Sew Modern Monday :: Learn as You Go

Super excited with my finishes this week, even if they did take me longer than usual. It was my first time making either, so a learning curve was definitely involved.

My new Market Tote!

I made this bright little lady to take shopping with me at Sewing Summit next week(!!!)

The pink and green were an easy choice, despite Fall just having arrived. You see, there are no seasons in South Florida, so this will do the trick year-round.

Here you can better see my first serious attempt at French Seams!

I was reading the great Back to School series over at Sew Sweetness, where Angela from Cut to Pieces did a guest post on French Seams. She made this same bag, so I went for it!

I modeled mine after Angela's and followed the styling of the Jane Market Tote, but created my own pattern to suit the type of shopping I would be doing...fabric! The base is the perfect size for a store-folded stack of fabric.

I learned a lot making this bag. I was so eager to reinforce it for heavy loads that I originally used fusible fleece on BOTH the outer and the lining. BIG mistake! That made my French seams about 2 inches wide!

So I reduced it to 1 layer of fusible and moved on. The French seams all the way around, with the fusible fleece, have made a really strong base that doesn't sag, even with a lot inside.

The back side.

The inside.

I added one large pocket for either phone or wallet.

These are a little early, but will perhaps inspire some more.

I made these for a bridal shower last weekend, where the wedding is in November, so the couple will have their first Christmas this year. It was a lot of fun to see all the holiday goodies, and believe it or not, the stores are already stocking ornaments!

I thought it would be fun to do Mr. and Mrs. instead of their actual names.

I hand embroidered these on the cuffs, using a stem stitch that I learned as I went. I seriously kept repeating the video as I went along, until I got the hang of it.

There are a ton of great embroidery guides out there, but this video really helped me. Over on Needle 'n Thread.

Mrs! These were really fun to make.

What have you been working on? Be sure to link up with Sew Modern Monday!

Strip Ironing Tutorial

After having to iron both edges of a 100"+ strip, I decided there had to be an easier way than eyeballing it, especially when every 1/8" counts. So here goes! I hope you find this helpful!

(Please ignore the burned fabric. It's my desktop ironing space.)

Make sense? Helpful? I hope so!

Spotlight Featured Blogger

I'm super excited to be featured in the Follower Spotlight over on Ellison Lane Quilts today!

Go check it out to learn more about me, and while you're there, check out the blog! Jennifer is a great gal and I promise you it'll be worth a look around.

And if you're visiting from Ellison Lane, WELCOME! There's nothing I love more than having company over! :)

My Sewing Room :: Updated!

It's no secret that I love taking a peek into other's creative havens to check out their setup and process. It's fun to see how other people lay things out and get inspiration from it.

I recently updated my space with a couple of inspiration walls I made myself, and they have completely transformed my space. I actually featured my big sewing room update exactly a year ago, but oh how things have changed, yet again!

Come, take a walk with me...

This is the view from the hallway.

My new design wall!!!

Since I don't actually have space to install it on a wall, I've made it so it leans. There's actually another one behind it, as well. It's made from lightweight insulation "R-Mat" board you can find in the construction section at Home Depot. It's some type of foamy styrofoam, so it's really easy to move when needed, plus it also takes pins really well, in case I need to post lots of items, like the sashings you see up there now.

I've been working on that LouLouThi quilt and actually spread out both boards against one wall so I could create the layout of the quilt. Then when I'm done, they can go back to their home here. Easy as that!

That's the main work area, which has been greatly enhanced with the easy access design wall. I used to have to keep all the "in-progress" blocks over there by the window, but now the new wall saves all that space!

This little flowery board is also another new addition. I got one of those magnetic dry-erase boards from Wal-Mart for like $6, then wrapped and staple-gunned the fabric and ribbon. So easy and pretty!

Entertainment corner.

I always have on either trashy tv or a movie to keep me company. My dog, Seamus, also keeps me company. He usually hangs out over there by the window and looks out through that crack I keep open for him...I call it his "peeking spot."

(And I truly detest all those wires, but this is technically the "office" so that's where it's all set up.)

Coming right around....

The new inspiration board!!!

I was originally planning on just hanging stuff up on the wall, willy nilly, but then I didn't want all those holes in my wall. And since nobody makes what I wanted, and what I want is usually specific and detailed, I made my own!

I took a 4' x 5' sheet of brown hard-board, then topped it with 2 layers of cork, available by the foot from a big roll at Home Depot. I attached all the layers using an industrial tube of all-purpose glue from the paint department. I then wrapped it in linen, framed it in my favorite combo of pink and green grosgrain ribbon, and stapled it all to the back. To hang it, I just installed a picture-wire kit to the back. It ended up being about $60, including all materials. Not bad!

This is like my little shrine, cake stand tower.

Up there right now I've got my 1/2 yards of DS Quilts, Dream On jelly roll, and the pincushion gorgeousness from Crystal and the Urban Home Goods Swap on Flickr. Thanks Crystal!!!

The board! I keep adding things every day.

Pretty much the whole reason I needed an inspiration wall, to pay homage to this piece de resistance, the mini quilt from Crystal and the UHG Swap. LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEEEEEE this quilt!!! She totally nailed it with the saying....I was like, my soul IS fed with needle and thread! It's safe to say it's on the short list of "if my house were on fire....."

Here you see my little clothespin doll from Liberty, a souvenir from my trip to London. I've also posted printouts of the quilt-alongs I'm currently in, minus Farmer's Wife and a couple of skill-builder ones. It helps me remember at a glance what the heck I'm up to! I also got the dog fabric b/c my baby, Seamus, is a black lab, so I'm sure I'll be making some great pins with this.

One of my first embroideries, just for fun. They look like Hansel & Gretel!

The supply closet!

This just underwent a teeny tiny organization, so it'll change, yet again, from this picture. Everything is labeled and in its place. Soooo helpful when you have this many craft supplies!

Thanks everyone for checking out my sewing space!

WIP Wednesday

Another week, (hopefully) more sewing done!

I've got a lot of irons in the fire and ideas on the brain, getting ready for the Sewing Summit...in exactly 30 days!!!! Aaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!! Insanely excited....can you tell?

My first siggy block!

I've seen so many great tutes for siggy blocks and it's really so important to document the history of the quilts we work so hard on, so I'm making a concerted effort to start making siggy blocks for all my quilts, going forward. I think this one will fit well in my postage stamp quilt.

The giant quilted piece for my duffle bag. This thing is going to be huge!

Close up of the wavy quilting, echoing the fabric pattern.

The reverse side, hot pink lining! This pink will also go on the straps. So fun!

My pieces for the fabulous Across the Sea quilt along, hosted by Jennifer at Ellison Lane Quilts and Sarah at Fairy Face Designs.

I'm a week behind, due mostly to a last minute project that cropped up.

Should I match all the fabric in the crosses or mix it up?

Here is a close up of the fabrics matching...

And here's a close up of the fabrics mixed...

Which way? I'm leaning toward mixing, so it's fun and unexpected. What would you do?

Whatever I do, this will be the binding.

I fell in love with this print the moment I unwrapped my bundle of Heirloom. Love it! And I'm so excited it pops so well against my bold choice of pink for the background.

This week I've got to work hard on this duffle and at least get my crosses pieced...Fashion Week's "Fashion's Night Out" just might hinder my progress though.... :)

Mini Quilt Mondays

Faith at Fresh Lemons is having a great series of Mini Quilt Mondays, all through September.

I think it's a great way to showcase a favorite technique without committing to an entire quilt. I'm also excited to get inspired by all the great mini quilts I see before we all go to Sewing Summit and take Amanda's class on Packing Mini's with Punch. So excited!

While this amazing little mini belongs to me, I definitely did not make it. I was lucky enough to receive it in the recent Urban Home Goods swap from my amazing, awesome, fantastic, thoughtful partner, Crystal.

It was meant to be, as I spied it in the Flickr pool and favorited it right away. I about had a heart attack when I opened my package and saw it was actually mine! I think she did a great job of laying out all the little squares, fussy cutting some special prints, and then adding the special quote in the center with hand embroidery. It now hangs as the showpiece in my sewing room.

Thanks Crystal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy mini-ing everyone! :)