bottom line is, I learned so many things from this one simple pattern! I was just thinking today how the title really is appropriate, I do have more confidence sewing knits.  And not just knits, but with the new techniques I learned for using my serger! Win-win! Plus I have an easy comfy new skirt to wear.

Pardon the selfie on my phone!  I didn't have a chance to get some better photos taken.  But this gives you a good idea.  The fit is perfect and the knit is so comfortable.  I see myself making more of these in the near future!!

Check out the rest of the posts in the tour with many more chances to win!
April 16, 2013 Nancy Zieman the Blog
April 17, 2013 Gertie’s New Blog for Better Sewing
April 18, 2013 Totally Stitchin 
April 19, 2013 Sew Beautiful Magazine 
April 20, 2013 Marie Madeline Studio 
April 21, 2013 Stitchin Jenny’s
April 22, 2013 Amy Lou Who Sews 
April 23, 2013 Sew News
April 24, 2013 Designs in Machine Embroidery  
April 25, 2013 Riley Blake Designs 
April 26, 2013 The Sewing Loft Blog 
April 27, 2013 Nancy Zieman the Blog 

Now it's your turn to win, just leave me a comment and tell me what the scariest sewing project is that you've ever tackled.  I will choose a winner of a Sew Knits With Confidence Book and Knit Pattern Set! I'll announce winners at the end of the week! 

Don't forget - if you are a no-reply blogger leave your email in the comments.  Or just go click on the little button over there on the side and remedy the problem! :)

recent happenings

Hi friends! I know I've been quite absent lately!  When I last blogged about my scrappy trip along, I was all motivated to start blogging again more regularly!  And then, well, then we started looking to buy a house!  And then, WE BOUGHT ONE!  Well, we bought some land and ordered a house! 

Ground will be broken in a few weeks, and hopefully it will be ready to move in this summer when Mrlouwho starts his new job. I'm really excited about the house and maybe staying put for a while.  Plus I'm getting a pretty sweet sewing room!

*****
I have been doing quite a bit of sewing lately.  I've decided to try and make a lot of summer clothes for the girls to avoid spending too much this summer.  So far they love what I've made and now I just need to get to work making some more!

I'll share more about these projects soon.

*****

Did you know that it's National Serger Month? I didn't even know such a thing existed!  If you know me, you know that having a serger makes me enjoy sewing garments SO much more!! I was so excited when I was asked again to participate in a blog tour with Nancy Zieman!  I'm so flattered to be among those participating!  I will be posting on Monday as part of her Sew Knits with Confidence tour! I'll be sharing a project I made from her patterns as well as reviewing her new book by the same name.

Of course, there will also be a fun giveaway!! So stay tuned!  I'll be back... (say it in your best Ahhh-nold voice.)

springy baby irish chain

I've talked about my partner in baby quilt crime before - we live in a baby prolific area and have teamed up on many projects over the last couple of years. And most recently we have churned out about 4 baby quilt in almost as many weeks!! It's been a little crazy. Brynn is normally the piecer with myself doing the quilting and we've swapped around who does the binding.  But we've been able to work together to give a gift that both of our hands have made.  And I really love that.

Admittedly, Brynn has a pretty amazing hefty stash that we've worked from.  Plus she's great at quilt math and is a very precise piecer.  I've gotten comfortable in my role as the quilter and actually really enjoy free motion quilting these smaller quilts.

However, on this particular quilt I had all of these fun scraps leftover from my scrappy trip around the world quilt.  And I wanted to contribute materials too so I offered to piece the top. I really love an Irish Chain and after watching this awesome tutorial, from the Missouri Quilt Co, was super inspired to get it going!

So I started with my scraps and some trusty Kona Snow and made up some nine-patches.  Side note: I love chain piecing.  Side note 2: all photos here taken on my iPhone 5 and don't look as good blown up.  Please forgive me.

I started to get really excited as I started laying out the nine patches with the solid blocks.

And even more excited when I got it all put together and thought about backing it with the aqua chevron and binding it with the red dots!

I then packaged it up and sent it to Brynn for quilting and binding and a good washing.  Side note 3: the sun was really bright at the shower.

And here's a quick detail of the quilting and binding.  Brynn is also super proficient in her binding skills, they always look so nice and crisp.  Side note 4: in a house with poor night lighting and phone camera photos sometimes Kona white gets mixed in with the snow and you don't notice until you get it in some real daylight *smacks head*.

I do love the way this quilt turned out. The colors seemed really cheery to me and perfect for our friend who is having her 3rd baby and 3rd girl.  Aqua is the new pink.  Did you know?

I have several more baby quilts to share.  How about we have a baby quilt exclusive sew & tell soon?

Modern Basics II

Hi friends!  I'm really excited to share with you Modern Basics II! This is the second book by one of my first (and sweetest) blogging friends, Amy of Amy's Creative Side.

This is Amy's follow up book to Modern Basics and once again has charmed us with 14 modern designs with easy to understand instructions for creating the quilts in a variety of sizes. The book is full of gorgeous photos of each quilt along with color coded instructional diagrams.  I also love the quilting basics section in the back of the book. I always learn something new!

In looking through the book, one of the things that stood out to me the most was Amy's comments at the beginning of the book. That she created all of these quilts amid the busy-ness of caring for her family, without a designated sewing space impresses me, not just with her organization skills but her encouragement that these quilts really are attainable for any quilter, any skill level, and any situation.

I always get intimidated when starting a project, it usually puts me off.  But her clear cutting and piecing instructions, with diagrams, make the process understandable, and less scary. And then I start thinking of fabrics to pull to start another project!

Modern Exchange is an example of how 2 simple blocks alternated can make a beautiful and interesting quilt top. Shown here, the large focal print jumps out at you, while putting it together with more solids/small scale prints would achieve a completely different look.

Amy asked us to share a favorite tip or tool with you. My favorite tool is also a tip, and maybe a bit unconventional. Recently, I've been working with a friend on a lot of baby quilts. My sewing companion is my iPad. From watching (or-re watching) my favorite shows while sewing, looking up a tutorial, referencing a quilt top layout, or getting quick feedback on Instagram when I need it--it really has become a staple when I'm sewing! Maybe I'm just addicted a gadget geek, but it really helps me keep information at my fingertips! In fact, I read Modern Basic II in e-book form!

Go to Amy's post to find out how to win your own copy! There you will find links to see more of the quilts and find out how to get an extra entry by going on a scavenger hunt and filling out this form.  There will be 15 copies given away and Amy's plans to share some fun things from her stash as well!

Just for fun let me in on your favorite tip or tool in the comments! Am I crazy for loving my iPad?!