Party In Portland with Quilt Dad

This last Friday there was a class held by Heather Ross here in Portland. John from Quilt Dad had flew into town for the class as well as the chance to meet some locals. All of us gals jumped at the opportunity to meet John. We had a fantastic dinner and drinks in the pearl district, and had a blast getting to know each other.

It's always interesting to me seeing the world of sewing through someones else's eyes. John was no different. As he told us how he was introduced into Quilting as well as some adventures along the way. Talent was definitely not lacking at our little get together. John is also one of the faces behind Fat Quarterly which just released there second issue of the ezine.

We also had Mo Bedell who just had her first fabric release called Party Dress available at Hawthorne Threads. Then Monica from Happy Zombie also had her first release called Holiday Happy for Lecien. You can purchase her goodies over at Kerri's Shop, or take your chance at winning the collection on her blog.

Thank you sew much for the samples you brought to Monica they are super cute.

Violet Craft a Children's Boutique specialist now venturing out into the world of Fabric and will have her first collection for Michael Miller come out sometime in January. And Tracie from Hip Fabric not only sells fabric, but she has the cutest card wallets I have ever seen in her etsy handmade store.

Mo Bedell, Monica (Happy Zombie), John (Quilt Dad),  Me, Violet Craft, Tracie (Hip Fabric) taking the photo

I'm telling ya it felt good to get away and see my friends. Sometimes we all put to much time into unnecessary ventures that we forget to breath. All it takes is a little time for your self and some good friend to re-inspire you to keep on going.

Thank you to all of my friends for keeping me SEW inspired.

Who are you inspired by? Where did you learn to SEW? I would love to hear your stories as well.

Potential to be Spectacular

Shortly after entering the hexie craze, I made a decision to finally cut some of my priceless fabric and make a pillow. Originally I had planned on just sewing them all together randomly. I made a few hundred hexagons, then started piecing them together in a grandmothers flower pattern just to see how I liked them.

After about four or so grandmother flowers, I absolutely hated it. As much as I like this line, I was not feeling them altogether in this type of piecing. I gave up the project and handed all of my precut squares to a friend and told her to make something pretty. Even 3 inch squares can be used for something right?

Just minutes after I gave away my beloved fabric I was talking with the girls from the guild. they told me to stick with it and that they thought it would be beautiful if I just let myself get used to it a bit more. So I took all the ones I had left after giving many away and stuck them back in my little hexie briefcase for another day.

Just yesterday the idea came to me. What about splitting up the flowers with some Kona snow? So guess what I did... Of course I made some Kona Snow hexies and began piecing it. Just a simple border around the flowers to break up the prints a bit. I suppose it would look pretty spectacular if I color coordinated the flowers as well, but i seem to be liking the randomness right now.

Because of this small hexagon adventure, this has new potential. Instead of being a pillow for my couch, it will now be a full on quilt.  Ok maybe just a lap quilt but still. How long will it take to finish? Who knows but I think it will be worth it in the end.

What are you working on this week?

The best day Ever :: and a winner

So last night was our guild meeting all about Hexagons. Although most of us already knew how to make them, we were influenced to go anyway knowing that some people we have wanted to meet would be there.

A few from our guild group arranged a meeting for Dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Portland. Our fabulous group consisted of, Me, Heather (alamode), Mo Bedell, Monica (Happy Zombie), Tammy Gilley, Violet Craft, Tracy (Hip Fabric) , Joan (wishes True and Kind) and Jona (Fabrictopia).

I must say it didn't take us long to feel comfortable with the entire group, everyone was so much fun, and we all had so much in common, both hobbies and humor. I have to thank Heather and all the ladies for putting together such a fun event.

I was excited to see Mo's new collection Party Dress in person, as I had heard some great things about it. It was absolutely beautiful in person to. I am looking forward to seeing great things from her.

I also got to meet a blog reader, Hi Megan!! It was wonderful to meet you. Looking forward to having lunch and sharing fabric very soon.

I just have to say it was the most fantastic night I have had in a long time. I am seriously going to miss not being able to hang out all the time after we move to California. I am thinking some frequent flier miles might be in order . :)

THANKS LADIES IT WAS SEW FANTASTIC!!!

As far as a winner goes, I have to say that being a mom makes all these stories that much more fun to read. I wont point anyone out but the comment about getting stuck in the back of a Jetta being full on pregnant made me chuckle a little. I have so done that!!

You all are wonderful for taking the time to write those stories to brighten up my day. So thank you so so much. I seriously pulled my phone out 100 times throughout the day to read another comment and get a good laugh.

So here is the winner. #21

rachandcarl said...

well this happened yesterday an i think its hilarious even though everyone i tell the story too just looks at me. we had run out of sugar so i popped into the local grocers which is run by very taciturn people who never crack a smile. i got my bag of sugar and walked up to pay. the man serving in the shop looked at it and said "sugar" i couldn't help it, i said " yes Sweetie" and cracked up. he just looked at me like i was mad ( which is pretty common!)

Ha ha ! I would do that to ;)

Email me Rachandcarl at sew-fantasticblog@yahoo.com with your address by Monday and I will send off your goodies. After Monday if I have not heard from you I will choose another winner.

Thanks again everyone, yesterday was the BEST DAY EVER!!

Far Far Away in Sew Fantastic Land........

Terri was sitting at her sewing machine (that's me ha ha) wondering what to make with the lovely far far away chapter two fabrics. When it came to her.... I gotta share these!!! So I decided to have a little last minute, unplanned giveaway. How does that sound?

I'm sure all you fabric lovers out there might enjoy a little free fabric every so often, am I right?

So here is how you can win this FQ bundle of 8 prints from the new line by Heather Ross, Far Far away chapter 2. this will be open to everyone (even my international fabric junkies)  ;)

Leave me a funny joke, or a funny story that's happened to you. It doesn't have to be recent just funny ;) I could really use a good laugh today to keep me in stitches ;)

Contest will end Friday 7/16

Good Luck

(don't worry your pretty little heads to much, the winner will be picked randomly)

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED

Sunday Stash Report :: Chapter 2

Yay! Guess what came today. My heather Ross Far Far Away Chapter two Fabrics. I must admit that I almost did not order any of the Far Far away Chapter 2 , thinking the weight would be cool for zippy bags and stuff but that's about it. I was immediately proven wrong with this, this, and this. After seeing people create quilts with this heavy weight linen/cotton blend, I knew I had to get some. I think I may go and get some more when they come back in Stock over at Hawthorne Threads. :)

I know I know, I should not be ordering fabric before the BIG move, and really I don't order that much. Most of this I ordered before the collection was available and now it's come in, however when it all arrives the same day it's absolute bliss.

This is what my mailman brought me today.

Urban Chicks 1974 charm packs - ebay
Willow - Cotton Candy Fabrics
Far Far Away Chapter 2

Did your mailman bring anything special this week?

Sorry about being so MIA lately, I am finishing up a few large orders. Then I promise to bring you some super crafty , fun stuff again. :)

The best friends around......

It's official. I truly have the best friends. Not only in blog land but here in person as well. I am a fortunate person to have so many creative minds swarming me everyday keeping me inspired on a daily basis.

Today I had lunch with two very special people. Joan, and Heather, it was wonderful that our schedules finally meshed together so that we could make a lunch date. After a great shopping trip at fabric depot we went for lunch at Red Robin and talked for hours. (I know it was awhile as I saw the waitresses face get more disgruntled every time she walked by)  I had a great time with the two of them.

I was extra excited to finally see Heather for her birthday so that I could give her the gift I had made. After much thinking and finally coming back to the same idea, I sat down and just started cutting fabric. I started with the applique inspired by a piece of vintage Pyrex that I found recently. It just so happens that the print is called friendship, so I thought it would be perfect.

The applique became a pocket then it just started turning into a bag. I am not kidding when I say there were no rulers involved and not even a real plan, but I like those kinds of projects best. (if they turn out ok in the end) Here is a photo of the bag.

Another project I finished this week was Julie's iPad case. Julie contacted me last week and asked if I would go crazy and make something for her to squeeze her iPad into. I jumped at the chance to try it out, since she is such a fun and happy person I felt I knew her style pretty well. Julie does many cool things for many people around the entire world, she is inspiring herself as well and I loved that she picked me to make this just for her.

. Here is the case I made for her. (it was one of 2 the other is listed in the shop)

Among all this coolness throughout the week, I also scored some lovelies from my BFF"S.

Joan made me these FABULOUS hexies in Anna Marie Horner fabric (I've been over drooling all over her blog for weeks over these) and some AB  Love charm squares. The charm squares I won (as the first comment I might add, everyone says the first comment never wins) The hexies were an I'm sorry your moving, but you will be missed gift.  Thank you SEW much Joan.

I also won this fantasic Quilt pattern by Kate

Then Miss Sarah gave me two fabulous prints to hang up in my brand hew studio. Sarah is by far the most creative photographer I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. She throws things together so naturally and if I had a mansion I would cover it in her photos. Perfection!!!  Thank you Sarah.

You can purchase her photos here.

And if you thought that was enough, I came home from lunch today to have my pillow swap waiting for me. As I looked over the packaging and the label that said shipped from Australia, I started getting giddy. I picked up the package from the office and opened it right there. I swear the ladies thought I was crazy or something. This fabulous piece of ART was inside from Amy

And not only did she go way out of her way adding all those gorgeous imports to my pillow. But she even thought of little Sophie and made her this lovely. Thank you Amy!

See, I told you I have the most Awesome friends ever. I sure will miss them when I move, but thanks to the wonderful world of online blogs, and flickr groups, they will all always be so close.

Thanks also to all of you that take that extra minute to leave me a comment about a project or a thought about something, I have really gotten some sweet ones lately and even though I can't always reply, I do read each one with a smile. So thank you !