More Sewing Kits...I Can't Stop!

In 2012

we had that little thing going on

called the Zakka Style Sew Along.

It was kind of an online support group

for people who wanted to put some zakka into their lives.

Although I didn't make every project in the book...yet...

it was the highlight of my sewing year,

and I've met so many wonderful people because of zakka!

Is there such a thing as a support group

for people like me,

who just can't get ENOUGH zakka?

I've been making these sewing kits off and on for months,

and I can't seem to stop!

The first one I made was just for the sew along...

And then I made one as a custom order...

and then another...

and now someone else recently asked for one.

{It's just a good thing my orders are all online, because I jump up and down like an idiot, clapping my hands, whenever someone asks for one.}

I got busy and made two of them this time,

just so that I could keep one for myself.

{Well...that's not exactly how it happened.}

I have some great new fabrics in my major big stash,

and I was all set to cut into them.

But first...I actually decided to cut into some pieces of my

all-time very most favorite line of fabric EVER...

Paris Flea Market by 3 Sisters for Moda.

Image:  The Pattern Basket

Why would I do that?  Because I know that Moda

is run by a bunch of material geniuses who have decided it's time

to release Paris Flea Market all over again!

{Amen, Moda!!!}

I picked out a few of the most delicate ivory prints, 

with just a hint of pink and brown,

pairing them up with some rich mocha linen blended with rayon.

Mmmm...this little sewing kit turned out so delicately lovely.

The best part is making a little patch for the front.

The little bird is the star of this show.

My latest stash purchases were getting jealous,

worrying about how long they would have to stay in the shipping box

before I would have the sense to cut into them.

I pulled out some of my new Sweetwater fabrics,

from Mama Said Sew! and Reunion.

They looked fantastic with some charcoal linen I had on hand.

I was so confident with this sewing kit project by now 
that my sewing machine

practically knew how to stitch it up without any help from me.

I must have fallen asleep at the pedal.

Or something.

Because when I was done, it was indeed fabulous...from the front.

And from the inside.

{Right?}

But...um...after opening it up...

I kinda had to flip it over, so it wouldn't be upside-down...

with that cute little bunting print, which is directional.

{Uh-oh.}

So...what would you do?

I just made another one!

{That upside-down one is mine to keep now, as a reminder to be humble,

and to laugh at little accidents that don't hurt anything.  It's just fabric, right?}

Pin It

A Little Birdie

Hello to all of you who are members of the

Across The Pond Sew Along!

I'm all atwitter, because I am the newest member!

Allow me to introduce myself...

I'm called Jackie, and I'm a sparrow.

I was recently crafted by my person, Amy,

who normally writes this blog.

{She's letting me take over for today, so I would quit squawking about it!}

My little nest came from Maxine!

My Aunt Susie, of Susie's Sunroom,

chose this month's project for the sew along group to make.

The free pattern for the Bird Pin Cushion / Sachet

was designed by Joel Dewberry.

He has created many gorgeous sparrow prints that Amy adores!

Here's Susie's pretty bird...so very tweet!

{Oops...I meant to say "sweet" actually.}

Bird Pin Cushion by Susie of Susie's Sunroom

Our friend The Patchsmith

is always the first to fly with a new project.

This is her first bird...

Bird Pin Cushion by The Patchsmith

and this is the second.

{Maybe by now she's made a whole flock of them!}

Amy's more inclined to let a new idea incubate

for a while before hatching her plan.

She has such a huge stash to pick from

that she felt as free as a bird...

finally she landed on using

fabrics from her Dandelion Girl scraps.

I think I see a resemblance to Amanda's red bird...

we are certainly birds of a feather!

Does that gingham make my butt look big?

Amy had a bird-brained idea to change the way my wings were decorated...

she didn't really feel like embroidering that day.

I have to say she really ruffled my feathers,

but I've grown to love them.

Amy wasn't quite happy with my eyes at first.

She had just winged it and pulled some thread tightly

through the sides of my head.

{Here's the bird's-eye view.}

Then she had a flight of fancy and added some tiny beads...

we are both happier now.

I like perching near the window to watch those crazy outdoor birds.

{I wouldn't think of leaving the nest...at least not in this weather!}

I'm flying over to Flickr now to pose in the ATPSA group!

Maybe I'll find my own true lovebird there!

Pin It

December's Across The Pond Project

Just in the nick of time...

I've finished my December project

for the Across the Pond Sew Along!

Our lovely Amanda, The Patchsmith,

has outdone herself this month,

with TWO versions of a clever and useful placemat.

One features whimsical appliqued trees...

And here is the paper-pieced style!

I happen to love the paper-piecing process,

so I chose to make that version of Amanda's pattern.

This is what mine looks like!

 If you don't mind a bit of detail...

and a lot of photos...I'll walk you through my design process.

Fabric selection is almost always the best part for me!

I started with some fat-eighths from my Cherry Christmas bundle,

by Aneela Hoey for Moda,

and I still have plenty left for other projects.

{Whew! I can continue to hoard some of it!}

I mixed in a couple of other prints, like some Modern Meadow by Joel Dewberry and Glace by 3 Sisters for Moda. 

{I love the celery greens with tiny bits of red and brown.}

I had more fun creating the snow-topped trees,

especially because we have some REAL snow outside!

{The little birdies on the trees are too sweet!  Oops...some of them are upside-down!}

Once the trees were stitched and pieced to the background...

it was simple to finish up the top with patched borders.

{I skipped the napkin ring, because I may want to use

mine as a wall hanging sometimes.}

My background was an ivory linen.

Maybe I could have selected a sharper contrast, but I like it very much.

The linen is luscious for quilting, especially once I got it fused

to my dear friend, Pellon 987F fusible fleece!

{The overlapping straight lines in the corner are my favorite part of the stitching.}

For the borders, I made some crisscrosses, and the quilting was done!

I used my machine-binding tutorial,

and my edges came out perfect in no time!

This project is very versatile and would make an adorable table topper...

as well as a useful placemat.

I'm going to enjoy it all winter long!

Susie, Amanda, and I welcome you to jump in 

and join the Across the Pond Sew Along,

at any time!

{Jump in to the Sew Along, that is...NOT the Pond!}

Please feel free to share photos in our Flickr group!

Happy New Year, friends!

Pin It

Merry Christmas - Vintage Style

Have I ever revealed my age on my blog?

Let's just say it like my friend Jeff said it...

I'm a product of the 50's, born in the 60's.

{Clever, but shocking!}

In my creative world,

I am drawn to all sorts of styles,

but the Vintage/Retro colors and designs really

touch me, for some reason.

{Exhibit A: my post about vintage Pyrex!}

Especially at Christmastime,

I love the fonts and drawings 

that were first popular in the late 1950's and early 60's.

There was a distinctive color palette, too, in that era.
It evokes Christmas memories from my own childhood,
but the same colors appeal to lots of younger folks, too!

Fortunately for me,

this style is very popular again today!

{It is even sometimes described as  MODERN!}

As my gift to you,
here are a few more Christmas images from my Pinterest board
called Merry Christmas!

{I have over 90 images on that board, so head on over,
if you'd like to see more.}

{You are always welcome to Follow me on Pinterest, too.}

I wish I could give you some of my homemade Spritz cookies in person.

Most of all, though, I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas!

Pin It