Hat in action!

This hat got a little funky as I mentioned earlier, but it still fits ok so Finn is rocking it! And, sort of like in that last post, Finn's not super pumped about panda-ing for me and showing sweet, natural smile right now. It's either a really huge fakey grin accompanied with a roar or some other flippant gesture/sound, or I just have to take a picture of from the back. Here is a rare, somewhat genuine smile for the camera + one that shows what most of the pics from this real looked like. The hat fabric and the bandana are all from ClothWORKs and are designed by this awesome gal, Alyssa Thomas.

Messy floor?!

No worries. I hate to admit it but we are reaching our 1 year anniversary in this house and I have NEVeR once vacuumed the sewing room floor. I'm sorry mom! You'll be so ashamed when you see it. Part of the reason is that I figured out that all you need is a decent magnet to find all the stray pins, needles and other tiny metal things that fall to the floor amongst all the scraps, thread and what not. After securing the space of sharp, dangerous objects, I am totally over the idea if vacuuming. But the scraps havent stopped me from busting out another little messenger hat for Finn. Full disclosure--this one is for an ad at work. Stay tuned on that! This pattern needs some serious honing. I keep making a lot of the same mistakes. Annie sent me a cool pattern for a welders hat. Maybe I'll scrap my homemade pattern and try that one next time.

Last post before I collapse.

Somebody's birthday is coming. And, that special someone has made it very clear that he wants a party AND he wants, and I quote, "ribbons in the house air." So the workshop has gone into action. Garlands, ribbons, you name it. We are gonna fill that house air with color!

Another Friday thought

There's this Australian group called Umbrella Prints that does gorgeous screen printed (I think) fabric and they are having a scraps contest-- or ad they say, a Trimmings contest. Basically, it's make something out of their scraps. I'm doin' it! Wish me luck!! The prize is a pretty sizable batch of material from them (drool, pant, sigh). I'll need your help to win. You'll HAVE to vote for my project on pinterest! I'll share the details when it comes along and seriously, I will need your help. For real.

Friday night sew-off!

I haven't really talked about my new job here. I'm having a great time. It's really an excellent fit for me and far less stressful than my last job! And, at Clothorks, there are enormous bins of fabric scraps (little pieces with flaws and snags) that I can dig through!! Being mostly a scraps quilter, this is a dream come true! So, on this pillow there are here fabrics from the scrap bin: the bright orange is this really nice organic, light poplin, the bright blue is a Japanese ambre (?) and the brown on the backing with the Japanese writing on it is a yarn dye from a collection called European taupe. You probably also recognize scraps from the tank top i just made, stripes from a dress circa 2009, stripes from Jacob's tie and seersucker from Nate and Amy's quilt. By the way, I only have 3 yards left of the 10 yards of charcoal seersucker that I impulsively bought over the phone from Bolt in Portland...knowing that my supply is dwindling has made me really make use of every scrap from that project! Oh, and of course, this pillow features a vintage metal zipper from the Edmonds Senior Center Thrift Store.

Done!

Just like that. My coworker(hi Angela!) took a good one of me wearing this shirt to work today but it's trapped on the camera so l have to wait till tomorrow to give you the full effect. All things considered, I highly recommend the Sorbetto tank pattern by Colette. Good cut; good instructions; pretty easy job all around. This fabric is vintage Wamsutta and vintage shott cotton ( or something similar) for the binding.

2 summer tops!

Thanks again to the dead seamstress-- these vintage fabrics are all from her stash! I wish I knew her name. But whoever she was, I am sure she is watching over and enjoying all of the beautiful things in which they are taking part. This weekend I am jump starting summer and sewing the Wiksten tank dress and the Colette Sorbetto tank. Stay tuned.

http://blog.shopwiksten.com/?m=1
And
http://www.coletterie.com/colette-patterns-news/free-pattern-to-download-the-sorbetto-top

Kids hanky!

Finn has been quite resistant to getting his nose blown--no thanks to my overbearing, possibly too rough, micromanagement of his every sniffle. So, I decided to take a different tack and I wondered, how can I get Finn pumped up about staying clean? Well, it's basically a threat these days if you offer to do anything for Finn that he feels qualified to do so I thought I would capitalize on the, I-do-it-myself phase. I told him what a hanky is and I asked him if he wanted a "kids hanky". Yes! He was begging for it! So I made him one and he promptly lost it. This one here is number 2--just as cute and almost identical to the first.

Kids hanky: flannel on one side, regular cotton on the other. The blue and white is from Anthology.

More samples for Stash

I think I posted about the new quilt shop moving into Columbia City. If I didn't, well, there is one and I am pretty psyched! I can ride light rail there and get delicious fresh bread a block away. And, Stephanie, the gal who is opening is very sweet. I'm making a few samples for her shop and these are the cushions. One piece of advice: just buy the right size pillow insert--don't open up a down pillow and remove stuffing, then sew the pillow down to a smaller size. I look like I slept in the chicken coop right now. For the second pillow, I just adapted the pattern to fit my too-big-insert. That worked way better!

Quilt is up!

The scraps is done and up at Art Lending Library storefront on 3rd and yesler. Go check it out!

Ready to quilt!

But what color thread? Maybe white?

Scraps are the best!

I am so excited about this scraps quilt! It's really coming together.

Fancy Tiger spoils!

Sorry mom--mostly solids! Kona cotton selection was off the hook and only 6/yard. Christmas in February. The gray with dots is gonna be a little blouse a la Colette (picture a little rounded collar and red buttons). Can't wait to go back!

Fabric swap!

Complete w/ Chairman Mao silk!!! And windstopper fleece! Yes!

Lil buddies

Perfecting my hot water bottle cover pattern!

Scrap quilt!

More pics to come on this. Every time I feel Bummed about my job search, I just go work on this. Making a scrap quilt is really all about just making something work even if it's awkward or laborious. And it's anything goes. I like that.

Auction quilt nears completion

The binding is almost on! Pics tomorrow!

Silent auction item!

Our parent/teacher co-op preschool is doing a children's movie fest with a silent auction this spring. This quilt will be there! I'll keep you posted on the date if you want to come out and snatch this one up! I just finished the face tonight. Still have to do the backing(faux bois orange!) and quilting(diagonal yellow!).

Introducing the visibility bag

Super lightweight. Good reflectors. Packs into a little pouch. This was a gift for a friend, but I think I'll make a few to sell. Stay tuned for a little shop starting up. Ayleen dresses and bags to start.

Get 'Em while they're hot.

I've got one. Tyler's got one. They're in a cozy gray cotton with an appropriately faded charcoal ink. Cozy foh rill! Finn's pretty jealous, as the video shows. Git on down to Bluebeard Coffee in Tacoma (great day trip) and escape your dull everyday surroundings. Stock up on the best coffee. Buy a shirt. Recognize how cool Tacoma is (and is becoming more so everyday). Put Tacoma in your iPhone weather list and notice that it is sunny more often there. Okay, WTF on that, but really. T-town is prett cool. Oh, and get the bartenders choice at 1022. You'll need to mapquest that. Tacoma is no easier to navigate than Seattle.