I need (want ) a new bag

I probably have more than 20 bags laying around. I love them - all kinds, sizes, and shapes. However, I need a new one. I just can't find the exact bag that I'm looking for, so I'm going to make one. I picked up a yard of that luscious tangerine and lavender Amy Butler print at a sale this weekend and also bought some coordinating dots and stripes. It's gonna be a messenger style bag, but a bit smaller than the big diaper bag that I've been carrying around. I sewed a cute ribbon to some cotton twill tape for the strap, and made some piping with the striped fabric. The dots are for the lining. I don't have all the hardware and specifics figured out yet, so check back for updates. Hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful sunny afternoon!

Weiner Dogs and Hedgehogs

I finished the twin red and aqua pillow covers that I've been working on for a little while now. Of course, I don't have the right size pillow forms, I need to run out today and get some. These are going to my BFF for her birthday (over a week late I might add - and they still have to travel across the country). I really like the way they came out, they're very bold.

I'm so tired that I actually forgot what I was writing about. I guess I'd better continue this post later and enjoy the last few moments of nap time. Hoping for more than 3 hours of sleep tonight, and a clear head tomorrow.

Update: got the pillow forms, here they are in final form!



Hope they look great on your new red couch Neaf! Sending tomorrow...

Work in progress and Work completed

I'm really into pillows lately, and circles I guess. A pillow is something I can complete in a pretty short time, it gives me a chance to try out a lot of different things, makes a big impact in a room (and a great gift), and gives me a sense of accomplishment a lot quicker than a bigger project. And with 2 little ones at home it's nice to get that feeling. This one is squared up to 15 inches and I can't decide if I want to add a border of Kona deep red (which is the color I'm using on the back), or to just leave it. Any thoughts? It has a twin (fraternal, not identical) that isn't as far along.

In other news I (finally) finished the set of 4 placemats and napkins for my MIL. The first 2 were given on Mother's Day and it took me this long to finish the rest. Next time I make placemats I probably won't hand stitch the binding on the back, that took awhile. It looks really cool though.

I'm really looking forward to the PMQG's meeting and charm swap tonight! Can't wait to see what Elizabeth has planned for our charm square "challenge", all very exciting!

Sushi Circles Pillow

Sushi Circles Pillow
Originally uploaded by madeonmainstreet

Yay, finished the pillow! Simple diagonal quilting, and a machine stitched binding. Not sure where it's going to live yet. I still have to wash the cover and see how the circle edges fare.

Cutting Circles

So I was testing out the new circle cutting template I made the other day - and what better way to test out a new template than with a Heather Ross print? I just got a leg panel of her sushi print from this shop, which I love. I was going to make some hexes with the sushi, but I actually love it in circle form. It really takes a tiny bit of the fabric and makes it special. A whole quilt like this would be really cool, but I have neither the patience or time right now, so I think it'll be a pillow. The circles are raw edge, appliqued - so they'll fray. I also used the linen blend left over from this project. These circles are a 2 inch diameter and although I was able to cut them out fine, I think that this was the absolute bottom limit for diameter with this kind of template and an 18mm rotary cutter. When I put this template in the shop, I may go a half inch bigger for my smallest size so everyone doesn't go wrecking their blades. You can barely see the template in this pic, off to the upper left above the rotary cutter. It's hard to take pics of clear plastic. Especially when it's cloudy out.


I did manage to piece it and sash it, I like how it came out. Especially considering I was just testing out the template and didn't really have a project in mind. Happy accident, a phrase they used in Architecture School alot... ;)

Tab-Slot is up and running!

OK, finally we have the Etsy shop up - here's the address:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TabSlot

I still have many more listings to add, but can't seem to wrap my head around it with two little ones jumping on my lap and hitting my keyboard. So please stop back by to check on the updates. Portland people, save on shipping and just convo me for a custom listing and pick-up arrangements.

Quilted Hexie Pillow

Well I got my hexagons onto a pillow finally, and I think it looks cute. It's for the kids playroom, to go on the fold out couch/bed thingy. I need to get a proper pillow form for it though, this one is pitifully under-stuffed and rectangular. Which isn't working for the square pillow cover. Hexes are Heather Ross, background is Kona coal and binding/accent is Tula Pink Hushabye. I think it's really cute for the playroom which has dark gray walls and a light tan couch. My son likes the gnome with the wheelbarrow the best.

Mother's Day Present (to myself)

Yay, my package from Spoonflower arrived! A few weeks ago, I was thinking it would be cool to have a little logo or tag to add to some of the handmade gifts that I make. Now, I don't intend to sell any of these handmades, I barely have time to make gifts as it is. Still though, it would lend a professional touch. I wanted it to be a bit abstract, and not really have my name on it. I came up with this logo one of my sleepless nights (using photoshop), and uploaded it to Spoonflower. Two weeks later I got my super cute (at least I think so) yard of fabric. Now I have to finish something to put it on. Really though, after seeing it, I think it would be cool to just use the print to make a bag.

Well, I'm off to enjoy my Mother's Day (alone). My husband is taking BOTH kids to spend the afternoon with his parents. Happy Mother's Day to me :)

I'm a follower

OK, what can I say, I've been seriously trying to avoid making any of those adorable little hexes that everyone is posting about lately, but the truth is, I'm a follower.

It's deadline time at our house, which means my husband is working mad hours to get a project out the door, this includes working until 2 or 3 am some nights. We usually have other people helping him out here, so last night the lovely Bev was working with him. I get really lonely for adult conversation during these stretches, so after the kids were in bed and I folded the laundry and couldn't think of any other reason to hang out in the basement I decided I needed some hand sewing to work on. Out came the Munki Munki and the brand new tab-slot hex templates to take for a test spin. The templates work great, they're clear plastic - so easy to see where you're cutting, and you can cut with your rotary cutter using the template, so super easy. I also made a template to cut the paper, which I did with an x-acto. They went pretty quick and easy, and for my 1st hexes I think they look pretty good.

I'm pretty sure I'll make these into a pillow, I don't have much Munki Munki laying around, so I can't make too many more. These are too addictive - really, if you don't want your house and kitchen to pile up with filth, don't start making these!

I'll be able to offer the templates to you through tab-slot hopefully next week! Just need to get through this deadline!!

I LOVE this fabric!

I spent another Friday evening sewing at Modern Domestic with friends. It was great, lots of chatting, lots of sewing. It's really the only time I can get anything done. But I didn't technically get anything DONE. My task was to make a set of 4 placemats and 4 napkins for a Mother's Day gift for my MIL. (I haven't even started anything for my Mom yet.) Well, this was as far as I got. 1 placemat almost done. Oy.



I am just in love with this Matryoshka doll fabric, it's so adorable. I bought 1 yard for this project, but I should have some left over to stash away for something else. I don't usually work with a lot of red, but I am really liking the way this came out. The red is a Kona cotton and the rest is a linen/cotton blend that is just so soft.

Hopefully I have some time this week to work on the rest of these, or start something for my Mom. Does anyone want to come play Nanny?