Sunday, November 23, 2014

Alison Glass Handcrafted Stash Sunday

It's Sunday Stash time over at the ineffable Molli Sparkles! 

And here are my purchases for this week. Well, those that have arrived, anyway!

Shh! Don't rat me out to Santa. Cause a little Naughty, makes a Girl rather Nice, don't you think??!

 Alison Glass!! 
Now, Alison's work is always stunning. And I am, admittedly, a collector of her astounding work. I like the way she uses colors that are unlike others you see everywhere else. And yet, her fabrics go so very well with everything! Wouldn't these beauties look great snuggled up with a litta Tula Pink?  Why, yes they would! Don't you think I should go make that happen?!
Now, you all know what a huge fan I am of shot cotton. I would literally sew everything from them, including a dog. But Kaffe Fasset shot cottons, although glorious in color and sheen, are on the light side, weave wise. In contrast, there are pepper cottons, by Pepper Cory, which are thick and luxurious, but generally lack that luxurious sheen a girl yearns for. So, when I received these AG prints, I was worried that they would be very course fiber or sheer. But no! They have a very nice hand! I could absolutely see everything made from these, from blouses, to skirts and dresses, to quilted items, to lamp shades and decor loveliness. So GOOD!!

 I am sorry that you can't see these in person. The colors are rich and actually glow!! I am not kidding you!! I like to buy directly from artists if I can. You can purchase AG products, including embroidery templates that will knock your socks off, at Alison Glass.
And how do you like my other purchase? From Angelina McKenna (@weenchaweena on IG where I am a member of the Bitches Get Stitches Swap; A bawdy swap for the inner broad in all of us).
Every girl needs a super hero alter ego to help her take over the world!! 

Now get out and Show us your Shine!
What have you purchased this week, or what do you have your eye on??
XX!
Lori

Friday, November 21, 2014

Super Quick Car Seat Quilt

Welcome to another edition of Finish It Up Friday, over at Crazy Mom Quilts!! Check out what everyone else has been up to, Woohoo!
Have you ever wanted to make a baby quilt as a gift for someone, but didn't have the time to make a large enough one to fit a crib or playspace?  Why not make a Car Seat Quilt?! They are about half the size of a regular baby quilt, and something that new parents won't be able to purchase in a store. Woot! 

A simple Irish Chain, pieced, this time, square by square, is a quick make if pieced in strip sets. 
Go here for a great tutorial. Or Here, Or check out Quilt in a Day by Eleanor Burns. You can never go wrong with Eleanor!! I used wool batting and spaced the quilting wide apart so it would be extra toasty for cold upstate New York winters. Love ya Niecey2!!

Sorry for the horrible pictures! We are down to just 5 hours of good sun and two hours of duskiness, so natural daylight is getting hard to come by! 
But here is the reward!
Our Glorious sunrises begin directly East of the house, then
Do a little Showing Off, and then,
Swing around to the side and front of the house
to really Jazz up the morning. Never mind that at this point it is 10 am ;) Who cares when each day
greets you in such a spectacular way?
And when it's light enough to see, guess who has stopped by to help you prune the perennials you were hoping to keep going???
And help clean up the birdseed...
I wondered why the birds were so hungry!!!
I wonder if he knows that all of that homegrown forage is making him extra tasty??!!!
I also finished up a coupla pillow cases to go with an ALLMOOOST completed Enchanted/Frozen/Name another Movie mash quilt for the Niecey. 
Just in time for my Sis to inform me that, being 8 years old, Niecey has now decided she hates princessy things, and Blue, and wants only black and white zebra stripes, with Purple!! 

Lol!!!! 

Have a Wonder-Filled Day!!
So nice to see ya!
Lori


Friday, November 7, 2014

Super Easy Pouch

It's another Finish It Up Friday over at Crazy Mom Quilts!! 
Go see the awesome little pouch she finished, and check out what other bloggers in the blogosphere have completed this week!!

Today, I have items that I made for the Very Cherry Swap to show you, because my roller derby queen partner received them, and I've been dying to share!


My very first pouch! Wow, they are
so easy and versatile. I will definitely
be making a lot more!
This one is not lined, but that is super easy to do, and should not keep you from making purses or bags. 
I used a fusible fleece stabilizer, which I ironed to the fabric, BEFORE I cut the pattern pieces. That way, you don't get gunky gluey stuff all over your iron and every iota of your fabric is properly stabilized. Woot!
I also made this little number. It is a shameless copy of an adorable mini by @lolablueocean. You have GOT to check out her work. Astounding!! My swap partner had pinned this mini on Pinterest for other swaps, and I wanted to be sure she actually ended up with one.
This was the first wall hanging, and applique, I have ever done. See how swaps stretch you  in such good ways??
 If it wasn't for this swap, I would have left applique on the wishful, Stupenda Quilt I'll make Someday, list.
Now I can't get enough of making little, delicious, colorful, cheery quilts for the wall.
I hope you give it a try!

And here is the whole kit and kaboodle of what I 
sent to my swap partner..


And here is the quilt, hanging out in its
new home. In Scotland!!!

And here is what I received in return. I think she nailed it, don't you?!!

Have you joined in any online swaps? I cannot tell you how much you NEED TO!
Not only do you receive top quality, and super cool stuff from someone half way across the world, but you meet many more awesome quilty minded friends during the process. 
So, if you don't make any other promises to yourself, please make one to join an online swap.
It's so EASY! Just check out Bloglovin or Instagram and search the word Swap. I'm pretty sure you won't get results back that will frighten you ;) And it will open up a whole new world of on line and in person friends you never knew were there. 

XX!!
Get out there and take over the World!
Lori