Saturday, January 28, 2012

Winners

2 winners of the Lapel Sticks

Jennie P.Jan 23, 2012 12:45 PM
I'd love to try it. Never heard of it, but it sounds very useful!


gillJan 23, 2012 01:46 PM
These sound a great idea!
 
ladies, please email me your snail mail address tonyahmay@aol.com

Friday, January 27, 2012

Pretty Thread, and what I did with it.

I won this hand dyed thread from Atrfabrik about a week ago


She wanted me to be sure and show her what I made with it.
I made the below and still have plenty left for more projects.
I'd love to have a skein in every color.

ain't he cute?

Monday, January 23, 2012

Review for Lapel Sticks

I've had a chance to review Lapel Sticks



(from their website)

Ultimate Accessory for Quilters, Sewers, and Crafters

Temporary non-toxic acid-free fabric adhesive that goes on in seconds and dries clear for Quilting, Sewing, Crafting, and Embroidery - replaces baste stitching, pinning, tapes, spray adhesives, and stabilizers.  No more messy sprays or getting stuck with pins and it won't gum up your needles or machines!  LAPEL Stick is water soluble and safe to use on cottons, wool, polyester, blends, felt, linen, and leather.
To see Quilting Tutorials and Videos using Lapel Stick please click here

First Aid For Your Fashion Emergencies

For too long we have put up with collars that won’t stay flat, hems that won’t stay up, pockets that pop and bulge, and other day to day challenges that are now unnecessary thanks toLAPEL Stick. No need to carry around a needle and thread to deal with a fallen hem (especially when traveling) or pinning a neckline together to prevent gapping. Just Twist and Apply firmly.
  • Repairs a fallen pant hem or skirt hem instantly
  • Keeps shirt collars in place and looking sharp - no more wing tips or upturned collars
  • Adjusts pants to multiple heel heights without alterations
  • Secures straps to undergarments - no more slipping
  • Eliminates gapping necklines or button gaps on blouses
  • Ideal for costumes or temporary adjustments to clothing
  • A "Must Have" for every Wedding and Bridal Survival Kit
Ok, so I wasn't sure what I was going to use this on for a review.
Then it hit me, the items I make the most....
Up Cycled/Re purposed/Recycled Wrapper Coin Purses
I've made and sold a ton of these.

Normally, I would use a regular glue stick to sandwich the "wrapper" between two
pieces of vinyl.  For this A&W coin purse, I used the Lapel Stick.
What a difference it was, it glided along the vinyl so much smoother than a glue stick.
Another factor I have to think about if I'm going to use these more often, is if it will dry clear.
It has to dry clear.  IT DOES!  
I also noticed the wrapper covered in vinyl was easier to turn inside out and wasn't so heavy with glue.
I'm thinking I like these Lapel Sticks.

To see a full tutorial on how to make a similar above item, go here.

Now, would you like to try a Lapel Stick?
I am going to give away 2.
Just leave a comment on this post and I'll draw a winner on Friday the 27th.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Kid Approved

i made my nephew kentlee a set of these ABC letters
i used sock monkey fabric for his
i think he approves....
 he loves the camera, after this picture
he clapped and "yahhhhh"
so cute

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Farmer's Wife Blocks 7 & 8

i had trouble with both of these blocks
but, i'm not sweating it
if they looked perfect y'all would know it wasn't my work
so, i'll leave them as is

 this is # 8 Bouquet
i had trouble with the pink flower points matching up
#7 Birds in the air
birds flying in the air look much better than this block
but, there again; it is what it is.......

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Farmer's Wife Blocks 5 & 6

I'm really liking the preciseness of paper piecing.

below are the latest 2 blocks I've finished......

6 Big Dipper
5 Bat Wing
I did get a bit of the selvage edge on this one, but i'm sure the 1/4" will cover it when assembled

not sure how much i'll get done this weekend as i'm
getting that special little boy tomorrow, he's all mine

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Farmer's Wife Block 4

I had planned to go in order, to make these in order as they are in the book.
Well, I skipped 3, cause it had a curve in it.

Here's block 4-Basket Weave

again, this block was paper pieced
I took a tip from a friend and kept the paper on all pieces, 
then sewed the whole block together
i think that helped a lot
I also think I'll keep the paper on till I get ready to assemble the quilt

Friday, January 6, 2012

ABC Plush Cotton/Fabric Toy Set

I saw these over on The Vintage Sheet blog.
She offered some tips on how she did her based on another blog.
I changed some things up as well, as we all do to make a project a touch of our own.

these are for my sweet nephew, Kentlee
his birthday is the 11th and he'll be 2

 they are very easy to make
it probably took me longer to make the letters in WORD
and get them the font I wanted and the size I wanted,
than to cut out the fabric and trace each letter.
I saved it, cause i'll be making more of these.
 I did add a small neodymium magnet (very nice magnet's in a small size)
 in mine, she made hers without magnets.
I don't have any pinking shears.
I used a pinking rotary blade, which to me, was a pain.
I've just ordered a pair of pinking shears.  
That should make it easier to get into those small spaces and around
each letter better.

She mentioned using a darker colored thread so it would show up.
I did leave white on the back, so that as he gets older or maybe now
(he'll be 2) he'll recognize the dark size as being the right side.

I think next time I'd choose a small print fabric, this was Elmo
but hardly anywhere can you point out Elmo.  lol

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Farmer's Wife Blocks 1 & 2

Block on the left (it's a bit wonky and I'm not sure why)
left-#2 Autumn Tints
right-#1 Attic Windows

I'm finding the paper pieced blocks are in 3-4 pieces, then you have to join them to make the complete block.  I'm not fond of that at all.  I wish it was all one paper pieced block.  Do these exist?  Does anyone know?

Attic Windows was one complete block, Autumn Tints was in 4 parts, I guess that's how I got it wonky.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Farmer's Wife Fabric Selection

because my picture is so dark, see below for MODA Spirit fabrics, 
I'll also be using some MODA Solid's in Creme
let's get started y'all
i have the first block done.
i'm paper piecing them all.........