Sewing for Me End of the week

I am at the end of my marathon week of just sewing for myself, mainly because I really did finish up quite a few big projects and a few little ones too.

This is s Surf and Sand quilt that I wanted to go in my bedroom, mainly as a throw. This is another entry in NOT letting quilts or anything you altered sit for two long. I had to relearn the changes I made to this pattern and cut carefully as this is the last of this fabric line I think anywhere on earth. Even before piecing this I hunted all over the net to get enough fabric to make this and matching pillowcases. I actually have a lot leftover but am NOT cutting into most of it until it comes back from the quilter and the binding is cut.

I draped it over a dresser in my bedroom that I actually made over a few years ago. It was a white wash dresser that I sanded and painted aqua, then distressed it with brown glaze.

This quilt had a lot of appliqued squares, wanting speed over technique I did what I call lazy applique (sorry no offense). I used featherweight fusible and sewed right sides together, then trim out the center to reduce bulk (save for small projects) and then fuse to hold down, then stitch in place. the longest part of this task was the trimming of the fusible, corners and turning, fusing and sewing were quite fast.

While in sewing for me week I located this pieced Easter table runner, I honestly have no clue how long ago this was pieced...years, like maybe 8-10 years. So I quickly finished this up too.


If Easter wern't so nearby I would not have bothered, but now I will be able to add this to my decorations, or should I say this will be my Easter decorations. This is a classic egg print that I think Joann's has had since forever, combined with bright egg inspired colors.

I finished piecing another quilt that needs some applique and dropped Sherbet Pips at the quilter. I got the call the quilt is quilted (GIANT HOORAY) and will pick that up tomorrow and start in on the binding, show and tell later this week.

Sewing for ME Week

I pulled out this Christmas table runner started 2 years ago to get this done this week. As I looked through the fabrics I found 4 placemats also pieced, of course in the spirit of finishing up these items, I finished these as well.

Both are very simple just rows of fabrics, the busy and bright color palette sort of is enough to look at without a lot of piecing. The placemats are just a focal fabric of trees, accented by stripe and finished off on the right with polka dots. I then quilted circles all over the placemats to mimic the vary size of polka dots on the fabric.

The table runner again is just simple rows of fabrics the runner has 2 raw edge accents, one a triangle tree, they other a simple flower.

I also did random sized circles quilted all over the table runner to match the placemats. Kind of a bummer they will be packed away until the holidays. However a quick glance at the placemats matches perfectly the lovely tulip plant my husband got me for Valentines Day.

Up Next...

I have actually been chomping to get to this quilt, from a collection called Surf and Sand. Again this was a pattern, however I seriously altered both the size and pretty much all the components, this time I had better notes. I had the blocks underway (on right) and needed to iron them all. Next add side borders, there is also some applique to these blocks then all the borders. This will be the third quilt I will have pieced this week, I hope to get 2-4 quilts to the quilter in the next month or so. Feels good to get close to finishing up some of these items for my family and I to enjoy.

Burts Bees Grab Bag

I picked up this Burts Bees grab bag about 2 weeks ago. This is a special they offer a few times a year, usually the bag is $25.00 plus s/h, but this was an even better special at $15.00 plus s/h, which was $5.00.

I got quite a few full sized items and a few travel size, I am guess it is about $70.00 retail products. They are sold as items that have imperfect packaging or seasonal items. My favorite is the eye cream, which would be about $24.00 if purchased alone. I also got four full sized lip balms, all are tinted so not ones I will use daily. I also got a full size body lotion and hand cream. I also got and not pictured a wallet lip balm thing, not sure I will actually use it, and a super light washcloth again not too exciting.

Overall I love this bag and would totally buy one again, in fact I have checked a few times since receiving this to see if they have offered it again, if you sign up for the mailing list you can get advance notice of the grab bag sale.

Sewing for ME Week Continues and Updates

My first official UFO finished of 2012, 8 quilted placemats. Done, done, done, quilted and all and ready to be used. I am thinking these were pieced about 3 years or maybe longer ago.

Working on the aqua and brown quilt, love using pottery to sort pieces, above loads of 1.5 inch square used as cornerstones throughout the quilt.

I have also almost finished piecing this aqua and brown quilt, just borders to add which should be done by this evening. I will be breaking soon to go to a Valentines Party.

Here is the quilt underway, love having a large table to lay it out as it is being pieced.

Above, quilt most of the way pieced, still needs side borders.

Next up, is this lovely brigh Christmas table runner, I will work on this tonight and first thing tomorrow. The bag this has been stored in has a LOT of fabric, thinking I had inteded to make placemats...hmmm we will see, I may also make the table runner bigger, have to play with the fabrics and see.

Then I have to take a bit of time for actual work, I have 3 small custom orders that need to be done. I should have known a week all about me was probably not going to exist entirely, they are small so I will be back at sewing for me by Wednesday afternoon.

So for this week the completed tally:

1. Sherbet Pips - Pieced, backing purchased, will be dropped at the quilter Friday
   
2. Tropical Placemats - COMPLETED
3. Brown and Aqua quilt - Pieced

I Declare: Sewing for ME Week

I have declared as of about dinner time Sunday night that this week would be devoted to sewing for me and my family week...Hooray!

I just finished a show on Saturday (which was great) and in getting ready for that I have an epic amount of product made so to sort of energize my sewing I am going to take this week to work on FINISHING a few items that have been hanging around.

First up, Sherbet Pips, this is a quilt I started for my daughter, in spite of her desire to have everything princess themed this will be for her use around the house. I bought most of the fabrics from this line last summer when it came out. I had cut it out and had a few measure issues, mainly trying to do a pattern in which I did not have the right amount of fabric (I bought the fabric before deciding on a pattern). Anyway I had to do some creative piecing along the way to get it to work.

Piles of fabric that I had to dig out from last summer, I had some notes with changes I made, though I would say not as good of notes as I would have liked. Though I am pretty certain I did not plan on packing it away unfinished more then 6 months.

Quilt about half done, it is actually pieced now, I am hoping to find a back this week and drop it to the machine quilter on Friday. Yay, one down! ! !

Next are these tropical placemats, I think I started these at least 3 years ago - sad, huh? They are completely pieced I just need to do some light quilting and sew backs on and use. This is next up, this will be a set of 8, the interior features a fruit print and a tropical print as the focal. It is bordered by lime green and then orange and watermelon squares, finished with the lime green.

Then a quilt I am super excited to start in this aqua and brown combination, this will be a throw for my bedroom. I need to get a solid cream or something like a cream, making a fabric run lunch today. I think once I get rolling on this it should go quickly.

Then there is this lovely basket of half finished quilts, grrrr...that is what I think when I look at this. Things half completed, random notes and lots of folds in odd places. It will be somewhat of a nightmare sorting this out. In this basket are the beginnings of 3 quilts and a Christmas table runner. In my sights this week are the table runner, and one of the quilts from a line called "Surf and Sand" this was/is also to be for my bedroom, going from memory I also have fabric to make matching pillowcases, ah the sorting and memory jogging needed.

Also in this basket is another line that I LOVED, actually still like it but not sure I want it for what I originally intended, so I need to sort this one out as well. And lastly in that basket was a quilt that was fully pieced just needed some applique flowers, this is not on my need to finish now list, so it will probably get a looksy but to be finished later this year...hopefully. I hope to post finished (or at least my part finished) this week or early next week. For quilting I usually hire this out, so I may space them a bit plus I need backings, I hope to get 2 ready to go to a quilter this week or next.

New Product Labels

I am swooning today over my new labels I got this weekend. I used Vistaprint and I think they are fabulous, or they will do just a-ok until the day comes I have a logo made that is just for me. I got these 2 inch circle labels to use on bags for craft shows, I will use these on my medium bags, and hope to get bigger labels for large shoppers.

I have recently switched over to a brown bag theme for my bags as this was somewhat predicated by what I could find locally and at a cost near a wholesale rate and NOT pay shipping.

These are a burgundy, soft pink, khaki and black, they will look smashing with the other labels I also use for small lunch sack sized labels.

Crafters Clearance Show This Weekend

Getting ready for my first show of 2012, remember I was going to be serious and proactive to do more show this year. This first one will be used to be "out with the old" and in with the new. I have spent this week prepping everything for the show including lots of sale creations.

In my "clearance " baskets I will have a mixed lot of my creations. Odds and end items and fabric choices, along with prototypes, single items, and a few items I am discontinuing from my "line".
I also will have two new items, first is my E-reader cover, this is a sleeve that you can slide a reader or tablet into for safe keeping. It has an exterior pocket and button closure, I will have about a dozen on hand and will also be dropping a few off to Yellow Door this week too.

I also have a new style coin purse that I will have with me, simple pieced design that features a small scale print in the middle.

I will also be offering a selection of $10.00 and $12.00 totes and purses, and a few "show specials".
I made up some cute freebies with Valentines chocolate as well. Valentines and St. Patrick inspired tissue cozies and pocket mirrors, free with $25.00 purchase, and a chocolate heart, just for fun!

12th Annual Crafters Clearance
Saturday February 11th
10-4pm
Henry Ford II High School
11911 Clinton River Road
Sterling Heights, MI
Website

Craft Show Transport Idea

I am getting ready for my first show of 2012, I had seen this idea in use a few years ago and thought it was brilliant. A large wheeled garbage can for transporting your craft goodies in and out of shows.

I picked one up today for a show this weekend, I find getting ready and loading the car to be somewhat stressful, cutting down on lifting and carrying is a huge help. This can will hold quite a bit and keep items inside safe from the elements as well.

You can see how much I put in the can, I load my items in the baskets they will be displayed. I always have a few items that get put into baskets at the show and those basket are packed nested in bins as well.

First layer, I have some studio scrap bundles I will be taking to the show, they made a good filler for the first layer.

Then I started stacking baskets of my creations, the squared shape of the garbage can helped a lot, fit more of my type of display items then a round one would have.
Next layer, more product and as a buffer I put my bags of merchandise bags.

Just about filled to the top with product, the most recent additions are loose and will be put in their baskets at the show.

As an added organization feature, I added to the inside of the lid an envelope, this is to put any forms or paperwork I might need upon check in. I hope to use as one of the first items to go into the show as it will carry a lot. I also put on the envelope a list of items packed in their so I can look at a glance for items.

Nifty transport, unfortunately this would not stand in the back of my vehicle, that would have been an added bonus. I will lock the lid and secure it so I can just slide it out of the back of my vehicle.

Earring Mini Shopping Spree

I happened onto the cutest little beaded earrings, simple and easy to wear with lots of things. I could not resist grabbing a few pairs. This etsy shop Amula was having a sale and I also got a birds nest necklace as well.

Amula was having a great 1.00 earring sale so I felt a mini shopping spree was in order. Good thing about this purchase is sadly I have a tendancy to loose earrings as well as other small things, so this price point was the perfect impulse purchase.

Check out Amula and treat yourself too!

Snowy Sunday

We have been somewhat lucky here in Michigan to be having a mild winter (types while knocking on wood). Today we have had a few inches of snow, the kind that sticks to the trees and is quite white and beautiful. The only thing that would make this better if we had a bright blue sky.

This set of tree and bush is right outside my sewing room window so I have a front seat view to this pretty winter day.

You know what they say if you don't like the weather wait five minutes and it will change. This blue sky picture was taken maybe 15 minutes later to this gray overcast pictures above.

I am still rooting for an early spring though!