Recently, I participated in a secret gift swap with a group of sewing blogger friends. We've done this once or twice before, but this year, we decided to wait a few weeks after the holidays to exchange our gifts.
Here's how the secret gift swap works. Those who want to participate sign up and provide information on their favorite colors, fabric shops, or other useful information (like favorite chocolate). Then a designated organizer (that was me this time) uses a random method to assign each person someone from the list to make a gift for (the recipient). Everyone gets a couple of months to decide what to make or buy and then ship it off to their recipient, but not before sharing a few little sneak peeks of the gift first! The recipient doesn't discover who sent the gift until it arrives.
We all love getting gifts in the mail, so it's a fun, fairly inexpensive way to brighten the day of a friend or even a stranger. My friends and I have gotten to know each other pretty well over the last few years, and the gifts we all exchanged with each other really showed that this time!
Showing posts with label quilting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quilting. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Saturday, January 17, 2015
A sewVery Simple Fabric Coaster Tutorial
Sometimes you just need to do a little sewing that's not complicated and can produce quick results. These sewVery Simple Fabric Coasters were the result of one such day for me! I sewed up a couple of sets--one to give as a gift and one to keep--and have thoroughly enjoyed using them ever since.
All you need to make your own are a few items you probably already have lying around in the sewing room and my sewVery Simple Fabric Coaster Tutorial:
All you need to make your own are a few items you probably already have lying around in the sewing room and my sewVery Simple Fabric Coaster Tutorial:
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Modern Bee Book & My First Quilt Block
Sewing has enriched my life in so many ways. If I had not started sewing again nearly two-and-a-half years ago, then I wouldn't have started blogging. If I had not started blogging, then I wouldn't have made so many new, wonderful friends.
One of those real-life personal friends is Lindsay Conner, blogger at Lindsay Sews and Craft Buds, and now author of the new book, Modern Bee: 13 Quilts to Make with Friends.
Lindsay and I met last year at Sewing Summit where we hit it off right from the start. A few months later, she moved to Tennessee, and about a month ago, she moved within a few miles of me. I've so enjoyed getting to know Lindsay and hang out with her in person on a regular basis. We even flew out to Utah and roomed together again at Sewing Summit this year. She is so sweet and talented, and she's taught me so much about blogging, networking within the sewing community, and now quilting!
From the start, I joked with her that I was not a quilter because I don't have the patience to sew in straight lines all the time, but she kept encouraging me to give it a try and start with something small. When her book was finally available for sale, I purchased a copy from her immediately (I still need it signed though) and decided to give quilting a serious try.
Honestly, Modern Bee is the first quilting book I've ever owned or read, so I'm not sure how much my opinion or review of the book will count to you seasoned quilters out there. But just like I do with any other pattern I use and review, I tell it like it is--truthfully.
Having never been a part of a quilter's guild or bee, I really felt uneducated on the topic. However, Lindsay's book explains the concept and workings of an online bee, how to set up and manage one of your own, or in my case (for now), just how to make a quilt all by myself!
The book is conveniently divided into sections for beginners, confident beginners, and intermediate quilters. Since this was my very first attempt at making a quilt block, I started with a beginner block--Bluebell's Cabin by Adrianne Ove. I picked this design because it appealed to me aesthetically--very classic with a modern twist depending on the fabrics used--and it looked like the easiest to cut out and sew together! I chose well because it literally took me only 15 minutes to stitch out.
That was so easy that I may have decided to try and make an entire quilt now! What?! I have plenty of my favorite Joel Dewberry Heirloom fabrics that desperately need to be sewn into something I'll enjoy. I'd much rather have them made into a quilt I can use on top of my bed than sitting in a box under my bed!
The Modern Bee book includes all the instructions and yardage requirements for me to finish an entire quilt, including detailed illustrations and options for backing, batting, basting, binding.
Oh, and did I mention all the beautiful photos in this book? There are pictures of all 13 modern quilts you can make using the Modern Bee book plus color illustrations that accompany the written instructions.
So, what do you think? Should I give it try and make my own quilt? This might just lead me to joining a modern bee and making more quilts and meeting more wonderful people!
Yeah, sounds like a good idea to me, especially since I have a great friend just down the road from me who knows how to quilt!
Want to start your own online quilting bee and make lots of new friends? Then be sure to pick up a copy of Lindsay's new book, Modern Bee: 13 Quilt to Make with Friends, and learn how today!
Also, Lindsay has generously offered up a little prize package of fabric, notions, and a rotary cutter to one lucky sewVery reader! Thanks, Lindsay! To enter the giveaway, just click on the rafflecopter widget below. Contest open to US residents only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
One of those real-life personal friends is Lindsay Conner, blogger at Lindsay Sews and Craft Buds, and now author of the new book, Modern Bee: 13 Quilts to Make with Friends.
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| Photo from ModernBeeBook.com |
Lindsay and I met last year at Sewing Summit where we hit it off right from the start. A few months later, she moved to Tennessee, and about a month ago, she moved within a few miles of me. I've so enjoyed getting to know Lindsay and hang out with her in person on a regular basis. We even flew out to Utah and roomed together again at Sewing Summit this year. She is so sweet and talented, and she's taught me so much about blogging, networking within the sewing community, and now quilting!
From the start, I joked with her that I was not a quilter because I don't have the patience to sew in straight lines all the time, but she kept encouraging me to give it a try and start with something small. When her book was finally available for sale, I purchased a copy from her immediately (I still need it signed though) and decided to give quilting a serious try.
Honestly, Modern Bee is the first quilting book I've ever owned or read, so I'm not sure how much my opinion or review of the book will count to you seasoned quilters out there. But just like I do with any other pattern I use and review, I tell it like it is--truthfully.
Having never been a part of a quilter's guild or bee, I really felt uneducated on the topic. However, Lindsay's book explains the concept and workings of an online bee, how to set up and manage one of your own, or in my case (for now), just how to make a quilt all by myself!
The book is conveniently divided into sections for beginners, confident beginners, and intermediate quilters. Since this was my very first attempt at making a quilt block, I started with a beginner block--Bluebell's Cabin by Adrianne Ove. I picked this design because it appealed to me aesthetically--very classic with a modern twist depending on the fabrics used--and it looked like the easiest to cut out and sew together! I chose well because it literally took me only 15 minutes to stitch out.
That was so easy that I may have decided to try and make an entire quilt now! What?! I have plenty of my favorite Joel Dewberry Heirloom fabrics that desperately need to be sewn into something I'll enjoy. I'd much rather have them made into a quilt I can use on top of my bed than sitting in a box under my bed!
The Modern Bee book includes all the instructions and yardage requirements for me to finish an entire quilt, including detailed illustrations and options for backing, batting, basting, binding.
Oh, and did I mention all the beautiful photos in this book? There are pictures of all 13 modern quilts you can make using the Modern Bee book plus color illustrations that accompany the written instructions.
So, what do you think? Should I give it try and make my own quilt? This might just lead me to joining a modern bee and making more quilts and meeting more wonderful people!
Yeah, sounds like a good idea to me, especially since I have a great friend just down the road from me who knows how to quilt!
Want to start your own online quilting bee and make lots of new friends? Then be sure to pick up a copy of Lindsay's new book, Modern Bee: 13 Quilt to Make with Friends, and learn how today!
Also, Lindsay has generously offered up a little prize package of fabric, notions, and a rotary cutter to one lucky sewVery reader! Thanks, Lindsay! To enter the giveaway, just click on the rafflecopter widget below. Contest open to US residents only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Craftsy Class Giveaway!
Have you ever taken a sewing, crafting, or quilting class from Craftsy? They are great if you are just learning to sew or learning a new sewing technique--like me!
Today I'm reviewing the Craftsy Quilt-As-You-Go Patchwork Bags Class by Tara Rebman. Craftsy provided me with this class free of charge, but all opinions provided in this post are my own.
As many of you know, I love to sew clothes and bags, but I'm not too much of a quilter. I've quilted a few small projects, but I am definitely not well versed in "quilting" language or techniques, so I was excited about this opportunity to take an online class to learn a few new sewing tricks and eventually make a bag!
Now, my review today is solely on the class itself. Presently, I have not had the time to actually try out these methods and the pattern, but I am anxious to do so! Now to find a little extra time!
The great thing about a Craftsy online class is the flexibility to take the class when you have time to take it. You can also skip over sections of the lesson that you might already find familiar or replay over and over again parts that you don't!
In the online quilting class that Tara offers, I learned a technique called quilt-as-you-go (QAYG). For those of you not familiar with this term (like me), you essentially take scraps of fabric one piece at a time and quilt them with straight-line stitching onto your batting. You continue to piece the scraps of fabric together while alternating your stitch direction with each new piece.
Tara not only shows you the steps of the QAYG method, but she also shows you how to create the fabric membrane for a Tinker Tote Bag using this technique. The pdf pattern for the tote bag is included with the lesson.
The Tinker Tote Bag is a medium to large size bag with built in straps. Tara provides tips on how to make the bottom of the bag with leather or with fabric, and she gives you a step-by-step tutorial on how to make both an interior slip pocket and zippered pocket as well as how to attach a magnetic closure.
Overall, I'm very impressed with the class and the pattern. I learned some new quilting terms and techniques that I can't wait to try out when I find time to make my own Tinker Tote Bag! I think I'll get a little practice first by making a pot holder like she shows you how to do as well.
This Craftsy Craftsy Quilt-As-You-Go Patchwork Bags Class is great for either someone wanting to learn to quilt or a quilter who wants to learn to make a bag! And today, you can enter a giveaway for a chance to win this very same class from Craftsy!
To enter the giveaway to win the Quilt-As-You-Go Patchwork Bags Class by Tara Rebman, just sign up for Craftsy using the link below, or if you are already a member, simply sign in using the link for an entry. Only one entry per person. The winner will be selected at random and announced here and on my sewVery Facebook page next Wednesday, August 28th!
Once you've signed up for Craftsy and entered the giveaway for the QAYG class, be sure to click the link here for the FREE Mastering Zippers Class!
Thanks again to Craftsy for allowing me to review this great class. I can't wait to make my own QAYG Tinker Tote Bag!
Today I'm reviewing the Craftsy Quilt-As-You-Go Patchwork Bags Class by Tara Rebman. Craftsy provided me with this class free of charge, but all opinions provided in this post are my own.
As many of you know, I love to sew clothes and bags, but I'm not too much of a quilter. I've quilted a few small projects, but I am definitely not well versed in "quilting" language or techniques, so I was excited about this opportunity to take an online class to learn a few new sewing tricks and eventually make a bag!
Now, my review today is solely on the class itself. Presently, I have not had the time to actually try out these methods and the pattern, but I am anxious to do so! Now to find a little extra time!
The great thing about a Craftsy online class is the flexibility to take the class when you have time to take it. You can also skip over sections of the lesson that you might already find familiar or replay over and over again parts that you don't!
In the online quilting class that Tara offers, I learned a technique called quilt-as-you-go (QAYG). For those of you not familiar with this term (like me), you essentially take scraps of fabric one piece at a time and quilt them with straight-line stitching onto your batting. You continue to piece the scraps of fabric together while alternating your stitch direction with each new piece.
Tara not only shows you the steps of the QAYG method, but she also shows you how to create the fabric membrane for a Tinker Tote Bag using this technique. The pdf pattern for the tote bag is included with the lesson.
The Tinker Tote Bag is a medium to large size bag with built in straps. Tara provides tips on how to make the bottom of the bag with leather or with fabric, and she gives you a step-by-step tutorial on how to make both an interior slip pocket and zippered pocket as well as how to attach a magnetic closure.
Overall, I'm very impressed with the class and the pattern. I learned some new quilting terms and techniques that I can't wait to try out when I find time to make my own Tinker Tote Bag! I think I'll get a little practice first by making a pot holder like she shows you how to do as well.
This Craftsy Craftsy Quilt-As-You-Go Patchwork Bags Class is great for either someone wanting to learn to quilt or a quilter who wants to learn to make a bag! And today, you can enter a giveaway for a chance to win this very same class from Craftsy!
To enter the giveaway to win the Quilt-As-You-Go Patchwork Bags Class by Tara Rebman, just sign up for Craftsy using the link below, or if you are already a member, simply sign in using the link for an entry. Only one entry per person. The winner will be selected at random and announced here and on my sewVery Facebook page next Wednesday, August 28th!
CONTEST IS OVER
and the winner is
CHELLE (aka KWEENBEE)
and the winner is
CHELLE (aka KWEENBEE)
Once you've signed up for Craftsy and entered the giveaway for the QAYG class, be sure to click the link here for the FREE Mastering Zippers Class!
Thanks again to Craftsy for allowing me to review this great class. I can't wait to make my own QAYG Tinker Tote Bag!
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