Beginner Friendly Paper Pieced Sewing Machine Cover! Fat Quarterly Issue 20

Fat Quarterly Issue 20: Paper Piecing is here!!

And I'm in it!!

Woo!

It is such an honor to be appearing amongst such talented sewists! 

 These projects range from Beginner to Intermediate. The patterns are so well written and illustrated. No need to be afraid of paper piecing :)

Check out this issue and see all of the fabulousness!

Featured are: 

Beam Me Up Quilt,

So fun! Imagine the colors and prints you can use )

Acrobats Cushion

Adorable!!! Turn it upside down and the picture changes!

Live, Sew, Eat Cake Quilt,

Everyone in your guild needs one, don't they?

Cartwheel Hot Pad,

Such a lovely way to learn this block! Suhweet!

Designer Shoe Cushion,

Check out that charm!! I need at least three pair.. you know I do!

I'm Cuckoo For You Sewing Machine Cover (by yours truly!),

Why not walk into the sewing room and see a sweet little cottage to brighten your day?

Soar Quilt,

Such a sweet quilt! I know three teens who need this, Pronto!

Priory Square Friendship Pouch,

What better way to show your friends you care than by whipping up this lovely pouch for all of their chocolate?! I mean, sewing stuff ;0

A Useful Utensil Mat,

A-Dorable!!! This one is on the list for sure!

Australia,

Who doesn't need a slice of OZ??

Messenger Bag,

What a beauty!! And the perfect size!

Spinning Friends Quilt,

Stunning!!! Such nice large blocks whip up in a jiffy, too!

Dress Me Up Banner

I mean, Really!! Just so incredibly cute!! Imagine adding these dresses to purses, quilts and accessories, mmm!

That is SOME lineup!

I will be posting the beginner tutorials for my I'm Cuckoo For You Sewing Machine Cover, later this week. I want you to feel confident and comfortable paper piecing :) I figure if I post Friday, you can make one over the weekend, right?! ;0

Fat Quarterly is a quarterly E-zine by Modern quilters, for Modern Quilters, or everybody! To purchase this issue, and the patterns, go here! 

XX!

Lori

EPIC SCRAP QUILT

My partner in the #bitchesgetstitchesswap was Madison of Shop Corner 52.

Madison is a new sewist and business owner, and I wanted to show her support and offer her some advice for those days when nothing seems to be going your way, or when you get a flood of negativity from mean people.
So I made her this:

You may have seen my previous post about being epic.

This is the reality of my work space...

It took me forever to piece the letters because I was using too small scraps, and finally had to upgrade to larger pieces. Then everything went smoothly. It's funny how we save so many tiny scraps... from now on, I'll use those on greeting cards or maybe as sewn decoupage.

Of course, Since I had all of that pretty color out, I had to sort my scrap stash by color and then by size, so that next time, it would be easier to choose what I now know I need. 

I purchased the paper pieced type writer letter patterns from Quiet Play. They are wonderful! They were quite inexpensive, and I know I will use them again and again. 

She does have upper case as well, in case you need them ;)

Then I spent a billion hours tying all of the ends of my quilting!!But it is so worth it, I have had way too much backstitched quilting come out over time! And it gave me an excuse to watch an entire season of Psych! on Netflix, so no harm, no foul!

Madison is a Tula Troop (a fan of Tula Pink's fabrics), but then, who isn't??!! 

I chose to use only Tula Pink scraps in this quilt, with the exception of the Elementary as the background to the letters, and... 

The Blah Blah Blah fabric (A Maxine fabric) as the hanger pockets. So that if she is having a bad day, she can always turn the mini over and get a chuckle. 

The binding is all Tula scraps from different 10" layer cakes. I think using layer cake scraps gives a nice mix, that is spaced well. Not too many prints, too close together, along the binding.

I tried to have the binding prints shimmer, by placing them from light to dark, in succession. What do you think??

I hope that you go out today, and 

Do some Epic Shit!!! 

XX!

Lori

Ps, all of my quilting ladies think she will hang this Mini in her bathroom... 

Linking up with:

TGIFF at Quilt Matters

Winner???? It's the Cat's Meow!!

0h, YES!!
It's time for Sunday's Stash additions with Molli 'Champers' Sparkles!

Today's Stash is brought to you by Cats.
No reason, other than it seemed like a Theme, and, you know, helped in organizing the veritable mountain of stash acquisitions that have been mysteriously arriving on the doorstep... 
(Didn't I join SewMyStash2015??!)

That's right I did! Apparently I'm goin' with the philosophy that if you don't have enough stash, you're not going to get enough done!! 

Last week, I hostessed a giveaway to anyone who could tell me what these two fabulous felines were, what they were for, or what they were doing... 

But, you have to wait to find out who won that giveaway, while I tell you about THIS lovely lovely fabric!! Ha!

 CatNap by Lizzy House!! Oh my! 

OH My My My!!

 Purrfectly Happy in green,

 Purrfectly Happy in Off White and Grey,

 Kitty Dreams on Dark Blue,

Kitty Dreams! killin' me!!

 Cat's Cradle in Citron,

Mice on Bikes, my all time favorite, in Greenish/Grey 

 Pearl Bracelets in Dove Grey and Citron, Chasing Butterflies in soft Blue and Two others for which I have no names...

Hawthorne Threads has Catnap in stock in Raspberry and Clementine, right now...

Me-ow!!!!

Another great lineup by Lizzy House!

I purchased this bundle from Massdrop... It was 25% off, included postage to AK, and arrived within 3 days of fulfillment of the Drop. Since that time, I have also purchased an Oliso Pro iron from them, which arrived in about two weeks, and a Quilter's Dream Wool bundle, which took an entire month to arrive, including 10 days here in Anchorage after UPS dropped it off to the post office to deliver!! 

So, how do I feel about Massdrop? Well, if I can find a better deal through an independent Mom and Pop store, I will always go with them, first. Head's up, online shops! Here are a few things that Massdrop has that I don't seem to find elsewhere:

• I get shipping to Alaska at the same price as everyone else, and it is usually here within 3 days. THREE!!! Do you hear that Hancock's and Fabric.com???!!! I am talking to you!

• The items I purchase are not available within Alaska, at my local quilt store, or Joanns. The Oliso Pro is available at Joanns, but everyone who has purchased one there has returned it immediately... our local stores tend to get the merchandise that isn't moving, elsewhere, or which may be a return that is already broken. Shame on them! The one I purchased, is on, on my ironing board, all day, everyday, and is just jamming on like a champ. I could not be happier with it. I have had it for two months. Now, since I break most irons in three months, I will give you periodic updates on its health!

• I find items/fabric on Massdrop that I did not know existed. It is so interesting to see what people out there in the universe, are interested in, and to see new things that I have not experienced before, including fabric lines and notions. I do not know why people need so many fancy key caps, though... check it out!

• The items that you receive are not seconds, repairs or rejects. They are identical to what you would normally be purchasing. This includes the fabric, which is cut very well, and comes in bundles just like you would normally see. 

Now, what do I NOT like about Massdrop??

• WELL, there was that time that UPS dropped my batting off at the post office, and they delivered it 10 DAYS LATER!! What the heck?!! I could have gone and picked it up myself, but the post office wouldn't let me as it was in their care for delivery as per their contract with UPS. I NEEDED that batting. (ok, I didn't NEED the batting, but knowing it was there chewed a hole in me!) Would I now, knowing that this could happen again, purchase from Massdrop?... I would not do so again if I had any sort of deadline that I wanted to meet. 

• http://www.sewmamasew.com/2015/01/why-suppliers-and-consumers-should-support-shops-with-strong-sustainable-business-models/, a very well written essay about why Massdrop is not a good option if you care about Mom and Pop businesses... Basically, the Mom and Pop store has to pay middlemen, which Massdrop does not... When online or brick and mortar stores buy from middlemen, they are supporting those people, as well as the manufacturers. So, long story short, you have to decide how strong your feelings are about buying locally and supporting small businesses. Is your priority to purchase at the lowest price possible, or is it to support small businesses, or somewhere in the middle. No judgement here... I'm not in too much of a bind, because I purchase most of my fabric through these small businesses. 

Let us know how YOU feel about Massdrop! What have your experiences been? Like 'em or hate 'em??

And NOOOWWW, 

At LOONNGGG Last,

The ANSWER that you've been waiting for...!

Yes! That's right!! Jewels for the Loo!! 

Cat decorations were particularly appropriate because our cats are toilet trained, and think that any toilet with the seat up, is fair game...

Which leads to the dog spending many happy hours playing 'Bob for Tootsy Rolls' in the toilet when noone is home ;) 

OK, so gross, but MY friends know what makes my heart go tick tock!!! 

Our WINNER is....

noone

Boo! Hiss!!! 
Do you hate me?

Next time I will make it easier, and you will get a pressie! I promise!

I will save the comments from the first post, and all of those lovely folks will automatically be entered an extra time into my next giveaway. Fair? Fair!

Can't wait to see what additions you've made to your stash, lately!

XX!

Lori

Linking up with,

BE EPIC!

Here's a message we don't hear often enough:

BE EPIC!

As women, we hear all sorts of messages; Have straight hair, Have long lashes, Have no wrinkles, Have big boobs, Have this and that thing that will MAKE you what you need to be in order to be fabulous. 

But I am here to tell you that what you need in order to be fabulous is...

YOU

You, just as you are. You with messy hair and no make up. You with your quirky humor and crooked teeth. You with whatever cacophony of characteristics that you see when you look in the mirror. 

What you don't need is...

THEM

The voices that you hear inside of your head that tell you that you can't. That you can't DO what you need. That you can't BE who you are. That you CAN'T this that or the other...CAN'T CAN'T CAN'T... 

What you need in order to succeed is YOU. That brain, that humor, that skill set. That desire. And if you don't have all of the skills you need, just yet, Go on out there and get them! A little at a time amongst all of the other things that you are already doing that are completely fabulous. And then celebrate each step towards your goal. You deserve it!! 

So TODAY, I want you to pull yourself up, put on your own face, and...

I KNOW you can!!

XX!

Lori

Linking up with Oh Scrap! Click the button on the sidebar :) ,
And My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday

Sunday Stash Quirky Edition and a GIVEAWAY!

It's that time again!! 
Yes, it's Sunday Stash over at the Sparklicious Molli Sparkles!!

Today is another of those days where you think it's gonna be one kind of day, and it ends up being an entirely different day, altogether!!

I thought that today was going to be a day with a wee wander, a cuddle with the Hubs (gotta throw him a bone, sometimes!), and the occasional piece of cherry pie, 

But NO!

Today was a day drenched in sunshine, and the presence in my life of fabulously fun and thoughtful friends who deemed it necessary to interrupt my Sunday plans, in order to gift me these...

But WHAT, pray tell, could they possibly be???



The first person who guesses correctly, gets a Fat Quarter of their choosing from my stash! After all, I'm all about the acquisition!! 
Keep checking back for hints in the comments, and enter as many times as you like! You'll never get it ;0

Come back next Sunday, for the truly astonishing answer!!

Oh yeah, and I also got these...

From France!!

They didn't turn out quite as I had expected, due to my high school French, no doubt, but you can bet your bottom, I'm going to be attaching them to everything and anything from now on! 

Don't stand still too long, is all I can say! ;)

Just ask the cat.

XX!

What did you get this week?? 

I simply MUST know!

Lori

Click the button in the sidebar to see what everyone else has gotten to enrich their stash. And don't forget to enter my contest! 

Sew My Stash 2015 March Challenge. It's on!!

Woo!!!
It's March, the heat's back on (after three weeks, brrr!), and the Sun is shinin'! Now what could be better than that??
I know what!! Another Sew My Stash 2015 Throwdown!!

You haven't seen me here for awhile, 'cause it was too cold to sit next to the window, without heat, and type. But that doesn't mean that I didn't accomplish anything during February! No, I and my handy dandy sit-upon heating pad manned up and got it done!!

So here are my finishes for February for the Sew My Stash 2015. Eat your hearts out, they're all going as gifts to other folks!!

First up is my mini quilt for Madi at Shop Corner 52. We were partners in the #BitchesgetstitchesSwap. If the hashtag doesn't give enough of a clue, it was a swap of items that were bawdy, or swearing. I tell ya, I learned that there is a whole world out there about which I knew nothing!! Check out the #bitchesgetstitchesswap hashtag on Instagram and roll down the feed for alot of fun! But I'm warning you... Some of the items will light your eyes on fire!! Who knew the Brits and Aussies were so naughty??!

I will do an entire post on the construction of this mini. Such great paper piecing patterns from Quiet Play!

Second, I completed this mini wall hanging for a friend, but noone gets to see the whole thing until she has received it. Lol!! But you know I'll fill you in as soon as she does!

Velvet ribbon!! I just cannot get enough of it! 

Then, I finished this purse for my Niecey... I was pattern testing the pattern for The Littlest Thistle, so I can only give you a glimpse. A full reveal will occur when she releases the pattern. All I can say is, WOW!! Katy really puts alot of time and thought into her patterns, and it sure shows when you make them! Easy Peasy!!! Now I have two more that I have to make!! Lol!

Somebody's watchin' you! Sing it!

And, last, but certainly not least, I was a participant in a Round Robin quilt exchange with my quilting ladies, and I finished the last quilt. Woo!! We had our exchange last Wednesday, and I will do a complete post on all 8 of the quilts. They are AMAZING!!!! The one I received, is the best. I'm just sayin'. 

This is Rebecca's quilt. Have you been in a Round Robin exchange? I'd love to hear your stories!!

AND NOW...

MARCH'S SEW MY STASH 2015 THROWDOWN!!!

Ok, Anita!!! Here I go!! I challenge you to complete your list before I do mine.... or I owe you CHOCOLATE!!!

That's right!!! CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE!

(and no fair cheating, what with the stakes being so high, and all!!) ;)

I will complete:

1) The pattern for Cheeky Lattice, for Fat Quarterly. The top has been done for a month, and it is killing me to not show you all!!!! SOONNN!!!!!!! My quilting lady Denise, a fibre artist extraordinaire, is quilting it. But I still have to do the actual work of writing the instructions. 

2) PJ Pants. I. WILL. complete. a. pair. Even if it kills me. Which it might. I am not showing a pic of the materials, because I will probably change my mind twice, and make them out of entirely different stash than I originally intended. No wise cracks about my having a stash big enough to have several options in pj potential yardage ;)

3) Box Car Tote: Or TWO!!

What a nice sized tote to carry all of your stuff to retreats and sewing days!  One for me and one for ??? I'm taking a class with my quilty peeps from the SewAlaskan instagrammers. Fun!!! 

This is my project for  A Lovely Year of Finishes over at Sew Bittersweet Designs. 

4) Another Mini Messenger Bag, or two!!! Here are my stash pulls for them. What do you think??

Flap of Anna Marie Horner Echinacea, body of Aubergine and blue, gusset of aubergine, interior of Alison Glass.

AND

Flap of Joel Dewberry mod, interior of Alison Glass at left, pocket of Pickle, exterior of Kona Charcoal, flap lining of Kona Teal Shade. I tell you, these things are worse than potato chips! You can't make just one!!

6) I am also incredibly honored to have been asked to participate in the International blog hop for Oakshott Fabrics new line, Scandinavia.

Oh my!!! Aren't they completely Delicious??!!!

Oakshott fabrics are shot cottons, which means that the warp and weft are two different colors. This gives them an iridescent glow and a luxuriousness that is really so lovely. I like them better than my Kaffe Fasset shot cottons, because they are softer to the hand, and are such a nice weight. Perfect!!

I cannot wait to get started on this project!! Woo!

I hope you had a Fabulous February and are ready for a Marvelous March!!
XX!
Lori

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