Piece together quilting bee

When Katie announced the Pieced Together Quilting Bee, I jumped at the chance to join. Katie had the first month and requested an improv block that primarily used reds and blues and whatever else went. It was more challenging than I thought it would be to make, but I really enjoyed the process. I hope she likes it.

Get better soon soup

We've spent the better part of the last week trying to help Peter get over the flu. The lesson in all of this: get a flu shot. Thankfully I got mine in the fall so I've managed to avoid the bug so far. But poor Peter, it's not been an easy week for him. Making a huge batch of chicken soup was the least I could do to help him feel a little better. I used this simple soup recipe by Robin Miller, which I'm calling "Get Better Soon Soup" from now on. Of course I hope you don't ever have to use the recipe, but it might be nice to have on hand just in case.

Um, yes please

Check out Grosgrain's latest giveaway, the Sunday Laundry Shirt Dress GIVEAWAY!!!! Her stuff looks like it walked right out of an Anthropologie catalog. Oh, how I aspire to sew more beautiful clothes!

Elissa's Quilt

I wanted a simple project to take my mind off of wedding things, and this fit the bill perfectly. I didn't even think too hard about the fabric choices, I let a Joann's fabric kit make the decision for me. Though a small part of me feels like I cheated a little bit, the fabric combination was too cute to pass up. Plus, the cutting line was ridiculously long that day. I used my own pattern inspired by the turning twenty quilt pattern and added a few extra fabrics such as those adorable houses.

The finished size of the quilt is 48" x 64". I quilted it using a diamond pattern to compliment the geometrical shapes of the piecing. I'm happy with how it turned out.

I made a little tag for the back using the alphabet stitches on my Bernina. I hope Elissa gets a lot of snuggles out of this quilt. I think it has a lifetime of snuggles to give.

Elissa's Quilt - Day 5

I'm in the home stretch of finishing this quilt. I finished quilting it yesterday and just need to finish up the binding, add a quilt tag, and wash and dry it. As you can see, I didn't use free motion quilting. I decided I just didn't have enough time to learn and practice free motion quilting on this gift, as I need to give it to its recipient tomorrow. I decided, however, that I would bind the quilt by hand, which isn't as hard or time consuming as I originally thought! To be honest though, I'm a little afraid I'm not doing it right. You all will be kind in case I'm not, right?

P.S. There's a sneak peek of another project I'm working on in the picture above. That project deserves its own (or several) post another day. Can you guess what it is?

Elissa's Quilt - Day 3

So, my mental break has done me well so far, though I admit I fell off the "avoiding-wedding-blogs" bandwagon only a day into it. Still, I feel like I've adopted a new approach to this wedding planning business: keep it simple, keep it fun. I'm sure this seems obvious, but it's a bit unsettling how I needed to remind myself of this.

What has been fun this past week is working on the birthday quilt for my niece, Elissa. I orginally intended to use the Hopscotch pattern from Super Simple Quilts #1, but in the end decided on a variation of the turning twenty quilt (variation means I made up my own pattern because I was too impatient to wait until I was able to buy the original pattern - I had to quilt NOW!). This lap sized quilt pieced together quickly. Last night I made the quilt sandwich and basted it together. Now I get to quilt it, which I'm both excited and nervous about. I've never done free motion quilting, but I hope my BSR foot will prove it's worth the price tag. The only decision left is how to quilt it. Should I do a meandering pattern, or loops? Opinions welcome!

Elissa's Quilt - Days 1 and 2

Cut and pieced.

I love productive weekends.

A little mental break

I am a bride, and I am obsessed. I've been pouring over wedding blogs, magazines, and yes, tv shows too. Last night I realized that I needed a break, a little step back from most things wedding related, or else I'll explode by the time I walk down the aisle if not before. More likely, I just won't enjoy the wedding if I keep obsessing constantly over the little details, and that is exactly what I don't want to happen. No no no.

So, for at least the next week I have cut myself off from wedding blogs and magazines and thinking about any wedding decisions that do not need to be made right now. Instead, I'm going to focus on what's really important in life. Like a sweet niece who is turning six (her age is now on two hands!!!) and a machine that is desperate for some quilt action.

I'm starting to feel more relaxed already.

Wishing instead of working

Where I wish I could be today. Sigh. Here's hoping this week goes by quickly.

Seed stitch scarf

Before all the pattern making and wedding dress shopping (more about that soon), I was on a fierce knitting kick. One of the things I made was this seed stitch scarf. I wanted a chunky scarf and this fit the bill perfectly. Also, because the yarn was super bulky, it was a very quick and gratifying project. I recently bought more yarn to make a matching hat, but until I finish the bag pattern, I don't think the knitting needles will be seeing much action. At least my neck and chest have been staying nice and warm this winter!

Pattern: No pattern, just simple seed stitch
Needles: Size 15
Yarn: Cascade Magnum in Moss

Pattern Progress - Coming soon!

I'm well on my way to reaching one of my 2009 goals - make a pattern for my Barcelona Bag. The pattern pieces are ready and the instructions are coming along well.

If only this little guy would quit looking so darn cute getting in the way.

Any volunteers to test the pattern when it's ready?

Kimberly Bag

Sewers talk about fabric stashes a lot, but I don't hear a lot of talk about pattern stashes. Well, ladies and gents, I am a stasher of both fabric and patterns and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Fabric stashes are essential for those spur of the moments when you just must-make-something-right-this-instant. Pattern stashes serve the same purpose with the added bonus of actually giving you a little bit of direction. Call me an enabler of stashing if you must.

After I bought my new machine, I had a must-make-a-bag-with-lots-of-interfacing-and-test-this-baby kind of moment. So I pulled Amy Butler's Kimberly Bag out of my pattern stash and some Nigella out of my fabric stash and got to work. I couldn't have been happier with the results of the Bernina or of the pattern.

I recommend this pattern for intermediate to advanced sewers. Although the pattern pieces are accurate and the instructions are clear, I would not recommend this pattern for beginner sewers. New sewers will probably find the zipper, pleats, and heavy interfacing challenging to sew.

The bag style may not be for everyone, I realize, but I like it. I do feel a little like I'm carrying a clarinet case, but it sure is one cool clarinet case, isn't it?

Pattern: Kimberly Bag by Amy Butler
Fabric: Nigella in Lime Primrose by Amy Butler
Modifications: I glued an extra panel of Timtex at the bottom between the lining and outer pieces after turning the bag inside out. I added purse feet, hoping to protect the bottom panel from dirt. I also added a simple slip pocket to the lining.

Toast

It's pretty chilly on the east coast these days. I'm always cold, especially my hands and feet, and in winter that just translates to freezing. I had to do something about that. So I knit a pair of Toast. This pattern is called Toast for a reason. They keep your hands and arms nice and toasty. But they could be called Cake, because they were a piece of cake to make.

P.S. It's awfully hard to take pictures of gloves while you're wearing them.

Pattern: Toast by a Friend to knit with
Needles: Size 7 dpn's
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool in Grey Mix

Eye Candy

Flickr is the best , especially when it's dark out and you can't take a proper picture of what you've been working on. This flickr mosaic was created by 100% Philistine Made. Click on the photo for credits.

Good Folks

You all are good folks. You've confirmed that I'm not completely crazy and made me even more excited about making all of the wedding napkins. If anyone ever questioned what my addiction is, the current focus of my wedding planning - fabric napkins - may provide the answer. Hello, my name is Stephanie and I am a fabric junkie. I'm exaggerating slightly - I'm also focused on hiring a photographer, choosing a vendor, choosing a dress, etc etc, but I digress. The good news is that I don't have to make 120 napkins all by myself. You see, some wonderful friends and family have stepped in and offered to help share in my craziness sew the napkins.

Even Anna Maria Horner has unknowingly offered some help. Remember how I said I might have a little trouble finding coordinating fabrics to match this one?

Anna Maria must have some how predicted I would ask this question when she was designing her latest line, Good Folks. She's a mind reader, and apparently a psychic one at that!


Absolutely gorgeous. Check out more of the Good Folks line on Anna Maria's blog.

The Lunch Date Blouse GIVEAWAY!!!!

Ummm, if I don't win this blouse, I want to try to at least recreate it. Kathleen makes the most gorgeous kids' clothes, then gives them away on her blog. Now she's making adult size clothing, and giving it away. I don't think I could part with such beautiful creations, especially this blouse! I can't get over those cute embroidered ruffles, not to mention that adorable headband. Click on the link to check it out:

The Lunch Date Blouse GIVEAWAY!!!!

Martha and my wedding

I don't know whether to love her or hate her. Ok, I love her. But seriously, every time I look at her website or magazine, the list of things I want to make or do for the wedding continues to grow. For example, has anyone seen the latest issue of MS Weddings, particularly the article about Jen's (one of the owners of Purl Patchwork) wedding? You know, the awesome wedding for which Jen made different napkins for each table from quilting cotton and then made them into a quilt after the wedding? Yeah, guess who now must make about one hundred and twenty napkins for her wedding? That's right, me.

But seriously, how cool is that idea? I wanted to add a personal touch to our wedding and I really love this idea. I'm thinking about a warm purple/pink/golden yellow (is that just gold?) palette for the decorations:

So far I've found one fabric that fits in with these colors (from my stash!): Kaffe Fassett's Verbena Trees in Brown. This is such beautiful fabric. I don't think they are making it anymore. I think it will be a slight challenge to find nine to ten other coordinating fabrics. Any ideas?


So when I'm pulling my hair out trying to make 120 napkins, I'm going to blame Martha. I really must stop looking at Martha Stewart before she has me wanting to whittle all of the tables and chairs next. It's just so fun. Sigh.

Gift Post 2008

Two thousand eight was definitely the year of giving aprons for me. Since both of my nieces enjoy baking with their moms and grandma, I made them child aprons out of some Ginger Bliss fabric. I gave each apron with a copy of a kid's baking book.

I also made an apron for my mom, who desperately needed a cute apron (sorry, Mom, I only speak the truth!). I used the Emmeline apron pattern and some Garden Party fabric.


Though it was much more work than a simple apron, I really like how it turned out. I especially love the fabric on this side. I've already dreamed up a summer dress I'd like to make with this gorgeous Climbing Vines fabric.


Last, but not least, I made some pajamas for my nephews. How cute is that alien flannel? The pants were easy to whip up. I appliqued some of the fabric onto shirts I bought from Target.

As soon as Ryan opened these, he immediately demanded to take off his Christmas outfit and put these on. I can't tell you how satisfying that felt. It was reported to me that my other nephew, Nathan, also wanted to wear his pjs right away. Success!

Possibilities

Click on the image for photo credits.

I almost hate to say this as I am sure it may be hard for many of you to be sympathetic of my current situation. I even hesitated telling my sister during our daily phone call how I'm feeling, knowing full well that with two kids tugging away at her leg she simply could not relate. However, I feel the need to say it. Today I'm feeling a little, well, bored. It's not that I don't have a ton of things to do. (Hello, can anyone say ''wedding"? Let's not go there just yet though.) I'm just feeling a little uninspired. Thank God for Flickr. Strolling through my favorites has given me some motivation and direction that I'm hoping will last for the rest of the day

Tomorrow, the Christmas gift post.

Two Thousand Eight Review

Barcelona Bag
Originally uploaded by CreativeReveries

Happy 2009! If what you do on January 1st is an indication of what you're doing for the rest of the year, then I'm going to be parked on the couch and knitting all year. Maybe I shouldn't have had the last glass of champagne last night...

Before I jump into 2009, let's look back at 2008 for a moment. Here are my sewing goals from 2008 and the outcome of each:

1. Sew a quilt. I've been wanting to do this for a while but couldn't decide on a pattern. I've finally decided. - I made not one, but TWO quilts this year. Yippee!

2. Sew pants. I shouldn't be scared to do this. Finding pants that fit well is probably a lot more difficult than sewing well fitted pants. Right (she asks nervously)??? - Nope, didn't do this.

3. Finish what I start (or else don't start it at all). Enough said. - I think for the most part I was pretty successful with this goal. I don't have a lot of UFOs lying around (only three - two of these are sweaters that just need buttons).

4. Sew with a plan. I am completely guilty of sewing random items that don't coordinate well with other pieces in my wardrobe. This is a shame on many levels but especially so because I don't end up wearing the garment that often. - Again, for the most part I was successful at this.

5. Make at least one pattern on my own. This will be challenging but I am very excited and optimistic about the experience. - I didn't do this.

For 2009, I want to complete my goals for 2008 (sew pants, make my own clothing pattern). I also want to sew better garments. I am guilty of not wearing everything I make. If it's not worth wearing, I don't want to make it.

Another goal for 2009 is to finally finish the pattern that I've been slowly working on for the Barcelona Bag. This bag is my favorite and most used item that I've made all year. I'm hoping with the pattern, others can make it and love it just as much as I do.

I wish you all a wonderful year.

Happy!

Remember my indecision regarding a new sewing machine? I finally made a decision. Or rather, this machine made the decision for me. Seriously. I wasn't even considering the Aurora 440 as it was way out of my price range. After calling a few dealers however, I found a great deal on a gently used 440 that I just could not pass up. She was delivered on Christmas Eve.

We've been slowly getting to know each other. Here's my first attempt at free motion sewing using the BSR foot. In case you're starting to think that I'm a natural at free motion sewing, the smaller letters were made using the built in alphabet stitches.

I still can't believe I own this beautiful machine. I'm very much looking forward to sewing with her and learning everything she can do.

Merry Christmas

28

Today I turn 28. I think it's going to be a good year. I was thinking of a list of 28 things I'd like to do while I'm 28, but really it all came down to this one thing: enjoy life more.

Indecision!

Folks, it's time I bought myself a new machine. I've been saving up for one, it's my birthday soon, my current machine isn't cutting it anymore - I have a ton of reasons. The problem is, I can't decide which one to buy! After several trips to a local sewing machine dealer, I'm now torn between these two options:

The Bernina 1008. This mechanical machine is supposed to be a real workhorse. When I tested it out in the store, it sewed so smoothly. But, will I miss all the bells and whistles of a computerized sewing machine?

Another option I've looked at is the Activa 230 PE. It's at the top of my price range but has everything I want/need. Though, I'm not sure I could quilt a full size quilt on this easily.

I just can't decide - and I'm sure there are even more options out there that I haven't even looked at. Does anyone out there have any suggestions on the machines above or other options? I appreciate your help!

ETA: Both the Activa 230 and 1008 are about the same price when I throw in the extra feet I'll need. So really my decision boils down to whether I want a longer throat plate for easier quilting and more of a workhorse (the 1008 is supposed to be pretty indestructible), or do I want more stitches, buttonholes, bells and whistles. Have I ever mentioned how indecisive I am???

Wow!

Yesterday was so much fun. I am completely amazed at how many people played along with Sew Mama Sew's giveaway day, how many people commented here, and the great suggestions you all gave for getting into the Holiday spirit. I read through each one and I so wish I could thank each one of you for leaving your comment. Just reading your comments made me joyful for the season. Thank you!

Without further ado, it's time time to announce the winner of the holiday scarf. Drum roll please... I used the random number generator and entered in the number of comments (204!). The winner is commenter number 12! So, Maggie, will you please send me your snail mail address so I can send you your prize?

I hope you all have a great weekend. I'm off to New York for a winter wedding.

Holiday Scarf Giveaway!

Christmas has always been one of my favorite holidays. But, I just don't feel the magic of the holidays quite like I used to. Is it still possible to get all fluttery with holiday joy? What do you do to get yourself in the holiday spirit? Is there a special decoration you like to make, a certain holiday soundtrack you listen to, a favorite hot chocolate recipe you sip? Any and all suggestions are welcome!

Comment on this post for the chance to win this holiday scarf made of oh so soft olive fabric with some festive sparkle. I'll randomly pick a winner tomorrow. I look forward to all of your holiday spirit suggestions.

Be sure to check out all the other giveaways going on today via Sew Mama Sew!

I just couldn't buy her another Vera Bradley

When I knew I could make one myself. Not that there's anything wrong with Vera B...


This was a much belated birthday present for my Mom. That zipper was so much more fun than I thought it would be (but I still need to perfect it). Seriously!

Now it's time to work on Christmas presents! Be sure to stop by tomorrow, December 3rd, as I am participating in Sew Mama Sew's give-way day.

I am so thankful

For family, friends, love, silly pets, the readers of this blog who are so motivating and encouraging, inspiring crafters/sewers/makers of things, curiosity, celebrating good times, getting through bad times, the power to be happy, a great year. I am so thankful.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Raesha sent me this beautiful doll quilt way back in the summer. I keep it above my sewing machine.

Well it's about time!

I have a finished object too show you, finally! This is New Look 6729 in a knit I bought from Fashion Mart last year. I bought a little over two yards intending to make it into a dress. I decided it would be better as a shirt afterall.

It's a good thing I had over two yards because the long sleeve version of this top really requires it! As you can see, I sewed the ties as the pattern calls for by just hemming the strips. Several sewing.patternreview.com reviewers recommended cutting two extra ties and just sewing them together so the wrong side doesn't show. Unfortunately I didn't have enough fabric so I made do with what I had. I actually don't mind the wrong side showing on this knit since it's not too much of a contrast with the right side. The front middle, right below my bust line, is sagging a bit too much. I'm not sure if this is a pattern flaw or if I sewed something incorrectly. It's nothing that a little hand sewing can't fix.

Overall I am very pleased with this pattern. I might just wear it to my high school reunion this weekend...

Event planning

I'm trying to come up with a reason (excuse) why I've been so absent from this blog recently. First it was Bali, then it was the move, and well, now it's this:


Who knew how much time it would take to plan a wedding? Not I! Though I'm sure many of you are nodding your head in the affirmative. I've been very busy trying to find a place for our outdoor ceremony and reception that has everything we want within our budget. We looked at a place that looks promising and I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will all work out. Then I can start with the fun stuff: dresses, decorations, favors, oh my! I'm not a very good planner, so the thought of planning a wedding was a little overwhelming at first. Fortunately, this is all turning out to be so much more fun than I thought (though still a little overwhelming I must admit). The downside is that I feel like one of those people who always talks about weddings now.

If you know of any diy wedding sites, please pass them along. In the meantime, I promise that my next couple of posts will be crafting related (this is a sewing/craft blog afterall) which will help me take my mind away from wedding stuff, for a little while at least.

Top inspiration

A little bit of inspiration from Anthropologie goes a long way. All I want to do this weekend is sew, sew , sew!

The short list

I'm trying to get my sewing mojo back. I finally had some time to myself after several weeks devoted to unpacking and settling into the new place and what did I do? I stared at my fabric and blanked. I'm just not that excited about sewing winter clothes. So I closed the door and came back after a few hours. Instead of looking at my fabric the next time I entered my sewing room, I pulled out all my patterns for a little sewing inspiration. I then pulled up sewing reviews on Pattern Review and created a short list based on interest, need, and fabric on hand. Here's what made the short list:

Simplicity 4076 in a black, yellow and white knit,

New Look 6729 in a pink multi-stripe knit,

New Look 6807 in a black and grey knit,

and finally Vogue 8420 in a purple cotton knit.

Can you tell I need tops? And that I have a lot of knits in my stash? I'm looking forward to my new winter top wardrobe. I just hope I finish them before winter is over!