Pattern: Leather Bottom Zipper Pouch, from Beyond Cotton
Fabric: Nani Iro double gauze and Chambray Rules by Kathy Hall, purchased at Drygoods Design
Leather: Tundra Sheepskin from Tandy Leather
Friday, June 3, 2016
sewing up a favorite
After all this time, these pouches are still one of my favorite things to make.
Pattern: Leather Bottom Zipper Pouch, from Beyond Cotton
Fabric: Nani Iro double gauze and Chambray Rules by Kathy Hall, purchased at Drygoods Design
Leather: Tundra Sheepskin from Tandy Leather
Pattern: Leather Bottom Zipper Pouch, from Beyond Cotton
Fabric: Nani Iro double gauze and Chambray Rules by Kathy Hall, purchased at Drygoods Design
Leather: Tundra Sheepskin from Tandy Leather
Monday, April 18, 2016
fabric painting the modern way (Beyond Cotton)
One of my very favorite techniques in Beyond Cotton is fabric painting. It's so easy and a perfect way to get into personalizing your fabric.
The three projects in the book that use this technique are the Watercolor Baby Bibs, Whole Cloth Painted Baby Quilt, and Freckles Tote Bag:
All three of the projects use base fabrics that are neutral and soft, which are then painted with a super cool liquid dye by Jacquard called Dye-Na-Flow. The great thing about Dye-Na-Flow is that it soaks into the fibers of your fabric and doesn't change the feel of it-- which makes it perfect for baby items.
You can easily find the larger bottles of Dye-Na-Flow at your local art store, Dick Blick, and Dharma Trading. Smaller bottles are sometimes found more readily in something called "exciter packs" at JoAnn Fabrics, Amazon, and Michaels stores.
Once you learn the technique, it's so easy to use it on other projects!
I used the Whole Cloth Painted Baby Quilt technique on fabric for a Geranium Easter dress for Charlotte:
I've dyed panels of white linen blend Essex to make different versions of the Leather Bottom Zipper Pouch that's also a project in Beyond Cotton:
And I've played around with painting designs and using a Sharpie Rub-a-Dub laundry marker to do accent marks:
The three projects in the book that use this technique are the Watercolor Baby Bibs, Whole Cloth Painted Baby Quilt, and Freckles Tote Bag:
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| photo by Holly DeGroot |
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| photo by Holly DeGroot |
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| photo by Holly Degroot |
You can easily find the larger bottles of Dye-Na-Flow at your local art store, Dick Blick, and Dharma Trading. Smaller bottles are sometimes found more readily in something called "exciter packs" at JoAnn Fabrics, Amazon, and Michaels stores.
These are really good for smaller projects and for color mixing.
I used the Whole Cloth Painted Baby Quilt technique on fabric for a Geranium Easter dress for Charlotte:
I've dyed panels of white linen blend Essex to make different versions of the Leather Bottom Zipper Pouch that's also a project in Beyond Cotton:
And I've played around with painting designs and using a Sharpie Rub-a-Dub laundry marker to do accent marks:
Sandi of the Crafty Planner used this technique to play around too. You can read her review of the book and more about her project here.
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| photo by Sandi Sawa Hazlewood |
Have you tried this technique yet? If you're a beginner or just nervous about dyeing or printing fabric, I bet you'll be hooked once you learn how easy, inexpensive, and fun it is. Give it a try! And don't forget to post and tag your photos on Instagram with #beyondcotton and #beyondcottonchallenge this month to get some great prizes!
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Beyond Cotton Challenge
Just a quick note to let you know that the Beyond Cotton Challenge is starting next week! I'm excited to start sharing all of the different projects in the book, but I'm even more excited to see what everyone will make!
More details to come on Monday, but in the meantime, I'm giving away 3 books this weekend via Instagram. You can also purchase Beyond Cotton on Amazon, the Lucky Spool website, or through my etsy shop (copies are limited there and I will ship just in the US).
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Mighty Lucky Quilting Club
Can you believe we are almost through 2015? I love a new year, and the new adventures that come with starting over each January. This coming year, I'm excited to be a part of something fun and adventurous for quilters-- the Mighty Lucky Quilting Club! I hope you'll join in too.
As you know, I'm a big proponent of making your work your own. Learning new skills is what allows you to do that. When you join Mighty Lucky, you'll receive a new training challenge each month from a list of amazing instructors:
January – Krista Fleckenstein (yes, that's me!)
February – Season Evans
March – Rossie Hutchinson
April – Alison Glass
May – Amy Gibson
June – Angela Walters
July – Cheryl Arkison
August – Sarah Fielke
September – Jacquie Gering
October – Nicole Vogelsinger
November – Amanda Jean Nyberg
December – Carolyn Friedlander
This isn't a block-of-the-month club-- the projects will be skill and technique based, with lots of helpful examples. Members will receive support throughout the month and be able to cheer each other on through social media using the #mightylucky hashtag. (And there will be giveaways. Really, really good giveaways.) With all of that training, you'll be flexing your new quilting muscles with confidence! And who doesn't want that?
Want to join the Club? Learn more about it and sign up here. My challenge launches January 1st, and I'll be doing my own "mystery" giveaway next week with the tools to get one Mighty Lucky member started. Stay tuned...
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Print Your Own Gift Wrap
Today I'm featured on Sew Mama Sew, teaching how you can print your own gift wrap this holiday season! Check it out, plus so many other amazing projects for their month of Handmade Holidays, here.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
a feather quilt
Now that it's wrapped up and the kids are back in school, I've had a bit more time for new projects. I joined the Schnitzel and Boo Mini Quilt swap on Instagram and decided to make a version of Anna Maria Horner's Feather Bed Quilt (I was going to link it up, but it looks like her website is getting a bit of work done). My partner likes bright and bold fabrics, so I used a mix of shot cottons (my favorite) and some Cotton + Steel basics on an Ivory Essex linen.
The free pattern calls for strip piecing a grouping of fabrics, then cutting the feather sections out using a template. Since I knew I wanted each feather to have different fabrics, I ended up using the template as a guide for paper piecing. I cut each fabric into a strip that was about 1-2'' wide and 6 inches long, stitched and flipped them one by one until the template was covered, then trimmed the feather to size. It went very quickly! It's a technique I'd use again.
I quilted it with my latest favorite design, a diagonal grid.
It's backed with a bold print from Heather Ross' Briar Rose line and bound in more Cotton + Steel.
With the extra time, I'm also starting to restock my neglected etsy shop with items like these watercolor dyed pouches.
It's fun to get back to it! I hope you are all enjoying some creative time as well.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Make It, Take It Blog Tour!
Yay! Welcome! It's my turn on the Make It, Take It Blog Tour!
Krista Hennebury, or K1 as I like to call her, is one of my best far-away-turned-real-life sewing friends. As she's also mentioned, we met through Flickr groups along with my fellow blog tour buddy Krista Withers (K2) because of our shared name. I have been lucky enough to be included at Krista's incredible Loon Lake retreat in British Columbia. She has been such a good friend who both inspires me and encourages me, and I was so thrilled for her to write this book about sewing with friends. After all, she's the queen of retreats!
The project I created for Make It, Take It is the Crafter's Retreat Apron. Anyone who has sewn with me knows I am just a little bit disorganized. Really, that's a lie-- I'm incredibly disorganized. I'm always losing scissors or my phone under piles of fabric. I wear a crafter's apron to hold supplies when I sell at craft fairs, so I thought it would be a fun thing to adapt my pattern to use for sewing at retreats. This one has quite a few pockets for pens, safety pins, and maybe a candy bar. I added a swivel hook for scissors and a loop for hooking glasses. My optometrist husband says I have a good six and a half years before I'll need readers (did you know that 42 and 3 months is the average age to develop near sight problems?), but I'll be ready.
I'm excited to say that I'm giving away two copies of Make It, Take It! Martingale is providing a digital copy, and I will be providing a hard copy. Just leave one comment below-- I'll pick two winners at random on Sunday. The giveaway is closed. Congratulations to Alli and Anya!
I'm also excited to say that I can call each one of the contributors for this book my friend. Make sure to check out their blogs during the tour to learn about their projects too!
Blog Tour Schedule
Friday, April 3 Blog hop kick-off: Right here!
Monday, April 6: Berene at Happy Sew Lucky and Amy at During Quiet Time
Tuesday, April 7: Leanne at She Can Quilt and Felicity at Felicity Quilts
Wednesday, April 8: Martingale Inc. at Stitch this! (check out their Rainbow Round the Cabin staff party!)
Thursday, April 9: Krista at Spotted Stones and Krista at Krista Withers Quilting
Friday, April 10: Lynne at Lilys Quilts and Cindy at Live a Colorful Life
Saturday, April 11: Ayumi at Pink Penguin and Krista at Poppyprint
Sunday, April 12: Kristie at OCD: Obsessive Crafting Disorder and Christina at Sometimes Crafter
Krista Hennebury, or K1 as I like to call her, is one of my best far-away-turned-real-life sewing friends. As she's also mentioned, we met through Flickr groups along with my fellow blog tour buddy Krista Withers (K2) because of our shared name. I have been lucky enough to be included at Krista's incredible Loon Lake retreat in British Columbia. She has been such a good friend who both inspires me and encourages me, and I was so thrilled for her to write this book about sewing with friends. After all, she's the queen of retreats!
The project I created for Make It, Take It is the Crafter's Retreat Apron. Anyone who has sewn with me knows I am just a little bit disorganized. Really, that's a lie-- I'm incredibly disorganized. I'm always losing scissors or my phone under piles of fabric. I wear a crafter's apron to hold supplies when I sell at craft fairs, so I thought it would be a fun thing to adapt my pattern to use for sewing at retreats. This one has quite a few pockets for pens, safety pins, and maybe a candy bar. I added a swivel hook for scissors and a loop for hooking glasses. My optometrist husband says I have a good six and a half years before I'll need readers (did you know that 42 and 3 months is the average age to develop near sight problems?), but I'll be ready.
I'm also excited to say that I can call each one of the contributors for this book my friend. Make sure to check out their blogs during the tour to learn about their projects too!
Blog Tour Schedule
Friday, April 3 Blog hop kick-off: Right here!
Monday, April 6: Berene at Happy Sew Lucky and Amy at During Quiet Time
Tuesday, April 7: Leanne at She Can Quilt and Felicity at Felicity Quilts
Wednesday, April 8: Martingale Inc. at Stitch this! (check out their Rainbow Round the Cabin staff party!)
Thursday, April 9: Krista at Spotted Stones and Krista at Krista Withers Quilting
Friday, April 10: Lynne at Lilys Quilts and Cindy at Live a Colorful Life
Saturday, April 11: Ayumi at Pink Penguin and Krista at Poppyprint
Sunday, April 12: Kristie at OCD: Obsessive Crafting Disorder and Christina at Sometimes Crafter
Monday, February 2, 2015
week 4 of 52 weeks of printmaking- red onion
(Last week I decided to take down the wallpaper in my studio and paint. I love the end product, but it took all of my energy. Needless to say, it also put me a week behind. Oops.)
This week's print is based off the inside of a cut onion. I tend to like small-scale prints. But this week I wanted to play with something big. This stamp measures about 3.5 by 4 inches.
Block printing with a larger stamp can have its challenges. The rubber block needed to be mounted to a piece of plexiglass to keep it from flopping around, and I ended up using a foam brayer to apply my ink (I usually make my own stamp pad). But I love the statement it makes when its repeated-- I just might make this into a screen to do repeats on fabric yardage.
I originally planned to make a tote bag with two printed panels, but I cut the panels too small! So I opted to make a box pouch out of one of them for now.
It's lined with one of my favorite Cake Rock Beach prints.
And it has a simple leather handle.
Want to win it? Just leave a comment here. I'll pick a winner on Wednesday!
This week's winner is comment #19-- Barbara! Congrats!
This week's print is based off the inside of a cut onion. I tend to like small-scale prints. But this week I wanted to play with something big. This stamp measures about 3.5 by 4 inches.
Block printing with a larger stamp can have its challenges. The rubber block needed to be mounted to a piece of plexiglass to keep it from flopping around, and I ended up using a foam brayer to apply my ink (I usually make my own stamp pad). But I love the statement it makes when its repeated-- I just might make this into a screen to do repeats on fabric yardage.
I originally planned to make a tote bag with two printed panels, but I cut the panels too small! So I opted to make a box pouch out of one of them for now.
It's lined with one of my favorite Cake Rock Beach prints.
And it has a simple leather handle.
This week's winner is comment #19-- Barbara! Congrats!
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
week 3 of 52 weeks of printmaking- river rocks
This week's experiment is another simple block print that makes me think of river rocks. Every time my family goes camping, we head to a lake or river nearby to skip stones. Some of my favorites are the ones that have striations like these lines.
It's basically just an oval with 3 lines cut through. Quick and easy. I based it off of an old sketch.
I decided to make something other than a zippered pouch this week. This drawstring pouch is from a tutorial by Svetlana at S.O.T.A.K. Handmade and is one of my favorites. The lining is from Leah Duncan's new Gramercy line.
It's basically just an oval with 3 lines cut through. Quick and easy. I based it off of an old sketch.
I decided to make something other than a zippered pouch this week. This drawstring pouch is from a tutorial by Svetlana at S.O.T.A.K. Handmade and is one of my favorites. The lining is from Leah Duncan's new Gramercy line.
Life is busy! But I love taking even an hour each week to try something new to share here.
As always, I'm sending this bag to one of you this week! Just leave a comment and I'll choose a winner at random on Thursday morning. Good luck!
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This week's winner is Lesley! Congratulations!
Monday, January 12, 2015
week 2 of 52 weeks of printmaking- spool block
It's week 2 of the 52 weeks of printmaking!
This week I carved out a little spool block. It's printed on canvas using an ink pad for fabric.
Once it was sewed up into the pouch, I just felt like it was a little dull. Maybe it's the soft imprint of the ink? So I added a bit of hot pink "thread" and spiced it up a bit.
It's lined with a great Suzuko Koseki sewing print! I couldn't resist.
Would you like it? Once again, I'm giving it away! Leave a comment here and I'll pick a winner on Wednesday. International and US entries are welcome.
__________________________
This week I carved out a little spool block. It's printed on canvas using an ink pad for fabric.
Once it was sewed up into the pouch, I just felt like it was a little dull. Maybe it's the soft imprint of the ink? So I added a bit of hot pink "thread" and spiced it up a bit.
It's lined with a great Suzuko Koseki sewing print! I couldn't resist.
__________________________
Thursday, January 8, 2015
some news!
First, thank you for all of the sweet comments on Monday's post! I'm so excited to do the regular giveaways. I think you'll like what's in store for next week.
You may notice that I've done a bit of tweaking to this blog's design recently. I've wanted to simplify its design, but you also may notice that button there on the right. I've got a new website!
My brother helped set it up for me, and I love it! It will continue to be a work in progress as I tweak the content and photos, but for now it has a gallery of some recent work, links to this blog (where I will continue to post until I find a better way to integrate it into the website) and my etsy shop, and a few other bits.
On my About page, I have even more news!
My first book with Lucky Spool comes out this fall! Eep! I'm right at the deadline for finishing up the manuscript this week so I expect to be a bit sleep deprived. But it's an exciting time. I can't wait to share more with you in the coming months.
Have a great weekend!
You may notice that I've done a bit of tweaking to this blog's design recently. I've wanted to simplify its design, but you also may notice that button there on the right. I've got a new website!
My brother helped set it up for me, and I love it! It will continue to be a work in progress as I tweak the content and photos, but for now it has a gallery of some recent work, links to this blog (where I will continue to post until I find a better way to integrate it into the website) and my etsy shop, and a few other bits.
On my About page, I have even more news!
My first book with Lucky Spool comes out this fall! Eep! I'm right at the deadline for finishing up the manuscript this week so I expect to be a bit sleep deprived. But it's an exciting time. I can't wait to share more with you in the coming months.
Have a great weekend!
Monday, January 5, 2015
a challenge for the new year, and a giveaway
Last year, artist and maker Jen Hewett did something really cool that she called "52 Weeks of Printmaking." I first learned about her on Instagram and really admired her work. And I always thought her weekly printing practice was such a fun idea. She's doing a new project this year, but she handed the torch off to Nicole of Yardage Design. I decided to join in.
Time is super tight these days, so I ended up pulling an old stamp that I had carved a few months ago to do my pattern. I played with the repeat in two different ways in a burnt orange ink on linen, then sewed the panels into a simple pouch. It's lined with one of my all-time favorite floral fabrics from Hokkoh.
After I made this, I thought about how much I absolutely love making pouches. They are such a good way to showcase handprinted fabric. So I'm adding something to my challenge. Every week, I'm going to make my printed pattern into a pouch or bag and give it away to one of you! It's a good way for me to say "thank you" for the encouragement you give me, and a good way to keep motivated to make something new every week.
To win, just leave a comment here. Easy! I'll choose a winner on Wednesday morning. (International and U.S. readers, you are both welcome to enter this week. I can't ship internationally every time, but I'll try my best with smaller things!)
Happy New Year!
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Update: The giveaway is now closed! And the winner is #61, Linda! I'll email you for your address. Come back next week for another chance to win!
Time is super tight these days, so I ended up pulling an old stamp that I had carved a few months ago to do my pattern. I played with the repeat in two different ways in a burnt orange ink on linen, then sewed the panels into a simple pouch. It's lined with one of my all-time favorite floral fabrics from Hokkoh.
After I made this, I thought about how much I absolutely love making pouches. They are such a good way to showcase handprinted fabric. So I'm adding something to my challenge. Every week, I'm going to make my printed pattern into a pouch or bag and give it away to one of you! It's a good way for me to say "thank you" for the encouragement you give me, and a good way to keep motivated to make something new every week.
Happy New Year!
---------------
Update: The giveaway is now closed! And the winner is #61, Linda! I'll email you for your address. Come back next week for another chance to win!
Monday, September 29, 2014
Art Techniques for Quilt Design Blog Party
I mentioned in my last post that I'm really enjoying Carrie Bloomston's new DVD, Art Techniques for Quilt Design. I'm not sure how much I mention this, but skill-based learning is what it's all about for me these days. Anyone can follow a pattern. But when someone can teach you a skill, you can take that skill and apply it in ways that can really influence your own work and design. It's wonderful. And that's what you get with this video.
Carrie's background in the arts (she went to RISD! Jealous!) influences so much of what she does. You can see it in her quilt patterns and her fabric design. It's so interesting to get a peek into her process, and I can already tell that the skills she's teaching me are going to make a difference in the work I'm putting out too.
You can win a free copy of the DVD by visiting Carrie's giveaway post through October 4th. And don't forget to visit the other blogger's who are joining the party too!
Carrie's background in the arts (she went to RISD! Jealous!) influences so much of what she does. You can see it in her quilt patterns and her fabric design. It's so interesting to get a peek into her process, and I can already tell that the skills she's teaching me are going to make a difference in the work I'm putting out too.
You can win a free copy of the DVD by visiting Carrie's giveaway post through October 4th. And don't forget to visit the other blogger's who are joining the party too!
1. Erica Sage
4. Claudia Gomez
6. Karen Lepage
7. Verena Ehrhardt
8. Amie Plumley
9. Krista Fleckenstein
11. Tia Curtis
13. Sally Keller
http://sallysangelworks.typepad.com
http://sallysangelworks.typepad.com
14. Lana Elfstrom
https://twitter.com/elfqueenof5
https://twitter.com/elfqueenof5
15. Angela Tackett
16. Kristin Schwarze
17. Christen Barber
www.lovebyhand.com
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