Amy Made That! ...by eamylove

Modern Mini Challenge Entry

2013-06-12T16:27:00.001-04:00

I am always entering contests...

you've gotta play to win, right?

Here's one that almost anyone can enter!

Ellison Lane is hosting the

Modern Mini Challenge, for the second year in a row.

I know I enjoyed this challenge last year,

when my little mug rug

made it to the finals!

I really love making smaller projects,

like mug rugs...

pillows...

and table toppers.

I kind of had a tough time choosing

which project I wanted to submit.

{Only one entry per person, please.}

I would have definitely chosen my paper-pieced

Signature Pillow,

made from the awesome tutorial

over at Six White Horses.

However, the entry has to have been made within the past 6 months.

That's when I decided to enter my From The Heart pillow.
For me, the challenge was to take some ideas
from others, add my own,
and end up with something that reflects my own
personal style and sense of design.

I used the tutorial found at Bijoux Lovely,

to create the herringbone block.
Then I made a pretty heart-shaped pattern
and cut out my applique.

I fused it to my background
and blanket-stitched it in place.
I quilted a casual stipple design all over the center...

then added straight-line stitching for the borders.

The back was finished using my own tutorial,
with a covered zipper.

Valentine's Day is only once a year,

but, maybe because my maiden name was Love,

I think this pillow works any day!

Stop over to see the many many minis...

you'll leave with a smile on your face!

Week #2 - Zakka 2.0 Let's Do Lunch!

2013-06-11T16:14:00.000-04:00

All over blogland,

sweet peppers have been popping up,
thanks to the Patchwork, Please Zakka 2.0 sew along!

Even though this was a fairly straightforward project,

I was amazed at the variety and innovation
people put into it.

{Hop on over to Lindsey's blog, and then to the Flickr group, and you'll see what I mean!}

My photo even made Explore on Flickr!

I can't wait to see what happens this week,

with the Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner towels.

{Here's my contribution: LUNCH!}

My sister Susie gifted me with a piece of cotton toweling

by Moda, finished off on the side edges

with a pretty vintage green stripe.

Source: Quilter Studio

I just knew it was perfect for this project!

I chose some 30's repro scraps and a few other favorites

and went to work.

The pattern calls for enlarging the letters in the words,

but my toweling was only 16" wide,

so didn't enlarge any of the templates,

including the adorable salt and pepper shakers.

I followed the directions provided, with success.

When the salt and pepper shakers were done,

they looked a wee bit like girls in dresses, to me.

Luckily, I had some text prints on hand,

for the finishing touch!

{Ta-da!}

Now, you may know I love me some ricrac!

Ayumi added such a darling detail, using ricrac

for a little hanger up in the corner of the towel.

Instead, I decided to use a 2" x 6 1/2" scrap of

my precious sunshine yellow

Recipe for Friendship fabric,

to make my little hanger.

I used the same print for the towel binding.

I only had to finish the top and bottom edges of my towel,

so this was a really quick and fun project,

and it used minimal fabric.

Now for my likes and dislikes...dislikes are first:

Let me just reveal to you now that I'm a tightwad

when it comes to fabric...and everything else, I guess.

There is just no way I'm going to use

the amount of LINEN that is suggested,

for making even one towel.

{Much as I love the look, I just can't do that!}

Not only that,

I prefer using cotton tea towels, except for drying glassware.

If I hadn't had this awesome piece of Moda toweling,

I would have used one of the cotton towels

I like for my Stay-Put tea towels.

{They come in all different colors, and would be great

for this project...and not so expensive.}

And my "likes" are numerous this week...

I just love this project in general,

for its gift potential and versatility.

I can visualize these vintage-style shapes decorating

lots of other kitchen items, too!

{How about some hot pads with the salt and pepper shakers?}

Fusible applique is such a fun and useful technique,

and I always feel a sense of success using this method,

even in shapes and letters with sharp curves.

The way these tiny scraps can add up to something so pretty

never ceases to amaze me.

I especially loved the method Ayumi described for attaching the binding.
I had no problems securing the edging neatly.

My new LUNCH towel is so sweet and sentimental.

It reminds me of all the special kitchens of my childhood...

all of my grandmas and my great-grandmother

were fabulous cooks.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to buy some more toweling

and finish the set!

Bell Pepper Coasters...Zakka 2.0 Sew Along - Week 1

2013-06-05T05:58:00.001-04:00

Have you joined yet?

The Zakka 2.0 Sew Along has begun!

All you need is a copy of Patchwork Please! by Ayumi Takahashi

and a desire to have fun, sewing cool projects!

I know, I know, I know...
I need another sew along like I need another yard of fabric.

{Well, not like that. I legitimately always need another yard of fabric.}

I just could not resist joining Lindsey and Debbie,

since I have met so many amazing bloggers through the original

Zakka Style Sew Along!

Let's get going, with week #1's project:

Bell Pepper Coasters!

I am delighted to report that this project is quick and easy.

That didn't stop me from messing up the first pepper I made.

I forgot to put the batting inside, before I stitched the front and back

pieces together!!!

{It kind of looks more like an apple at this point...I think I'll do something with it later. Watch for it!}

Anyway, I got it right the next try.

Look how cute the back looks, too!

{BTW...I used fusible fleece instead of regular batting. No shifting or bunching while I stitched the layers together.}

Then I got smart, and made the other 3 coasters

all at the same time, assembly line style.

I cut all of my scrap pieces out,

and I used freezer paper to create my templates.

That way I could just stitch along the edges of the templates,

instead of drawing the patterns on the fabric.

I trimmed very near the edge,

and it was easy to press the pieces flat.

Here is a great tip to use, whenever you are leaving openings for turning:

In addition to backstitching at the starting and stopping points,

sew a few stitches from the seamline to the edge of the fabric.

{Backstitch those stitches, too.}

I used that tip to make a minor adjustment to the pepper instructions.

The pattern says to sew a seam to connect two of the prints,

then use a seam ripper to partially open the seam.

Instead, I just left part of the seam open, for turning later.

I enjoyed making a whole set of four coasters, one from each color:

red, orange, yellow and green.

I'm going to sum up my "likes" and "dislikes"

for each project I complete for the sew along:

Dislikes are first...

*I had some trouble understanding the very first step

of the instructions, possibly

because I didn't know what the goal was.

Once I realized that this technique was similar to one

used by Eleanor Burns, for applique,

I could picture what was supposed to happen.

A diagram would have been very helpful here.

{This comment may reappear in subsequent posts.}

*This is not truly a dislike,

but I found it easier to just make simple curves

for the templates. The detailed lines in the pattern

were too fine to show up once the pieces were sewn and pressed.

And the likes...

*This project was perfect for small scraps!

In fact, I adjusted my cutting measurements

to be just a bit larger than the templates.

It's fun to use favorite bits of fabrics in small projects like this.

*I spent almost no time making the last three coasters.

As soon as I understood the process,

they practically made themselves.

*They are just as cute on the back as on the front,

if you ask me!

*The best like of all the "likes"...

if you head over to Penny's post at Sew Take A Hike,

she has easy directions to convert this project into

the most awesome matching hotpad!!!

I got busy and put my own hotpad together in no time.

It's just like a mommy to my little baby green coaster.

And the back shows a nice view of some Heather Bailey fabric.

I'm a bit worried that some of the other projects

in the book will be much more involved.

At the pace of one project per week,

I'll just be joining in whenever it suits me.

{I'm so glad it suits me this week.}

No pressure.

Won't you join, too?

New Grab and Go Jelly Roll Purses

2013-06-03T12:03:00.000-04:00

In my last post, I showed a sneak peek

of a recent project,

made with Moda's Summer Breeze fabric line.

As promised, I'm ready to reveal...

a PURSE, constructed from a great pattern

by Mommy's Thimble,

called the Easy Jellyroll Grab and Go Bag!

This is not the first time I've made this pattern.

Want to see some old ones I made, long before my blog was even born?

{Of course you do!}

This one was made from Summer Soiree
by Paula Prass.
I've made a lot of purses from this fabric line...
every one was a head-turner.

Here's a bright beauty made with

various lines...Andalucia from Patti Young,

Nicey Jane from Heather Bailey,

and even a bit of Aviary from Joel Dewberry.

This is what's under that cute flap.

I've made some that I don't have photos for,
but here's the last example I can share.
For this one, I chose some
prints from Patisserie by Fig Tree Quilts.

One of my friends ha the Patisserie purse,

and she asked me to make this purse again,
but a little bit larger,

so she could carry her new tablet

and a few other key belongings with her.

She fell in love with the Dear Stella prints I showed her,

in navy blue and orange.

The line is called Anchors Aweigh.

I think she's going to love this summer bag,

with its beachy theme.

I love the sharp navy and white print

I used for the inside,

called Songbird by Carina Gardner.

The snazzy stripes made a great handle strap!

I love this pattern for all of its
teachable moments.
Because of these bags,
I know how to install magnetic snaps...

create zippered interior pockets...

and make this sweet style of outer pocket.

Oh, and gussets no longer give me headaches!

If you'd like to try purse-making,
this pattern is great for beginners and experts alike!
Head on over to Mommy's Thimble on Etsy
for a big giant School is Out sale...
5 PDF patterns for only $20!

My New Summer Cottage - June Across the Pond Sew Along

2013-06-02T12:09:00.003-04:00

Welcome, friends,

to the June edition of the

Across the Pond Sew Along!

It's The Patchsmith's turn to choose the theme,

and she has selected a sweet House Ornament.

As of June 1, Amanda had already

constructed two adorable little cottages!

Pop on over to her post, to see her clever innovation

for the red one shown below.

{You won't be sorry!}

Photo by Amanda The Patchsmith

The best part about this month's project is that

we can all make these adorable houses

from a free pattern by Kim of Retromama!

If you go to Flickr and search for "Retromama houses,"

you will come up with all sorts of inspiration.

Here is a super sweet one made by Kim - Retromama herself.

Photo from Kim of Retromama

I found this darling little Christmas house,

made by Kylie of Three Honeybees.

It's just one of many cuties she has made.

{Look at the Christmas tree in the window...heavenly!}

Photo by Kylie of Three Honeybees

The little houses are made as ornaments, with ribbons for hanging.

Take a look at what Josee of cul de sac blog has done with her houses,

decorating a beautiful curtain valance.

You must visit her post to see and believe

the astonishing details on each little cottage!

{Utterly charming, right?}

Photo by Josee of cul de sac blog

And now...there's a new building over at Susie's Sunroom,
and she's added all the charm of an English garden
to her sweet little cottage!

{I think I had an English accent when I read her post to myself.}

Photo from Susie's Sunroom

I must say that if I'd seen Susie's house first, my window
might have had a contrasting color of thread
for the stitching. Brilliant touch!

I have to admit that I've had this house ornament

on my must-make list for quite a while.

I even had this issue of Make It Yourself

magazine by BH&G since late 2012,

which featured the same pattern,

among dozens of other great projects.

{My pages are nearly all dog-eared.}

The Across the Pond Sew Along

provides me with that little

kick in the pants that I need,

so that I actually make a few of those must-do things!

Using some scraps from a recent project,

I set to work building my own little house.

Here's the result, and I'm so pleased with it!

Why, oh why, did I wait so long to build my dream house?
I love every little detail.

It's just so tiny and sweet.
I made the house number from a bit of selvage,
and it happens to be the house number of someone
in my real life. ;)

Like The Patchsmith,

I found myself missing a coordinating

piece of ribbon for hanging.

I improvised with my pinking shears,

to make a fabric strip hanger.

The back of this house is plain,

but if I make any more, I might invest

some time into adding details on the reverse side.

{The Patchsmith's back yard puts mine to shame.}

I have to admit that

this house is really very small,

and it took me a while to turn it inside out

after stitching it together.

I think it was worth the effort, though. I love it!

I'm so glad that I waited until the last step
to add the little button doorknob.

I have some great polyfil that resists clumping,

and it was just right for this tiny project.

I picked it up at my local Walmart
and would recommend it for stuffed softies
and really small projects like this one.

Wouldn't this house make an adorable pincushion???

{Or a little housewarming or hostess gift?}

We hope you'll be inspired to join us in our

little Sew Along and add your photos to our Flickr group.

{Past finishes or latecomers are always welcome, too.}

Next time I post,

I'll let you know what else I made with my little house fabrics.

{If you want to know where my scraps came from...come back soon!}

Celebrate! A New Mug Rug Pattern

2013-05-24T21:34:00.002-04:00

This weekend I've got something to celebrate...

I've launched my new PDF pattern

for a fun and fresh new mug rug,

called...Celebrate!

I've gotta tell you that I didn't really plan

for this to be my next pattern,

but I've had the idea in my mind for a long time.

It came to life when

I made a kitchen-themed basket

for my son's Relay for Life team to raffle,

and I made this little mug rug as part of the prize.

I began with a Divided Basket

from my beloved Noodlehead pattern,

in a turquoise and lime color scheme.

I added a bunch of fun turquoise and lime stuff,

like napkins, a silicone trivet,

a candle, some straws, and some picnic plates.

Here's the back of the basket.

See that Denyse Schmidt print I picked up at my JoAnn store?

I featured it, adding a sweet lime polka dot

and a fabulous turquoise chevron from Riley Blake!

I filled it with some more handmade goodies...

a stay-put tea towel

and some pretty coasters.

I know you want to see more of those coasters, right?

I whipped them up using my own Moda Bake Shop tutorial.

I'm hoping the winner of the basket

will feel happy each time she uses it.

When I made my little mug rug,

I took some photos and made some notes...

and now I've got the pattern ready for sale!

There's something for everyone here...

a bit of applique using fusible webbing...

And a wee bit of embroidery...

All tied together with some bright binding.

You can find the Celebrate Mug Rug pattern

in my pattern shop on Craftsy.

{Craftsy is running a sale all weekend

in honor of Memorial Day...

even more reason to celebrate!}

It's also available in my shop on Etsy,

called eamylove.

Postage Stamp Basket Blocks

2013-05-23T20:22:00.000-04:00

I have a "thing" for baskets...

and another "thing" for pincushions.

Here's one way I took care of both of those "things."

The May theme for the Across The Pond Sew Along
is BASKETS, and I must confess I had a head-start making mine.
Look at this stack of blocks that I made
a long time ago...

I started with a whole bunch of 5" squares of fabrics
from a Thimbleberries club hosted by a shop that no longer exists.

These days I gravitate toward brighter, more modern fabrics,
but I'm still deeply in love with
these little basket blocks.

Even the name is cute...Postage Stamp Baskets!
In 1976 the USA celebrated its bicentennial,
and interest in quilting and other colonial arts
experienced a revival.
Eighteen months after the Bicentennial
a 13-cent stamp was issued,
honoring the quilters of America.

{Yes...13 cents...tells you how long ago that happened!}

Years later, Alex Anderson featured this quilt block
on her show Simply Quilts, seen on HGTV in the 1990's.
That's when I learned to make this block.

You can find Alex's updated video tutorial today
on The Quilt Show website!

A few years ago, I actually assembled
my black and tan basket blocks into this little table topper.

{Did I ever tell you how much I love quilts that are set on point?}

I was just learning to stipple quilt when I made this one,
and it's slightly embarrassing,
yet endearing at the same time.

{I had tension issues...but that's okay.}

My points are cut off more often than not.
When that happens,
I always claim that I did that on purpose,
to make it "primitive".

;)

{I'm going to make up a word for it...primitize.
Say it with me: I primitized my quilt.}

I've got a second mini-quilt top made,
this one in shades of green and red.

Won't this be pretty for Christmas?

{Maybe this Christmas???}

Oh.My. This one is really primitized!

I've still got a basketful of basket blocks left...
so I stitched up a few into those primitive pincushions
I mentioned above.

I paired them up with a coordinating 4-patch, for the back.

They are so simple...just stitched together,
with an opening for turning.
Here's how they looked when I turned them right-side-out and
gave them a nice pressing with the iron.

I just added a bit of stuffing and stitched them closed.

I still have a whole bunch left...

What should I make???
More pincushions?

Or use the rest in one more super-scrappy, primitized quilt?

{Now accepting: free advice.}

Christmas Basket for May

2013-05-15T10:02:00.001-04:00

All of my regular visitors know that

this month's Across the Pond Sew Along

theme is BASKETS...

and that I'm trying to make at least one

Christmas-y project

every month in 2013.

I'm all excited that I combined the two goals

this month, when I created my latest

Divided Basket from the pattern by Noodlehead!

Even though most of my projects for Christmas 2013

have used Cherry Christmas fabrics,

I strayed away from those prints,

opting instead for a basket that is more Winter-themed.

{No surprise that I love the ice blue and lime green together.}

For the accent on the pocket and the handles,

I stepped out and used one of my beloved Boho Girl prints!

This basket could be used all winter,

and not just for Christmas.

As much as I like the front...

I really adore the back, with the little trees

and children making snow angels!

{These prints are from 12 Joys of Christmas by Sheri Berry, from 2011.}

I really have this pattern down now...

and it's a source of relaxation for me to whip one up.
It's my new go-to gift project, too.

Last week, I needed a lovely

Mother's Day present for my mother-in-law.

She has pretty peach and blue tones in her kitchen,

so I selected some Buttercup prints

by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda.

She loved her present...

maybe she'll use it for eating outside this summer.

It would be great for carrying napkins and utensils.

The back is just as pretty as the front!

I have yet to leave out the pocket detail,

even though that's a suggested design option.

Come back soon...I hope to have at least one more basket project

to show before the merry month of May is over!

Ode to Jodi...and a Shout-Out to Alie

2013-05-14T13:07:00.000-04:00

Way back when I first discovered

such a thing as a blog,

I really loved reading one called

Simply This That and The Other.

Later it evolved into the blog

now known as Pleasant Home,

and to this day, I break into a big smile

every time I see a new post has been published.

Jodi always shows big, beautiful photos on her blog.

My favorites are sewing related, but

she also features scenic wonders

and small-town sights that make me love America.

I love Jodi's tips on photography for blogging,

and I try to put as many of them to use as I can

with my little point-and-shoot camera.

There are great tips for lighting and backgrounds.

This photo made Explore on Flickr!

The single most important thing I learned is to make my photos

x-large on Blogger.

Here's an example...

this one is medium...the default when it's added to Blogger.

Pretty, right?

Here's the same photo, but made x-large.

{I rest my case.}

And then there are the tutorials...

there are loads of them that I keep going back to...

the funky pinwheel table runner...

and the heart mug rug are my faves so far!

Another feature that I always loved about Jodi's blog

was when she would provide a link to new-to-me blogs that

she had discovered.

I'd like to emulate my role model today,

and point you in the direction of a sweet new-ish blog

called Alie Makes.

Alie is a fascinating individual with a knack for explaining.

You can tell by her tutorials that she's

going to be a fabulous teacher,

when she graduates.

Head on over to discover Alie's posts,

and you'll find that she's got a great giveaway going on

right now!!!

{You won't be sorry you got to know Alie!}

Making Do

2013-05-13T20:02:00.000-04:00

I've given the subject of quilting a lot of thought...

I often wonder why I have the "need" to quilt.

I figure it's in my Pennsylvania Dutch genes,

and I just have to do it.

{I'm like a beagle who longs to chase rabbits, even though it's a house dog.}

Today I read a post by my dear friend Amanda

The Patchsmith,

about the philosophy of quilting.

I would highly recommend that you

visit her blog to read about the Fabric of Life.

{Always good for a giggle, Amanda has a serious dimension as well.}

Amanda's mug rug for me, made with scraps

As I stitch and sew,
I love to think about the way our foremothers

somehow managed to create beautiful quilts
using only what they had on hand.

{Amanda thinks about this stuff, too.}

Antique 1930’s Garden quilt exhibited by Lynn Kough, 2013 AZQG
from Quilt Inspiration blog

As I thought of vintage quilts,
I was reminded of a project that I made 10 years ago,

and I'd like to share it with you today.
The block is called Bride's Bouquet,

but it's also known as Nose Gay

or Old-Fashioned Nose Gay.

There's a nice new post here about this block
on the blog called Tim Latimer - Quilts etc.

Believe it or not, I had never seen this blog before,

until I was researching the block for today's post.
This post was just written yesterday!

{Very timely, Tim!}

The story of my little table topper began
many years ago...
I made this label for the back of my project.

I won an Ebay bid for some scraps of feedsack cloth.
Along with the fabric pieces, I found an unfinished
Bride's Bouquet block.
I don't have a photo of the original block
I received, but it needed some work.
I picked apart the stitches
and put the block back together again, more carefully,
but in the same order as before.

{I'm pretty sure I had the luxuries of time and good lighting
that were lacking many years ago.}

I think it took me more than a few minutes to appreciate
the shocking selection of fabrics that the original quilter
used for the petal pieces.
Never, never, never
would I have put all of these prints into the same quilt!

{Until I remade this block...and now I find them utterly charming.}

I had some pink polka dot feedsack scraps for the border,
and I used some vintage pink and green floral fabric for binding.
I made a crude cardboard template to mark clamshells
for the hand-quilting.

{I still remember the peace that came over me as I quilted this block.
My PA Dutch genes were working overtime that day.}

I think using bits of solids in 30's shades

helps to settle down those crazy feedsack prints.

I love "that green" and "bubble-gum pink" together.

Not only did our foremothers "make do" with what they had...
they also made it into something awesome.

Nowadays when I look at those wild prints,
playing so nicely together in this little old block,
I think to myself,
"That farmwife had an excellent eye for color."

Giveaway Day! from Sew, Mama, Sew!

2013-05-06T08:07:00.000-04:00

Today could be considered a holiday in blogland...

it's another Giveaway Day sponsored by Sew, Mama, Sew!

Comments are now closed for this giveaway.

I'd like to welcome new visitors to my blog,

as well as my regular followers,

and give you all a chance to win my prize.

I'm giving away a set of zippered pouches!

I've used a new PDF pattern I purchased

from V and Co,

called Color Block Zipper Pouches.

The pouches in the pattern sample are made with

Vanessa's soon-to-be-released line for Moda,

called Simply Style.

Since it won't be in stores until July,

I decided to use some of my Simply Color

fabric prints instead.

I used this line for my Simply Coasters Moda Bake Shop tutorial.

{Maybe we've met before over there?}

I was able to use 10" layer cake pieces for the bottoms of these pouches.

I think they look swell with the solid gray

and the bright zippers.

It's fun to open up the pouches

and see a splash of colorful lining inside each one.

I love the way they coordinate together,

in a small, medium, and large way.

Want these?

Just leave me a comment,

telling me what two-color combination is your favorite...today.

{I think mine is turquoise and lime.}

I will select a random winner on May 10

and notify the winner by email.

Please be sure I have a way to contact you,

if you would like to win.

Visit the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog for even more
chances to win, in 5 different categories!!!

Good luck!

UPDATE:
The winner of my giveaway is comment #10
AMBER

{Even her name is a pretty color!}

Congratulations, Amber,
and thanks to all of you for sharing your favorite color combos!

Divided Baskets

2013-05-03T18:42:00.000-04:00

Have you ever thought to yourself,

"What a great idea, and it's so simple

that I could have come up with it on my own!"

Well...this is NOT one of those times!

When I finished making my first

Divided Basket using Noodlehead's pattern,

I was kind of shocked that it really worked!

{That's what a genius Anna is!}

Before I ever began cutting and sewing,

I read the pattern through...

about 6 times...

trying to imagine how this was going to happen.

Oh, I knew it would turn out great somehow,

because there was all kinds of proof on the internet.

Anna had some talented people test her pattern,

and every one of them had success in a huge way.

Read the Noodlehead post for more examples.

{This one is by Lindsay of LRStitched.}

Source: Noodlehead blog

I finally realized that this basket is not something

that is turned right-side-out at the very end.

There is a much more elegant and stress-free method

to create these baskets,

without the need to perform what amounts to a C-section,

in order to produce a finished basket.

I just plain followed the directions,

and at the end, I was rewarded with a lovely basket.

I am so pleased with my choices of fabrics

for my first divided basket.

I combined unrelated fabrics,

within a gray and yellow color palette.

It looks like the signature style of Susie's Sunroom, doesn't it?

The outside fabrics are home dec prints.
They give the basket a nice amount of sturdiness
and a pretty shape.

I found the text print at fabric.com

and I love the way it looks with a remnant

in yellow and gray that I picked up at JoAnn.

For the interior,

I think this Amy Butler print from Midwest Modern

is just right.

Now that my test drive was a big success,

I had the nerve to cut into a set of fabrics that I've been keeping

for just the perfect pattern.

Remember this post about the little bundle

I put together for a Fat Quarter Shop contest?

My prints remind me of a picnic in the meadow...

and obviously for any picnic, you're gonna need a BASKET.

I am happy to report that this little picnic basket

translated directly from my imagination

into my real world.

The gingham pocket is so charming against

the field of gray mushrooms.

Inside, the Gypsy Girl animal print is light and playful.

I still can't get over how clever this design is!
Even though I used quilting weight cottons this time,
the basket still has enough soft support to keep its shape.
The recommended interfacing does the trick!

There is room for creativity with this pattern,
in the print selection and placement.
It can be sewn with, or without,
a front pocket.

My favorite features are the little carrying handles.
I'm going to use my basket all summer long
on our deck, for holding napkins, plates, and other picnic items.

For those of you who have also made these baskets...
has anyone got tips on how to mail them inexpensively???
Please feel free to send me your advice.
I would love to make more to sell or send as gifts,
but am not quite sure how to package them.

I think I see many more baskets in my future.

Be sure to share your Across the Pond Sew Along
baskets for May, on the Flickr page!
There is lots of great inspiration over there!

Across the Pond Sew Along - May Baskets

2013-05-01T22:37:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the merry, merry month of May...

it's time to announce what's next in the

Across the Pond Sew Along!

{If you haven't joined already, it's never too late!}

It was my turn again to choose the project,

and I decided to select a THEME for May...

BASKETS.

There are so many beautiful and functional basket projects

out there for those of us who love to sew and quilt.

I'll get you started with some free projects and

a tried-and-true pattern for sale.

Have you seen this Divided Basket by Noodlehead

that is so popular in so many of the cool blogs?

It's a for-sale PDF pattern that I've bought

and am totally in love with.

Photo: Noodlehead - Divided Basket pattern

There are lots of fabulous versions
featured all over the web...
my heart skipped a beat when I saw
the one Julie made, at The Crafty Quilter!

{I've had a chance to make two of them already,

and I'll be showing them later in the month.}

Photo: The Crafty Quilter blog

If you're looking for a free tutorial
for a fabric basket,
this one from the Make It Do blog
looks so charming!

She modified a tutorial from The Sometimes Crafter, adding handles.
You've got to stop by and see what purpose
this adorable basket is serving!

{It will make you smile, I guarantee it!}

Photo: Make It Do blog

Basket blocks have been featured in

many quilt designs over the years...

in appliqued quilts...

Photo: Basket Quilt by Always Quilts

pieced quilts...

Photo: Bella Rose Quilts

and combinations of piecing and applique.

Photo: Q is for Quilter blog

Remember last summer,

when I created my Zakk-ini Bread Basket?

That was a lot of fun, too...

what a great Mother's Day present that would make!

Don't forget to stop by and visit my co-hosts

Amanda The Patchsmith
and Susie's Sunroom,
to get more ideas for basket-making.

Share your finishes in our Flickr group for the
Across the Pond Sew Along.

{Stop by later for more updates on my May Basket finishes!}

Copenhagen Pillow Finish

2013-04-27T10:08:00.004-04:00

Have you seen the crochet-along

with Lisa over at Cubby House Crafts?

Or perhaps at her sister Jane's blog,

Sweet Cinnamon Stitches?

I think I could win a prize for being the one who

started the project first,

and also finished it last!

I saw the free pattern for the Copenhagen Pillow

a long time ago.

In an earlier post, I told the story of my decision

to make this pillow,

even though I barely know how to crochet.

{It's just too pretty to pass up, isn't it?}

My crocheted panel has been finished for quite a while,

but if you look at the pattern,

you might notice that there are no specific

instructions for making it into a pillow.

{More or less, they recommend stitching the crocheted panel

to a finished neutral pillow.}

That didn't really bother me,

because I've become a bit of an expert on making pillows.

Here's the way I finished mine...

I started out by giving the crocheted panel

a good pressing with the iron.

{Mine was very lumpy and bumpy, but it flattened out easily

with some steam. And yes, it smelled like a wet sheep, for a minute.}

I chose a creamy Bella Solid to back the panel

and create the pillow front.

To give it body, I fused Pellon ShapeFlex 101SF

to the wrong side of the fabric.

Then I stitched the panel onto the fabric,

along the scalloped edging.

{I'm so glad I added the interfacing, because it was quite heavy at that point.}

Next it was time to create the pillow back,

using my own free tutorial, found here.

Months ago, I was shopping at JoAnn,

and this piece of fabric caught my eye

making me think of my Copenhagen yarns.

I snagged it, and I really love how it coordinates.

I love me some colorful zippers, too,

even though they are destined to be covered.

Which one do you think I chose?

It wasn't easy,

but predictably I went with the Caribbean blue,

since I had some fabric in that shade.

After constructing the pillow back,

I trimmed the front and back to the same size,

then stitched them right sides together,

rounding the corners.

{My pillow tutorial starts out a bit oversized, and is trimmed to size at the end.}

Uh-oh.

Anybody want to guess what I didn't do?

I forgot to leave that zipper partway open for turning!

Oh.My.

But I remained calm,

and I managed to get the zipper open by grabbing

the pull, through the fabric layers.

{And no bad words flew out!}

I used an 18" pillow form to fill my

finished Copenhagen Pillow...

I wish I could show you how squeezy and plump it is!

I really enjoyed making this pillow
and seeing the other lovely palettes
from the crochet-along.

I had planned to use mine as part of my autumn home decor,

but it's already bringing a lot of springtime cheer

into the house.

I think I'll leave it on the couch for a long time!

Christmas in April

2013-04-25T10:17:00.000-04:00

Back in January,

I made a commitment to myself to sew

at least one Christmas-y item each month.

As it turns out, I wasn't the only one
who had this great idea!

Julie, The Crafty Quilter, really has her act together,

introducing a new Christmas project on the 15th of each month.

And now I'm linking up with Christmas Through The Year
at Lily Patch Quilts, too!
Head on over there for even more ideas and a linky party.

I wondered whether I would have trouble

with motivation when warmer weather arrived

and the trees were budding.

As it turns out,

while I was stitching away on my new

Paper Snowflake Pillow,

I felt...downright festive!

I had made this pillow once before,

as a free project for Pellon,

using my must-have-in-the-house-at-all-times

Pellon 987F Fusible Fleece.

For this new version,

I had a jumpstart, since

I had already cut out my snowflake design...

and chosen my Cherry Christmas fabrics.

I did a bit of stitching here...

and some quilting there...

and pretty soon I was ready to make the back of the pillow.

I used my very own tutorial for a

Covered Zipper Pillow Backing.

I was grateful for the good tips I'd written down,

because it's been a little while since I made a pillow.

My house is going to look so merry this Christmas!

Stay tuned...now that I'm pillow-happy,

I'm going to finish off my Copenhagen Pillow!

{It's about time, right?}

A New Journal Cover...Eventually

2013-04-15T12:04:00.000-04:00

Everyone probably already knows this,

but I'm going to say it anyway...

If you're gonna sew when you're tired,

you will need one of these:

No, not the adorable paper-pieced block made by Susie...

I mean you'll need the actual seam ripper!

I had to use mine late last night,

as I tried to finish my latest April project from

the Across the Pond Sew Along.

My dwindling pile of La Petite Ecole has been

calling me to make another journal cover

using this tutorial by Bloom.

Just one of THREE beautiful journal cover tutorials at Bloom blog!

I tried to modify the cutting measurements

to fit my own journal.

???

Somehow I ended up having to make

very very very very skinny seam allowances,

for the final stitching.

And then...even after careful wielding

of Jack, the Seam Ripper,

and repeated re-stitching and re-rippping,

I still have an "issue" with the lower front edge.

I applied some Fray Check to the problem zone

and am keeping my fingers crossed.

And then...

my notebook just wouldn't fit!

But I HAD to have THIS cover for THAT notebook,

before I would go to sleep.

Look...

It's got a pretty strip of my favorite

La Petite Ecole prints,

and a little rooster applique...

and there's even an A on it for Amy.

Finally I won that argument,

and the notebook is in there to stay.

How, you may ask,

did I manage to squeeeeeeze

the journal inside the cover?

;)

{I'll never tell, but I think I'm gonna have to get a new rotary cutter blade now.}

Oh, boy, am I glad I have my Sewing Journal,

so I could make notes on what didn't work,

and what to try next time!

The Good Journal

So now you know for certain

that I'm not a Perfect Sewist.

My notebook pages stick out a bit

from underneath the cover,

but I still love this little Teenager of a journal.

The Naughty Journal

Post your journal covers on the Across the Pond Sew Along Flickr page.

French, British and American

2013-04-13T21:13:00.002-04:00

Q: What do you get when you mix

a French-inspired fabric line

with a British mug rug pattern,

featuring the American flag?

A: THIS fantabulous Stars and Stripes mug rug,

made up in La Petite Ecole fabrics.

Recently I posted about a custom order

for some pincushions using La Petite Ecole.

Even though I'm late to the French General party,

I'm not leaving any time soon!

I love the way the fabrics lend themselves to Americana.

They were perfect for the stars...

and the stripes!

I had lots of scraps and just stitched them into a

crazy patchwork piece for the backing.

Pretty sweet, huh?

This is just one of over 40 patterns

Amanda has created...so far!

I've always got the Craftsy link on my sidebar,
if you would like to check out
all of the great patterns, projects and classes they offer.

After I made the mug rug,

I decided to make a couple more

Cathedral Window pincushions.

The one with an "e" on it will be mine forever!

{I know - Amy starts with an A...but it's e for eamylove.}

They look so cute on that mug rug.

I had to have one to keep, with the striped background!

It was a design choice I wasn't sure I would like,

but I was thrilled with how it came out.

I used the stripes for both of them, but in different colorways.

I think that "spare" pincushion is ~~going to be listed~~

in my shop on Etsy, eamylove.

{SOLD - maybe I should make more?}

These are the prints I used on the backs of the pincushions.

I love using those ABC's for covered buttons

and I'm thinking of making some extras for sale.

Wouldn't they be fun?

I'm in the mood for more custom orders,

if anyone needs a nice Mother's Day present!

{I've got a few more fabric lines in my stash, if you have something different in mind.}

Jelly Roll Diamonds Quilt - Blast From the Past

2013-04-11T16:57:00.000-04:00

I'm just gonna admit it up front...

I took these photos a couple of weeks ago,

the same day I saw bunny tracks in the snow.

{While I was out there, freezing my tail off, I figured I'd take pictures of this quilt, too.}

Plus, I actually made this quilt a really long time ago...

in 2007...but I never had a blog before,

so I'm going to share it now.

It was made from the first jelly roll I ever saw.

A wonderful friend from my local quilt guild

gave it to me for my birthday,

along with this pattern.

The fabric was Sanctuary by 3 Sisters for Moda.

The pattern was Jelly Roll Diamonds by Fig Tree Quilts.

I LOVED making this quilt.

I wouldn't say it was super easy, but it was all kinds of fun.

The bias edges were kinda tricky, along the border,

and it was hard to match every point...

I believe a judge may have mentioned that to me in a quilt show...

but this quilt is still a favorite of mine.

This border was the reason

I no longer mark my quilting designs

directly onto the fabric.

{Now I draw my designs onto Golden Threads quilting paper,

stitch them, and then tear away millions of bits of paper.

I never complain.}

I tried home remedies with dishwashing liquid,

OxyClean, baking soda...not even tears took those marks out.

But time heals all wounds...I'm fine with it now.

It's mine, and it's a part of my quilting history.

Every spring it breathes new life into me.

La Petite Ecole Pincushions

2013-04-09T07:57:00.002-04:00

Every once in a while,

my little shop on Etsy, eamylove,

takes me on an adventure in sewing!

I love being asked to make custom orders,
because it lets me try out new combinations
of fabrics and colors.

Along the way, as I create the custom items,
I get to know some very sweet people!
There are too many to mention,
but one of them is Mama Pea of Peas in a Pod,
who invited me to make some zakka sewing kits for her.

{I just love it when my clients have beautiful blogs of their own!}

Most recently, I had a request to make a few pincushions

using fabrics from La Petite Ecole by French General

for Moda.

Believe it or not...

I didn't happen to own any fabrics from that line!

Pretty soon, though, I had ordered one of the last remaining

charm packs...I'm guessing...and my customer

quickly sent out some scraps for the larger pieces I would need.

We worked together to design these new lovelies...

from my new "favorite" fabrics!

The Cathedral Window pincushions

were all made using the fabulous tutorial

by Kim of My Go-Go Life.

The deliciously squeezy larger pinnie

was made from a pattern I got on Etsy

from Details by Des.

I'll let you in on a secret...

I was having a little anxiety about whether my client

would like this one, because the background stripe

is a bit more bold for a design option.

{Personally, it was my favorite one, so I put an "A" button on that one.}

Guess what?

She loved all them...

so I'll have to make myself another one,

with a striped background and an "A" for Amy.

{Or maybe an "e" for eamylove?}

For the pinnie

it was too hard to decided which side was the top,

and which would be the bottom.

That's why there's a "A" on one side...

and a "Z" on the other!

So now I have a sweet new sewing friend,

who is a kindergarten teacher

with an eye for pincushion design.

By the way...

I made a note in my sewing journal,

so I can remember that the DMC floss #844

Ultra Dark Beaver Gray

is a perfect match for this line.

Because I'm already plotting and planning

my next project for the rest of those charm squares!

{Ooooh...wouldn't this line make a sweet sewing kit, too?}

A Blurb About My Book

2013-04-07T12:39:00.000-04:00

Ever since I was a little girl,

I've wanted to write a book.

So, with the help of a little place called Blurb...

I did it!

{It's only 20 pages, and mostly, it's photos, but I think that counts anyway.}

It isn't difficult, and there's no possibility of rejection!

It's not even expensive,

especially with sales and discount codes.

{Now through April 30, 2013,
get 15% off with the discount code APRIL15.}

All I had to do was choose a subject...
I chose Pincushions!

Next I selected some pretty photos,

and followed the directions.

It was fun to select fonts and layouts.

Pretty soon I had my book ready for publishing.

It didn't take long for the mailman

to deliver my very own coffee table book

straight to our mailbox.

{I live in a remote controlled world...
I even had to put most of them away for this photo. MEN!}

If you would like to buy a copy,
it's available for sale, even as a PDF version,
here!

I might have to write a sequel...
you'll see what I mean in my next post!

Sewing Notebook - Across the Pond Sew Along

2013-04-03T12:52:00.001-04:00

Here in Pennsylvania,

the sun is finally coming out,

so I took advantage of it to show some photos

of my brand-new sewing notebook!

{It's my project for this month's Across the Pond Sew Along!}

Those are my pretty white Easter tulips...

oh, look, they need some more water!

As I was saying...

this month we are making journal covers,

so I decided to create a Sewing Notebook

from a composition book.

There are so many great tutorials out there,

and you can find more links for them,

plus inspiring photos

when you visit Susie's Sunroom...

and Amanda The Patchsmith.

I was almost paralyzed with indecision...

which tutorial or pattern should I use,

and which fabrics should I pick?

I recently received a very sweet gift...a fat quarter bundle

of Boho Girl, in blues and greens!

I had my heart set on using those for my journal cover.

Normally these cool colors are calming and soothing...

but in this case, the prints are full of movement and energizing.

{A perfect combination for a sewing journal, right?}

For my pattern,

I could no longer resist purchasing

The Notebook Slipcover by Gingercake Patterns.

{Within minutes of buying the PDF, I was on my way to making my cover...woo-hoo!}

Gingercake Pattern for The Notebook Slipcover, from the Gingercake Patterns and Designs website

And only about an hour or so later,

I had my first notebook cover!!!

{I made mine very simple, without the flap or button closure.}

I love the way this pattern

lets you use several coordinating prints,

so you don't have to choose just one favorite!

I made the little pockets for the interior.

The topstitching detail is easy and pretty.

Now, I must admit something about that pattern

didn't make sense to me while I was sewing.

This morning

I decided to email Virginia {Gingercake, herself}

to ask her my question.

Near the end of the pattern,

the measurement for the seam that holds

all of the layers together

was much larger than I thought it should be,

and my little notebook had too much wiggle room.

{It was an easy fix...I just stitched it around again,

with a narrower seam, and it fit perfectly.}

Virginia got right back to me and explained

that the seam was made bigger,

so that a binder or heavier notebook

would have room for the thicker sturdy covers.

{Makes sense...I'll have to make a note of that, in my Sewing Notebook.}

And then...as I was downloading these photos from the pattern site...

I had an epiphany...I completely forgot to do that

final topstitching through all of the layers!!!

That would make it look even more tailored and professional.

{See what I mean?}

I guess I was just so excited to finish it...that I didn't finish it!

You know what that means...

I'm gonna have to make more of these!

If you make one...or more...please show us what you've created

in the Across the Pond Flickr Group!

April Across The Pond Sew Along

2013-04-01T14:55:00.005-04:00

Believe it or not...it's already time for our next theme

in the Across the Pond Sew Along.

It was Susie's turn to choose the project,

and you are going to love her selection...

We're making Journal Covers!

Susie has already whipped up a couple of beautiful

covers, for inspiration.

Not to be outdone,
Amanda the Patchsmith
has already posted her two models as well!

Here is one lovely version...
with butterfies as beautiful as those found in nature...

And this is the second one she created!

{What is that, "peeping" from the corner?
The latest mug rug in the series of sweetness from The Patchsmith!
I love it with that spotty mug!}

I've been spending more time in the kitchen

than in the dining room...aka sewing space...

but I've managed to research some great links

for journal cover patterns and tutorials.

First up is a Moda Bake Shop project,

courtesy of the beautiful blog called Bloom.

{Look...two lovely versions, and one uses linen...so zakka!}

Next up is something a bit different...

more like a portfolio

or list maker style,

by Niesz Vintage Home.

{The print selection is just perfect, don't you think?}

Vikki from Sew Useful Designs

shares another method for covering a notebook,

and her instructions for customizing are excellent!

{I like the binding idea, too!}

Here's one from sew grown

that uses a different technique altogether

with linen, a print accent band,

and a lovely velvet ribbon embellishment.

Melanie from The Crafty Cupboard

shares a sweet version

with some pocket details.

It's the most recent one I've found,

and the prints she has chosen are so sweet!

{I feel her pain, with the oops moment she had. ha ha ha}

Now, if you're in the mood to purchase a PDF pattern,

here's one that looks so super cute!

It's The Notebook Slipcover

PDF Sewing Pattern by Gingercake.

{This is just one of several versions she includes.}

Which one shall I make???

Or will I find even more ideas over at

Susie's Sunroom

and

The Patchsmith???

{Come back soon to see what I come up with...we'd love to have you sew along!}

Easter Bunny Tracks in the Snow

2013-03-26T19:30:00.000-04:00

Hippity, hoppity,

Easter's on its way!

But first, a little snowfall whitened the ground

here in western Pennsylvania,

not far from where Punxsutawney Phil made his faulty

prediction for an early spring.

I found some tracks in the snow this morning,

clearly made by bunnies!

I've always loved bunnies,

so a few years ago I made a whole bunch of them,

when I designed my

Multiplying Rabbits quilt!

{Yes, it's time again to show a quilt I made a long time ago, before my blog was born.}

The fabrics I used are from the first complete line

that I ever fell head-over-heels for,

Paris Flea Market by 3 Sisters for Moda.

{I still love it that much, and it's been re-released!}

I can't draw to save my life,

but I somehow created a bunny silhouette

that I really love.

I put cottontails on each one,

to show they have their backs to us...

because they're so shy.

Some of the bunnies are facing the same direction...

and others are mirror images.

{I think they're in love!}

They won't run away...
the picket fence keeps them safe and warm inside my house.

I'm pretty proud of my quilting,
done on my home machine.

I did a ton of stippling,
right over the machine appliqued rabbits.
For the borders, I used
Golden Threads quilting paper
and traced a continuous floral design onto the border.

{After washing, the quilt is soooo soft, crinkly and snuggly.}

I love bringing this quilt out every Easter...

But I'm pretty sure this is the first time
I've brought it out in the snow for Easter!

Whatever the weather in your area,
I wish you all a very Happy Easter,
filled with joy and blessings!

Aunt Grace Quilt Through the Years

2013-03-21T19:09:00.001-04:00

I have a confession to make...

although in recent years I've been creating

mostly modern projects,

I've got a soft spot in my heart for 1930's fabrics

and reproductions.

{You already know how much I adore Dresden Plate quilts,

if you've seen my Winter Dresden quilt.}

Back in 2003 Marcus Brothers

released a line of Judie Rothermel fabrics

called Aunt Grace Through the Year.

Three prints reflected a theme for each month in the calendar year.

I made this quilt, called Grandma's Collection

as part of a Marcus Brothers challenge in 2003.

{I've never gone to New York City, but my quilt has been there!}

I didn't win any prizes there, but back home,

I collected a couple of ribbons at local quilt shows.

I used every print in the line,

making one machine appliqued Dresden plate for each month.

The border used square patches, in calendar order.

I hand-quilted the whole thing, in traditional patterns.

I added in solid fabrics in colors that were popular in the 1930's.

{My favorite is "that green" for the border.}

Come with me as we go

Through the Year with Aunt Grace...

starting with January.

There's a cute little skiing bear,

with children playing in the snow and icy blue flowers.

February features conversation hearts and lots of pink and red.

March is the month for shamrocks in emerald green.

Since April often brings Easter,

the prints boast sweet Easter eggs and bunnies.

May flowers are plentiful in these adorable prints.

June brides and weddings are represented in this set.

I think July is fabulous,

with patriotic stripes, flowers and Uncle Sam hats!

August is vacation time for our family...

here are some sandy scenes and beautiful beach umbrellas just for fun.

September means back-to-school,

and these cute prints make it easier to say goodbye to summer.

October glows with vintage Halloween prints...my favorites!

November celebrates harvest time with

an adorable scarecrow, acorns and leaves.

December brings Christmas, with beautiful candles

and a classic Santa Claus print.

Did you know that Judie Rothermel

is celebrating 25 Years as a quilt fabric designer?

Marcus Brothers is hosting another challenge,

in her honor.

I still have a lot of fabric left from this line...

I think I'm going to make a "new" quilt to honor Judie Rothermel

in my own way!

Giveaway Winner from Beat the Winter Blues Blog Hop Pary

2013-03-15T09:40:00.000-04:00

I wonder if anyone has enjoyed the

Beat the Winter Blues Quilter's Blog Hop Party

more than I did.

There can be only one lucky winner of my

one-of-a-kind mug rug and pincushion giveaway.

Congratulations to

#88 Lisa Cox!

Lisa CoxMarch 10, 2013 at 9:56 PM

The Amish Ham casserole looked so easy, and sounds delicious!

{I've sent Lisa an email to let her know she won.}

Before this Blog Hop Party,

I was crossing my fingers, hoping

I could celebrate my 1st blogiversary

with at least 100 followers

and 50,000 page views.

I've found the most delightful new readers,

connected again with the frequent visitors,

and now I've got over 150 followers!

My new Cotton Way Candy Table Topper

I want to thank all of you for visiting!

Wouldn't you know it?

I just found out that Google Reader is going away

as of July 1, 2013.

The good news is that there is another way

to follow the same favorite blogs you see now on Google Reader:

Bloglovin'

This link shows you how to make the transition

smoothly and painlessly,

so you won't miss a thing!

My Copenhagen Pillow in progress

Here's to the year ahead...I have many more posts and projects to share

with all of you, my friends!