urban messenger.

No, I did not get my machine back from the shop. My friend let me borrow her sewing machine so I didn't go completely crazy. Although, I I may be going slightly crazy over this cutie over this cutie of a messenger bag that I cranked out. I love this Echino fabric! I did not use a pattern, I totally winged this one. There are a couple of things that I will do differently when I make another, overall, I am thrilled with this one!

Linen lined!

Homemade patch!

Matches my house!

In other news, I am coming up on my 100th post! (this is no. 98) I am thinking something along the lines of a GIVEAWAY! I am not yet sure of what.....but it should be good! stay tuned...


~Happy Sewing!

Springing.

The air is still chilly here, but the sun is shining! If you know anything about Michigan, you know that we have long, dreary, sunless winters. The people 'round these parts come alive when the sun shines bright... the same hold true for me!


I am stepping into spring with these fun prints I got from this etsy shop. They have an amazing inventory, fair shipping prices and great deals on fabric! This could be trouble.

In other springy news, my bulb is shooting up again. I forget what kind it is, my sister gave it to me for my birthday in November. It bloomed days after I got it, died, or so i thought. There are two new shoots coming up. Yea!

I am still waiting for my sewing machine to come back from the repair man. I feel like a fish out of water without it! So sad, I even have new fabric to play with.

For the rest of you with machines....

~happy sewing!

making messes :: making things

Recently, a friend told me that they didn't think that I liked making things, instead I just like making messes. Untrue. In the process of making things, just so happens I make messes, BIG messes. My sewing room has spilled out into the dining room to make the best of the sunlight, and the projects in my dining room make their way to the living room for hand finishing. Next, they will be out in the front yard!

To my credit, don't most creative people have messy tendencies?

All kidding aside, I have been busy making things, although my sewing machine is in dire need of a good servicing. I don't dare do anymore top-stitching until the timing on my machine is corrected. 'til then......

...Happy sewing!

Final Draft.

I have made two of these baby quilts in the last couple of weeks... I am glad the second was not as rough as the first. Apparently, chocolate brown linen should be washed before it is incorporated into a quilt. I just love the way that fabric crinkles when washed and dried after quilting that I didn't even think to do it. Having never had a quilting catastrophe (I would classify my first quilt as such), I must say that I learned my lesson. This quilt came out wonderfully and I am very happy with it. I hope that the recipient is as pleased as I am.

All wrapped and ready to go, this cutie is headed to live out its life in Chicago!

~happy sewing!

a quilt for my brother.

My brother finally got this in the mail last week. He lives up in Portland, Maine and suffers through icy, long, cold winters that scream for quilts and beg for spring.

Aside from Robert Redford being incredibly good looking and an accomplished actor, he also has a little catalog called Sundance. It was here that I found my inspiration vis-a-vis Denyse Schmidt, whose work is featured in the catalog.

I paid little attention to color except when it came to distribution of red. I think it came out well.

There are both new and vintage fabrics incorporated in this quilt. I also made sure to use a few bits of Denyse Schmidt's fabric for good measure.

The quilt in the catalog is hand-quilted. I love my brother but......... you've got to be kidding.

~happy sewing!

en route.

My brother should be receiving this package today....it was a long time coming. I made the card using scrap fabric, leftovers from his quilt. I hope he likes it!!

In other news, i feel i should explain my absence since my excitement from the previous quilt has fizzled. I finished it, it was perfect, until....I washed it. What was I thinking using a chocolate brown linen and not pre-washing? It ran. It ran faster than Jackie Joyner Kersee. Oh was I ever miffed....I used about $20 dollars worth of tide -togo pens, a whole box of shout color catchers, a whole bottle of spray and wash, endless detergents, Oxypen, you name it. It is now probably the cleanest, dye-stained quilt that ever was. I must be honest, the dye came out of all but one square which was white and the dye was stuck under the stitches. Frustration got the best of me and in between washings I started another quilt just like it. I am halfway done quilting it and hope to work on the binding tomorrow afternoon.

Lesson learned.