Category: fabric craft

Sew Together Bag again!

Did I mention that I met Michele from Sewdemented at Quiltcon?  Well I did, had lunch with her, what a lovely lady.  Here I am making yet another one of her wonderful Sew Together Bags.

I love making them and people love receiveing them. This one is for my son in law Yoch, he is busy making quilts for so many people and I know he will put this bag to good use.P1080065You probably know by now that green is his favorite color, must be the Irish in him.P1080067Instead of some kind of patchwork on the exterior, I’m practicing my walking foot quilting.P1080069Love the result.P1080071The interior is where all the happy brightness is happening.  Every time I make one of these there is a small improvement. This time it’s the tabs at the ends of the zippers,  spiced things up by using a red print.P1080112The bag is taking shape, with a pin cushion and a needle pad. When making these for non sewers, I omit that step.P1080119I am getting better at including my label in my projects.P1080117Another personalized touch,  an interesting bead as the zipper pull.P1080125Quiet, sedate, masculaine bag.P1080120Until you open it up and it just pops with vibrant colors!

One doesn’t give a gift unwrapped.  Recently I found this book:P1080127I knowThe Japanese art of wrapping items in cloth.  P1080128I know, this could almost qualify for ‘I nailed it!’.  Here’s the deal, quilting cotton doesn’t drape like a soft silk. Also, the colors, yellow and green, the colors of the Oregon ducks (and yes, I bought this fabric in Oregon). Yoch is from there, so he can relate very well. This serves not only as a gift wrapping but as more fabric for his stash.  Don’t worry, I still have some of my own leftover.

I gave it to Yoch right before he left on a trip. Of course he loves it, and it will get a lot of use both on his trip and when he gets home.

Leah

More creative gifts

P1070464Creative people know that it’s not just giving a handmade gift that matters, it is the enabling. Giving a book or a magazine that will inspire more creativity on my part.IMG_3074The necklace brightens up an outfit.P1070471A project bag and hand dyed yarn!IMG_0602The lining of the bag is very well done. P1070462Mug rug, tools and a foxy pattern.IMG_3071More handspun yarn. This was supposed to be a holiday gift but it arrived around my birthday.  I need some very special projects for these yarns.IMG_3072And finally a birthday gift from my friend Ellen, the crochet queen.  Can’t say no to any handcrafted owl.

Leah

Crazylikefox1, birthday gifts

I joined an instagram exchange that my friend Raquel organized. Not sure why she called it crazy like fox. But I find myself collecting foxy things. I already shared what I made for Libby and what she made for me. Now other gifts are coming in.P1070445Not from the group, from my DIL Becky, button cupcakes – and they tasted very good as well.P1070388The gifts started rolling in. We had to list our likes and I said jewel-tones. Btw, I have already worn the necklace and a bracelet that is in the box.P1070390Isn’t this the cutest use of a yoyo to decorate a box?P1070411So the color theme may look familiar, this project holder is incredible, I know I could put my iPad in there. Also, love the owl needle keepers. I’m already using them.P1070459How thoughtful, after making the bag, Raquel gave me the leftover fabric.P1070460Of course the inside is not only lined, it has a zipper pocket. I really appreciate the leather label, what a great idea.

Yes there are more, but I am leaving them for another post.

Leah

#Crazylikefox 1 instagram exchange.

My friend Raquel started an instagram birthday exchange called Crazy like Fox.  So many people signed up she opened two groups. The idea is that one person per month has her birthday and everyone makes her something. Well, turns out that we are missing months and have 2 per month.  We didn’t have anyone for January but both Libby and I are February birthdays.  We posted our likes and dislikes and got to work on something creative. Libby is in my quilting guild, so we know each other, most of the others are completely new to me.P1060667I Libby likes red, and people were making her favorite requests already, so I figured, another project bag is always good. P1060683I used ByAnnie soft and stable. Which I had also used on my holiday gift exchange. I LOVE this product, can’t sing enough of it’s praises.P1060689This is the first time I’ve assembled a bag this way, don’t know if it’s any better,  but it worked.P1060693The outer pockets have room to store.P1060699For example, a knitting project.P1060701Empty it stands well on it’s own and is very light.P1070031Of course I added other goodies in the bag, many items from Daiso Japan. True, most things only cost $1.50 there, but oh how quickly they add up!

I have received my gift from Libby already, but that is for another post.

Leah

Edgar

Back in October, Instagram was full of images from Quilt market in Houston. I saw Heather Bailey’s newest owl pattern and I couldn’t wait to order it.  I wasn’t the only one, it was back ordered, but not by much.P1060840Since I LOVE owls, this one is for me, not for anyone else.  I’ve been busy lately so Edgar wasn’t made in one sitting and I just made one mistake that called for the seam ripper – not bad.P1060842Voila! Here he is!P1060849Side view, btw, I must commend Heather, she designs her three dimensional ‘pin cushions’ (I don’t think I’ll be sticking any pins into him) very well. Also, she is very good at writing instructions.P1060847Love that tail! He is very well balanced and stands on his own with no need to put in any plastic pellets to weigh him down.P1060845I actually took twice as many pictures, but I think this is enough, until I make his friend Poe and then they will model together.

Also, notice how much better I’m getting at this photography thing. Best advice about blurred backgrounds that I found. (I’m not getting into the triangle – this isn’t a photography blog). You need distance between the object and the background as well as using your zoom. One small focal point on the object.

I need to post pictures of my many three dimensional objects, I just love making them.

Leah

Road to California 2015

Yesterday was just pure fun.  Went with friends and my son in law to the quilt show, Road to California. P1060775Busy people all over the place as well as quilts, quilts quilts.

One of the best things about these shows is the market place, and yes I did some damage.IMG_2962The booths are as wonderful as the show, here is a Metro Medallion quilt by the Sew Kind of Wonderful sisters. I love their curved ruler and it’s always fun seeing the quilts out in the wild.P1060786The absolutely amazing Japanese fabric will become a shirt for me. I couldn’t get over how beautiful this print is.P1060788I bought other fabric, no the foxes don’t fit in with the color way,  but then again, maybe they are what is just needed to pop the blues and yellows. Of course I have no idea if this will become a quilt or a bag.P1060789Speaking of bags, yes, I have bags on my mind, I bought the book as well as two patterns. Since discovering Soft and Stable by Annie, I am loving making bags. Annie herself was manning the booth, what a lovely lady. I also bought some more Olfa tools.

If you are noticing a pattern that looks similar to the weekender bag, yup, I like the size and shape. Do not like the bag itself. I took it for a trial run to the show. I think I have mentioned that it is very heavy even empty. It didn’t hold up.P1060785The straps tore off with the weight, so I came home and  used embroidery floss to fix them.  So no, this bag isn’t going to Quiltcon with me. I had fun making it, it will get some use here and there, but on the whole – no this wasn’t a win.

So what about the quilts themselves???  Tomorrow I go and help pack and ship the quilts back to their owners, I hope to have some pictures as well as a fun story to tell.

Leah

Skerit Santa

A group of Facebook friends decided to do a gift exchange. We are all crafty people, so this was going to be a lot of fun. Of course non of us have the patience to wait till Christmas, well I tried, but once everyone else started opening theirs, I couldn’t wait.

I chose to make Sara Lawson’s Kennedy Bag pattern is classic with a lot of detail.

P1050588I was careful in cutting the fabric so it would line up perfectly.
P1050590For the lining, these are the fabrics I chose. Actually, the lighter grey is in the pocket, so is hardly visible.

I used Soft and Stable, it worked beautifully, as I mentioned before, I wish I had used it on my Weekender. Which reminds me, I need to order more, just to have on hand when I want to make a bag.P1050595Here it is finished, lovely size, large but not too big. Stands up nicely on it’s own because of the Soft and Stable, which didn’t add much weight. No, this isn’t stuffed with anything to make it stand.P1050597P1050599Zippered pocket with little charm. There are also two slip-in pockets for a cell phone and glasses.

The recipient loves it of course!  And here is what I got, or should I say, am getting.IMG_2921Sorry this is so fuzzy, it’s a photo of a photo. My skerit Santa is going to spin up this gorgeous roving for me!!!  I know how precious hand spun yarn is! And these colors fit me to a tee!

Leah

Puzzle ball

Chanukkah is around the corner.  I have gifts for the older grandkids, but what should I do for the two month old. He already has a quilt, sweaters and other handmade items. He also has plenty of clothes. Being a grandma, I had to make him something.

On other blogs I found a ball that I had made years ago when my boys were little, I called it the orange segment ball, I’ve found it called the Amish puzzle ball.P1050817Here I’ve cut out my segments.P1050819Sewn them together and …P1050821started the assembly process.P1050822And like magic, this row of orange segments…P1050825becomes a ball.P1050826In another month or two Wesley will discover his hands. This is perfect to hold, cuddle and of course put into his mouth.P1050827A wonderful quick project to make as a baby gift. I got the instructions here. I know I’ll be making more as gifts, so many of my friends are having babies and grand babies. Bring them on!!!

Leah

Holiday potholder swap

LAMQG had a potholder swap for the holidays.

I started working on mine at the last minute.P1050723Using paper to get the dresden plate accurate, not sure that was necessary.P1050724I was trying hard to stay away from Christmas colors,  I think I hit on Easter instead.P1050733For batting I used the insulated batting, so this works well as a trivet or a potholder.P1050732Back is just as colorful.

In return, I got a very Christmas potholderP1050744P1050745I love Christmas in America, I don’t feel excluded in any way.  Actually, this year I’ll be making a belated Christmas dinner (no ham, sorry) for my daughter in Laws family who are arriving here Christmas day, so I’m thrilled to have this to use either as decoration or as intended – a pot holder!

Leah