Week #2 - Zakka 2.0 Let's Do Lunch!

All over blogland,

sweet peppers have been popping up,
thanks to the Patchwork, Please Zakka 2.0 sew along!

Even though this was a fairly straightforward project,

I was amazed at the variety and innovation
people put into it.

{Hop on over to Lindsey's blog, and then to the Flickr group, and you'll see what I mean!}

My photo even made Explore on Flickr!

I can't wait to see what happens this week,

with the Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner towels.

{Here's my contribution:  LUNCH!}

My sister Susie gifted me with a piece of cotton toweling

by Moda, finished off on the side edges

with a pretty vintage green stripe.

Source:  Quilter Studio

I just knew it was perfect for this project!

I chose some 30's repro scraps and a few other favorites

and went to work.

The pattern calls for enlarging the letters in the words,

but my toweling was only 16" wide,

so didn't enlarge any of the templates,

including the adorable salt and pepper shakers.

I followed the directions provided, with success.

When the salt and pepper shakers were done,

they looked a wee bit like girls in dresses, to me.

Luckily, I had some text prints on hand,

for the finishing touch!

{Ta-da!}

Now, you may know I love me some ricrac!

Ayumi added such a darling detail, using ricrac

for a little hanger up in the corner of the towel.

Instead, I decided to use a 2" x 6 1/2" scrap of

my precious sunshine yellow

Recipe for Friendship fabric,

to make my little hanger.

I used the same print for the towel binding.

I only had to finish the top and bottom edges of my towel,

so this was a really quick and fun project,

and it used minimal fabric.

Now for my likes and dislikes...dislikes are first:

Let me just reveal to you now that I'm a tightwad

when it comes to fabric...and everything else, I guess.

There is just no way I'm going to use

the amount of LINEN that is suggested,

for making even one towel.

{Much as I love the look, I just can't do that!}

Not only that,

I prefer using cotton tea towels, except for drying glassware.

If I hadn't had this awesome piece of Moda toweling,

I would have used one of the cotton towels

I like for my Stay-Put tea towels.

{They come in all different colors, and would be great 

for this project...and not so expensive.}

And my "likes" are numerous this week...

I just love this project in general, 

for its gift potential and versatility.  

I can visualize these vintage-style shapes decorating

lots of other kitchen items, too!

{How about some hot pads with the salt and pepper shakers?}

Fusible applique is such a fun and useful technique,

and I always feel a sense of success using this method,

even in shapes and letters with sharp curves.

The way these tiny scraps can add up to something so pretty

never ceases to amaze me.

I especially loved the method Ayumi described for attaching the binding.
I had no problems securing the edging neatly.

My new LUNCH towel is so sweet and sentimental.

It reminds me of all the special kitchens of my childhood...

all of my grandmas and my great-grandmother

were fabulous cooks.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to buy some more toweling

and finish the set!

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Bell Pepper Coasters...Zakka 2.0 Sew Along - Week 1

Have you joined yet?

The Zakka 2.0 Sew Along has begun!

All you need is a copy of Patchwork Please! by Ayumi Takahashi

and a desire to have fun, sewing cool projects!

I know, I know, I know...
I need another sew along like I need another yard of fabric.

{Well, not like that.  I legitimately always need another yard of fabric.}

I just could not resist joining Lindsey and Debbie,

since I have met so many amazing bloggers through the original

Zakka Style Sew Along!

Let's get going, with week #1's project:

Bell Pepper Coasters!

I am delighted to report that this project is quick and easy.

That didn't stop me from messing up the first pepper I made.

I forgot to put the batting inside, before I stitched the front and back

pieces together!!!

{It kind of looks more like an apple at this point...I think I'll do something with it later.  Watch for it!}

Anyway, I got it right the next try.

Look how cute the back looks, too!

{BTW...I used fusible fleece instead of regular batting.  No shifting or bunching while I stitched the layers together.}

Then I got smart, and made the other 3 coasters

all at the same time, assembly line style.

I cut all of my scrap pieces out,

and I used freezer paper to create my templates.

That way I could just stitch along the edges of the templates,

instead of drawing the patterns on the fabric.

I trimmed very near the edge,

and it was easy to press the pieces flat.

Here is a great tip to use, whenever you are leaving openings for turning:

In addition to backstitching at the starting and stopping points,

sew a few stitches from the seamline to the edge of the fabric.

{Backstitch those stitches, too.}

I used that tip to make a minor adjustment to the pepper instructions.

The pattern says to sew a seam to connect two of the prints,

then use a seam ripper to partially open the seam.

Instead, I just left part of the seam open, for turning later.

I enjoyed making a whole set of four coasters, one from each color:

red, orange, yellow and green.

I'm going to sum up my "likes" and "dislikes"

for each project I complete for the sew along:

Dislikes are first...

*I had some trouble understanding the very first step

of the instructions, possibly

because I didn't know what the goal was.

Once I realized that this technique was similar to one

used by Eleanor Burns, for applique,

I could picture what was supposed to happen.

A diagram would have been very helpful here.

{This comment may reappear in subsequent posts.}

*This is not truly a dislike,

but I found it easier to just make simple curves

for the templates.  The detailed lines in the pattern

were too fine to show up once the pieces were sewn and pressed.

And the likes...

*This project was perfect for small scraps!

In fact, I adjusted my cutting measurements

to be just a bit larger than the templates.

It's fun to use favorite bits of fabrics in small projects like this.

*I spent almost no time making the last three coasters.

As soon as I understood the process,

they practically made themselves.

*They are just as cute on the back as on the front,

if you ask me!

*The best like of all the "likes"...

if you head over to Penny's post at Sew Take A Hike,

she has easy directions to convert this project into

the most awesome matching hotpad!!!

I got busy and put my own hotpad together in no time.

It's just like a mommy to my little baby green coaster.

And the back shows a nice view of some Heather Bailey fabric.

I'm a bit worried that some of the other projects

 in the book will be much more involved.

At the pace of one project per week,

I'll just be joining in whenever it suits me.

{I'm so glad it suits me this week.}

No pressure.

Won't you join, too?

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New Grab and Go Jelly Roll Purses

In my last post, I showed a sneak peek

of a recent project,

made with Moda's Summer Breeze fabric line.

As promised, I'm ready to reveal...

a PURSE, constructed from a great pattern

by Mommy's Thimble,

called the Easy Jellyroll Grab and Go Bag!

This is not the first time I've made this pattern.

Want to see some old ones I made, long before my blog was even born?

{Of course you do!}

This one was made from Summer Soiree
by Paula Prass.
I've made a lot of purses from this fabric line...
every one was a head-turner.

Here's a bright beauty made with

various lines...Andalucia from Patti Young,

Nicey Jane from Heather Bailey,

and even a bit of Aviary from Joel Dewberry.

This is what's under that cute flap.

I've made some that I don't have photos for,
but here's the last example I can share.
For this one, I chose some
prints from Patisserie by Fig Tree Quilts.

One of my friends ha the Patisserie purse,

and she asked me to make this purse again, 
but a little bit larger,

 so she could carry her new tablet

and a few other key belongings with her.

She fell in love with the Dear Stella prints I showed her,

in navy blue and orange.

The line is called Anchors Aweigh.

I think she's going to love this summer bag,

with its beachy theme. 

I love the sharp navy and white print 

I used for the inside,

called Songbird by Carina Gardner.

The snazzy stripes made a great handle strap!

I love this pattern for all of its
teachable moments.
Because of these bags,
I know how to install magnetic snaps...

create zippered interior pockets...

and make this sweet style of outer pocket.

Oh, and gussets no longer give me headaches!

If you'd like to try purse-making,
this pattern is great for beginners and experts alike!
Head on over to Mommy's Thimble on Etsy
for a big giant School is Out sale...
5 PDF patterns for only $20!

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My New Summer Cottage - June Across the Pond Sew Along

Welcome, friends,

to the June edition of the 

Across the Pond Sew Along!

It's The Patchsmith's turn to choose the theme,

and she has selected a sweet House Ornament.

As of June 1, Amanda had already

constructed two adorable little cottages!

Pop on over to her post, to see her clever innovation 

for the red one shown below.

{You won't be sorry!}

Photo by Amanda The Patchsmith

The best part about this month's project is that

we can all make these adorable houses 

from a free pattern by Kim of Retromama!

If you go to Flickr and search for "Retromama houses,"

you will come up with all sorts of inspiration.

Here is a super sweet one made by Kim - Retromama herself.

Photo from Kim of Retromama

I found this darling little Christmas house,

made by Kylie of Three Honeybees.

It's just one of many cuties she has made.

{Look at the Christmas tree in the window...heavenly!}

Photo by Kylie of Three Honeybees

The little houses are made as ornaments, with ribbons for hanging.

Take a look at what Josee of cul de sac blog has done with her houses,

decorating a beautiful curtain valance.

You must visit her post to see and believe 

the astonishing details on each little cottage!

{Utterly charming, right?}

Photo by Josee of cul de sac blog

And now...there's a new building over at Susie's Sunroom,
and she's added all the charm of an English garden
to her sweet little cottage!

{I think I had an English accent when I read her post to myself.}

Photo from Susie's Sunroom

I must say that if I'd seen Susie's house first, my window
might have had a contrasting color of thread
for the stitching.  Brilliant touch!

I have to admit that I've had this house ornament

on my must-make list for quite a while.

I even had this issue of Make It Yourself 

magazine by BH&G since late 2012,

which featured the same pattern,

among dozens of other great projects.

{My pages are nearly all dog-eared.}

The Across the Pond Sew Along

provides me with that little

kick in the pants that I need,

so that I actually make a few of those must-do things!

Using some scraps from a recent project,

I set to work building my own little house.

Here's the result, and I'm so pleased with it!

Why, oh why, did I wait so long to build my dream house?
I love every little detail.

It's just so tiny and sweet.
I made the house number from a bit of selvage,
and it happens to be the house number of someone
in my real life. ;)

Like The Patchsmith,

I found myself missing a coordinating 

piece of ribbon for hanging.

I improvised with my pinking shears,

to make a fabric strip hanger.

The back of this house is plain,

but if I make any more, I might invest

some time into adding details on the reverse side.

{The Patchsmith's back yard puts mine to shame.}

I have to admit that

this house is really very small,

and it took me a while to turn it inside out

after stitching it together.

I think it was worth the effort, though.  I love it!

I'm so glad that I waited until the last step
to add the little button doorknob.

I have some great polyfil that resists clumping,

and it was just right for this tiny project.

I picked it up at my local Walmart
and would recommend it for stuffed softies
and really small projects like this one.

Wouldn't this house make an adorable pincushion???

{Or a little housewarming or hostess gift?}

We hope you'll be inspired to join us in our

little Sew Along and add your photos to our Flickr group.

{Past finishes or latecomers are always welcome, too.}

Next time I post,

I'll let you know what else I made with my little house fabrics.

{If you want to know where my scraps came from...come back soon!}

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