Zakka coasters

After the last couple of projects I've worked on I've caught myself saying I needed to expand my collection of fabrics into different styles. The fabrics you see here are called batiks, they are pretty cool but I've never thought they were my style. I decided that this project could be a perfect opportunity to use them because I wanted to make a gift for a friend and I didn't feel that my fabric stash had anything appropriate for her. I really love how they turned out!

Once again I used a pattern from my I Love Patchwork book. I sort of screwed up the measurements of the first one I did, and because I'm a perfectionist I just had to do another one following the instructions properly. I love both the screwup and the one I did correctly!

Part of my reasoning for staying away from batiks in the past was that I thought they were too traditional, but the way they are used here keeps them contemporary enough for me.  It doesn't hurt that the colors are fresh and bright either. I love the zigzag quilting!

I ended up giving the rectangular one with the zigzag quilting to my friend, I'm super glad she liked them!

Note to self...

Never get a speeding ticket again so that you have to spend an entire day off doing online traffic school instead of sewing... (gee, was that a run-on sentence?)

I'm taking a break because I was falling asleep while watching a very boring video.

Here is a little peek at a project I have in progress...

I would much rather be working on this than reading about traffic rules and road rage...

My first Zakka project!

You may remember this post where I told you about a few books I was lusting after. I got two of them for Christmas and last night I made my first project from one of them! It actually went pretty well, and I of course learned a few lessons in the process. Loosely translated from Japanese, Zakka means "miscellaneous goods." Over the years the term has grown to be understood as an aesthetic and design style, mainly focused on household items that enhance your environment. (from I Love Patchwork)

I chose to make the utensil basket with no intentions to put utensils in it. I wanted to have it on my coffee table to put my TV clickers in.

I often forget to take pictures of the process and just show the finished project. This time I remembered and have a few pics of it being assembled.

These are the layers that go into it

This was after it had been turned inside out. I hand stitched it closed next. I definitely learned not do have the open end happen on the corners, it made closing it a bit more difficult and messy.

Ta-da!

This was a fun and quick project! I managed to do it in one evening and had I stayed focused on it, it could have only taken me an hour, maybe hour and a half.

Happy sewing!

Adding to my wish list...

Last week I was finally able to purchase a piece of furniture that I've been wanting for a while! I'm not ready to show you yet because it's not completely organized but it's getting there. I plan to have a shelf dedicated to books about crafting and sewing and my small existing collection needs friends. I hope to add these books to my collection someday. I fell in love with the first three books when I went to the quilt show, the fourth I've seen once or twice and the fifth one, we have at work. I end up reading it while I'm on my breaks at work but I would love to have it as my own.

Sew Serendipity is all or mostly clothes, which I don't really know how to sew but it would be cool to learn. I hope to someday. The pieces in this book are fabulous!

After working on some large quilts, I'm loving doing small projects like mug rugs and mini quilts. Mini Quilts has some really cute ideas in it. The images and photos are fantastic! I think I'll aim to get this one first as the projects are the right scale for me right now.

This book has some great insights into how to get a crafty business running and off the ground. It's still very daunting but it's nice to read about others who have done it.

Oh Christmas Tree, oh Christmas tree... oh wait, it's still August!

No, you aren't crazy, yes these are Christmas fabrics. I am already starting to think of Christmas crafts. I'm hoping to participate in the craft fair I've done for the past two years again. I've got several ideas, I can't wait to start working on them!

I love this one! It's like the cartoon of Christmas on Mad Men!

I love the colors of this one, it's fun and funky! It makes me think of Whoville!

Obviously I like the combination of pink along in with the traditional green and red. If you remember my table runner from last year it shouldn't be a surprise! (Teresa- I've got some fabrics set aside for you if you still want a table runner like the one I made last year)

The last pic is of some fabrics that I just really liked, I had to add them to my stash! they scream summer to me!

My latest project

I couldn't share this until today but I gave it to the recepient this weekend so I can show you now! I made my first dress! I made it for my friend's baby girls first birthday. It turned out so cute!

The pattern is from Heather Ross's Weekend Sewing book.

I can't wait to see her in it!

my latest little project

My existing ironing board cover was falling apart and was to be quite honest, not that cute. I also left an iron on it absentmindedly a while back so I had a nice little iron shaped burn. I found a pattern idea on one of the blogs I read and it was really simple so I thought I'd give it a shot.

Before

After!

I found a cute yellow fabric with polkadots that is close to the one I found a couple months ago that I really wanted.

Ahoy mateys!

A while back I found the image you see below of a ship painted on an oval piece of wood. I've always had an interest in all things pirates and old ships and I thought this image would be a great addition to the collage of stuff I'm working on getting ready to hang on my wall. Even though it's painted on wood it sort of looks like it was embroidered and put in an oval frame. As I often do, I decided I could do this myself. Having never embroidered before I found a tutorial online and it's pretty easy!  I saved this image a while back and don't remember where I got it, if anyone knows where it's from let me know and I'll give credit.

I still need to secure the fabric on the back and if anyone can reccomend how to get the fabric to lay flat in the center there near the mast I'd love to hear it. Just leave a comment.

Sweet sweet Liberty of London!

And get this, it's actually straight from the actual shop in London! My wonderful sister brought me two, count em' two fabrics from Liberty! I love them!

So pretty!

Home Sweet Home

I got this grand idea in my head to make a welcome home banner for my sister on her return from Italy. Silly me though, I can't just make something simple or out of paper, I have to make it complicated. I decided to make it out of fabric and when I realized I had great fabric to make it with I was even more excited. I have a stash of vintage feed sack and old dress fabric and such that was my grandma's. I freehand cut out the letters and appliqued them on. It took me the better part of a night but it went pretty fast. She loved it when she came home and now I'm tempted to make something similar for myself.