{sewing} Bag mode & off to Quilt Market!

   I've been in a 'bag mode' lately for some reason...thats all I want to sew. It started with me teaching a class on my Drop Top Messenger Bag featured on the cover of STITCH this fall. After the magazine launched I was invited to Olive Juice Quilts in Onalaska, WI to hold an all day saturday class on it. It was such a blast and the shop was AMAZING!

   The shop was fabulous, I encourage anyone who is in the Lacrosse area to stop in and check it out, my pictures do not do it justice! 

   My ladies did a great job throughout the day and they learned a lot not only about making the bag but also about their machines, the edge stitching foot, freehand systems, top stitching and so much more. The ladies at the shop were so kind and all in all it was a great day. 

   After watching my ladies sew all day Saturday, I was so excited to get home and make a bag of my own. Anna Maria Horners new pattern, Art Student Tote, arrived at the shop earlier that week and I could not wait to make one. Since I traveled through the cities to WI...I had to stop at fabric shops on my way down. I ended up at Crafty Planet and Treadle Yard Goods in the Minneapolis/ St. Paul area, where I spent WAY to much $ for my own good. I picked up voiles, Amy Butler Rayon, Melody Miller Ruby Star Rising Prints, LouLouthi Needle works fabric and so much more. 

    As soon as I got home I went to work on my bags and they turned out awesome...really awesome. I liked the pattern so much I made 3 of them. 

   The first was out of fabulous Ruby Star Rising prints by Melody Miller...I just LOVE the face print. I got the pocket print by fussy cutting it out of a coordinating print in the line. I used a coordinating enchino eggplant dot for the handles and side straps.

    Inside I used a home dec weight lining, nice and light so you can see all your stuff. I then used the view master print for the pockets to add a fun touch. I interfaced all the pockets, exterior and lining with Bosal fusible woven interfacing. It adds just enough body for the bag to hold its shape, especially when all my junk gets put in there. 

    This bag now hangs in the shop for a sample until the fabric is gone, then I get to use it! The second bag made was another sample for the shop. I wanted to make it look just like the cover of the pattern, with extender flap in all. 

   The only change I made was to the extender flap. I cut off about half of the flap, down to about 4". I liked it better when it wasn't so tall, it really got in the way a little bit. I used the orange hugs & kisses print that I used for the extension for the inside as well, along with Bosal interfacing on everything. 

   I wanted to add a little extra to the front zippers, so I found some charms in my stuff at home that were the perfect color. They add just a touch of glam to it! I also stitched through ALL my layers, sewing the exterior to the lining where the top of my handles are. It gave the bag a little more stability when large amounts of stuff get put into it. 

   The final version I made is for me. It doesn't hang in the shop...I actually get to use it everyday! I made a few more changes to this one, knowing it was mine to use. 

•shortened extension flap

• lengthened handles by about 14"

• sewed my handles at the top through all the layers

• sewed down both side seams through all my layers to help hold my lining in place. 

    I really love the shortened extension flap...there isn't so much bulk in the top of the bag when its not in use. I also added some jewels to my zipper tabs for a little something extra. 

   All the pockets on the inside of this one are customized to what I carry on a daily basis. My planner, wallet, sketchbook, pens, work tablet, laptop and my trusty camera (Nikon D40). I used Drawing room home dec for my pockets, again everything in this purse is interfaced with Bosal. Its my go-to interfacing for just about everything.  

   I have a few more things to post as soon as I get back from Quilt Market in Houston. I am SO excited to go and see all that is new....including new AMH ribbons from Renaissance Ribbons! 

Check them out....

AND

Something that I am REALLY excited about...the re-print of Flea Market Fancy!

    Yup it's finally being re-printed after all the begging for a re-print - they finally got it together and decided to make it happen. I'll know which prints they are producing in the next few days as soon as I know I am going to be placing them on our site for pre-order. 

Whew! A ton will be happening in the next few days...I can't wait to post pictures of all that we see. Check back...I'l post everything as soon as I can. 

Off to market! xx Steffani

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{quilts} Voile Picnic Quilt

    Simple squares picnic quilt made with 504 3-1/2" squares. I used all voile for the top in a soothing cool color palette, with a touch of marine and toffee for a little kick.

     I just LOVE how this quilt feels...I wish you could have some magical 'touch' computer screen to feel how the voile and flannel feel together...its incredible!

     I quilted straight lines, and I used my domestic machine at home to quilt it. With enough pins, glue baste spray and a walking foot I didn't have any problems quilting it at home. 

     I finished the quilt with a solid blue voile binding which I just love. The quilt hangs in the shop where my previous voile moonlight quilt used to hang. It looks so good, stop in the see it and to feel it. You'll want to make a voile/flannel quilt of your own!

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{sewing} HR Quick Change Trousers

   I have so much fun making these cute little pants! I love that they go together quickly and each time I love the end result. This time I wanted to make them in Heather Ross Far Far Away III fabric partially because of the prints and partially because of the cotton linen blend.

    The pattern is from the book Handmade Beginnings by Anna Maria Horner, the pattern called Quick Change Trousers. The size I made here was 3-6 months. I think this is my 10th or so pair of these pants, you can see more of these little cuties here. 

     I wanted to make sure 'sleeping beauty' made the pants, so I fussy cut her sleeping among the animals and placed her on the cute butt patch. 

   I went ahead and top stitched every seam, down both sides, for a more polished, finished look. I just can't stand how cute these are...little pants with little pants on them. It doesn't get much cuter than that! On the reverse I put HR print of little girls playing with horses and the coordinating orange flower print as the butt patch. I can't decide which side I like more - now only if I had a little one to fill these :)

xx steffani

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{for Lacey} Cosmo Diaper Bag

Cosmo Bag from Amy Butlers Style Stitches book

    I made this fun Cosmo (diaper) bag for my cousin, so she can use it for little Jacob born this spring. She wanted a bag that stood up, so I put Decor Bond on all the parts, inside and out.  I only used two prints, the main is from Amy Butlers new line Soul Blossoms and its a home dec weight, cotton sateen. I paired it with a soft blue dot print from Moda, quilting weight. 

    I kept the same pockets inside as on the pattern, she decided larger pockets would work for her rather than multiple smaller pockets. She has two pockets on one side, three on the other. I also put a key clip near the top, so she can always find her keys.  

   The only modification I made was sewing the outer side pockets so they weren't so deep. Before I basted the outer side pocket panel to the lining pocket panel, I sewed a horizontal line across the lining of each outer pocket so they are about 5" deep. 

I even did my best to pattern match the outer side pockets and topstitched all outer seams. 

(Never mind the dog hair..it seems to travel with me wherever I go.)

I've made other versions of this bag and every time they turn out so cute plus they are so practical.    

Lacey will pick it up this weekend while grandmas Vintage & Antique sale is going on, it even has a little surprise in it for her! 

xx Steffani

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{Stitchery} Voile pillow & simple strip quilt

   When I get home from work in the evening I like to take my glass of wine, my needle roll and pearl cottons and I head down to the dock to do some stitching. Its relaxing and its a great way to unwind. These are projects I work on from time to time and I never really put a deadline on when they need to be done. It's not about the projects getting finished, they are tools for me. Tools to help set my mind at ease after long days at the shop.

   This is a simple pillow, just 20" square, stitched with AMH Pearl Cottons from Anchor, using both her color palettes. My lines might not be too straight and my stitches too even but I still enjoy the simplicity of this pillow and how the big stitches add so much.  Patchwork Chair blogged here.

I used AMH Pastry Voile for the front, with Dream Cotton batting underneath to add some dimension to my quilting. I happened to finish this the night before Anna Maria Horners LouLouThi flannels arrived at the shop, the prefect soft backing for a perfect soft (voile) front. 

I really enjoy the zigzag print on the back, its so fun. I went with a zipper on the back of this one, they just seem to hold up better then the envelope back. When the shop is done with the sample, it will come home because it fits perfectly in my favorite chair in the living room. 

Now I'm onto my next stitchery project that might take me a little longer. While at the 17th annual Girlfriend Getaway a few weekend ago I put together this easy Little Folks voile strip quilt with the intention of making this my next stitching project. I picked out all my pink/yellow/green voiles and cut strips at varying widths, sewed them together and I was done. So simple and quick...unless you've stayed up WAY too late sewing at retreat and it turns into a 5 hr quilt - ridiculous.

I put this quilt on the HQ Avante' first for some straight line quilting, now I am going back and adding some interest with big stitches. 

This one will be a work in progress. I'll post pictures as soon as I'm done, not promising any deadlines although I cant wait to see it finished. 

xx steffani

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{Quilts} HST zig zag for baby Dolen

   I'm going to start out by saying how much I love this quilt, the prints in it and the color palette- it was a hard one to give up but I know its at a loving home, waiting for baby to arrive. This quilt is for Brit, who is due in November and not finding out the sex...which always presents a little bit of a challenge when picking out fabrics.

     I chose a variety of prints from Amy Butler, Sandi Henderson, Michael Miller, Basic Grey, Jessica Levitt, Sweetwater, Kaffe Fasset, and Anna Maria Horner - keeping all of them in a soft palette. Since they're not finding out the sex baby Dolen, the nursery is sage and cream - neutrals. 

     I did just simple half square triangles and formed them into a zigzag pattern, but I left one little square whole, down in the right corner. I fussy cut an element from AMH Drawing Room Sketchbook print that is just the right touch of color. 

     I put a soft vintage blue minkee on the back and quilted it with a medium meander. I also put "November 2011" and "baby dolen" down in the right hand corner under the square I left whole. Its hard to see but here you can see the writing backwards. 

    I finished with Aboriginal dots from Kaffe Fasset in taupe for the binding. Bias binding and hand sewn- as always. Labor of love! 

    I just love it so much and I know the Dolen's do too! Now it waits in the nursery until the November arrival of baby, enjoy guys. Much Love!

*Update - Brit was kind enough to send me a picture of the quilt in the nursery, it looks so cute.

xx steffani 

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{fabric} LouLouThi Flannel!!

   I've been waiting and waiting for this line to arrive at the shop...today was my lucky day. Lucky because these prints arrived and lucky because I don't normally work at the shop on Mondays but today I am. What a great monday so far! 

    Not sure what quilt I'll do yet, but I'll do some searching today and see what I come up with. The pattern I choose has to lend itself well to large scale prints, but I don't want boring 10" squares either, so I'll see what I come up with. 

We'll have the second colorway coming into the shop soon, so I might wait until they all are here until I start creating, or I might get anxious tonight when I get home and cut into them...we'll see. 

 (second colorway coming soon!) 

You can purchase all the LouLouThi flannels in the shop, were I encourage you to stop in to feel them, they are amazing. OR you can shop online here. 

LouLouThi Flannel by Anna Maria Horner

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