Monday, July 25, 2011

Gone Stitching


My friend Val and I packed up all our projects and gear yesterday and headed up to my parents' cabin for a few days of stitching.  Together we've brought the following to work on:

  • embroidering state flower squares
  • a granny square blanket
  • a jumbo sized blanket in double crochet
  • getting table runners ready for quilting class
  • finishing the yoke of a summery top
  • sewing a large handbag
  • sewing a skirt
  • piecing the top a blue/white quilted table cloth
  • designing things to make in the future
  • and 5"x7" canvases for painting

Since the weather isn't cooperating, we're working inside and watching old musicals from my dad's vast VHS collection.


Thursday, July 21, 2011

"Conical" Cuteness

A mini project for the day...


Yesterday I found this pattern for a "Conical Coin Purse" in "The Feisty Stitcher" by Susan Wasinger.  (It's not really a cone, it's a triangular prism tetrahedron, but that doesn't have the same ring.)  This morning I picked up some ribbon from Northwest Art & Frame and several zippers from West Seattle Fabric Co.













How To Spend a Sunny Afternoon


That's my quilting buddy showing off her freshly pieced and pressed quilt at class Tuesday night.  The sunshine yesterday afternoon made it difficult to get good photos of my quilting progress.  I also finished piecing the top in class and yesterday I pinned it to the backing and batting.  Apparently I shouldn't have cut these down to the size of the top, but oh well.  I'll make it work..





I checked out a bunch of books on knitting, quilting, and sewing yesterday, and perused them while enjoying one of my favorite beverages (strawberry milk).


For dinner, it was what I'm calling "Turkish Nachos"--toasted pita chips covered in tomato sauce, Greek yogurt, lamb meatballs, and sprinkled with pine nuts.  So tasty.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

First Quilting Class

Night one of the three part quilting class I'm taking at West Seattle Fabric Co. was all about choosing and cutting the fabric.  Monica had several charm packs from collections that won't be in her store until fall.  I selected "Ruby" by Bonnie & Camille, and my quilting buddy choose "Terrain" by Kate Spain, both from Moda Fabrics.  The class project is a table runner, and I'm very excited that my fabric will complement my Royal Albert "Old Country Rose" tea set.


"Ruby is a small town girl with big dreams, and even bigger style. She works at the town ice cream parlor in her favorite red polka dot dress and can be found doing the jitterbug with her best girlfriends at the Country Diner on the weekends. This cheery line is full of Ruby’s favorites, including a smattering of soft flannels, in red and aqua, retro flowers, vintage prints and pretty little scallops."

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Bluegasm


I'm using my coupon stash to build a blue/white collection.  The plan is to make it all into a tablecloth, eventually.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Tea Party + Patchwork Purse, Part 2

I finished the patchwork purse on Friday morning while waiting for croissant dough to rise.  It took two of us all day Friday to make them.  The croissants were for a tea and crafting party yesterday, during which I had so much fun, I forgot to take any pictures.  Oh well, next time.  Here's a shot that a friend took of the tea party spread:  chicken curry and cucumber sandwiches, blueberry banana bread, cookies, cherries, homemade jam, croissants in the oven, and Empress blend tea.




Finishing the purse...









Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Patchwork Purse, Part 1


I love starting new projects.  I picked up some fat quarters on sale at Joann's on Friday, and I couldn't let them just sit there.  Last night I cut the squares using my handy dandy new rotary cutter, and today I'm making a patchwork purse, more or less like this one.