Not Stitched In Time

Its the first. Which means it is time for another Crafty Daisy Book Club discussion. Our book this time is Alicia Paulson’s Stitched In Time. This was one of my suggested books because I already had it on my bookshelf and had been meaning to find some time to do a project from it. Alicia is a fellow Portland crafter (Yay!) and actually lives in my neighborhood which was one of the main reasons I purchased the book. To be honest, I’m not sure I would have otherwise. My first flip through I was excited by the photo of a small child’s blouse and another photo of a child’s vintage looking dress. Unfortunately they were for display only. Disappointed, I started a more careful peruse to see what project I wanted to do.

I Was Featured!

What a lovely present to come home to. My quilt was featured on Kireei, a Spanish site that showcases crafts, home decor, photography, and the like. So flattering! Of course, I don’t speak a lick of Spanish so I can’t read the actual post. Oh well! Still a sweet ending to a relaxing vacation at the beach.

Speaking of ending, my Remember Your First? giveaway is still happening. You’ve got until tomorrow, so don’t miss out!

Sunset on the beach in Pacific City, Oregon

Remember Your First?

In honor of my first quilt, I’ve decided to do a giveaway. I’m not sure what exactly the prize will be yet, but I promise it will be something good! To get in on the fun just leave a link to a picture of your first quilt or quilting project. If you’ve never taken the leap but are planning on it, you can still enter to win by leaving a link to a quilt you’ve been thinking of trying or a quilting tutorial you’ve been eyeing.

I’m going to the Coast for a long weekend (THANK GOODNESS!) and will be back on Tuesday, so I’ll let it run until Tuesday the 29th, midnight PST and will announce the winner on Wednesday. I’m really excited to see everyone’s work! Have a great weekend!!

*Comments are closed. Thanks for sharing everybody!! I’ll post the winner tomorrow.

My First Quilt Thingy!

Well  it’s not perfect, but… what a journey I’m on. If you’d have told me in January that I would make a quilt this year I probably would have laughed. Here it is though and I am so thrilled with it, wrinkles and puckers and all.

I used Lizzie House Ducks for the back and Forest as the focus

Inspiration Wednesday – Craft Hope

Dust off your sewing machine and your crochet and knitting needles. It is project 3 time for Craft Hope and this time they are headed to India. Partnered with the Miracle Foundation, Craft Hope will be traveling in August to Bhawani, Rourkela and Sooch Village to deliver handmade blankets, booties, and hats to orphans in need. Now they just need the items. This is where we come in. I’ve signed up to help and I’m reaching out to you to do the same. Your handmade contribution doesn’t have to be perfect, I know a lot of us are beginners here, it just has to be made with love.

The blankets, booties and beanies can be knit, crocheted or sewn and you can choose to make any one of the items or all three. If you are interested, please comment here and sign yourself up. The deadline for project 3 is July 25 (my birthday!). And if you’re looking for patterns or have some to share, please go here. These kids have had it tough, they deserve the best we can give them. Craft Hope is crossing borders to make a difference, spreading seeds of hope one stitch at a time.

Kitschy Coo Review – Four Way Reverisble Swing Top pattern and tutorial

I ordered one of Amanda’s 4 Way Reversible Swing Top pattern and tutorials a couple of months ago from her Etsy shop Kitschy Coo Kids and finally found time to try it last week. The pattern was drawn on nice, thick butcher’s paper and although one of the pieces was mislabeled it was pretty easy to figure out what was what. Plus, Amanda was quick to answer any questions I had. I contacted her through Twitter, but I’m sure she’d be responsive through her shop or blog as well.

The tutorial is printed out on the front and back of 4 pieces of computer paper and has 17 process pictures. Most of the steps were easy to follow. Toward the middle, when it is explaining how to seam the sides of the shirt, things got a bit muddled for me. The pattern instructs to pin the inside fabric and to leave the outside fabric loose as you sew the side seam together. I found the mechanics of this hard to understand and the loose hanging fabric a sewing accident waiting to happen. I simply pinned inner fabric to inner fabric and outer to outer until I had a tube, then sewed it like a pant leg or shirt sleeve. Figuring this out was a bit frustrating for this beginning sewer at 11 pm in the almost pitch black hole I call a craft room. I ended up leaving it for the night and coming back fresh the next afternoon during nap time. In the light of day it was a breeze.

My button holes ended up kind of funky as well. I should have looked more closely at the pictures online. When I made this top for Q I also made one for PZ, but the buttons ended up even stranger for that one and so I’m turning it into a double breasted top. I know it is going to look fabulous. *Don’t worry! I’ll post pictures as soon as I’m done. I hope during nap time today.

Even with those few kinks I must say I’m pretty happy with the final product. Amanda said she is hoping to start sending her patterns to get printed professionally which I think should really help. I’m planning on ordering more of her patterns soon. I like both her Tunic pattern and am excited for when the Smocky Top is written up. I think she is a great designer and I bet with a bit more tinkering her patterns and tutorials will reflect that.

When I purchased this top I also got the Double Breasted Reversible Coat pattern and tutorial which I’m very excited about for fall and I happened to have been a winner during one of her giveaways (Yay!) for her Boy’s Single Breasted Coat pattern and tutorial. So stay tuned! You’ll definitely be hearing more about Kitschy Coo patterns here in the future.

In case you are wondering about the fabric, I got the Matryoshka Dot fabric from Cool Cottons, (but you can get it at Superbuzzy)and the 30′s reproduction fabric is RJR’s 2006 Everything But the Kitchen Sink. I got it from Fabric Depot a couple of years ago. The buttons came from the button jar my mom sent me this winter. She’d been collecting them forever. PZ loves sorting through them. (Thanks Mom!) I should also send a shout out to Yancey who was a sweetheart and got me the early birthday present of a new ironing board. I’d been using one of those tiny table top numbers, but now I have a brand new baby. It is HUGE and adjustable, with a place for me to sit the iron and hang the clothes underneath. So cool!! Thanks Yancey!

Monday Must Have – Ocean Dreaming

We’re off to the Oregon Coast on Friday. I’ve got ocean waves, sandy toes, saltwater taffy, and good times on my mind. I’ve also got a picnic blanket to finish, a dress for PZ that needs some more buttons/button holes added, a doll and birthday banner for Q to start, and if I can get all that done hopefully another wrap skirt for myself all before Friday. Ack! I have no idea how you guys find time to sew for sell and for yourselves.

Friday Fabric Show

As you all know Bee Square Fabric is almost out of business. For those who didn’t know, hurry! There are still a few patterns left! I took full advantage after reading about their huge sale on True Up. I got some Garden Flowers and Happy Bees,

Inspiration Wednesday – Two Father’s Day Ideas

Inside: To the greatest Dad I ever SAW!

Father’s Day is almost here. If you are still looking for a way to help the kids show Dad some love, try one of these sweet cards. Gail Bartel, that artist woman, shows us how to make the great saw card above. It is sure to be fun for the kids to make and a guaranteed smile from any tool toting Dad.

Ship Ahoy! Father's Day Card

Aarr! Me Matey! Joan Gorman shows us how to make these sail worthy cards on her blog, Nina Makes. Made out of cereal box and fabric scraps, seeing Dad’s smile and your children’s pride at making such a cool gift will be a true pirates treasure. Happy Father’s Day!

Must Make Monday – It’s Summer, Tutes!

We picked a ton of strawberries this weekend during our visit to Kruger’s Farm. I made a Strawberry Rhubarb pie from Smitten Kitchen that is divine. Yum! Next Saturday is the equinox folks. The true beginning of summer. So get out your flip flops, pour yourself some lemonade or better yet some strawberry lemonade slushie, and get ready to relax into some of these great summer tutorials. It’s summer, tutes!

Women’s!

1. Lee Meredith‘s How To Make a Two-Color A-Line Tee Skirt tutorial from Craftstylish.

2. Cal Patch‘s How To Make a One-Pattern-Piece Reversible Sun Hat from Craftsylish.

3. Auborn Studio‘s Felt Strawberry tutorial at Mr. Monkeysuit.

4. Mayaluna’s Summer Dreams Pillow Case Dress tutorial from maya*made.

5.Rachel’s Ruffly Headband tutorial at Heart of Light.

6. Beth’s Two Hour Dress/Tunic tutorial at Lula Louis.

7. LauPre‘s Easy Breezy Wrap Pant tutorial.

8. Ashley’s Getting Ready for Summer Beach Bag tutorial at Film in the Fridge.

9. Autumn’s Perfectly Portable Cushion tutorial at Sew, Mama, Sew!.