and done...

with the quilt top that is.  Here is my Lap of Luxe quilt in Mustang by Melody Miller:

it was such a quick sew!  (Just ignore that center area that looks really wrinkled, that'll be pressed out before it gets quilted.)  I used a few different solids for the background, mostly Kona Ash and Bella Smoke, I like that the different shades break up the pattern a bit and look less "flat."  So on to the stack this one goes!  Guess I better find another weekend project!

Heat is on...

Well, summer has officially taken up residence, in all her 100+ degree glory.  It's predicted to be well over 100 degrees today (up to 110 with heat index), so I think I'll stay inside and sew.  Last weekend, after finishing up my Star and Stripes quilt top, I pulled out my Cotton+Steel Mustang Fat Quarter Bundle that I've had for a few years and got to cutting:

and then did some stitching and trimming:

and now I'll take that stack of HSTs and turn it into a quilt top ala the Lap of Luxe quilt pattern.  So there you go...that's my plan and I'm going to try to stick to it.  Happy Friday!

Stars and Stripes with Aqua

Well, I've got a finished Stars and Stripes quilt top!

This entire top was pieced straight out of my fabric stash.  Because I did not purchase anything specifically for this quilt, I did not have enough of the aqua solid that I used for the sashing of the blocks.  Fortunately I had another aqua print in my stash, that was close enough in color to be used for the borders.  I figure once it's quilted and washed up...I'll be the only one that will ever notice it's not an exact match.  I also plan to shop my stash for the backing, so for now, this one will go on  the "to be quilted" pile until I get the back figured out.

Stitching for the 4th

Yesterday while at work I was getting a powerful urge to stitch something.  I wanted a quick project, looking for that immediate gratification.  So last night as I was looking through quilt patterns, I remembered the lovely Stars and Stripes quilt by Camille Roskelley.  Into the cart the pattern went:

and then I was immediately up in the sewing room pulling fabrics:

and then set to cutting and stitching.  Total last night was maybe 3 hours, add an additional hour this morning (estimates here) and I had 15 flag blocks ready to go:

This is such a great pattern!  Quick to put together, big visual impact...I've started piecing the top together and should have that done before too long!  So now the goal is get it finished so it can be in use on the 4th!

Dollie Who?

Finished this little one up last weekend.  Pattern is Dollie by Swoon Patterns (and it's free...BONUS!!).

She's a real quick sew and really cute!  Plan to do some sewing this weekend.  Just not sure how much or what.  Had a very long week at work, so really more in recovery mode this weekend than anything else!  Happy Friday!

New adventure...

Sew I stitched with leather for the first time over the holiday weekend.  I had picked up leather and some tools at Tandy Leather on Friday, and then finally did something with it on Monday.  I was so nervous that I was going to cut something incorrectly and ruin a piece, but I managed to get everything cut out with no major mishaps.

I used the Bonnie Bucket Bag from Swoon Patterns with a few modifications (no bottom strip, no outside zipper pocket).  I doubled up the interfacing on the cotton fabric so that it had a little more body and on more equal with the structure of the leather side (the other side of the bag is the same as this, half leather, half cotton).  Because I was working with white fabric for a bag, I did Scotch Guard all of the cotton before piecing the bag together.  I did interface the leather using the lowest heat setting possible and a pressing cloth.  I had a minor issue getting the rivets set on the strap, didn't account for using larger rivets, so they might be a little crooked on one side.  The top stitching down the center on the other side is also a bit skewed, but nothing that would prevent me from using the bag.  I did quite a bit of reading about sewing with leather the past few weeks, so I felt comfortable doing what I was doing.  With the purse strap, I cut two pieces and stitched them together.  To help stabilize the strap and minimize stretch over time, I put a piece of twill tape in between the two straps and anchored it with some FabriTac. 


So there you go...my first bag made with leather.  Now I just have to work up the courage for another, slightly  more complicated bag.  But first...some glitter vinyl is calling my name!

Finally a finish

Wow!  I actually finished a quilt over the weekend!  (and a bag too, but we'll get to that in another post). 


This quilt has been in progress (actually abandoned for a good while) for several months, it is for a family member of a co-worker.  They lost their fur baby and wanted the dog's pajamas turned into a quilt (the dog apparently preferred them to a blankie).  There was not a large amount of fabric to work with, so I added some soft solids in green, cream and brown that matched (all from my stash).  Here was the quilt top Sunday afternoon:

and then by Monday afternoon it had been washed and dried and was ready for pics:

and now this is off to it's final home!  and it's my first official quilty finish of the year!