It's A Mystery To Me

 It'd a mystery I am solving as the muse moves me - this should be a finished product tomorrow. What do you think it's going to be?

I took bits and pieces of inspiration from this wonderful book by Angie Hughes - published by Search Press - that I reviewed not too long ago on my book blog (October 10th entry). It feels good to be doing something "sew-ey" - or perhaps I mean creative - again. It's taken too long! More tomorrow I hope. I'll be curious to see if you have any thoughts on what in the heck I am doing !

"One Yard Wonders" By Rebecca Yaker & Patricia Hoskins

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Please remember that you can double click on photographs to get a better view

I was not quite sure just what I would think of this book when I first saw. I think I was leery of the title - only because I tend to dislike titles like ' fast, fun easy' or fun & quick'. Don;' get me wrong we all need a quick fix at times and more or less instant result can be a very good thing sometimes too...I am just one of those people who stills likes real letters and finds more comfort in slow cloth than quick and easy.

Although it is difficult to see in this photo - 

the pattern pieces for some of the projects are happily 

ensconced in a nice pocket on the inside front cover.

This is a cross post from my book blog - but I thought that it would have relevance here -Enjoy!

The first thing I noticed about this book is it's quality. It's a nice size, the paper is high quality and the cover spiral binding is very well made - these are things that I so look for in books - and yes, I am a page 'sniffer'. I love the smell of ink on paper - and I can be critical of paper color and paper quality - the latter especially in hard-covered books or those books that are made to get a lot of use. Of course the next thing that I looked at were - what else?! - the patterns. The patterns are divided into sections with titles such as "On The Go" (bags, lunch bags, lap top covers etc), "Household Affairs" (tea cozies,aprons, hot& cold packs), "Outfit Your Small Wonder" (obviously geared to clothing for your own little one). There are patterns for dog couture items, toys for children, great shopping bags and a wealth of small projects that really can be made with just a yard of fabric. Also included are things like sewing fundamentals - good for beginners or as a refresher for those of us with older cloth fixations. A couple of the 'patterns' are more like instructions for doing things like covering a cork board or scale with fabric. No necessarily sewing projects but they can be done with a yard or less of fabric.

Some of these projects are for things that we could all probably figure out how to make. I don't know about you , but there are times when I am thrilled not to have to re-invent the wheel - and enjoy the fruits of what others have made pattern for so that I can save my brain cells  for the more involved projects that I barely have to complete as it is. Simple and right in front of me with a "how-to" can be a real time save.

Have a look at this! 

You can enter to win free yardage for a year.... now that's a cool thing!

 

I really liked this project for an obi inspired hot and cold pack

This little 'catch all' holder called an 'Origami Organizer'

is a very interesting project that I am going to have to try.

 

 

have been on a kick to find good looking alternatives to to the now ubiquitous grocery store provided 'green' bag. This book includes two patterns that are good. The one above is a bag that will fold in on itself for easy storage - making it easy to always have a shopping bag with you. The photo on the bottom is just a regular shaped bag and it is one of those patterns that I am glad is included so that I don't have to go and do the measuring to make the pattern myself. Easy!

 

Dog couture - how cute!

I thought this little apron or smock for a wee one was just adorable.

All in all I really like this book a lot and will highly recommend it. It seems to have something that will please everyone and is one of those books that will be a good resource and reference book - and yes, it does hold a lot of things that could be termed "fast, fun and fabulous" ! Give it a try - I don't think that you will be disappointed.

Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher for reviewing purposed. No other remuneration.

Tote Bag Update & Beware Mecury Retrograde

Front of the Tote with a small outside zippered compartment.

There is an open pocket behind it.

This is the "Professional Totebag" pattern from Creative Thimble. I finally got the front finished. There is a nice large pocket behind the smaller zippered pocket on the front & the back has an entire length pocket held with a bit'o'velcro in the center. I've started the inside now - lots of zippered pockets and room for organizing all of daily life's impedimenta. This is one of the more complicated patterens I have ever made - because of all of the various pockets - not the basic construction. I really like the pattern & the size of the tote. I have no doubt that I will be making another. The directions are really excellent, althoughb I found one step that was a bit confusing - but I might have been too tired by that point. Either way I eventually "got" it and happily stitched along. It's the best tote pattern that I have found ! I'll post once more when it it entirely finished.

If things feel edgy or if things are breaking down, communications going sideways & life in general seems topsy-turvy it may not just be "you". Mercury is retrograde beginnning today & will to be continue for three weeks - or until mid October. It's a great time to review, to go back & work on projects that have already been started. Retrogrades occur several times a year and they are a good time to reflect, review & try to just "go with the flow"; it is not,generally speaking, a good time to begin new projects or transact large new deals. Travel may be diverted, computers can get cranky. There is a lot of information about this phenomena on the web. Generally, it's a good idea to back thing up right now. Most of us have lots of projects "in the works" - so not starting anything new shouldn't be an issue right ?!

The back of the Tote showing the large open pocket area and

the black "travel strap" made to hook over your suitcase handle.

Here is one of the two expandable bottle holders on the side.

Adjustable cord locks make the pocket easy to adjust.

A Great Pattern Find: The Professional Tote From Creative Thimble

I thought that I would have more progress to show you on my tote by today, but when I took the bag parts outside I really dislike the blue pocket - so I have torn it all out, saved the great kiwi color zipper & I am ready to start all over. I have always been hesitant to make a bag for myself, mainly because most patterns seem to look - well - like "loving hands at home-made". I loved the look of this pattern because it has lots of zippered pockets, water bottle holders on the sides & an optional strap that allows you to stow the bag on your luggage (not that I travel all that much mind you!).

The directions are exceptionally well written; clear, concise & well illustrated. I have learned a lot that I had always wanted to know about pocket construction from this pattern & helpful "tips" are scattered throughout. You need to have three zippers on hand - a 7", a 14" & an 18". The zippers were a real problem for me since they are not available here in 'Paradise'. I called our nearest, friendly, FabricsPlus on the mainland & they were kind enough to read the colors they had in stock for the longer length zippers & send them to me. I would like to be better prepared for that the next time around and find a wider range of color for the long zippers. You also need cord locks - another item I had to track down & order first. For most people there is nothing out of the ordinary that you would not be able to find readily. Pellon DecoBond interfacing is used for this pattern & my friend, Lauren, was kind enough to stop & pick it up for me during one of her mainland jaunts. There are LOTS of pattern & interfacing pieces to cut & fuse. Once that's done you're ready to roll - that is unless you're like me & have to rip things apart to get it to look the way you want! The pattern is $10.00 and, when I think of how much patterns for anything cost these days, I think it's an exceptional value. Creative Thimble sells this & lots of other good bag patterns on their website - along with webbing - which can be used in place of coordinating fabric for the handles. I'll most likely be making another bag & might try webbing to see if I like the look or not. The usual disclaimers of no affilation etc - just a person that loves this pattern!

A 'Sew-cial' Day

Robin Atkins showing with one of her framed series of 'beady journals'

Yesterday was a day for being 'sew-cial'. The 'sew-cials' are probably one of my favorite things our guild does since I get both a day of relatively uninterrupted time to sew as well as time to visit with friends I don't get to see all that often. I love being able to catch up on what everyone has been doing and what they are working on. Friends really 'float my boat' - though I suspect most people don't think that's really true of me! Yesterday, the weather 'cooperated' in that it was overcast - otherwise a summer day can mean a lower turn out around here! In the Pacific Northwest we tend to grab our summer when a good day offers itself!

Robin Atkins, who I think is one of the most talented, lovely people around, was showing us how she had framed her incredible beady journals. They are, in a word, awesome. If you have not already seen her new book - that details these treasures, you owe it to yourself to get a copy! I was pretty excited to learn that she plans to do some local classes soon - that's something I have been hoping for! Where do I sign up?!

Explaining how she mounted the journal 'pages'

I always like to look at the sewing machines at our sew-cials. We had the Bernina table (see my tangerine dream?!), the Singer Featherweight table (we have an active Featherweight fan club here-myself included), and the Pfaff table. We also had a scattering of Vikings and Babylocks. I adore sewing machines, both old and new, and would dearly love to be able to try each brand out. Unfortunately, that is an addiction that my pocketbook will never support!

Lunch was a salad bar that was fir for the finest restaurants - I think we must surely have some of the most talents cooks around. Of course, there were also the requisite sweets. I overindulged in chocolate!

I worked on finishing up my SAQA auction piece - just some beading left to be done. I got my Journal Quilt for this year started too - I am really going to have fun with this one! It's all about fire! I am excited too, that my 'have to do's' are almost done. I over committed myself a bit & am looking forward to some time to just play without deadlines for just awhile...though, as we all know, there is always something that comes along that will simply have to be done!

The Bernina table

The Featherweight table

One of the Pfaff tables

Mini Baskets For Special Treasures

I've been in the middle of a spate of mini baskets & have been really enjoying them! I am using a small, chalk line cording for and am still trying to figure out how to vary the stitch width to get the cording definition that I want. It's difficult on this small scale. The middle basket with the handle is the smallest one of this batch. I used a mixture of chocolate & safari gray procion dyes on it and then stiffened the handle a bit with GAC 400 (which I have come to really like using a lot since it can be thinned with water to give a more or less rigid effect). The basket on the left was tea dyed- the original fabric was white. The right hand basket was just for fun - a perky pink rayon blend fabric with black dots that shed like crazy ! You should have seen my pants after I finished it! More mini baskets are in my future - these are just too fun to make to stop now! Next step is beading them!

An Angelic Touch

I have never been much of a doll aficionado (at least since I gave up on Barbie) & I have never had much of a yen to make dolls. I have, however, been enchanted by the dolls that Gail Wilson designs & makes. I collect angels and when I saw that she has a line of angel patterns, I decided to give one a try! Gail's style is decidedly folk art & I know that I will make the pattern somehow "my own", but her work is really something special. The presentation of the pattern is lovely & the instructions are very thorough & well done. There is a little bag of included goodies for completing the doll: a felting needle for felting the provided hair into place ,a pencil for rouging, and a tiny tin of of antiquing wax- something I have never heard of but am anxious to try. If you have ever thought about making a doll - or just like folk art - click on the highlighted link to enjoy a some eye candy!

A Touch of Heaven In The Mail

Saturday's mail brought a most unexpected surprise from Vicki. WoW! What a surprise! I thought that she might send me ONE piece of her hand dyed fabric (and a small piece at that!).
What I found, however, was an absolute treasure trove! The photo above is of a glorious piece of hand dyed fabric & metallics - and it is awesome. The photo below is of the rainbow of my favorite warm colors that she sent. Beautifully done. Heaven!

She also added some fun bits of yarn (each nestled in it's own plastic bag) & a tube of beads which are already destined for my 'tree' piece. How could she know?!

As if all of this wasn't WAY more than enough Vicki also enclosed some of her incredible hand made soap for sensitive skin. I am a shea butter fan - so I have opened that one first - and it really is wonderful for those of us whose skin can have problems tolerating the additives and perfumes in most soap these days.

Last, but not least, this card was enclosed. Vicki could not have known that Charles Wysocki is one of my favorite artists - but this must surely be the proof that she is psychic! I am so very grateful for my friends - both local and cyber. I am, truly, blessed. My friends are my teachers - their lessons are about the meaning of friendship & good will. Thank You Vicki for sharing so freely - your blog cheers my day and you generous gift will be used well - and creatively I hope!

What To Do With Decorator Fabric Samples

I love decorator's fabric samples. I have no idea why I do - but I do. People are kind & give them to me when they come across them & occasionally I unearth one at a second hand store. These sample packs can be small and colorful like the one in the photo- or large & flowery. The fabric can be removed from the case - though sometimes you need to remove a bit of gunky glue from the very top of the piece, but the fabrics are superior quality and very usable - but usable for what is always the question I face !

I often like to make small bags with them - and I use them for backings a lot in my smaller quilts. Today I was looking at the mess that has become my knitting needle storage & decided that I needed to "neaten" them up a bit. I used 3 pieces of a sample book for this case that will hold some of my double points and a few bamboo straights too. I will soon tackle the larger problem of my circular needle storage in the same way. These are fast to make and work quite well to make needle storage both tidier as well as more colorful!

Fabric Bowls

Remember the big craze for making fabric bowls a year or so ago? Well this was the first one I made. It's on a Timtex base and I used some batiks that I over-dyed to get the colors I wanted.
It worked well to hold the rose petals that I picked - all my favorite yellow and white rose varieties. I got side tracked from these fabric bowls when I learned to make coiled fabric bowls. They are just so darn versatile - AND washable!. I have fun making these and also I enjoy beading the rims. The bowl bowl was coiled using plain muslin and then I used Procion dye on it when it was all wrapped. I wanted something that look sun bleached and soft. I have found these coiled bowls to be VERY useful in the kitchen...and for storing apples and other fruits in the frig. There are two good books out on making them. The first one I got is by Helen Deighan called "Coiled Pots & Baskets" and the second is by Susan Brier called "It's A Wrap". Both books are available through Amazon - or order them from your local indpendant bookseller! Beware though - you can't make just one !

Just Waiting On A Friend

I am just about to box this up for a friend's birthday. The center is a piece of my hand dye - with hand embroidery embellished with Shiva paint sticks. Every month, for the longest time, I got 5 inch Bali sample squares & I have been slowly working on a quilt using them all. The piecing around the center is made from leftover scraps from these 5 inch squares ! I just could not throw them out ! I did use a full fat quarter for the backing though - and envelope style with a velcro closure. I have two more of these to finish up . They are 12" X 16".