Lorraine’s This2That

My Newest Pattern - The Paris Bag

2017-03-28T07:32:00.001-07:00

As most of you know that follow me I love to design patterns that are FUN, FAST & FUNCTIONAL. The really driving force behind that is -- I know that we don't have a lot of time to SEW so when we do find the time I want it to be productive. Nothing says FUN better than finishing a project - am I RIGHT? This design is from 1 yard of fabric and you get a bag plus a mini snap bag! If your like me you love to collect fat quarters and 1 yard of beautiful cottons fabric.

This bag also makes a great gift for a baby shower - it can be used a diaper bag and then when the child is older they can use it as their book or school bag. It works great for the gym, grocery bag or a day trip. It

can easily be made in 2 to 3 hours. I think it takes more time to iron on the Pellon interfacing to stabilize the material than it does to construct it. I hope that this pattern becomes one of your favorites to make as it has become one of my favorite designs.

My Sweet Lilly - JOY!

2017-01-19T09:26:00.000-08:00

It's been 2 weeks since Lilly passed and it hasn't got any easier. I sure miss that sweet little fur baby! She was my shadow, companion and lap/nap fur baby! She passed on January 5, 2017 at 9:36 pm very peacefully. In December she had developed Congestive Heart Failure and we were treating her with medicine. She seemed to improve a little bit but then slowly decline. She was always so active and never showed her age until recently. She was my Mother's Day gift in 2005. I remember like yesterday the excitement and that cute little black bundle of JOY!! I will continue to remember all the JOY and MEMORIES that she brought to my life!! Sugar has had a hard time without her too. She lays where Lilly did I think waiting for her. Lilly would groom Sugar - it was the cutest thing! Sugar has only know life with Lilly. I have received such wonderful gifts honoring Lilly from my friends. We did bury Lilly in the front left corner of our home because this is the only home that she knew! Oh how I wish she was still here!

St. Charles - A Step Back in Time!

2016-12-28T11:52:00.002-08:00

St. Charles is such a quaint little town nestled in the back woods just 30 minutes west of downtown St. Louis. It was like taking a step back in time, walking along the brick streets, brick side walks and the horse and buggy.

There were many unique shops including an adorable quilt shop - The Quilt Cottage. And many unique clothing shops to enjoy! I would definitely love to visit again.

Day 7 - Loving St. Louis - SEW many REASONS!

2016-12-27T14:45:00.004-08:00

I've really been enjoying my visit here in St. Louis! So many things to do but especially all the wonderful quilt shops. More quilt shops today! Only one regret... I didn't bring a sewing machine!!

From the Arch, to the City Museum, restaurants and SEW many QUILT shops!! There is truly no better therapy ...

Loving St. Louis - SEW it SEAMS

2016-12-26T15:16:00.002-08:00

Oh my I am having an incredible time in St. Louis! If you're a quilter you may have thought you stepped into "Quilter's Paradise"! The quilt shops in this area have been incredible - wall to wall fabric, crafts and supplies! My dilemma - 50 lb weight limit on my luggage - not even funny not to mention the lack of foresight to budget a bit more.

SEW I have decided that I want to buy something that I can have as a souvenir from each shop so I started collecting the Row by Row license plates. I just decided that today so I don't have the fabric plates from the other shops I have shopped before today.

My St. Louis Tote Bag Pattern Inspiration

2016-12-25T07:48:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to ALL - may you have a day filled with many blessings.
Since I purchased the St. Louis fabric from The Quilted Fox I have been thinking of a pattern design. I think a tote bag will be appropriate!

The blue fabric I will use in the tote bag pattern but the brown fabrics I will be making a purse from my new purse pattern that I have yet to name. I purchased the brown/black for contrast. I actually can't wait to get home to SEW. Each of ,my designs always have a story. I hope to share the story of how my pattern designs evolve.

Christmas Eve 2016

2016-12-24T16:59:00.002-08:00

It's hard to believe that 2016 is coming to an end. So much has happened this past year. It was such a busy year of brides, wedding and alterations! I got the opportunity to go to Quilt Market Salt Lake City, it was such an amazing experience. I met SEW many amazing people.

Luke left for a 2 year mission trip to Chile. Josh graduated high school and left for college in August. Mari and I started "The Sewing Studio" - teaching and inspiring SEW many in the Art of Sewing and Quilting!!

Spending the end of 2016 in St. Louis Missouri what a rich history this area has! Enjoying the time off and the site seeing and the many quilt shops. The Quilted Fox was a wonderful shop that had over 6,000 bolts of fabrics - it was a quilters heaven! The Quilted Cottage was in St. Charles but they were closed today but will be open on Monday. I can't wait to make it back there Monday.

What a GREAT way to spend the end of 2016!

An Entrepreneur at Heart!

2016-12-24T16:43:00.001-08:00

I can remember at an early age I wanted to make my own money. One summer I decided to run an ad in the Thirty Nickel for "PET SITTING" and "LAWN MOWING".

I landed a weekly mowing job and many pet sitting gigs. My mom would take me to the bank each week and I would deposit money into my account and see my money grow. It was so cool to see my money grow. I was even able to open a CD Money Market Account while I was still in high school.

I think that entrepreneurs are truly born!!

Sewing An Art Form of Self EXPRESSION

2016-12-21T16:10:00.001-08:00

Why I believe that SEWING is AN ART of SELF EXPRESSION!! I have been sewing most of my life. It truly has been a form of therapy for me. I love teaching the art of sewing and especially to the young and the young at heart. You see the young are so much more willing to think and SEW outside the BOX! They aren't hung up on PERFECTION so their art reflects a part of them whether it be style, color, feelings or all of the above.

Taking whole cloth and turning it into ART of SELF EXPRESSION!! Sometimes it's hard for people to communicate to express what they might be feeling or what they are going through. What if...they could play with cloth and create something that gives them a sense of accomplishment.

As I have said many times I think we all have an inner child that wants to come out and play! What better way than creating and transforming fabric into ART!! Fabric can be transformed into clothing, a quilt or even 3 dimensional art.

When I teach a student I always tell them - "THERE ARE NO MISTAKES IN MY CLASS - I call them CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES!! My creative opportunities have been my most rewarding projects.

So don't believe the lie - "I'm not creative at all!", start a small project even if it is one by hand, start it today!

HAPPY TRANSFORMING!!

Kid's Kamp - Block of the Month

2016-02-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

January block of the month - Friendship Star, I teach an easy Eleanor Burns method for the half square triangles that helps reduce error and keep the blocks square. It's a great method for a beginner quilter!

Kid's Kamp - One Yard No Waste Tote Bag Class

2016-02-06T10:50:00.001-08:00

This is one yard no waste tote bag it's SEW much fun, its' FAST, and FUNcitional! I thought this class at First Stitches in Canon City! We had a blast! Once you learn my unique technique to making this tote bag with no unfinished edges and all you need is a straight stitch sewing machine. My pattern will be available soon SewUnique!

Memory Apron

2016-01-08T10:14:00.002-08:00

Some people love to COOK and love to remember their "LOVED ONE" who has passed from this earth to a better place. So for those folks I make the memory aprons!

Grandpa Memory Teddy Bear

2016-01-08T09:52:00.001-08:00

Making memories bears is on of the most rewarding sewing that I do. I love to feel the peace that loved ones feel when they have something to hold, cherish and cry with. I hope that they can feel the LOVE that I sew in with each stitch! <3 p="">

Daddy Memory Teddy Bear

2016-01-07T05:56:00.001-08:00

There is nothing more special than making an adorable "Daddy" memory bear. This one is for my sister-in-law. We lost my father-in-law November 2013 and this passed Christmas my mother-in-law let us pick out shirts that he wore. I hope I have enough to make everyone a teddy bear!! To me this is a way to keep a loved one "CLOSE AT HEART"!! I think it's very healing and brings a sense of peace and closeness with our loved one spirit!

Thread Zentangle

2015-11-29T08:13:00.000-08:00

I love to SEW! I love ZENtangle! SEW what better way to PLAY then SEWing ZENtanlges!! I have been having fun with my Janome MC15000. It has a world of amazing designs. I have been trying to do a project for a Janome Club where we can

Zentangle a sweatshirt and make into a jacket. What better way to learn new stitches, play with machine and get a wear it art project to show off to friends. This project is currently in the works. Stay tuned for the finished project!

Up-cycle Cassette Case to Business Card Holder or Cell Phone Stand

2015-11-28T08:45:00.002-08:00

This is an AWESOME way to up-cycle those old, unused cassette cases - make business card holders. All you really need is duck tape and a small embellishment to decorate it. In under 15 minutes you have an order business card holder or cell stand.

Sew Much Fun with my Janome MC15000

2015-11-27T09:26:00.000-08:00

For anyone out there that wants to do a project using a circular attachment you should try this pattern Store & Go Zipper Case by Crossroads. It's a fun and functional pattern. Play with your decorative stitches and circular attachment plus best of all make a project in about 2 hours! GREAT gift idea too. Happy SEWING!

Fabric Basket - Fast, Fun and FUNctional!

2015-11-25T13:19:00.003-08:00

I did the project for Kid's Kamp and the kid's loved it. I continue to teach it and I have a designer in the making that is hand making her Christmas presents and the "Fabric Basic" is one of her FAVORITES!! How touching to give something made by her hands and with SEW much love! You will see TJ Designs soon!!

Future Designer - Mariah

2015-11-19T16:06:00.000-08:00

Mariah is SEW fun to teach because she is such an inspiration! Just a few project she complete at her last lesson!

Memory Pillows Keep Love Ones Close at HEART

2015-11-19T15:56:00.001-08:00

I think Memory Pillows or Memory Bears help keep memories of your loved one alive and close at heart. Finished 14 memory pillows! They are going to bring JOY and TEARS to the recipient. What a WONDERFUL gift!

Kid's Kamp November 2015

2015-11-18T06:22:00.000-08:00

I love teaching kid's because they inspire me, they think outside the BOX and they are SEW creative. This months kid's kamp I taught an easy "Sewing Accessory Bag/Zippered Pouch". The kid's loved it. You start with a 12"x12" square of 2 contrasting fabrics, a piece of thin batting same size and a 16" coil zipper. That's all it take. This is an EASY PEASY pattern. A GREAT group of kids. I'm SEW happy that First Stitches offers a class for the kiddo's!!

Easy Scrub Hat

2015-11-17T06:26:00.003-08:00

I have had a lot of request to clarify my instructions for my pattern "Easy Scrub Hat". I hope this video is helpful.

Adorable Purse from a Skirt

2015-11-14T10:41:00.001-08:00

This is a great way to refashion those dresses or skirts that no longer fit. Contrast fabric I used old jeans!

Tapestry Backpack from Sample pieces

2015-11-14T10:38:00.003-08:00

This is a FANTASTIC re-purpose idea for the fabric sample swatches from your local furniture or interior design shop. It makes a perfect one-of-a-kind cinch up backpack. Great project for kids!

Vintage Style Jessica McClintock Wedding Dress

2015-11-14T10:22:00.000-08:00

This beautiful Jessica McClintock Wedding Dress & Veil - just lovely! Size 8.