In Color Order

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! We're kicking it off in January 2012, I hope you'll join us!

Sparkle quilt along schedule!
January 12 - Week One: Choosing Fabrics
January 19 - Week Two: Cutting
January 26 - Week Three: Assembling the Blocks
February 2 - Week Four: Putting the Top Together
February 9 - Week Five: Finishing Up
February 16 - Week Six: Linky Party

In the mean time, you can head on over to the Sparkle Mini Quilt Along Flickr Group, introduce yourself and grab a button!

<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!

This Week

2011-12-04T19:19:00.003-06:00

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

I was absolutely tickled pink when Mark Cesarik, fabric designer for FreeSpirit, asked if he could send over some of his newest fabric line, Morning Tides. After seeing the photos, it took me about two seconds to say "Yes please"! I am an absolute sucker for purple, and there just is not enough purple fabric out there! When the fabric arrived on Friday, I had to sew something up with the Horizon colorway right away. I just started chopping away without too much of a plan (so unlike me!), making lots of crosses. The result, is this mini quilt! I added in some coordinating Kona solids and Heath by Alexander Henry to mix it up a little. Now I just need to decide how to quilt it! :)

Pincushion Collection, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

After adding a new pincushion to my collection this week, I figured it was time for a new photo! I think I'm missing a few though, they're still packed away somewhere. You can never have too many pincushions!

Flannel Infinity, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I pulled out my Folksy Flannels infinity scarf this week, I forgot how cozy it is! I use Anna Maria Horner's tutorial but use 9" wide pieces instead of 18" wide!

Sneak Peek, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

A little sneak peek of a tutorial I'll be sharing here tomorrow!

Christmas Pyramid, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I found candles for my Christmas Pyramid! I have been wanting one of these for FOREVER, and what do you know, my Mom found one thrifting for $5! We couldn't believe it. I love it. Love, love, love it!

Garland, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Also, how cute is this garland? I picked it up at a gift shop in town that specializes in Scandinavian wares, The Century House. I love decorating for Christmas! :)

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

George!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Twisted Peppermint candle
Sound of: Elf!
Taste of: Pizza
Sight of: Twinkle lights
Feel of: Snuggly sweater

Good Things about Today:
- Productive sewing day!
- This bag & this bag!
- Cozy Sunday at home!
- Hanging out with Michael!

The Art of Choosing: Analogous Color Schemes

2011-12-03T20:32:00.001-06:00

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

Today is all about Analogous color schemes! Analogous color schemes are very similar to the Harmonizing color schemes we talked about last week. They're simply made of 3 or more colors that are right next to each other on the color wheel! There are so many different combinations you could come up with, I'm only going to show you a few! So, let's explore a few Analogous color schemes in fabrics!

Red, Red-orange, Orange

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

Red, Red-orange, Orange

Yellow-orange, Yellow, Yellow-green

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

Yellow-orange, Yellow, Yellow-green

Green, Blue-green, Blue

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

Green, Blue-green, Blue

Blue-purple, Purple, Red-purple

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

Blue-purple, Purple, Red-purple

Red-Purple, Red, Red-orange, Orange, Yellow-orange

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

Red-Purple, Red, Red-orange, Orange, Yellow-orange

Yellow-green, Green, Blue-green, Blue

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

Yellow-green, Green, Blue-green, Blue

Blue-green, Blue, Blue-purple, Purple

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

Blue-green, Blue, Blue-purple, Purple

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

Modified Nine-Patch, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Red (pink), Red-orange, Orange, Yellow-orange, Yellow: Modified Nine-patch mini quilt. Centered around Kate Spain Terrain print in the center!

Again, if you'd like to pull some Analogous fabric stacks of your own, or share your analogous 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! :)

Favorites

2011-12-02T09:07:00.001-06:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. HR wonky stars for cilvee, 2. curves and free piecing, 3. Mermaids, again!, 4. The start of something fun., 5. Fairytale Forest quilt, 6. La belle étoile, 7. stacked solids front, 8. blocks, 9. Quilting

Pretty in Patchwork: Holidays

2011-12-01T18:29:00.005-06:00

Pretty in Patchwork: Holidays, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Guess what?! I have a project in this book ^^! :) I was so excited when one of my projects was chosen to be a part of Pretty in Patchwork: Holidays, put together by none other than John Adams of Quilt Dad! The book will be published in paperback form this Spring/Summer, but is available now as an e-book! Yay! I know I'm biased, but let me tell you, this book is AWESOME! So many projects I want to squeeze in this year!

Fun Fun Holiday Bunting, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Here is my contribution to the book, Fun Fun Holiday Bunting! I sewed it up to read Merry Christmas in fun reds and whites, but patterns for the entire alphabet are included, so you can make any bunting you'd like! I am going to make one to hang in our bedroom that reads "Good Night"!

Fun Fun Holiday Bunting, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

This bunting was finished up and mailed away in April! I am not super patient (or good at keeping secrets!), so I am happy to finally share it with you! :)

Fun Fun Holiday Bunting, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

As you can see, it's super patchworky, which is just my style!

Countdown-to-Christmas Advent Calender, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

As soon as I received my e-book copy, I knew I wanted to make this Countdown-to-Christmas Advent Calender by my friend Kaye Prince of Miss Print! You can see her original here! Isn't it adorable? I've always wanted to make an advent calender, but the thought of all those pockets always put me off. I love that this one simply sections off single strips to create the pockets. Instead of using candy or small gifts for each day, I'm just moving this little ceramic snowflake!

Countdown-to-Christmas Advent Calender, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Thankfully I actually had a set of number stamps on hand. I thrifted them along with alphabet stamps a few years ago but had never used them. They're vintage, and I had no idea they were this cute! Now I want to stamp everything, haha!

Countdown-to-Christmas Advent Calender, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I wish you could see it in the photos, I used sparkly linen from JoAnn Fabrics for the background. In person it looks so festive and pretty! For the tree and borders I used random prints from my stash. Kaye's version has patchwork borders, which I really wanted to do, but simply ran out of time, so I opted for solid borders. I am so happy with my new calender :)

Thanks for including me in this book John, it's an honor! You can purchase the e-book here if you're interested!

*Side note: YOU GUYS ROCK! Seriously, I was so afraid no one would buy my pattern! Thank you, thank you, for your kind words and support!

Happy Sewing!

Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern

2011-11-29T10:30:00.004-06:00

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

It's here! The Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern! Now before you get worried, the original tutorial is still available, and it won't be going anywhere! So, what is the pattern version? Well, I'm glad you asked! :)

I've been very busy these past few weeks working away on new sizes and a formula for making a custom size bag! I wanted to make sure to finish the pattern up in time for the holidays! They'd be great for wrapping gifts, or as the gift itself!

The pattern version has 8 sizes, including the original size. There are detailed instructions and a worksheet for creating your own size as well as the original tutorial in PDF form. Do you want to meet the new bags?

The Tiny Bag

The Tiny Bag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The perfect size for your tiny things, jewelry, embroidery tools, coins, etc. (My personal favorite size!)

The Snack Bag

The Snack Bag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The perfect size for an afternoon snack, a few toys, hexagon kit, etc.

The Everything Bag

The Everything Bag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The perfect size for everything from your camera to your cosmetics. (This is the tutorial size!)

The Project Bag

The Project Bag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The perfect size for your current knitting, crochet, or handsewing project.

The Artist Bag

The Artist Bag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The perfect size for a sketchpad or two, books, and your pencil pouch.

The Laundry Bag

The Laundry Bag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The perfect size for dirty laundry, large toys, a quilt, etc.

The CD Bag

The CD Bag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The perfect size for wrapping CDs and other small gifts.

The DVD Bag

The DVD Bag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The perfect size for wrapping DVDs, books, and other small gifts.

It has made me so happy seeing your bags popping up all over flickr and blogland! I squeal every time I see one! Here is a little sampling of bags from the In Color Order Flickr Group:

Lined Drawstring Bags!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Army Men + Lush, 2. Your presents fit perfectly in this bag made from a tute by @jenib320 partner #ssswap, 3. a scrappy drawstring bag - a la jeni, 4. made using Jeni's fab tutorial, 5. lined drawstring bag, 6. lined drawstring bag, 7. Quilted Drawstring bags, 8. lined drawstring bags, 9. www.flickr.com/photos/53856688@N07/6318763178/in/pool-166..., 10. Camera Bag, 11. I think I'm addicted to making these LOL, 12. Lined Drawstring Bag, 13. Drawstring Pouch, 14. drawstring pouches, 15. Drawstring bag for the little miss, 16. drawstring bag

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

I have decided to use Meylah.com for my pattern shop. They have a super cute interface, and the patterns are available for instant download, which I love! I hope you enjoy my pattern, and if you happen to find any mistakes, please do let me know! I proofread it about a million times it feels like, but sometimes things fall through the cracks!

In addition, with the purchase of this pattern, feel free to sell any bags you make! Just no commercial production please :)

You can find the pattern in my Meylah shop, here!

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

Even George likes these bags! ;) Happy Sewing!

Catch-up!

2011-11-28T20:24:00.004-06:00

Traveling Handmade, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.It's good to be home! We did lots of traveling over the holiday weekend, first to Michigan, then to Ohio, and then back to Wisconsin last night. It was wonderful to see everyone! Hope you all had an enjoyable weekend! :)

As always, I was traveling handmade! Put my duffel bag, and many, many bags to good use!

The Board, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I updated my inspiration board today! It was getting a bit messy. I think I need a bigger one (and more wall space!), I always have leftover goodies to put on it!

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

I put the finishing touches on the Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern today! I'll be back tomorrow to talk more about it! :)

Finished Pendant, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I finished stitching my wooden cross-stitch pendant from The Workroom! Went with my go-to colors and a simple design. I'm not much of a jewelry wearer, so I made it into an ornament! It's currently living on my inspiration board! :)

Black Friday, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I did very little black Friday shopping, but I did shop Julie of The Intrepid Thread's sale! I love her shop and she has some great fabrics right now!

:), a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

On Saturday I was in Ohio, so of course we went thrifting at my old haunts. I think they missed me! The shop is back open and loaded up with new goodies! :)

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George is happy to be home!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Twisted Peppermint candle
Sound of: The Office
Taste of: Fresca
Sight of: George sleeping!
Feel of: Warm apartment

Good Things about Today:
- Stayed in all day!
- Happy mail!
- Productive day!
- Michael came home early!

The Art of Choosing: Harmonizing Color Schemes

2011-11-23T12:23:00.003-06:00

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

Today is all about Harmonizing color schemes! Harmonizing color schemes are super simple but can still have a big impact. They're made of two colors that are right next to each other on the color wheel! So, let's explore the 12 harmonizing color schemes in fabrics!

Red, Red-orange

Red, Red-orange, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Red + Red-orange!

Red-orange, Orange

Red-orange, Orange, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Red-orange + Orange!

Orange, Yellow-orange

Orange, Yellow-orange, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Orange + Yellow-orange!

Yellow-orange, Yellow

Yellow-orange, Yellow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Yellow-orange + Yellow!

Yellow, Yellow-green

Yellow, Yellow-green, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Yellow + Yellow-green!

Yellow-green, Green

Yellow-green, Green, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Yellow-green + Green!

Green, Blue-green

Green, Blue-green, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Green + Blue-green!

Blue-green, Blue

Blue-green, Blue, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Blue-green + Blue!

Blue, Blue-purple

Blue, Blue-purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Blue + Blue-purple!

Blue-purple, Purple

Blue-purple, Purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Blue-purple + Purple!

Purple, Red-purple

Purple, Red-purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Purple + Red-purple!

Red-purple, Red

Red-purple, Red, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Red-purple + Red!

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

Notebook Cover, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Green + Blue-green: I used this great tutorial to make a simple composition notebook cover! If you look through your stash, you'll find that a lot of fabric designs use harmonizing color schemes, which makes your job easier!

Again, if you'd like to pull some harmonizing fabric stacks of your own, or share your harmonizing 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! :)

The Art of Choosing: Split-Complementary Color Schemes

2011-11-22T14:18:00.011-06:00

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

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

Split-Complementary Color Schemes

The Art of Choosing: Split-Complementary Color Schemes, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Today is all about Split-Complementary color schemes! Split-Complementary color schemes are very similar to the Complementary colors schemes that we talked about last time. They're made by taking a single color on the color wheel, looking directly across to it's compliment but using the colors on either side of the compliment. I think (hope!), that will make more sense in the photos below! So, let's explore the 12 split-complementary color schemes in fabrics!

Red, Yellow-green, Blue-green

Red, Yellow-green, Blue-green, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Red, Yellow-green, Green-blue, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Red's complement is Green, the two colors on either side of Green are Yellow-green and Blue-green.

Red-orange, Green, Blue

Red-orange, Green, Blue, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Red-orange's complement is Blue-green, the two colors on either side of Blue-green are Green and Blue.

Orange, Blue-green, Blue-purple

Orange, Blue-green, Blue-purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Orange's complement is Blue, the two colors on either side of Blue are Blue-green and Blue-purple.

Yellow-orange, Blue, Purple

Yellow-orange, Blue, Purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Yellow-Orange's complement is Blue-orange, the two colors on either side of Blue-purple are Blue and Purple.

Yellow, Blue-purple, Red-purple

Yellow, Blue-purple, Red-purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Yellow's complement is Purple, the two colors on either side of Purple are Blue-purple and Red-purple.

Yellow-green, Purple, Red

Yellow-green, Purple, Red, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Yellow-green, Red, Red-purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Yellow-green's complement is Red-purple, the two colors on either side of Red-purple are Purple and Red.

Green, Red-purple, Red-orange

Green, Red-purple, Red-orange, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Green, Red-orange, Red-purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Green's complement is Red, the two colors on either side of Red are Red-purple and Red-orange.

Blue-green, Red, Orange

Blue-green, Red, Orange, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Blue-green's complement is Red-orange, the two colors on either side of Red-orange are Red and Orange.

Blue, Red-orange, Yellow-orange

Blue, Red-orange, Yellow-orange, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Blue's complement is Orange, the two colors on either side of Orange are Red-orange and Yellow-orange.

Blue-purple, Orange, Yellow

Blue-purple, Orange, Yellow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Blue-purple's complement is Yellow-orange, the two colors on either side of Yellow-orange are Orange and Yellow.

Purple, Yellow-orange, Yellow-green

Purple, Yellow-orange, Yellow-green, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Purple's complement is Yellow, the two colors on either side of Yellow are Yellow-orange and Yellow-green.

Red-purple, Yellow, Green

Red-purple, Yellow, Green, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Red-purple's complement is Yellow-green, the two colors on either side of Yellow-green are Yellow and Green.

Now I'd like to share a project I made using a split-complementary color scheme:

Dresden, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Blue, Red-orange, Yellow-orange: A simple Dresden plate mini quilt!

Again, if you'd like to pull some split-complementary fabric stacks of your own, or share your split-complementary color projects, feel free to post in the flickr group! Tomorrow we'll be talking about Harmonizing color schemes! :)

Happy Sewing!

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

This Weekend

2011-11-21T18:02:00.003-06:00

Sewing Circle Pillow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Before we dive into today's post, I want to announce the winner of the Little Bits Quilt Bee book! Ms. Random.org choose #203, who is...

Julie! Congrats! You should have an email waiting from me! :) Thank you all for your kind words and comments on my pillow! It was a lot of fun to make, and I look forward to making other projects from the book!

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

I sewed up a storm this weekend making drawstring bags! I have about 20 hours of car ride ahead of me this week as we travel first to Michigan then to Ohio and finally back to Wisconsin, so I'm hoping to get the pattern finished for next week! Don't they look pretty all stacked together? :)

Color, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Since the book review fell on Thursday last week and this Thursday is a holiday, get ready for TWO Art of Choosing posts this week, tomorrow and Wednesday!

WIP, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Working on a few potholders for the Madison Modern Quilt Guild! Nothing like waiting until the last minute, our meeting is tomorrow!

Cutting, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Thank you, thank you, to everyone who took advantage of my shop sale! I appreciate your support! As I'll be away from my inventory over the holiday weekend, the shop will be closed starting tomorrow and will reopen on Monday!

YUM, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Did you know that you could get Cadbury chocolates (mini eggs!!), this time of year?!

Working from Home a video by jenib320 on Flickr.

It's been a while since I shared a George video! This morning George was just working so hard on his basket, he really wanted to pull it into his box. Too funny! Such a goof rabbit! :)

Today I love the..
Smell of: New orange dishsoap
Sound of: 30 Rock
Taste of: Mint Truffle Hersey Kisses
Sight of: Clean sewing room
Feel of: Wearing PJs all day

Good Things about Today:
- Good light today!
- Amanda and Anna are having sales!
- About to make pie dough!
- Productive day!

BIG Sale!

2011-11-19T11:31:00.007-06:00

Big Sale!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Big, big sale in the shop this weekend! Everything is on sale! :)

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

Just a little sampling of current inventory! The shop has never been fuller with 150+ items! All fat quarters are only $2 (bulk discount makes them only $1.75!), pillowcases only $3.

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

Vintage Sheet Fat Quarter Grab Bags are on MAJOR sale, $8.75 for 5 FQs, $15 for 10 FQs!

Vintage Sheet Stripes, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Striped sheet fat quarters are all listed individually now, so you don't have to buy a whole bundle to stock up on these pretties! :)

Scrap Packs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

All scrap packs are on sale! They now come in 4 different sizes!

Charm Packs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Charm packs!

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

Wreath kits too!

Sale will run from Saturday through Monday afternoon! All orders will be shipped on Tuesday, November 23rd. After the Holiday, shipping will change back to Monday-Wednesday-Friday! Also, I am now accepting money orders for U.S. orders in addition to paypal!

I always combine shipping and refund shipping overages of $1 or more. All discounts/refunds will be processed once your order is packed and shipped!

Thanks for your support! :)

Favorites

2011-11-18T16:07:00.001-06:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Book Review + Giveaway: Little Bits Quilting Bee

2011-11-17T07:10:00.006-06:00

Little Bits, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I am very happy to bring you my stop on the Little Bits Quilting Bee blog tour! Little Bits Quilting Bee: 20 Quilts Using Charm Squares, Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes, and Fat Quarters is the latest by author and craft blogging wonder woman, Kathreen Ricketson, who runs one of my favorite blogs, Whip Up! If you aren't familiar with Kathreen's work, I encourage you to check out her blog as well as her other craft books including Whip Up Mini Quilts!

Little Bits Quilting Bee is all about using fabric precuts to create quilts. As a rule of thumb, I am generally not a big fan of using precuts, I usually end up feeling limited or that I can't create something unique looking. But! The quilts in this book? You'd be hard pressed to guess from the photos that they were made from precuts, love that! There are TWENTY quilt patterns in this book, organized by fabric cut. In addition there is a rather extensive section on community quilting (quilting bees!), supplies, basic quilt making, and caring for your quilts. I usually skip the first part of quilting books, now that I know how to put a basic quilt together, but I enjoyed Kathreen's thoughts on the basics as well as community quilting!

Sewing Circle Pillow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

After receiving this book, I knew I wanted to make something from it right away. The use of color and photographs in the book inspired me to try something I wouldn't normally tackle. Curves. If you remember my Single Girl Quilt, you'll know curves and I don't get along. But, I was willing to give them another try. I settled on a block from the Sewing Circle Quilt.

Sewing Circle Pillow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

So, here is what I made! I turned my one block into a little fall pillow! Let me tell you, compared to my last attempt at curves, this went 1000 times better. No gathers, no puckers, I only lost a a few points on the edges to the binding. And let me tell you, every seam in this block has curves! And I did it! :)

Sewing Circle Pillow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I started with this pink Circles and Stems print from Park Slope by Erin McMorris, one of my favorite lines and then choose the coordinating Kona solid, which I believe is Papaya. Calmed down the brightness with some Quilter's Linen.

Sewing Circle Pillow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I ended up hand quilting it (another thing I never do!), using 3 strands of DMC embroidery floss. I have been stuck on the couch this week feeling under the weather, so this was the perfect project to keep m3 company. I thought about filling the entire side pieces with quilting, but decided on leaving some blank space to give the eyes a place to rest amongst all the color!

Sewing Circle Pillow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Finished the pillow off with a scrappy envelope backing and another Park Slope print for the binding.

Sewing Circle Pillow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I am so proud of this pillow! The directions were really easy to follow and the templates were great. The little notched corners made it super simple to match up the edges, even for a curves dummy like me!

Hope you enjoyed this little review! Chronicle Books is kindly allowing me to give a copy of this book away to one lucky reader! ~~Please leave one comment on this post, telling me what project you're working on right now!Open to U.S. entries only I'm afraid! Also, don't forget to include your email if it's not in your profile!~~

~~I'll draw a random winner on Sunday at 9pm CST! :)~~

Giveaway is now closed, thank you!

Don't forget to check out the rest of the tour!
Thursday, November 17 – In Color Order (here!) & Duo Fiberworks
Friday, November 18 – Kristin La Flamme & Camp Follower Bags & Quilts

Monday, November 21 – Quilt Dad
Tuesday, November 22 – Pat Sloan & Pleasant Home

Cheers!

Lately

2011-11-15T15:52:00.003-06:00

Slow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I've been working on a fun little project that is full of things that I don't usually do. Templates, lots of curves, and hand quilting. I'm enjoying the slowness of the handwork. Hopefully this project will be ready to share later this week!

Little Apples Quilt Top, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

This past weekend I finished up my Little Apples quilt top! I used the Sparkling Cider pattern by All Washed Up Quilts and simply added an extra row to make it wider. I'm really happy with how it's turning out so far. Now to piece the backing!

Mittens, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I pulled out my mittens from last year and realized they had a hole in them. I am constantly on the hunt for a good pair of mittens but have not had a lot of luck the last few years. I finally decided this year to make some myself. Since I'm not a proficient knitter, I sewed some using a thrifted wool sweater and this tutorial! Thankfully, they turned out great!

Thrifting, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Friday morning I did a big thrifting run, and had awesome sheet luck! 34 sheets and 12 pillowcases mostly from 2 stores! They're all in the shop!

Pickle, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I FINALLY remembered to buy a pickle ornament for my Christmas tree this year! I always remember way too late in the season and everyone is out of them. To top it off it was only $3 and is covered in glitter! Thank you Target! :)

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Evergreen candle
Sound of: The Office
Taste of: Candy Cane Hersey Kisses
Sight of: George
Feel of: Comfy clothes

Good Things about Today:
- No line at the post office
- Christmas candy
- Pretty light today
- Hanging out with George bunny

Favorites

2011-11-12T13:27:00.002-06:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Quilt Top for J, 2. Oregon born, NC bound, 3. Finished Kaleidoscope Quilt, 4. Post Sewing Summit Swap, 5. http://beaspokequilts.blogspot.com/2011/11/progress-mail-recipe.html, 6. Cathedral window pillow, 7. PSSS 2, 8. Received!, 9. [Kinder Quilt] Finished

Vintage Sheet Wonky Star Mini Quilt

2011-11-11T09:09:00.005-06:00

Vintage Sheet Wonky Star Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Today I want to talk about a fun mini quilt that I made back in June 2010! I'll tell you why I'm bringing this quilt up at the end of this post! :)

This was one of the first few mini quilts that I made. It was made as part of a swap for Amanda of Msmcporkchopquilts, the mini quilt queen! Boy was I nervous! Here I was, having just started quilting, trying to create a swap quilt for an accomplished quilter! Luckily, Amanda is a sucker for anything with stars on it, so that became the plan right away.

Secret, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

At this time, I had just discovered vintage sheets. I had participated in the Vintage Sheet Patchwork Swap and receive 80 fat quarters! I was so excited to play with them and they just seemed perfect for a summer mini quilt. They're so bright and cheerful, who wouldn't love that? :)

Secret, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Looking back on this quilt, design wise, it's a lot more risky compared to what I do now. The crazy background, the bordered stars and random strips of additional patchwork. I think the sheet patterns themselves bring it all together, but I sure was experimenting! Maybe it's time I revisit some of that!

Vintage Sheet Wonky Star Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

When it came to quilting this, I remember being a bit stumped. I had recently free motion quilted my second bed sized quilt, so was in no mood for more of that. In the end I went with straight line quilting, even though I didn't have a walking foot! I can't believe the quilting didn't end up with more puckers or pulling. I got luck on that one!

Vintage Sheet Wonky Star Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I backed this mini in another vintage sheet fat quarter. I was determined from the beginning to make the entire mini with vintage sheets, and I'm glad I did. I wasn't quite ready to mix quilting cotton and vintage sheets just yet. Actually, I still don't do that much!

Almost Finished, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I just so happened to have the perfect sheet for binding. The stripe pulled together all the colors going on in the quilt, I'm so glad I got that fat quarter!

Finished & Folded, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I was really happy with the way this mini quilt turned out, which made it hard to give away! But, the recipient loved it and that made it all worth it! This is really the mini that started my love for mini quilts and also, my love for vintage sheets! A month after making this little quilt, I started up my etsy shop, Ironsea to help me grow my vintage sheet collection without breaking the bank (and filling up my apartment with sheets!).

So why am I talking about a mini quilt from a year and a half ago? Two reasons: First, Holly of Bijou Lovely started up a flickr group called Modern Mini Quilts! Look at the cute button she made! Okay, now go add your mini quilts! :)

Second, Amy of AmyLouWho is having a Mini Quilt party and linkup today! Hope you'll check it out, it's going to be fun and there are even prizes!

I'll be back later today or tomorrow morning with this week's Favorites! Cheers! :)

The Art of Choosing: Complementary Colors

2011-11-10T15:42:00.003-06:00

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

The Art of Choosing: Complementary Colors, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Before we get started on this week's topic, let's announce the winner of the Kona Color Card! Ms. Random.org choose #76, who is..

Congrats Jessica! I'll be sending you an email very soon to get your mailing information! Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway!

The Color Wheel

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

I want to spend the next few weeks talking about different color schemes that can be pulled directly from the color wheel! These are a great place to start when you're trying to find a color palette for your next project.

Complementary Colors

The Art of Choosing: Complementary Colors, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

This week is all about Complementary colors! Complementary colors are pairs of colors that are directly opposite one another on the color wheel. These colors just naturally look good together! So, let's explore the six pairs of complementary colors in fabrics!

Red + Green

The Art of Choosing: Red + Green, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Ruby by Bonnie and Camille, Little Apples by Aneela Hoey, Katie Jump Rope by Denyse Schmidt, Nest by Tula Pink.

Red-orange + Blue-green

The Art of Choosing: Red-orange + Blue-green, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Outfoxed by Lizzy House, Metro Living by Robert Kaufman, Oval Elements by Pat Bravo, Wee Woodland by Keiki.

Orange + Blue

The Art of Choosing: Orange + Blue, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Mingle by Monaluna, Punctuation by American Jane, Good Folks by Anna Maria Horner, Park Slope by Erin McMorris.

Yellow-orange + Blue-purple

The Art of Choosing: Yellow-orange + Blue-purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Dazzle by Melissa Averinos, Oval Elements by Pat Bravo, Terrain by Kate Spain, Full Moon Forest by Tula Pink.

Yellow + Purple

The Art of Choosing: Yellow + Purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Metro Cafe by Monaluna, Farmer's Market by Sandi Henderson, 1001 Peeps by Lizzy House, 1001 Peeps by Lizzy House.

Red-purple + Yellow-green

The Art of Choosing: Red-purple + Yellow-green, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Modern Meadow by Joel Dewberry, Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt, Park Slope by Erin McMorris, Oh My! by Sanae.

Not a lot of written explanation in this post, but I hope that the visuals helped make it clear to understand! Now, I'd like to share with you two projects I've made using complementary colors:

do. Good Stitches - June, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Red-purple + Yellow-green: do. Good Stitches Bee block. Also created a small zippered pouch with scraps from these fabrics!

do. Good Stitches - Front, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Orange + Blue: do. Good Stitches Checkerboard Quilt.

Again, if you'd like to pull some complementary fabric stacks of your own, or share your complementary color projects, feel free to post in the flickr group! Next week we'll be talking about Analogous color schemes! :)

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

2011-11-09T19:47:00.003-06:00

Little Apples, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Making progress on my Little Apples quilt.

Sewing Room, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Spent most of yesterday cleaning up the sewing room, which means photos!

Sewing Room, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Warm sheets.

Sewing Room, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Cool sheets.

Sewing Room, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Twinkle lights.

Sewing Room, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Scraps and books.

Sewing Room, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Hello Kitty.

Destash, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Cleaned out the stash today and listed a bunch of fabrics in my destash shop! Use code JENIDESTASH for 10% off! :)

Not even a basket anymore!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George has been hard at work chewing up his basket! It's not even a basket anymore!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Cold winter air
Sound of: Fred Clause movie!
Taste of: Sonic
Sight of: Clean sewing room
Feel of: Flannel straight from the dryer

Good Things about Today:
- The sewing room is still clean!
- Crappy weather = cozy day in!
- Christmas movies
- Sonic for dinner! :)

This Weekend

2011-11-06T15:50:00.002-06:00

Little Apples, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Spent this afternoon cutting up my stack of Little Apples! I finally decided on the Sparkling Cider pattern by All Washed Up Quilts! :)

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

Also working on a bear claw quilt using vintage bear claw quilt blocks that my grandmother made! Finished up the top yesterday, now to piece a backing!

Mini in the Kitchen, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I finished up this little sparkle mini quilt this week. It fits perfectly in our kitchen :)

Cowl Progress, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Slow and steady progress on my cowl!

Light Box, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Made a light box yesterday based on this tutorial! The lighting in our apartment is bad now, but it will only get worse now that winter is getting closer!

Thrifting, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Hit the vintage sheet jackpot on Friday! Can you believe these were all from one thrift store? :)

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Twisted peppermint candle
Sound of: George working
Taste of: Lunch from Dumpling Haus
Sight of: Twinkle lights
Feel of: Warm socks

Good Things about Today:
- Got an entire quit cut out!
- Snatched batting on sale today!
- DUMPLINGS!
- Watching TV with Michael :)

Favorites

2011-11-04T09:34:00.002-05:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Lisa-front, 2. Christmas Star Mug Rug, 3. Pillow Talk Swap 6, 4. pillow talk 6, 5. Full views :: Mini cupcake quilt , 6. Blanc aérien, 7. Off Cenetered Sherbet Squares Front, 8. Pretty little pouch 3, 9. Seams Perfect - October Blocks

The Art of Choosing: Color Basics + Giveaway!

2011-11-03T13:14:00.004-05:00

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

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

This half of The Art of Choosing is going to be a little more focused on color, different color schemes, and inspiration. So, before we dive right in, I'd like to spend today to talk about absolute color basics. For some of you, this is going to be review, but I think it's important all the same! Now, I realize that some of what we'll be talking about doesn't exactly apply to fabric in the same way it does to other mediums (like paint), but I think colors basics are a good thing to be aware of no matter what you're doing! I'm no expert, and I honestly didn't even taken Color Theory in school, but I feel pretty comfortable around the color wheel. I hope you enjoy today's post! Let's get started!

The Color Wheel

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

The basic color wheel is made up of twelve colors; three Primary colors, three Secondary colors, and six Tertiary colors. So, let's talk a little more about each color group!

Primary Colors

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

The Primary colors are Red, Blue, and Yellow. Primary colors are called primary for a reason. These colors are mixed together in different amounts to create all the other colors in the color wheel. An important thing to notice about the primary colors as well as the other color groups, is that each of the three colors are equidistant from each other on the color wheel. All this means is that they are equally spaced apart. There are three other colors between each of the three primary colors.

Secondary Colors

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

The Secondary colors are Orange, Purple and Green. Secondary colors are made by mixing together two primary colors. Orange = Red + Yellow, Green = Blue + Yellow and Purple = Blue + Red. You'll noticed on the color wheel, that the secondary colors are in the middle between two primary colors. In addition, they are also equidistant from each other on the color wheel, there are three other colors between each of them.

Tertiary Colors

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

The Tertiary colors are Red-Orange, Red-Purple, Blue-Purple, Blue-Green, Yellow-Green, and Yellow-Orange. Like their names suggest, tertiary colors are made by mixing a primary color and a secondary color. So, they are sandwiched between a primary color and a secondary color on the color wheel. They are also equidistant from each other, with one other color between each tertiary color.

Those three color groups make up the color wheel! Now, I know that color in general and the color wheel can be a little intimidated, so to make it a little easier, I combed the Kona solid colors and put together a "Kona Color Wheel" using twelve Kona colors! Hopefully this will give a bit of a reference point when you're thinking about the color wheel.

The Kona Color Wheel

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

Red, Tangerine, Orange, Papaya, Corn Yellow, Chartreuse, Clover, Jade Green, Pacific, Purple, Mulberry, Cerise.

Rainbow of Geese, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I want to expand a little more on this mini quilt that I made and showed here in September. I used the twelve Kona cotton solid colors that I mentioned above to create a Flying Geese color wheel! It finished at about 18" and I used this Circle of Geese tutorial (scaled up the pattern a bit!). It's a paper pieced block, which I was a little nervous about, but it came together really easily. I wanted to be able to showcase the colors in a color wheel type format, but in a slightly different way I like that you still get a color wheel sense, but it's flying geese instead!

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

So now, it's time for a little homework! I challenge you to play around in your stashes, and see if you can pull your own color wheel. Try to find a fabric that matches (pretty close!), each of the twelve colors on the color wheel. Don't worry, you don't HAVE to do this, but if you'd like to play along, I hope you'll post a photo to the flickr group! :)

Above is my color wheel! I had a lot of fun looking through my stash for all these pretty fabrics! I'm not going to lie, I struggled with purple a little! I have a lot of true purple and red-purple but virtually no blue-purple! Shall have to add that color to my shopping list! For more information on these fabrics, click the photo to be taken over to flickr!

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

Before we're done, a little giveaway is in order to get this series jump started. I have an extra Robert Kaufman Kona Color Card to give away to one lucky reader! These are an invaluable tool when choosing solids for your projects.

To enter, please leave one comment letting me know what your favorite color is! I'll let Ms. Random.org draw a number next Wednesday at 9pm CT. Make sure your email is visible or that you include it in your comment! I'll announce the winner in next week's post on color schemes!

Giveaway is now closed, winner will be posted tomorrow (11-10-11)!

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

Fall Pillow

2011-11-02T12:15:00.003-05:00

Fall Pillow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I may have put up my Christmas tree yesterday, but it is still Fall, so I made up this little pillow using some lovely fall colors! I had a 16" pillow form on hand, and had sketched up this pillow pattern using half-square triangles (HSTs) who knows how long ago. It was on a piece of scratch paper in my sewing room. Seemed like a good enough excuse to make a new pillow to me! :)

Fall Pillow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I started with the 2nd fabric in this stack, the yellow plaid, a print from Happy Campers by American Jane. I then pulled the brown and orange from it. The top fabric, a plaid from Katie Jump Rope by Denyse Schmidt was a last minute addition.

Fall Pillow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The piecing took a little while since all the HSTs needed trimmed and such, but it still came together pretty quickly. I wanted to echo the plaid prints in my quilting, so I did a few simple diagonal lines in a fun orange thread.

Fall Pillow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I opted for an envelope closure in the back using Kona Wheat. To give it a bit more weight, I cut the backing pieces twice as long so I can simply fold it in half and top-stitch. This way the entire pillow is lined, and it's double thickness on the back.

Fall Pillow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I choose this sweet stripe from Wee Woodland by Keiki for the binding that I picked up last week! It was the perfect match for this pillow! As much as I dislike binding, I do like binding on a pillowcase. It just looks so nice. And it's an opportunity to add another fabric, which I'm always up for!

Fall Pillow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I had a lot of fun making this pillow. I don't use brown very often, I'd like to continue to incorporate it into my projects.

As I was playing around with this pillow, I got to thinking about all the possibilities that HSTs have. I'm thinking about doing a block of the month tutorial series in the coming year, a different HST block each month. What do you think? Anyone interested? :)

Happy Fall!

Striped Stocking Tutorial

2011-11-01T08:26:00.003-05:00

Today I am guest posting over at Purple Panda Quilts as a part of the Stockings for Kids Drive! Lyanna is trying to collect 50 handmade stockings by December 1st, to provide to foster children. I hope you'll check out the fun stocking tutorials from last month and this coming month!

Striped Stocking Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

For my stocking tutorial, I show how to make a simple striped stocking, with a little fun quilting! I rarely ever purchased holiday fabrics, so I just used different shades of green from my stash. You can see my tutorial here! :)

This Weekend

2011-10-31T18:48:00.003-05:00

Outfoxed Mini, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

It was a very full weekend! My Mom and Aunt visited and we shopped and ate all weekend long! It was a lot of fun! :)

I squeezed in a little time to sew up this mini quilt featuring Lizzy House fabrics from 1001 Peeps and Outfoxed. It's pretty small at 10" square. I knew that little foxed needed his own project and I can't say no to another mini! Sometimes it's nice to just have a quick project that you don't need to think much about!

Mini Hoppel, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Snatched up a super cute mini Hoppel made by the talented Isa, which arrived last week! He is SO cute! And so tiny :)

Voile, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I may have gone overboard. Enough voile to make a LOT more scarves! ;) Glad you all have enjoyed the tutorial from last week!

Ham & cheese mini muffins! Yummy!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Made a batch of mini ham and cheese muffins for dinner tonight. I use this recipe as a base but use cubed ham steak, mozzarella and cheddar cheese instead!

Thrifting, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Good few weeks of thrifting! Updated the shop with lots of new prints! :)

MINE, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Finally, finally found a turquoise vintage fan! At an antique mall, but still! It's mine now. And, it works!

Happy Halloween!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Happy Halloween! From George & I!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Dinner
Sound of: My Name is Earl
Taste of: Fresca
Sight of: Fall leaves
Feel of: Comfy PJs

Good Things about Today:
- Productive day!
- Ham & cheese muffins!
- It's Halloween!!
- Creamy Pumpkin candle

Favorites

2011-10-28T10:03:00.002-05:00

Favorites, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. PIllow Talk Pillow Received, 2. Noodlehead bag, 3. Pillow Talk Swap - Ready to Send, 4. Pillow Talk Sneak Peek, 5. LA #16 : 30 pieces :: synchro swimmers 2, 6. I Spy/Taggie Blanket - The Front, 7. Anniversary Pillow 2, 8. Rainbow Squared, 9. Mrs Roy G Biv top finished!

This Week

2011-10-27T19:02:00.002-05:00

Bee Blocks, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

It's been a busy week! But, thankfully I was able to get caught up on my bee blocks. It always feels good to be caught up! Jen asked for drunk love blocks for the Twice Around the Block Bee. I also finished up my block for the Beebolt charity quilt from The Sewing Summit! :)

Stocking, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Have you guys heard about Stockings for Kids? It's a charity drive being run by Lyanna of Purple Panda Quilts. This is a little sneak peek of the tutorial I'm sharing there on Tuesday! :)

Fabric Candy, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I've been baaad. Fabric candy has been arriving. Snatched up some Prince Charming from my friend Amy's new online shop, The Fabricologist, Outfoxed from Sew Fresh Fabrics, and a stack of stripes and other lovelies from my LQS. Oooops! :)

Pyrex, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I got lucky with vintage Pyrex this week! Found these three bowls all in dismal condition, but felt the need to save them. They all cleaned up pretty well. I already have a turquoise set, but it's my favorite so, why not? Hehe.

Vintage Fabric, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Thrifted this vintage fabric today for $1!

Simple Cowl, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Working on my simple cowl! I'm on Ravelry now, trying to help keep myself motivated!

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

George :)

Today I love the..
Smell of: Fresh night air
Sound of: Harry Potter 6 audiobook
Taste of: Chicken Tortilla soup
Sight of: George
Feel of: Flannel quilt

Good Things about Today:
- Apartment is clean!
- Happy mail!
- Tortilla soup leftovers!
- Watching George run around!

Quick Scarf Tutorial

2011-10-26T11:06:00.006-05:00

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

As promised, today I have a quick and easy scarf tutorial for you! Using voile and flannel, this scarf is SUPER snuggly! Perfect for the coming winter and would make a great gift! I hope you enjoy this little tutorial! I took a video which is at the end, of how I like to tie mine!

For my scarf I used the print Four Square in lilac from Anna Maria Horner's Little Folks collection paired with some cream flannel from JoAnns. Kathy at Pink Chalk Fabics has a great selection of Little Folks, Pastry Line, Loulouthi and Wrenly voile on sale right now, here!

I like to use my walking foot whenever I'm using fabrics that are no regular quilting cotton. The voile can be a little slippery, but it plays really nicely with the flannel!

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Materials
- 1/2 yd Voile fabric
- 3/4 yd Flannel fabric
- 1/2 yd Pom pom trim
- Coordinating thread

Seam Allowance: 1/4" unless noted
Finished size: approx. 8.5"x104"

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

1. Iron your flannel and voile. Cut three 9" strips from your flannel.

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

2. Fold your voile in half, matching the folded edge to the selvedge. Cut two 9" strips.

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

3. Trim the selvedges off both the flannel and voile.

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

4. Sew all three flannels pieces to each other to create one long strip. Do the same with the two voile pieces. Press your seams open.

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

5. Cut two 9" pieces of pom pom trim. On one end of the flannel strip, pin in place on the right side, along the edge, with the poms pointing in. It's helpful to cut off the first and last poms so that they don't get caught in the side seams.

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

6. Baste trim in place using an 1/8" seam allowance.

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

7. Pin the voile, right sides down, only on the edge with the trim.

8. Begin pinning along both sides, all the way to the opposite edge, stopping about 6" from the end of the voile.

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

9. Trim away the flannel where the voile ends.

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

10. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to baste and pin the pom pom trim on the other end.

11. Finishing pinning up the sides, leaving a 5" opening for turning at the end.

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

12. Using your zipper foot, sew along the edge with the trim. Backstitch and start and end. Repeat at the other end.

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

13. Using a walking foot, stitch up both sides, making sure to leave the opening for turning. Backstitch at the start and finish.

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

14. Clip your corners.

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

15. Turn your scarf right sides out, pushing out the corners. Press. Be sure to pin your opening closed.

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

16. Finally, using your walking foot, topstitch around the entire scarf.

Quick Scarf Tutorial, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Voila! You're done! :)

Quick Scarf Tutorial a video by jenib320 on Flickr.

Okay, don't laugh! Here is a dorky video of me tying up my scarf!

Enjoy!

Kona Challenge Quilt

2011-10-24T16:53:00.003-05:00

Kona Challenge Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

As a part of the Madison Modern Quilt Guild, I was able to participate in the Kona Challenge. We were each given a charm pack (I think this one is the classic palette), and told to only use solids to create something. Naturally I wanted to make a quilt but that charm pack sat around for a while before I decided on a pattern. Lucky for me, I received another charm pack in the same palette in my Sewing Summit swag bag. I originally planned on using both packs to make tons of half-square triangles and go from there.

Well, once I was through one charm pack, I did not want to make any more half-square triangles! So, I decided on some variation of the traditional Bear Claw quilt for my project since it uses 4 HSTs and a large square. I used this method to create my HSTs! I played around with a lot of layouts but liked this one the best! It rounds out at about 33"x47" :)

Kona Challenge Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I was really tempted to pick up some yardage of a single color for the backing, but decided instead to just use what I had on hand. So, I just pieced a bit of rainbow together!

Kona Challenge Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I first quilted it on the diagonal, but didn't feel like it was enough once I was finished. So, I went back and quilted on either side of the major seams. I like the effect, it's especially noticeable on the back!

Kona Challenge Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I machine bound the quilt in Kona stone, despite my strong urge to add a print! I behaved! :)

Kona Challenge Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

This was a fun quilt to put together and a good exercise for me, since I rarely use a lot of solids. I'm not sure if I'll do anything with all solids again soon, picking out the prints is my favorite part of the process! However, I'm happy with the result and happy that I played along! Plus, Michael likes it well enough for me to hang it in our hallway, so, YAY!

Happy Quilting!

The Weekend

2011-10-23T13:32:00.004-05:00

241 Tote, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Why oh why did it take me so long to finally make Anna's 241 Tote? Well, the actual reason is because I kept changing my mind on what fabrics to use! Every time I thought I was ready to start, a new fabric combination tempted me away! Yesterday though, I got a brainwave staring at this stack of rainbow Lizzy House goodness. Of course, patchwork!

Between my stash and the scraps I received last week, I used prints from all five of Lizzy's current fabric lines: Lizzy Dish, Red Letter Day, Castle Peeps, 1001 Peeps, and Outfoxed! They play very nicely together!

241 Tote, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

To calm the patchwork a bit I used Quilter's Linen for the sides, Kona stone for the interior, and Pearl Bracelet in brown for the side pockets. There is a little 1001 Peeps as the inner pocket too! Still not convinced? Check out all the other beautiful bags in the Noodlehead Flickr Group! :)

I am SO happy with the way this bag turned out! It really is a great pattern and I can see myself making more for sure. There are just so many fabric possibilities, which of course is my favorite part, hehe! It came together really quite quickly, I started and finished it yesterday!

Finished, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Finished up my Kona Challenge quilt today! It's in the wash. Shall share tomorrow!

Scheming, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Planning a few more scarves! Will write a little tutorial up next time I make one. Hopefully next week sometime!

CUTE!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

These could very well be the cutest scissors ever. They're so tiny! Little Gems, purchased from The Workroom's online shop! Now I feel the need to collect tons of embroidery scissors! Need to start embroidering again to rationalize it! :)

George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Another George + diet coke photo, hehe!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Fresh laundry
Sound of: George running about!
Taste of: Shortbread cookies
Sight of: George's Pummelvision
Feel of: Comfy clothes

Good Things about Today:
- Finished up a quilt
- The sun is out!
- Productive day so far!
- Chocolate!