In Color Order

Seaside Home Book + Giveaway

2012-03-21T13:46:00.001-05:00

Seaside Home, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I have a bit of exciting news to share with you today! Last year I was asked by Susanne Woods to submit a seaside themed project for an upcoming Stash Books Design Collective publication. I'm now happy to say that you'll find a nautical wreath project by myself in Seaside Home!

Seaside Home, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

It is so cool to finally be holding this book in my hands! It didn't really feel real until now! Definitely had a little geek out moment when the box arrived yesterday! :)

Seaside Home, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

My project combines fun seaglass colored prints with linen and beading for a little extra sparkle! It is certainly making it feel like summer in here! Wish we were closer to the real seaside, hehe!

Seaside Home, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

There are lots of other great projects in the book too, of course! Especially now that summer is just around the corner, expect to see a few seaside projects show up here!

The book can be purchased from your favorite book shop, Amazon, or directly from the C&T website!

And now, I think a quick giveaway is in order! I have a copy of the e-book for one you! To enter, just leave a comment! Please make sure your email address is viewable in your profile or you include it in your comment. Giveaway will close Thursday at 10pm CST!

Happy Sewing!

Catch Up!

2012-03-19T21:56:00.004-05:00

Tova, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Michael and I tried to enjoy the beautiful weather as much as possible! Between sewing and work, I went to a community garden orientation (I got a plot!), and we managed to do some grilling! 80 degrees in March, yes please, thank you very much! :)

I have been wearing my Tova tops so much lately, so I knew I still needed a few more! I bought this purple print from Poetica by Art Gallery Fabrics a few weeks back from The Intrepid Thread's new website! (Check it out, it's fantastic!) I had a feeling that Art Gallery Fabrics would be perfect for clothing, and oh my goodness it's true! Not only did it sew up super nicely, it's more comfortable than regular quilting cotton and here is the best part. I pulled it out of the dryer and it had NO wrinkles. ZERO ironing needed! Woo hoo!

Wiksten Tova pattern by Jenny Gordy, available here.

Birthday Tank, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Last week I snatched up a yard of this Liberty of London fabric from The Sewcial Lounge to sew up a special tank to wear tomorrow for my birthday! I'm a bit sad about being away from my family so I am doing a few special things to help distract me! I love this pattern and the finished tank feels so dreamy! I can't wait to wear it!

Wiksten Tank pattern by Jenny Gordy, available here.

Kaleidoscope Pillow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I have been wanting to play around the the Kaleidoscope pattern ever since seeing Angela's fantastic quilt. When a friend needed a little pick-me-up I decided it was finally time to try it! I've had this Marti Michell Kaleido Ruler for a while, and it came together pretty easily. I loved Angela's Kaleidoscope pillows, so I made one too! I can definitely see myself doing a whole quilt in this pattern!

Re-fashioned Tote Bag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

At Sewing Summit last year, we received lots of fun swag in plain canvas bags. We were challenged to re-fashion or decorate the bags after the conference was over. Well, I finally did something with mine! I know I'll need a sturdy tote to take back and forth to my garden and I think this will be perfect. I thrifted this blue striped utility fabric last week and had just enough to create a lining for it and add a little embellishment to the front. Best part is, it's now reversible! :)

Cloud 9, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

A little fabric made it's way here this weekend. A Miscellany by Cloud 9 fat quarter bundle! So pretty!

Cathrineholm, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I got a lovely birthday package in the mail today from my Mom which included the bottom Cathrineholm bowl! I've had my eye on it for a while, since I already had two the smaller bowls in the same color! Now to find some other sizes!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Clean apartment
Sound of: The Beach Boys
Taste of: Cupcakes
Sight of: George
Feel of: Warm laundry

Good Things about Today:
- Got some sewing done!
- The apartment is clean!
- Wendys :)
- Happy Mail!

Giveaway Winner!

2012-03-19T10:54:00.000-05:00

Thanks for all your entries in the Flea Market Fancy giveaway, courtesy of Poppy Seed Fabrics! Ms. Random.org has spoken and the winner is..

Congrats Caillean! I'll pass your information on to Kim and she'll be in touch with you soon! :)

Favorites

2012-03-17T08:40:00.001-05:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. FO: Sara's Scrappy Stars, 2. Penguin front, 3. 'Fragments' AAQI 8"X10", 4. Rainbow Stars quilt - front, 5. finished!, 6. quilt-as-you-go wonky star block, 7. Scrap attack quilt, 8. Selvage HSTs - Front, 9. Stained Glass Window--Fab Little Quilt Swap

Pillow Talk Swap: Received

2012-03-16T19:31:00.000-05:00

Pillow Talk Swap 7 - Received!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Eee! Look what arrived in the mail yesterday! A pillow from John for the Pillow Talk Swap! Isn't is so cute?! I love it! It features prints from Suzy Ultman's Appleville, that I just love! And look, there is even a bunny on it! George approves :)

Pillow Talk Swap 7 - Received!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Just my type of style! And John was very kind to include a pillow form, so it was enjoy immediately! The pom-pom trim kills me, adds an extra layer of cute!

Pillow Talk Swap 7 - Received!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Check out the back! It's just as cute as the front! I love the idea of a quilted envelope closure! I might have to try that out myself one of these days!

Pillow Talk Swap 7 - Received!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

And! As if that weren't enough, an adorable ceramic bunny made by John himself! So adorable! I love all things bunny, of course! There might have been some Easter candy too.. but I ate it before I could get photos, hehe :)

Pillow Talk Swap 7 - Received!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

It matches the mini quilt I made last year so well! Now I think I might need to hand it somewhere else so they can be together!

Thank you John for an awesome swap! :)

Giveaway: Flea Market Fancy

2012-03-15T13:29:00.002-05:00

Today I have a giveaway for you from my sponsor, Poppy Seed Fabrics! You all love Flea Market Fancy, right? Kim is generously offering up a bundle of 10 fat quarters of winners choice from Flea Market Fancy! Woo hoo!

So, how to enter? Just leave a comment!

If you'd like a second entry, head on over to Poppy Seed Fabrics and let me know here what your favorite item is (and come back and leave a second comment!)! Be sure to check out their blog too, while you're at it! :)

What's my favorite item you ask? Well, it's hard to narrow down! I'm torn between many of the Japanese prints, the seriously cute ribbons and the Echino webbing! Ooh, or this Pearl Bracelet bundle! Actually, I think I need to figure out a project that uses ribbons just so I have an excuse to buy some!

Make sure your email address is viewable in your profile or you include it in your comment. Winner will be chosen by Random.org. Giveaway ends Sunday, March 18th, at 5 pm CST! International entries welcome!

Good Luck & Thank you to Poppy Seed Fabrics!

**Giveaway is now closed, thanks! Winner will be announced shortly!**

Wednesday

2012-03-14T20:17:00.000-05:00

Mendocino Quilt Top, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I got a sudden surge of energy this week and finished up my Mendocino quilt top yesterday! It's exactly how I imagined it in my head, and I could not be more excited to finish it up! I am absolutely sending this one out to be long arm quilted, it's 96"x105"! Lindsay of Eileen Quilts will be working her quilty magic on it! We met at Sewing Summit last year and she's super sweet!

Mendocino Quilt Backing, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Today I sewed up the quilt backing! I wanted to focus on the giant octopi prints as well as use up some of the coordinating prints. I pulled solids from the octopus prints to help widen it. I think I need a break from big quilts for a bit! This backing is 106"x123"! A little much to wrestle with! Hehe!

Park Slope, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

After I made a Retro Flowers mini quilt last week, I started thinking about a larger quilt. I know I need to use some of my favorite fabrics to make sure I stick with a whole quilt, so I think I'm finally going to cut into my Park Slope by Erin McMorris! I ordered the custom acrylic templates for the pattern from Tabslot and am armed with a tiny rotary cutter! Retro Flowers Quilt Pattern by Christina Lane! :)

Happy Mail, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I did a little (Read: a lot!) online fabric shopping last week, and it's slowly been trickling in! I cannot resist good basics, and honestly I do use them a lot! I picked up these goodies at Fat Quarter Shop and Fresh Squeezed Fabrics! :)

From top to bottom: Oval Elements by Pat Bravo, Nursery Basics by Cloud 9, Fly a Kite by October Afternoon, Flea Market Fancy Reprint by Denyse Schmidt.

Pink Butterprint Pyrex, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I actually found some vintage Pyrex over the weekend! It feels like it's been SO long since I've found anything I want! I actually already have both of these pink butterprint casseroles, but they are in perfect condition and were so, so, cheap. $3 total! They also happen to be one of my very favorite pieces!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George!

In other news, I'm happy to welcome Poppy Seed Fabrics as In Color Order's newest sponsor! :)

Today I love the..
Smell of: 70 degree weather!
Sound of: The Beach Boys
Taste of: Shamrock shake
Sight of: Sunshine!
Feel of: Relaxing on the couch

Good Things about Today:
- Lots of sewing today!
- Hung out with the neighbor cats!
- Sunny and warm weather
- Ran some errands
- Mike is home early!

This Weekend

2012-03-12T17:58:00.000-05:00

Simplicity 2147, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I was excited to be able to try out another garment pattern this week. This time it was Simplicity #2147. I love tunic style tops, and from the photos, this one looked like a winner! I sewed up a practice using this gray print from Aunt Edna by Denyse Schmidt. The fit of it is pretty loose, so I think next time I'll go down a size, but otherwise it was easy and has great shape! Here's a photo of it on! Can't wait to make another!

New York Beauty, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Early next month I'll be sharing a step-by-step tutorial for this block as a part of the New York Beauty Quilt Along! You can find the pattern here, it's block #7. I made one of mine this weekend and it came together without much trouble!

Snappy Fun, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

This afternoon I played around with the Snapsetter Tool I got while at Sewing Summit. Made a coffee cozy (tutorial here), and a scrappy pouch using Amber's tutorial! Now I have an excuse to get some pretty colored snaps from Amy's shop!

Square Dance, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I've slowly been collecting this square dance voile print by Anna Maria Horner. I bought one color on sale on a whim a few months ago, and soon fell in love! I'm planning to using them for a simple quilt top. For now I'm happy just staring at them stacked up! Pink Castle Fabrics still has all four colors!

Honey Cowl, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I've been plugging away on my Honey Cowl. I put it down for a while, but I started working on it when I had to take my car in for service. It's going soooo slow! I just want to be done already so I can wear it and start something new, hehe! I'm using Madelinetosh in French Gray.

Sock Yarn, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I checked out a local knitting event this weekend thanks to a blog reader (thanks Judith!), and picked up some sock yarn. Isn't is so pretty?! It was just so much prettier than all the other yarns! ;) (R-L) Madelinetosh Sock in Flashdance, Sophie's Toes Sock in Daffodils & Tulips.

Vintage Sheets, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Great sheet haul on Friday! They'll all be in the shop tonight!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Fresh Air
Sound of: Monk
Taste of: Kix cereal
Sight of: George
Feel of: Relaxing on the couch

Good Things about Today:
- I got into the community garden!
- Short wait at the post office
- Sunshine
- It's still sunny and it's 6pm!

Tutorial: Triangular Log Cabin Pincushion

2012-03-09T10:49:00.001-06:00

Triangular Log Cabin Pincushion Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Happy Friday! I'm excited to be sharing a tutorial for this Triangular Log Cabin Pincushion over on the Riley Blake Cutting Corners Blog today! I love making pincushions and this one comes together really quick! I used the just released Woodland Tails by Sheri Berry! (Available at The Intrepid Thread) You can find the tutorial here.

Triangular Log Cabin Pincushion Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Enjoy! :)

Favorites

2012-03-09T07:51:00.001-06:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. rainbow triangle mini quilt, 2. Jewel Tones, 3. Cathedral7, 4. Summerlove Stripe, 5. HK Actionshot# 5, 6. New York Beauty, 7. Hope Valley Filmstrip Quilt Top, 8. Queen Pixel Quilt, 9. Lone Starburst

Wednesday

2012-03-07T20:27:00.000-06:00

Envelope Clutch, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Thanks for your kind words on Monday! I mailed the pillow off to it's new home today, in the end it wasn't as hard to let go as I thought it would be! I think my partner will really like it, and that's enough! But, I am vowing to make myself something equally as special!

Today I got sidetracked from all my other work, by Anna's new pattern, The Envelope Clutch! I've been so excited for this one, I wasted no time and whipped one up this afternoon (the small size). It came together so quickly and easily. And I even put in a zippered pocket for the first time! I used a new-to-me interfacing for this bag, Buckram. I was going to behave and use canvas as the pattern suggests, but when I saw the buckram, my curiosity got the best of me. It's stiffness made it a little difficult to work with, but I really like the result. It gave the bag so much structure!

I used Far Far Away II and III by Heather Ross and lined it with a Sketch print by Timeless Treasures. I'm so happy with how it turned out! Now I need somewhere to go so I can use it, haha! :)

Retro Flowers Mini Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Earlier in the week I finished up my Retro Flowers mini quilt! I did a little free motion quilting and bound it up in a Modern Meadow print by Joel Dewberry. This pattern was so fun and made me feel really accomplished. I am scheming to make the quilt size version! Pattern by Christina Lane can be found here!

Spring Carnival, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Since I finished up two projects I can start a new one, right? Good thing, because the Spring Carnival templates by Katy Jones arrived yesterday! I fell so head over heels for her pillow, I didn't hesitate to buy up a set of these templates and the appropriate paper pieces! I am cutting into my Good Folks by Anna Maria Horner for my project! I just need to decide on a background! You can find the Spring Carnival pattern on Katy's blog, here!

Vintage Sheets, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Working on a few projects for my Sewing Summit class too! I'm also teaching a fabric selection class later this month at The Sewcial Lounge if you're local! :)

Pattern is from Modern Log Cabin Quilting.

Thrifted, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I hit up my favorite thrift store and managed to find some quilting cotton! I couldn't believe my eyes, more handwriting fabric! The selvedge is mostly cut off, but it's from 1995! Crazy!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George says Hi!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Fresh Air
Sound of: The Muppet soundtrack
Taste of: Sesame seed bagel
Sight of: Fabric
Feel of: Warm wind

Good Things about Today:
- Productive day
- Beautiful spring weather
- Grilled cheese with bacon
- No line at the Post Office

Pillow Talk Swap: Finished

2012-03-05T13:19:00.000-06:00

Pillow Talk Swap 7 - Finished, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I finally finished up my pillow for the Pillow Talk Swap this morning. The hand quilting took a lot longer than I expected, mostly because I seemed to have been using the wrong needle for most of it. I quilted it with all 6 strands of DMC embroidery floss (which didn't help!), and often ended up needing my hemostats to help me pull the needle through. At some point I unknowingly switched needles and it went a lot smoother after that!

(I have no idea what type of needle you're supposed to use, or even what type I ended up using!)

Pillow Talk Swap 7 - Finished, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Each colored triangle is quilted in a coordinating floss, so the effect is pretty subtle. For the triangle piecing, I put my Accuquilt Go Baby to work, using the equilateral triangle die.

Pillow Talk Swap 7 - Finished, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

It's finished with a simple envelope style closure and bound in Heath by Alexander Henry. It's a little more than 15" square, and fills out a 16" form nicely.

Pillow Talk Swap 7 - Finished, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The pillow top uses a large number of different fabrics, you can see the entire stack with collections/designers here.

Pillow Talk Swap 7 - Finished, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I'm not going to lie, I don't want to send this pillow away! Isn't it funny how we often spend so much more time/effort on projects for others versus projects for ourselves? I think I'll indulge soon on something really special for our apartment!

Happy Monday!

This Week

2012-03-04T15:47:00.002-06:00

Granny Square Table Topper, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Lots and lots of crafting happened this week. We got a bunch of snow late in the week, and being cozy and stuck inside tends to amp up my motivation! My favorite finish of this week is definitely my table topper! These squares are not as quick to sew up as traditional patchwork, but still took relatively little time to put together. I used Jolene's granny square quilt block tutorial, using 1.5" squares instead of 2.5".

Granny Square Table Topper, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I added a few more fabrics to my original stack, giving me 8 fabrics in each of 6 colors. For the background I used Quilter's Linen in I *think* natural (I must write done what colors get cut next time I buy some!). It's backed in an Amy Butler Soul Blossoms print and bound in the focus fabric from Domestic Bliss by Liz Scott. Don't look too close at the borders, it ended up a bit wonky! Thankfully, it looks great in it's new home next to the futon! :)

Wiksten Tank, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

On Friday I decided to pull out the Wiksten Tank pattern by Jenny Gordy again, this time using a blue gingham fabric I thrifted when my Mom visited. This is now my fourth tank from this pattern, and I'm just getting started. It's so quick and easy to whip up and fits great too. You can now purchase the Tank and Tova patterns in paper or downloadable versions here!

Bow Tie Top, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I headed to Joanns this morning to pick up a couple Simplicity patterns I've had my eye on. Since I had lots of coupons I sifted through my garment sewing pinterest board and found this Simple Bow Tie Top tutorial I had pinned a while back. This seemed the perfect opportunity to pick up some jersey and silk on sale. I came straight home and sewed it up. So simple, but I think the result is quite nice. I'm excited to wear it this summer! I can't resist things with giant bows!

Retro Flower Mini Top, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

In between everything else, I finally sat down and tried out Christina's Retro Flowers Quilt Pattern. I set my goal of one block and was amazed by how easily it came together. I don't have a lot of experience sewing curves, but this block made me feel like a pro! The techniques used to achieve precision are awesome. Now I'm thinking I might need to make a whole quilt! (Fabrics are Rawhide by Moda, Quilter's Linen in Natural, La Petite Ecole by French General)

Nametag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

This month for the Madison Modern Quilt Guild we decided to make name tags for ourselves. I still had one from Sewing Summit, but figured I could use another one! I used more Quilter's Linen (can you tell I'm in love with this stuff?) and some Little Folks voile scraps!

If you're a local Madison quilter interested in joining, check us out on Facebook!

Wintery Wisconsin, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

A snowy view of this week's storm!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George! He is working hard shedding at the moment. His new fur is SO soft!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Lavender dryer sheets
Sound of: Harry Potter 6
Taste of: Sesame seed bagel
Sight of: Sun
Feel of: Wool socks

Good Things about Today:
- Productive day!
- Chocolate!
- My handmade wardrobe is growing!
- George :)

Guest Post: Fat Quarterly Designer Challenge

2012-03-03T14:31:00.004-06:00

Zippy Pouches!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Last month I had the opportunity to play with a few fat quarters of Quilt Blocks by Ellen Luckett Baker (to be released in April!), as a part of Fat Quarterly's current Designer Challenge. I'm sharing my projects over on their blog today! You can check it out here! :)

Happy Weekend!

Superior Threads Giveaway Winner!

2012-03-02T23:35:00.000-06:00

I hope you all had a great leap day! Thanks for all of your comments and enthusiasm over the lovely threads! Without further ado, a winner!

#44! Congratulations Sandy! I'll be emailing you in a bit! :)

Thanks again to Superior Threads for this fun giveaway!

Favorites

2012-03-02T07:33:00.001-06:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. a quilt of my own, 2. ftlos, mini quilt, 3. Green Spinning Stars, 4. Woven Mini Quilt, 5. tuesday morning, 6. hot and cold, top, 7. ferris wheel, 8. Dotty Star 9, 9. finished front!

HST Block of the Month: March

2012-03-01T07:30:00.002-06:00

Welcome to the Half-Square Triangle Block of the Month! For each month in 2012, I'll present a quick tutorial for a traditional quilt block using half-square triangles (HST)! It's going to be a lot of fun, feel free to join in at any time! For past posts see here.
Happy March! Today I'm sharing with you the third block of our block of the month series! This block is just plain fun! Let's dive right in!

For my block I used prints from Weekends by Erin McMorris, Hello Pilgrim by Lizzy House, and Modern Meadow by Joel Dewberry.

Cutting

HST Block of the Month: March, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Traditional Method:

- (8) 4" squares from background fabric (white)

- (4) 4" squares from print fabric (green)

- (2) 4" squares from second print fabric (turquoise)

- (2) 4" squares from third print fabric (navy)

Alternative Method:

- (4) 6" squares from background fabric (white)

- (2) 6" squares from print fabric (green)

- (1) 6" squares from second print fabric (turquoise)

- (1) 6" squares from third print fabric (navy)

HST Block of the Month: March, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Assemble your half-square triangles using either the traditional method, or the alternative method. Press seams open.

2. Trim your HSTs to 3.5" square.

HST Block of the Month: March, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

3. Arrange your HSTs as shown in the image above.

HST Block of the Month: March, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

4. Sew your HSTs into four rows. Press seams in alternating directions as shown above.

HST Block of the Month: March, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

5. Sew your four rows together, pinning where the seams match up. Press seams open. Trim block to 12.5" if necessary.

Voila! You're done! :)

If you create a block using this tutorial I hope you'll add it to the flickr group!

Happy Sewing!

Happy Leap Day: Mini Quilt + Giveaway!

2012-02-29T07:22:00.001-06:00

Superior Threads, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I'm excited to share with you a fun mini quilt and giveaway today! When Cindy of Live A ColorfulLife asked if I'd like to participate in a Superior Threads Leap Day party and give away some threads, I said, of course! I can always use an excuse to party! Quilter style that is! ;)

I have used Superior Threads once before, their King Tut cotton thread. I used it for my Single Girl quilt, and loved it! It may have started my new love for variegated threads!

Gray Mini Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

This week, I got to play with thread from their Rainbows collection which is 100% polyester. I use polyester thread for all of my piecing (and a lot of quilting too!), so I wasn't surprised by how smoothly this thread ran through my machine. For this project, I decided to dig into my gray scraps! I pieced them together into strips, then cut them up and sewed them back together. I did that a few more times, added some sashing, and voila!

Quilted, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I wanted the quilting to really show, so I used a simple wavy quilting pattern, done with my walking foot. I love how the variegated thread gives it some sparkle. So fun!

Gray Mini Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I backed it in a fun house print from Ikea, and bound it up in more scraps. It finished off at about 18" square. I *think* the solids I used are Kona Medium Gray and Kona Coal, but don't hold me to that! The thread I used was Rainbows #810 in "Zebra" by Superior Threads!

Superior Threads, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

And now, the giveaway! I've got three spools of Rainbows thread for one lucky winner! Just leave a comment to enter! International entries are welcome, giveaway will close on Friday at 5pm CST! Don't forget to leave your email if it's not viewable in your profile!

Giveaway is now closed, winner will be announced tomorrow! :)

Also, you have more chances to win by entering the other Leap Day Superior Thread Giveaways going on today:

Elizabeth from OccasionalPiece-Quilt!

Cindy from Live A ColorfulLife

Lee fromFreshly Pieced

Sherri from AQuilting Life

Leanne from She Can Quilt

Thelma from Cupcakes 'n'Daisies

Jeni from In Color Order << you're already here! :)

Amy from During QuietTime

Carla from Lollyquiltz

Jennifer from That Girl, That Quilt

Corey from Little Miss Shabby

Terri from Sewfantastic

Tuesday

2012-02-28T17:12:00.000-06:00

Quilted, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Hope everyone is having a good week so far! Mine started off a little bumpy, but today was much better! You know when you just have those days when everything seems to go wrong? That was me yesterday! It makes me thankful that each day is a new beginning! To better days!

Today I finished up a little quilty project! I'll be sharing more about it tomorrow and rumor has it there may just be a little giveaway involved too! ;)

March's HST block sneak peek, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

To continue on with the sneakiness, here is a peek at March's block for our HST Block of the Month! I'll be posting the tutorial on Thursday!

Back, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I'm plugging away slowly on my Mendocino quilt. The top is coming together, but it's taking a while! I'm getting impatient, I just want it to be done!

Reunion by Sweetwater, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

A few goodies I picked up with my Mom last week, Reunion by Sweetwater. You all know I can't resist a good basic, and these herringbone prints are amazing. And the text prints, had to have them!

Easter Treats, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

It may only be February but I'm knee deep in Easter sweets. Cadbury mini eggs are my very favorite!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George bun has been extra sweet lately!

I am happy to welcome Pink Castle Fabrics as In Color Order's newest sponsor! Brenda has a little something for you all, a 15% off coupon! Use code "JENI15" at checkout! (Good until Monday!)

Today I love the..
Smell of: Bread
Sound of: Leap Year
Taste of: Jelly beans (Starburst of course!)
Sight of: A happy mess
Feel of: Wool socks

Good Things about Today:
- Very productive day!
- Enjoyed a relaxing afternoon
- Kind words from a neighbor
- The Muppets soundtrack

Catch-up!

2012-02-25T16:51:00.000-06:00

George Quilts, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I feel like I have been saying this for a while now, but it was another crazy busy week! My Mom came to visit from Ohio for four days! We had a blast! There was lots of shopping, thrifting, and eating! We even squeezed a movie and some sewing in too. I miss her already!

I've been slowly getting back into my normal routine, and was able to spend some time in the sewing room today. I finally turned these stamped George panels I made into mini quilts today! They were quick and a fun way to use these panels. Although, I don't think I'll be using linen for binding again anytime soon. It was a bit fussy and thick to mess with. But, oh well! I used Coquette by Pat Bravo and Reunion by Sweetwater to frame them!

Another Tank, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Yesterday I made up another Wiksten Tank (by Jenny Gordy). This time I used some Innocent Crush Voile by Anna Maria Horner. The voile wasn't quite as easy to work with as quilting cotton, but it fits a lot better and was really lovely to wear, so soft! Plus, I was able to get an entire tank out of 1 yard since it's extra wide. Woo hooo! :)

Ironing Board Cover, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

After I dropped my Mom off at the airport on Thursday, I needed a little project to cheer me up. I decided it was high time to recover my ironing board! I used Randi's sew-along, it was super easy to follow! The fabrics I used are Lark home dec by Amy Butler, Kona Coal, and an unknown turquoise solid from a scrap bundle. I love my new cover!

Stitching, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I've been stitching away on my pillow top! I'm a very slow hand quilter, but I think it will be worth it! I like how it's turning out so far.

Hello Pilgrim by Lizzy House, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Eeee! Look what has arrived?! Hello Pilgrim by Lizzy House! The colors are so fresh and have me dreaming of spring! I bought my bundle from The Intrepid Thread as soon as it came in! Now I'm just waiting for the Jewel prints from this line to come! :)

Vintage Sheets, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

We hit the motherload of sheets this weekend! I'm trying to be a bit pickier about the prints I carry, so I was happy to find this many in one week! They're all in the shop now!

English Muffin Bread, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

When I found this recipe on Pinterest, I knew I needed to try it immediately. I love toast, and this English Muffin Bread recipe promised to be the best. And I have to admit, it's really good! I halved the recipe and made two loafs on Thursday.. and I'm almost through the second loaf already, hehe!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George :)

Today I love the..
Smell of: Toast
Sound of: The Muppet Show
Taste of: Toast!
Sight of: Vintage Sheets
Feel of: Warm slippers

Good Things about Today:
- Productive day at home!
- It was sunny!
- Restocked the shop!
- George!

Art Gallery Fabrics Giveaway Winner

2012-02-25T08:20:00.001-06:00

Summerlove by Art Gallery Fabrics, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Thank you for all of your sweet comments on my Patchwork Picnic Quilt! And now, without further ado, the winner of the delicious Art Gallery 1/2 yard bundle is...

Shirley! I'll be sending you an email later today for your information! :)

Favorites

2012-02-24T07:15:00.001-06:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. converging corners quilt top, 2. IMPROV chevrons!!, 3. DSCF8241, 4. demo mdp top for class, 5. scrappy hour glass quilt, 6. little granny, 7. Happy Camper Wonky Cross Quilt, 8. French kisses in {the} Secret Garden, 9. Bare bones

Sparkle Quilt Along - Finish and Linky Party!

2012-02-23T07:52:00.000-06:00

This post is part of the Sparkle Quilt Along. For more information see here. Welcome to the final week of the Sparkle Quilt Along, hosted by Megan of Canoe Ridge Creations and myself! Today I'm going to share my finished mini quilt and give you a chance to link up your finished quilts!

Sparkle Quilt Along: Finished!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

When I was choosing fabrics for my mini quilt, I worked backwards, choosing the binding fabric first and then from there chose the sparkle fabrics. It can be hard to choose binding that coordinates with all your prints, so why not try choosing it first! I think it worked out really well!

Sparkles: A Day in the Life by Mummysam, The Woodlands by Khristian A Howell, Castle Peeps by Lizzy House, Tailor Made by Cosmo Cricket. Background: Kona White. Binding: Follow your Imagination by Prince Charming.

Sparkle Quilt Along: Finished!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

For backing I was originally going to use the same fabric as the binding, but I didn't end up having quite enough. So I mimicked the stripey binding fabric by using strips of coordinating solids from my stash. I actually quite like how it turned out!

Sparkle Quilt Along: Finished!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I quilted my mini quilt with my signature doodle loops. I just can't get away from them! They're second nature for me, and so quick! Plus they're sort of whimsical, which definitely went with the fabrics I used!

Now it's your turn to share your quilts! Link them up! :)

Thank you for quilting along with us, it was a lot of fun! Please continue to add your photos to the Sparkle Quilt Along Flickr Group, we love seeing your progress!

Happy Sewing!

Patchwork Picnic Quilt: Tutorial + Giveaway!

2012-02-20T08:13:00.000-06:00

Patchwork Picnic Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

When I think of summer quilts, the first thing I think of is patchwork. Something about simple patchwork screams summer to me! So when this delicious stack of fabrics arrived from Art Gallery Fabrics on Friday, I instantly knew they needed to become a sweet, summery, patchwork quilt. From there, everything fell into place for this quilt. I ran up to my favorite shop to grab background fabric, Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen in Natural. On my way home, I stopped at a thrift shop and found the vintage sheet I used for backing (for more info on sewing with vintage sheets, see this post). Between Friday and Sunday, that stack became a quilt. Sometimes you just get that sewing energy burst, I sure did this weekend!

Patchwork Picnic Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

This quilt has been in my head for a long time. The quilt in my head used linen and soft, romantic colors, so the quilt that resulted is pretty darn close! She finishes off at 68"x72", a great size for a summer nap or picnic. I quilted it with simple diagonal lines using Aurifil thread in beige, and bound it in a print from Little Folks by Anna Maria Horner.

Patchwork Picnic Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I had a lot of fun playing with these fabrics! It's a bit of Summerlove, new Oval Elements and new Pure Elements, out in March. Thanks to Art Gallery for sending me these, and also a little something for you! Check after the tutorial for a giveaway!

Patchwork Picnic Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I wanted to write up a quick how-to for this quilt, so that you can make your own! It comes together really fast, and it doesn't take a lot of thinking, so it's perfect for the weekend when we all should be relaxing! It utilizes a checkerboard pattern, alternating between background and print squares. This makes it great for chain-piecing, where you continue to stitch blocks together without clipping your threads in between. So, let's get to it!

Patchwork Picnic Quilt

Summerlove by Art Gallery Fabrics, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Materials
- 10 fat quarters (or 3 charm packs, or 1 layer cake)*
- 2 1/4 yards of solid or semi-solid fabric for background
- 1/2 yd of binding fabric
- 4 1/4 yds of backing fabric (or a full/double size bedsheet)
- 2 1/4 yds of batting (76"x80" piece)
- Coordinating thread

Note: 1/4" seam allowances
Finished Size: 68"x72"

*For this quilt you'll need a total of 120 print 5" squares and 120 background 5" squares. You could use more or less fabrics for desired variety!

Cutting

Patchwork Picnic Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

From fat quarters:
- cut (3) 5"x22" strips
- from these strips cut (4) 5" squares
12 squares per fat quarter for a total of 120 squares.

From background fabric:
- cut (15) 5" x WOF (width of fabric) strips
- from these strips cut (8) 5" squares
Total of 120 squares.

From binding fabric:
- cut (7) 2.5" x WOF strips

1. Sew a 5" print square to a 5" background square. Continue until all the squares are paired up.

Patchwork Picnic Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

2. Sew together pairs of squares, making sure to match up background and print squares. Continue until all the pairs are sewn into strips of four squares.

Patchwork Picnic Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

*I like to use a plastic tub or paper bag to hold my squares as I'm piecing so that I can mix them up and get maximum variety!

3. Sew together sets of four squares, making sure to match up background and print squares. Continue until all the four square sets are sewn into strips of eight squares.

4. Sew together sets of 8 squares, making sure to match up background and print squares. Continue until you have 15 strips of 16 squares each. These are your finished rows!

5. Press your seams to one side, pressing all your rows the same direction.

Patchwork Picnic Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

6. Lay out your quilt, flipping your rows every other row to create the checkerboard pattern above. Label your rows if you'd like! I use scraps of paper and safety pins!

Patchwork Picnic Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

7. Sew together your quilt top, pressing your rows either open or in one direction. Your top is done!

8. To piece your backing, first cut your backing yardage in half. Press. Carefully trim off the selvedges and sew your pieces together lengthwise.

Patchwork Picnic Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

9. Baste (tutorial), quilt, and bind (tutorial)!

Patchwork Picnic Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Voila! You're done! Enjoy! :)

Summerlove by Art Gallery Fabrics, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

And now, finally, the giveaway! We have this sweet HALF-YARD bundle for you to make your own quilt (if you want!). It includes some Summerlove and Pure Elements, delicious! Just leave a comment to enter! International entries welcome! Giveaway will end on Friday, February, 23rd at 5 pm CST.

~~Please make sure you include an email address in your comment if it isn't viewable in your profile! Good luck!~~

Giveaway is now closed! I'll announce the winner tomorrow morning! :)

Happy Quilting!

This Week

2012-02-19T16:14:00.000-06:00

New Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

It's been another busy week, I don't even know where to start! The majority of the week wasn't all that productive, but some switch got flipped on Friday! I pieced a quilt top, started and finished the quilt above, made some progress on my table topper project, and even cleaned the apartment! Wish I was always this productive! :)

Tomorrow I'll be sharing more of the above quilt, which was made with this bundle courtesy of Art Gallery Fabrics, including Summerlove and new colors of Oval and Pure Elements, out in March! I'll also have a tutorial and a giveaway to go along with it, so be sure to check back!

Simple Patchwork, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Mark Cesarik kindly sent over some of his upcoming line, Cosmic Burst for me to play with! I've been in a patchwork mood this week, so I paired it with some Kona solids (Stone, Bright Pink, Papaya and Royal)! Now I need to figure out some backing!

Tiny Granny Square, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I made a little progress on my table topper! I wanted to find a pattern that used lots of different fabrics since I was working with quite a few colors! I thought about finally using the x and + blocks but ended up landing on Jolene's granny square blocks. I'm making them tiny like Randi's blocks so that they'll fit!

Pillow Talk Swap 7, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I also pieced together my pillow top for the Pillow Talk Swap! Now I'm adding some special quilting to it!

Donuts, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I made donuts for the first time! They were SO easy! Way too easy, and delicious! I used this recipe! :)

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George!

In other news, I'm happy to welcome The Fabricologist as my newest sponsor! I happen to know Amy in person, through the Madison Modern Quilt Guild! She's super sweet and so is her shop, I hope you'll check it out!

Also! Krista of Thar She Sews has an interview with me up today as a part of her Sewing Circle Series! You can read it here! :)

Today I love the..
Smell of: Lavender dryer sheets
Sound of: Keane
Taste of: Cadbury mini eggs!
Sight of: sunshine
Feel of: Warm quilt

Good Things about Today:
- Very productive day
- Takeout Chinese
- Clean apartment
- My Mom is coming to visit tomorrow!!

Happy Friday!

2012-02-17T18:15:00.000-06:00

Hope you all are having a wonderful Friday! I'm hoping to play with some patchwork this evening and perhaps watch a chick flick! I wanted to pop in here real quick and point you over to Nova's blog! This year, Nova (of a cuppa and a catch up!) is holding a Liberty Scrap Challenge! Every month, she uses Liberty of London scraps to create a fun project and tutorial. This month, she's embellished my Lined Drawstring Bag Tutorial with gorgeous Liberty fabric! Please go check it out and give her some love, it's awesome! I am definitely going to have to make one! :)

Favorites

2012-02-17T08:15:00.001-06:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Kaleidoscope Quilt, 2. Central Park Quilt- front side, 3. Kaleidoscope String Quilt, 4. trip around the world quilt top, 5. granny square progress, 6. Garden Trellis, 7. Brrr! Triangles Quilt, 8. Herringbone complete!, 9. "Tail Wind", 90x95"

Sparkle Quilt Along: Finishing Up

2012-02-16T09:15:00.001-06:00

This post is part of the Sparkle Quilt Along. For more information see here. Welcome to the sixth week of the Sparkle Quilt Along, hosted by Megan of Canoe Ridge Creations and myself! Head on over to Megan's blog today for Week Six: Finishing Up!

Sparkle Quilt Along: Finishing Up!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I finished up my mini quilt this morning! I quilted it with simple free-motion doodle loops! Full reveal next week!

Don't forget to add your photos to the Sparkle Quilt Along Flickr Group! Next week we'll have a Linky Party so you all can show off your finished quilts!

Happy Sewing!

Guest Post: Sew Inspiring Rooms

2012-02-14T10:26:00.001-06:00

Sewing Room, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

My sewing room is making the rounds this month! Today I'm sharing my favorite parts of my space on the A Little Bit Biased blog as a part of Amber's Sew Inspiring Rooms series!

You can read all about it here! :)

Happy Sewing!

Monday

2012-02-13T17:11:00.000-06:00

Side Table, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

On Saturday, I mentioned that I'd be making a table topper for our side table and I would document each part of the process for you. I didn't get too far today, but settled on a healthy stack of fabrics and a basic color scheme! I started with the color of the table, turquoise. Keeping in mind that the futon is decorated with vintage sheets, I knew I wanted something bright and that possibly had a slightly retro feel. So, I started digging in my fabrics!

Tabletopper Stack, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I first pulled focus fabrics that had turquoise, and large amounts of other colors. I knew I wanted to center the table topper around one of these. The top print, from Domestic Bliss by Liz Scott, really stuck out to me. It has turquoise, lots of other colors, has a retro feel, and is nice and bright.

(You can find Domestic Bliss at The Intrepid Thread and Fat Quarter Shop, among other places!)

Tabletopper Stack, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

From the Domestic Bliss print, I pulled fabrics in similar colors: red, pink, mustard, turquoise, teal, and eggplant. Now I've got a nicely coordinated stack, and I don't even have to use the original print if I don't want (I haven't quite decided yet!). Time to think of a pattern that will suit these prints! Shall report back soon!

(The Woodlands by Khristian A Howell, Little Apples by Aneela Hoey, Outfoxed by Lizzy House, Sugar Pop by Liz Scott, Sugar Pop by Liz Scott, Wonderland by Momo, Girl's World Vibe by Jennifer Paganelli, Aviary 2 by Joel Dewberry, Lotus by Amy Butler, Modern Meadow by Joel Dewberry, Gingham by Michael Miller, Half Moon Modern by Momo, Tailor Made by Cosmo Cricket, Oh my! by Sanae, Heirloom by Joel Dewberry, Heirloom by Joel Dewberry, Domestic Bliss by Liz Scott.)

Pezzy Prints, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I am powerless against a good basic, so when Moda decided to re-release the mono pez prints by American Jane (Sandy Klop), I had to pounce! Look how pretty they look all together?! It's a rainbow of Pezzy Print goodness!

I bought my stack from Fresh Squeezed Fabrics, who also happens to be In Color Order's newest sponsor! It's thanks to Randi that I sewed my first real purse! About a year and a half ago I won a kit from her shop and promptly sewed up my castle peeps purse! :)

Cookies, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I needed a little something sweet this morning, so I decided to make these Potato Chip Cookies from Smitten Kitchen. They are goooood! Almost too good, especially considering the amount of sugar and butter in them! Oh well! :)

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George bun :)

Today I love the..
Smell of: Fresh laundry
Sound of: Harry Potter 2 Audiobook
Taste of: Potato Chip Cookies
Sight of: Fabric stacks
Feel of: Staying cozy inside while it snows

Good Things about Today:
- Had a productive day!
- Happy mail!
- COOKIES!
- In one week, my Mom will be here to visit!!

Mendocino Quilt Blocks

2012-02-12T20:09:00.001-06:00

All 24 Blocks, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I'm freaking out! I finished up the last of the mermaid blocks this afternoon and was finally able to lay them all out together! It is just how I imagined they'd look together! This is my absolute dream quilt and I am so excited about finally getting close to the finish line!

Regrouping, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The blocks are scrappy pieced log cabins centering around the mermaid prints from Heather Ross's Mendocino line. My very favorite fabrics! The blocks use a lot of coordinating prints from the line, but also tons of fabrics collected and pulled from my stash. I'm getting ready now to put the top together, which will take a bit, since the blocks are all different sizes! I plan on having this quilt long arm quilted, since it's going to be giant at 96"x108"! :)

Here are a few of my favorite blocks:

Block 16, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Block 16.

Block 15, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Block 15.

Block 12, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Block 12.

Block 7, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Block 7.

You can see all the blocks here. I finished the first block for this quilt in January 2011, so it's been over a year in progress! I'm positively bursting with excitement over this quilt, I couldn't wait until tomorrow to share! :)

Catch Up!

2012-02-11T17:06:00.000-06:00

Wiksten Tank #1, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Whoa! This week was crazy! I spent the beginning of the week hanging out with the Iowa girls sewing and chatting and ended the week helping out with a kid's sewing fundamentals class at The Sewcial Lounge. And there was a birthday (Michael's!) in between! I did manage to squeeze in a fair bit of sewing though! Hope you all had a good week!

I finally got my hands on the Wiksten Tank Pattern by Jenny Gordy this past week. I wasted no time and sewed this one up with some Echo fabric by Lotta Jansdotter. It fit okay, and I accidentally cut the front and back pieces going different directions, but it's still wearable at least! I added darts to the back to help with the fit, and I plan to wear it mostly under cardigans, so no one has to know about the upside down fabric, haha!

Wiksten Tank #2, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Yesterday I set out to make another tank! I used the same pattern, but made a smaller size. It fits a lot better than the first! I used Aunt Edna fabric by DS Quilts (Denyse Schmidt). I even matched up the pocket perfect just like Karyn does! It was a very proud moment! I think I'll be making a lot of these tanks!

Ready, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Been working on my It's a Hoot quilt! Almost done! Hope to share it soon!

New Fabric, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

It was a good week for fabric mail! I picked up some cute Japanese prints and a Lizzy Dish print I didn't have from Contemporary Cloth! I'm freaking out over the umbrella print, isn't it adorable!?

Pillow Talk Swap 7, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I took almost a year and a half off from Flickr swaps. This year I felt like it was time to join one again! I'm participating in the 7th round of the Pillow Talk Swap! This is the stack of fabrics I've pulled so far for my partner. Can't wait to sew them up into a fun pillow! (I previously participated in the Urban Home Goods Swap, Scrappy Pincushion Swap, and the Doll Quilt Swap)

1st stack: Dillweed by Robert Kaufman, The Woodlands by Khristian A Howell, Mingle by Monaluna, Farmer;s Market by Sandi Henderson, Metro Living by Robert Kaufman, Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt, Weekends by Erin McMOrris, Circa 1934 by Cosmo Cricket, Flea Market Fancy by Denyse Schmidt, Tailor Made by Cosmo Cricket, Modern Meadow by Joel Dewberry, Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt, Gingham by Michael Miler, Oval Elements by Pat Bravo, Lush by Patty Young, Echo by Lotta Jandsdotter, Wing It by Momo, Victoria and Albert Museum by David Textiles, Freebird by Momo, Unknown.

2nd stack: Annie's Farm Stand by Lakehouse Dry Goods, Tailor Made by Cosmo Cricket, Unknown, Arvika by Alexander Henry, Oval Elements by Pat Bravo, Half Moon Modern by Momo, Unknown, Where's by Stasche by Alexander Henry, Timeless Treasures, Timesless Treasures, Blah Blah by Maxine, Crossword by Michael Miller.

Side Table, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Over the last year or so I've gotten a lot of questions about my design process and how I go from an idea to a finished project. So, I want to tackle a project and document every step to give you all a better idea of how I work. I need a new table topper for our little side table and it seemed like just the right project! It's currently painted this lovely color of turquoise! Hopefully I'll be back next week to show you the fabrics I've picked!

Orders, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Thank you, thank you for your support during my shop sale! It was a grand success! :)

Good morning!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Cold air
Sound of: My Name is Earl
Taste of: Blueberry Muffin Top Cookies
Sight of: Clean apartment
Feel of: Wool socks

Good Things about Today:
- Made sewing progress today!
- Managed to keep the apartment clean!
- Successful kid's class!
- It was sunny!

Favorites

2012-02-10T11:54:00.001-06:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. FLiQ quilt top, 2. Echo quilt, 3. Pyramid Quilt, 4. Fat Quarterly Issue 8 - This is so cool being part of it, 5. brrr! mini quilt, 6. Untitled, 7. single girl mini + giveaway., 8. Granny Squares so far (6), 9. This is the quilt!!! EEK!!!!

Sparkle Quilt Along: Putting together your quilt top

2012-02-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

This post is part of the Sparkle Quilt Along. For more information see here.

Sparkle Quilt Along, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Welcome to the fifth week of the Sparkle Quilt Along, hosted by Megan of Canoe Ridge Creations and myself! Today I'm going to walk you through how to put your quilt top together!

Before we start sewing, make sure your blocks and sashing strips are well pressed. If you haven't cut your sashing yet, refer back to the cutting instructions here. If you're sewing the lap size, you'll need to join two strips together and trim to the correct length for sashing in steps 2 and 3!

Sparkle Quilt Along, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Lay out your blocks, placing a 2"x12.5" sashing strip between each block. Sew the blocks and sashing in each row together. I pressed my seams towards the sashing to reduce bulk, but feel free to press them however you'd like!

Sparkle Quilt Along, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

2. Once all your rows are sewn, we're going to sew the sashing that goes between each row as well as the top and bottom of your quilt. This will vary depending on what size quilt you're making! Sew together the same way we sewed the rows! Press seams.

Sparkle Quilt Along, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

3. Now we're going to sew the side sashing pieces on! Press.

Sparkle Quilt Along, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Voila! You're done! Give your finished top a good press and square up if necessary.

Don't forget to join the Sparkle Quilt Along Flickr Group! Next week Megan will be showing you how to finished up your quilt! :)

Happy Sewing!

Featured: Sewing Room of the Month

2012-02-08T18:10:00.000-06:00

Sewing Room, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

My sewing space is being featured as the Sewing Room of the Month for February on the Art Gallery Fabrics blog today! I'm very excited because I LOVE their fabrics, hehe! The many different elements (Oval, Pure, Nature, etc!) especially! So, if you'd like to hear about and see my space, head on over! :)

Thanks for having me Art Gallery!

Sewing Summit 2012

2012-02-07T08:00:00.000-06:00

Eeee! Happy news today! Guess what? I am very excited to say that I'm teaching at Sewing Summit 2012! I'm super honored that they're having me back to teach again, and I really hope you all can come! :D

For those of you who do not know what Sewing Summit is, it is a modern sewing and blogging conference! It's being held in Salt Lake City, Utah, this coming October! For more information see the Sewing Summit website! Last year was an absolute blast! I can't wait for this year!

Rainbow Goodness, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Were you wondering why I was playing with boxes of rainbow fabric and making a color hex wheel pouch? :)

Happy Tuesday!

Weekend Vintage Sheet Sale!

2012-02-04T09:30:00.001-06:00

Vintage Sheets, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

It's been quite a while since I've had a proper sale in the shop! And this one's a big one! :)

Vintage Sheets, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Here are a few of my favorite current sheets in stock! Been adding lots of good ones lately!

Vintage Sheet Fat Quarters, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The grab bags are marked down to their lowest, $1.50 and $1.75 a fat quarter! Can't beat that! :)

Sheet Scraps!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The sheet scraps are overflowing, so the rainbow scrap packs are $2 off! Other scrap packs are on sale too!

Vintage Sheet Charm Packs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Charm packs are $1 off! Great for your patchwork projects!

Vintage Wrapped Wreath Kits, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I've continued to make more Vintage Sheet Wrapped Wreath Kits! I'll be adding new pillowcases all day! They'll be on sale too! :)

I hope you'll check it out! Thanks for your support!

*NOTE: Sale will be ending at 5pm CST Sunday the 5th. Thanks!

Happy Weekend!

Sparkle Quilt Along: Sewing Your Sparkle Blocks

2012-02-03T09:47:00.002-06:00

This post is part of the Sparkle Quilt Along. For more information see here. Welcome to the fourth week of the Sparkle Quilt Along, hosted by Megan of Canoe Ridge Creations and myself! Head on over to Megan's blog today for Week Four: Sewing Your Sparkle Blocks!

Sparkle Quilt Along: Blocks, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I stitched up my blocks earlier this week!

Don't forget to add your photos to the Sparkle Quilt Along Flickr Group! Next week I'll be walking you through putting your quilt top together! :)

Happy Sewing!

Favorites

2012-02-03T08:05:00.001-06:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Vintage Sheet Quilt Top, 2. From Jules: Selvage Mini, 3. Grey skies and sunshine, 4. that 80's quilt, 5. Medallion January 2012, 6. Finishing this quilt top today., 7. flying geese at 3 levels, 8. Untitled, 9. lovely liberty

This Week

2012-02-02T22:13:00.000-06:00

New Top, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Thank you, thank you for your kind words on my quilt and block tutorials! So glad you're enjoying them! It's so exciting seeing your blocks pop up in the flickr group! I was going to wait until the weekend for a "wrap up" post for this week, but I just couldn't wait! Some exciting stuff was finished this week!

The first of those things being my second shirt! The pattern is Tova by Jenny Gordy of Wiksten patterns and the fabric is Habitat by Jay McCarroll. I am SO happy with how this one turned out! I love the fabric and it fits like a glove. I cannot wait to make another! And hopefully the tank pattern soon too! :)

Another Tova top finished! :), a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

See, look how happy I am wearing it! Making clothing is really exciting! I'm having fun and cannot wait to add more handmade items to my wardrobe!

Hexie Pouch, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I was struck with the idea for this pouch and had to immediately sew it, it just couldn't wait! Color wheels have been on my mind lately, and I have been playing around with some rainbow projects. So this isn't quite a circle (wheel), it's a color hexagon! Made of hexagons! I turned it into a little pouch! Cause we all need more pouches, right?

(PS - I use a combination of Kelly's and Anna's tutorials when I make my zipper pouches!)

Block 20, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Plugging away at those mermaid blocks! I only have 12 blocks left and then I'm done! Getting seriously excited!

Tiny, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I felt like I needed another tiny sized lined drawstring bag, so I used up some scraps to make this one. You'd think that a bag this little would be impractical (it's only 4" tall!), but they're actually quite handy for little things like embroidery supplies!

Retro Kitchen by Michael Miller, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I tried my best to be good and resist this fabric when it first came out. But, let's face it, it was meant to be. It's Retro Kitchen by Michael Miller and it features different motifs from vintage kitchenware. Including, my personal favorite, Cathrineholm! I collect the enamelware, so I had to collect the fabric too!

Hawthorne Threads and Fabric.com both have this collection!

Liberty, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The Sewcial Lounge here in Madison, WI just got TEN BOLTS of Liberty of London! Drool! I had to go see them the second they came in, my oh my, they are gorgeous! I am scheming to buy some yardage for myself for my birthday maybe to make a tank top or something. We shall see! For now, I just pet them whenever I visit!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George :)

Today I love the..
Smell of: Clean laundry
Sound of: Harry Potter 6 audiobook
Taste of: Rice Krispies
Sight of: George playing
Feel of: Warm bed

Good Things about Today:
- Had a very productive day of household chores
- George loves his new basket!
- Wallace + Gromit
- Thrifting

HST Block of the Month: February

2012-02-01T08:14:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the Half-Square Triangle Block of the Month! For each month in 2012, I'll present a quick tutorial for a traditional quilt block using half-square triangles (HST)! It's going to be a lot of fun, feel free to join in at any time! For past posts see here.
Happy February! Today I'm sharing with you the second block in our block of the month series! This block plays with flying geese, made from HSTs of course! Let's go!

Cutting

HST Block of the Month: February, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Traditional Method:

- (8) 4" squares from background fabric (white)

- (2) 4" squares from print fabric (yellow)

- (2) 4" squares from second print fabric (green)

- (2) 4" squares from third print fabric (turquoise)

- (2) 4" squares from fourth print fabric (navy)

Alternative Method:

- (4) 6" squares from background fabric (white)

- (1) 6" squares from print fabric (yellow)

- (1) 6" squares from second print fabric (green)

- (1) 6" squares from third print fabric (turquoise)

- (1) 6" squares from fourth print fabric (navy)

HST Block of the Month: February, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Assemble your half-square triangles using either the traditional method, or the alternative method. Press seams open.

2. Trim your HSTs to 3.5" square.

HST Block of the Month: February, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

3. Arrange your HSTs as shown in the image above.

4. Sew your HSTs into four rows. Press seams in alternating directions.

HST Block of the Month: February, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

4. Sew your four rows together, pinning where the seams match up. Press seams open. Trim block to 12.5" if necessary.

Voila! You're done! :)

If you create a block using this tutorial I hope you'll add it to the flickr group!

Happy Sewing!

Tutorial: Patchwork Chevron Quilt

2012-01-31T07:40:00.000-06:00

Patchwork Chevron, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I'm very excited to be sharing a quilt tutorial with you over at Moda Bake Shop today! I had a lot of fun working on this quilt and with Aneela Hoey's new line, A Walk in the Woods! It was really hard to keep this quilt under wraps until now! Hehe :)

The tutorial can be found here. I hope you enjoy it! And now, some more photos!

Patchwork Chevron, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I took all of these photos in the snow around our apartment! We had about a foot and a half of snow and it was about 10 degrees! Good thing they were worth it!

Patchwork Chevron, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

How perfect that there are woods behind our building? So, I took a walk in the woods and found a nice tree for more snowy quilty photos!

Patchwork Chevron, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Aneela Quilts!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Had to take a photo of all my quilts using Aneela's fabrics together! The bottom is Sherbet Pips Patchwork Quilt, then Little Apples Sparkling Cider Quilt, and A Walk in the Woods Patchwork Chevron on top!

The Intrepid Thread and Fat Quarter Shop both have A Walk in the Woods charm packs in stock! :)

Enjoy!

Featured: The Name Game

2012-01-30T08:20:00.004-06:00

Ever wonder how I decided on the name In Color Order for this blog? Cindy of Live a Colorful Life has a fun series on her blog called The Name Game, where bloggers share a little about their blog's names! I'm over there today talking about In Color Order, so go check it out! There might just be a giveaway involved too! Just sayin'! :)

Happy Monday!

HST Block of the Month: Questions

2012-01-29T11:52:00.000-06:00

How about a sneak peek at February's HST Block of the Month?, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Do you think 5" squares (charms!), would work for these blocks?
Absolutely! If you're using the traditional method, simply trim them down to 4" before sewing your HSTs in order to end up with a 12.5" block at the end! Or, you could leave them at 5" and end up with a larger block!

January is almost over, can I still participate?
Please do! The timeline is just a way to keep things organized, feel free to join along at any time, pick and choose blocks, or add in your own favorites! There are no rules or anything, just an excuse to have fun and try some new blocks! :)

The alternative method results in your blocks cut on the bias, have you had problems with shifting?
Personally, I have not had any issues using this method. I like to pin each seam when I'm joining my rows together. If you're worried, the original video showing this method recommends using starch to make sure you don't end up with much shifting. If this method makes you uncomfortable, I'd stick to the traditional method!

Will all 12 blocks be the same size?
Yes! Each month's blocks will be 12" finished, 12.5" unfinished!

Will all the blocks use the same size HSTs?
Yes! Every block will have 16 HSTs, all 3.5" unfinished, 3" finished.

Can a scrappy look work for these blocks?
For sure! The scrappier the better!

Why do you press your seams open?
I like to press my HST seams open because I think that it makes the block lay flatter. Especially when you have the seams all meeting in the middle it can get a bit bulky. This is mostly a personal preference, so if you'd rather press to one side, please do!

Is it okay if I don't trim my HST blocks down to 3.5"?
Sure! You'll end up with a little bigger block, and therefore a little bigger quilt! When we come to sashing and borders, keep in mind you'll need a little extra yardage to finish up your quilt. If you decide not to trim down to 3.5" please do make sure to still square up your block! :)

I'll continue to update this page as we go along, so if you have any other questions, feel free to ask! Check back for February's block on Wednesday!

This Week

2012-01-28T17:32:00.001-06:00

Pink + Red Improv Mini, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

It was really busy this week! And this coming week will be just as busy, especially here on the blog! Fun stuff coming up!

Last night I needed a relaxing project, something that I didn't have to work on. After seeing Megan's valentine's mini quilt and Ali's progress on a valentine's day project, I was itching to make something festive, but nothing too complicated. I pulled out my red and pink scraps and just started playing. Piecing, trimming, cutting and piecing back together. I had a lot of fun digging through my scraps and making a dent in my white and off white solid scraps to finish it off. It was nice to just let go and sew. And, now I have a cute valentine-y mini to hang up! :)

Second Tova, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I finally cut out the pieces for another shirt using the Tova pattern last night! I am very excited to be using this Habitat dot by Jay McCarroll for this one. I had originally purchased it for a skirt, but since I almost never wear them, I decided it would be better used for a top! I hope to make some more progress on it tonight! To see my first Tova top, and quick review of the pattern, see here.

Mendocino, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Still plugging away on my Mendocino blocks! I've been working on them each Sunday for the past few weekends. I'm looking forward to working on them again tomorrow!

How about a sneak peek at February's HST Block of the Month?, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

A little sneak peek of February's block for our HST Block of the Month! I've been saving your questions over this past month and will be answering them tomorrow in preparation for February's block this week!

New Fabrics, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I have been having a hard time resisting new fabrics lately! Picked up this yummy stack from Fat Quarter Shop last week!

(Fabrics are Girl's World Vibe by Jennifer Paganelli, Lush by Patty Young, Good Fortune by Kate Spain, Weekend Clubhouse by Michael Miller, and It's a Girl thing by Michael Miller)

Sewing Room, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I have finally started addressing the windows in our apartment! Yay! I knew I wanted something scrappy for my sewing room window after seeing Deedee's scrappy garland last summer! I used the finished side hems and strips that get trimmed off from vintage sheets when I'm cutting fat quarters and simply knotted them directly to the existing curtain rods!

Vintage Sheet Fat Quarters, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Speaking of vintage sheets, the shop is absoutely bursting with vintage-y goodness! These are just a few of my favorite patterns currently in stock!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George :)

I am yet again, behind on answering emails! I am hoping to get organized and back on track for February so I can get back to replying to your comments!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Fresh air
Sound of: Harry Potter 5 audiobook
Taste of: Cookies!
Sight of: Sunlight
Feel of: Cozy cardigan

Good Things about Today:
- Finished up a mini quilt
- Got some good photographs!
- Chinese takeout
- Michael didn't have to go in to work today!

Favorites

2012-01-27T09:00:00.001-06:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Thangles 2, 2. mini quilt 05, 3. Knitting Project Bag, 4. Scrappy Chevron 3, 5. Granny Squares Scrappy Quilt, 6. Brit Bee Constellation Quilt, 7. Amber & Blue, 8. gluecksrad lieblingsdecke krabbeldecke quilt frankfurt_DSC_3624a, 9. scrappy ocean waves finished

In addition to regular favorites this week, I wanted to feature a few of my favorites from the In Color Order Flickr Group! I'd like to do this every few weeks, so make sure you're adding your projects! Happy Friday! :)

In Color Order Flickr Group, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Drawstring bag, 2. Bee Happy - January Triangle Block, 3. Drawstring Bag 4, 4. Dream On Quilt, 5. sheet quilt, 6. One Big Star, 7. Toy bags, 8. ICO HST BOM January, 9. drawstring bags for the girls

Sparkle Quilt Along: Half-Square Triangles

2012-01-26T09:06:00.002-06:00

This post is part of the Sparkle Quilt Along. For more information see here.

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Welcome to the third week of the Sparkle Quilt Along, hosted by Megan of Canoe Ridge Creations and myself! Today I'm going to show you how to make Half-Square Triangles (HSTs)! So, let's get started!

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Take two of your 3" squares, one print and one background.

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

2. Place the background square on top of your print square, right sides together.

3. Using your ruler and a pencil, draw a line across the diagonal of your background square.

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

4. Sew 1/4" on either side of the pencil line.

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

5. Using a rotary cutter or scissors, cut down the pencil line, splitting apart your squares.

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

6. Press your seams. I like to press mine open because I think they end up laying flatter, but feel free to do what you're comfortable with.

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

7. Place your ruler over your HST with the corner on the diagonal seam. Line up the diagonal line on the ruler with the seam. Carefully trim as little as necessary on both sides.

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

8. Turn your HST and trim the other two sides, again lining up the seam with the diagonal ruler line. This time line your newly trimmed edges up with 2.5". Trim the excess.

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Voila! You should now have two Half-Square Triangles that measure 2.5" square! Repeat with remaining squares!

Don't forget to join the Sparkle Quilt Along Flickr Group! Next week Megan will be showing you how to construct your blocks! :)

Happy Sewing!

Tangerine Slices Mini Quilt

2012-01-24T18:22:00.001-06:00

Have you heard about the Tangerine Tango Quilt Challenge being hosted by Erin and Ali? Pantone has named "Tangerine Tango" the color of the year for 2012, and this challenge brings that color into quilting! For more information on the challenge, the rules, and the prizes (yes there are prizes!), check out their flickr group!

Tangerine Slices Mini Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I love the color tangerine so of course I wanted to play along! I had been thinking about what to make for a while and on Sunday night it hit me. A spiderweb quilt! So here is my mini quilt! I'm naming it Tangerine Slices, since the spiderweb sections resemble the fruit all sliced up! I'll be honest, it was actually a happy accident! :)

I used this tutorial from Sew, Mama, Sew to create my spiderweb blocks. These are only 8", putting my mini quilt at about 16" square. At first they seemed rather time consuming to make, but after a while it became faster. After the first block, I precut all my strips and got them organized by section. Assembling the rest of the blocks was a piece of cake!

Tangerine Slices Mini Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

To help tame the brightness a bit, I used some Quilter's Linen for the background. I wanted the centers to be a bit more calming.

Tangerine Slices Mini Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I quilted it with some dark orange thread I had on hand, 1/4" on either side of the major seams. I like the way it "cuts" the slices apart! Finally, it's bound in a fun tangerine print from Metro Living by Robert Kaufman.

Tangerine Slices Mini Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I'm very pleased with how this little mini turned out. I had always admired this block from a far, but never really considered it too seriously. I'm glad I did, I think I may end up doing an entire quilt in this pattern one day! Perhaps with my beloved Park Slope stash! :)

Happy Quilting!

This Weekend

2012-01-21T18:19:00.001-06:00

Block Printing, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Winter has definitely set in around here, which is great for crafting! I always seem to be more productive when I'm stuck inside. There is something cozy about sewing when it's snowing out! This weekend's project was finally trying out block printing! I've had it in the back of my mind (and all the supplies too!), since Christina posted about Block Printing Basics back in 2010. After seeing the super cute fabrics that Anna recently made, I decided it was finally time for me to try!

Block Printing, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I, of course, had to make something bunny related! I am terrible at drawing, so I based my little bun design off of this awesome silhouette that Norma of Petit Design Co did of George a few years ago! Her's was much more detailed than I needed for this project, so I simply used it for the general shape. This wasn't just going to be bunny fabric, it was going to be GEORGE fabric! I cannot wait to sew with it! I printed mine on linen!

Finished, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I finished up a quilt this weekend. I am re-in-love with free motion quilting! It's so much more relaxing for me than straight line. Not to mention more forgiving! :) I hope I can share more of this quilt with you soon!

It's a Hoot, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I finally cut into my It's a Hoot by Momo fabric for a new quilt. I'm super excited about it, I love this line!

Happy Mail, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Some happy mail arrived today! Malka Dubrawsky's fabric line for Moda is finally here! I was happy to be able to grab my favorite prints, some more Oval Elements (love!), and Outfoxed from Julie at The Intrepid Thread!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George = Puff!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Winter air
Sound of: Harry Potter 3 audiobook
Taste of: Hershey's Hugs
Sight of: New fabrics
Feel of: Snuggling under a quilt

Good Things about Today:
- I MADE GEORGE FABRIC!
- Successful errands
- Snowy quilt photos
- Great mail day

Favorites

2012-01-19T23:06:00.001-06:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Saffron Ash, Patchwork Tablerunner, 2. October star block for Shelley, 3. Dead Simple Quilt Top, 4. Dream On quilt progress, 5. My pillow at Fat Quarterly, 6. My Supernova Quilt Top, 7. Ferris Wheel Pillow, 8. Pure Square City, 9. LOVE IT!

Sparkle Quilt Along: Cutting

2012-01-19T11:08:00.001-06:00

This post is part of the Sparkle Quilt Along. For more information see here. Welcome to the second week of the Sparkle Quilt Along, hosted by Megan of Canoe Ridge Creations and myself! Head on over to Megan's blog today for Week two: Cutting Instructions!

Cutting!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I finished up my cutting this morning! Getting excited to sew!

Don't forget to join the Sparkle Quilt Along Flickr Group! Next week I'll be walking you through making your Half-Square Triangles! :)

Happy Sewing!

Patchwork Star Block Tutorial

2012-01-18T07:18:00.000-06:00

Patchwork Star Block Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Today I am sharing a Patchwork Star Block Tutorial over on Sheila's blog, Thought & Found! She is running a super sweet quilt along called Oh My Stars! featuring you guessed it, lots of different Sawtooth Star variations! It's going to make for an awesome quilt!

Vintage Sheet Block, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I hope you'll check it out, it's a fun easy block! You can find the tutorial here. Thanks for having me Sheila! :)

Happy Wednesday!

This Weekend

2012-01-17T19:36:00.000-06:00

Zippy, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Hope you all had a great weekend! Ours was pretty uneventful which was welcome after last week's busy-ness! We got another couple inches of snow today so I stuck pretty close to home! I did venture out to The Sewcial Lounge to baste a new quilt though! :)

I have been meaning to sew myself a new coupon zippy pouch for a long time! My old one had seen waaaay better days (it was cute when it was new!). I thought this Heather Ross FFA 3 print would go well with my new purse and be sturdy. I used Peltex so it's pretty stiff! It was a fun little afternoon project.

Text & Paper Fabrics, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I was able to add a few more paper-like fabrics to my stash on Friday so today I thought I'd pull them all together. Umm, I think we can classify this collection as an obsession! I clearly cannot resist text/map/paper fabrics! :)

Honey Cowl, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Moving along on my Honey Cowl! I love the way the stitch looks! If only I could knit at lighting speed!

Embroidery, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I picked up my states embroidery last night and stitched a few more! I'm getting close! I used this coloring book page to draw it out.

January, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I signed up for the Dessert of the Month club by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery! This little truffle is January! I'm using sparkly silver Aida for mine, I bought it at Joanns!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George :)

Today I love the..
Smell of: Twisted Peppermint hand wash
Sound of: Harry Potter 1 audiobook
Taste of: Reese's
Sight of: Pretty snow
Feel of: Wool socks

Good Things about Today:
- Productive!
- Apartment is clean!
- Basted a quilt I'm really excited about!
- George!

Catching Up!

2012-01-14T17:37:00.001-06:00

Go Anywhere Bag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I finished up my Go Anywhere bag (pattern by the lovely Anna Graham of Noodlehead!) on Thursday! I am so happy with the way this bag turned out. It's nice and roomy which is always a plus for me as I like to carry around too much stuff. This bag features my absolute favorite colors. I started with this floral Ruby Star Shining print by Melody Miller which is a nice cotton/linen blend. Perfect for bags. From there I pulled the So Sophie by Riley Blake dot for the interior, and then two Pure Elements by Pat Bravo solids for the exterior and pocket linings (Cabernet and I think Festival Fuschia).

Go Anywhere Bag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

If you've never tried Anna's patterns or tutorials, you're missing out! This was a breeze to put together, every step is thoroughly explained and has clear photographs. It came together pretty quickly and I think the result is wonderful. I love all the little details! My favorite part of my bag is of course the typewriter pocket! :)

Washington Star Mini Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Thought you might all like to see the little paper-piecing project I was working on! Voila! A little mini quilt for my dear friend Christina's birthday! I used the Washington star pattern from 50 Fabulous Paper-pieced Stars by Carol Doak! I was sorta scared when I started it, especially since it had 64 pieces, but it really came together pretty easily! I refreshed my memory on paper piecing in the front of the book and before I knew it I was in a groove!

Washington Star Mini Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I started with the center Outfoxed print by Lizzy House and then pulled fabrics around it. The gold is Echo by Lotta Jansdotter, the green is Habitat by Michele D'Amore, the taupe is La Petite Ecole by French General, the background is Quilter's Linen by Robert Kaufman (not sure which color, I bought it in person!) and the binding is Meadowsweet by Sandi Henderson. I had a lot of fun making this mini, I definitely see more paper-piecing in my future!

Mendocino quilt: state of affairs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Today I pulled out my Mendocino quilt! I am making logcabins framing all of the mermaid and giant octopi prints. I reorganized, added in new fabrics and made two blocks today! Block 14 and Block 15! So I'm almost half-way done, I'll need a total of 32 blocks. I'll be using the Octopi blocks on the back! I love, love, love working on this quilt! I'm hoping to finish it up this year! You can see the blocks I've finished so far here.

Scissors, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Yesterday I was able to spend the day chatting, shopping, and hanging out with the Iowa girls; Deedee, Megan, and Vanessa! We had a great day! Our plans almost got thwarted by the snow, I'm so glad we were still able to get together. I can't wait for our next adventure! While we were out I picked up the middle embroidery scissors for my growing collection. Here they all are so far!

From left to right: Epaulette Embroidery scissors by Gingher, Putford Scissors and Little Gems both by Kelmscott Designs.

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Sometimes when George is really sleepy, he looks so grumpy! Grump rabbit!

In other news I'm happy to welcome Contemporary Cloth as a sponsor! I'm looking forward to ordering some of the japanese fabrics they carry soon! :)

Today I love the..
Smell of: Fresh air
Sound of: Harry Potter 1 audiobook
Taste of: Teriyaki Chicken
Sight of: Favorite fabrics
Feel of: Slippers

Good Things about Today:
- Cleaned up the sewing room
- Worked on my favorite quilt!
- Takeout Japanese for lunch
- George was very sweet this morning!

Favorites

2012-01-14T08:33:00.001-06:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Detail, 2. "Gettin' Ziggy With It" mini quilt, 3. p{L}p swap, 4. Noodlehead 241 dowloadable Pattern, 5. New quilt top, 6. sewing on the binding, 7. Saffron Ash, Patchwork Tablerunner, 8. scraps quilt, 9. Rainbow Quilt

Sparkle Quilt Along: Choosing Fabrics

2012-01-12T09:18:00.002-06:00

This post is part of the Sparkle Quilt Along. For more information see here.
Welcome to the first week of the Sparkle Quilt Along hosted by Megan of Canoe Ridge Creations and myself! Today we're going to talk about choosing fabrics for your quilts as well as the yardage you'll need for each size! So, let's get started! :)

Choosing Fabrics
Each sparkle is made up of one large central square, sixteen half-square triangles (HST) and four small background squares. This pattern is perfect for showcasing your favorite prints since you end up with a large uncut square in the middle of each sparkle!

Sparkle Quilt Along: Week One, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Tone-on-Tone prints as well as Color + white prints (for more information about these types of prints, see this post from the Art of Choosing) will read as a single color and would be great for your sparkles. Solids or semi-solids like crossweaves/shot cottons/quilter's linen would be fun too!

From top to bottom: Ruby by Bonnie and Camille, Dolce by Tanya Whelan, Aviary by Joel Dewberry, Habitat by Michele d'Amore, Oval Elements by Pat Bravo, Parisville by Tula Pink, Modern Meadow by Joel Dewberry, Too Muchery by Helen Dardik, Arvika by Alexander Henry, Outfoxed by Lizzy House, Echo by Lotta Jansdotter, Half-Moon Modern by Momo, Outfoxed by Lizzy House, Secret Garden by Sandi Henderson, 1001 Peeps by Lizzy House, Echo by Lotta Jansdotter, Metro Living by Robert Kaufman, Half-Moon by Momo.

Sparkle Quilt Along: Week One, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Story prints, prints that have some kind of story/animal/person/object, as well as other bold multicolored focus fabrics would make fun sparkles too!

From top to bottom: The Woodlands by Khristian A Howell, Metro Cafe by Robert Kaufman, Critter Community by Suzy Ultman, Outfoxed by Lizzy House, Outfoxed by Lizzy House, 1001 Peeps by Lizzy House.

Sparkle Quilt Along: Week One, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

When choosing your background fabric, keep in mind the colors you'll be using for your sparkles. To get a nice pop, you'll want to make sure there is plenty of contrast between your background fabric and sparkle fabrics! Solids, semi-solids, and linens would all make great backgrounds!

From top to bottom: Farm Fresh by Riley Blake, Quilter's Linen by Robert Kaufman, Smirk gray Grid by Kyla May, Heath by Alexander Henry, Annie's Farm Stand by Lakehouse Dry Goods, Kona white, linen, Sparkly linen from JoAnns.

Sparkle Quilt Along: Week One, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Here is what I choose for my sparkle quilt, I'm making the mini size! I started with the bottom stripe by Prince Charming and pulled colors from there. I'm using some fun story prints! I'll probably use Kona white for my background

From top to bottom: A Day in the Life by Mummysam, The Woodlands by Khristian A Howell, Castle Peeps by Lizzy House, Tailor Made by Cosmo Cricket, and Follow your Imagination by Prince Charming.

Fabric Requirements
One of the great things about these sparkles is that they are fat quarter (FQ) and fat eighth (F8) friendly! You can comfortably get two sparkles out of one FQ! You may choose to have all different sparkles or use a fabric more than once, it's up to you!

Each sparkle block is 12.5" unfinished, 12" finished.

Mini - 28"x28" - 4 sparkles

Sparkle Quilt Along: Week One, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

- FQ/F8 of 4 different prints
- 5/8 yd of background fabric (includes sashing/borders)
- 1 yd backing fabric
- 34"x34" piece of batting (1 yd)
- 1/4 yd of binding fabric

Baby - 42"x42" - 9 sparkles

Sparkle Quilt Along: Week One, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

- FQ/F8 of 9 different prints
- 1 1/4 yds of background fabric (includes sashing/borders)
- 1 1/2 yds of backing fabric
- 48"x48" piece of batting (1 1/3 yds)
- 1/3 yd of binding fabric

Lap - 55"x55" - 16 sparkles

Sparkle Quilt Along: Week One, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

- FQ/F8 of 16 different prints
- 2 yds of background fabric (includes sashing/borders)
- 3 1/4 yds of backing fabric
- 61"x61" piece of batting (1 3/4 yds)
- 1/2 yd of binding fabric

Check in next week with Megan for cutting instructions! I hope you'll share your fabric choices in the flickr group! Don't hesitate if you have any questions!

Happy Sewing!

Wednesday

2012-01-11T21:36:00.000-06:00

Pocket, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement on my 2012 goals. I really appreciate it! :)Currently working on a new purse using Anna's Go Anywhere bag pattern! This is the interior pocket! (fabrics: Ruby Star Shining and So Sophie)

Cutting, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Cutting into my It's a Hoot by Momo fat quarters finally! For a new quilt of course!

Twice Around the Block Bee - January, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Finished my last block for the Twice Around the Block Bee. This one's for Faith!

Sweet!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Couldn't resist this reusable shopping bag! Picked it up at Sentry (local grocery in WI)!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Little bun enjoying his basket!

Check back tomorrow for the first post of the Sparkle Quilt Along! :)

Today I love the..
Smell of: New body wash
Sound of: Lilo + Stitch
Taste of: Chili mac
Sight of: Clean sewing room
Feel of: PJs!

Good Things about Today:
- Had a productive day!
- The sewing room is very clean!
- Making good progress on some projects
- Got ready for the snow we're getting!

2012 Goals

2012-01-08T22:04:00.002-06:00

Cozy Sunday, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I've been thinking a lot this past week about what I want from this year and what kinds of changes I want to make. I love the possibilities that a new year brings. It's a clean slate, a second chance. I want to share a few of my goals here, hopefully to help hold myself accountable!

1. Slow down. I am almost always trying to fill every minute with some type of crafting, computer work, etc. This is great for productivity, in general, but not so much for relaxation. It's okay to spend a few hours on the weekend watching TV with Michael and George. I don't need to be doing something all the time!

This afternoon., a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

2. Try things outside of my comfort zone. This mostly applies to sewing and crafting. I want to try new things, things I've been afraid to try and fail at. The first thing on that list is paper piecing. I'm happy to say I'm currently tackling that one!

Honey Cowl, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

3. Learn to knit and crochet. I keep saying I want to learn and I never stick with it. I am happy to at least have finished up my first knitted project and am now working on a second. I really want to learn to crochet so that I can make those cute little amigurumi animals!

Pinks, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

4. Grow my business. I am very lucky to have a supportive family and boyfriend, but I want to be able to contribute more financially. This means growing my etsy shop, releasing some quilt patterns, and also, bringing on sponsors here on the blog. I have thought about this a lot over the last few months and it seemed like the right next step. So, I am happy to welcome The Intrepid Thread and Fat Quarter Shop as sponsors! If you have a shop and you're interested in becoming a sponsor, shoot me an email!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

5. Be more positive. I tend to worry too much and bury myself in negativity instead of putting my energy towards solving a problem. This year I really want to try to keep myself focused on the big picture, and not let the small stuff get to me. It's all about finding the good in each day.

I think that 2012 is going to be a great year! First of all, it's an even number, so that's always a plus. I just have a good feeling about it in general.

Thank you for your response to the Block of the Month! I'm glad you're excited about it! I'm going to spend some time answering a few questions before next month! In the meantime, we're kicking off the Sparkle Quilt Along here this week, so stay tuned! :)

Happy New Year!

Favorites

2012-01-06T09:04:00.001-06:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Flying Geese Quilt, 2. Do. Good Stitches quilt top, 3. New fish baby log cabin, 4. BAMQG Secret Swap Pillow, 5. Viewmaster Blanket: all done, 6. LA Kindle Case, 7. FO: Nicke's Curvy Echo, 8. DSC_0051, 9. Organizer for Mom

HST Block of the Month: January

2012-01-05T15:54:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the Half-Square Triangle Block of the Month! For each month in 2012, I'll present a quick tutorial for a traditional quilt block using half-square triangles (HST)! It's going to be a lot of fun, feel free to join in at any time! For past posts see here.
Happy January! Today I'm sharing with you the first block of our block of the month series! This block is a fun variation on the traditional Sawtooth Star! Let's dive right in!

Cutting

Block of the Month: January, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Traditional Method:

- (8) 4" squares from background fabric (white)

- (4) 4" squares from print fabric (navy)

- (2) 4" squares from second print fabric (turquoise)

- (2) 4" squares from third print fabric (green)

Alternative Method:

- (4) 6" squares from background fabric (white)

- (2) 6" squares from print fabric (navy)

- (1) 6" squares from second print fabric (turquoise)

- (1) 6" squares from third print fabric (green)

Block of the Month: January, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Assemble your half-square triangles using either the traditional method, or the alternative method. Press seams open.

2. Trim your HSTs to 3.5" square.

Block of the Month: January, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

3. Arrange your HSTs as shown in the image above.

Block of the Month: January, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

4. Sew your HSTs into four rows. Press seams in alternating directions as shown above.

Block of the Month: January, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

5. Sew your four rows together, pinning where the seams match up. Press seams open. Trim block to 12.5" if necessary.

Voila! You're done with the first block! :)

If you create a block using this tutorial I hope you'll add it to the flickr group!

Happy Sewing!

HST Block of the Month: Intro

2012-01-05T15:26:00.000-06:00

Half-Square Triangle Block of the Month, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Welcome to the Half-Square Triangle Block of the Month! For each month in 2012, I'll present a quick tutorial for a traditional quilt block using half-square triangles (HST)! It's going to be a lot of fun, feel free to join in at any time!

I want to give you a little more information on what to expect and what you'll need before we dive into January's block!

- New blocks will launch the first week of each month.
- Each block will be the standard 12.5" unfinished quilt block.
- Tutorials will include instructions for two different Half-square Triangle methods, Traditional and Alternative. (Don't worry, we'll talk about both!)

Materials:

HST Block of the Month, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

- Approx. 1 1/4 yards total print fabrics OR 2+ charm packs OR 1 layer cake
- 1 1/2 yards background fabric
- 1/2 yard sashing fabric
- 1 yard border fabric
- 3.5 yards backing fabric
- 1 3/4 yard batting
- 1/2 yard binding fabric

Finished Quilt: 51"x65"

I am slightly hesitant to list all of the materials needed for this quilt for two reasons:

1. The HST method you choose to use will make a difference in how much fabric you need. If you use the traditional method, you can more easily take advantage of pre-cuts: charm packs and layer cakes. If you use the alternative method, which uses larger squares, pre-cuts won't work very well!

2. I want to encourage you to work from your stash on this project! I'm taking a semi-scrappy approach to my quilt and will be sharing scrappy sashing, border, and backing tutorials. So, you may want to hold off on buying all your materials just yet! :)

My recommendation is to work from a healthy stack of fat quarters. I think this will give you the most flexibility in terms of which method you use as well as give you plenty of variety in your quilt!

Choosing Fabrics

Half-Square Triangle Block of the Month, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Here is the stack that I'm using for my quilt and for our tutorials! I started with a few navy prints from Tula Pink's Prince Charming and pulled colors from there. Lots of yellows, yellow-greens, turquoise, and more navy fabrics. I made sure not to choose any fabrics that have a white background color, so that I get maximum contrast in my HSTs. I'm using Kona Snow for my background fabric.

You can interpret the blocks however you'd like, but in general I think working with color stacks of 3, 4, and 5 colors will be the most effective!

Half-Square Triangle Methods

Block of the Month: January, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Like I mentioned above, I'll be providing cutting measurements for two different HST methods. Let's talk about both:

1. Traditional Method - This seems to be the most common way to create HSTs. You start with two squares (1 background, 1 print), and place them right sides together. Using a ruler and pencil, you draw a line across the diagonal on the top square, sew 1/4" on either side of the line and finall cut on the line creating two HSTs. You can see my tutorial for this method here.

2. Alternative Method* - This is my current preferred method for making HSTs. This method still uses two squares (1 background, 1 print), but they are larger. You place them right sides together, and sew 1/4" all around all four sides. Using your ruler, but cut along both diagonals, creating four HSTs. You can see Christina's tutorial for this method here. I'll be sharing more about this method later this month!

*A few of you have expressed concern over this method as your HSTs end up cut on the bias. At the end of this video tutorial for the method, the instructor suggests using starch to help make sure you don't have any stretching when you sew your HSTs together. I have never had any trouble with this method, but if you're uncomfortable with it, I'd recommend sticking with the Traditional method.

The method you choose to use is totally up to you! Both give you the same result, and you still have to trim using both methods!

Block of the Month: January, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Most if not all of the quilt blocks I'll be sharing with you are traditional in style. I managed somehow to not write out any of the block names as I was collecting blocks for this project. I'm going to try to find the true names after we get started! Many of them I found with the help of The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns by Jimmy Beyer and the Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns by Barbara Brackman. Both are fantastic resources!

Finally, I've created a page for this quilt that you can find in the header! It will have the button, which I'll also provide below, as well as links to each month's block!

If you'd like you can grab a button for your blog here:

<br /> <a href="http://incolororder.blogspot.com/p/block-of-month.html"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gWSx0jH9_-w/TwYDbHz8kdI/AAAAAAAAAws/e4iBu4fB9y4/s1600/HSTBOM.png"></a><br />

Catching up!

2012-01-04T22:30:00.000-06:00

HST Block of the Month, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Hi everybody! Happy New Year! It feels good to be back, but that little break was nice! It was a REALLY busy few days! We drove up to Michigan to enjoy New Years Eve with Michael's family, I visited Ikea for the first time (bought fabric of course!), drove back home through a snowstorm, had a lazy day on Tuesday and taught a kid's class at The Sewcial Lounge today! Phew! Thank you for all your encouraging comments on my year end post! It's funny how you feel like you didn't do much until you pile it all together, it was a busy year! I hope to share my resolutions for this year with you this weekend!

I am working away behind the scenes on our Half-Square Triangle Block of the Month! Blocks will launch the first week of each month! I'm excited to share more information and the first block with you tomorrow! I'm already loving the colors I choose for mine! :)

A few goodies, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

This is what happens when you put your mail on hold for a week and a half! Well that and shop holiday sales at The Intrepid Thread, Pink Chalk Fabrics, and Pink Castle Fabrics! Plus I won a delicious Art Gallery fabric bundle giveaway on Rachel's blog! Thanks dear! :)

Where's my stache?, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

How awesome is this fabric?! I couldn't resist! Where's my 'stache? Haha!

Finished Cowl, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

My first finish of 2012 is actually a knit finish! Totally throwing me off, but it's true! I finished up my giant knit cowl. I used Baby Chunky by Twinkle Yarns that I picked up in Salt Lake City this past fall. It's so squishy and soft, I love it! I put it on Ravelry!

Next, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

My current rule for knitting/crochet projects is one at a time. Also, no buying yarn until I finish the current project. I want to make sure I really want to take on this hobby before I go buying up all kinds of pretty yarns! This is Madelinetosh Vintage in French Grey.

I think I need more hay!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George is very happy to be back home! Here he is having a snack of hay... sitting in the hay! Silly rabbit! :)

I'm working on getting the shop back open tomorrow!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Marshmallow Fireside candle
Sound of: George running around
Taste of: Grilled ham + cheese
Sight of: Clean apartment
Feel of: Warm slippers

Good Things about Today:
- Had a productive day!
- Cleaned out my inbox!
- Mustache fabric!
- Happy, happy email! :)

2011, The Year of the Rabbit!

2011-12-31T10:02:00.001-06:00

Project 365 Year 2, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Wow, I can't believe another year is already over! So much happened in 2011! I don't even know where to begin! I graduated from college, Michael got accepted into graduate school, we moved to Wisconsin, I taught at Sewing Summit, made some wonderful friends! It's been a crazy year of big changes and opportunities! I am looking forward to what 2012 will bring!

I am very happy to have completed another Project 365! For those who aren't familiar with it, you take a photo a day, every day for a year! This is the second year I have completed it and it was still just as fun! I had one random day in November that only had an Instagram photo, but that's okay. I hope to get them printed soon! You can see my last Project 365 here.

Quilts 2011, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I sewed and quilted like crazy this year! Minis included, I completed 36 quilts! Not too bad! I have lots of quilts planned for 2012! :)

Favorite Sewing Projects 2011, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

A few of my favorite sewing projects from 2011! Lots and lots of bags! And pillows too! A little garment sewing as well! You can see all of my 2011 finishes here.

George 2011, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

And of course, LOTS of George bunny! It was the year of the rabbit after all! I had no choice! ;)

I love the possibilities that a new year bring. It's like a second chance! I have a lot of goals for 2012, crafty and otherwise. I hope to share a few as well as kick off our Half-Square Triangle Block of the Month soon! For now, I'm taking off for a few days to enjoy family and make the drive back to Wisconsin!

Until next year! Thank you for all of your love and support this past year! It really means a lot to me!

Happy New Year!

This Week

2011-12-30T12:56:00.000-06:00

High Tide Mini Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

A few more crafty finishes for 2011! I finished up my High Tides mini quilt this week! I had a lot of fun with this little quilt! It uses fabrics from the Horizon colorway of Morning Tides by Mark Cesarik! I added in a few Kona cottons and Heath by Alexander Henry. I backed it in a fun vintage sheet stripe and finished it off with some Mingle by Monaluna for the binding. It's quilted with a few simple diagonal lines. It finished at 20" square. I'm really happy with how it turned out, it's so bright and cheerful! Now to find some wall space for it!

Drawstring Bag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I was itching to sew something with these lovely Echino fabrics I received from my Aunt for Christmas! Another drawstring bag seemed like just the thing! This one was made using the project size in my Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern!

Cozy, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Right before we left I made myself a new camera strap cover. It was time for something new! I use this tutorial!

Thrifting, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Did really well thrifting! Will be reopening the shop with these beauties next week! :)

Dansk Kobenstyle, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Also managed to find some enamelware! At an antique shop, but still! I found this Dansk Kobenstyle fondue pot and it even has it's stand! In love with it!

Snow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

We finally got a bit of snow, although it hasn't lasted long. Still looked pretty though!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George!

I'll be back tomorrow with a final recap of 2011!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Pancakes
Sound of: Harry Potter 7 part I
Taste of: Cheerios
Sight of: George
Feel of: Wool socks

Good Things about Today:
- Making Bretzel later!
- The sun came out for a minute!
- Got a Hello Kitty Xmas t-shirt!
- Snuggling with Blackie kitty!

Giant Neutral Plus Quilt

2011-12-28T15:32:00.003-06:00

Giant Neutral Plus Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The big secret! I made my parents a quilt for their queen bed! I came up with the idea over the summer, but of course didn't actually start it until about a week and a half before Christmas, hehe. Their bedroom in the new house will be a rusty color so I knew neutrals would be a safe bet. I decided to go with all solids so that it would keep it from being too busy. I used 8 shades of Kona cotton: Earth, Taupe, Stone, Raffia, Khaki, Straw, Sand, Champagne. It took 1/2 yards of all 8 colors. This is the third plus quilt I've made, and honestly, they're fun! It comes together really fast. I used my tutorial but cut 7.75" squares and a 12x13 layout to end up with a 87"x94" quilt!

Giant Neutral Plus Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

For as quick and painless as piecing the top was, the quilting was a disaster! I think my walking foot needed oiling, and perhaps I could have used a few more pins when basting. That on top of the fact that it was really a bit too bulk for my machine and too heavy for me to maneuver properly. So, don't look at it too closely! Their are a fair number of pickers and wonky lines. Thankfully a good washing does magic to hide the mistakes!

Giant Neutral Plus Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I ended up backing it in this fun vintage sheet I was saving for something special. It's a nice pop of color compared to the front but still has some brown going on!

Giant Neutral Plus Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I bound it using a brown dot/stripe I had in my stash purchased at Joanns a few years ago. I had planned on using a solid but thought the front needed a little more interest and this print did just the trick!

Giant Neutral Plus Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Our Maine Coon kitty, Bobbie, matches the quilt! How convenient, she's practically camouflaged! ;)

Giant Neutral Plus Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I am so glad I was able to get this quilt finished in time for Christmas. This is the first bed-sized quilt I've given away! I think since I knew that when I started, I didn't get quite as attached to it! But, I'm very happy with how it ended up turning out! :)

Handmade Holiday

2011-12-27T16:33:00.000-06:00

Orange + Gray Improv Mini, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I'm excited to finally be sharing the secret gift sewing I've been working on the last few weeks! I tried my best to keep it a handmade holiday again this year, with the exception of Michael's bar set. Although I did make him little cocktail napkins for it! Anyways, on to the sewing!

I made this little orange and gray improv mini quilt for my younger brother. He just finished up his first semester of college and I thought he might need a little something to brighten up his dorm room. My Mom made him a wall organizer in a gray and orange fabric, so I made his quilt to match it. I pulled mainly from my scrap bin and went about piecing it haphazardly. The top came together quickly and it was fun to make!

Orange + Gray Improv Mini, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I used more scraps and Kona in medium gray for the backing. I quilted it using my walking foot, just some simply wavy lines using gray thread.

Orange + Gray Improv Mini, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I bound it in more scraps! It ended up at about 18"x20". It was well-received! :)

Vintage Bear Claw Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

This quilt was one of the big secret gifts this year, the Vintage Bear Claw Quilt. My maternal grandmother started this quilt for my grandfather many years ago. She pieced the top but never ended up finishing the quilt. So, my Mom decided to finish it this year for my Dad for Christmas. We thought something this special needed to be professionally quilted, so we turned to Christina! She has quilted two other quilts for me, and her work is really beautiful. She quilted it with a brown variegated thread in a very pretty swirly pattern. It really made the quilt!

Vintage Bear Claw Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Close up on the quilting. Isn't it gorgeous? Can you believe she does it all freehand!? :)

Vintage Bear Claw Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Originally my Mom was going to finish up by binding it, but I ended up putting the binding on when I got home. We backed it in a leafy brown print, we wanted to try to keep it as manly as possible! It's about 62"x74" finished :)

Kindle Case, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

At the last minute I made one more Christmas gift, a kindle case for my Mom using Christina's tutorial! I used a Cape Ann mini charm pack, love those sweet floral burst prints!

Manly Toiletry Bag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

My Dad's birthday is the 23rd of December, so I decided to make him a new toiletry bag. I was so happy with the way mine turned out that I made this summer. I made his using this tutorial, the bigger size. The exterior is Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen and the inside is Tula Pink Prince Charming laminate fabric!

I have one more big handmade gift that I'll share tomorrow! It needs it's own post! :)

Catching Up

2011-12-26T14:45:00.000-06:00

Santa Bun!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Hope everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing holiday! :) We had a quiet morning here at home and then went down to our Aunt & Uncles for visiting, eating, and Christmas bingo! It's a fun family tradition! We play in the evening after dinner for knick-knacks, small gifts, and most importantly gag/white elephant type gifts!

Patched, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

It's been weird being away from my sewing machine the last few days. I did manage to finish repairing my jeans. They are of course my favorites and I tore a big hole in the knee. Never fear, paper-pieced hexagons are here!

New, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I made myself a new notebook cover last week! I use Vanessa's tutorial!

Fabric Spoils, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Did a little day after Christmas shopping! I was quite good! I finally caved and bought some of those elephants though, love them!

Snip-Snip, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Speaking of fabric! I ordered the scissor prints from Half Moon Modern by Momo last week and had to get a group shot with the other scissor prints when they arrived. The top red, pink, yellow, second green, middle blue, white, and gray are all from Half-Moon Modern. The second red, pink, top green, top and bottom blue, and brown are from Wonderland. Finally the bottom black (and not pictured, black on white, couldn't find it in my stash for the photo!), is from Half Moon. All by Momo! As you can see, I LOVE this print! :)

Overnight Snow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

We got a tiny bit of snow before we left Madison, but it melted very quickly.
Are we sure it's actually winter?

Vintage Bar Set, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I gave Michael his Christmas present before we left! I put together this vintage bar set for him. The shaker (my favorite part!), and the metal rimmed roly poly glasses (Mad Men style!) were found on etsy and everything else was thrifted. It was a big hit! I'm planning on refinishing the bar cart it's all sitting on this summer. Scored for $2 this past fall!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George bun was a very good bunny this year. Santa brought him a tiny basket he can take into his box to work on. He loves it, of course!

I'll be back tomorrow to share all the handmade gifts I made this holiday!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Cool air
Sound of: Harry Potter 7 part II soundtrack
Taste of: Lindt chocolates
Sight of: George
Feel of: Comfy slippers

Good Things about Today:
- Safe travels.
- Going to the Cavs season opener tonight!
- Fabric shopping!
- Quiet time.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-22T19:57:00.001-06:00

Happy Holidays!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Hope you all have a happy and relaxing holiday! I won't be gone from this space for long, but a little break over the holiday is necessary! We're hitting the road for Ohio early tomorrow morning! :)

Happy Holidays and safe travels!

Little Apples Sparkling Cider Quilt

2011-12-21T17:04:00.001-06:00

Little Apples Sparkling Cider Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

It was a race against the sun on the shortest day of the year, but I finished it! I checked the last handmade gift off my list last night and was faced with an entire day to do whatever I pleased. In an effort to finish off works in progress before the new year, I opted to complete my Little Apples Sparkling Cider Quilt!

This is the second time I've sewn up a quilt using All Washed Up's Sparkling Cider pattern. Last year at this time I finished my first one using vintage sheets. You can see it here. This time around, I added an extra row making it 80" square.

Little Apples, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Little Apples is Aneela Hoey's second line for Moda, and I love it! Just like with my Sherbet Pips quilt, I wanted to be able to leave large chunks of these fabrics intact to show off all the sweet little stories. It took a while to come to a decision but this pattern just seemed made for these fabrics. I mean let's be honest, Little Apples + Sparkling Cider? Match made in heaven, and cheeky to boot! ;)

I love Aneela's fabrics, there is something special about them, knowing the children, animals and adventures are inspired by her sweet girls and their life together. They feel so personal. I am absolutely ecstatic to already be working with her next line, A Walk in the Woods! It's adorable! You can find pre-cuts around now, and yardage will be available this spring!

Little Apples, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

This quilt top came together quite quickly. The flying geese that make up the stars are made with a Quilt In a Day Flying Geese Ruler. Have you used this tool before? I got mine at Joanns and it is fantastic! It really helps make sure you don't loose those nice points! It's my go-to way to make flying geese, thankfully it comes in a few different sizes!

Little Apples Sparkling Cider Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I used the white prints along with some Kona Coal for the backing. The quilting ended up going super fast, only a few short hours. I did my signature loops but extra big this time!

Little Apples Sparkling Cider Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I bound it off using this fun red and white stripe fabric I thrifted shortly after we moved to Wisconsin. It's really soft and I think finishes it off quite nicely!

Little Apples Sparkling Cider Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I had a little trouble taking photos of this quilt, it's pretty heavy! I usually use masking tape but it just wasn't cutting it! So, it was Hello Kitty duct tape to the rescue! Hehe! (PS - it's from Target!)

Little Apples Sparkling Cider Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I am so happy with the way this quilt turned out. It is definitely going to be one of my absolute favorites! It feels really good to get this one crossed off the list! :)

Happy Sewing!

Fabric Dyeing

2011-12-20T15:35:00.004-06:00

Hand-dyed, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I'm having a bit of fun this week, aren't I? Last week I got the itch to dye fabric again. I have done so a couple times (see here, here and here), and it is a lot of fun! When I was sewing up my new notebook cover last week, I cut into a little of the white on white Seed Catalog print from Annie's Farm Stand. It hit me that it would be PERFECT for dying! White on white prints are a little magical in that when you dye them the background takes the dye and the print pattern stays light. This image, from Fabrics to Dye For, illustrates it perfectly!

Dying to Dye, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I probably could have gotten away with using regular Rit fabric dye or something similar, but ended up using Procion MX cold water dyes again. This is the same type of dye Malka Dubrawsky uses in her dyeing, and I used it last year when I experimented with wax resist dyeing. I figured if I'm going to do it, I might as well do it right!

Dyeing, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Despite being a little labor intensive and more expensive, it really is the way to go. The colors are very saturated and bold, which I think can be hard to achieve with other dyes. I took over our tub to do the dyeing yesterday! Nice thing about it is the mess stays contained and you can just dump the dye baths down the drain when you're done!

Hand-dyed, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I am so happy with the way these turned out. I had hoped the text would stay a little lighter, so next time I probably won't soak it as long. I am already scheming what other colors I want to do. Definitely green and brown! Maybe orange too!

Tomorrow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

If you are at all interested in fabric dyeing or wax-resist (batiking), I highly recommend Malka's book, Color Your Cloth. It is an amazing resource and inspiration! Rossie has some great information on dyeing too!

Annie's Farm Stand, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Had to get a shot of all the prints together. The top four prints were hand-dyed and the bottom five are the original colors from the line. I bought my white on white from Pink Castle Fabrics! One of very few places you can still get it!

Happy Sewing!

Tova

2011-12-19T17:30:00.000-06:00

Finished Tova, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Eeeee! I got a jump start on one of my goals for 2012, to try sewing myself some clothes! Today I finished this top! It's the Tova pattern by Jenny Gordy of Wiksten patterns. I have admired this pattern from afar for a long time. I have a commercial top similar in style that I love, so I was immediately drawn to it. I resisted because I assumed it was too difficult for me to tackle, and the price tag is quite a bit more than I usually spend on patterns. After seeing all the beautiful Tova tops that Ashley made, I had to have it! The other day they were in stock (they go fast!), and I went for it and bought one.

A Start, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I have a gorgeous woven blue gingham that Amanda picked up for me this past year, but knew better than to use it on the first go round. I ended up with this brown chambray from Joanns. I wanted the muslin to be cheap, but still wearable if it turned out okay! I went about the pattern in a rather slow way. I traced the pattern pieces on easy pattern material (looks and feels like interfacing) and made sure to read each step at least a few times before doing any sewing! Plus, LOTS of pinning.

WIP, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I was surprised by how quickly and easily it all came together. There are some scary things you have to do in this pattern! Plackets, insets, cuffs, sleeves, a collar! Honestly though, I never really felt like I couldn't do it after I read the pattern through. There are clear photographs to accompany the instructions which are really helpful. Many of these things I was doing for the first time, and I think I only used my seam ripper once on some top stitching I wasn't happy with! I don't have a serger, so I just zig-zagged all my seams!

Finished Tova, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The details in this top are fantastic, and I look forward to making many, many more!

Finished Tova, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The sizing for this top was great. I ended up sewing a small based on my measurements and I think I will make it just the same with no alternations for the next one! Don't let the high(er) price of this pattern deter you. I got to thinking about it while finishing it up, you really do get what you pay for sometimes. That doesn't mean you can't sew beautiful things from inexpensive patterns or that you can't sew terrible things from expensive patterns. Plus, knowing you're supporting an individual artisan is pretty cool!

Finished Tova, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Here's to more garment sewing in my future! :)

Giveaway Winner!

2011-12-17T07:58:00.000-06:00

Thank you to everyone who entered my Sew, Mama, Sew giveaway! I so enjoyed reading about your goals for the next year, it definitely gave me a few ideas for my own goals list! :)

So, Ms. Random.org choose...

#406! Which is Vanessa of Rescued Goods! You should have an email waiting from me with your pattern!

Happy Weekend!

Favorites

2011-12-16T09:09:00.001-06:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. improv quilt, 2. Boxed pouch, 3. Triple Dresden, 4. FO: Ella's Bohus Pillow, 5. New Block Design :: Half Moon Rising, 6. Brenda's Stars finished, 7. Modern Crazy Quilt for Aurifil Thread Challenge, 8. First Coin Purse - Front, 9. Tyson Quilt

The Art of Choosing: Triadic Color Schemes

2011-12-15T18:33:00.002-06:00

The Art of Choosing is a series discussing fabric, color, and the fabric selection process! For past posts, click here.

As I mentioned in previous Art of Choosing posts, I want to spend the next few weeks talking about different color schemes that can be pulled directly from the color wheel! :)

Triadic Color Schemes

The Art of Choosing: Triadic Color Schemes, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Today is all about Triadic color schemes! Triadic color schemes . They're simply made of 3 that are equidistant from each other on the color wheel! So each color in the scheme has three other colors between them. There are only four triadic color schemes! So, let's explore them in fabrics!

Red, Yellow, Blue

The Art of Choosing: Triadic Color Schemes, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Red, Yellow, Blue. Otherwise known, as Primary colors!

Red-orange, Yellow-green, Blue-purple

The Art of Choosing: Triadic Color Schemes, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Red-orange, Yellow-green, Blue-purple.

Orange, Green, Purple

The Art of Choosing: Triadic Color Schemes, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Orange, Green, Purple. Otherwise known, as Secondary colors!

Yellow-orange, Blue-green, Red-purple

The Art of Choosing: Triadic Color Schemes, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Yellow-orange, Blue-green, Red-purple.

Now I'd like to share with you a project I made using a Triadic color scheme.

Zipper Pouch, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Red (pink), Yellow, Blue: A sweet little zipper pouch. Patchwork framed in a calming neutral.

Again, if you'd like to pull some Triadic fabric stacks of your own, or share your triadic color projects, feel free to post in the flickr group! Until next week! :)

Happy Sewing!

Note: I created the color wheel graphics myself, so please don't borrow them without crediting me and linking back! Thanks! :)

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-14T17:24:00.000-06:00

Hexies, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Something slow, hand sewing hexagons to fix a pair of jeans!

Little Apples, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Finally basted my Little Apples (by Aneela Hoey!) quilt. Pattern is Sparkling Cider by All Washed Up.

A Start, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Starting something new, the Tova pattern by Jenny Gordy (Wiksten Patterns).

Yum, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

A few treats! Critter Community by Suzy Ultman.

Cookies, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Baked some cookies, substituted Andes Creme de Menthe chips for chocolate chips!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George :)

I'll be back tomorrow with an Art of Choosing post!

Today I love the..
Smell of: New shampoo
Sound of: Arrested Development
Taste of: Rice krispies
Sight of: George
Feel of: Flannel quilt

Good Things about Today:
- Happy mail!
- Cozy day to stay in!
- Took a relaxing bath!
- Teaching a class tonight!

Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Day!

2011-12-11T22:20:00.002-06:00

It is time for Giveaway Day organized by Sew, Mama, Sew! Thanks for visiting!

If you're new here, welcome! I'm Jeni! I blog here about my sewing and quilting adventures, thrifting finds, and my tiny pet bunny George! I enjoy providing tutorials and informational series like The Art of Choosing to my readers! I hope you'll take a peek around!

Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I am giving away a copy of my Lined Drawstring Bag PDF Pattern! The pattern features 8 sizes, there is a bag for everything in this pattern! Sizes range from tiny (4" tall!), to big (26" tall!), or create your own size to fit your needs! They're great for wrapping gifts, or as the gift itself! Learn more about the pattern here.

Attack of the Bags, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Winner will be chosen randomly. International entries welcome, pattern will be delivered via email. Giveaway open until December 16th, 5pm PST.

Attack of the Bags, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

To enter, please leave a comment letting me know one of your goals for the new year! Make sure email address is visible in your profile, or that it's included in your comment!

Happy Giveaway Day!

This Week

2011-12-10T16:39:00.002-06:00

Lined Drawstring Bag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Phew! It's been a busy week around here! I've been doing a lot of sewing, but unfortunately I can't show you much of it! Certain people may or may not read my blog, and I don't want to ruin any Christmas presents! :) I did make a little something for myself though, another drawstring bag! I wanted to use the new ruler twill tape I bought from Little Red Cottage. I paired it with Far Far Away III and Circa 1934! Tutorial/pattern here!

Neutrals, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Loving the blocks I'm receiving from the lovely ladies in the Twice Around the Block Bee! Been playing around with neutrals lately!

Innocent Crush, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Perhaps a voile quilt in my future? We'll see!

Thrifted, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Added another tin to my collection! Really love this one!

Cutting, cutting, cutting!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Having a little sale in the shop right now! Scrap packs, charm packs, pillowcases and kits are all on sale! :)

Salted Caramels, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Made salted caramels again today! But this time I used this silicon pan I picked up at Joanns! It worked perfect, so much easier than messing with wax paper! I like this recipe!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Caramels
Sound of:Arrested Development
Taste of: Cadbury mini eggs
Sight of: Clean kitchen
Feel of: Warm sheets

Good Things about Today:
- Cleaned today!
- Laid out a new quilt!
- Ready for holiday baking!
- Squeezed in a little thrifting!

Sparkle Quilt Along

2011-12-09T10:14:00.002-06:00

Before we dive in, do you guys know Megan of Canoe Ridge Creations? I met her this past year through Sewing Summit, and let me tell you, she is awesome! I am so, SO happy that she leaves a hop skip jump away in Iowa! If you don't know her, go check out her blog and then come back here! :)

Sparkle Quilt Along!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Megan and I are putting on a quilt along in the new year! Yay! Megan drew up this rad design which we have decided is a SPARKLE! You know I love sparkly anything, so I'm super excited! It's a simple, yet modern design suitable for even beginning quilters! We'll have a range of sizes for you to choose from, from mini to twin! Free free to join in at any time! Here are all the posts:

Sparkle quilt along schedule!
Week One: Choosing Fabrics
Week Two: Cutting
Week Three: Half-Square Triangles
Week Four: Sewing your Sparkle Blocks
Week Five: Putting Together your Quilt Top
Week Six: Finishing Up
Week Seven: Linky Party

You can head on over to the Sparkle Mini Quilt Along Flickr Group and grab a button below, if you'd like!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/1848868@N23/"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ihF1ZWZCODM/TuI6bIP5xYI/AAAAAAAAAvM/lCrqa9_0EOw/s1600/SPARKLE150.jpg"></a>

Favorites

2011-12-09T08:07:00.001-06:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Wonky cabin quilt, 2. 04 003, 3. Untitled, 4. Before washing, ROYGBIV back, 5. Hexy MF, 6. Prism, 7. Work in progress, 8. finished - modern drunkard's path, 9. Many trips around the world quilt

The Sewcial Lounge

2011-12-06T20:21:00.003-06:00

The Sewcial Lounge, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

If you follow me on Twitter, you may already know about this piece of news, but I realized this weekend that I never talked about it here on the blog! So.. I got a job! And it's sewing related!! I'm teaching sewing classes as a part-time instructor at The Sewcial Lounge! It's a sweet new shop, the grand opening was actually the weekend I was away at Sewing Summit! Pretty cool, huh? It's a sew by the hour shop, a great place to hang out and sew with friends or take a class! I stopped by on Saturday (lucky me, it's 5 minutes from the apartment!) and took a few photos for a little tour!

The Sewcial Lounge, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

This is the shop's lovely owner, Sara! She is super friendly, funny, and has great taste in fabric! Every time I go in we end up chatting for a while! :)

The Sewcial Lounge, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The Sewcial Lounge carries all MODERN fabric! Yaaaay! Freespirit, Westminster, Alexander Henry to name a few! I cannot wait until the Echo she ordered comes in!

The Sewcial Lounge, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Yummy Laminates! I love this one from Silent Cinema by Jenean Morrison!

The Sewcial Lounge, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The shop is full of cute little vignettes like this one!

The Sewcial Lounge, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Notions! Gotta have notions!

The Sewcial Lounge, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

A great selection of patterns! Quite a few I want to try myself, especially the Schoolhouse Tunic!

The Sewcial Lounge, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

In addition to quilting cottons and flannels, a healthy dose of home dec fabrics, including, Outside Oslo! I was so psyched when I walked in to see those!

The Sewcial Lounge, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

A sweet little hangout spot!

The Sewcial Lounge, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The space is outfitted with ironing boards, irons, a serger, Janome machines and plenty of room to spread out!

Handmade Holidays, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

If you're local to Madison, I hope you'll come check it out! Next week I'm teaching some Handmade Holidays classes! Coffee Cozies, Drawstring Bags, Scarves, and Placemat + Napkin sets! For all of December's classes, click here!

Okay, now go give Sara some love on The Sewcial Lounge's Facebook Page! :)

Hope you enjoyed this little tour!

Fabric Embellished Dish Towels Tutorial

2011-12-05T08:36:00.004-06:00

Today I am guest posting over at Quilt Story with a fun tutorial as a part of their Holiday Gift Tutorials series! It's been running since the beginning of November and will continue through December, a new tutorial every Monday!

Fabric Embellished Tea Towel Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I am sharing a tutorial for Fabric Embellished Dish Towels! They're super quick and take very little fabric. Would be a lovely gift on their own or along with a favorite cookbook, some nice spatulas/spoons or some homemade treats :)

The tutorial has instructions for three different styles:

Fabric Embellished Tea Towel Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The Patchwork Towel

Fabric Embellished Tea Towel Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The Strip Towel

Fabric Embellished Tea Towel Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The Hexagon Towel

Fabric Embellished Tea Towel Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I hope you'll check it out! :)

*Note: I purchased my dish towels at a discount store last year. They are Martha Stewart brand though!

Happy Monday!