FOs: Wholecloth pillows

I was looking through my unblogged projects, and I noticed a few wholecloth pillows from late last year.

Sometimes, a fabric is just too happy to cut up into patchwork. I made this pair of pillows from a yard of glorious Echino, and I loved quilting along the strong geometric lines of the fabric.

On the other side of the print scale, there was this cute pillow I made for Jeni. This penguin print was just so happy, and I knew Jeni would appreciate it!

Funnily enough, I quilted both projects with yellow Aurifil (one of my most used thread colors, for sure!).

I'm as big a fan of patchwork pillow as the next crafter, but sometimes it is nice to let the fabric take the lead.

An FO, hot off the machine

I literally just finished this, about ten minutes ago. After seeing all of the awesome Super totes around, I decided last week that I wanted to make one now. It was already on my list, but you know that feeling of 'gotta have it/need it/gimme'.

So, I started pulling some scraps together and came up with a lovely stack of gray, yellow, black and white. I quilted (in a quilt-as-you-go fashion) the back exterior and the front pocket.

This was my first try at piping, and I have to say, I am a big fan. It is easy to install, and it looks so good. This red was from my grandmother's stash (we help her clean out a few boxes every time we visit).

This was also my first time to use elastic pockets. I'm not sure how much I will use them, but they are lovely to look at!
Also, the recessed zipper is genius!

I am thrilled with the resulting bag, and between this and my Snap Tote (which carry all the time), I'd say I'm set for awhile.

This bag is very labor intensive, but your time is worth it. Go slow, and take breaks. I like to do all of my cutting and then break before sewing a single stitch.

Anna is so very talented, and her patterns are always well-written. And the resulting projects are satisfying!

FOs: Divided Baskets

Thanks for all your kind words on the Postage Stamp quilt!

Have you tried Noodlehead's Divided Basket pattern?

Sometimes, when I purchase a pattern, I don't make it for months.
Then, other times, I make three right out of the gate.
Like this time.

First I made one for me (the back one!). Then, my cousin saw it on Instagram, and said she wished for one. I can't turn her down. She is the sweetest.

Tamiko also commented on how much she loved mine.

Since I think she is seriously awesome, I asked her about her favorite colors in a not-so-subtle way, and made her one of her very own.

Luckily, the pattern is easy to follow and fast to finish. Plus, I got to use some of my favorite home decor prints that have just been sitting around.

I felt strange in making the first one, as the construction is a little unusual. But, then the second two were easy.

These make such great gifts, so I know I will make more in the future.

Sickly

Hello, friends. It seems I've caught some sort of head cold, and I've been taking it easy the past couple of days. I feel worse today, but hopefully, I"ll kick this before too long.

I do have a couple of things to share. The do.Good Stitches Love circle did a little swap, and I drew Blue Crab, Elizabeth as my partner. She was very specific in asking for potholders, which I really appreciated. And she loves Innocent Crush!

I made her two potholders. The left, in log cabin style, and the right, using Elizabeth Hartman's Mod Mosaic technique. They were fun to make, and I made them without binding.
Do you prefer to make/use potholders with or without binding? Just curious.
I like both methods of making and using.

I included some Innocent Crush scraps for Elizabeth as well.

I also just finished this Echino tote bag. I just love the stag prints they printed.

It holds lots of yarn, too!

I have other things to share, including my received Love circle swap items (!!!!), and a semi-fail skirt.

I'm also playing in the scrap bin, a la C.

Oh, one last thing! Amanda shared the cutest pouch tutorial on Sew Mama Sew! Check it out!

No fair!

I hope you all had a fun weekend. I was off of work yesterday for Memorial Day, which was a lovely treat. There was grilling, sorbet-making (dude, make this recipe post-haste!!), socializing, and sewing!

Saturday, my sister Jill came over to sew with me. She's sewn just a tiny bit before, including one previous visit last year where she made a coaster. This time, though, she had her game face on.

She raided my stash, and proceeded to make two lovely Jane Market Bags. Seriously?

I want to steal the jaguar bag. She used some lovelies from the stash, including that coveted Jaguar Echino print. Luckily, I distracted her long enough to keep some for my own version. I fully intend to copy her choices. I'm out of the lining print she used, which was this Dear Stella print. Expect to see another version of this soon. The Heath fabric really goes with everything! The straps are from Ellen Luckett Baker's Quilt Blocks.

Jill is giving this aqua and pink bag to her boyfriend's aunt, when they visit her in Alaska next month!

Fabrics used in the second bag: Echo (outside aqua), Paula Prass Flights of Fancy Pink Cobblestone (pockets), Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow Herringbone (straps), Jay McCarroll Habitat (lining)

Moral of the story?
Stop hoarding fabrics and use them instead, or you might regret it!
Also, I fully admit that the title of this post is childish. I will always be a big sister.

I have some finished quilt blocks and a very-close-to-finished improv quilt to share soon!!

Winner!

The winner of the SMS Giveaway day is Amy! Amy is blogless, but did leave an email address, and she's already responded to claim her new pouch and fabric.

I got a little stressed reading all of your comments. We all have a lot of finishing to do! Thank you all for entering.

I've been hard at work on a secret project for a loved one. I'll be able to share after Christmas!

I can share one crafty thing from the weekend.

I made two quick and easy appetizers for the Houston Modern Quilt Guild holiday party. I made cheese straws and mustard puffs. I think "mustard puffs" is a truly hilarious name for a food. Both of these recipes were very easy to make, and the results were delicious!

Our party was a huge success. And I'm excited to say that I'm the historian for our guild this year! Our group is a lot of fun, and I'm excited to be a part of it!

I'm working on a couple of end of year posts, so between that and some finishes, I have lots to talk about!

A few fun things

Here's one of the fun gifts I've gotten for my birthday this month. I actually got two of the same shirt (we're returning one); Elliott and my sister both had the same idea!

I have a new favorite cookie. These were incredible! They are Brown Sugar Cookies.

While I was working on the giveaway pouch, I made these pouches over the weekend for a good friend.

It's been fun playing with the Echino fabrics I've been hoarding saving!

I'm woefully behind on photographing my stash enhancements, but I did manage a photo of this Dear Stella. I just love those stars!

I've been hard at work on a secret project for a certain family member. I'm almost done, though. I'll be sharing it with you after it's opened on Christmas!

Giveaway: Echino Style

Once again, I'm excited to participate in Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day!

If you're new here, welcome!

I decided to share a little Echino with one lucky commenter.

This weekend, I took a break from my gifty to-do list, and made a little pouch. I love the little strap, and I used that same fabric for the lining.

With the pouch, I'm adding a fat quarter of the Echino London print in aqua.

I'm happy to ship this internationally!

One entry per person. To enter, just leave a comment telling me something you're hoping to accomplish or finish before December 31st.

You can enter until 3 PM CST on Friday, December 16th. I'll draw a winner over the weekend.

Thanks for visiting! I'll be back soon to share my latest pillow. Comments are now closed.

FOs: Jane Market Bags

This Jane Market Bag pattern is so much fun to make.
The proof? I've made four so far, with promises to make at least another three.

This one is for me, and I used Outside Oslo fabric by Jessica Jones for the exterior and pockets. The interior is Alexander Henry's Dasha, and the straps are Denyse Schmidt's Hope Valley.

I also made two similar bags using a Joann's home decor fabric I found on sale last year, as well as some awesome green Echino, and an Anthology balloon print for the lining.

I gave one to my sister and kept one for myself. I couldn't part with the sunglasses (or at least a piece of them).

I just love the green and purple combo!

Choosing the fabric for a project is definitely my favorite part, and I loved coming up with these combinations. The bag comes together very quickly.

I followed the pattern pretty closely, but I did make the straps longer on the last bag.

As written, the straps are not long enough to carry the bag on your shoulder, which I prefer.

Try the pattern for yourself, and you can grocery shop in style!

FO: Plane Solids Pillow

When I got up this morning, I was thinking of all the projects in progress I've got going at the moment, but then, this stack of fabrics popped onto my cutting mat.

Before I knew it, strips of the Echino plane patchwork fabric and the solids from Pink Chalk Fabrics April Solids Club were being cut and sewn together. Then, I had this finished patchy pillow.

This is my April entry for Rachel's Blogger's Pillow Party. I love the solids and how they work so well with the Echino fabric.

I quilted the top with straight lines, and the back is an envelope closure. The fabric was the real inspiration for this pillow, and I'm so pleased with this pillow. I've been hoarding my Echino prints, and I'm happy to see some in a finished object! I especially like the piece of selvage that I worked into each side of the pillow case.

Here's the back. I love the multi-color strip, using one piece of each solid (back is safety pinned right now, as the envelope is just a little open. I might add a ribbon or button).

Weekend FOs

Due to a sewing frenzy, I have two little FOs to share with you.

For my sister's birthday (today!-Happy birthday, my sweet sister!), I made these quilted coasters using some favorite Echino fabric.

I love the multi-colored quilting. Each one is a little different, and I know Jill will appreciate the vibrancy! I quilted them pretty heavily, so I left the edges unfinished. I'm working on a second project for her birthday, but it's not finished yet.

I also made these pants for baby Oliver, who turns ONE this week. He is such a cutie, and I felt this stashed frog fabric would be much loved by him and his parents.

I used the Huck Finn pattern from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing. I made the 18 month size, so that he can wear them for awhile (hopefully!). The pattern was really easy, and I honestly made them in just a few hours. I used 1/2" elastic because it's what I had on hand.

I just love the little waistband. It's so tiny!

I also made progress on some other WIPs, but I'll share those with you later.

Also coming up, a fabric giveaway!

xo, Jacey