Category Archives: sewing

And Where Have You Been?

Posted on November 12, 2009 by ginabean • 2 Comments
Is it me, or does time just seem to be flying by these days? Where are all of my days going? It seems like I blinked and all the sudden another year is almost gone.

Some major sewing and quilting has been going on around here. Last Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday I was lucky enough to spend time with some really great ladies at a quilting retreat at Black Mountain, NC. Talk about inspiring! It seemed like every few minutes someone was finishing up a beautiful quilt. The made me feel so inadequate. I worked all weekend and hardly got a quilt put together. It seems that focusing became kind of a problem for me. I had a hard time deciding what to take to work on, but I settled on a Christmas Jellyroll I bought last year. I still have the borders to put on it and I hope to do that tomorrow. I am eager to get it done before the holidays are here. As you can see from my table, I have a few quilt projects I’m juggling. I would also like to make the Advent Calendar quilt by Oh Fransson! on the Sew, Mama, Sew blog. I spent last night machine embroidering the numbers on my squares. The original has appliqued numbers, which look much better than mine, but I just don’t see applique happening for me at this point. Especially if I plan on getting it done this Christmas. I don’t know about you guys, but I am already thinking about holiday baking. Working on all these Christmas quilts has really put me in the mood to make cookies and fudge and all those sugary, fatty things I love this time of year. Usually I restrain myself from baking until after Thanksgiving, at least, but I feel the urge to bake now.

I also feel the urge to make a ton of fab things from this book that was waiting for me when I got back from the retreat. 101 things to make using 1 yard of fabric. What could be better! I have already made the origami inspired box, but I’m on the fence about weather it to show it to you guys. Let’s just say that it’s not my best work.

It’s flu shots for the whole family tomorrow. Well, for me and hubby, at least. Fletcher gets the FluMist. Lucky kid. Then it’s off to the mountains for a little family time and for the hubby’s continuing quest to get what we refer to as “monsterbuck.com”. Have a good weekend everybody.

* I found an error in the tutorial*

If you printed it out before yesterday, it should say to cut one of your 7″X 13″ pieces of Peltex down to 6″ X 13″ to use on the exterior bottom.

It is now corrected on the pattern.

Filed Under: life, quilts, sewing

Sewing Caddy Tutorial

Posted on November 3, 2009 by ginabean • 11 Comments
I know I promised a tutorial on this sewing caddy a few months ago and you have yet to see it, but I got on the ball this week and I finally got it done. YEAH! Better late than never, right? This is my first attempt at an in depth tutorial, so bear with me. If you have any questions about my directions, just email me and I”ll help you out. Also, if you find any errors, email me and I’ll fix them. (I asked my husband to proof read it for me, but that is like me proofing instructions on fixing a car. Not gonna work.) So, to get the tutorial, just click on the tutorial link on the side bar of the blog. (I’m not smart enough to figure out how to publish it and link it yet.)
Okay, so I’m not smart enough to figure out how to link it on the sidebar either. So until I do, you can email me and I will send you a tutorial in Word. Any advise on how to link a Word Doc to a blog would be much appreciated. So complicated!
(I was so proud of myself too for getting the tutorial done. Oh well. Just a minor set back. I’ll get it together.)
Filed Under: sewing, tutorial

What up?

Posted on November 2, 2009 by ginabean • 3 Comments
Well, my posts seem to be few and far between here lately. So much has been going on and at the same time nothing much. After market was over I was a little burned out and then everybody around here got sick. Everybody is better now, but to tell you the truth, I have really not felt much like sewing lately. I just can’t seem to get motivated to head to the basement and turn on the sewing machine. It is not for lack of things to sew. Believe me, I have plenty to get done, I just don’t feel like doing it. I would rather be with this cute little fireman. This was the first year I didn’t make his costume. I felt bad about it, but he didn’t mind one bit.
Anthony helped carve the Jack O’lantern. Fletcher was supervisor. He inspected his daddy’s work very closely and we all agreed he did a good job.

I did briefly bring the sewing machine upstairs to work on the quilt for my disappearing 9-patch class. I am so excited about this class, because the ladies in the class are so excited. They are doing a great job on there quilts and they are inspiring.

I have been trying to keep this house clean. I will never understand how one man and one little boy can create so much laundry. Seriously!?! I feel like all I do is laundry. Did I mention how much I hate to fold laundry. It’s out of control.

We went to the mountains over the weekend and I did manage to get quite a bit done on the niece’s Christmas stocking. It is amazing what you can get done when you have no cell phone, no television and no computer. I have this stocking to finish and one more to make for my other niece before Christmas.
This weekend I am going on a quilt retreat to Black Mountain, NC which I am excited about. I had so much fun last time I went. I just need to decide what to take to work on. We’ll see.
Now I am headed to pick Fletcher up from preschool and see if there is any hope into bribing him into getting a haircut. He hates haircuts, so it’s a struggle. Wish me luck.

Filed Under: family, knitting, life, sewing

Sweetness

Posted on October 1, 2009 by ginabean • 2 Comments
I wanted to share with you all (or as we here in the south say, ya”ll) a picture of my sweet little niece. The weather is turning cooler here and my sister was able to put her in the little sweater I knitted for her. Move over Gerber Baby!
I have been busy this week getting projects on my to do list checked off before I start my 2 week adventure helping set up the Guildmaster Showroom for furniture market. I have really gotten so much done. That being said, I still have so much yet to do. Neverending, isn’t it! (nature of creative people, I think)
One thing that got checked off was this little bag I made for my friend’s little girl. She is taking dance lessons and needed a bag for the ballet shoes. I think this will work. If not, maybe she can put her barbie dolls in it.
Filed Under: knitting, sewing

Tutorial: Matching Pattern Repeats

Posted on September 30, 2009 by ginabean • 4 Comments
I have been making a lot of draperies lately and I thought I would share my quick, easy way to match up pattern repeats perfectly, NO pins required. Seriously, no pins.
Lay the fabric panels to be matched parallel to each other.
Fold the fabric panel closest to you back.

Press the salvage edge up about 1″.

Fold the fabric panel you just press back up to meet the other panel.

Match up the pattern.

Fold the panel closest to you back again and run a thin bead of fabric glue along the salvage fold.

Fold the fabric back to meet the other panel and match up the pattern. Press with the hot iron to “set” the glue.

Open fabric up and run a stitch along the fold line you created when you pressed the salvage .

Open your fabric up to reveal perfectly matched pattern repeats.

Now, go try it!

Filed Under: sewing, tutorial

Get’er Done

Posted on September 28, 2009 by ginabean • 4 Comments
I told you it was going to be a busy weekend of sewing and now I’m going to prove it. I somewhat stayed focused and I got quite a bit done:
Pair of Drapes = Done
Sheer Door Treatment = Done
Embroidery for my friends quilt for her church = Done
2nd Baxter quilt top = Done
Start Disappearing 9-Patch for class = Done
Quilt Strippy quilt = Done
Binding on Strippy quilt = Done (just have to sew it down now)

Start Knitting Christmas Stocking for my niece = Done (That’s right, I said knitting. It’s been a while, but I can knit, too.)

And in the middle of this sewing frenzy, I was even able to spend some quality time with my fellas. Imagine what I could get done if I stayed completely focused.
This week is starting off no different from the weekend. I still have plenty of things on my list to check off and I am hoping to get as much done this week as I did over the weekend. I feel like it is going to be a good week.

Also, if you read my blog, you are aware of my sweet tea addiction. Well, Thursday is October the 1st and I’m thinking that that would be a pretty good day to go cold turkey. Yes, I’m putting it out there. October One, I’m off the juice. I was thinking that by announcing it on my blog, you guys could help keep me honest. Sound good? Sounds good! (side note: does this just sound completely insane of me to seriously state that I am addicted to sweet tea of all things and enlist the help of a “support group”? Yes, I believe so.)

Filed Under: life, quilts, sewing

Oh My Wonky Stars

Posted on September 26, 2009 by ginabean • 6 Comments
Well, here it is. The Wonky Stars quilt I made for Fletcher. The fabric is Robots. I backed it with a soft flannel and quilted it with some loopy lines and stars. He really likes it. He did give up 2 of the blankets he sleeps with for this quilt. I love to see him all cuddled up with this quilt as he sleeps. Melts my heart.
It is a sewing weekend for me. I have a lot to get done before I start working furniture market, but I have a game plan and I am going to try to stay focused.
Filed Under: quilts, sewing

I’m Over It

Posted on September 23, 2009 by ginabean • 3 Comments
So yesterday was bananas and I had a little micro meltdown, but today I’m over it and back on track. I have accomplished a lot of sewing in the last week or two, but I have not had time to post about it. This is a “mini Marlo” I made for my friends little neighbor. Isn’t it cute! It’s the Marlo Bloom pattern reduced about 20% and it is the perfect size for a little girl. I have also completed the Wonky Star quilt that I was making for Fletcher and as soon as I take photos of it, I’ll get it posted for you all to see. Also, I haven’t forgotten about the sewing caddy tutorial, but I have not had time to put one together. As soon as I get a chance, I will. I put some notes together about it, but heck if I can find what I did with them. (It might just be later than sooner.)
Filed Under: patterns, purses, sewing

Results

Posted on September 14, 2009 by ginabean • 6 Comments

The result of my weekend sewing. 48 Blocks. All ready to be sewn together into a quilt. Can’t wait.

Filed Under: quilts, sewing

Ahhh… Fall!

Posted on August 26, 2009 by ginabean • 1 Comment
School is starting, the weather will be getting cooler soon and I suddenly have a intense urge to make things like soup, apple cake and warm, cozy quilts. That can only mean one thing. It’s almost September and fall is on its way. Fall is my favorite season for all of the above mentioned reasons and it makes me want to make everything in the beautiful, rich colors of the season.
I got this fabric at one of my favorite LFS, Knit One Smock Too. I think I might have make some more things out of this fabric. It would be beautiful in a quilt.

I think after the last post that a tutorial would be in order so I better get started putting one together. Keep checking back, I’ll try to get one done soon.

Filed Under: fabric, purses, sewing