Friday, June 11, 2010

Confessions of a Seamstress

So last night I came home from work and decided to be productive and start a few projects for our upcoming show. I picked out a few patterns and started in on the hardest part for me -- deciding on the fabric. You know when you go to a specialty fabric store and you find wonderful fabric, expensive, but wonderful and you buy it not knowing yet what to do with it? Well that was Mom and me on our mountain trip in Asheville. We bought great fabric but its been sitting on my shelf looking pretty for a month! Every time I pick it up I think to myself, "No, not this pattern. I should wait to use this for something grand."

Well guess what, that fabric won't ever come to life if I keep putting it back on the shelf. So I decided to get it all down today and start cutting away! Seamstress reasoning of course. If I don't use it up I won't have a good excuse to go fabric shopping again! Who's with me?

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Cute Little Japanese Purse






This little wristlet was quick and easy to make and it only requires one fat quarter. Take the long strap and weave it under the short strap and voila! a wristlet large enough to carry your cell phone, keys, a picture id and even lip gloss if you like. I watched the tutorial on YouTube then went to Fiona's site, fatquarterfun.com.au. Her tutorial is easy to follow and the pattern is FREE. When you get there be sure to peruse her fabrics and note you can purchase a FQ for charity, too. So cute and great for times you don't need to drag your larger bag around. I really like this one!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

My first attempt at free motion quilting!




I just love my new little bag. It's about 6"X8" tall. It's my first attempt at free motion quilting and I am HOOKED! I had several pieces of batik fat qtrs and didn't quite know what to do with them, so I put three layers together, lining, batting and exterior piece, changed the foot on my sewing machine and away I went.....It was really a lot of fun and mistakes, no worry.......there are NO MISTAKES IN ART!! The pix show front and back and it became even prettier with the embellishments that I hand sewed randomly. The colors are fabulous! You should try it out for yourself. I know you'll love the technique as much as I do.

Crochet Hook Caddy







Look how cute this turned out! The pattern is FREE from a download at Quiltingarts.com. Theirs was for a 12 pocket colored pencil roll, but I made mine for crochet hooks. Easy to do and quicker to make than I thought it would be. I love it and will no longer need to worry about losing my hooks in my yarn bag. If you would like me to make you one, let me know. I've got lots of fabric colors to work with.

Dew Drop Handbag!


I just finished this today! I bought the pattern on etsy from Keyka Lou Patterns. I also follow her blog which has some fun projects and tutorials. I made this handbag from my favorite owl fabric and matching pink for the liner. It was a lot of fun to make! I think the next one I'll do will be in Moda Blush. I'm going to add a magnetic snap at the handle as well to keep it closed. Let me know if you want one!

-Christina

Friday, June 4, 2010

Imagine That...grrr!!

Okay...so Christina told me all about the Blog and at first I was like...ummmm...no. But now that I've got all my little fun projects going on and I've dusted off my old camera, I'm excited to post the things that I'm doing and take pics of my progress.

EXCEPT...now I can't find the freakin' cord to upload the pics from my camera to my computer. I've searched high and low...in all of Greg's boxes and boxes and boxes of cords and cables and still nothing! Who wants to make a post without a fun picture (hence the bestbuy logo...smiles!) Therefore...unfortunately I have to wait until tomorrow to make a trip to Best Buy after work to pick up an xD-picture card reader.

All that being said, I just couldn't go to bed without posting something...even if I am venting...just a bit. I'm sure you will find in time that I may tend to rant about things...sometimes, well...lets be honest...sometimes often. :)

Alrighty...my heart is finally content with just this little baby post...just wait until I have my card reader!
night all! - nat

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Bugg's Island Adventure



For Memorial Day weekend Michael and I went to Bugg's Island on Kerr Lake in VA. His family has owned a place out there since he was little. We went fishing, my new hobby, but the fish were hiding from us! We only caught a few and threw them all back. While fishing in a little cove two deer came out to visit. I love nature!

- Christina