Momo + Kyoko = Love

Haley has been asking me to make her the Kyoko shirt for a long time now.  Like maybe a year.  So sometime last week I finally got around to making it for her!

Let me tell you – these ModKid patterns are amazing! They are full color books with great instructions and pictures to illustrate the steps. I really really enjoyed sewing it. (So much so that the next night I made the Isabel dress. Pictures coming on that one too.)  Some of Patty’s newest patterns have already sold out! Yay! More are coming – I promise!

The fabric I used is from Moda’s designer, Momo. She is Japanese and the fabric, if you ask me, couldn’t be more perfect. It’s the Odyssea line – the main print is Calypso (in Kelp) with the accent of Nautica. I made the obi using Art Gallery’s Nature Elements. These blenders are wonderful! I find myself using them over and over!  Binding is Luxe from Charisma (which is on sale!)

Anyway – we love it.  I love it.  Haley loves it too.  (And yes, she is wearing jeans – by her own choice! )  A mom at Haley’s school ask where she could buy one.  That always makes me smile.    

Speaking of sales – this week  20% off of ALL Michael Miller fabrics.  Even the sale fabrics!!!!  Use the code MMF09 when you checkout. (good through Nov 1, 2009)  I actually think it was Michael Miller that got me excited again about sewing.  They have SO many great prints.  The Ta Dots – the kids prints – the fun floral –  and their desingers.  We all love their designers! 

Alright, I’ve got some end of bolts that need listing….

 

 

 

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Haley wanted to wear pants

This is something you should probably mark on your calendars.  

Haley
- my daughter -
the dress wearing queen 
wanted to wear pants.

 

I have wanted to make her these cute pants for a while now.
I was afraid my efforts would sit in the drawer.
Untouched.
Unloved.
Unworn.
( I’ll make up words as I see fit)
My husband said, “Just make her some.  She’ll wear them.”

 

He was right.  
She loved them!
She wanted to wear them!

 

Pattern: Sophie by ModKid 
View C with View A Pockets
Fabric: Carnival Bloom Corduroy

The pattern was easy and fun to make.  I LOVE the detail of the twin needle on the pockets and leg slits.  I’ll have to get a close-up picture of that.  The only change I am thinking about for next time is adding a light weight interfacing on the front waist band.  She won’t wear jeans just yet – so I’m going to make another pair  but this time in lightweight cotton.  I have to say though, that the corduroy fabric (by Michael Miller) is da bomb diggity.

That’s right I just said bomb diggity.

And with that, I’ll say goodnight.

 

Art Gallery Rocks

Did you know that you can gather with a serger too?  Yep!  It’s a handy dandy trick, especially since I don’t have a gathering foot for my sewing machine. You’ll need to up your differential feed and lengthen your stitch. (Test out on scrap fabric to get your settings just right! I’m sure it varies by machine and how tightly you’re trying to gather the fabric, but I think my differential feed was at 2.0 and my stitch was at 4.0) Perfect gathers and no pulling a stupid thread to try and get it even.

Sadly, my serger broke again in the middle of construction. (I assure you, it had nothing to do with gathering fabric.) The most devastating part of all of this was that I had to do a real hem on this skirt to finish it up.  (I LOVE rolled hems!)  So anyway, it’s back in the hospital getting it’s motor replaced- and I’m seriously considering a new serger. And this time I will not be going with Husqvarna Viking. This is the second time that the motor has given up….the last time was about 6 months ago. That track record makes me a little nervous. I feel a little sad because all my machines are Vikings. But they have failed me with this machine so it’s time to look elsewhere. I am looking at Bernina and Baby Lock right now. If you have a serger that you love (and the motor hasn’t gone out twice on you) then please let me know!

Back to the Art Gallery skirt! I made Haley a skirt with the Spellbound and Nature Elements fabrics and we’re both in love with it!  (By the way, the tonal solid prints in Nature Elements are great!  And you guys obviously love them too b/c they are selling well!)  She requested an ankle length skirt. I knew I wanted to use multiple fabrics and have it go together quickly. So the tiered peasant skirt seemed like a natural fit!

I didn’t have a pattern, I just used her waist measurement as the starting point.  Each tier is 1.5 times longer than the one above.  Next time I’m going to up that to 2 or maybe even 2.5 to give her a little more twirling power.  My girl loves to twirl!  I also cut out a few of the floral motifs to applique onto a shirt. She has worn it for 3 days straight – so I’m pretty sure it’s a hit.     

Patricia Bravo, the designer (and owner) of Art Gallery Fabrics, is from Argentina.  I realize this may not be important to you – but for me that makes her extra special since I studied in La Plata during college.  Anyway, she is really incredibly sweet and I can’t wait to see what she has worked up for Quilt Market this year!  

Be back tomorrow with the last You Made It winner(s).  I have not even started writing that post – so it’s not too late to add pictures to the Flickr group.  I think you ALL should win because everything you have made is SO great.  It breaks my heart that I can’t feature every single picture!

Andalucia

You read my blog.  I’m going to guess that the likelihood that you know of Patty Young is pretty high….but just incase…..

In relation to this business of mine, Patty is a fabric designer and pattern writer extraordinaire.  Michael Miller Fabrics prints her lovely designs.  And her company, ModKid, handles her patterns.    Her first line was Andalucia.  

This summer she released Mezzanine.

And now on her blog she has revealed her third collection.  Flora and Fauna.

So I need to make room for her newest collection….which means that ALL of Andalucia is now on sale.  (I  need to go get Haley something made with the Mod Bloom corduroy.  It’s too cute and perfect for fall.  Maybe I’ll do that tonight……)

In fact, the whole Sale Section has been updated.  What is left of Sandi Henderson‘s Ginger Blossom is also marked WAY WAY down.  And as a super extra added bonus – this week all the Sales items get bonus points!  More cash back for your future purchases!!!!  (Read up on the Reward Points here.)  Only 2 weeks until Quilt Market!!!!

Go Ahead, Try It

Have you tried free-motion quilting yet?  Is fear holding you back?  Go ahead and try it!  You really can’t mess it up!  As I was moving the fabric to and fro, that is what occurred to me with this last quilt.  It is not prim and proper !  It’s all over the place.  Running here and there.  Twisting, turning, changing it’s direction.  And that is pretty much exactly me.  A perfect fit!

Ah -but let’s say that you are a person who doesn’t like mess or chaos.  You want things just so.  Precise and perfect.  Yep, I know a handful of you too.  Well, I still believe you should try this technique as an exercise in character.    

 It’s not perfect. I know that. There are imperfections.  But I am not entering it into any huge quilting contests. It’s for my little boy. Who loves it a lot. And his Mama made it for him – which makes it even more special to him.  And besides, aren’t the imperfections one of the things that make handmade so much more meaningful than manufactured?

 

*******************************

You’ll see this quilt again in Taylor’s room when I finish it. 
(It’s soooo close!  I have to find time this week to get it done!)
A quilt should be worth more than one blog anyway.    
And just to re-empahsize, dear husband, free-motion quilting is NOT cheating.

Fabric: Amy Schimler’s Animal Party and Forest Fun
Pattern: FREE download from Robert Kaufman

 

By the way, I also know some of you that are stuck at making your first quilt top.  Pick out a simple design for your first quilt. (Pre-cuts really simplify things.)  Then send it off to to be quilted.  My point is try to overcome the hurdle that is blocking your way.  Figure out a way to jump over it and take off running.  Even if that hurdle has nothing to do with sewing.    

And now I must go hang shelves!  Until next time…..

Weekend Plans

What are your plans this weekend?

I will be sewing backpacks and pillows.
Haley needs them for kindergarten.
The pillow is going to be made out of Lila Tueller’s newest line

Santornini

She always has such fun designs!
I keep thinking I’ll decorate Haley’s room with one of Lila’s lines.

But first is Taylor’s room.
His Animal Party Quilt is finished.

I love it.
I wanted to show you pictures of it IN his completed room
That is why I haven’t shared it yet.

I decided I should also sew something for myself again.
Maybe this weekend, maybe not.
I’m thinking of a skirt from one of the new Spellbound prints.

Spellbound

I especially love the Chalky Silhouettes print.
It would make a lovely skirt.
And a bag.
I probably need a new bag.
I’m getting bored with my current selection.

 

So what are your plans this weekend?

Lunch Time

My baby starts school next week.  He’ll be going to preschool 2 days a week.  And he couldn’t be more excited!  (Isn’t he a doll?  I made those shorts he’s wearing too and never even blogged about it.  Man!  I’m a bad blogger!     )

Of course, now he needs a lunch bag of his own! I bought this pattern from Cascade Lemonade on Etsy. Super cute – don’t ya think?

My little boy is messy (as most 3 year old are, I’m sure) so I wanted to make the outside and inside wipeable. I used an iron-on laminate to accomplish this on the outside fabric. The bag has then has a layer of insul-bright to help keep food the right temperature and nylon ripstop as the lining inside.

Of course I HAD to use the newest fabric from Amy Schimler. Animal Party is super fun. When Taylor saw it he asked if I would make him a blanket for his bunk bed. (He doesn’t have a bunk bed…but a friend of ours has the most awesome bunk bed ever. In fact, I’ll have to get pics to show you guys!) And then he added “And a shirt and some shorts too.”

This won’t be the last thing you see from this fabric for sure! I just LOVE it! The rich boy colors, the fun animals – it makes me so happy.  So happy, in fact, that I think I need to go cut some more of it up for my next project. Okay – hope you have a great weekend!

Fairy Wing Park

I just about died when I saw this fabric from Alexander Henry!  The fairies on rollerskates, the little birdies in tree tops, and cute starflowers.  Haley loved the fairies too…..I knew she would.

And I’ve had this pattern sitting on my to-do list for way too long. I thought it would be perfect to show the fairies (which are about 6 inches in size). I made the longer version to make it a dress. I’m thinking it is a tiny bit too long…but that also means she won’t outgrow it tomorrow.

I had planned to use one of the starflower calico prints – but Haley decided to help me while I was preparing the fabric. She ended up picking an Anna Maria Horner polka dot and I think it looks great!!! During this process she informed me that she doesn’t like brown, but she likes fashion brown. (Which apparently means tan with pink polka dots?!?!?)

Turned out pretty cute. Now to go weed out some of her older clothes to make room for all the fun new clothes.

It’s Beginning

to look a lot like Christmas

Who am I kidding?
it looks and feels nothing like Christmas
here in one-hundred-and-way-too-hot Arizona

But here is an inconvenient truth

CHRISTMAS IS ONLY 137 DAYS AWAY

Okay okay, so that seems like a long time and not all that inconvenient
but if you are planning to make your Christmas gifts this year
(which I highly recommend!)
right now is the perfect time to get started!
Before you totally freak out and go to the store and buy gifts.
Think of the relief when the holiday season rolls around
And you’ve made your list
and checked it twice!
And in that spirit, I have put all my holiday fabric on sale!
For the rest of August
Seriously…huge sale!

And if nothing else, my children’s Christmas PJ’s are done!

Whew!

Sense the relief?
You could feel that way too!

 

(PJ pants were adapted from an Oliver & S pattern
Fabric is from the line It’s Snowing by Moda
Embroidery Designs are from Bunnycup Embroidery)

Good Ol’ Hooded Towels

My mother cursed me.  She is the queen of all practical gifts….and I fear she has passed this trait onto me.  So when I have to get a gift for a little one, I just cannot buy something that I know is impractical.  The most practical of all gifts for little ones is a hooded towel.  They are the best!  

And I know they are the best because I get requests all the time to make them. Friends I have gifted hooded towels come back to me asking to make more. Previous customers email to see if I would make another one. Family members request them too.  They last for years, they actually cover the baby up, the absorb way better than the typical baby towel…and well I’m not trying to sell you one, so I shouldn’t go on and on….but I’d say if you don’t have a GOOD hooded towel for your children, find one!  So today, I am making hooded towels galore       Here are a few with the every popular 2D Zoo (now back in stock).    

PS.  My friend has a pattern for sale if you would like to make one yourself.  And her pattern comes with a cute bag too!  You know I love bags     Visit her store here.