A Costa twins Birthday Quilt Duo

Tomorrow is Sarah's little twins birthday party. After many attempts at different ideas, I decided to make them a quilt with all this Michael miller Goodness.

The top is done in 6 x 6 " Charms From Michael millers Ta Dots, and Gnomeville fabrics. The binding is Paula Prass Pebble Stone. This was the first quilt that I have actually finished complete in close 8 years. Yes that is true, I have started many but none are complete (smacks hand)

This was also the time for me to practice hand stitching the binding down. I used this tutorial mixed with a few others until I found what worked for me, and after picking out the machine stitches twice, I found the hand sewing to be much more relaxing.

Sewing is serious business in this house.

 R is for..... Ruby

L is for ...... Larkin

The backs of both quilts are identical

All washed and crinkly (my favorite part)

I hope they love them for a long time, Sophia sure will miss them when we move, and so will her mama.

Both Quilts were made in under 24 hours (now that's fast for me) Thank you hubby for watching the little one so that I could finish this gift.

Pillow Talk Swap :: REVEALED

Finished today with a smile. I really love how it came out this round. Sometimes I sew with very little ideas in my head about how it will look. I am not one to sit down and draw out what I do before hand either. I am a  by the seat of my pants sewer, and do everything on a whim.

Now some days that doesn't turn out the way it should, but most of the time it does. My creativity comes out of nowhere sometimes. So when everyone says "oh your so clever" I just chuckle a little.

You can view all the uploads here.

::Some Giveaways and going on's::

I know I usually do not share shop stuff on my blog anymore but I wanted to let you know about a few giveaways I am having hosted by other blogs.

Please visit to have a chance at winning some great prizes.

Visit Heathers Blog to win My Echino Bag, some Awesome photos by Sara Costa, and a charm pack from Amy that isn't even in the stores yet. Ends :: 6/23

Please visit Keep It Real to win a crayon wallet for your little one , your choice from the shop :: Ends Monday 6/21

Visit Jenny over at SDIAC To also win your choice of a crayon wallet for your little one. Ends :: Sunday (tomorrow) 6/20

*******

Also before I forget again I have two new Sponsors here at Sew-Fantastic Please stop by and visit there wonderful offerings

Brassy Apple

Meg has Fantastic and uber cute patterns. Her creativity is amazing, you definitely want to visit her crafty little world and maybe pick up a pattern or two.

Jane's Fabrics

What can I say about Jane but she is AMAZING inside and out. Many people throughout blog land have been touched by her, including me. she has a great spirit and is so kind. Not to mention she has two shops with loads of gorgeous fabrics. Here on ebay, and here on etsy.

Thank you SEW much to our newest sponsors, as well as the people who are hosting my giveaways. I hope everyone gets a chance to win something good.

Also I started a flickr group today for everyone to share photos of the cool tutorials I have posted. There are many more coming very soon. Please join my group and share your photos here.

Tutorial :: Summer Sunglasses Case

Summer is here!! We need something cute, am I right??

While me and the hubby were out today having breakfast with little Sophia, I complained about how I was getting old and wrinkled from squinting in the sun. All in all this led to a trip over to get some new sunglasses this morning. It was nice to have the hubby there so that he could let me know what looked best on me.

After realizing that they probably wouldn't last long with my clutzy behavior, I decided to make a little case for them. So now Folks I give you my super quick tutorial for the Sunglasses case (terrible pictures I am so so sorry).

SUPPLIES::

Piece of Heavy linen

Main Fabric

Lining Fabric

Button

Elastic Band

Fusible fleece (heavy)

Craft Fuse (fusible)

Heat n bond

Here are the dimensions that you need to Cut::

Main Fabric :: 3.5 x 5: (times 2)

Lining Fabric :: 9" x 5" (times 2); 2.5" x 3" (only 1 piece)

Linen :: 6" x 5" (times 2) ; 2.5" x 3" (only 1 piece)

Fusible Heavy Fleece :: 9" x 5" (times 2)

Craft Fuse :: 2.5" x 3" (only 1 piece)

After you have cut out all of your pieces, line up your main piece and your linen piece to look like the set on the right of the photo below. You will fold the main piece over to meet the edge of the linen Right sides together as shown on the left of the photo below. Sew across the top a 1/4 inch seam

Do this two both sets, then open them up and press the seams open to look like the photo below

After you have pressed the seams open iron the combined piece to the fusible fleece. Be sure to follow the directions on your fleece as to what side applies to the fabric. This will prevent a sticky mess.

After you have adhered both pieces to the fleece now is the time to add your stitch detail.

I put a few back and forth lines where the seam meets but you can do whatever you would like, or nothing at all. Would also be a great place for a decorative stitch.

Decide what piece will be the front and what piece will be the back . Take your front piece and find the center lengthwise. Where your seams meet add your button to the center using your machine. If you need help on how to sew a button using just your sewing machine, please see my previous tutorial here.

Set the main pieces aside for now and grab the four smallest pieces. You should have four pieces each 2.5"x3" one in linen, one in your lining fabric, and two in the craft fuse. Face the shiny side up on the craft fuse and add your lining fabric on top of it with the right side facing up. Then iron, the craft fuse is fusible and will adhere to the fabric giving it stability. Do the same step with the linen and the other piece of craft fuse.

Next pin your elastic band to the top of the short side. See photo below. You need to sew a back and forth tight basting stitch to keep this band in place. Make sure that you attach it just like the picture with the part you will be wrapping around your button facing inward.

Now put the linen piece and the lining piece with the elastic band together right side facing each other, and fused side facing out.

See photo below; Start Where the foot is placed in the picture, Sew three sides only from black dot to dot in the picture leaving the top without the elastic band open

Your piece will look like this. Go ahead and clip the corners as you will be flipping this right side out and it could give you less bulk by clipping them.

After you have flipped this piece right side out again, iron open and then top stitch around the edges to give it a nice clean look.
 Now take the main piece that you have designated to be the back of the case and find the center. Put the piece you just created with the elastic band in the top center of your back piece like shown in the photo below. Apply a tight basting stitch to keep in place.

Now on the front piece, If you are wanting to add the applique detail as well. I fussy cut my picture, applied a heat and bond to the back, ironed it about one inch from each side then stitched it down with a simple straight stitch. Just make sure you add it to the same piece as the button.

Now this part is done.

Put the front piece and the back piece together right sides facing each other. the fleece side will be facing out towards you.

Now stitch from the left side to the right side all the way around leaving the top open where the flap is attached.

Now do the same with the lining only at the bottom leave a gap about 3 inches wide. So to explain further sew from the top right to the bottom. Then from the bottom right corner in about one inch then back stitch, Lift your needle and move it about one inch from the other side and continue stitching. Back stitch then continue towards the top left side leaving the very top open .

Now that I have confused you just see the picture below. In between the black dots there are no stitches. That part is left open for flipping right side out.

Now take the lining piece and flip it right side out.

You should now have two pieces that look just like this. (see photo below)

Now this might get a little tricky so pay close attention . Open up both pieces at the top. Take your lining piece and insert into the main piece. Your main piece will still be shown right sides in and your lining pieces with right sides out (this is correct)

Pin the seams together matching up the edges of the fabric.

Now sew a 1/4 in seam around the top connecting the two pieces.

Now reach in the tube and pull out the lining. The lining will now show inside out. The end of the lining piece will have the gap you left open for flipping.  reach your hand through the hole all the way to the bottom of the main piece. Grab the bottom and pull upwards towards the opening.

Now your piece should look like the photo below.

Make sure that you use a ruler or a pencil of some sort to push out all of your corners.

** Tip: I like to round my corners when sewing instead of just pointing them, I think it looks cleaner in the end.

Take the end of the lining and match up the seams sewing along the edge to close the gap (this is not a 1/4 inch seam it's as close as you can get it to the edge catching all layers)

Now push the lining inside of the main print making sure that corners meet and the lining fits snugly. Then you can iron the seam and top stitch it or leave it be. After putting the lining in your flap that was made will also pop out and come over the top to enclose your sunglasses in the case with a button closure.

That's it, YOUR FINISHED. Now go sport your sunglasses in some serious style!!

This tutorial is for personal use only, please do not sell items made from my personal tutorials.

Thank you

If you make one I would love to see it. Please post your photos in my flickr sharing pool here

** ADDED**

For those of you who are curious . I get my linen here The one I like most is the Judy linen.

I get my buttons here, and I get most of my interfacing at my local Joann's. Craft fuse has the number 808 on the bolt.

The Thrifting Bug :: An Eye for Vintage Pyrex

The world of Flickr comes with many amazing projects, photos, and finds. My most favorite pictures to look at (besides sewing projects) is the world of Vintage Pyrex. I have had a longing to start collecting since last year soon after joining the flickr community. Now I do not claim to even know a lot about vintage Pyrex, I only know that it's just so beautiful to me I have to have every piece I can find.

My collection started with the green floral set found at a goodwill for 14.00 (the entire set minus a lid) That was a price I could live with. My second thrift run, or as me and Sophia call it "our treasure hunt" I found a bunch of odd balls in pretty good condition, and it was funny to me that the better looking pieces with no chipped paint nor scratches were labeled brick or brack, and the more used pieces were labeled collectible. The best find was most recently the same goodwill that I found those marvelous green dishes was the red/orange beauty for $7.99. The Friendship pattern is what they call it, and my most favorite. From what I hear it's pretty hard to find unless you pay a lot for it, this one had the matching milk glass lid. (dreamy) 

Many people have decided to charge far more then Pyrex is worth due to the fad of people collecting I am sure. Just like certain fabrics, if a trend calls for it then people believe they can charge more for it. I am having fun with the thrill of looking and staying away from the high prices online. I did find a very cool flickr group that trades pyrex if anyone is interested.

Does anyone else collect Pyrex? Or maybe something similar? I am just curious to know everything about it. Is there something I should know when treasure hunting? The thrill is amazingly great. I always have a great day after finding a piece of this lovely part of my childhood. Of course I hated the look of it as a kid. Funny how that works out.

Does anyone know the names of any of these?

ECHINO WINNER!!

The suspense is killing you isn't it. Ha!

I had no idea that my Echino Scraps would be coveted by so many wonderful sewers.

I was thinking how cute these would be even as large off centered hexes. (yes I know I can't stop)

The whole line is kind of patch worked so scraps are just as good as yards to me. This was simple to sew and I love how every project came together so well. Soon I will post pictures of the custom order I received with this line. It's FANTASTIC!!

Alright here is your scrappy winner!!

A.S.K.-P.said...

OF COURSE I want them! Are you CRAZY?!

June 10, 2010 12:51 PM  

Congrats to you Amy!! Email me at sewfantasticblog@yahoo.com with your mailing address. I hope you make something wonderful with these scraps.

As far as my favor the other day, I want to say thank you to everyone who has taken a minute to VOTE for SEW MEOW.  After being diagnosed with RA this great machine will keep our fellow quilter, quilting!

If you have not already voted there is still time to do so Just visit Barb's wonderful blog and vote for

SEW MEOW at the top left hand side of the page.

Thank you thank you , the blogging community amazes me every day and it's wonderful to see so many people come together to help someone.

Thanks again.

HAPPY SEWING!!

A HUGE Favor to ask....

It's not very often that I ask for things so I thought I might give this a try. A fellow blogging friend, customer, and loyal follower made me aware of a contest that she was participating in. Out of just a few people she is in the running to win a GO  machine.

If you have a good deed left in you today please stop by and VOTE for Judy .

SEW MEOW... SEW MEOW ... SEW MEOW

To vote please Stop by Barb's blog and visit the voting box at the top left hand corner. Let's help Judy walk away with that wonderful prize. She really does deserve it. VOTE FOR SEWMEOW!!!

Thank you and

HAPPY SEWING~!

Echino LOVE - Scrappy Giveaway.

Well the bag is finished. Another Echino bag  similar to the one I made for Heather here. I was contacted by Heather to see if I could offer up something for her birthday celebration. This month long party would include a long list of artists providing their yummy handmade goodies to the public just by stopping by.

This is the bag that will be given away in a week or so so you can stop by her blog to enter. I have altered this pattern so many times that I think I have almost come up with my own design. Of course not including this bag, but the new version of my own market bag is very different so I am thinking about offering a pattern in the near future.

 This bag features only an extra pocket, but many ideas have now come up for this new way of carrying things around town. I am proud to say I am a bag user most if not all the time. I love bringing my own bags to the grocery store, mostly because they are easier to carry, and fit more groceries then store bags.

Not sure if this is much of a giveaway, but I have quite a bit of scraps from a few echino projects. After making two bags and two custom orders. If you want them, they are yours, just leave me a comment and I will draw a winner on Friday.

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED

Hexagon Madness :: PTS UPDATE

When I first decided that I had to learn Hexagons, I begged everyone under the sun to teach me. Of course when your a sewer already, most things come like second nature. English paper piecing came surprisingly simple to me. Although the small pieces were tedious at times and  very time consuming, I enjoyed being able to take them with me wherever I went. Sophie enjoyed playing at the indoor park this morning while I finished up this month long project.

I did end up taking the previous pieces apart, and went with a grandmothers flower type design instead. I felt that it needed a more decorative look since it was in fact going to be a pillow cover. My love for linen then came out again in this pillow and I decided to piece one inch linen hexagons with my cotton prints to give it some texture. I used a handkerchief linen for these; very lightweight and hard to work with, but happy with the end result.

 After finishing up the piecing of my one inch hexagons and squaring up my pillow to 17.5 x 17.5 I was about to add a simple border using two prints, but later changed my mind to keep it simple looking and leave the eye candy where I had pieced all those tiny bits of fabric together.  My new found love for embroidery turned out to be just the thing this pillow needed.

I am thinking about binding it with this print from Denyse Schmidts Hope Valley collection. What do you think? My other idea was piping in an aqua color but I just think that piping is not elegant enough for this cover.

What do you all think?

All in all, this pillow has taken gobs of time to make, but I was able to fit it in the times that I would not usually be able to sew. For me this was pretty gratifying to have completed something like this in those moments that I cannot be at my machine.  I would be interested to hear some advice if anyone has any, I will reveal the finished pillow with the very cool backing in my next post!

HAPPY SEWING