Category: Sewing

Tip of the hat to the Rio Olympics

Published on by car2ole1 Comment

 

DSCN1838This gorgeous new fabric by Rifle Paper Company for Cotton and Steel caught my eye right away.  This is lawn ( a superfine cotton weave) in a soft periwinkle color with gold, called City Toile Lawn.

DSCN1836
I really can’t take a selfie to save my soul.  Hello, boobies!

The most memorable landmark from Rio, the Christ the Redeemer statue, is on here, along with other landmarks like the pyramids, the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House, and Big Ben.

DSCN1843

No I did not get a tattoo.  I somehow managed to get the most spectacular bruise, a perfectly shaped circle on my upper arm.  No idea where it came from, and you can see it is going into it’s yellow-green phase.

DSCN1849

The designated photographer did a better job on this photo shoot, so his job is safe FOR NOW.  Next time maybe we will even attempt some back views.  My modeling skills are still, and always will be, stuck in my Big Fig phase.

DSCN1837

The pattern is a Butterick Retro ’47, B5209.  It has a halter style option also, but I like my shoulders covered.  Life is easier when you don’t need a special bra for your dress.  I had to do a FBA so the top fit correctly.

I ordered the fabric from Hawthorne Threads, one of my favorite online vendors.  This lawn is a dream to sew and is the perfect choice for a good looking dress in this hot climate!

An ode to Shark Week

Published on by car2oleLeave a comment

DSCN1795

Every year I remember why I’m scared of the ocean.

DSCN1797

Jaws.  I grew up in the midwest and I saw the movie before I ever saw the ocean.  Poor planning.

DSCN1796

Another Companion Carpet Bag, pattern by Sewing Patterns by Mrs. H.

DSCN1798

I put my 9 college credits in Philosophy to good use -the red handles represent the bloodshed caused by that cranky shark.

DSCN1799

I put tabs on this bag to pull open the top.  The tabs are shark snouts!  I crack myself up.

DSCN1800

I really agonized over the lining.  For about a minute.  Last week I just happened to buy some sushi fabric.

DSCN1802

I find such joy in starting a project with absolutely no plan.  I just picked up my Jaws, decided it needed to be a purse, and started cutting.  I almost got stumped when it came to the handles.  Thank heavens for higher education.

DSCN1804

DSCN1806

DSCN1794

 

Jolly good travel bag

Published on by car2ole2 Comments

DSCN1777

My favorite travel bag is ready for it’s first outing!

DSCN1778

I think this is number 6 in my quest for the perfect travel bag?  I have quite a pile.

DSCN1779

This is the Weekender Travel Bag pattern by Amy Butler.  The fabric, not surprisingly, is from a manufacturer in the UK.

DSCN1784

The best thing about sewing for decades is having bits and bobs on hand in my studio.  The zipper, nylon webbing, dee rings and green straps are from my private “collection.”

DSCN1789

The guts of the bag show the tube map for the London Underground!  I love to open a bag and find something interesting on the inside.

DSCN1776

This bag fulfills my not-so-hidden anglophile obsession.  So I made wallets.

DSCN1766

Not just one, mind you.

DSCN1772DSCN1773

Some other anglophile is going to get a big surprise!

DSCN1793

 

 

Northern Lights backpack

Published on by car2ole1 Comment

DSCN1695

Almost makes me wish I carried a backpack.

DSCN1678

My little Minnesotan has a thing for the Northern Lights.  When I got this fabric she actually ASKED me to make her a backpack.

DSCN1680

The fabric is by Quilted Treasures and the pattern is the Dawn to Dusk backpack by Chris W. Designs.  This pattern is the most “authentic” looking backpack I could find, with padded and shaped straps and great pockets.

 

DSCN1684

This is a streamlined version, with a front zipper pocket instead of  a pocket with flap.  I added a side water bottle pocket made from mesh, with an adjustable elastic pull.  The cord stop is a kitty, but it did not cooperate with my photography.

DSCN1702

For the lining I chose Mario.  Because it’s Mario.  And his gold coins.

DSCN1712

The interior pocket is elasticized to hold some electronic device like a laptop or iPad.  Or a small cat.  The cat print is a fat catloaf.  Just like my fat cat model Tippy.  He’s actually not fat, he’s big boned.

DSCN1731

This backpack screams my girly’s name.  Northern Lights, video games from the 90s, fat black cat.  She’ll be stylin.’

DSCN1704

DSCN1679

DSCN1697

DSCN1706DSCN1743

DSCN1681

“Free Your Mind” purse

Published on by car2ole8 Comments

DSCN1655

This fabric has been screaming to me in my sewing room.

DSCN1658

I love color.  I love bold.  And I don’t own a black purse.

DSCN1656

This is the larger version of the Companion Carpet Bag pattern by Mrs. H.  The purse frame is from Emmaline Bags.

DSCN1668

I think I could carry camping supplies in here.  Like I would go camping!

DSCN1671

The sparkle vinyl bottom will protect against cooties.  Because purses are prone to catching cooties.

DSCN1676

 

 

 

DSCN1665

DSCN1673

DSCN1675

DSCN1654

It’s a purse! It’s a tote! It’s two-in-one!

Published on by car2ole1 Comment

DSCN1581

Multi-tasking in purse form.  This is the Betsy Bag, from the pattern by Betsy LaHonta.

DSCN1564

The amazing tan fabric that looks like leather?  It is actually a paper product called Kraft-tex.

DSCN1569

It can be washed and dried, cut and sewn.

DSCN1570

The top of the bag can be tucked in so it behaves like a purse.

DSCN1577

Then pop that out and move the handles and voila!  It’s a tote.

DSCN1571

There are drawstrings so I can keep all my birds from flying away.

DSCN1573

I just happened to have (not kidding) two hot pink cord locks in my collection.

DSCN1585

The lining has ukuleles all over.

DSCN1579

Added bonus – I got to use lots of shiny hardware!

That purse with the singing skeleton

Published on by car2ole4 Comments

DSCN1534I like to call this dude the Frito Bandito.  Or the ai-yi-yi-yi guy.

DSCN1545I used this fabric previously to make a couple of gifts.

DSCN1536 He’s back for an encore.

DSCN1547 The pattern is the Companion Carpet Bag by Sewing Patterns by Mrs. H ( http://www.mrs-h.com )

DSCN1551The purse frame is sturdy and make the bag look really professional.

DSCN1549

DSCN1555

DSCN1559DSCN1553DSCN1541DSCN1534

More Union Jack flags mean…more Liberty of London fabric!

Published on by car2ole5 Comments

DSCN1153

Variety is the spice of life, so I am feeling very spicy.  If I had to choose one fabric only to use for the rest of my life?  Well that would be cruel, but I would definitely choose Liberty Tana Lawn.

DSCN1148

Picking the fabrics to combine in each block has been helping curb my innate desire to make sure everything matches perfectly.

DSCN1147

The hardest part of this project is trying to NOT plan ahead.  I want to wait until I have all the blocks to choose the fabric and style of the sashing.  But I’m getting impatient.

DSCN1146

Five blocks a month, until I have a total of…I don’t know yet.  I have not yet even calculated how big I want to make this.

DSCN1145

Seeing each block individually makes me think I want this on my bed.  King size.  At least that will give me a long time to work on it.  I really enjoy working on foundation paper pieced projects.

DSCN1144

The obsessive part of me craves the perfection that can be achieved with paper piecing.  And it is so easy!  I took some pictures while I was working on these blocks.

DSCN1087 DSCN1090 DSCN1091 DSCN1092 DSCN1094 DSCN1095 DSCN1096 DSCN1097 DSCN1098 DSCN1101 DSCN1102 DSCN1103 DSCN1104 DSCN1105 DSCN1106 DSCN1108 DSCN1109 DSCN1110 DSCN1111 DSCN1112 DSCN1113 DSCN1114 DSCN1115 DSCN1116 DSCN1117

Sew, press, cut, add fabric and repeat.  Easy and stunning!

We’ll talk soon, I’m off on an adventure.

The Irish festival in my sewing room

Published on by car2oleLeave a comment

DSCN1128

I decided to host an Irish festival in my sewing room.  Ireland is part of the British Isles after all, so I am being true to my ongoing Anglophile tendencies.  I didn’t really invite anyone, but I’m okay with my one-person celebration.

My new Irish quilt took a turn for the smaller.  I needed to come up with a thank you gift for they-who-shall-not-be-named.  So I diverted some quilt blocks into a table runner.

DSCN1130

Who doesn’t love a great little tree of life?  I used three colors of gold thread to add depth.  The trick was using green and gold and not having this look like a Packers tribute.  (Boo, Packers!)

DSCN1136

The Eternal Life block has the same elements of a claddagh ring – crown for loyalty, hands for friendship, heart for love.  The designs are new this month from Anita Goodesign.

DSCN1126

There’s a little bit of the backing shown here.  This green swirly batik is one of my favorites.

DSCN1125 DSCN1124

I’ve got to figure out a better way to photograph a table runner.  I tried getting all artsy-fartsy and doing a perspective shot, but you’ll notice it’s not in here.

This one is the money shot anyway.  My little fatty fatty two-by-four Tippy is modeling his favorite use for a table runner.

DSCN1140

Tippy – one.  Artsy-fartsy photographs – zero.  Game, set, match.