Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Cozy Bundle


The baby blankie/quilt for my sister's friend is all done! I had a special request for a "cozy" blankie, and it is cozy indeed! I am so in love with the top that I might just make several more like it. I had envisioned binding it with a contrasting color, but as it turns out, the blue backing peeks around the edges so it looks like binding and achieved the look I was going for.


I quilted together the top and the batting (no backing). Then I sewed the soft chenille-ish backing to the top and topstiched around the edge. I prewashed it because it's been all over the floor. Plus, then you know how it's going to look after its loved (theoretically).

Monday, March 30, 2009

Stripey

This idea came to me while I was riding my bike. Random fact. I pedaled extra fast to get home to assess my inventory, then went right over to Peapod to get my stripes on.



I am so impatient.

Should be done soon...

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Dinner

Someday, someone will tell me this is not an appropriate dinner.



Until then...bon apetit!

Friday, March 27, 2009

Mission Accomplished

My less-expensive, but more time-consuming interpretation of this blanket is all done! Yay!


This was supposed to be a simple, quick, easy quilt. But then I went ahead and decided to piece the top - as in, cut up a perfectly good stretch of fabric to then sew it back together again...you know, for visual interest. And then I tried to be "green" and "resourceful" by using a leftover duvet cover as the backing, which I'm not sure was cotton, that stretched and wrinkled and puckered all over the place - it's sort of a disgrace, really.

Yes, this is the top - big and simple (or, as we would say in our house, "big ole, simple ole" or "biggly ole, simply ole"...and "wrinkly ole!"). And you can't see my "visually interesting" patchwork, but it's there and really interesting. Trust me.



The back:


sidenote: I did utilize my 11th grade clothing and textiles skills to burn the fabric to try and figure out the fiber components - I think the white backing is 100% cotton after all.

Long story long, the top of the quilt turned out exactly as I envisioned it (despite all my perfectionistic whining). The back of the quilt, well, should probably never be seen. But is definitely soft, and 100% made of fabric I already had lying around, of which I am proud.

How long do you suppose it will be before I start cutting a new quilt? I think probably tomorrow...

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Etsy-Bitsy Baby Steps

I actually posted something on Etsy!

Since I don't know how this whole thing works, I just started with something small (I'm talking really small). I am a low-risk kind of gal, if you haven't noticed. If all goes well, perhaps I'll up the ante (no pun intended).

A horizontal and vertical version:




I couldn't sell the owl ones because I borrowed the design, Fooey!

...but yay!

Friday, March 20, 2009

Red Doors

I have a little thing for red doors. I just love them.


Apparently this has been going on a while, since I made this back in college. I was going through a little amateur watercolor phase. I never got beyond amateur...if that.

Happy Friday!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Home Stretch


I think basting a quilt is my least favorite part. Probably because I lack the space to properly lay it out. I also realized I don't have enough pins (and now I have puckers on the back). This is the biggest quilt I've tackled on my own (somewhere between a full and queen) and because I'm using a linen/cotton blend, this sucker is heavy!

I'm keeping the quilting simple with horizontal stripes at different intervals. I hope to have it complete by the weekend. Yay!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Puzzling


It is puzzling why I would choose to put together a puzzle (inside) while in beautiful Hawaii. But I did. I guess I'm an indoor girl after all. I finished this bit in about 1.5 days. We ran out of time before I could put together the mountains and sky. Man, do I love a puzzle.

It should be noted, however, that I did do plenty of outdoor activities including whale watching, turtle-visiting, snorkeling (albeit short-lived), ocean swimming, volcano-visiting, on-the-beach-reading (a vacation must-have), shave ice-eating, and walking.

Hawaii pretty much rules and I hope to never stop visiting.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

SF Quilt Show

I had meant to enter the SF Guild's quilt show this year, but never got around to it. I can never attend the meetings anyhow. So I attended the show instead.

From the few vendors at the show, I bought these:

Eight yards of pre-cut bias strips - because after making those shirts, I'm obsessed with my bias tape maker, and this is the perfect size.


And these buttons. I mostly liked how they were a little crooked and one button was darker than the rest. I will probably never use them and just frame them or keep them on my bulletin board for decoration instead.


Because what I needed were a few more "things."

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Twice in One Weekend Sewing

I made the gray/yellow shirt for my trip to Hawaii, but I wasn't 100% satisfied with the outcome. So I had to make another one (Why do I always feel this compulsion to sew when I'm supposed to be packing??) and try out the changes.


This version is a) narrower, b) longer, c) has a shorter placket, and d) has a more deeply scooped neckline. Oh yeah, and I accidentally sewed the placket to the wrong side and so it sits on the outside of the shirt instead of the inside, but I actually like the way it turned out.

I used some IKEA linen I had lying around, and I used the same bias tape as the last shirt, because I love it (and mostly because it was already sitting here, and I'm hasty/lazy like that). This one is definitlely Hawaii-appropriate, and I might even wear it on the flight over.

Aloha!

Monday, March 09, 2009

Weekend Sewing

Heather Ross was signing her new book at Purl on the last day I was in NY. I could probably have made it to the signing, but it would have been cutting it close (I was kinda seriously bummed). But since then, I have been obsessed with getting her book.


So, I did...immediately (has anyone ever known me to be patient?). And marched myself to Peapod, bought some fabric and got to sewing. I wasn't 100% committed to the fabric before I started, but now that it's in shirt form, I love, love, love it! And I used one of my all-time favorite fabrics for the bias tape and placket.


I had to take it in by about 4 inches on each side, and next time I'll extend it by about 2-3 inches (I must have a long body). I paired it with a lacy tank underneath, jeans, and some wedges, rolled up the sleeves and I felt quite sassy.

Now that I think about it, it actually looks like a shirt for celebrating in, don't you think?....like bubbly champagne. Cheers!

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

I Want...

...this Airstream trailer in my backyard to use as a guest house.


This photo is from ReadyMade, but I wish I really took this photo in my own back yard.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

There Was Eating...

...Lots of eating.

And one of the more memorable things I ate while in NY was this:


A chorizo, chive, and manchego scone-ish muffin from Sweet Revenge. I will, without fail, order anything if it contains chorizo or manchego. Chorizo and manchego, you have never let me down.

We happened to order one of the only savory things in the case, but we really stopped by to pick up some cupcakes (I highly recommend the peanut buttery [sweet revenge] one and the raspberry velvet [crimson & cream]). I do believe I saw the words "mojito" and "sangria" on the bar menu as well, which are two more of my favorite go-to "foods."


I mean seriously, is this place not heaven? Cupcakes and mojitos? Sounds like dinner to me.

Monday, March 02, 2009

First Things First

(this is a really rad photo - sorry)

D and I just returned from a week in NYC. The first order of business was (you think I'm going to say "go to Purl Soho" here, don't you?) to attend a baptism and brunch. Ironically, the brunch was literally 2 blocks from Purl Soho. How convenient and fabulous! D, being the incredibly awesome and thoughtful guy that he is, made sure I got to shop a little bit, even though he knows that I need more fabric like I need a hole in my head.

I was a little overwhelmed, again (like last time), but I did spot this little pack of scraps that I "needed" to have.


At first I thought I only needed this fabric, for my Makaio (he's our little train-lovin' man).

But then I decided I needed these two also...so, it was a no-brainer.


I already have some of the Heather Bailey green paisleys and I have no idea what I'm going to do with the forest green (not my favorite color) wool, but it was all worth it.

What a great way to start a trip, no?