Blue Quilt is Done

I have finished the blue quilt. And I don't like the pink patches too much, but I am still pleased with the fact that I did it patternless. Plus, it keeps my tootsies warm at night.

I had a frustrating time with the binding. I went cheap & just used pre-made stuff. So i suppose that part went well. But I ran out part way through - always a bummer. Once I made my way to the store & brought back some more, I got frustrated again. It was a little off and left me with a ripply binding. Which is not exactly the end of the world.


There were some puckers and "squish" points here & there in the quilting as well. This can be a hazard even with a pattern, so I didn't let it bother me. Besides, isn't that part of the charm of a handmade item? The little flubs that make it unique & special. I read once that women used to make small mistakes" on purpose with quilts. Something to do with the only perfection being a creation from god. Heck - who wants perfect? That'd be boring.

I have about 5 or so quilt patterns to scan & share soon too. I have a box full of the fabrics I plan on using for each too. I think that will keep me busy for quite some time.

Black Friday - Cyber Monday SALE

I think the banner says it all...sale time in both my Etsy and Artfire shop :)
In addition to the free shipping this weekend, a special "Deal of the Day" will post on my sidebar.
The special will be for that day only - so come back to check on which bag it will be...

Happy Cyber shopping everyone!


Plus - check out the huge Etsyblogger's sale this weekend too!

Wordless Wednesday

Falling Roses and Leaf Runner

I have almost completed my blue quilt. I have about 18 inches of binding more to go...kinda ran out midway...oops. I was using pre-made binding since it was a "trial" quilt. I'll get a pic up as soon as I finish it off.

My second "all me" quilt front is done. I am trying to decide how I want to quilt it. I love the meandering look, but I am not sure. Maybe a mix since the top is blocked and the bottom is freeform. I am open to suggestions *hint hint*.
I am happy with the way it turned out too. I was going for a visual of the blocks crumbling and spilling out the flowers inside. Can you tell that's what it is?

My mom's -WARNING TO MOM>>>STOP READING - table runner is turning out great too. I have the pieces all cut & ready to sew. I was so relieved when I laid it out & everything fit. I have not patterned out something with so many triangles. I was not sure my math was correct until I saw it. *phew*

Quilt Update 2

This is a quickie update. If it weren't for the fabric gift bags I goofed up & had to redo...which made me feel silly because it is such a simple thing...I would have had this quilt sandwich made sooner. But it is sandwiched, taped & ready to, well, quilt. I went with irregularly spaced lines (well, cross hatch lines) for the quilting to match the irregular rectangles. Now I just need to choose a blue thread. I may go with the eeny-meeny-miney-moe method. Anyway - the next update may be of a completed quilt :)

Wordless Wednesday

I am in a Treasury!

Thanks Ruthie!

...one of her lovelies....

Changes to Come

I missed last week. It totally got hijacked. And it ended with a flop of a craft show. I get positive feedback on the bags themselves. And have had many customers (online and off) come back to me to say how much they like what they made...but I can't make a table display to look pleasing to save my life...or makes sales :P I really need to work on that...and photos. I am this close to throwing in the towel...but I just can't.

So I decided not to make any new bags except backpacks & clutches to replace sold ones. Instead I am going to start making different things. What things? Well, I enjoy making so many different things, but I will still center around fabric. Need to use the fabric for something, LOL! Heck, just look at all this fabricy goodness...

Most likely candidates are quilts, table runners, placemats, coasters, pillows, fabric baskets, fabric gift bags...home stuff. With some felt stuffies & art thrown in when I need to change things up for my own sanity...I mean creativity.
So my shop will become a smorgasbord with the new year...assuming I can get creating enough. Time is still a concern. I would like 4-5 of each "item" before I put them up. *sigh* We'll see. Wish me luck!

Quilt Update 1

I got a pretty darn good start on the quilts this week. I am not sure how I feel about the pink squares fabric in the first quilt...but since it is a "trial run" and just for me...it's fine. I do need to get more of the marbled blue that is for the border and back. The batting I will use is an older hand-me-down from a friend. I don't want to get the good stuff when it is just for me & I'm not sure how it'll turn out. Batting can be pricey, especially the kind I prefer.


This second quilt is fun. Visually it is (hopefully) going to appear as if the framed boxes are falling apart, leaving blossoms falling & along the bottom. Lots of applique & fusing for this one. It also needs some more fabric. I ran out of the pale green for the bottom where the petals will be appliqued. I hope this one comes out looking at least somewhat like it does in my head. LOL!

Wordless Wednesday

created by my son from a zippo lighter he thought was cool

Quilts to Come

I think most crafters suffer from CADD (craft attention deficit disorder)..I know I do. All those WIPs I spoke of...and the things I want to make (not including the usual bags)...well, quilts have begun too. I sketched out 4 quilts. They will be the first I have done from scratch. I have spent so many hours...too many... browsing quilt patterns & finished quilts, just oohing and aahhing. I decided to just go for it & make my own.

It seems strange to call them "your own" since there are standard blocks/patterns used. But it is the way you put it together & the fabrics you use that make them yours. You could probably give 10 people the same pattern, and even the same fabrics, and the result will be 10 completely different quilts. I love that about handmade creations. They are always one-of-a-kind. Okay, so if you give the same person these supplies & have them make 10, they could come out similar, but never exactly the same. Heck, most crafters would change up the fabric patterns at least which makes for a whole new look.

Anyway, enough ramble. I will try to keep updates on the quilts as I go. This past Sunday I chose the fabrics for 2 quilts (one is the 2nd sketch below). Yesterday I cut & began to sew. And with quilts, the cutting is not yet done. My index cards I use to track time is practically just "cut - sew- iron - repeat over and over". Tomorrow I will have some pics of the fabrics being worked on.



Almost forgot, those other projects I want to get to...table runners, placemats, pillow, tree skirts, stocking, fabric baskets & fabric gift bags. Hmmm...this will take a while :P
I hope to take the fabric from the quilts & just keep cutting out these projects. This should "dwindle" my fabric stash which will let me buy fabrics with more of a "purpose" ...I tend to buy what looks fun & not necessarily have a project in mind...which I won't totally stop doing of course :) It should also keep me from getting in a rut by making the same things over & over & over & over. Reminds me...add winter coat to the list. I already have the fabric.

Zip Pouches Galore

My personal goal/project for November was to tame my WIPs (works in progress). I started off only so-so. I finished those 4 purses I showed you last week. I did them in a quick burst & slacked the rest of that first week. But then I had another burst. So I moved up from so-so to pretty good. I just finished a smattering of miscellaneous zip pouches.

A few months ago I told myself I would make a matching zip pouch for all my bags. And I did cut out the makings for most of them. But I never got around to actually constructing them. Until last week. They are all different sizes & slightly different styles. Some have loops, some have tabs, some are flat fronts (where the zipper is in the front, not at the top)...but they are all finished. Woo Hoo!!! I even managed to take pics for listings. And I took this pic for the blog...all of them grouped together at the sewing machine. Too bad some of their matching bags have already sold.
So am I done with my WIPs? Not even close. it may be more of a November/December/January project. Although I really hope to have them completed by the end of the year. But I have so many other ideas buzzing around in my brain that it may soon melt. Let's just cross our fingers that meltage won't happen until after the holidays.

Wordless Wednesday

my son's 1st self portrait
..scratch that...my son informed me that this is his 2nd..the first was a pastel drawing...
still the first pencil drawing though :)

Table Runner Split in Two

...but not in a bad way. I had made a runner at the end of the summer but was not thrilled with the result. So i took off the blooms & made another "base" for them. Then I replaced the printed blooms with solid colors. These are what I ended up with...


The color isn't so great since I took them last night at my sewing table. The light is only good there during the day - color wise. The pink based one is not as "tight" as I would like so I may add some quilting to keep it tamed. But overall, I do prefer these over the single piece. Now onto more, this time with an Autumn or Thanksgiving feel.

Last Purse and Custom Clutch

In my last post I showed you 3 of the 4 mid sized purses I have been working on...here's the 4th:


I have made another zip pouch, I guess you could call it "detachable". I think I may make matching ones for as many of my bags as I can, well, those where there is still enough fabric left.


I have also completed a custom clutch. The print of this fabric is so great. The pictures don't show off the red as well as I would like, but they were just quickie pics I took tonight.

The fabric itself, well, not so much fun to work with. It reminds me of barkcloth, only stretchier & with a lower cotton content. But a little interfacing & viola! The fabric holds up much nicer now - not droopy. The fabric was supplied by the customer & I am so tickled because she is letting me keep the remainder! Now... what to make with it....