How To: Make a Pet Pillow

A great way to use scraps, discarded and unwearable clothing is to make pet pillows! I keep a container on my sewing table and I fill it with threads and bits of fabric. When it's full, I start stuffing a pillow. My pillows vary, around 14"x14" to 20"x20". The yellow one above is an old shirt (you can see the placket). I'm still stuffing that one. When I have several finished, I deliver them to my local SPCA. It is fun to see animals enjoying them. Knowing that I'm keeping fabric out of the landfill is nice too!

Pattern Review: The Darling Handbag

Here is a Darling Handbag I made from this pattern by The Quilt Man. It's a very easy, quick pattern and a great purse! A nice size for everyday and it opens really wide so you can see the contents easily. He sells kits with the pattern, but I opted to pick out my own fabrics. I used fusible fleece inside as directed in the pattern. An elastic hair band is the button loop. He includes instructions for a unique fabric button as well. I decided to use a vintage button from my collection. I plan on trying out his button directions soon. The Darling Handbag could actually be reversible. It folds flat for storage. I will definitely be making this one again!

Book Review: Elm Creek Quilts Novels

The Elm Creek Quilts Novels by Jennifer Chiaverini are fabulous. She is an expert storyteller and a prolific writer. With more than 12 books that I am aware of, she manages to make each one interesting and different. The stories center around a group of women quilters. Some take place in the present, others are more historical novels. Each one draws me in so I am staying up way too late reading because I just can't put it down! There are of course mentions of sewing and quilting and quilt blocks etc., but I think non-sewers would enjoy this series as much as quilters would. www.elmcreek.net

Beaded Carnival Mask

I have been invited to a Canevale di Venezia (Carnival of Venice) dinner/dance! So here is my mask. I took a piece of paper and just started cutting until I had a shape and size that would work. Next I cut out a back and front of fabric and 1 piece of fusible fleece. I fused the fleece to the wrong side of the fabric. I sewed the 2 fabric pieces, right sides together, all around except for the eye holes. I clipped the corners and curves and turned it inside out through the eye holes. Press. As you can see above, I zigzag stitched the eyes. Then I started beading, gaining inspiration from the fabric design. I used a regular needle and thread with seed beads, bugle beads, iridescent sequins and others I had left over from past projects. I had these two organza shoe laces (I knew I would use them someday!) and I sewed them to the edges for ties. I beaded the ends to add weight and color. When I wear it, the short ends will hang down in front and the long ends will tie in back.

Book Review: Crazy Quilt with Attitude

Crazy Quilting with Attitude by Barbara Randle, published by Krause Publications in 2003( http://www.krause.com/ )

This is a great, easy to read book full of colorful photos. Contains the basic how-to's for machine crazy quilting as well as actual project instructions. Loads of beautiful, inspiring pictures by the author and others so you can see the possibilities. A quick read enables you can get on with the fun of creating! See more of Barbara's work at http://www.randledesigns.com/