Manhattan Purse: Part II

Here is the purse I made in October for my mother-in-law, Julie. I am in love with these fabrics- they came from a fat quarter set from Joann's. Those packs always have the cutest prints, but you never find the same things on the bolts.

Overdue wedding present

For almost a full year I felt really guilty for not giving my husband's brother and his new wife a wedding present. It's been my goal to make a quilt for every sibling that gets married but when Ben and Melanie got married last December, we were living in a tiny studio apartment with absolutely no space for sewing..... So, almost a year late, here is a quilt I made them in time for their first year anniversary..... in honor of their December nuptials, I made a quilt with Christmas fabrics.... my own pattern and the first time I've ever actually machine quilted a quilt.... I am happy with how it came out:

This is the back:
Congrats Ben and Melanie!

Guild related projects.....

As promised, here are some of the really cute quilt blocks I won at last month's Chelmsford Quilting guild UFO auction. Aren't they adorable? The only problem is that there are about 4 blocks missing- V, W, X, and Y. It's going to be a challenge to make my own, but I will figure it out.This weekend's project, besides working on Christmas presents, included making the next block in the block exchange. This one was CHALLENGING! I was so glad when I discovered that the person who had made the block had stuck in several "extras" of the triangle units- but despite this help, I used the seam ripper quite often. It's projects like this that remind me that I desperately need to take a quilting class because I am self-taught and could really use some real instruction. Here are the two blocks that came in the box I received.

This is my block. I am pretty happy with how it came out. Even though I am not a dog person, I absoltely love this pattern and maybe someday I can make my own for a nursery quilt sometime.

And just for old time sakes, here's some fun and very bright fabric I bought at the local quilt store, Candlelite quilts. I absolutely love it.

Less than two weeks till Christmas! Then I will finally be able to post all the many projects I have been working on for gifts for family.

Quilt Square Exchange Part II

Here is the original block I had to copy for October's quilt block exchange. A country version of Jacob's ladder:The lady provided a "Nifty Notions" ruler that was quite helpful in making the triangle parts. I definitely procrastinated this small project- I made it the night before the meeting. I won't be able to do that with the next block.... Wait till you see it! I will post pictures soon.

Here they are together: I don't think I did the greatest job.... But I am still technically a beginner......

I have a lot to catch up on here. Last week's quilt meeting was a blast- it was an auction of everyone's castoff unfinished projects, unused fabric, books, and tools. If I had more money- I would've gotten a lot more than I did. But I was able to come home with an unfinished baby quilt I absolutely adore. I will post about that later this week.

Keepsake Quilting

My good friend and I took a trip up to Lake Winnepesaukee to visit the famous "Keepsake Quilting" store. I was VERY impressed with their fabric selection. The only thing that was kind of a bummer was that they didn't necessarily have the fabrics listed in their catalog at their actual store. But they had an awesome policy of giving you free shipping if you ordered from the catalog at the store- I've been gathering up various prints for a Taxi by Timeless Treasures quilt and I finally got my last print from them. So these were my purchases from the day:

A darling fat quarter set of the Sock Monkey series:

And some fabric for a Christmas present, a purse, and a sewing themed quilt I am planning. Isn't it so cool how they fold the fabric for you like this?

Quilt Square Exchange

This year I am participating in the Chelmsford Quilt Guild block exchange. They made this activity geared for beginners because in years past the "exchange" activities intimidated less experienced quilters. Basically, I had to pick a block design, make one block, write up the instructions, and submit it to be passed around from month to month - and in April I will get a bunch of blocks from people.... Meanwhile, I have to make a different block each month for other people. I will post a picture later of the block I have to make this month. I am excited- but we'll see what the ladies do with mine- it might be difficult because the quilts they all make are very "country."

Vintage Skirts

I'm pretty sure someone embellished this skirt with felt birds and leaves, that it wasn't manufactured like this.

I think the print on this is gorgeous. Unfortunately, it doesn't fit as it is- I would be lucky to be able to fit my thigh in the waist part. But I am pretty sure I can alter it to knee-length. The tag says it was "Hand printed in Finland."

Pleated Bag Beauty

Here's a purse from Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing Book, "Pleated Bag Beauty." This is the first time I made one, and I am in love with how it came out. It was a somewhat intimidating project at first, but it went really well and I actually didn't make any major mistakes. I am especially pleased with the fabric combination- both prints are butterflies. This is going out to a friend as a very belated birthday present.

Crafting with second-hand items.....

I spent a lot at one estate sale a few weekends ago. There was a lot of fun stuff. This is an old jacket, made of fabrics from Thailand- but it's actually an old Talbot's jacket.
I would also appreciate any ideas on what to make with really cool vintage scarves? Maybe to lie makeup bags? I just couldn't resist the variety of bright and unique prints.
Look at the awesome ugliness of this scarf:

More Finds

This whole set of "fairy tale" dolls was only .50 cents! I couldn't believe it! They're all in really good condition and very adorable! Can you see Red Riding Hood? Jack and Jill? Mary and her lamb? This will be fun to decorate a nursery someday.

A retro cheater quilted panel- I LOVE all the colors!

Finds

$1 for this vintage quilt top. I think it will make a sweet baby blanket. 3 vintage homemade children's aprons:
Granny square afghan (lap-sized).

Thrifty Sewer: The Miser

Amy Karol's book: "Bend the Rules Sewing" explains that there are 4 kinds of crafters: the perfectionist, the artist, the miser, and the speed demon. I've decided I am "the miser." Karol explains,

Can you work miracles reusing fabric? Do you thrift like a demon and have an amazing knack for sensing a yard sale a mile away? Misers can see project potential in cast-off items and can make gifts from pennies. The flip side can be a tendency not to cut enough fabric... If you thrift fabric, often you have little control of the quantity. So you tend to have not quite enough. (Or you are being a miser, and don't want to use it all). Misers will undercut the fabric, making it stretch as far as it can go. But scrimping on seam allowances comes at a price: no matter how clever you are, you cannot make up for not having enough fabric. Attention misers: Stop waiting for the "perfect project," keep your fabric stash in check, and don't buy fabric only because it's on sale. Buy what you love- and use it liberally.

I don't think all of this applies to me, but it is true that I LOVE a good yard sale and often eye the goods in a thrift store with the intention of cutting up the clothing, not wearing it.

So I decided to change my blog up a little, as you may have already guessed based on a few of the most recent posts. Since my full-time job seriously interferes with my life, I don't sew as much as I'd like to. Also, most of the projects I am working on right now are Christmas presents that I need to keep secret till after Dec. 25.... So I am changing things up a bit by posting yard sale finds (related to crafts) and maybe I will do some other different themes- like posting favorite handmade posessions that I didn't make or things I made a while ago- just to keep this thing current. I recently scheduled a ton of posts- and it is kind of fun to check my blog and see a new post that I had scheduled recently.

Anyway- over the past weekend I made these "simple bibs," also from Bend the Rules. I used some of my vintage fabric and applied adhesive ribbon meant for scrapbooking (I hope it washes okay!) I gave them to my friend Lindsay who is going to have a baby boy in about two weeks.

And finally, here's the AWESOMELY groovy quilt top I got for 2 bucks last weekend:

Vintage Bow-Ties

Any ideas on crafty things to do with vintage bow ties? This set was $2. There are probably at least 50 in each of these boxes. Both boxes were $5 each.

Pumpkin Decorating Contest

At work each department had to decorate a pumpkin without carving. We did a "V.I.P" (Very Important Pumpkin." It was my idea to add the Papparazzi Pumpkins and I made the cute little felt bushes they were hiding behind- I should've taken a closer picture of them.... We won 3rd place.

Manhattan Purse

This is the purse I made for my mom's birthday which was yesterday. The pattern is called "Manhattan Bag" by Sand Beach Designs, something I picked up in Maine on Nick and I's anniversary trip to Bar Harbor in June. The fabrics are from my finds at Marden's on the same trip. I made a different bag by the same pattern a few weeks ago, but I can't show the picture yet because I am saving it to give to someone for Christmas who reads this blog. The funny thing is that the first one I made came out better and was easier to make than this one; I am stumped because I don't know what I did wrong/different. Stay tuned....

Deerfield Fair 2008

Nick and I went to the Deerfield fair last weekend. Despite the rain we had a great time. We really enjoyed yummy junk food - apple crisp, fudge, candy apples, etc. We watched the "Pig Scramble" - something I've never seen before, even though I have gone to this fair year after year. It's basically when a group of children go into a large fenced-in area with a burlap bag and have 3 minutes to catch a piglet. It was hilarious!

Anyway, one of my favorite parts is the craft exhibition. People of all ages can enter their crafty endeavors to the fair and have them judged and put on display. These are 2 of my favorite quilts:

This Hawaiin applique quilt was made my an 85 year old woman. I thought it was absolutely stunning!

This quilt was made entirely of "yo-yo's" into a patchwork design.


I have made it a goal to enter some of my projects into the fair next year.

Busy!

I am trying to decide if I am going to keep this little guy or give him away..... hmmm.... I saved this pair of socks with the idea of actually making a sock animal for myself, but we'll see. I decided to challenge myself and learn two new skills on this quilt for my friend Muriel's new baby. I actually hand quilted it (never again!) and made a real binding (don't look too close, it didn't come out wonderful). But overall I am pleased with it and happy that I was able to use fabric from my stash to complete the entire blanket.

A few projects

Here's the purse I made about 6 weeks ago with my sister. I gave it to my friend, Noelani, when I went out to UT this last weekend for her wedding reception. At first, her husband thought it might be an apron, then he guessed that it was one of those baby carriers! I really LOVE this fabric- it's Heather Bailey's Peonies in red. I tried to make a book cover for my copy of the monstrous 900+ pages Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell but it came out wrong. So I sized it down for my antique copy of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I really like the way it came out. I borrowed my mom's serger and did the edges- it took me longer to thread the serger than to make the whole book cover!
More to come soon, I've started to craft almost as much as I visit fabric stores!

A Pillow & a Purse

I am VERY happy with the way this pillow and pillow cover came out. I am in love with the fabric that matches my Christmasy living room (we have a green couch and red chairs- I promise you it is tasteful and not as tacky as it sounds). The pattern came from Emma Hardy's Sewing in No Time Book. It is a GREAT book. The pattern said it should take 1.5 hrs to make, but I took about 4 hours. I was trying to be really careful because over the last week I have managed to royally mess up 3 purses due to my not being careful enough as I worked.
I was proud of how the pillow form came out because I almost bought one, as I had read on one of the crafty blogs that you should buy really nice pillow forms. I found the ones available at Joann's were flimsy and relatively expensive for what you get (it's a square stuffed with polyester stuffing people!)

This is one of the purses I kind of messed up on but I was able to fix it. It's going to my friend Christie in Florida. I am posting this before I send it with the assumption that a 4th year dental student probably doesn't have time to check her dorky friend's craft blog.

I have been working on hand quilting a baby blanket for a few weeks now and I just need to buckle down and get it done! I also have another African themed cross-stitch that is nearing completion! More to come soon.....