Laying bricks

Thank you so much for playing along in my "when will I finish this quilt" guessing game! It has definitely motivated me to work on this baby. So much so that I'm happy to report I finished cutting out all the "bricks" this weekend. The rotary cutter and mat definitely came in handy.

Last night I laid out the bricks. Whew! I can now understand how easy and frustrating it can be to over think a quilt layout. This morning I shifted a few pieces around ( I felt my eye being drawn to the dark green pieces too much) until I felt satisfied. Now it's on to piecing! That is, if I don't get sidetracked first...

Now taking bets

Quilts have been on my mind a lot lately. I am constantly calling my sister (my sewing partner in crime) during the day with excited exclamations about a quilt I just saw on flickr or read about in blogland. It is the number one item on my 2008 sewing resolution list afterall. It was about time I dived into this new to me sewing territory.

Hence, work on my Amy Butler Brick Path Quilt started this week. I think this will be a good getting-my-feet-wet-in-quilting project. I quickly learned what I hope is the hardest part of quilting: cutting accurately! I've never liked the cutting part of any project. If anyone has any tips on how to quickly yet accurately cut two hundred 4 1/2" by 7" rectangles, please share.

I am now taking bets on how long it will take me to complete this quilt. Seriously, I really would like to take bets. Maybe it will make me move a little faster on this. I might even send the person with the winning bet a prize! To help you guesstimate a little better, here's some info: I started this on Tuesday night and haven't touched it since. So far I've cut out 36 of the necessary 198 "bricks". I have all of the supplies I need for this quilt including the batting, backing, and machine quilting thread. I plan to work on this a lot until I get it done, BUT, I do have craft ADD and can't promise that I won't start another project before this one is done. "Finished" is defined as sewn, quilted, and washed. So go on, make a bet! (Pretty please!)

P.S. Don't worry, I won't be offended if you say twelve months or even five years so please don't be discouraged to make a guess.

My take on the shirt dress

Finally, my shirt dress is done! I originally intended to use this pattern, Simplicity 4171, to knock off a cute corduroy shirt dress I saw in Anthropologie during the winter. Then, spring slowly sprung and my thoughts turned instead to warm weather dresses.

Does anyone recognize the fabric? I am slightly (but not really) scared that when I wear this out in public someone will think, "I have that same fabric on my bed at home." I used sheets that I got on clearance at Target about a month ago. I loved the print and couldn't pass up the price. It's actually a little bit too stiff to be a comfortable sheet in my opinion. It's perfect for this dress though.

The pattern is well drafted and went together easily. I cut my usual smaller size at the top and graded out a few sizes near the hip area. I'm really happy with the fit. I wanted clean lines for this dress so I opted to shorten the three quarter length sleeve rather than use the puffy short sleeve option the pattern comes with. I feel very Boden like wearing this dress, especially when I pair it with my purple mary janes. (That's a good thing.)

I got nothing

Oh, I seem to curse myself whenever I say I will finish something soon. My weekend was unexpectedly busy, filled with spring flings, birthday dinners, shopping, and even cleaning out my closets (I had to justify the shopping somehow). I didn't buy anything I could make easily, instead I bought a whole new wardrobe of basic T-shirts. You have to love the Old Navy clearance section sometimes.


So, I have nothing to show you sewing/crafting wise. Instead, I'll show you some patterns I picked up recently which I may or may not make soon (trying to avoid the curse). I'd like to make the dress above in linen for a cute and simple summer dress.


I love this skirt pattern. I picked up a lot of cotton prints recently which will look great in this design. I love it when I recognize the fabric they use in the design picture.

Enjoying spring

Spring in DC is the most beautiful time of the year. It always amazes me every year when suddenly the leaves are back and everything is green again. Actually, in DC, everything is pink for a little while first. Peter and I (and a couple thousand other people) walked down to the Tidal Basin a few weeks ago to enjoy all the cherry blossoms. The winter really got to me this year and so the blooming trees were the most welcome sight.


Despite my break away from the computer, I still don't have much to show other than stacks of beautiful fabrics waiting to be turned into something. This week I did manage to sew a little on the dress I mentioned in my last post as well as knit more of the Juliet. I'm expecting to finish those this weekend (hoorah!).


Thank you for all the compliments on my bags. I put a lot of love into each and every one of them. Most are still available in the shop.

Now in the shop!

Five Barcelona Bags are now on sale in my etsy shop. Whew, I'm glad to have these done. Next item of business: make myself a new dress!

Shop preview

I hope you all had a great Easter weekend. I spent time a lot of quality time with my sewing machine this weekend.



These beauties and a few more will be available in my etsy shop on Thursday at 9 am est.

Book review Friday - The Knitting Circle

I've had the idea to do a weekly book review on this blog for a while. Between the amount of fiction I read and the craft books I've accumulated, I think I have enough material to last for quite a while. Plus, I'm hoping by revisiting some of the craft books I have, I'll get a little more motivated to actually make something from them instead of just drooling over them. Hey, maybe you will too!


So without further ado, today's book review is the novel, "The Knitting Circle" by Ann Hood. I picked this book up right before my trip to Puerto Rico. I had just finished my second knitting class earlier in the week and had knitting on the brain. However, you do not have to know anything about knitting to enjoy this novel. The story is about a woman who has recently lost her daughter and is struggling through the grief. Knitting helps her heal. We meet several people in this book and learn about how knitting has helped each of them get through troubled times. At times the book can be a bit melodramatic. Everyone who knits has some sort of troubled history in this book, and this is obviously not true in real life. But, overall I really enjoyed this read. I looked forward to moments when I could pick it up again to find out what happened next. It was a quick and easy read that tugged at my heartstrings (yes, I cried a few times). What I enjoyed most about the book was the author's love and appreciation of the craft of knitting. I think a crafter of any medium will appreciate this.

Verdict: Put this book at the top of your spring/summer reading list.

What are you reading these days?

Eye candy

Is it just me, or do you get giddy too looking at all that yummy yarn? It's a gloomy day here in DC, but these colors remind me spring is right around the corner.

In celebration of spring, I'll be listing a few Barcelona bags on etsy in the next week or so. I'm really excited about them! I'll announce the shop opening once I have a better idea of when they'll be ready.

Fabric stash storage

Up until a few months ago I stored all of my fabric in large plastic bins. There were two main problems with this method: 1) I couldn't remember what fabric I had since I couldn't see it and 2) I sewed less from my stash because it was too daunting a task sometimes to even think about digging through multiple bins to find the fabric I had (that is, if I even remembered it). So, I came up with a solution.

Now you see it.

Now you don't.

We dedicated one of the bookcases in our hallway into fabric storage. Since this is the main hallway in our apartment, I wanted to cover it to keep it presentable when guests come over (there is a reason I'm only showing you that first shelf...it's the only one that is neatly folded!) and also to keep out dust and cat hair. I bought about five feet of velcro and applied it all around the front of the bookcase and onto some fabric that I measured out to the size of the bookcase. It's worked out great! I now know what fabrics I have and I've been sewing from my stash a lot more than I used to.

I know when I have too much fabric when the curtain starts to bulge (and that's pretty often)!

Sunday with Juliet

Katie and I met today for some coffee and knitting. What a great way to spend a windy Sunday afternoon! I'm working on the Juliet. This pattern is the reason I wanted to learn to knit. Thank goodness it is easy enough for a beginner like me.

Can you guess what this pile of fabrics will be? Here's a hint.

Tomorrow they announce the winners of the Amy Butler Sew Inspired Bag contest. I can't wait to see who won!

New (old) book

"Sewing is an art and, as such, demands the discipline of an art. Bring to it desire, enthusiasm, and imagination, and it will give you in return a satisfaction that is unique: the joy of creating something that is truly yours." - Singer Sewing Book, 1972

I couldn't have said it better myself. I hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Wrap shirt inspiration

I'm taking a little break from sewing this week, but that doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to getting behind the foot pedal again. I'm just allowing a little time for all my inspiration to build up and burst out in a explosion of sewing productivity. Well, one can hope anyway.

I was inspired by this top from the February Anthropologie catalog as soon as I saw it.
With a little tweaking, I think I might be able to pull this off using McCalls 5323.

Searching the Anthropologie website, I came across another great wrap shirt.
Oh, the inspiration is definitely building up! Thankfully the weekend is almost here!

Edited: Oops! I just uploaded the pics again. I hope they show up this time.

Painted Briefcase Tutorial

I have to admit, I first set out to find a vintage suitcase to fill with dress up materials for my niece. But, alas, a cute vintage suitcase was not be found. I knew the hard briefcase I found at Goodwill had some potential though. So after a quick brainstorming with my sister, the arts and craft case was born.

Here are the materials you need for this project:

Hard vinyl briefcase or suitcase
Primer
Acrylic craft paint
Pretty scrapbook paper
Decoupage medium
Waterbase Satin Varnish (found near the craft paints)
Paint Brush

Steps:
1. First, thoroughly clean the outside and inside of the case with some soap and water or cleaning spray. You don't know where it's been!

2. Prime the case for painting. I used two coats on each side. Make sure you cover every inch (the handles, bottom, etc) and allow to dry between coats.

3. Paint the case. I used my tried and true paint: Acrylic craft paint...the kind that's less than a dollar a bottle. I have a large plastic bin filled with these paints in a myriad of colors. Do most crafters have these paints on hand or is it just me? It might be easier to just spray paint the case. Personally I love painting with a brush. If you use spray paint, let me know how well it works out. Make sure you cover every inch of the case, including the handles and the locks. I used two coats of paint. Let dry in between each coat.

4. Now it's time to get creative. Pick out some coordinating paper. Cut strips of paper to size for the trim and for the locks. Use decoupage medium to glue down the paper. Slather the medium onto the bottom of the paper, place it where you want it, then brush more decoupage medium on top of the paper to ensure it's not going anywhere anytime soon (or ever, for that matter. Use this method to decorate the front and back of the case as you wish: the recipient's name, polka dots, flowers, cars, butterflies, the possibilities are endless. Let the decoupage medium dry.


5. Next, apply the satin varnish. This seals the paint and gives it a pretty satin finish. I used two coats of varnish. This also comes in a spray which would probably be easier to apply. Let dry between coats.


6. Fill the case with goodies that the gift recipient will enjoy.

I hope this helps. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me or leave a comment. Also, if you use this tutorial, please let me know! I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Catching Up

Wow! Thank you so much for all of your comments on my last two posts. You all are too kind. Each of your responses made me smile. I'll post information about how I painted the suitcase later today. For those of you who inquired about selling the Barcelona bag or making a pattern, watch this space.

Last Thursday Peter and I left for a long weekend in Puerto Rico. It was less than thirty degrees here when we left, so the eighty degree weather in Puerto Rico was a very welcome change.

I can't say I was ready to come home. I did miss my sewing machine, though. If only I could bring my sewing machine with me on vacation.

My Amy Butler Inspired Barcelona Bag

If you've been reading my blog for a while, it will come as no surprise to you that I am a huge fan of Amy Butler. I'm constantly inspired by her fabrics and patterns, and so when Craft magazine announced their Amy Butler Inspired Bag contest, I had to jump on the opportunity to let Amy inspire me yet again (but really, when am I not inspired by her?). Browsing her site, I was drawn to this picture of her Barcelona skirt:

I was really drawn to the lines of the skirt and how it shows off three of her fabrics. I thought the design would translate really well into a bag. So I designed a bag using her Barcelona skirt as my inspiration. I call it my Barcelona Bag. I used fabrics from her Nigella and Lotus lines.

Amy's bags are not only beautiful, they're functional too. I wanted a larger tote with many pockets to easily find all the things I carry around every day. Both sides have "hidden" pockets. One side has three smaller pockets:

The other side has one larger pocket for magazines or sketchbooks:

I made sure the inside was super roomy and added a zipper pocket and two slip pockets.

Can I just say I love this bag?

Many thanks to my sister Kathy for taking these pictures. I had a lot of fun on this photo shoot.

Every briefcase should be pink with polka dots

My niece, Elissa, had her fifth birthday party this weekend. Not one to show up empty handed, I brought her this briefcase.


Oh don't look so concerned! Of course I beautified it before actually giving it to her. Whatever life this briefcase had in the past (I think Wall Street, no?), it was destined for a pink polka dotted future. I primed, painted and decoupaged it.

I made sure every inch was covered and pretty.


Then I filled it with all kinds of craft goodies.

Including this special notebook.

Not bad for an old briefcase, eh?

Slow going but getting there

Last Saturday I was lucky enough to spend the morning with awesome Katie learning how to knit. How much fun we had! It soon came out that we both had craft/sewing blogs to which the response was a big "No wonder you two are picking up knitting so quickly!". Well, I think Katie is picking it up a lot more quickly than I. While she has since completed this masterpiece, all I have to show is this:

Maybe, just maybe I'll have a finished, albeit wonky, dishcloth to show by the next class.

Changes

Hello friends. Well, I've gone and done it. I've cut off my hair. I almost had a panic attack as the scissors met my hair but I feel good about it now. I needed a change. I think the hair might just be the beginning.

See that messy desk in the background? It's been seeing a lot of action but unfortunately I have nothing to show for it yet. I've been busy designing a new bag pattern but I'm still working out a few kinks. I'll have something sewing related to show soon though. In the meantime, I have some non-sewing related projects in the works that I'll share this week. I told you the hair was just the beginning, didn't I?

Happy President's Day!

P.S. The necklace I'm wearing in this picture is one of my most favorite necklaces ever. I bought it from Sheny Designs at the Crafty Bastards Fair in DC this past fall but she also has an etsy shop here.

You make my day

Lara from Thornberry recently gave me a "You Make My Day" award. I'm so honored.


I'm supposed to pass the award on to another 10 people whose blog brings me happiness and inspiration and makes me feel happy about blogland. Well, everyone who stops by here and leaves a comment brings me happiness and makes me feel happy about blogland. But in the spirit of passing on the torch, here are some people who make my day:

Christina
Cidell
Katie
Regina
Kate
Mari
Sugar City
Lulu
Kelly
Oh Fransson

It was hard to narrow this down to ten as there are so many other blogs I'm constantly inspired by!

Up to my neck

It's been a little quiet lately because I've been up to my neck with non-crafty stuff. It's all good though. I apparently thrive when I'm super busy. I don't really like having a lot of time on my hands. Can anyone else relate?

Speaking of being up to my neck, here is my finished Simplicity 4111 top with a raised neckline. I wanted to make this top since last summer but just got around to it. All of the reviews I read warned about an extremely low neckline. I decided to raise the neckline so that I could wear it by itself without flashing my goods to the outside world.

I'm happy with the neckline but I'm not sure how I feel about the shirt overall. I think it just needs to grow on me. Anyways, here is how I raised the neckline:

First, tape your bodice pattern to some paper. Measure the amount you want to raise and mark a dot. Then draw a straight line down to the original point. Here I've raised it about an inch.


Next, draw a curve from the dot you just made to the side neckline using a french curve (like the one pictured) or do it freestyle.


Make sure you transfer all markings from the original bodice neckline to the new neckline. Once that's done, it's time to adjust the neckline facing. If your bodice pattern doesn't have a facing piece, then you can skip the next step. Remember to use your new bodice pattern piece for the lining if applicable.


Put tracing paper over your new bodice pattern. Measure the width of the original neckline facing pattern piece. Here, the amount I raised the neckline happens to be the same amount as the width of the facing pattern piece. On your new curve, measure and mark that amount along the entire neckline (represented by the dotted line in the picture above). Connect the dots and you have your new facing piece. Prepare your garment following the directions with your new pattern pieces.

There might be a more professional way of doing this, but this is the method I used which worked for me. I hope this helps at least one of you out there.