Sunday, May 23, 2010

Madison Bag!

I showed you the cute Patsy Ann Apron Top by Two Peas in a Pod Designs not long ago, but also I had the wonderful pleasure of testing her Madison Bag pattern! The Madison Bag pattern will be up for sale in her etsy shop at http://twopeasinapoddesigns.etsy.com in a few weeks!

I knew I wanted to make a bag with the big Splashy Rose fabric from Sandi Henderson's Meadowsweet (this is the Persimmon) and when I saw the Madison Bag pattern, I thought the curved shape would highlight the roses perfectly! I also chose two other Meadowsweet fabrics, the Melon Henna Garden and the Blush Poppy Parade. I used the Poppy Parade for the inset strip (look how perfectly it fit!) and for the inside pocket. I used the Henna Garden for the lining and the strap. 



Here's the back view of my Madison Bag. I made it just like the front because the Splashy Rose print is so bold, but the pattern suggests using four different fat quarters for a patchwork look.


The flap has a magnetic snap closure. I'd never installed one before so I was a bit nervous, but it really was easy and I think gives such a professional finish!


Here's a picture of the inside of the bag. It's proved to be just the right size for me! I can carry all my everyday items plus I've taken to carrying the diaper bag essentials as well, which really isn't usually a diaper, but my son's Epi-Pens, a little bottle of antihistamine, and some of his special cookies.


I'd intended just to use this bag for special occasions, but since I finished it a few weeks ago, I haven't had the heart to stop carrying it! I'm sure you'll love making your own, so be sure to keep an eye on Two Peas in a Pod Designs to find out when it's released!

Friday, May 21, 2010

"Strawberry Shortcake Princess" dress

AKA the Kindergarten graduation dress

With the big graduation ceremony looming, I'd thought I would try to find a quick pattern and whip up a simple summery dress. My daughter had other ideas. :) This past Monday she informed me that she did not want the one I'd planned, she really wanted a dress with *this* fabric, Sandi Henderson's Pink Strawberry Fields from the Meadowsweet line.



Tuesday morning I headed out for a pattern, found McCalls M5793 and just knew she would love it. I grabbed some light pink Kona cotton for the lining (it's completely lined so the netting/tulle doesn't feel scratchy and the seams are all finished and hidden. It's called an easy pattern, and while it wasn't terribly difficult, I certainly wouldn't hand it to a beginner.  Finishes very nicely though!


The pattern calls for "soft netting" but the store I went to only had a netting with big holes that I didn't even consider and a "tulle" and "sparkle tulle" with smaller holes. So, I picked up the lime green sparkle tulle and headed to the counter. The pattern called for 3-1/4 yards of 72" soft netting but the kind I picked up was about 45" so I just bought 7 yards of it. Eeek! I think that worked out to about the right length, as over the top as it sounds. Instead of piecing end-to-end strips of it as the pattern called for, it ended up being the same finished dimensions to cut the full length of the tulle down the middle and then piece those two giant 21' strips together. Then those fold in half longways and gather up a huge amount. I spent far more time wrangling tulle than anything else.


I had a whopper of a migraine Tuesday, but late at night I managed to cut out the strawberry fabric and the lining (same pieces for both, so quick). Wednesday morning I got the lined bodice done and the skirt and lining pieced and started in on the tulle. I got more than half of it attached to the skirt lining that afternoon and only broke 3 machine needles. (Don't even try to use a ruffler foot on tulle. It's not pretty.) I didn't get back to it until Thursday morning, but got the rest of the tulle attached and the skirt onto the bodice by the time to pick up my girls from half day kinder & preschool. The afternoon was devoted to inserting the zipper (broke another needle) and hemming. Whew!




I'd say the work was well worth it. :)

I didn't have time to do it before the graduation ceremony (I was hand stitching the lining onto the zipper 30 minutes before we had to go) but I intend to add a few tack stitches to attach the ribbon in place on the sides. The dress is still a bit big for her and the ribbon kept riding up from the dress waistline.

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Spring 2010

I had such a nice time on the Blogger's Quilt Festival last year that I had to participate again this year!




The quilt I'd like to share today is the one I made for my younger daughter. Since she and my older daughter share a room, I wanted their quilts to coordinate but have their own personality. They share many of the same fabrics. (If you peek back to last year's post you'll see my older daughter's quilt.) Here it is!



I finished piecing the top before my daughter was born but I think it took a full year before I decided what to use for a border, and then it sat for a good long while again. My mom took it to one of her longarm quilter friends who did a fabulous job with it, and then my mom sewed the binding on, because who knows when I'd have ever finally done it. :)



I always wanted to make a Lone Star quilt but the angles and bias edges scared me. When I saw the Quiltsmart system I knew I would use it for my Maddie's quilt. It was so easy and really took the worry out of it!

I used  the same "Floral Bouquet" by Ladyfingers Studio for Andover Fabrics as on the other quilt and since I had (and still do have!) such a stock of it, I even backed the quilt in it. Still love it!



 This is Age of Innocence by Sharlene Jorgenson for Bernatex. I have a large stock of this one too! I was very concerned about making sure I kept all of this fabric with the lines vertically, so carefully planned the cutting of the background pieces. 



The rosy pink rose fabric is from the "Sentimental Journey" line by Robyn Pandolph. The cranberry and the green are my mystery fabrics. I have no idea who they are by! The green was also in my oldest's quilt, but the cranberry is the only all new addition.



Thanks for stopping by! I'm looking forward to seeing the other beautiful quilts throughout the Blogger's Quilt Festival!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Patty Ann Apron Top

I had the wonderful pleasure of testing a new pattern by Two Peas in a Pod Designs! By June, the Patsy Ann Apron Top pattern will be up for sale in her etsy shop at http://twopeasinapoddesigns.etsy.com!

I used a fun floral from the Love U line by Deb Strain for the body and a red gingham from my stash for the band and straps.




My daughter was a eager model if you couldn't tell. :) One great thing about this design is that it can be layered over a short or long sleeve shirt, shorts or pants, extending the wear season to all year round! This pattern was really quick to put together and so easy! I'll definitely be making another one soon!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Introducing my Count On Me collection!

I am so excited to finally introduce my first full fabric collection, Count on Me! It's available through Spoonflower! You can choose just one or two fabrics, or order a sampler of all the pieces! You can choose from a variety of fabrics and quantities and the fabric will be custom printed especially for you!

This fabric line arose out of my digital scrapbooking kit of the same name, Count on Me! The number/word arrangement is the same, but the fabric has a subtle diamond/harlequin pattern in the background and isn't the least bit grungy.

There's a design for each number from 1 to 10. Click on the preview to see the purchase options for each fabric.











I also included some semi-solids to coordinate with the number-themed fabric! This tan harlequin is exactly the same background as the numbered fabrics, but without the black type reads as much lighter.


I think this olive color complements the tan so nicely!


Lastly, I also made a brown harlequin design!


If you purchase any of these fabrics I would love to see what you create with them! Someone already shared a lovely plan for the piece of number 3-themed fabric she purchased! When she finishes the project I'll ask if she'd mind me sharing it here!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Count On Me fabric sneak peek!

I didn't get the chance to have this ready in time to put the full set up for sale while the blog train is on, but I also have a Count on Me fabric collection through Spoonflower!

The design featuring the number 4 is available right now! Here's a peek at a swatch of it! You can order some of your own right HERE.

Count On Me, Number 4 fabric by you.

As soon as the full collection is up for sale, I'll be sure to post photos of the actual fabric and information on how to purchase some from yourself!