Sunday, August 30, 2009

Friday, August 28, 2009

Gallery of Quilts etc.

This is an appliqued wall quilt I made during an American Sewing Guild class. It was so much fun, I made the Koi quilt too.





This is an embroidery I did years ago. It is a close-up of sea glass.



This is a sofa quilt that reverses to a red toile print. I actually dyed the red squares in a jello dying experiment.




Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Gallery of Creatures


I made these a while ago, but I might do some more because they were so much fun! Sewn and stuffed. The fairy and mermaids have plastic pellets so they are poseable.




Monday, August 24, 2009

Gallery of Instrument Cases- Autoharp

This is a case I made for my autoharp. I used my living room curtains, green foam, lined with white velveteen.

The pocket matches perfectly!






I used 2 heavy duty zippers and had them meet in the middle.




It does a great job of protecting my autoharp.





Friday, August 21, 2009

Gallery of Instrument Cases- Ukulele Case #2

This ukulele was also made by my husband, for my son. I made this case so it could hang on the wall vertically, taking up less space. A thin batting layer is in between the light blue flannel lining and the cowboy outside fabric.
A drawstring closes the top.






Simple but it gets the job done- protects this ukulele when my little cowboy goes riding the range!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Gallery of Instrument Cases- Ukulele Case

This ukulele case is simpler than the mandolin because it only has a front and back. The mandolin case (previous post) has sides like a box. The cushioning is batting (instead of green foam) and much easier to work with. The handles are a cotton sash folded in half.



My daughter made the zipper charm from Shrinky Dink- a plastic that you bake and it shrinks up.


I lined the case in a moire taffeta. My husband made the ukulele.







Monday, August 17, 2009

Gallery of Instrument Cases- Mandolin Case

This is a Mandolin case I made using scraps left over from my raggedy bed quilt. I started by tracing the shape on brown paper and adding a little extra for ease (but not much though).
It fits great. The padding is 1" green foam which was maddening to work with because it has a mind of its own!


It is lined in white satin but at the top I put a denim piece to keep the string ends from snagging on the satin.


Probably should have used white thread in my serger- oh well.




The end result is a cozy case that fits great and really protects the instrument.


Friday, August 14, 2009

Navajo Weavings-Part 3

This is the last installment from the Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum http://www.quiltandtextilemuseum.com/ The imagery is not what I am used to seeing. Very unusual! The second one apparently was a pattern from a magazine.








Great shapes!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Navajo Weavings-Part 2


Navajo Weavings seen at the Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum www.quiltandtextilemuseum.com I love the colors and the American flag and trains, motifs I didn't know they used in the late 1800's-early 1900's.




Monday, August 10, 2009

Navajo Weavings-Part 1

On a recent trip to Pennsylvania, we visited the Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum http://www.quiltandtextilemuseum.com/
They had these beautiful weavings by Navajo weavers.













Thursday, August 6, 2009

Featured Quilter-Suzanne Brown

My mom was my first sewing teacher, but it was my aunt, Suzanne Brown, that was my first inspiration. She has sewn her own clothes for as long as I can remember. She also used to knit. I always looked up to her. Here is just a small sampling of her recent projects. The first two quilts were presents for my children when they were born. When I was small, she made a drawstring bag for me that has travelled to Europe with me and still goes on every trip I take! Another year, she gave me a bag of beautiful, exotic beads. I loved imagining all the possibilities. You never know the inspiration you impart on someone else. My aunt knows now!
Thank you!




Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Pattern Review: Simplicity 2878

This is a cute jumper/sundress that I sewed for my 9 year old daughter. The instructions were clear (I didn't find any mistakes). Not for first time sewers.





Monday, August 3, 2009

Amish Quilts-Part 6

This is the last installment in the Amish quilts exhibit at the Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum www.quiltandtextilemuseum.com


This is an Amish take on a crazy quilt. It looks very different done all in solids.


This is a display of two quilts side by side. The one on the right is Amish and the one on the left is Mennonite. The close up shows the small patterned fabric.