Design Wall Monday–September 28, 2015

Once again I’m not showing my design wall but this is what I’ve been working on.  I don’t typically make clothes (except my addiction to making skirts).  I stumbled across this fabric (way, way back in my closet)and I have no idea why I bought it in the first place.  I think it’s probably a rayon but it feels and looks (at least to me) like silk.  I decided why not try making another skirt with it and since I had enough, a top to go with it. 

It is really soft and I think I really like it.  My husband and I are going on a cruise next week and this should be perfect for dinner one night. 

These are the patterns I used.

Both simple and easy for someone that’s a quilter not a seamstress. 

To see what others are up to, check out Judy’s Patchwork Times blog.

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–September 21, 2015

I’ve been away from home for the last several days attending a retreat with the Quilt Guild of Nevada.  We had a wonderful time and made the drive home today. 

This was the main project that I completed while at the retreat.  It was a mystery project.

It was a lot of fun but took a fair amount of time.  It was made using a layer cake and some coordinating fabrics for the lining.  It’s a biggie but I love it.

To see what others are working on check out Judy’s Patchwork Times Blog. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–September 14, 2015

Can you believe we’re almost half way through September?  Where in the world does the time go? 

Well, it’s design wall Monday, what in the world have I been working on?  Here’s just a few things.

I used this tutorial.  http://factotum-of-arts.com/2013/11/30/tutorial-iphoneipad-stand/ 

I’m also making an outfit for an upcoming vacation. 

I found this fabric tucked away in a closet.  I have no idea what it is made of but it feels very much like silk although I’m pretty sure it’s a synthetic of some kind.  It very soft, drapey and very slippery to sew with.  I finally decided to spray starch the heck out of it and now it’s cooperating.  Once the top is finished I’ll throw the skirt and top in the laundry and hopefully have a cute, comfy and soft outfit.

Before attempting the red one I made a top using some linen I had.  I purchased this years ago at a Martha Pullen class.  You know Martha, the heirloom guru.  Once again I have no idea why I bought a bolt of it but it worked to make a top in an attempt to figure out what size to make.  This one is too big but I took the sides in and now it’s actually a nice, cool (linen), roomie top.  I know that now I need to cut down the next one I make.  Here’s the linen top.

Since I’m on a roll, I thought I’d show you an actual picture of my real design wall.

Not very exciting just a lot of “a little bit of this and that”. 

To see what others are working on, check out Judy’s blog.

In the mean time, have a great week and . . . . . . . . .

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–September 7, 2015

This just came off my design wall and is now on to my front door. 

Many of you already know that I just about always have a small quilt hanging on my front door.  I love to be able to change them regularly, whenever I get the urge.  Since they are all small, they are do-able in a short time, not too overwhelming to quilt and a fun way to try different technics and patterns.

Saturday morning I was perusing Facebook and saw that a friend Lyn Brown had posted a link to an apple table runner.  The moment I saw it I knew it was the inspiration for a September/back-to-school front door quilt.  Mine is different than the table runner but it is clearly inspired by it.  I made a big piece of patchwork using 2 1/2” red squares.  I then drew an apple shape on freezer paper and cut it out.  After ironing the freezer paper to the front of my “made” fabric and cutting it out, I used a glue stick to hold it in place while I appliqued it to the background. I added the stem and leaf to hopefully have it look more like an apple.  Once that was done I layered and quilted it.  Here’s a close up of the quilting before I added the binding.  Very simple but I like it.

Here is a close up photo of the binding.  I love using the Faux piping technique.  I think it looks terrific, adds a splash of color out at the edge and is simple and easy to do.  There are lots of tutorials out there showing you how to do it but if you’d like to try my way, follow the link right over there on the right.

 

OK that picture may be way to close a look (it looks much much better from just a little distance) but you get the idea.  I love this technic and use it all the time.

Now it’s time to get back to what I’m suppose to be doing but it was a fun little project for the weekend.

To see what others are up to, check out Judy’s Patchwork Time blog.

Enjoy,