Fun Mail Update

As we all know, I'm a swapping fool, and as much as I like to make things and send them off, I love to receive the fun mail that comes in response.  I don't really know why, but I tend to procrastinate getting out the camera and taking pictures.  I have a ton of excuses, "I'm too busy."  "The light's not right."  {and my personal favorite} "I'll do it later."  But I am determined to be better about taking pictures going forward.  {Pinky promise.}  So, I have three amazing swap packages to share with you today.

First is the amazing swap package I received from Kristy (Catiedyd Designs) in the Sew Sew Modern Swap.  I have been meaning to make my weekender for awhile - and in fact I have the backing cut out and I know just what I'm going to do, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.  Now, I'm not sure I will need to, although a girl can never have too many bags, right?

The bag is awesome.  She used two coordinating dark fabrics so they won't show the dirt as much.  Great idea!  And I love the lime green piping!
 

And the piece de resistance is the zippered outside pocket.  Such a great innovation! I may need to put one in the next bag I make.  VERY cool.  And sticking out of the pocket in this shot is the awesome banner she made me.  It will be fab in my new "studio".  (Note To Self:  Go buy paint!)

She used a different coordinating fabric for the lining.  I like that it's a lighter color.  As my eyes age, I appreciate all the help I can get.  Finding things in the bottom of a bag with dark lining is just - difficult.

Aside from the banner, she included zippers, rick rack...

and - coolest of all - some of those clever Clover quilting binder clips I have been meaning to buy for awhile now.  I used them to bind Krista's quilt and they are as awesome as advertised.  Waaaaay better than pins. I think the best thing about them is that they don't distort the shape of your item like pins do.  They are really nifty.  If I make another Weekender, I will certainly use them on that too. 

(You remember what my pins looked like after my Weekender adventure, right?  So sad.)

Thank you, Kristy, for a lovely swap package.

(I am super tardy taking photos of this fabulous package.  Where does the time go???  I know that I tend to put off taking pictures, but this is ridiculous!)  I am honestly over the moon with this awesome package from Joanne in the UK (Jo Jo 33).  She really nailed this one!  Do you see all these amazing creations???  Joanne said I really pulled her out of her comfort zone {sorry}, but I think she did a fantastic job on these items!  Oh my!  I am deliriously happy!

First there is this amazing bag.  I can't tell you how much I love this bag.  All the fabrics she used make me smile.  One side is pink...

And the other side is blue and green.  I am deliriously happy with this bag.  {Did I say that already?} I think it will become my new purse (when I can bear the thought of getting it dirty.)  EDIT:  Joanne shared the pattern with me here.  And as if this bag could get any better, it is reversible!  Is that awesome, or what???  (Thanks Rebeckah for reminding me!)

She also sent me this wonderful clock.  I wanted a clock that would hang on the wall in my new "studio", and when I get my room painted (see Note To Self above), this will be perfect!  I love how carefully stitched this amazing applique is.  And it is mounted on wood, so it is very sturdy.  I know I am going to love the way it jazzes up my new room.

She included a bunch of other wonderful things as well...  A little fabric basket to {try to} get me organized, a really cute camera strap, and a package of gorgeous pins - and after all the pins I've thrown in the trash can lately, these are most welcome.  (And I love that they are sooo pretty!)

Joanne, thank you for such a wonderful, thoughtful package.

Finally, I received this package from Lori (Lori H. Designs) in the Fabric Basket Swap.  I was hoping for a large basket to toss my fabric scraps in, and she really nailed it.  This basket is the perfect size - not huge, but really big.  It's big enough that I can throw scraps from a project or two in it, but not so big that I will be overwhelmed by the idea of sorting my scraps, if you know what I mean.

I don't think she used the same fabric twice on this bucket, and I love her choices.  I always like scrappy, and this is perfect.

She included a cute little fabric pouch, some FQs, a couple of bolts of ribbon and {yay!} pins.

Thanks, Lori!

I feel so blessed to have had such amazing swap partners who created such fabulous things for me.  I can tell that each of them took the time to find out what I might like and then create awesome items just for me.

And now we know why I am addicted to swaps.  I suppose that won't change any time soon.

A Productive Sewing Day

I had a pretty productive day at the sewing machine yesterday, which is a good thing, considering that my items for the Modern She Made swap need to be mailed today.  To be honest, I like this tote so much it's kind of painful to mail it away.  That said, I just made myself a new bag, didn't I???  Well, as one of my readers said, "Can a woman ever have too many bags?"

I bought some Melody Miller fabric awhile back, which became the focal point for this tote.  Then I started browsing through the fabric scraps in those colors and found a much better selection than I thought I would.  The theme of this round is stars, hence the wonky star....

I used some of the Dear Stella FQ scraps from the Dresden pillow I made last fall, and some of the AMH feathers and the RK Quilter's Linen I scavenged for my Scavenger bag, plus some of the Vintage Modern scraps from the BOM I'm working on (the colors were perfect!), some DS Quilts leftovers from various projects, plus a tiny bit of the Architextures I bought a couple of weeks ago...  Oh, and the floral was from some decorated towels I made for my sister's family last Christmas.  It was fun pulling the fabrics for this one.

The bag is loosely based on Elizabeth Hartman's Perfect Tote, but first I decided that I didn't want to do the piece-as-you-go method, and from there it was a downward slide to do-your-own-thing. Just one more example of that problem I have with following directions, I guess.

This is the first time I've used cotton duck as the interfacing for the bag.  I liked the structure and substance it gives the bag, and will probably use it again. One thing I did learn though - if you're using linen, the linen itself actually needs some stabilizing before it is quilted. The linen stretches and the duck cloth doesn't so it makes for some shifting in the layers.  This might not have  been an issue if I had actually done the QAYG method, but since I pieced it first, and then quilted, I found that I was fighting with the linen all the time as it stretched.  If I were to do it again, I would definitely use a lightweight iron-on stabilizer on the piecing before I quilted the project. 

I did some basic patchwork for the back of the bag.  I haven't done basic patchwork in awhile.  It was fun.

And I had a little catastrophe when I assembled the bag - oops, I sewed the top as the bottom.  And I had already cut the corners.  Made for some interesting moments.  But I managed to salvage the project.  Whew!

The inside has a zipper pocket and a patch pocket on one side - something I hadn't tried before.  It was an idea I got from the original pattern.  I also attached a loop - an idea I got from the AMH bag I made last week.  It's a cool touch, I think, though I'm not sure what to use it for?  Keys maybe?

And a double patch pocket on the other side, for cell phone, business cards, or whatever. My I-phone fits perfectly in one side. 

I had a little extra patchwork left over, so I cut a few more squares and made a fabric basket - my first one.  I love that there are so many fun tutorials on the internet!  It's so easy to find instructions for just the item you have in mind.

And since I was having so much fun, I grabbed some of the AMH Loulouthi scraps youngest daughter donated to me and made my basket for the Fabric Basket Swap.  It feels weird to make something so far in advance - this one isn't due to mail until June 5th.  What's up with that?  It's so unlike me...

All in all, a very fun day sewing yesterday.  I think I'll do it again.  There are certainly some advantages to being retired.

Hope you have a fun sewing day too.

Fun Mail - Modern Style

If you're looking for the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway, go here...

Check out the cute bag I received from Yvette, a/k/a craftyozgirl.  Yvette was my partner in the Modern She Made swap.  I had mentioned several things I would really like to have, including a little bag that was big enough to stash my 7" embroidery hoop in.  I am so excited by this bag.  It is perfect.

I really love the raw edge applique triangle detail on the front of the bag, not to mention the hand embroidery.  Embroidery makes me happy! =)

She put a nifty little pocket on the inside...

And made me a nifty little needlebook to go with it.

She decorated every page - so fun!

Thanks, Stephanie for the cute bag and all the goodies.  They will be put to good use!

The Dresden Pillow - The Finish

So, here it is - the finished Dresden pillow.  Pieced, embroidered, quilted, bordered, bound, zipped, labeled, temporarily stuffed and ready to mail.  I'm sorry for the picture.  It was dark when I got home last night and cloudy this morning, so not very good lighting - and the flash just seemed to wash it out.

The colors are a real departure for me.  My partner asked for blues and greens, and luckily BD#1 gifted me this package of Dear Stella FQs she got at  Sewing Summit. Otherwise I wouldn't have had anything in those colors.  As it was, I added the aqua dots and the red Ruby, the Reunion pennants and a bit of Madrona Road text.  It needed some life.

I really hope she likes it!

The Dresden Pillow - A Progress Report

This was a busy weekend in the prsd4tim2 studio (can I really call that messy corner I sew in a studio? - nah, not the real me!) working to meet the swap deadlines that are approaching.  I am glad to report that I have made good progress and that all five (count them - 5!) projects are well underway now with only finishing touches to be added.  (I think that it was self preservation not to actually count them accurately ahead of time!)

I've been reading other blogs again lately, after something of a hiatus, and I noticed that I really like posts where the crafter describes her creative process.  So, at the risk of being unutterably dull, I thought I might try a post that outlines how I go about creating.

Do you have a "vision" of what your project will look like when you begin?  Do you plan everything to the smallest detail before you make the first cut?  I don't.  My projects tend to evolve with only a sketchy notion of where I'm headed.  This Dresden pillow is a case in point.

I hand stitched it onto some navy Dear Stella solid that matches the navy in the Dear Stella prints exactly.  {imagine that!} 

Then, using the lid to my sugar bowl, which seemed to be just the right size, I cut a circle as a template for the embroidery I did last week.  Do you use random kitchen items as templates too?

I used Anna Maria Horner's tin foil method to press the embroidery into a crisp circle, trimmed the edges, and hand stitched it to the center of the Dresden.

It's coming along, but not there yet.

So I added a little hand quilting to the mix.  When I was younger, I hated handwork, although I did dabble in embroidery from time to time.  But to actually construct something by hand was unthinkable.  I simply didn't have time.  Lately, though, I quite enjoy sitting down with my needle and peacefully stitching.  It seems to calm my soul. 

It reminds me of a poem I did as a hoop a year or two ago.  I may have to do one of these for myself.

I quite like the effect of the hand quilting.

[On a totally different subject, I lost my favorite needle while I was working on this project.  Alas, I have swept and vacuumed to no avail.   I received the needle in a cute little needlebook I received in a swap, so I don't know what kind of needle it was.  I have been frustrated by needles for awhile now - I must hold them in a death grip or something, because before to long they are bent and useless.  I even emailed the girl who made the needlebook, and she didn't know what brand of needle it might have been, but it was great.  I used it for several weeks and it wasn't bent at all.  Do you have a brand of needles you like - that hold up under strain, sweaty fingers, and just plain overuse?  If so, I'd love to know what kind.  I'll buy a boatload of them!)

I almost like the inside as much as the outside - except for the knots.  Normally I would bury the knots, but these won't show.  I guess I could have done it anyway.  But I didn't.

So, tomorrow, a picture of the finished pillow and maybe a look at another project or two that are at the nearly completed stage.

TGIF

If you've read my blog a time or two, you've probably come to the conclusion that I am a swap addict.  It's true.  I admit it.  I really need to get this addiction under control.  But it'll have to wait until I get the 4 (or is it 5???) swaps done for the middle of November.

The little cottage above is for the Fab Little Pincushion (FLiPS for short) swap.  I found the pattern here.  It was loads of fun to make.  Next time I may try some different details, but this was a hoot.  I had to cover up the welcome sign, as it might give too many clues to my partner.

Next is the Trim the Tree swap, and this one is finished and ready to mail to my 4 partners.  I can't find the tutorial I used, but if anyone knows where it is, I will gladly add the link to give credit where credit is due.  These acrylic ornaments happen to be on sale at Michael's right now, so they are pretty inexpensive.  I found that cutting your scrapbook paper on the narrower side gives a more interesting ornament.  Of course, it took me a few tries to figure that out.

Then I made this little tote for my partner in the Modern She Made Swap.  I really like these text prints together.  The Paris map fabric is so fun.  The pattern is here.  This is a really simple to sew tote, and the outer pockets are formed when you attach the straps.  Seriously, this bag took about 45 minutes to sew.

These cute texty prints were not my original plan, but somehow I didn't get home with the fabric I bought to make this little goodie.  I opened the bag from the fabric store on Saturday afternoon after the store had closed, tore the whole sewing room apart, and finally concluded that I left it at the store.  I called first thing on Monday morning and described my fabric, they said they had it, I went rushing in after work - only to find that the fabric they had set aside was not the fabric I had chosen originally.  The owner was there however, and kindly cut some more fabric for me.  So nice, as these were 1-yard cuts, so pretty expensive.

I also decided to make my partner a pillow cover, so I got out my EZ Dresden ruler again, along with the Dear Stella prints BD#1 picked up for me at Sewing Summit (isn't she so sweet to share with her dear mother?) and added a couple of other prints to give it some variety.  I bought some navy solid for the background, but really wish I had a navy polka dot.  Sadly, my LQS didn't have navy dot, and I don't have time to go hunting.  I'm planning to hand quilt it, so I think it will be OK.

Then I decided to embroider the Dresden center to give it a little interest.  Really need to get rid of the pencil marks, but I'll get around to that.

Here's the print that inspired the embroidery.

And I still have my winter mug rug to send back to Mary, who made me the Texas snowman.  Mary will get a Florida snowman, just as soon as I get a chance to sit down and make it.  I have such a fun idea!

Photo by Kelly of SewKellySews

 Finally, I have to make my pillow for the Pillow Talk Swap.  This is my pillow from last round and I really had a blast making it.  Kelly (and her girls) seemed to like it too.  I still haven't settled on an idea for this time.  There are so many rolling around in my head.  But this one has to get started this weekend.

Then I have one more swap before the end of November, as the folks in the Sew Fun Bee create some Christmas goodness for their partners, but the due date is pretty flexible.  I think I have an idea for this one too, it's just a matter of doing it.

So, November seems to be a truly swappy month here at prsd4tim2, but I've got it well in hand (I hope).  At least a few of the projects are finished.  And Monday is a holiday, so I hope to have a seriously creative weekend.