Quilt Market favorites, part one

I just can't believe I was able to attend Quilt Market this year. It was such a wonderful experience, and I have a few things to share with you. I thought I'd share some of my favorite memories with you.

I met an Indie twin! Yes, there I am in my Painted Portrait Blouse, with a lovely gal wearing the same fabric. Only at quilt market is this a non-embarrassing event!
ETA: A commenter helped me identify this as Lauren, of Sew Modern! Sorry I didn't remember your name! (More FO shots of that blouse are soon to come!)

Sarah Watson

Holy geez, guys. Sarah Watson is one of Art Gallery's newest designers, and she.is.awesomesauce. She's funny, completely adorable, and a genius! I am in love with both her new line, Luxe in Bloom, and her upcoming one. She won best new exhibitor as well, which is no surprise. I loved seeing her sketches!

I also loved her scrappy quilt, using every little bit of her Luxe in Bloom scraps.

Melody Miller

Melody is so genuine and inspiring!

Her booth was perfection, and I loved the details she created. I have something else Melody-related to share with you soon!

As you can see, her booth was so comfortable. We ended up sitting and enjoying the view on our last day.

Carolyn Friedlander

Okay, I feel like this post is definitely one of enabling, but seriously, Architextures. Seriously. It's an amazing line of fabric, Carolyn's debut, and her patterns are so freaking good.

I expect we will see more from Carolyn in the years to come!

I met Jacquie Gering! She was so sweet, and it was cool to see her amazing bridges quilt in person!

Here's Patty Sloniger's booth, for her new line, Les Amis. Ack! The woodland cuteness is too much.

I also bought some colorful vintage ribbon, met tons of amazing people, and felt like a tourist in my own town.

Since this is a pretty long post, I'll save the remaining photos/memories for a second one.

I hope you enjoyed these little tidbits!

HCB: Hexagon Tree Skirt Tutorial

Here I am, with the second installment of the Holiday Craft Bash! Hopefully, you've checked out the tree skirts that Jessica, Debbie and Meredith created!

I have to give some credit to my pal Amanda on this tutorial. She helped me talk through the steps, and also encouraged me to continue when I wanted to throw this project in a corner! Thanks for that, Amanda!

Today, I'm going to show you how to make a hexagon-shaped tree skirt, made from 60 degree triangles.

All seams are 1/4" unless otherwise noted.

List of Materials:

-60 degree triangle template (you can purchase here, or draw your own!)
-Twenty-four (24) 8 1/2" strips of various prints/solids
-1 yard of fabric (for the back)
-1/2 yard ribbon

Directions:

1) Cut twenty-four triangles from your strips. I cut mine using the largest size, which is marked as 9", but when placed on a strip of fabric, fits within the 8 1/2" height.
If this doesn't make sense, please let me know!

2)Lay out your 24 triangles in a hexagon shape.

You'll have four rows. The outer rows will have five triangles, and the inner rows will have 7.

3) Sew your triangles together into strips. It is helpful to square your edges (the template will help you do this, if you have one!), and just keep your 1/4" seam. Press your seams.

4) You should now have four strips.

Fold your shorter rows onto your longer rows, and sew together to form two halves. Press your seams.

5) Finally, fold your two halves together and pin. Sew to the center point (i.e.: the center of your hexagon). Press.

6) Fold back in half, and lay your solid fabric (or the fabric for the back) in half underneath. Your back fabric should cover the half hexagon.

Cut the half hexagon from your solid fabric (while on the fold). This should give you a whole hexagon to match our top shape.

7) Now, pin around the perimeter, with right sides together.

Cut a slit in the back fabric to match the slit on top. You will also need to pin along both sides of this slit.

8) Using a jar (or some other household object), trace a circle in the center of your hexagon. This should be large enough to fit the diameter of a tree!.

Cut the circle from both layers, and pin around the edge.

9) Cut your ribbon in half and insert each half into one side of the open edge. The ribbon should be in between the two layers, with just a small portion showing.

10)Now, we're ready to sew! Sew around the entire perimeter with a 3/8" seam allowance , including around the circle, leaving a small 5-6 inch area on one of the unconnected ends.
Be sure to sew over both pieces of ribbon!

11) Before turning inside out, clip around the center circle.

12) Turn right side out through your gap and push corners.

13) Press and top stitch, closing the 5-6" gap.

That's it! Check it out!!

And I hope you'll make a stocking or tree skirt from one of our tutorials! If you do, make sure you add it to our flickr group.

The prize this week is from my sponsor, Stash! She's offering up a bundle of Moda Bella solids that coordinate with Simply Color, and a charm pack!

ETA: At the widest point, this tree skirt is approx. 36" wide. Each hexagon side is 18".

Tuesday

Whirlwind week is in progress! Amanda left Sunday, and later that day, my sister and I left to visit our grandparents. We just got back, and I have a quick break before the next craziness begins!

I wanted to share a couple of fun things from Amanda's visit. We had the BEST time! We managed to get some sewing done, did a little shopping, and ate. And laughed. And ate. And played Mario Kart. Our main project was the Painted Portrait Blouse. I am really glad we worked on these together. There were times when one of us would get frustrated or confused. It was good to have each other for company and confirmation. We both managed to get our tops done. I'll be sharing mine soon! I managed to ask my sweet sister for a few FO shots in the country.

In the meantime, here's my finished yoke and a funny face.

I'll be back soon with a new Wiksten tank, my Painted Portrait Blouse, and a tree skirt tutorial (on Thursday) for the Holiday Craft bash!

HCB: Scrappy Stocking Tutorial

Hello, hello! I am the caboose of the Holiday Craft Bash!

I hope you've checked out the other stocking projects this week, at Olivia Jane Handcrafted, A Little Gray and Esch House Quilts.

Today, I'm going to share a scrappy stocking tutorial.

All seams are 1/2" unless otherwise noted!

List of materials:

-1/2 yard fabric for lining
-1/2 yard fusible interfacing (I recommend SF101 or SF911)
-scraps
-one fat quarter of coordinating fabric

Directions:

LINING

1) Trace an existing stocking onto paper for your template. If you need a template, please email me at parandroid7 at gmail dot com, and I can send you mine. My template is approximately 11" x 18".

2)With lining fabric folded in half, trace and cut your template (you will have two mirrored pieces).

3) Sew lining pieces right sides together.

4) Clip the curves of the stocking, no more than 1" between cuts. Be careful not to cut your seam!

EXTERIOR

5) Sew scraps together to form patchwork of approximately 11" x 18".
Don't be afraid to trim as you go, and give it some wonkiness!

6) Apply fusible interfacing to wrong side of your patchwork. Cut template from patchwork.

7) Apply interfacing to wrong side of fat quarter of fabric. Cut template from fat quarter, making sure that it is the mirror image of your patchwork piece.

8)Sew exterior pieces, with right sides together. Again, clip your curves!

CUFF

9)Cut a scrap or solid piece of fabric 15" x 10.5". Fold in half (lengthwise) with wrong sides together.

10)Fold in half (widthwise), and sew together.

HANGER

11) Cut 4" x 10" piece of fabric. Fold in half (lengthwise) with wrong sides together.

12)Sew and turn right side out. Press with seam at center of back.

ONE-STEP ASSEMBLY

13) Insert lining into exterior stocking, with wrong sides together (right side of lining should be visible inside).
Insert hanger on inside of lining, folded in half (widthwise), being sure to place it on the back of the stocking, opposite of the toe area (imagine how it will hang).
The hanger should align (raw edges) with top of stocking.
Finally, place cuff inside lining, making sure strap is between lining and cuff.
**And very important (from my lessons learned!), the cuff seam should be visible on the inside, so that it will be hidden when you finish!).

14)Pin and sew around the top of the stocking.

Flip cuff and hanger out and press.

And you're done! Enjoy your new stocking!

If you make a project using one of our Holiday Craft Bash tutorials, please add it to the flickr group! You could win a weekly prize if you do!

Yay!

The rest of October is going to fly by! This week, a super fun friend is coming to visit! We've got plans to make metal clasp pouches, painted portrait blouses, and other fun things. There will also be a visit to the Lego store!

I'm washing this today for my Painted Portrait Blouse. It's Art Gallery, Indie!

I'm also finishing the flower star I showed you yesterday. My pieces are sewn together, so now it's all about ripping that paper!

Enabler alert: Brenda is having a huge sale to celebrate moving to a new space. As in, her house will be just a house, and not a fabric warehouse! You can get EVERYTHING in her shop for 25% off, with the code MOVING.

My to-do list is long, so I'm going to get back to it!

Obsessed much?

I'm currently obsessed with paper piecing.

I finished my penguin popsicle this weekend. I'll be jumping right into the next Super Penguin block!

I made these spinning stars as part of my Wonky Bee start (I'll share more about that soon!).

I'm also working on this Flower Star, from Issue 8 of Fat Quarterly.

Yes, paper piecing is on the brain!

Also on the brain? Stamping and ribbon. After I made those owl pouches, I was inspired to make others!

Oh, be sure to check out Jessica's Bumble stocking today! There will be weekly prizes for participation in the Holiday Craft Bash. Just add anything you make to the flickr group!

Okay, back to paper piecing I go!

This week

I have something exciting to share with you! I'm part of a new little event that starts next week. It's the Holiday Craft Bash!

I've joined Meredith of Olivia Jane Handcrafted, Jessica of A Little Gray and Debbie of Esch House Quilts for this project.
Starting next week, we will each be sharing one tutorial a week for crafty holiday fun!

Also, I've been handsewing this morning. For do.Good Stitches this month, we are making hexagons using English paper-piecing.

I managed to finish my first of two hexagons. I LOVE these fabrics together! I used Lace in Mud from the Moda line Urban Cowgirl and Birch in Pink from Habitat.

I hope to start basting my second set of diamonds this week.

Goal #2 for the week is to finish another character on my current cross-stitch project.

Since I took this photo, I managed to finish the third little guy, so just two left! Nicke gifted me this pattern, but you can find it here.

I've also been hard at work in a major scrap organization. Since I previously just tossed all my scraps into one large bin, it was difficult to find particular scraps. I'm sorting them into similar shapes now. Long strips, shorter strips, charm squares, etc. And I have a plan for the shorter strips that I plan to start this week! I'll share more about that soon.

And look! Knitting! I cast on for the Orchid Thief Shawl, by Ysolda last week. Ysolda is hosting a KAL on ravelry to knit this shawl by November 15th.
I was well on my way, but if you notice, the center yarn overs (small open circles) are trailing to the left. I made a mistake several rows ago, and well, I just know it will bug me. So, I'm planning to frog and restart today.

Hopefully, I'll be able to keep that line straight the second time around! I do love the color, and am enjoying the yarn.

Geez, I'm wordy today. That's all I got. Have a great Monday, friends!

Miscellany

I can't tell you how happy I was to wake up this morning to cooler weather. I drove with my window down, and I'm fighting the urge to have the back door open at the house. I won't do it, since my kitties are 100% indoor. But I do think I'll have the windows open tonight!

So, I've got a handful of crafty things to show you today.

I managed to finish this sushi cross-stitch recently. I've actually started a second piece, this time Halloween-related. I'll be sure to share a picture of that one soon! The sushi pattern is from Frosted Pumpkin, of course!

I've also been on a major paper-piecing kick these days. You may remember the watermelon popsicle trivet I made for my mom this summer? Well, I've been piecing more popsicles this week. These are part of the Superbuzzy Super Penguin Quilt-Along, with patterns created by Ayumi.

I'm working on my third popsicle (the penguin!), and I do intend to purchase Ayumi's other blocks for this quilt-along. It's a fun challenge, and a chance to use some special tiny pieces from the stash.

I also finished up this scrappy log cabin pillow, which I've listed in the shop. I love working with scraps, and I made this pillow top with the "quilt as you go" method.
I haven't figured out if the shop will be something I maintain, but it's been a great experiment, at the very least!

Finally, I wanted to share these owly pouches I made.

Using some Essex linen, a stamp, and some owl ribbon from the stash, I made these fun little pouches in no-time flat. I've already set them aside for two special peeps, but I was thinking of making some more. I have a couple of other stampy ideas to try as well. I was inspired by my friend Amanda's recent screenprinting endeavor!

I hope you are enjoying a lazy Sunday today! I'm going to get back to organizing my scraps now; no easy feat!