Tag Archives: Riley Blake

Craft Fair

Hi! 😀

So I’ve decided to sign up for a craft fair in July that is a bit smaller than the Tomato Arts Festival, just to kind of test the waters.  This group does a show every month, so I’m going to check out the one next month so I can make sure I have a good idea of what I’m getting into.  I drew up a little list of what all I’m going to be making to feel like I have enough stock:

  • Headbands – 40 total, 10 of 4 different colors
  • Al’s Pals – 20 total, 10 bunnies and 10 puppies
  • Wallets – 20 total, current stock, (7) plus 6 each red Miss Kate, 6 blue Miss Kate, and maybe one other one
  • Bags (current stock, 2 not reserved) maybe 2 more small bags?
  • Scarves (current stock 8, 2 of 4 styles)
  • Diaper straps (current stock, 14)
  • Baby quilt (depends on if finished)
  • ?????

What else should I add?  Do I have too much variety?  Do I have enough stuff?  I don’t think you can have too much stuff…who knows.  That’s what I intend on finding out! 😀  I’ll have a 6 ft table area to work with, so I’m going to need to come up with some decorating ideas as well (hello devil) and I’ve already created a board.

Incase you’re looking at this list and…Al’s Pals caught your eye…GOOD.

Al, as you already know, obviously, is such a huge part of my life.  He is a special little guy, and I obviously want to share him with the world.  So I decided that I wanted to make some little stuffed animals, (which, I have STILL not ever blogged about!) since Al loves stuffed animals (that’s why he destroys them) and make a little story to go with them about sharing or something for little kids and call them Al’s Pals.  Ole Al, teaching the kids to share. 🙂

So, get ready, the next few posts are probably going to be updates on the craft fair, as well as my Riley Blake Fabric Challenge entry…which…is coming along. 😀

Until next time, happy sewing!!!

In all the excitement..

…I forgot to blog!

The quilt was completed!  😀  I can now say that it got to its destination in time for the baby shower, too. 😀

This was so fun that I decided to make another one of these as soon as I finish up these couple of bags I need to work on.  The next will be using the fabric line The Littles by Michael Miller and will have Riley Blake Fly Aweigh waves for the backing.  I’m excited for all my “parts” to come in so I can get it going!

<3

❤

Since this post took a little time, I’ve also been to my guild!  We learned improvisational curves from Jayne and perfect machine binding from Stefanie.  I even got a new gadget!  It’s The Binding Tool and it’s probably right up there with wonder clips as far as amazing.  It really helps to clean up where your end pieces come together.  I think we all had a great time and we all made some pretty cute things!  Here’s what I made.

cut, pieced, quilted!

cut, pieced, quilted!

I finished mine up once I got home, and now it's hanging up in my sewing room!

I finished mine up once I got home, and now it’s hanging up in my sewing room!

MAGIC.

MAGIC.

So now that we’re all caught up, this weekend is Paducah!!!  I’m excited, me, my mother in law and aunt are all loading up Saturday morning to go see what all the fuss is about, also Hancock’s.  If you also want to see what all the commotion is about, follow me on Instagram this weekend.  I’m going to be using #PQW2015 so everything should be (SHOULD…be) together.  It looks as though the weather may not be..pleasant, but we’ll make the best of it!  I know a few others from my guild are also making the journey to Paducah, are you coming too?  Let me know!!

Well, I’ve got some pre Paducah preparation planning to get back to, so until next time!  Happy sewing!

P.S. Al had to jump into my photo shoot of the quilt.

So majestic....

So majestic….

closing in!

I don’t know how I’ve done it, but I completely pieced the top of the quilt I’m working on, the back, and quilted it all within a week, even with an Easter thrown into the mix!  All I can say is thank god for stippling.

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Now I’m working on the label and binding.  I think I found a label that I think will work nicely, and I’ve been looking for different ways to make binding.  Then I’ve run into binding vs bias tape.  Which one do you use?  I’m going to make the binding for this quilt, and I guess I’m making bias tape?  It’s the method where you make a loop and sew it at the top then cut it around, I’ve never done it before but it sounds easy enough to figure out.  At least I hope so.  Anyhow, that is what I’ve been working on, still! 😀

Once I finish this I’m going to get back to making a few more things left on my “to do” list, including another bag that will be equally as bae as mine and another navy tote, and then focus on making things for my shop.

Until next time!  Happy sewing!

Much busy, So wow

When I was asked to make a baby quilt, I was flattered.  When the deadline got moved up a month, I was worried.  I am glad I went ahead and ordered the fabric and things I needed, because I could immediately get working!!!

I’m using a pretty simple pattern, which, I have a complaint about.  The pattern blocks calls for 2 – 8 1/2″ squares, 2 – 5 1/2″ squares, 1 – 5 1/2 x 6″ rectangle, and 1 – 3 x 16 1/2″ rectangle.  When I cut it out, I read quickly and thought I saw 6 1/2″, which is what I cut.  I reread, saw it says 6, and trimmed down accordingly.  It turns out that it should be 6 1/2″ because the row of smaller blocks are a quarter-inch too short on both sides. >:/

It’s alright, I have trimmed the blocks down accordingly, and everything is fine…it’s just annoying.  I also feel like this is a challenge to actually finish a quilt that I have started.  I’m proud to say I’ve been making leaps and bounds in finishing up this quilt.  I may actually get the top finished today when I get home from work.  If I were off tomorrow for Good Friday, I’d really make some headway!!!

Anyhow, here are some pictures of my progress so far!  I hope you’ve all had a good week!  Sorry I didn’t post last week, I was just in a little funk and needed a mental break.

This is before everything got all wacky
I believe this is what the young people refer to as “on Fleek” LOL
after trimming down all the blocks….
getting everything laid out
closing in!

I do have a question for the quilty minded people who read this; how would you quilt this?  I thought about doing a X over all the blocks, I even started kind of outlining it in my head how it would work with one continuous run, but the more I think about it, that starts getting crazy.  One wrong turn and it’d be all messed up.  I’ve also thought about an all over stipple.  What do you all think?

Until next time! Happy sewing!

Please do not do this please

If you’ve been keeping an eye on my Instagram, you’ll see that I have been gushing over the new bag I made for myself.  It is so pretty, and there are aesthetically pleasing buckles that don’t do anything but add to the prettiness factor, and it’s so roomy!  SO BAE!!!! (HAHA!)  I’ve also been showing it off to people, because hello?!  WOULDN’T YOU?!  I mean, I made this bag.  ME!  Not knocking my other bags I’ve made before, but this is kind of a big deal.  There’s a lot of hardware that went into this, lots of planning, lots of materials!  Anyhow, like I said, I’ve been shamelessly showing it off and everyone’s said all nice things.

“oh that’s great!”

“that is so pretty!”

“that looks very Vera Bradley!”

Okay…I understand that he meant it as a compliment (he being one of my bosses)…comparing my bag to a well-known quilted bag company’s product…but it has rubbed me the wrong way.  Why?  Because Vera Bradley didn’t make it!  I did!!!  ME!  You wouldn’t tell a small chocolatier that their new batch “tastes like Hershey’s” would you?  No, because they’d be like, go take a long walk off a short pier!  Maybe he meant the patterns, maybe the look?  I don’t really know…but I just didn’t like it.

So, what I’m trying to get at is that if you know that someone handmade something, maybe don’t say “hey that thing you spent hours on look like something mass-produced by anyone” because it might not come across as “that looks very -insert big name here-.”

ANYHOW…Rant over.  Here are pics of my bag 😀

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Also, bae dog

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In other news!  I’m starting ANOTHER NEW PROJECT! HAHAHA!    I am just out of control.  But I do love having a specific thing to do, not just letting my mind wander…because I don’t need that kind of stress in my life.  I’ve been knocking things off of my to-do list for sewing, and adding new things daily it seems.  I guess it’s probably a good thing.  🙂  Sewing = Happy so more projects = more sewing = more happy right?

Anyway, new project is a baby quilt!  All the fabrics are on their way to me now, but it’s going to be made using Riley Blake’s The Cottage Garden.  No, this will not be my entry for the fabric challenge!  I’ve got that planned out too, which…I might think about starting that soon, too.

So let’s talk shop for a minute.  I am very proud of my little etsy pricing tool I made for myself, since you know, I love excel so much that I make sheets for my own personal stuff.  But, it’s really handy when someone asks you about how much something would cost.  I can at LEAST give them a ballpark range, if not an exact dollar amount.  I might…MIGHT share it one day.  I have even tried using pricing apps, but there was always something being left out.  I just got tired of it and made my own formula, which, by the way, is perfect.

Anyhow!  What have you been up to?  Sewing?  Being amazing?  That’s what I’ve been up to, so you probably are, too. 😀  Until  next time!  Happy sewing!