Swapping and Skirts

I'm joining in on a Candle Mat Swap with the Quilting Gallery! I know, I know, it's not like I don't have enough projects to keep me busy but I've really been wanting to get involved in a swap. I'm very excited about it 'cause this will be my first one! The candle mat/mini quilt looks very simple to make, we will all be using the same pattern just different fabrics according to our partners wishes.

On another note I got a custom order for a Fun and Comfy Skirt! I'm first making a muslin to make sure it's what the customer would like. She wants something for excercising that will stay modest so I'm making it with sewn in leggings that will be an inch or so shorter than the length of the skirt.

Yes and make sure to avert your eyes to all that surrounds the dress form! ;)

And BTW the Mom loved the ties for her little guy!

Finally Finished Friday!

Welcome to the second installment of FINALLY FINISHED FRIDAY!! =)

I finally finished off more listings for the shop. I've had these cut out for quite some time just hadn't sewn them together until this week.

First off is the Posh Pillowcase! I love it! It's so pretty! I think 2 of my kids loved it too. When I tried getting a photo of it the baby kept following me around ready to lay down on it whenever he had the chance! lol It has definitely been comfort tested and baby approved. Then while taking the photos my oldest daughter asked, "Does everyone in the world have a pillowcase?". "Why?", I asked. "Well I need a new pillowcase.", she said, as in *hint hint* give this one to me Mom! lol Unbeknownst to her though a Personalized Posh Pillowcase will be under the tree this Christmas.


I also got 3 more Crayon Wallets made for the shop. Actually 2 more because one was giving me such a hard time I decided to keep it and use it for a reward for my oldest (since she's been wanting one of these too) when school starts.

Ok I know this isn't technically 'finished' yet but they'll be done on Friday since I'm writing this post on Thursday night. These are 4 Little Guy Ties that I'll be giving as a bday gift this Saturday for a friends baby who's turning 1. Now for those that are thinking "ties as a birthday present?!" They were Mom requested. She just doesn't know the colors. I asked her what colors she likes on her son and she mentioned green and orange. I thought the black would be a good neutral and since Christmas is coming soon I had to make a red one!

And last but definitely not least is the one I'm most excited about! I finally made myself some labels! I love, love, love how they look! They were so easy to make. Just some cotton twill tape and iron on transfer paper. I was very happy that my printer decided to print in color (it has been giving me fits lately) because I LOVE blue. =) Now if only I could remember to add my labels to my product while I'm making them!


Well, that's about it for this Finally Finished Friday. I'm trying to slowly fill up the shop, now if only someone(s) would start emptying it! lol On my to do list is getting business cards made. I met 2 ladies tonight that were very interested but all I had to give them was scrap paper with my name and web address scribbled out. Nice. =/

Anything you've finally finished?

Finally Finished Friday

Today on our agenda was prepping the baby's room for painting but inbetween scraping and sanding I was able to sneak in a little sewing time! With a million things on my 'to sew' list I wanted to get something done for my mini quilt wall in the living room. There aren't any mini quilts on it yet that's why I'm so anxious to get something made for it.

Here was my inspiration to start a quilt wall in my living room.


I chose the 1800's Vintage Doll Quilt on the Moda Bake Shop Website because all it called for was one charm pack and some ivory fabric for the sashing(?). I already had an American Primer charm pack that I got 1/2 off at my local fabric shop a long while ago and a bunch of ivory fabric on my shelf. I started on this quilt earlier in the week.

This was very fun and simple to put together! However the instructions are a tad bit off. You need 18 dark light dark strips to make 70 subcuts and 13 light dark light strips for 49 subcuts. Once you're done putting the whole thing together it looks like it was a lot of work piecing all those tiny little squares but following their instructions with chain piecing makes it so easy.



After finishing all of my 9 patches I was ready to pull out my seam ripper to fix some of the patches that weren't lined up correctly. Then I remembered something I read on A Few Scraps "Done is better than perfect." So I said goodbye to my seam ripper and kept on going! (Actually I had to pull out my seam ripper once or twice for more extreme mistakes such as sewing the wrong blocks together).

I pieced the whole top together this evening and with it pressed it looks so lovely! All that's left is to quilt it and bind it. I would really like to quilt this myself and I'm thinking a stippling pattern would be good for this one. I'm gonna have to practice my stippling a bit more though before I attempt it on this one. My stipples aren't smooth at all they look "unnatural". lol If you have an idea for a quilting design for this quilt I'm all ears (or should I say 'eyes' since we're online?).



I already know where this will be hung in the living room but right now it's decorating my entry way table. Now I've got 2 quilt tops decorating my house. lol I need to get them both quilted quickly or quickly quilted. (Ok it's getting late lol)

I hope to start having regular "Finally Finished Friday" posts. We'll see how that goes though. =) I'll have to pull out all the stops for next Friday since we'll be gone (again) at the beginning of the week. This is the last trip until December. It'll be nice to be home for awhile.

Have a great weekend, Everyone!

Patchwork Cards and Quilting

I made some cards the other day using this tutorial from Pioneer Valley Girl.

They were very simple to make and they are great for gifts!



I also worked on the 1800's Vintage Quilt from the Moda Bake Shop. I'm using an American Primer Charm pack and you don't even need to cut every charm square. I might make some new potholders for my kitchen with the leftover charms and pieces.



I'm starting to think about Christmas gifts for the kids and since they definitely don't need anymore toys or clothing I'm going outside the norm. This year on the gift lists are personalized bath towels, Pretty pillowcases and pillows, and whatever else I can think of to make. lol I need to get started since I've got 4 of them to sew for! Trying to think of what to get my husband for Christmas as well. It's always so hard to shop for him. Any ideas?

Free Motion Quilting

I finished my extremely ugly quilt top for the Free Motion Quilt Along at A Few Scraps. After I finished it and posted a picture in the flickr group I realized I put it together wrong! lol Oh well, since it's for learning how to free motion quilt I didn't even attempt to pull out my seam ripper.

I also put together a couple of 12"x18" practice quilt sandwiches and did my first attempt at free motion quilting.

I'll mostly be working on quilts and stuff for the shop this month. The kids have been completely outfitted with lots of new clothes from grandparents that there's no need for me to make them anything. =(

What do you have in store to make for this month?

Patterns :: Designer :: Amy Butler :: Sandlewood Jacket - Welcome to Above All Fabric

I definitely need to get this Sandalwood Jacket by Amy Butler pattern for my next "for me" project! The weather here is never extreme so it would be a great jacket I could wear!

Simplicity 3842 with Upgrades!

Remember this pattern:
And this fabric:

I combined them to make this top!

Ok, so I wasn't able to use the Diamond Mine fabric but I've got enough of it to make myself a purse to go with this outfit!! WOOHOO! lol That'll be in 2 weeks though.

This was a very easy pattern to follow and make. I did have to make a couple of "upgrades" though. lol The first change was a major one; the sleeves. I mean look at that pattern picture, they look like sausages or something! I envisioned for my top beautiful, flowy sleeves. It took me the better part of an hour learning how to make the changes necessary to the pattern to remove the gathers and change the shape. But they do look lovely! The second change was just not making the inset for the front. Since I had to wear a camisole for this top anyway I thought I might as well skip it.

One change I wish I would have made is the tunic bottom. I should have made it 1 size larger to give me slightly more ease. Other than that the top is perfect!

I decided to add this lace trim to the front after finding it in a large bag of notions I scored from a garage sale. I think it really finishes off the front of the tunic.

Here is a pic of the inside looking oh so lovely with french seams and all! Since this top was unlined I decided it needed a nice inside finish. It was my first time doing them and it does take longer with the extra step but it is so worth it!

You also get a peek at the bias binding that finished off the V neck. I didn't realize I needed it (I should have read the pattern thoroughly) but was lucky to also find this in my big bag of notions.

Working with this fabric was a dream! If you haven't tried sewing with Anna Maria Horner's Voile line I highly recommend you do so especially if you like to make yourself lovely clothes! It was so soft but not slippery. Very easy to sew with.

This top is going to be perfect for my trip to the hot and humid midwest next week.