Dear minky,
I hate you. I don't care how soft and luxurious you may be, you are not fun to sew. Consider our relationship terminated...at least until I am stupid enough to try again. I hope you die.
love,
Cassie
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Cloth Napkins
In addition to grocery bags, my other environmentally friendly initiative has been cloth napkins. We had a few but I decided I could make some more way easier and cheaper. So I did. I made some smalish square ones (8") and some medium square ones (10") double sided and topstitched, and two large squares (16") and some rectangles (9" x 13") with the edges folded over. All are from scraps and things I didn't know what to do with/don't love (that way who cares how messy they get). They are working really well and definitely cut down on paper towel usage :) Now I just have to work out some good cleaning cloths and we can rid our lives of papertowels almost entirely (yes almost, there are some messes I'd rather throw away...and yes I am aware I put dirty diapers in our washer daily).
So there you have it, more of my green living attempt. Hopefully there will be a nice day sometime soon where I can take some pictures of some other things done and maybe I'll even get to work on some things one of these days....I can hope anyway.
So there you have it, more of my green living attempt. Hopefully there will be a nice day sometime soon where I can take some pictures of some other things done and maybe I'll even get to work on some things one of these days....I can hope anyway.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Grocery Bag
I have been trying for ages to convince a particular friend of mine to stop using so many stinking plastic bags and in an effort to help her along, I made her this grocery bag. I don't love the pattern, but it was a free one from Joanns that I thought I'd try. It's not bad, but not great either. It works though and it's pretty! I think sometime in the fairly near future I will try out some other patterns and see if I can find some I actually like. We'll see when I get the time for that.Did I mention that my project list just keeps growing and growing and growing??? It's okay, by the end of the week I should have something else crossed off and will be on my way with a few new ones. And hopefully 10 more things won't get added in the meantime.....
Monday, October 18, 2010
Here it is, the sweet pile of goodness that is the result of a weekend of quilt shop hopping!
It was a lot of fun! I found some great stuff and got a lot crossed off my list. The remaining things are things I can get cheaper elsewhere. And actually I already ordered a layer cake for my crazy hexagon quilt that I can't wait to get here. The downside to shopping online: lack of instant gratification. Oh well, worth it. More about hexies later :)
Out of all that I got, the things not on the list were some sweet kaffe fassett polka dots and 6 bright colorful fabrics that were on sale that I just couldn't pass up. Oddly enough they are from Ikea which explains why they looked so familiar ha! How they ended up in a quilt shop in upstate NY, I do not know, I thought you could only buy ikea fabric at ikea, but there you have it. So now I just need time to get busy....and I need to stop adding more projects to the list. Tomorrow I go to a final quilt shop that we didn't make it to this weekend and hopefully they will have the 1/4" foot that I need for my machine to hopefully help with my seam accuracy. We shall see. A Joanns run is also in the works. Today I am just trying to get myself organized and so some things around the house (hello laundry!) and hopefully be ready to get some things done this week.
It was a lot of fun! I found some great stuff and got a lot crossed off my list. The remaining things are things I can get cheaper elsewhere. And actually I already ordered a layer cake for my crazy hexagon quilt that I can't wait to get here. The downside to shopping online: lack of instant gratification. Oh well, worth it. More about hexies later :)
Out of all that I got, the things not on the list were some sweet kaffe fassett polka dots and 6 bright colorful fabrics that were on sale that I just couldn't pass up. Oddly enough they are from Ikea which explains why they looked so familiar ha! How they ended up in a quilt shop in upstate NY, I do not know, I thought you could only buy ikea fabric at ikea, but there you have it. So now I just need time to get busy....and I need to stop adding more projects to the list. Tomorrow I go to a final quilt shop that we didn't make it to this weekend and hopefully they will have the 1/4" foot that I need for my machine to hopefully help with my seam accuracy. We shall see. A Joanns run is also in the works. Today I am just trying to get myself organized and so some things around the house (hello laundry!) and hopefully be ready to get some things done this week.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Big Plans
Tomorrow the quilt shop hopping begins!!! I am so excited and have my fabric shopping list all in order....it's pretty long, although really not as bad as it could be. And really, since last year I think I bought like a yard and a fat quarter total, I'm okay with it. We'll see if I can find what I need or if I come back to the trusty internet.
Anyway, I sorted out a lot of things I would like to make this week to figure out where I stand. I still at some point would like to make all the types of quilts I posted about last time, but we'll just have to see where I can fit them in and what they will work for. I also eventually hope to get decent at free-motion quilting, but we'll just have to see about that...part of the problem being that I need to make something I don't care much about so I am not too upset if it looks bad. We'll see.
The current list:
Perhaps the biggest challenge I have set for myself, and naturally the one I am most excited about, is a hexagon blanket. That's right, english paper piecing, hand sewing, the whole nine yards. I'm crazy but excited. More details on that as I work them out. I am going to start by scouting some perfect fabrics this weekend :) That will hopefully be started before the holiday travels so I can bring it with me...what with not needing a machine and all.
I think that's all for now (I say that like it's not more than enough...). My to-make list is always growing and changing, so as usual I'm not too worried about it, I just like to try and keep track. And if I'm honest, these are just the sewing projects, I have a whole bunch of scrapbooking and such to do as well! (Catch up on Hubby's book, do the first handful of months for the little one...) And some assorted other christmas gifts, plus the WIP I already have, hopefully to be finished up as soon as I get the batting/backing/binding etc. Okay, really have to stop now....update to come after the shop hop!
Anyway, I sorted out a lot of things I would like to make this week to figure out where I stand. I still at some point would like to make all the types of quilts I posted about last time, but we'll just have to see where I can fit them in and what they will work for. I also eventually hope to get decent at free-motion quilting, but we'll just have to see about that...part of the problem being that I need to make something I don't care much about so I am not too upset if it looks bad. We'll see.
The current list:
- A quilt for my brother. I promised him one for christmas so now I just have to figure out what fabric I can find which will determine what it looks like. It needs to be a serious twin size which is bigger than I usually go.
- A Christmas quilt...it will also be a gift so I will refrain from posting more details at this time
- A belated wedding gift quilt...all planned out, I just need to find the fabrics....also withholding details for the time being
- A log cabin quilt for me. I have all the fabric cut and ready, it's just that projects for me get put on the backburner when it comes down to it. It is Anna Maria Horner's Little Folks line and I am super excited. I love the fabric and can't wait to see what it looks like.
- A quilt for the little lady's eventual bed....only because I fell in love with this Ann Kelle line :)
Perhaps the biggest challenge I have set for myself, and naturally the one I am most excited about, is a hexagon blanket. That's right, english paper piecing, hand sewing, the whole nine yards. I'm crazy but excited. More details on that as I work them out. I am going to start by scouting some perfect fabrics this weekend :) That will hopefully be started before the holiday travels so I can bring it with me...what with not needing a machine and all.
I think that's all for now (I say that like it's not more than enough...). My to-make list is always growing and changing, so as usual I'm not too worried about it, I just like to try and keep track. And if I'm honest, these are just the sewing projects, I have a whole bunch of scrapbooking and such to do as well! (Catch up on Hubby's book, do the first handful of months for the little one...) And some assorted other christmas gifts, plus the WIP I already have, hopefully to be finished up as soon as I get the batting/backing/binding etc. Okay, really have to stop now....update to come after the shop hop!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Netbook case
Well it has been a crazy couple of weeks, some good, some bad, but we made it through. This week I plan to sit down and really figure out what I am doing for the rest of this year craft-wise, and what my larger goals are. This weekend I am going quilt shop hopping again (yay!!!!) and I have to have my fabric shopping list together so I have an immediate goal pushing me. I have to figure out what my projects are and how much fabric I need, so it will be a busy week, hopefully ending with a lot of pretty fabric to play with :) Not to mention I have to get the house and everything straightened up from the last two weeks of crazy, but that is another story I suppose.
Anyway, on to the good stuff. This isn't a completely new project as it is a revisit of the laptop case I made my hubby last year. If you want the pattern link and whatnot, you can check out that post. I needed a case for my netbook and liked this pattern enough to give it another go. Let me just say, it went much better this time! It's amazing what a difference a better machine, the correct needle (yep, I actually got one for heavyweight fabrics) and a walking foot make. I mean, I knew I wasn't following the recommendations last time, but I was working with what I had, and the result was quite good, but it was so much easier and went so much smoother this time....someday I will learn that these things are recommended for a reason. The outer fabric is actually an ikea pillow case that I got with the intention of ripping out the seams and using for a project and this is perfect. I also love the navy blue flannel inside, it tones down the busy outside just right. It is actually a bit too big because of the weird dimensions of the netbook thanks to the battery upgrade, but that just means I can fit my power cord inside. I messed with a bunch of ideas for a place to put the power cord from a pocket on front to a strap on the side, but none worked out quite right...part of the problem is the proportions since the netbook is so small. I'll revisit that issue when I make my husband a new one, his is bound to wear out some time since it gets so much use :)
Hopefully my computer will cooperate enough for me to get more posted this week. I will be one busy bee!
Anyway, on to the good stuff. This isn't a completely new project as it is a revisit of the laptop case I made my hubby last year. If you want the pattern link and whatnot, you can check out that post. I needed a case for my netbook and liked this pattern enough to give it another go. Let me just say, it went much better this time! It's amazing what a difference a better machine, the correct needle (yep, I actually got one for heavyweight fabrics) and a walking foot make. I mean, I knew I wasn't following the recommendations last time, but I was working with what I had, and the result was quite good, but it was so much easier and went so much smoother this time....someday I will learn that these things are recommended for a reason. The outer fabric is actually an ikea pillow case that I got with the intention of ripping out the seams and using for a project and this is perfect. I also love the navy blue flannel inside, it tones down the busy outside just right. It is actually a bit too big because of the weird dimensions of the netbook thanks to the battery upgrade, but that just means I can fit my power cord inside. I messed with a bunch of ideas for a place to put the power cord from a pocket on front to a strap on the side, but none worked out quite right...part of the problem is the proportions since the netbook is so small. I'll revisit that issue when I make my husband a new one, his is bound to wear out some time since it gets so much use :)
Hopefully my computer will cooperate enough for me to get more posted this week. I will be one busy bee!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)