Saturday, October 30, 2010

This Little Piggy is Sorry She Stayed Home...

Oh, all the wonderful goodies coming out of the Houston International Quilt Market 2010. Many of the blog writers I read are their posting eye candy.

Pat Sloan who we know and love from her Creative Talk Radio show/podcast.

The Last Piece who is blogging and Tweeting from market.

Amy's Creative Side where you can view the Blogger's Quilt Festival information. I think I might participate in this. What about you?

Since I can't be at market, I'm going to find little slices of time this weekend to make my sewing space feel more like some of the incredible booths at market and put some stitches in my UFOs. How are you going to celebrate quilt market this weekend?

Talk with you tomorrow on the podcast - talking a little knitting this episode! :-)

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Tutorial Round Up: Coasters and Mug Rugs

Have you noticed the mug-rug and coaster craze in the quilting community? . I sure have - and feeling the itch to stitch my way into the fun! (There are even a Flickr group - My Morning Cup  and Scrappy Mug Rug Swap - dedicated to the topic.) Here are a few cuties I've stumbled upon.










Feel free to post links to your tutorials or others you've found on the topic in the comments section. Happy sewing!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Drama, Drama

Hi. My name is Sarah. And I'm certifiably overwhelmed. In fact, so much so that I just spent about 5 minutes staring at a blank blog form, mind racing about what there is to do this week. 5k run on Tuesday... Several doctors appointments at various times/days... Halloween... Halloween parties... Halloween treat bags... Charity event on Thursday night... Networking breakfast... Meetings to lead... Website updates... Deadlines... Laundry... Check in on grandma... What the heck are we going to eat for dinner... Can't. Take. Any. More!

When am I supposed to sew? sleep? sit quietly with a book? spend a few minutes with a friend? When did life get like this?

Okay - enough complaining. You don't read this blog to hear about my drama. You read it to see what I'm up to in quilt-land. On with the show...

I finished a pair of Portobello Pixie ruffle pants for Olivia today out of Sandi Henderson's Meadowsweet line. She absolutely refused to model them - so you're getting the ole' hanger shot. :-)



This pattern is so awesome - I will make these pants for her again and again. They're so easy, taking about two hours from cut to top-stitch. Highly recommend for the wee ones in your life.



Mom and I went to Jo-Ann's today where I purchased 1.25 yds of dark blue corduroy and 1 yard of lace trim.



Plans are not nailed down for these yet - but I have a couple ideas in mind, one of which is this cute camera bag.



Finally, here is a sneak-peak at my finished curtains. Just need hubby to hang the curtain rod for me - and then will take a finished photo!



Okay, my dear friends, have a lovely week. Bracing myself for a crazy one... for now, I'm going to curl up with my knitting and have a few minutes of peace before turning in for the night - a few stolen moments of solitude.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Too Tired for a Clever Title

Here's a run down on what I've been working on this week...

These socks are incredibly addicting to knit. The subtle color changes keep me wanting to do "just one more row." The yarn, Regia Hand-Dye Effect, is delightful to work with. It's soft (not super, squishy soft - but pleasant), yet it also has structure.


Bekah's Charm Quilt out of Hunky Dory by Chez Moi for Moda is finished! Washed, dryed, crinkly, and cozy. One more item checked off my Christmas sewing list!




Here is a Birdie Sling bag I cut out this weekend - also a Christmas gift. The Birdie Sling bag is one of my favorite Amy Butler patterns ever. I've made at least 3 of them - maybe more? The pattern is simple to follow and a great beginner project.


And here is  a photo of how I keep projects in progress somewhat organized. My husband made a gift-wrap holder several years ago. The gift wrap is in the closet as this proved to be far more handy for sewing - like many things in our house. :-)


Finally, I was very excited to read that Denyse Schmidt is coming out with a new line of fabric! It's called Greenfield Hill. You can read more about it on her website, where I found this sneak-peak image. Beautiful patterns and colors!


Back to this busy week. Talk to you soon!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Tutorial Round Up: Curtains

I mentioned in podcast episode 16 that I'm making curtains for the window in my sewing space. These tutorials sparked a little inspiration for me - maybe it will do the same for you. Enjoy!






Finally, here is a link to many other links for curtain tutorials and pattern help - Window Treatments by Tip Nut.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Stash Resolution Episode 16: Crafting in Public

Photo by Celia Gibson

Photo by Celia Gibson

Celia and I had a lovely email exchange. She said there are more photos of her projects on Facebook. Check them out by friending CELIA GIBSON. 


What I'm Working On


Helena Baby Sweater
Amy Butler LOVE
Anna Maira Horner's Handmade Beginnings
Spider Web Quilt

Stash Report
52.25 baseline
-2.75 (charm quilt completed!)
=49.5 YARDS IN STASH

Tip: How you can find cool new craft books online.

Topic: Books I've found recently.

A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick
Jelly Roll Quilts and More by Kimberly Einmo
Small Stash Sewing by Melissa Averinos
Amy Butler's Style Stitches

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Need for Speed

Remember the famous line from Top Gun, "I feel the need - the need for speed!"? That's how I'm feeling about so many of my projects. There are too many of them with too many deadlines looming. I need to go on a finishing spree.

At least one project is almost out of the UFO pile.


Simply pieced and simply quilted, charms sewn together with grid-line quilting done 1/4" from the seams.


The fabric is Hunky Dory by Chez Moi for Moda. I used two charm packs for the front and about 1-3/4 yards for the backing and binding.


In retrospect, I should have used a different fabric from the backing for the binding. Oh, well. I still thing it's turning out nicely.


Oh, did you know that when you leave your sewing machine light on for two days, it burns out? Yeah... It does... It's amazing how depending we get on those little lights. I'll never take it for granted again. Maybe this weekend I'll figure out what it takes, where to buy one, and how to change it... Add it to the list...

Monday, October 11, 2010

Tutorial Round Up: Ruffle Refashion

I have to admit I love the look of flowers and ruffles that are all so "right now." Who would have thought making them would be so easy? Check out these tutorials on how add a little frill and fuss to yesterday's simple tops.

















Friday, October 8, 2010

Fiber Goodness

The podcast feed issue has been resolved. The feed should appear in iTunes later today. Yeah! Thanks for your patience.

Last weekend, my car took me to Wooly Bully yarn shop in Springboro, OH. You know how that happens, right? I can't be the only one with this problem.



I made a little purchase of some sock yarn and two balls of Amy Butler's Belle Organic Aran. Yummy! This will eventually be a winter hat and neck warmer set for my daughter. Please send pattern suggestions my way - thanks!



Wolly Bully is an adorable shop in an equally quaint town.



Look how cute this little girl dress is. The owner showed me the pattern, and it only goes up to size 24 months, far too small for Olivia. :-(



How delicious are the displays? I could spend hours there - it's a cozy, comfy atmosphere with a delightful small-town vibe.



If you're ever passing through the area, I highly recommend a detour to Wooly Bully.



So - What are you going to make this weekend? If you get a chance, please take pics and post them to the Stash Resolution Podcast Flickr group. Let's inspire each other to get moving on holiday crafting and finishing UFOs!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Technical Difficulties

As many of you have noticed, episode 15 is not loaded into iTunes yet. I'm having trouble getting my feed host to complete the audio upload. It's very frustrating. Thank you for your patience as I work through it. Cross our fingers that maybe it will work today.

In the meantime, here is a lovely little Halloween quilt my friend is making out of Moda's Halloween Night. She's planning to make it a wall hanging.




Isn't it darling? I love the wonky pinwheel effect. It's a perfect combination with the fabric theme.

Hope your week is going well - and that we can get back on track with the podcast soon.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

episode 15: charmed, i'm sure

What I'm Working On

Hexagon English Paper Piecing in Anna Maria Horner scraps
Designer Mystery Block of the Month - August & September are finished
Dresden Plate Table Runner in Denyse Schmidt Hope Valley
Hunky Dory Charm Quilt
Helena Baby Sweater in O-Wool
Wolly Bully Yarn Shop
Amy Butler Belle Organic Aran
Regia Hand-Dye Effect

The Stash Report

IN
1.25" yards Sandi Henderson Daily Path from Meadowsweet
2 yards Hunky Dory by Chez Moi
=3.25"

OUT
1 yard for the Scrappy Do Table Runner

50 yds baseline
-1 yard
+3.25
=52.25 yards in stash

Bad Stitches Happen to Good People
A quilt masacre!

Tip
How you can use pins to mark your rows.

Topic: Favorite blogs and podcasts
Red Pepper Quilts
Oh, Fransson
Film in the Fridge
Crazy Mom Quilts
p.s. i quilt
Jaybird Quilts

Knitmore Girls
Spin Control
Sew Forth Now
Craftlit
CogKnitive