Category Archives: sewing

Snowed In

Posted on February 1, 2010 by ginabean • 5 Comments

If you know me, then you know that when it snows… I do NOT leave the house. I do not go anywhere! I stay home and camp out for the duration. And being that I am home, I am taking full advantage of that and getting lots of sewing done. I finally got the Love quilt quilted and bound. It is ALL finished and the hubby nicely held it up in our snowy front yard so I could take a picture. Good man! I am going to continue to work through my UFO list and get some more things made today. Happy sewing, everyone!

Filed Under: quilts, sewing

New Purse Pattern

Posted on January 24, 2010 by ginabean • 2 Comments
If you haven’t seen them, Pat Bravo has come out with some new purse patterns. I ordered one a couple of weeks ago and this weekend I got to put one together. This is the Verona pattern. I think her patterns are great. They were easy to follow, and she really spells every step out, so it is a perfect pattern for beginners.

I haven’t made any progress in getting the 9-patch I made at the first of the year and the Love quilt quilted. I did get the borders put on the Love quilt, but I was lazy about getting a picture of it. Finally, today I got my husband to hold it up for me. The lighting in the basement doesn’t do much for the quilt.(It’s been raining all day here, so I couldn’t take my usual outside pictures.) I’m not loving the border fabric I choose, but it is what it is, I guess. I wish I had used fabric with more of the aqua color in it instead. That’s what happens when you don’t take your quilt with you to the fabric store to pick out borders. Maybe this week I will get at least one of these quilts done. (Not making any promises, though. I’ve been kind of lazy lately.) I have several projects on my “to do” list besides the 2 quilts. I would like to make a couple of gumdrop pillows for the living room. I also got fabric in December to make some pajamas and I would like to get those done, too. I am always thinking about the next quilt to start, of course. I have a couple that were started last year and never finished. I should be a good girl and get those finished before I start another. (In a perfect world.) My great, great Aunt called yesterday. She received the quilt I made her in the mail and she was so excited. I could tell how much she appreciated it and that made my day! It makes you feel good when you can tell someone really enjoys getting a “handmade gift”. (Not everyone does.) Let’s see, what else… Oh, I have really been working hard on my applique quilt. It has only taken a solid year +, but I finally got the main part put together. Yes, I said year. Don’t judge. Now I have to work on the border, which in theory sound simple. Like, “yeah, I just have the border left and I’m finished.” But not THIS border. I’m pretty sure it will take me another year just to do the appliqued border. Ahhh… applique. What was I thinking? I let a friend borrow it, so as soon as I get it back, I’ll post some pictures of it so you can all be amazed at my awesomeness. (hee, hee)
And finally, I just have one thing left to say, “Brett” .
Filed Under: fabric, patterns, purses, quilts, sewing

For My Friends

Posted on January 19, 2010 by ginabean • 5 Comments
It was a big sewing weekend. I made these cute little fabric baskets using this tutorial for my friends. I am really into using linen lately. I just love the look. I also used some new stamps and fabric ink to embellish the baskets. I also managed to get the borders put on my Love quilt yesterday, but I haven’t gotten pictures of it yet to share with you.
My friend and I have been walking in the mornings since November. (We got a head start on our New Years Resolution) We have talked about starting Weight Watchers and yesterday was the day. I went to the grocery store and stocked up on healthy foods and I bypassed my usual trip to McDonald’s for a sweet tea. Can I just tell you how bad I feel today. Coming off caffeine is a wicked thing!!! I know it will be worth it in so many ways to kick the caffeine habit and start eating healthy, but right now it feels pretty crappy. I actually think that my body is rejecting healthy eating. (not kidding) So, I tell you this because I am sure that there are others that struggle with their weight and eating and to let you know, I feel your pain! If only we could figure out a way to burn calories as we sew!
Filed Under: life, sewing

A Little Weekend Sewing

Posted on January 16, 2010 by ginabean • 6 Comments

Remember all those 2.5″ strips of Love I cut up last week? Well, I got them sewn together today. Yeah!! I also picked up the border fabric today, soooo… maybe tomorrow I can get them put on. I am using the same pattern I used to make this quilt. Three borders, yikes. My hubbers says it is a “crazy” looking quilt, but I’m kinda crushin’ on it. All the bright colors make me happy. This is totally random, but I am watching a movie as I’m posting this with John Cusack in it. Why is John Cusack just so darn cute? Love him.
Filed Under: fabric, patterns, quilts, sewing

Love, Baby Girls and Super Boys

Posted on January 8, 2010 by ginabean • 5 Comments
Love, as in Amy Butler’s new fabric line. I picked some up at Karen Gray Design and I’m ready to get started making something with it.
I got it all cut out.

And now all of my 2.5″ strips are sitting there, waiting for me to make them into something.
Super boys, as in my super boy! He has really done so good this week sleeping in his bed all by himself. The first couple of days were rough, but he is doing great now. He gets to go to a friend’s birthday party on Sunday. I never know what to get kids, even though I have one. I stand in the aisle at the toy store and just stare. I decided that I was just going to make something, so I made his friend a superhero cape using this pattern and a matching t-shirt.
As a bonus, Fletcher got one too.

And these are my baby girls, Remmy and Skeet. Such cuties!

Filed Under: fabric, family, patterns, sewing

I Heart Handmade

Posted on December 23, 2009 by ginabean • 2 Comments
It’s gifting time and I love making handmade gifts. I have two special friends that got these.
A cover for their featherweights…

and labels.
The pattern for the sewing machine cover came from a new book, I Heart Patchwork. It is worth every penny. It has some beautiful projects in it. Mine is full of pages marked with post-its of things I want to make.

And I have a cute little niece that is going to get a little puppy made from Heather Bailey’s new Nicey Jane fabric. I know a cute little boy that wants one now, too.

Filed Under: patterns, sewing

Snowday = Sewday!

Posted on December 20, 2009 by ginabean • 5 Comments
It might be snowy outside, but inside it is all sewing! I have been so covered up making things for others that it feels like it has been ages since I quilted. But this weekend, it was like all the stars aligned and created a perfect storm for sewing. It snowed and I was stuck in the house, I finished up all my sewing for customers, and I have this beautiful fabric waiting to be made into something. Perfect.
I also finally got the last Christmas stocking made. I finished it up last night and not a moment too soon. My parents are going to deliver it to my niece today. This will make the 18th Christmas stocking I’ve completed for my family. My aunt made stockings for the whole family when I was little. Over the years it has become harder for her to keep up with all the additions to the family, so I learned to knit specifically to carry on the tradition for our family. With every marriage and birth, there comes a stocking. It is sometimes difficult to get motivated to keep making them, but my mom doesn’t ask for much and I know how important this tradition is to her, so I’m glad to carry it on. I also know that hanging my son’s, husband’s and my stocking is one of my favorite things at Christmas and hopefully it is for the family I’ve made them for.

Filed Under: family, knitting, sewing

Jammies

Posted on November 23, 2009 by ginabean • 5 Comments
I did manage to move my booty off the sofa yesterday and be a little productive. I made Fletch some new jammies. I got some of the new super soft flannel from Anna Maria and used the Favorite Things Sleep Well pattern.
I also embroidered a little shirt to go with all the little deer on the fabric. I have plans to make some for myself. What could be better than flannel PJ’s!

Filed Under: sewing

Checkin’ Things Off My "To Do" List

Posted on November 21, 2009 by ginabean • 3 Comments
I’m getting things done around here. I’m like a dag’um machine. I got the blocks all trimmed up and put together for the Advent Calendar. I made a little mistake on it, but if you can’t tell where the mistake is, then I’m certainly not telling. Next, it needs to be quilted and the binding put on. I have, of course, made plans to do more things tomorrow then there is time, but quilting this is on my list. It could happen. I would like to get it checked off the list.
Check out these fab-bo fabrics. I picked them up at Karen Gray Design. I have been wanting to make a Red and Aqua quilt for a while now, so I thought I would start a little stash building.
Who knows what exactly the pattern will be or when this one will ever be made, but I’m kinda crushing on this quilt right now. This quilt is also a good possibility.

I put the last stitch in the binding on the Merry and Bright Christmas Quilt about an hour ago. It is in the dryer as we speak. I can’t wait to get that warm bundle of crinkly goodness out of the dryer. Ohhh, that’s my favorite part of the whole quilt making process. Love it.

I hope to get some good pictures of it tomorrow to share with you. It is supposed to be rainy and cold here tomorrow, so getting good pics could be problematic, but it is certainly perfect weather for a day of sewing.
Filed Under: fabric, quilts, sewing

Slacker

Posted on November 20, 2009 by ginabean • 3 Comments
I have really been slack about posting on my blog lately, but it is only because I have really been busting things out in the sewing department. I got the borders put on the Christmas Quilt I was telling you about. I even got it quilted and the binding sewn on. The only thing left to do is to sew down the binding by hand. (Which I really enjoy doing, by-the-way.) I’ll be working on doing that in the evenings. I’ll have some better pictures of it when I get the binding all done. I made the quilt using a Merry and Bright jellyroll from Moda which I bought last year.
I have really gotten far on the Sew, Mama, Sew! Advent Calendar Quilt, too. I have all the blocks done. They are ready to be trimmed and sewn together. My goal is to work on that today and hopefully have it ready to be quilted by the end of the weekend.

I still have to finish the two knit stockings I am making for my nieces before Christmas gets here. Actually, I have to finish one, which is just about done and completely start on the second. I think someone told me yesterday it is five weeks away. Surely that can’t be right! Christmas can’t be that close. I haven’t even thought about what to do about Christmas shopping. Ahhhh.

Filed Under: quilts, sewing