Life happens in the details! Oh sure ... looking at the large picture is great and needed to even show up but seriously ... the details are where it's at! For Me, at least!
Just a few details of a not so little quilt I created for a dear friend using her fabrics!
A modern twist to a tried and true quilt pattern: Flying Geese!
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A few months ago the kind folks at Cut Out + Keep contacted me to see if they could feature some of my sewing tutorials on their site and here it is! How cute that they are calling me a SEWING SUPERSTAR! Made me smile.
Anyways ... todays featured project is this Receipt Caddy ....
If you want out this site everyday and you'll see a new featured sewing project!
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You can hop on over to the Lark Crafts blog site right now and check out my latest last minute gift idea! The tutorial is all there and then of course you can attach the tag to my Simply Stitched Gifts book!
These tags are the thing I do when I'm feeling creative but don't want to spend too too much time on a big project.
And, add a few words of Thanks, Birthday Wishes or Encouragment and they'll make a nice little gift all by themselves!
Click here is find the exact tag!
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Yay ... it seems like forever ago that I was working on Simply Stitched Gifts, a free motion stitching book ... It's finally out in book stores and being sold on Amazon!
Here are a few of my very favorite projects in the book and actually as I was thumbing through it I was reminded that there really is something for everyone here ... and if you don't know how to free motion stitch, guess what ... instructions are included in the front basics section! Oh and thanks to Jen Osborn for contributing a couple of projects to my book. Jen's honey and wheat market tote is the best!
As you can probably see ... free motion stitching or free motion quilting is one of my most favorite things to do ... it's like sketching with you sewing machine ... it's freeing and really, there are no rules!
In Simply Stitched Gifts I've combined a love of fabric, stitching, sketching and painting to create super fun mixed media gifts to give or to just make and keep!
Here's the thing ... I love to teach ... be it free motion stitching, sewing, quilting, or photography, I just love to teach and I feel like with all my books, that's exactly what I'm doing! I hope you enjoy this book and I hope that you enjoy learning this fun technique ... free motion stitching!
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It's always a thrill to be asked by Stampington & Company to submit art projects ... in fact I'm working on a batch for some upcoming article as I type!
Here's the funny thing about the Guest artist post I did for Stampington Place. I was poking around the internet one morning and I came across Stampington & Company's blog! I didn't even know that they had a blog! So I was looking and ckickin here and there and thought, WOW this is really a fun blog that I need to check often.
I got up and went outside to water the plants ... you, know, it was Tuesday morning and that's one of the two days that us Californian folks are allowed to water the plants and lawn!
I came back inside, check my emails and sure enough there was an email from a Sarah that works at Stampington. So I opened up the email and it was from Sarah, Stampinton's Blog editor and she was asking me if I'd like to be a featured guest artist on the Stampington Place Blog! SERIOUSLY, I kid you not ... that's how it all started!
Hope you'll hop on over to the Stampinton Place Blog and check out the entire post. You'll soon learn that these free motion stitched girls were inspired by an online class I was taking through Jeanne Oliver, by Danielle Donaldson. Thanks friends for allowing me to post and share these girls!
She's a little awkward ... She's my favorite free motion stitched girl!
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What a sweet book to be involved with! When Ame Verso first contacted me to see if I was interested in contributing a few projects to this book, I didn't miss a beat ... and responded with a huge YES! This book is sold right HERE!
What was a bit different about this book is that we were given access to all the wonderful fabric that the FW community sells and were told that we could only use those fabrics. While it was fun selecting fabrics, it was also a little challenging to use only those fabric assigned to the project! But, I love a good challenge!
Oh and look ... My craft bucket is right there on the cover. Always a thrill to be a cover girl!
So, I have been sewing all my life, well, not ALL my life, but I start sewing with a big machine when I was just 7 years old. I soon learned that what thrilled me the most about sewing was the precision and the details. I LOVE detail!
The fabric I used here for the sewing machine cover is way too cute for words, and then paired with what looked like a chain link fence print fabric ... Sweetness happened!
With just one fat quarter cut up and rearranged ... this cute little mug rug make the prefect gift for that new office mate!
And of course every well loved apron has a handy pocket on it will a little extra stitching at the top to reinforce the outer upper edges ... Right?
This apron can be worn 2 different ways ... 1. With the bib up and over your head and 2. with the bid hanging down and to the inside. Super cute!
Truth be told ... this little dolly quilt was work. As much as I try to use softer more pastel colors, I'm a bright or dark color quilter ... that's just what feels right to me!
Ok, hope you enjoyed this sneak peek of the details of the projects I contributed to
50 Fat Quarter Makes ...
Available on Amazon and anywhere craft books are sold!
In case you missed all the previous blog posts ... here's a list to check out of the other contributors projects and giveaways! And thanks to Jo Avery for coordinatingthis blog hop!
Monday 1st June - Jo Avery - myBearpaw
Tuesday 2nd June - Liz Betts - BetsyBetts
Wednesday 3rd June - Ali Burdon - VeryBerryHandmade
Thursday 4th June - Jesse Fincham - MessyJesse
Friday 5th June - Louise Horler - SewScrumptious
Monday 8th June - Kevin Kosbab - Feeddog
Tuesday 9th June - Emily Levey - StrawberryPatchRamblings
Wednesday 10th June - Cynthia Shaffer
Thursday 11th June - Kaye Prince - MissPrint
Friday 12th June - Ame Verso - StitchCraftCreate
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Look what just arrived from Amazon! Coastal Crafts!
I'm so excited to share this book with you!
I feel like I gave birth to this book years ago ... seriously, it feels like a lifetime ago that I was stitching fish garland and painting seashells!
Here's a few fun facts about this book ... First, it's a multi craft book ... so it's not just sewing, or gluing or painting ... it's all crafty things in one book! And second, I intentionally created every project from supplies and materials that can be purchased at your local craft store like Michael's or Joann's! How fun it that?
Yup, I painted shells all nice and white to make this heart shaped hearth wreath ...
These candlesticks were one of the first projects I created for the book and I think they may be my favorite too!
And I covered these chuncky letters with glue to adorn my front porch!
Here are just a handful of other projects offered in the book to really get you into that beachy, coastal mood ... you know, cause summer is here, right, and who doesn't like a little coastal craftiness in there home during the warmer summer months?
LOVE this lampshade covered with the antique nautical map! LOVE!
And ... Nautical flag garland anyone? Yes, PLEASE!
And of course ... Linen pillows with huge stenciled shells are the perfect coastal touch for any window seat with a garden or beach view!
Oh, and a little embroidery on a few dishtowels make just the perfect hostess gift!
Or how about a little plaster and sand memorabilia!
Ok, so ... what are you waiting for ... seriously ... grab your copy of Coastal Crafts here on Amazon or anywhere craft books are sold, and get your craftiness on! Also, check out this nice post that Lark Crafts has up on their site today!
Enjoy!
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How fun to be a part of this amazing blog hop for Stitch, Craft, Create. With these 2 fabulous books coming out soon, 50 Fat Quarters Makes and Retro Mama: Scrap Happy Sewing ... A blog hop is the perfect way to catch up on what's going on out there in the blog world of some of the most talented designers/stitchers/crafters!
Look how fresh this cover is ... Oh and lookie there, how cute, my craft bucket is right there on the cover!
So spring is officially here and if you're like a lot of people that usually means spring cleaning! But wait ... that does not mean that you need to throw out your fabric stash ... Oh No ...it just means that you get to paw through it all as you are orgnizing it and you get to imagine all the fun projects waiting to be created!
You see, I have soooo much fabric but nothing is more inspiring to me than to just sit on my craft room floor, pull out the bins of fabric and scarps, and to fold and organize those bins ... it's like I discover all my favorite fabrics all over again!
So, as some of you know, I LOVE sewing details and I LOVE to hand sew ... so here's a peek at some of the details from the projects I contributed to 50 Fat Quarters Makes!
Just a little stitching detail on the pocket of this fabulous apron ... did you know that I used to manufacture a line of activewear back in the early 1990's? It was all about the details and the stitching quality!
Oh, um ... just a little snippet of a mug rug made with just 1 or maybe 2 fat quarters ... Ugh, can't remember!
Ok, how cute is that pig, rooster, chicken, sheep and fence fabric? I mean seriously!
Ah ... the craft bucket ... Mixing and matching of all those fabulous fat quarters and scraps! What fun!
And the baby doll or Teddy Bear mini quilt ... perfect for a spring picnic with your favorite little girl or boy!
Ok ... hop along to the other blog posts and check out what's going on ... rumor has it there are even several giveaways going on with books, fabric and fat quarters to be won!
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This little (8 x 8 inch) book, Fat Quarters; Small Fabrics, More Than 50 Big Ideas, is just packed with wonderful, creative and inspirational stitched projects! Amanda Caretsio and the entire Lark Crafts team did an amzaing job pulling this book together ... Bravo Team! It's a must have and a go to kind of book for those of us that collect Fat Quarters! Yup ... I love the size of a Fat Quarter!
Also, not going to lie, I had the amazing opportunity to contribute a handful of projects to this book! Oh and ... I actually lived with and handled every projects while photographing this book! You guessed it ... I fell in love with so many of the projects ... All of them were so well constructed ... made my job as photographer, way easy! Thanks to all the designers!
Of course I had favorites projects ... these cone hats are timeless! Too bad my kids are all adults now!
But I think this is one of my favorite photos in the book!
So, something you might not know about me ... I love to create patterns for 3-d things! It's a challenge but I totally love to think in 3-d terms! And I love little birds!
Perched on a mantel or sitting on top of a pile of books on a bookshelf!
And is it just me or do we all LOVE flying geese? Check this out ... Geese flying up the side of a denim skirt! I say YES!
Um ... ok, well ... I have about 15 pounds to loose until this skirt can zip up but stay tuned ... I'm getting there! Seriously I am!
How cute is this? And how easy is this? Pretty darn cute and super duper easy!
So, I love this photo for a few reasons ... Ok, as the photographer you get to pick the models you use to show off the pieces and yup ... that's my baby, Cameron! Oh and ... he loved this tie and said he would definitely wear this tie!
And this Boho bag is a favorite project in the book ... well, the project and the model ... Thanks Monica Mouet!
So as you can see from this very small sampling ... this book is just packed with fun! If you are a beginner or an experienced sewer, there are tons of things you can make with the FAt Quarter stash ... for sure!
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It's been almost a full year now, maybe longer, since I was out and about photographing Coastal crafts. I remember on some days it was all cold and windy and on other days the sun was just perfectly warm and soothing. I was reminded that I loved it all!
You see, creating a book full of projects that are inspired by the beach and the coast seemed like a natural fit for me. While I did enjoy making the projects and being creative with sand, shells and jute, what I enjoyed the most was thinking of all the childhood memories that were made at the beach.
My parents once rented a beach house that was right on the boardwalk in Newport Beach CA. It was a slice of heaven ... the warm sand, salty air and ocean waves were all right there outside the front door; a huge inviting playground for me and my sisters to explore.
We took take the ferry across to Balboa Island and walk around eating our frozen bananas, strolling really, visiting with others who were strolling and walking their dogs. We would peer into the small houses that lined the narrow streets and imagined someday living that type of life.
And then there was the time when I mom decided she was going to learn how to sail. She did well from what I can remember ... she learned all the terms and mastered a few things nessesary to be let loose in the bay on her own. And the end of the story ... well, let's just say that she arrived back home soaking wet and wrapped up in a beach towel!
Ah, and then there was the time when just my dad and I took a weekend long vacation to San Diego to visit the area and to chat about whether I should go to college after high school or join the Navy.
I went to college, (Cal State University Long Beach) studied textiles (surprised?) and guess what ... I lived right on the boardwalk in Seal Beach and loved every single day of it ... Probably not surprised!
BTW ... Coastal crafts will hit the book store and crafts stores in your area on May 26th! If you want to pre-order a copy, Amazon is selling it right now!
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Stitchy, stitchy goodness ...It's all I want to do these days! I love to free motion stitch ... ok, not that perfect type stitching where you have to follow a pattern and all but that freehand type of machine embroidery, where you let down your hair and let loose!
About a week ago I joined a friend of mine, Tracy Schultz and off we went to LA to take a class at French General.
Mandy Patullo was teaching here in the states for the first time ... The Bonny Birds! What a treat and what a delight to hear her story, inspirations and to learn a bit about her finger turn applique process while creating a bonny bird on an antique quilt square.
Here's how my bird started out ... didn't finish the bird that night cauase of course I started chatting with some of the gals including French General owner Kaari Meng ... only to find out that she's working with the same editor I'm working with at Sterling Publishing in NY ... Small, small crafty world!
So I pulled out my Boony Bird last night and I just started adding bits of fabric here and there to make a wing and an eye.
Added a little chain stitch around the eye and popped in a little button, right there in the middle!
Nexted I added a few French knots to the under belly and the wing, oh and embroidered a couple of bird feet as well.
The little tail was missing something so I grabbed some gold metalic thread and added a few sparkly feathers to the end.
And then the most fun part of this whole project ... a little free motion stitched tree with branch for the little bonny bird to perch on!
At this point I walked away from him for a few hours ... went to a football game then came back and without even thinking, I started painting the tree teal! I was moving so fast here that I didn't even have a water bowl around so I was using my ice tea to water down my paints and to clean my brushes!
Truth be told ... this is not the first time nor the last time I'll be using my tea as water ... gives it all a little antiqued look, don't you think?
I love the teal painted tree!
And branches!
Filled in a few little dots with red paint and set it all aside to dry.
At this point I'm not sure where this quilt panel will end up ... I may mount it to watercolor paper or even stitch it to this tote to carry my knitting supplies back and forth from my knitting group!
Stay tuned ... More stitchy, stitchy goodness to come ... for sure!
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Turns out that last year at this exact time I was very, very busy ... photographing like 4 books at the same time! This book, Felt-o-ween, was just one of the favorites ... or at least one of the first book that I received this season ... yup it takes about 1 full year for a book to hit the stands after I finish photography!
I hope that from the cover shot alone you can see how fun this was to shoot and, how wonderful it was to create a few projects for the fabulous Kathy Sheldon and Amanda Carestio ... 2 authors that I am fortunate enough to call friends!
Here's a few of my favorite projects. How fun are these cupcake toppers by Laura Howard?
Here's one of my contributions to the book ... oh, along with the black birds on the cover!
This fab bracelet and necklace combo is one of Kathy's projects ... just how fun is this? Seriously!
And these ... Yup, I made them ... and now looking at them again after a year has gone by, I really don't even know where they are! Darn they are cute with these old Doc Martins but will be even cuter with my new Doc's I just bought in London!
Okay so ... as you can see, this is sort of a must have book wouldn't you say!
I promise, it will not disappoint!
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I'm so very excited to share with you my latest book that I co-authored with Jenny Doh ... SERGE IT!
Inside these pages you'll find some new and fun projects to make with that serger you bought, that you just knew you had to have! Right? Well, you were right! You need a serger to make these adorable trivets!
Ok, so this is not a book about how to use that serger. Oh sure we do have a pretty hefty basics sections that walks you through the parts of the serger and talks about the stitches that a basic serger will make, but also ... I give you a little tip on how to change the thread on that darn machine that's makes it easy peasy!
So check it out here on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and everywhere else books are sold. I don't think you'll be disappointed. The projects I designed and made are resfreshing, fun and of course, some are made from recycled garments, like a skirt that's make from a discarded man's sweater!
And then a cute, not so little, ruffled purse can happen also! So dust off your serger, or take it in for a tune up and start serging!
Happy Sewing ...
HAPPY SERGING!
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A few months ago Judith Norman contacted me and asked if I would be interested in contributing an apron for her new adventure ... I Heart Aprons, an enhanced e-book for her new web site Craft. Chat. Eat. I jumped on the chance and the rest is history! Here's info on Judith's site, the e-book and a closer look at the apron I contributed ... so, Come Check It Out!
CRAFT. CHAT. EAT. – WEB TV FOR CREATIVE LIVING PUBLISHES
I ♥ APRONS: 10 “MAKE IT PRETTY” SEW & NO SEW APRON PROJECTS
ENHANCED E-BOOK
“There’s something about aprons,” said I ♥ Aprons’™ creator, editor and video producer, Judith Norman. “The sight of them invokes warm childhood memories. Putting one on stimulates a woman’s confidence. And, making aprons is a great way to learn how to sew, enrich your creativity, or just relax.”
I ♥ Aprons™ provides readers with downloadable patterns, helpful illustrations, and three video tutorials: The Dish Towel Apron ft. Sew Crafty Kids (sponsored by Coats & Clark); I ♥ Aprons’™ cover look – The Pillowcase Apron w/Fabric Collage Hem (sponsored by Aurifil); and How to Apply Crochet Edging to Fabric (sponsored by Red Heart Yarns). Additional I ♥ Aprons™ sponsor support came from the online store, WoolFeltCentral.com.
“I ♥ Aprons™ has projects for everyone, regardless of sewing and crafting experience,” said Judith Norman. We’re really excited about I ♥ Aprons’™ Apron pattern and video tutorial introduces apron-making to a new generation of sewers.”
I ♥ Aprons’™ contributing creative blogger designers include: Melony Bradley (Melony Bradley Designs), Shannon Clark (Little Kids Grow), Angelina Frachiolla (JoJoand Eloise),Charlotte and Jessie Mae Frachiolla (Sew Crafty Kids); EllynAnne Geisel (Apron Memories), Megan Hunt (Princess Lasertron), Judith Norman (Craft. Chat. Eat.), Emeline Seet(Scrapvilla), Cynthia Shaffer (Cynthia Shaffer), and Lisa Tutman-Oglesby (celebrate CREATIVITY). I ♥ Aprons™ features illustrations by Rufus Norman (Art By Rufus).
I ♥ Aprons™ the enhanced e-book will be available – for free – Tuesday, September 10, 2013, exclusively at www.craftchateat.com in formats suitable for iPad, iPhone, Kindle, Nook, Sony, android devices, desktop computers, and laptops.
A printed perfect bound I ♥ Aprons™ book with a DVD featuring the three video tutorials can be purchased exclusively from www.craftchateat.com for $26.99, plus shipping and handling.
Craft. Chat. Eat. – Web TV for Creative Living (www.craftchateat.com) is an online network schedule to launch in late 2013 with original, professionally produced, long-form crafts, DIY, and cooking lifestyle webseries.
For more information about I ♥ Aprons™, contact Judith Norman at [email protected]
Here are a few details of the apron I contributed ... The instructions to make this apron are right there in the I Heart Aprons e-book!
Included on the e-book are video's instructing you on how to crochet the little edge around this apron.
Just close up details of the linen pocket and embroidery.
And a little word perferctly places at the waistband!
Hope you'll check out the full tutorial and instructions in I Heart Aprons, the enhanced e-book.
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In case you haven't figured it out yet ... I LOVE TO FREE MOTION STITCH!
I LOVE everything about it ... the imperfections that happen because I was going too fast, or not fast enough. I Love the buttery feeling under my hands as I navigate the sewing machine over simple plain muslin.
And then to see the outcome, after a little bit of stress and tense shoulders is always worth it!
Here's what I did:
First you want to go to the Burlap Tote Tutorial I have a few days here and cut out all the parts and pieces needed to make one of those totes.
What I did not realize was just how much the boots I was wearing was going to effect the control, or in this case, lack of control ... I had with the foot pedal! Oh, my ... total lead foot here!
And there you have it ... Easy Peasy and one so fun ... and the perfect size and shape to hold your laptop and wallet ... oh any you lipstick!
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How fun is this?
And this? And guess what? They are the perfect size tote to carry a large laptop!
Right around the holidays I found these amazing fabrics ... Printed Burlap ... Oh my! I was in love and right away I knew what I was going to make with them.
When I got home from the fabric store, I started riffling through my mass of stash fabrics and gathered a few coordinating cotton for lining and jute webbing to be used as the straps. Oh and a bit of silk shantung ... Love to mix unexpected fabrics!
Want to make some?
Here's what you do:
I was in mass production mode here. As you can see I have 3 totes in the works at one time!
Printed burlap tote : : Easy Peasy!
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Just playing around here.
Moving kind of fast and not thinking, just creating.
Being inspired by old botanical prints.
And finding the back side of some of these pieces to be even more interesting than the front.
Happy Stitching, Sketching and Doodling with your sewing machine!
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Here's a funny thing you might like to know about me ... when I have lots of projects on my plate and it seems like I don't have any time to really work on them, I tell myself to just start, just start even if I only have 10 minutes before I need to run out the door ... just start.
Usually that piece that I really quick "just start" creating, will become something at some point.
This piece above was one of of those quick start projects. Seriously ... the kids were all hanging out at our house, which is almost always the case, and they were hungry, of course, so we all decided to go out for dinner. While everyone was putting on their shoes and deciding what's for dinner, I quick created the background for this little panel.
Then, when I returned from dinner and did have a bit more time, my creative juices were flowing and next thing you know ... this little free motion stitched panel has been stitched, painted and embroidered on!
The same thing happened with this stitched and painted panel. While at first it was just a stitched and painted panel, I thought how fun it would be to make a little free motion stitched sampler book.
To make the pages for the book, I used vinyl that I bought at my local fabric store, and stitched pockets on several pages ... slightly wider than the tags I wanted to use.
Next I free motion stitched on a big panel of layered muslin and batting, then cut up different motifs and patterns that I liked. Then, stitched the samples onto the tag and there you have it ... a little book of free motion samples.
NOTE: Before I free motion stitch any project, I do warm up drills on a sandwich of muslin and batting and more often than not, I'll use these stitched warm ups in project or cut them up and make them into a banner or bunting.
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It was weekend of work, work and even more work ... and I couldn't stop the ideas from flowing.
In fact I got up early Saturday morning and then went to bed late that night with my mind still spinning over new ideas to stitch/sketch/doodle/paint on fabric and paper.
I couldn't stop thinking about all the possibilities for this type of organic, free motion stitching, doodling, sketching, painting ... or whatever you want to call it.
Here's what I did:
I first adhered a panel of muslin to a panel of white batting, using spray adhesive. Next I cut out a few circles in a variety of colors and glued them down using a fabric glue stick. And then the fun began ... I free motion stitched around the circles creating flowers and just random shapes.
Next I painted the panel using these acrylic paints. I added color to the insides of the petals and to the outer edges of some flowers. At some point I even went in and added some white paint just to pop a few areas.
And then ... of course ... a little embroidery with white perl cotton adds the little perfect details that I love so much.
So fun don't you think? More samples to come ... Lord knows I made a ton!
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It's a funny thing ... I have never thought much about art journaling, except to think that that's just not for me. I'm not an art journaler type. And then again, maybe I am, but not in the way most people think of art journaling ... Who knew?
I have a few books, old book, that I carry around with me and when my mind needs a rest from life, baseball, photography, I'll whip that book out and just start doodling.
I've found out that before I can paint, like on a canvas, I have to get paint on some sort of surface, just to get the juices flowing again and to be reminded of the feel of the paint ... and ... to quiet my mind.
So what do I paint on, you might ask. Well sometimes it is a panel of wood, canvas or, as of late ... the doodles in my books.
Without thinking too much and often late at night, like tonight, the paint comes out and happens to land on these doodles.
And of course being the stitcher type that I am ... next thing you know ... I'm hand sewing on the pages with big running stitches and French knots. Oh how I love to hand sew!
I'm not sure if these pages are "done" ...
I'm not worried about finishing anything right now, just happy to have my doodles and these old books to embellish, paint and sew!
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