Anna Maria Horner Figure 8 Scarf

I have wanted this scarf for quite a bit of time and I tried to buy the scarf myself. 

Photo from Anna Maria Horner Shop. Find your own scarf here

Every time I tried, the scarf was sold out.  I asked for the scarf for Christmas from my mom with the idea that maybe someone else would get lucky.  She attempted several times to order the kit, and ran into the "SOLD OUT" label as well.  Imagine my surprise when I opened the kit for Christmas!!  She was finally able to purchase the kit before the newly loaded kits sold out again.  I will be sewing the scarf together this week so I can look good at work (wink)!

Foxy Mama

Have you seen this ridiculously cute fox block pattern by Artisana?

I first saw the fox on Pinterest

and knew that I would be adding this cutie to my "to sew" list for 2012. 

The above pattern can be made from Artisania's fox block and only costs $3.00.  She even gives you a mirrored fox, so you can make one like the pinterest fox.  Too cute.  Not to be too literal, but it would seriously look cute with Outfoxed by Lizzy House, right?

The Civil War Diary Quilt

I missed the Farmer's Wife Quilt Along, although, you can really do the quilt anytime.  So, I bought the book to push my sewing skills this upcoming year.  There is also a new quilt along, but one that you do at your own pace.  This quilt along will use the Civil War Diary Quilt Book. 

 Photo from A La Mode

Photo from A La Mode- Heather's first two blocks

The quilt along is being guided along by Heather at A La Mode.  Looks fun.  The book does not include a CD with the patterns you can print off.  You will have to trace the block from the book or use your math skills to make.  May be a challenge, but we will see how I do!!

2012 Project List

I started a project list on Pinterest to help me track all the items I want to make and that I have committed to (quilt alongs or swaps).  I know the list will grow, but I really want to focus on less unfinished items and actually finishing projects.  We will see how that one goes....ummm, not so well in the past.  2012 is a new year though and a new time to make commitments, right???  Find my board on Pinterest here.

You do need an invite to join Pinterest.  I can help you out if you aren't on there and would like to be.  WARNING: you may lose hours of your time pinning.  Don't say I didn't warn you (wink).  The bag in the photo is a pattern from Posie Gets Cozy - the Jane Market Bag. 

Craft Room Makeover

Seems like since I started sewing I have been working my way toward figuring out what I would want my craft room to look like and how I could best utilize the space.  We rent our place, so that does limit what we can do with the space, but the more I research, the more I see I can get what I want.  We have painted our entire duplex as the walls were three shades of different white when we moved in (with our landlord's permission of course!!).   There will be immediate updates and then a few updates that could take a couple more weeks before the room is complete.

Here is what I started with when I first started sewing in 2007:

Not what I really wanted, but the desk got me started. I put contact paper over the desk to help cover up a bad stain job and to add some punch.

I added accessories to make the place a little closer to what I wanted and added a desk:

The room has been a progress and finally after several months of working out how to use my space most effectively, the last phase will begin.

I have a wonderful husband who seems to be able to do anything.  I found a desk through a website called ana-white.  I have always wanted a craft desk from pottery barn or something similar from Crate and Barrel, but did not want to spend $1000 to get it.  Plus, think of all the fabric buying that would take away from!!!  So here is the desk that my husband is building for me this weekend:

Plan found here

Details found here

I am actually following the building design for the craft desk not painted shown above.  I like the bigger top and having another set of cubes on the both sides.  More storage!!! 

I will have room now for my friends or mom to sew on one side while I sit on the other.  One end will be used as a cutting zone and the other end as the pressing/ironing zone.  I will be able to bring my fabric out of the closet and onto shelves nicely organized.  My husband is going to attempt to place two drawers in the middle area I can pull out to store my rotary blades, scissors, etc!!  I can't wait.

I also plan to paint the room the same color as the rest of the house, move my quilt wall and better organize my wall items.  I will be able to keep my dress form in the corner instead of the closet.  I have some accessories I am going to be sewing to add to my desk and room as the process continues.  I have no doubt when this is finished, that it will be hard to go to work and not stay and play in my craft room. I will post pictures as the process starts, continues and when complete! I hope to have the room done and finished as I see it no longer than a month.  Keep checking back!!



Itote Completed

Have you been on Craftsy yet?  I have and I am loving the workshops and classes that are being offered.  I signed up for a workshop to make an "Itote" made by the crafty StitcheryDickoryDock.  Here is what the project looks like:

What makes the workshop so nice is you can ask questions anytime.  It was like taking a class locally, except I could stay in my pajamas and the cost of the class was WAY AFFORDABLE.  I had some problems with my pockets (I was trying to hurry and finish so I could take my tote with me over Christmas - when will I learn not to hurry projects??).  My pockets are slightly crooked, but really at the end of the day - I am the only one who notices the not perfectly lined pockets.  Here is my Itote:

I used outfoxed and AMH as my main fabrics for the tote. I love how the purples turned out.  You could do any type of quilting on the back of the tote. I decided to do a simpler form of the star bursts that are found on the AMH fabric on the flaps of my pockets.  It may not be 100% perfect, but I love this tote.  I put my Nook in the zipper section, my Iphone in one pocket and my camera fits perfectly in the other pocket.  I can carry everything when travelling so much easier. 

You have lifetime access to the class and can make the tote at your own pace.  Check out Craftsy and see what you like!



Christmas Quilt Bust

I had hoped to make a quilt for my mother-in -law and it was a bust.  I still have a few blocks remaining from the attempt.  I will probably make them into mini quilts.  My free motion quilting is still lacking.   I read some other blogs that said to keep practicing and relax.  I am improving, but I think the bulk of a quilt is intimidating the first few times. I stepped away from the frustration and will keep practicing. I am start a new quilt for my MIL and will pay someone to FMQ the quilt. I figure the top is made by me and I will bind it, so the quilt is still mostly put together by me!

Here are the blocks leftover from the quilt that I started with:

I think they will make some cute mini quilts.  Maybe I can at least give one of them to my MIL.  The new quilt I think will be a bit more traditional and a different color scheme. I don't want to say to much so the quilt is a surprise to my MIL.  I should have the new quilt posted in a couple weeks!

Tree Skirt Finished

The tree skirt turned out exactly how I wanted.  I am so pleased!!  The little Sawtooth Stars I wanted around the skirt became a bit to tedious, so I decided to do just trees. I was not disappointed with the skirt like I feared I might be getting rid of the stars.  I haven't incorporated pink into my tree yet, but the greens and reds match perfectly. I hope to add some pink to the tree this year to finally tie in what I have around the rest of the house.  Here are the results:

Forgive the wrinkles... I hadn't pressed it yet.  I was too excited to get pictures of the skirt taken. I used linen for the top and I used a heavy denim for the back.  There is a thin layer of batting between both.  I used jelly rolls for the border and cut them every 8 to 10 inches or so.  I am still trying to understand how to do binding and didn't want to ruin my skirt. So I attached the jelly rolls to the linen and then sewed the end of the jelly rolls to the jean layer.  I then did the magical sew all the way around and leave an opening trick.  Then pulled through the whole skirt and pressed.  Once I get this binding thing down, my crafts should really pick up!!  I covered two big buttons and used some cute bias tape that I had to make the loops.  I scored with the trees. I found a scrap of fabric with the trees all over it that I think I bought about 3 years ago.  I just cut the trees out and then used a decorative stitch to attach the trees to the linen.

Overall, this is the second tree skirt I have made.  The other skirt was for a friend. I eyeballed everything - no pattern, so I am pretty proud of myself.

Deck the Walls

Buy one from Pine Needles in Salt Lake City

I am already aiming high to try to finish my table runner and tree skirt. If I get so lucky to be productive and on the ball, I would like to try my hand in piecing.  I have avoided piecing for awhile now, but after the Sewing Summit, I feel like I have the confidence to try!  We will see if it actually happens this year!! 

Christmas Table Runner

Yesterday I said how much I want to make my own tree skirt. I also have wanted to make this table runner for several years.  I will be using different fabric than Figgy Pudding and will probably have to make my runner a bit smaller.  I bought letter so I can trace out the words I want to use.  Updates coming soon!!  You can make your own too - find the tutorial here.

Christmas Tree Skirt

I have been saying for years that I am going to make my own tree skirt.  Well, last year's skirt did not hold up, so I either make one or buy one. I decided now is the time to try new things and to get the tree skirt I want.

I have bought linen and I am thinking about using a patchwork border.  On the linen around the circle I think I want to do trees and Sawtooth Stars.

Know what a sawtooth star is:

This star is taken from a tutorial on purl soho

I haven't decided if I want to use blocked trees - like this:

I made this last year for a swap.  I didn't design the pattern, but I have lost the tutorial to give proper credit!

Or just a solid fabric tree:

From lilysquilts

Whatever I decide to do, as long as I actually make one in time to go around the tree will be amazing!

I will post pics if it happens!!

Christmas Gifts

I can't post some of the work I have done since they are Christmas Gifts but I can post the fabrics I used, right???  I won't list who they are for either, although it is really hard for me not to.  I don't keep gifts a secret very easily and almost explode to give the gift to people before the holidays or birthdays. 

Quilt One:

The photo is blurry but you can get the idea.  I didn't want it be super small!! 

Quilt Two:

I am using an orange fabric but I can't remember what line the fabric is from.  The orange is actually a patterned fabric so it adds a little to the quilt and a punch with all the other solids. I will have to ask my friend who helped me select the fabrics.

The top fabric is from the Circa 60 line.  LOVE that line and so does my husband.  He has some other fabrics from the line waiting to be made into a quilt just for him and a messenger bag for his school books.

The funny thing is I ended up loving the quilt I am working on with the Circa 60 print, that I am making my husband and me one too!!  The only problem is which one of us will get to lay under it!!

I am working on one more quilt but I can't post even the fabric. If I did the person I am making it for would instantly know it was for them.  After Christmas, I promise!!

Post Sewing Summit Swap

After the Sewing Summit, there seemed to be an unending pool of energy and inspiration.  Liz from Goddess in Progress decided we should take advantage of that and do a swap.  I signed up nervous to make for someone from the Sewing Summit, which had an unending supply of creative women.  In a funny twist, I received Valerie from Between Quilts and she received me.  My camera took such dark photos so I am going to use her photos so you can see the pretty, vibrant fabrics.  You can see her post here too!

Here is what I made her from Joel Dewberry Heirloom Fabrics with Orange Kona Solid.

I included a small pouch from RK Cupcake material and 2 fat quarters of Hullabaloo.  I love that line!!  I also love the Joel Dewberry.  How could you not?  I also included a produce bag from Daisy Jane's pattern.  Valerie had already placed the bag with her shopping bags.

Here is what I received:

Jealous?  I bet you are!!  I remember when this was posted in the Flickr group. I wanted it to be mine but I didn't even think about hoping it would be.  When I opened the box I was thrilled.  I had said in my likes before the swap that I LOVED bright colors and she listened. I haven't done much with this mini quilt but stare and pet it.  I am selecting a place to hang the mini quilt in my craft room, so I can always look at it for inspiration and creativity.

Thank you so much Valerie!!  I can't even find words to describe how much I love it. Plus, you have encouraged me to not be afraid to try some circles soon!!

Sew Serendipity

Tomorrow is the big day!!  I will get to meet Kay Whitt from Sew Serendipity.  She is doing a book signing at my friend Kelly's Fabric Shop, Stitch-N-Lounge.  I am taking her latest book, Sew Serendipity Bags.  If you haven't had a chance to see the book yet, it has some pretty adorable bags in it.  I can't wait to meet her. 

Stay tuned this week with some updates from my latest projects..... and there are quite a few.  Also, I will be posting the swap item I received from my awesome partner Valerie, from Between Quilts.  You will be jealous!!

Sewing Summit Post-Swap

I finally mailed out my Post Summit Swap package. I have had it done since Monday but we have had some drama with my car.....to the tune of $2800.  This car better run another 5 to 6 years!!!  You had to either make a zippered pouch or a doll sized quilt. I made a zippered pouch.  Here are some photos, they are a bit dark:

I included some extras.  Another small zippered pouch, 2 hullabaloo fat quarters and a produce bag made from the Daisy Jane pattern. 

Hope she likes it!!