Nesting Dolls

Its a family photo of my Russian nesting dolls! My daughter arranged them, but I have been thinking for awhile that I would like to make some fabric ones. I love all the bright colors and patterns. In case you are wondering- 3 are Russian and one is East Indian. My son even has one of sea animals but I couldn't find them for the picture.

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!

T-Shirt Hem Ideas

I've been noticing a lot of t-shirt edges left unfinished. Here are several examples. The yellow shirt has a double neck band with the edges left raw to curl.

My son's shirt has 2 sleeves, both left unhemmed. The bottom hem is traditional and then has a second strip of red added under it.

This gray shirt was hemmed and then the hem was cut along the fold line. The knit used is unique because it reverses to blue, but it is a single jersey knit.

This dress has several tiers, none of them hemmed. How easy is that?!

Inspiration-Kid Art

Now, I may be biased, but I love my kids' artwork! The vibrant colors and energetic expressions! I can just see the snowman as a quilt. I don't normally think of orange and pink together, but it works with the Statue of Liberty.

I want a pillow with this guy on it. He makes me smile every time I look at him.

The leopard among the leaves and this jellyfish would be great as applique.

The colors of the blue sky and the yellow leaves- I can almost feel a cool autumn breeze. If you ever need something fresh to inspire you, take a look at an exhibit of children's art. They are so uninhibited with colors and forms. A trip to a modern art museum might inspire you the same way.

Ode to a Quilt

The quilt that nudged me into my current style of quilting. It is not fancy or even carefully sewn, but it is an honest, hard working quilt that has withstood 10 years of daily use and frequent machine washing. I didn't sew it. My husband won it as a door prize at a conference. I have no idea who made it, but I would love to be able to tell that person thank you for their time and effort. My first baby and I would lounge on it. Then my second baby joined us. It is the perfect size for picnics, inside and out. My kids use it for snack time everyday. I spread it outside to fold clean laundry on. We cuddle under it on cold nights and build forts with it. I have patched it many times. The colors are faded and the binding needs replacing again, but it holds so many memories! I know it doesn't look special now, but it got me thinking. This person wasn't an expert, yet they made a truly wonderful quilt. Inspired, I played with the design and came up with a style that I have sewn at least 15 times. I made an instruction booklet-#309 Flip Quilt that is available at http://catsongstitchery.etsy.com/ I hope my quilts will be as treasured and loved as this one. So here's to imperfection and trying something new! I hope you will. And thank you to the quilter who inspired me.

This is one of mine.

Recently Visited Sites

Last night, I was surfing around and found these interesting sites:
www.greenkitchen.com Has fun craft info.
www.quiltersmuse.com Crazy quilt inspiration. Nice closeups.
www.fiberfantasies.wordpress.com Quilt history and some great crazy quilt closeups.
www.diynetwork.com Crafts and organizing info etc.
www.hgtv.com Crafts, home dec etc.
www.chihuly.com/glass.html This glass artist is inspiring with brilliant colors.
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com Good info.

Book Review: Omiyage by Kumiko Sudo

I have made many items from Kumiko Sudo's books, "Omiyage" and "Kokoro no Te". Both are fabulous. The pictures are beautiful and the instructions are easy to follow. The projects are mostly handsewn and small enough to take places so they are perfect for waiting rooms etc. I really like the permission she gives teachers in "Omiyage" and the lesson plans in the back of the book along with traceable patterns. "Kokoro no Te" also offers traceable patterns for beautiful small bags with beading, the tiny kimono, and the needle book shown above as well as the pansy pin that I like to make for gifts. Both books are well worth checking out!

The Cat Sisters- Cute Pet Pictures

Here they are, the girls responsible for the name Cat Song Stitchery. I was up late one night trying to come up with a name for my new shop (http://catsongstitchery.etsy.com ) when one of them came sauntering through the room, singing! The rest is history. They sing often.

They also enjoy dressing up. Really! She sat like that for almost an hour, enjoying all the attention. They like to look outside and ride my exercise bike too.

Fall Fashion-2009

I just checked out the fall 2009 fashion forecast at http://www.trendhunter.com/ It gives you plenty to think about even if you don't follow fads. Here are a few things to look forward to: Matryoshka Couture (Russian nesting dolls as dresses), Space Glam, Edgy Victorian, Vampire Punk, Muppet-Inspired Fashion (Kermit!), Punk Geisha Fusion, 80's Disco, and lots of black, among other things! It is fun to look at and you can always pick out a theme and make a purse or a scarf. I just might pull out my old Kermit and wear him around my neck next fall!