cash zipper wallet

My friend has been using the cash envelope system for years now and still uses paper envelopes in her purse, this doesn't bother her but for some reason it bothers me.....haha.   So in my search for my perfect wallet, in the previous post, I found this tutorial for exactly what I needed to make!
I couldn't find the fabric I liked in laminated cotton so I bought the iron on vinyl and it worked out fine, although it seemed I spent more time ironing than any other step, but it was worth it to have a wipe-able surface.  I used different color zippers to color code the envelopes i.e. pink is for clothing/accessories and green is for grocery shopping......  I hope she likes it as much as I do!

vintage love....double-sided napkin tutorial

I LOVE my Jadeite......and any excuse to use it! When I was asked to set a table at a Valentines banquet I knew I needed to figure out a way to pull in the lovely vintage color.  So off to my favorite fabric store to find some vintage looking fabric that had mint and red as the primary colors, I was hoping for a variety of 4 fabrics so I could make 2 of each.  Well... they didn't let me down,  I found this great set of fabrics. SCRUMTIOUS by Moda fabrics. grabbed some red rick-rack and red Kona cotton. Let me take a moment to brag about quality fabrics.  I come across people everyday that choke when they ask me about what fabrics I like and how much they are per yard....but no matter what others may think quality fabric is an absolute must!  ONLY IF you want your projects to turn out professional looking, if you want to enjoy your sewing process, if you want a product that will last the test of time.... I could go on!
I have wasted too many hours and projects on cheap fabric.  I also only use cloth napkins and have purchased as well as made them and there is nothing worse than a bad napkin.  I have already washed this set 3 times and they have come out beautiful with minimal ironing...which is appreciated, and while we are talking about cloth napkins I thought I would share my latest napkin organizing find.....over the door shoe organizer is perfect for storing your cloth napkins, you can see what you have, access them easily without digging through a pile and they are out of the way to free up space for other dining accessories. I spent around $40 on supplies and if you compare to customized napkins at a boutique they usually run $24+ for a set of 2.  So I think I did pretty good for a set of 8 costing $8. each.

So here's what you need for 8 double-sided napkins:
You need 1/2 yard print for 2 napkins or 2 yards for 8
2 yards solid fabric
14 yards rickrack...yes 14 :)
matching thread

Square up your fabric and cut 2- 18x18 squares from each print

then fold in quarters to round the edges

I like to use a saucer (here you can see how the fabric matches the jadeite perfect, but the camera doesn't show its true color)

trim up all pieces (16)

now we are ready to add the rick-rack
I like to add it to my front piece first - line up the zig zag with the edge of the right side, stitch on and then stitch the backing fabric right sides together.  Run both ends of the rick-rack off the edge so the ends get caught in the seam when finished.

after you piece front to the back, turn your piece and press all around and opening so it is ready for top stitching

once all your napkins are turned, and pressed run a top stitch all around as close to the edge as you like, this is decorative, and functional as it will keep the pieces together after washing and it will close your gap where you turned your piece.

and voila! your set of beautiful custom napkins is complete! 

scallop quilt update

It has been time for finishing up projects.
First the hankie quilt.... I needed to find a way to display my Grandmas hankies in a useful and beautiful way. I used a white swiss dot for the sashing and boarders as well as the binding,  my goal was to let the colors of the hankies be the main focus of this quilt, I also backed the quilt top with interfacing and decided to hand tie rather than machine quilt.
Then I got to work on the scallop quilt.
The quilt pieces were set aside for other projects and when I went to pick them back up I found that I needed to re-iron them.  The ironing technique using the foil goes quickly, but still time consuming.  So the only other thing I have to say about the construction of this quilt is that the pieces are round so they are stretchy which can pull and become esque.  So this quilt is less than perfect....but colorful and pretty non the less.  I have the scallops, boarders and back ready to sandwich and quilt.
I have a little quilt corner where I can display quilts and linens on an old ladder.  I have hung my hankie quilt, and below that is a quilt my  great-grandmother hand embroidered, all 50 states and the sate bird.  Then she hand quilted this large King size quilt.  Such beautiful craftsmanship.

scallop quilt before the boarders

A sneak peek at the boarder and backing.....I cant wait to get this thing quilted!  I used Joel Dewberry Notting Hill Voile for the backing, I you have not touched this fabric yet......let me just say you need to!!!

make-up brush roll

after I made my duffle bag, and matching bathroom bag, I needed a wrap for my make-up brushes to go in so they didn't get make-up all over the inside of my bag.  This is a very quick and easy project.
I followed this tutorial it came out perfect.

   

 I used good ol' drop cloth, since it was plain and I needed an excuse to practice my free motion quilting I wrote out" brushes", 

jewelry clutch

It always seems like when I start packing for a trip I realize I need a new bag, a make up brush roll, an 

organizer for carrying accessories......

so while I should be cleaning the house or prepping something for the trip I start to sew, it never fails!

This is just how I work!

So searching for a tutorial that looks efficient and fast that I don't have to think or and customize very much, this is what I found.  I wanted to use a shiny satin on the inside and  my fabric was only 11" wide and I only had 9" zippers so I did make my clutch a bit narrower than the tute but its not crucial.

I keep fusible fleece on hand (buy at Joanns when interfacing are 50% off and stock up) I also keep a yard or so of vinyl for such projects and buy zippers in bulk from this shop on etsy because I always need a zipper.

OK So my photos are not great with the reflection of the vinyl but you get the jist...

so, make one for a Christmas gift this year!

tuttie tute:girly party gift

I LOVE making kids gifts because:

they are often free and made with scraps

they use up scraps

they are fast

always original

FUN

satisfying

are you convinced of making kids gifts yet?

this is my quickest go to girls purse

I used Amy Butler Lacework /Olive for the outer, Garden Maze/Olive lining and Martini Dot/Blush for the straps and flower. We are going to fill the purse with nail polish and pretty tissue then it will be our gift bag also!

Here are the basics:

2- 13x13 outer and lining

1- 13x13 fusible interfacing

2- 12x1 1/2 for handle

1- 2 3/4x 5 3/4 piece of plastic, cardboard or anthing sturdy for bottom (it wont be seen)

embellishments

1. Cut your outer, lining and interfacing together 13x12 1/2

then fold in half short end to short end and cut out a 1" square at the fold on both sides, this will give you a box bottom

2. Iron on interfacing to wrong side of outer fabric

3. Cut Handle cut 2 pieces, bias tape can be used or you can make your own, ribbon is also nice here.

4. If using your own fabric, fold in half lengthwise and iron

open and fold over 1/4" on each side to incase raw edges, I like to sew 2 rows of stitching 1/8" on both sides

5. Assemble purse

sew side seams on outer 5/8"

sew lining sides seams the same as outer only leave a 2" opening in the middle for turning later

6. Press side seams and stitch bottom seam 1/2" across, this creates the box look

7. Attach handles to top 2" in from side seams

8. Turn lining inside out and push outer into lining to top edges line up and stitch 5/8" seam around

9. Turn through opening in lining side seam, press, top stitch as desired

10. Cut bottom and insert in the lining opening then stitch opening closed, press

The purse is finished and no time to embellish

Fabric Flower:

-rip 2 strips of fabric one aprox. 2x10 and one aprox. 1x8 I just eyeball this for the size of flower I am wanting, and I like to rip the fabric to get frayed edges, they could also be pinked.

-sew a long running stitch on one side of each strip

-pull the thread to gather, as you do this the fabric starts to curl, let the fabric shape itself and once you get ot the desired fullness spiral the gathered ends around and add a needle to the gathering thread and stitch flower middle to secure it, add a button ad pin back or stitch directly to purse.

it's time to quilt.....

this will be my first "real" quilt, I have made tie quilts, picnic blankets, baby blankets, etc. but never a real pieced, quilted, and bound quilt. Mt twin boys are getting ready to graduate to "big boy" beds and I thought this was a perfect opportunity to make the "little bits" quilt from the Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts book, check out the flikr group, I plan on displaying my quilt here when finished.

So follow me on my journey of "little bits"

first the fabric.....

fell in love with the All Star collection from My Minds Eye by Riley Blake

since I am making 2 quilts I am planning on using the same main fabric and accents for the "bits" but contrasting backgrounds to be different for each boy.

fabric came today soooo excited to start

next post will be of the "little bits" panel, see you soon