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...

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!

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!

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!

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.

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."

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!

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!

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.

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.

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?

Patchy Dishtowels

A little hostess gift for my hostess (D's mom). I'm in NY for a week, so probably very little blogging.

See you in a week!

C Bag for Carol

My friend, Carol, and I decided that since we both had to work Valentine's Day, we would be each other's at-work Valentines.

She brought me a pound of chocolate (I've been a well-behaved chocoholic thus far) and a "kitchen sink" cookie (oh the cookie? It's long gone.) and I made her a "C" bag. I had been meaning to make her one forever, but now I had the perfect occasion.


I used some IKEA fabric I've had stashed for ages, and the "C" is made from that awesome linen/cotton stuff I talk about.

She loved it so much - she practically carried it all shift and that made me immensely happy.

In The Works

While D and I were in Seattle, I peeked in on the Ace Hotel. I had wanted to stay there but there was no vacancy. All the beds had these Swiss Army blankets on them and I was obsessed! I know, they're a little nursey, but that's why I like it so much.

However, I had a hard time finding one, and this one is a little too pricey.


So I'm making my own quilted version in that fabulous linen/cotton fabric from Peapod. And of course, the leftover linen from the Anthroplogie bedskirt (which I will never run out of).

We'll see how this one turns out!

Preppy Baby

All she needs now is a string of pearls and a scholarship to Wellesley...neither of which I can provide.

Happy [Belated] Balentime's Day

Since I spent Valentine's Day with my co-workers, I thought it appropriate to make them mini strawberry Valentine's cupcakes.


I used the Sprinkle's Cupcakes recipe for the cake. And then I used the frosting recipe from the red velvet cupcakes I made, except that I added a little strawberry puree. It was dreamy!

I hope you all had a happy Balentime's Day!

Little Tiny Paper Pads

Today I was finally able to use my padding compound! Look at these tiny little paper pads I made.

I printed out a sheet of this paper and used my new little rubber stampies to decorate. Then I scanned and reprinted a few sheets:


I cut them up & used pieces of cereal box as a backing (classy!):


clamped them and painted padding compound along the top edge (I use only the best and most sophisticated tools):


And voila! Little tiny paper pads.

Try it, you'll like it!

A Little Bit Crazy

The other day I was sick. Like, sick sick. Like, can't-even-make-it-to-the-sewing-machine sick. So I slept until 5:45 PM and then slept through the night again, waking up a little here and there (which should be expected considering I slept 17 hours just a few hours earlier). Anyhow, in one of my here-and-there awake moments, I was thinking about projects I should work on once I start feeling better (that, in itself is a little "sick").

I have this quilt I made a while back (apparently I was sick last time I worked on it as well). It was my first go at the new walking foot, and I think I was ready to just be done with it (as it goes with me and projects), so I quilted it in this lame spiral (aka get 'er done) square pattern. Dissatisfied in the middle of the night, I planned out in my head how I would take the binding off of the top and bottom (to ensure the binding still fit) and quilt it with vertical lines instead.



As soon as I was able, I ripped off the binding, un-quilted it, re-quilted it, and re-bound. I am so crazy. I mean, who un-quilts a quilt to re-quilt it? Maybe I was still a little sick in the head.

I just washed it up and love it much better. I'm re-inspired to gift it out. How can you not love a wrinkly linen front and a yummy corduroy back? Ok, it's cream, not ideal for a baby or a floor, but whatever...

I Should Probably Switch Things Up

I'm starting to see a pattern:








I've become so predictable

Moving Right Along

This was a fun and rewarding quilt to make - but if you're a picky presser, getting the row seams to press to one side was a beast, so I boycotted and didn't do it. Not sure I'll tackle triangles again any time soon (because I've got circles on the mind anyhow), but eventually. And maybe using this method instead.

Pre-wash:

Post-wash (I much prefer this wrinkly look):

The back - surprise! It's orange!
(you saw it coming)

This one is going to stay right here with me. I'm trying to see how many quilts can fit on one bed before it begins to look completely ridiculous.