Fun Fabric Stuff

Here is a fun blog by Jessica Wilson - scrumdilly-do Lots of  kid crafts.  More websites worth a look-  http://sewing.org   
http://sewtawdry.blogspot.com
Fiskars has some great projects to try.
An adorable ruffle necktie tee tutorial from McKell's Closet

Jerri McKee and Moonlight Design

     This week has been really exciting what with a 5.9 earthquake and now Hurricane Irene headed towards us.  I was really excited to be able to attend a trunk show by Jerri McKee of  Moonlight Design Quilts .  She makes beautiful pieced and quilted jackets on top of sweatshirts.  She sells instructions and kits.  I forgot my checkbook, but picked up lots of inspiration. 

This and That

As my kids get older, I thought I might actually find it easier to sew.  Not the case.  I think it must be my mindset, because I find myself playing short-order cook all afternoon.  I love my kids and want to spend time with them!  This time every year though, I start feeling really anxious because I haven't sewn anything for weeks!  I am driven to create and when I can't, it is very frustrating.  School starts back in 2 weeks and shortly after, my sewing classes will start too.  I'm looking forward to this new beginning.  In some ways, the beginning of school each fall feels like January 1st to me.  A time to reset intentions and goals.  A time to clear out deadwood and get back to (or closer to) what I really want to be doing.  Starting in 2 weeks, I'll get to sew again for a few hours each day.  The rest of my day will be spent enjoying my kids, helping with homework, driving kids places, housework, cooking and dish washing etc.   How do you fit sewing into your life?

Fun Fabric Stuff

I definitely could use a WonderWoman Apron from Bethany Sew & Sew .  I love the idea of being a superhero while doing the dishes and making dinner!

Looking ahead to Halloween (like my kids are always doing) - check out these beautiful calaveras .  All hand embroidered- WOW!

And I just thought these pajama eaters are adorable.  There is a tutorial and everything over at Sew Fearless. 

September is National Sewing Month!

What better way to celebrate than by showing your love of sewing?!  Sewing and Craft Alliance is sponsoring a contest and accepting entries Aug.10-Sept.30, 2011.  The theme for this year is "Sew for the love of it!", so your entry has to have a heart on it.  It is really that easy!  I'm planning on entering something.

Pets on Quilts Show

Here is Alice, lounging on a quilt  I made from scraps I had in my stash.  She is NOT allowed to lounge on anything for customers!  This quilt is 45"x45".  I started with the middle piece.  I used the colors of the middle square to inspire the rest of it.  Here are the instructions .  Alice is about 4 years old.  I rescued her and her sister from our back alley when they were about 6 weeks old.  They were the only kittens that didn't run from me!

More Mystery Quilts

To see my mystery quilt .  Here are all the rest!  Each one was beautiful on its own.  It was fun seeing how different each looked depending on the fabric choices.

My Mystery Quilt!

This Mystery Quilt is "Guilty as Charged!" by Debbie Caffrey.  For anyone not familiar, when you start a mystery quilt, you have no idea what the finished one will look like (hence, the mystery of it).  I started this back in January.  Each month I got a new set of directions.  Most of the time I was only about a month behind.  I finished it in July and we just had the big reveal party this weekend.  I was really glad I didn't know what this would look like because all the small pieces and the size of the finished quilt probably would have intimidated me.  This was the first of this type of quilt I've made.  Usually I just make them up as I go along!  The border does go all the way around, it just didn't all fit in the picture.  I chose all batiks.  Having monthly deadlines helped keep me on track.  I will hopefully bind it by January.  The last step was the hardest- putting it all together.  I really enjoyed the process and would definitely sign up to do another one!  Check out your local quilt shop to find a mystery quilt offering.  Next up: the other mystery quilts at the party!

Fun Fabric Things

These cute yo yo pattern weights would really make cutting out more fun.  Thanks Spoonful of Sugar.

I love the look of these Steampunk Softies by Sarah Skeate and Nicola Tedman.  The description is great too.

Over at purl bee they have a summery citrus felt coaster how to. 

Never made your own piping before?  Go to Colette Patterns for a simple tutorial.  And really is that easy to make it yourself.

Sewing Group: Sew Whats New

A sewing forum worth checking out is Sew Whats New.   Whenever I have a moment, I like to browse the member project photos, and watch the how to videos and a variety of topics.  There are always new ones being posted.  I've tried out some sewing groups on facebook, but there isn't much happening on the ones I've seen.  I like Sew Whats New for its vitality.  I always come away from it inspired to make something!

Cats!

 Cat photos usually mean I haven't had a chance to sew anything and that would be correct!  So here is Alice as high up in my sewing room as she can get- Queen of everything!

 Alice again.

 Alice and Emma (crouching).  Can't remember what they are staring at so intently.

The girls watching their favorite show- Birds and Squirrels!