Precut Fabric Junkie

The path to becoming a precut junkie is an easy road to take.  I resisted at first – but now I’m on the path and I am here to stay.  Honestly, it took me a while to warm up to the little sweets -but now I love them so!  Let’s do a quick lesson for those of you, who like me, are new to the precut world.  These pictures are from Lila Tueller’s newest collection, Soiree.  The precuts are here and the yardage should arrive next month!

The Jelly Roll:

This sweet little bundle contains 40 2 1/2 inch strips from the collection. That’s about 3 yards of fabric – and you didn’t have to cut one single strip!!!!  Just imagine what a time saver that is for you!!!!  It’s huge. 

And for those of you, who like me, are not avid quilters – there are other uses!   I plan to make Haley a strip work skirt with this little beauty!  Can you just imagine what a cute little spring outfit this is going to be?  I can’t wait.  (And if I can get my work done today, sewing this skirt is precisely how I plan to spend my evening!  And just FYI, it’ll make several skirts – you’ll just need yardage for the waist band and bottom ruffle if you choose!)

The Charm Pack:

Perfectly cut 5 inch squares!

PERFECTLY CUT! Now listen, I’m not so bad with my rotary cutter.  And I can get a few perfect 5 inch squares here and there- but to get the ENTIRE collection of fabric in perfect 5 inch squares….well that’s another story! Moda has made it so easy!

I love the charms.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!  I’ve made Haley skirts and jumpers – I’ve made patchfolio covers, quilt tops, and pincushions  I just love them!

The Layer Cakes:

Here we have 40 precut 10 inch squares.  What, oh what can you do?  A LOT!  Obviously you can leave them as 10 inch squares.  You can also cut them into 4ths for 5inch squares (aka 4 charm packs!), cut them diagonally once or twice,  cut strips, and the list goes on!

I can see these getting more use in my future, for sure!  In my opinion, if you don’t know exactly what you want to make, this is the perfect precut, because the possibilities of cuts from these squares are so great!  You can make it into charm packs, jelly roll strips, turnover triangles, etc. etc. etc.

At fall market, Moda introduced 2 new precuts as well.  I had a chance to talk with Mary Jacobson from Me and My sister Designs about these new precuts.  They are the Honey Bun and the Turnover.  I’m not sure why I didn’t order any while I was there.  That must have been before my precut understanding!    So anyway, I don’t have them in stock, but watch for these to arrive as well!

The Honey Bun: precut 1 1/2 inch strips. (a smaller version of jelly roll love)

The Turnover: precut 6 inch triangles

There are a tons of quilt patterns that take advantage of precuts – and when using precuts, you have little or no cutting!  A huge huge time saver!!!  But remember, precuts are not just for quilting.    Also, I should mention that I am working (it seems like non stop) on making improvements to my website!  I added a new section just for precuts!!!  It’s not the biggest section yet, but I can guarantee that it’ll be growin’.

PS The cupcakes we made at my sewing group were from Sandi Henderson’s cupcake pattern.  They have sold out on my site, but will be restocked soon!

Creating Cupcakes with Fabric

Last night was the night!  We got together to sew (and laugh and eat). It was a blast!!!! A few of us even managed to finish the pin cushion before heading home.    Thank you to all who came – and those that couldn’t make it – hopefully you can come next time!

PS Does anyone have pictures of a finished cupcake? ha ha!

Starling is back!

This fabric sold out so quickly last time that I never had a chance to sew something with it!   I reordered it and it has just now shown up at my doorstep again! So what should I make this time? Maybe kitchen accessories (like Rachelle)? An apron? Another dress for Haley? 

Love is in the Air

Thank you so much for all your kindness.   I’m so excited to see who wins!!!  I have started a spreadsheet to keep track of all the entries.  Whew!  Who knew I was creating so much work for myself?!?!?  I’m also TRYING to respond to each comment – but that is a ton of work too and it might take me the full 2 weeks to get it done!

So yesterday I was having one of those computer days.  You know the ones?  Where you want to do something seemingly simple – and it just won’t work?!?!?  I was at a point where I had 2 options.

A.) Throw the computer through the window.

B.) Go sew.

I knew A might make me feel temporarily victorious over the computer – but even in my frustrated state, I realized it wasn’t the best long term solution!  So sewing won again – plus I wanted to make Haley a Valentine’s dress with some cute Andalucia fabrics.  Oh, how I love that fabric!  Of course, as soon as I showed it to Haley, I knew there was no chance it would make it until Valentine’s Day.    She wore it today.  I took a couple pictures while we were at the park playing.

I’m hoping she’ll let me make her a belt with the Andalucia ribbon – but she is an opinionated little girl.  She already has a matching headband, but try as I might, she refused to wear it today.  Now, if I can come up with a way to make her think it’s her idea…..

One Fabulous Year

Today marks the one year date for my business!!!!  (Or I really should say one year ago today, I had my first sale.    )  It has been quite the year.  I could go on and on about how much I have learned.  How things are so different than I had thought they would be, the ups, the down, etc. etc.  But really I think most would find that a bit on the boring side.  So then, we’ll skip the boring and go straight to the exciting!!!! A bit of  free always excites people – right?

4 gifts – 4 chances to win!!!!

(I had a hard time deciding!)

$50 Gift Certificate to buy wonderful glorious fabrics, patterns and kits in my shop!!!

Fat Quarters of the Earth colorway of Andalucia (my fall favorite) by Patty Young!!!

Adorable Scrumptious Sandi Henderson pattern – Ruffle Pants!!!

Whimsical Fun Woodland Bloom charm pack and pattern from Lila Tueller!!!

Now, is this fun?  or is this fun?!?!?!

How do you enter?

1. Leave a comment on this post to say hello or congratulations or how much you love me.  Ya know, in general, flattery is good!

There are 4 gifts – so I’ll give you 4 chances to increase your odds!

1. Blog about this contest and receive 5 extra entries. (Be sure to let me know!)

2. Add some pictures to my flickr group for 3 extra entries! (not per picture, pictures already there do not count)

3. All purchases between today and Jan 31, 2009 to receive 5 extra entries.

4. Place my button on your blog or website and receive 5 extra entries.

I can help with the html

The drawing will be on February 1st, 2009.  That gives you 2 full weeks to get out there and have some fun and Above All (win some) Fabric!!!!

Thanks for a wonderful first year!

Caramel + Chocolate = Yummy

First things first – the cake WAS super yummy and I WILL share the recipe. (Sorry there is no photo of the finished product….the lighting was bad and everyone was anxious to start eating.)

Caramel Filled Chocolate Cake

Cake:
1 box Chocolate Cake Mix (I used Devil’s Food)
1 pkg chocolate Pudding (4 servings, instant)
4 eggs
8 oz Sour Cream
1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
1/4 cup water

Filling:
1 Bag (14 or 16 ounces) caramels (you know – the soft chewy kind…)
1/2 cup Evaporate Milk

1.  Preheat oven to 350°.  Spray a 9×13 inch cake pan with Pam.

2.  Mix all cake ingredients in a large mixing bowl.  Spread half of mixture into the cake pan and bake for 15 minutes (or until it is set up a bit – so the caramel doesn’t just sink to the bottom!)

3.  Meanwhile in a saucepan, heat caramels and milk on low heat, stirring often, until smooth and melted. (This can take a while – so you may want to start this before you mix the cake together!)

4.  Pour caramel filling over the top of the bottom layer.  (Leave a little border of cake around the whole edge so the caramel doesn’t touch the cake pan and stick!)  Spread the remaining cake batter over the filling.  (This is a bit difficult because the batter is so thick.  So I put globs in various places and try to smooth it together with a knife…)

5.  Bake 35 to 40 minutes longer.  Cool completely before cutting.

Super-d-duper delicious!  If you try it, please share your thoughts with me!!!

Secondly? Well, I guess I’ll save secondly for another post.

Sometimes you need cake…

to fortify you.

This is going to be one of those weeks.  Or maybe it’ll help me recover from last week.

Whatever!  I felt like making a cake 

Yummy Chocolate

Carmel goodness inside

I’ll share with you if you’d like!

PS.  I got the quilt top finished.  Pictures are over on my flickr.  More info coming…

PPS.  The one year anniversary of my business is coming up and so is some fun!

Quilt Progress

(or lack there of)

Thanks for the encouragement. I’m really very excited about this new process.

So I will share with you what I have learned or what I already know. First – someone asked if you needed a special foot. Yes – you need an open toe stippling foot. It will look something like that picture there to the left.  Since it is open, it helps to see your stitching and it is also spring loaded so as you sew it puts pressure on the fabric, but it is not constantly pressed down.  (if that makes any sense – you are a genius!)

Second – what is the difference between stippling and free-motion (or freehand)?  Well – very little as far as I can tell.  One impression I get is that stippling never crosses itself – so no loop-d-loops!  And it seems to be very close together (as in the picture).  Free-motion can cross itself (but does not have to) and is more spaced.  By all means – I am not a quilter.  This is just what I have gathered and it may or may not be accurate.   

Third – like most techniques, it takes practice.  Gosh darn it!  (right?)  Some people may have a machine with a stitch regulator.  This helps make your stitches even regardless of how fast or slow you are going.  I don’t have one (and gosh darn it again – my sewing shop is having like the best deal ever and if circumstances were different, I’d pull that money out of savings and go buy it – but I digress) so I have to use my foot to control the speed and make sure also to move the fabric evenly so that my stitches are the same length.  And you have to remember to breath.  (I guess a lot of beginners stop breathing they are so focused on the movement of the stitches.)  Whew!  you can see why it takes practice!!!  Also – you move the fabric forward and backward and side to side but you NEVER rotate the fabric or you’ll end up in a big mess.

My plan – this weekend I will finish (and by that, I really mean start and finish) piecing the quilt top.  This picture is just me messing around a bit with the fabric combos – so the finished product will look quite different.   I also figure I should practice (gosh darn it!) the whole free motion quilting technique a bit more before actually quilting this – so I plan on making some pot holders when my insul-bright arrives.

Come party with us!

For those of you in and around Tucson, Arizona
(or ya know, if you want to fly or drive here – that’s cool too!)

Who:  You!

What: Sewing party

When: January 22, 2009  6 pm

Where:  Melanie’s House

Why:  For fun, of course!

You may recall, when I did the craft show in November I had the pleasure of meeting Gigi.  Gigi runs the shop Pinks & Needles.  Sandi Henderson used Gigi’s adorable handmade pin toppers in the photograph of her cupcake pattern.  So anyway, we got to talking and thought it would be fun to get together and sew up our own super cute, super fun cupcake pin cushions – and we’d like to invite YOU to join us for an evening of sewing, chatting, eating, laughing…FUN!!!!

The technical stuff:

We need you to RSVP by Jan 16th, please!

We will be making the Cupcake Pincushion pattern by Sandi Henderson.  (You can make something else if you’d like, I suppose!)  This is not a free pattern -so if you don’t own it already, let me know and I will order you one.  The patterns are $11.95.  You may bring your own fabric or I have a bunch of scrap fabric that you may also use.  (Of course, I have ton of fabric on the bolt too if you feel like buying something specific.)  I already have the filling – so you don’t need to worry about bringing that.  I only have one sewing machine – so if you want to bring your machine, that would be great!

Once you RSVP, I will contact you with directions to my house.  It’s going to be a fun night!  Hope to see you there 

I’m going to make a quilt

There.  I said it.  Now I must follow through!  I bought the pattern from my friend who runs Quiltville on Etsy.  I’m not worried about piecing it – it’s the quilting that I’m afraid of – you see I am going to freehand quilt it.  EEEK!!!!! (Just a quick note here for those who might care – I will be using my machine – but rather than stitch in the ditch or following a specific marked out pattern, I will lower my feed dogs and move the fabric around freely to quilt it.  I will try to figure out a design before hand so it won’t look all crazy.)  I am stopping by my favorite sewing machine shop to get a little freehand quilting lesson.

This is what the quilt looks like –

And this is the fabric that I am going to use -

Yep – it’s going to be a Christmas quilt!  It requires one layer cake and one charm pack for the quilt top.  Which of the three fabrics do you like for the backing?  And the binding?  After I’m finished, it  will go into our Christmas box for us to enjoy once a year.  I want to say that I’ll make quilts for my relatives too because that just sounds really fun and it would give me a HUGE head start on next year’s gift giving…..but that is being rather ambitious.  Let’s just get me through this first one.  Okay?