Where does the time go?

I'm finally back to some sewing...I have 10 projects cut and ready to go...quilts, jackets, toddler dresses and jackets, bags etc.

I finished the dots quilt, but blogger has changed since I last posted and I am having trouble figuring out how to post photos.  I'll get it at some point....have to put some time into it.

I LOVE DOTS!

On one of the blogs I read I saw this stack of fat quarters....all dots...whole collection by Michael Miller fabrics...had to have it :)  I made a baby quilt similar to this about 40 years ago....gave it to my cousin for her new baby...I still have the pattern cut out from McCalls Needlework and Crafts Magazine...my craft bible in those days.

So when I saw all these dots, that's the first thing I thought, and immediately had to make one. 

SILK

Yummy soft silk hand-dyed fabric....mmmmmm! I had to dye the fat quarters in plastic bags since the weather is not warm enough to dye outside in the pan....still turned out great.

Another Malka Bag

This is my third bag from Malka Dubrawski's hand-dyed fabric (along with some black & white prints from my stash). I just love her work...now her fabrics are being manufactured and they are also great.



I'm trying to tweak this pattern to make it more my own....so I made some mistakes and learned plenty from them.

Love the inside color combo....will pursue more of that.

New Bag from Jelly Roll Strips

It's been a while! I only had a little bit of sewing left on this, so I grabbed a few minutes late last night and wrapped it up. I changed the straps on this one...I'm trying to perfect a pattern of my own....it will take a few more trys and changes.



I ordered some custom cut acrylic pieces for the bottom but they haven't arrived yet.

And I used bias at the top of the pockets to strengthen them. Felt good to sew again.

lost iPad Southwest

On my last trip to Orlando I left my iPad in the airplane (Southwest) seatback. That was three weeks ago. On the chance that someone who found it is looking for the owner who lost it (google), I thought I'd post here and see if magic can happen :) My stupid mistake....whatever happens, happens.

Marcia

Halloween Quilt

This is traveling with me tomorrow...a gift....daughter and SIL got married 5 years ago on Halloween at Disney World....we had a fabulous time. 5 Years....don't blink :)

Jacket with Buttons

Just wanted to show the buttons I used on the jacket....easy for little hands!

Girly Girl

This very girly quilt was made with the Girly Girl line of fabric. It will be donated to our silent auction at the beach. I'm so glad to have finished it in time.

I LOVE LITTLE JACKETS !

It's time again for the Family picnic and auction at our beach, which raises money for improvements to the playground and pavillion. I'm going to be donating this little girl's jacket and a couple tote bags and journals w/ quilted covers. And possibly a quilt. We'll see how much I get done.



I put this together yesterday with some scrap squares I had....quilted the fabric and then cut out the jacket. It's a size 3/4 but looks larger. I need to try it on someone to get a better idea before I mark it.

I have a few buttons I'm auditioning....I'll show the finished jacket later. I just love making little jackets....so satisfying in a short period of time.

A Few Found Minutes

As I waited for some clothes to dry yesterday I took some time to discharge a small pile of hand-dyes. It's such an easy process if all the tools are handy.

I used a cut sponge for the circles, an eraser for the rectangles, and a brush for the others.

Only four weeks or so till our new granddaughter, Kira, is born....

The Bag!

I think this will make a great diaper bag....and it matches the little quilt.

There are a lot of pockets inside and space for everything, I think.

On to the next project.

Next on the Agenda!

I have so much of this fabric cut that I have to make a few more things....a bag was a definite.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to everyone!






I spent yesterday making this little quilt for my granddaughter-to-be.....it is made from the extra pieces I had cut for a larger quilt a couple months ago. I love primary colors for kids, I think it stimulates their imagination and creativity.





The quilt is about 26x26.....perfect for a little one.






Also can be easy to change the baby on.....gets softer with every washing :)

And perfect to swaddle her with....3 months to go!

Discharge Paste Step 2

After they dried I ironed them with a steam iron (good ventilation). Different colors discharge faster than others....after you do a few you will get the hang for how long to keep the iron on a spot and how much steam it needs (some don't need any)....and you can go back over an area to see if it will get lighter....I like to get a variety of shades, it makes a piece more interesting.

Then I wash in the machine with hot water and synthropol....if a lot of color comes out I wash again and then iron. The pieces could also be over-dyed now...depending on your preferences.

Discharge Paste Step 1

I LOVE Discharge Paste! I buy this from Pro Chem or Dharma Trading. Of all the processes I have learned through Jane Dunnewold, (and there are many!) this is my all-time favorite. Perhaps because it is so easy...such instant gratification!


My hand-dyed fabrics are the perfect base for this. The fabrics I am using today were dyed in a pan with multiple colors at a time.

You want to do this with adequate ventilation...especially if you are susceptible(?) to odors. Read the label and guidelines on Pro Chem or Dharma before using. I've never had a problem.


I applied the paste (as is from the bottle) through a thermofax screen of a ginko leaf.

These were other screens I used. I also used a brush and did some lines on a couple pieces.

Then I cut a ragged circle from a sponge (with a hack saw :) and stamped right on the fabric. Then I dug out the center of the other side of the sponge and made an open circle....

which gave me this shape. I'll let them all dry and iron them this afternoon.

WOW...2 months go by....

It's not that I haven't been crazy busy...I've been cleaning out closets....donating...selling...really preparing for the inevitable....selling this house a few years down the road. And I've only made a dent...that's ok...I'm starting early!

I discharged these fabrics yesterday (discharge paste with stamps and screens). This is one of my favorite techniques...so easy and such a dynamic result.



I think I'll do some more today.

Busy Weekend!

I think this is as far as I will go with this...now to borders and binding choices.

I spent about 3 years with my sewing room set up in a way that just felt wrong....so this weekend I moved everything around...and now I have a much more comfortable setup. And what a mess I made doing that....so I must finish today.

The fabric will be re-organized too....and some will be donated...some sold....this is only a portion of what I have.

COLOR !!!!

I need some serious color after this last couple months....so I grabbed a pile of my most colorful Kaffe and Brandon fabric and just started cutting.....squares and strips





Just having these piles laying on my table lifts my spirits and sets the creative juices flowing.




I decided after pieceing together a couple blocks that the squares were too big in comparison to the strips....so I trimmed the blocks....which has the added benefit of squaring them up beautifully....and left me with the scraps below....they're only about 1/2 inch...but I can't throw them out....yet.

I don't know what size it will be yet....I'll just keep sewing till I either get bored with it, or run out of pieces.

Revisiting an old project.

Many years ago I saw this trivet pattern somewhere and made many of them for gifts. Some people used them for the purpose intended and others hung them up and refused to actually use them. I think that's so funny....some people that I gave baby quilts to never let the baby use them ... they hung them on the crib or bed, afraid that wear and tear wouldn't be good for them....silly people :)




These are made from 3 sizes of circles....some are folded, some are flat. And there is a batting inside that allows for very hot items to be placed on them with no danger to the table. I really enjoyed the process....there may be more in my future.