Bari J.

Stenciled Coffee Table Make-Over

2013-06-13T09:10:45-07:00

I've been thinking about this project for months, and I'm so happy I finally did it. The small Rattan Wallpaper stencil from my collection for Royal Design Stencils is totally perfect on furniture. And it's a really simple stencil to work with.

This is what the coffee table looked like before I painted it... it was brown stain.

And here it is after...

Here's how I did it:

1. I gave the table a light sanding (it wasn't a high gloss table, so it didn't need much more).

2. I used a spray primer to get the table ready for a a base coat.

3. I spray painted the table white. 2 coats. This actually took a lot of spray paint. 3 cans.

4. I sanded with a very fine grit sand paper, and wiped the table down.

5. I stenciled in the gray/blue (Silver Marlin from Benjamin Moore).

6. I used a clear coat spray to finish the table.

I plan on having a piece of glass cut for the top of the table so I don't have to yell at people about coasters, but I do think it would be fine to leave it like this too.

About stenciling...

The best way to stencil is with a stencil brush which is flat tipped. You can get them here. I dip the brush in paint, and then wipe the brush off on paper towels until it is nearly dry. Barely any paint on it. Then, stipple the paint on top of the stencil.
Royal Design Stencils are super easy to use, they have registration marks on them to guide you.

You can see in the photo above how I use the brush by just tapping it onto the stencil. Super easy, and super fun results!

PS... this stencil matches my fabric from LillyBelle

Cushions for Your Tushions

2013-06-01T08:00:00-07:00

Happy Saturday! Are you sewing? Here's a couple easy weekend ideas for you. These are again from my Bijoux fabric quilt market booth.

This big baby (above) is filled with bean bag fill (You can get it at Walmart... I'm loathe to say, but that's the only place I could find it. I hear Bed Bath and Beyond has it too but I didn't check.). I cut all the panels at 18". The seams were pin tucked to give it a little more shape. I used 5/8" seam allowances, and if I had a little more time, I may have serged them for extra secure seams. I would recommend it. If you don't have a serger, you can zig-zag stitch the edges.

Here's a little pillow I made (in the hotel room... I always sew in the hotel room, it's like a "thing" now). It was an extra block I had from my quilt. Do you ever end up with an extra block like I do? Make it into a pillow. This is a millenium block from Judy Hopkins book.

I don't know about you, but I always curve the edges of my pillows. Nothing annoys me more than those pointy corner dog ears you can get. Just put a cup on the corners and trace before you sew. I think it gives it a more polished look.

Have a great weekend, and happy stitching!

Bijoux Launch Party Projects/THANK YOU!

2013-05-31T11:47:16-07:00

Thank you to all the wonderful women who made projects out of my Bijoux and posted for the launch party. It was so much fun to see what you did and it really fills my heart! Thank you a million times!

Sally's Angel Works (That's me on the left and Sally on the right at quilt market in my booth! I'm wearing a Bijoux skirt made by Jona from her book The Essential A-Line which I am going to order today from Amazon... that or march down to her house and steal one!)

Note: The post from Jacqueline is still forthcoming, we had a few hiccups, but it will be up soon, I'm sure!

I hope you all enjoyed the party and found lots of fun projects to make with Bijoux!

Thank you all who visited the sites and entered to win as well! I appreciate your support more than you'll ever know!

Quilt Market Booth Part two

2013-05-29T08:05:24-07:00

I had mentioned in my previous post that I made 6 runners to show off what Bijoux can do in quilting. There are currently no patterns for these, but I'll be working on that. Hopefully, I can pull that off this summer. (yikes)

This first quilt features turned applique using the Sharon Schamber method plus curved piecing using Jean Well's method (the same methods I used for the "Value Color" quilt). The quilting was done by Maddie Kertay.

With these two runners I show a very modern approach with lots of negative space (left) plus a traditional block (right).

And again, with the dress (as shown in the previous post) I focused heavily on fabric collage as Bijoux has so many elements to take advantage of. This is an edge of the train of the dress.

More tomorrow as there were several other projects I'd like you to see. Also, I want to talk about what I did to get the quilts to hang nicely as that was a whole process and I found it very cool.

Until then, happy sewing! (I'll be hunkered down here designing the next fabric line which is apparently due June 10). Yikes again.

Quilt Market Booth

2013-05-28T18:42:09-07:00

Part one. More tomorrow(ish).

This doesn't happen much, but this time it all turned out just like it was in my head... 6 runners to show different ways you can use Bijoux in quilts, and a centerpiece with drama.

The dress has a halter top with an asymetrical lined skirt. The hemline is all fabric collage.

Below, you will see that it is true... I have a bugger up my butt about the term "low volume" in reference to color value. I prefer the term "low color value" as it is artistically accurate. Not only that, "Low Volume" hurts my feelings (not really hurts my feelings... more comically hurts my feelings) ... why, I think, would anyone should call color "loud"? I get that ones eyes need a place to rest, but in my little world, color is a vibrant expression of "life" as opposed to "loudness". Yo. I ain't loud. Hrrrmmpppfff. This quilt is my small ode to anti-establishment and rebellion. I must admit, I like the irony of a "low color value" background (all curved pieced strips) with eyepopping, colorful Bijoux text.

Moving along... next to the Value Color quilt is an improved log cabin piece with my hand embroidered caravan in the center.

The quilting on "Value Color" was done by Maddie Kertay. The Log Cabin improv quilt was quilted by Michelle Schmersahl.

More closeups tomorrow(ish). And more quilts. And more about market itself.

Bijoux Maxi Dress

2013-05-23T16:02:08-07:00

I have so much to tell you about quilt market and so many pictures to show, but this sweet face wanted a Bijoux maxi dress for the last day of school (tomorrow), and I couldn't resist her charms. Look at that gorgeous smile... she just got her braces off! For those of you who noticed, yes, she has taken over my new purse.

I totally winged this dress... Basically, I hemmed the top using my hem foot. Then I added 1/4" elastic by zig zag stitching it on just under the hem (the elastic is just slightly shorter than her measurement). Then I added the skirt which is simply the width of the fabric gathered just a touch. I did the elastic the same way at the waist. I put one seam all the way down the back after the top and skirt were sewn together. I used half inch seam allowances which was a good thing because we found after she put it on that it needed a slit in the back. So she can actually, you know... walk. I simply opened the seam at the bottom 12", slit the seam allowance to the stitching at the top, and folded the slit in 1/4" twice, and top stitched all the way around the opening. I back stitched several times at the top of the opening so that the stitching in the seam doesn't come out. And, no, I didn't bother matching the print. Don't judge.

Prints used: Bijoux Dancing Harvest in Guava for the skirt and Bijoux Embroidery's Fortune Rose for the top.

Happy sewing!

Day four, Bijoux Launch Party... Perfect Bindings, Technique Matters

2013-05-11T08:00:00-07:00

Thank you to the first three hostesses for the Bijoux launch party, Melanie, Cristy and Melissa! I loved your projects! Today it's time to go visit Michonne at I'm doing stuff, see what she did with Bijoux and enter to win 10 fat quarters on her blog! Thank you, Michonne!

Meanwhile since you're here... I wanted to talk a little bit about something important to me. I've been thinking about this a lot as I prepare for quilt market. One thing that I've learned over the years, is that it's great to be arty and mindful of design when creating. And, it does truly define what I do. However, I've also found that technique really matters. It matters a lot to do things well. My techniques have definitely improved over the years, but one of the things that I has improved the most is my binding. I've always done good bindings, but recently I found a technique through my good friend Miss Cristy that her mom, Sharon Schamber perfected.

I've watched this video through a minimum of three times. What I've found is, if I skip just one little detail... domino effect... all downhill from there. So, watch carefully. The way she does this has improved my work by miles.

Day three of the Bijoux Launch party... and dimensional flying geese!

2013-05-10T08:00:00-07:00

Today it's Melissa's turn to give away a 10 piece fat quarter stack of Bijoux! I'm so excited to see what she's made too!!! Go stop at her place and give her some love.

But before you head to the party, I know you want to know how I made these dimensional flying geese. I am CRAZY over flying geese to begin with, but when I found out that you can make them with just one seam and like little pieces of origami, I about flipped my lid. This quilt was made using Ricky Tim's tutorial below. It's so simple, you won't believe it.

Happy sewing! And go get yourself some Bijoux!!! Please post your creations to the Flickr Group.

Free Quilt Pattern for Bijoux... and the next stop on the Bijoux Launch Party

2013-05-09T08:00:00-07:00

Today's stop on the launch party is at Cristy Fincher's blog, Sew Much Like Mom. Be sure to go check out what she has in store for you, and enter to win 10 fat quarters of Bijoux by Bari J.

Also, now that Bijoux is in stores, we have a free quilt pattern available for you...

Download the pattern here... Download JeweledWanderer_instructions

Launch Party begin's at Mel's House.

2013-05-08T11:00:00-07:00

First, to get in the Bijoux mood... you'll need to watch this incredibly special video that Art Gallery Fabrics put together. It really expresses just how versatile this line is. And... this is totally the sexy version of my earth mama, Bijoux. Lawd (fans self), I had no idea I'd created such a damn sexy fabric line until I saw this. Thank you a million times to Pat Bravo and the incredible people at Art Gallery (I'm looking at you Kat) who put this video together!

Now, everyone head over to Melanie's house and see what she made with Bijoux... and ask for a strawberry lemonade... Bijoux would totally drink that. The Bijoux in the video I think maybe spiked it a little too. Go ahead, add something saucy. If you are wearing a little mustard or magenta (together really is best) that make a great party outfit.

Here's a few more photos to inspire your inner Bijoux.

Please note: do not enter to win here. You must enter on the blogs on the launch party list above. Thank you!!!

Bijoux by Bari J. Launch Party!

2013-05-07T06:00:00-07:00

What does a Bijoux by Bari J. launch party look like? Well, a little like this...

And a whole lot like this... 11 blog party stops of this... involving 11 giveaways of 10 fat quarters of this...

So get your party skirts on...

... and go see what all of these fantastic bloggers have made with Bijoux! It's in stores starting tomorrow!

May 8: Melanie Dramatic
May 9: Sew Much Like Mom
May 10: 100 Billion Stars
May 11: I'm Doing Stuff

(mother's day, no stop on the 12th)

May 13: Imagine Gnats
May 14: Jona G.
May 15: Mommy for Reals

May 16: Olive and Ollie

May 17: Pile O' Fabric

May 18: Sally's Angel Works

May 19: JM Maxman

Look for the incredible video that Art Gallery Fabrics put together to show you what Bijoux is all about tomorrow as well.

And be sure to post your own Bijoux creations in the Bijoux by Bari J. group on Flickr!

Get ready! It's almost here!

2013-04-23T21:20:01-07:00

Bijoux will start shipping to stores on May 1... Be looking for giveaways, blog hops and more in the coming weeks. Enjoy these little sneak peeks.

Spring Cleaning Printables!

2013-04-10T14:06:14-07:00

Some of you may know, I'm a total office supply geek. I love paper products and I love organizing. Over the years, I've developed a system for keeping myself organized. I'm big on list making, and I always have a to-do list going. I organize my to-dos in priorities of A, B, or C which keeps me on track. I also have monthly and weekly calendars. I'm so excited to announce that now you can use my system with pretty graphics from my not yet released fabric line, Bijoux for Art Gallery Fabrics, by simply downloading the printable pack from my web store.

Inspirations in the Desert

2013-04-09T19:48:07-07:00

The desert inspires me... Where does your inspiration come from?

So very BIJOUX!

2013-03-21T17:30:34-07:00

My Bijoux fabric has arrived, and I've started sewing. It will be in stores this May, and of course, I can't wait to see what you will make. Instead of showing you the whole line right now, I'd like to tell you a bit about it's story.

Bijoux is my vision of a woman who is very much a free spirit. She travels around in her vintage caravan collecting things that she loves and that inspire her. She's an artist. And a loner. I envision her as an unusually tall woman with long streaming blond hair. She wears turquoise bracelets, boho skirts and beat up cowboy boots. I see her in dancing barefoot in the desert at night with the stars lighting her way. She's a rocker. She's a gypsy. She loves life. Bijoux means little jewels in French, and it is also the name of my main character. This fabric collection is bits and pieces of her life... as she is bits and pieces of me.

The story of Bijoux looks a little bit like this. For sneak peeks of what I'm making, be sure to follow me on Instagram.

Caravan photo from Les Roulottes une invitation au voyage Jeanne Bayol Editions Aubanel