Don't Step on the Flowers!

So, I started this project at 1:30 and I was done at 5pm (roughly).  The only thing that was left was to wash it and see what magic unfolds during that process!  I made an amazing floor mat with a process called Chenilling.  Essentially, I had to layer 3 goes of the print on top of each other.  I had to be sure the flowers were line up on top of each other, so that the image stays sharp in the final project.  It is then sew down in rows to a background and backing.  Everyone else in the course used panels, I didn't like any of the panels, so I picked a nice fabric!

 After that, you take this lovely little cutter meant for this, and slice your fabric!  Just don't cut the background our backing, it could ruin the whole thing :(  Slicing the thing up was rather easy and quick to do!  I threw on the binding and popped it in the wash.

Pre-wash!

 I ran it through the wash twice.  The second time with other item to help encourage fraying of the fabric.  The truth is, the more this gets washed, the better and softer it will get!  I think it is stunning!  I made my gaps big enough, so you see the flowers still, but see some background popping through too!  I can see me doing this process more :)  So simple, fun and interesting to see what happens.

close up

I Like To Espresso Myself!

I bought this fabric, because I fell in love with it the moment I saw it in the shop!  I knew it had to become something fun for my kitchen.  What is better than a retro fun apron?  Only a retro fun apron made with an awesome fabric, that's what!

Cozy with Lucy Love :)_

I told you I was being really productive! So this afternoon I made Cup Cozies!  I am tired of getting my black coffee and the cup being so hot!  I also feel environmentally irresponsible asking for it to be double cupped and wasting a second cup, for my hand comfort.  So, a cup cozy is my answer!

This fabric was something I picked up in the US 2 summers ago from a scrap bin.  I paid 25 cents for this piece and have made 4 cozies from it.  I thought it was such fun fabric and was waiting to make it into something equally fun.  I think this is just it :)  I also used some old buttons that come with clothes when you buy them...or I pulled them off clothes that I was turning into rags.

 I believe this will be a great way to use up some scraps of both fabric and batting....but I may need to start finding homes for them.....

I Have Points!

Mystery Quilt Class #2 Revealed!

Picking the fabric for these is always interesting. I called it "I have Points" because ladies were losing the points on their stars in the sewing process. I have mine! (Except for where the binding on the edge seems to have snipped them...oops) I was told fabric A (my yellow) will touch all other fabrics except E (tie dye). A is the background B, C and D will be main fabrics (pink, green and blue/pink). From that you need to pink your colors, and she gives a sample of the colors she used. I started my color choice by picking the pink/green batik that I had just picked up at a sale. I also had the green in my stash. From there we grabbed the others I needed to make this quilt work!

Now, just like picking the colors, the instructions are just a odd. You need to be able to keep the clues straight, in order to remember what you are doing :) So for instance, I had to cut A into 3.5 inch strips and sub-cut into other sizes. In later clues, you have to take 'clue 2 and place it to the left of clue 12 and sew together'. It is always interesting to see what comes of it and to see how everyone's can be so different all because of their color choices!

I really love this one, and I opted to put 'minky' on the back Minky is just a very soft fabric. My plan is to have this here for little ones when they visit as a comfort blanket, or for a play blanket for the super young ones :) I quilted it together via the 'free motion' technique on my own machine. The minky is a pain in the bum to do this with, as it likes to stick to the surface under the weight of your hands and the rest of the quilt. I think it was well worth the fight though! I also used a new type of thread, 'Invisiline'. That despite the color of the thread, or the color of the fabric, it blends in nicely and isn't that fishing line quality 'invisible' thread.

Oh Deer Me!

I know it has been a while since my last post, but I have been super busy with the start of the school year.  I promise, I have been working on stuff, just not finishing any of it, oops!

This however I have finished :)  Everyone else in the class bought the kit.  I thought it was a little boring!  You know the old Christmas colors with the tacky poinsettia print and the likes.  Makes me think of K-mart Christmas! I thought I would go with the more cheerful jewel toned Christmas and see how it goes.  Well, this is what I ended up with.  I think it's pretty cool.  

Sorry for the photos all being on their side, I forgot to rotate them before uploading, oops.  I love holiday sewing :D

I Be Jammin'

Maybe not the type of Jammin' you were thinking of....but hey...it works!

This is for a contest that mom sent me.  I had to use the white for the background, and use the blueberry fabric with white background within the block.  You are allowed to make the block in any technique you like.  So I went with Applique, as it is something I am still learning.  Thought part of the jar lid, I did as paper piecing, to help give it a ruffled look, like that you would get putting fabric on a jar lid :)

I was at my shop, trying to find something that would work to make 'jam', and my instructor said she had just the thing in her stash at home.  Low and behold, the large blueberry, print, that works perfectly!  I kept the background of the tile as the simple white block, instead of trying to do something fancy and messing it up.  As I only had so much of their white fabric to work with from the kit.

Now this block is in the mail back to my mom, so she can submit it on my behalf.  The prize is winning 20 of the submitted blocks to make a quilt with.  Not sure what I would ever do with it, but being in Ontario, it could be fun to win a few pieces of 'home' made by locals :)

Stuffed!

Nothing super fabulous....unless you spend time on my couch!  The pillow on the Right was the original, made a year ago.  I picked up the fabric for the other 2 back in November while I was on sick leave.  I started them back in march and was at a stand still because I needed zippers.  While, there they are, looking pretty good.  Time to start breaking them in I think! :D