Sunday, August 31, 2014

Winner of the Nappy Bag Pattern

Winner of the Giveaway!
Nappy Bag pattern  at the Etsy shop of At Home With Mrs H

It's time  to see who Mr. Random Number Generator picked to win this stylish (and useful) Nappy Bag pattern !


Random number generation / Random Numbers


Generate a random number between  and   = 4   

That means that Leanne is the Nappy Pattern Winner!!

4. Leanne  says:
Great bag! I'd certainly use the pattern to make diaper bags for friends or family expecting babies. No more babies for me (my youngest is 6), but there are always others having babies. Thanks for linking to TGIFF, and for the chance to win.    

Leanne, I will be sending  your email to Samantha and she will send you the pdf pattern.

Thank you, Samantha (Mrs H herself!), for generously donating this pattern to my blog for a giveaway !   
And remember,   If you stop by her Etsy shop,  please feel free to use the code ATHOMEWITHMRSH10 for a 10% discount on your purchase of pattern/s & or hardware !
Thank you to everybody who stopped by, and especially if you took a few minutes to write a comment!

Let me know if you make this great bag!  I'd love to see a picture !
                                              Congratulations, Leanne!
I'm off to my sewing room!

Friday, August 29, 2014

Block Talk in August


This week I have two Patchique' Blocks and two Sew Kitschy BoMs  to share with you.


Sewing blocks along with The Patchsmith
Patchique' Block #2 :  Shima ichimatsu (which means Stripe Check)


#2  Stripe Check   from the Book 

I followed the helpful tips that Amanda, The Patchsmith , has explained  in her blog post ,  since this block is made up of 36 two-inch squares.  It involves sewing the two fabrics in 2 inch strips together, and cutting that new strip crosswise.  I was happy that it all turned out, using my scant quarter inch.


Block #2  Stripe check              by Susie's Sunroom

Patchique' Block #106:    Ken giku  (which means Sword-petaled chrysanthemum)

Block #106   Sword-petaled chrysanthemum  from book


This block is basically a dresden plate, with 16 petals.  I wanted the flower to be brown, with green and red colors to be featured.  I started sewing, and held my breath when it came to adding the last petal into the circle... and the petals fit in beautifully.  Whew!


#106   Sword-petaled chrysanthemum                        Susie's Sunroom
  
Next up:  Sew Kitschy BoM      Paper Pieced  designs by Kristy  at  Quiet Play blog

July's block:  Retro Radio
July BoM  Sew Kitschy   Retro Radio    @Quiet Play

July BoM  Sew Kitschy   Retro Radio            Susie's Sunroom


August Block :   Kitchen Utensils
August BoM  Sew Kitschy   Kitchen Utensils    @ Quiet Play



August BoM  Sew Kitschy      Susie's Sunroom




And here are my  eight blocks... only one more block to go!


Sew Kitschy BoM                          by Susie's Sunroom

Just wait until you see the ninth and final block... it's really  "Sew Kute !"


I'm off to my sewing room!
Linking up at:   Quiet Play Sew Kitschy @ Quiet Play  and                   
                      Can I Get a Whoop Whoop @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict  and
                    Fabric Frenzy Friday  @  Fort Worth Fabric Studio

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Around The World Blog Hop

Around The World Blog Hop "Hello"


I've been invited by Amy,  of  Amy Made That!  blog,  to participate in the "Around The World Blog Hop. " Each participant is asked to answer a few questions and then tag another blogger or two to pass it on. What a great way to find new blogs to read!

 Question #1: What are you working on at the moment?
I am almost always working on some Block-of-the-Months... I love the process of creating blocks for a quilt, one or two at a time...

                Some current BoM's I am working on:

                     Patchique' Quilt Project with The Patchsmith  -
                     making both patchwork and fusible applique blocks in a style                                              inspired by Japanese Taupe Quilts (book - Japanese Taupe Quilts)





                                 The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt blocks- 
                          making these traditional blocks by the paper piecing foundation method                             { Summercrafter, Elaine, got me hooked on these blocks! } 
                              ( book- The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt book





                                  Sew Kitschy -  a retro kitchen paper piecing BoM 
                                   by Kristy of Quiet Play.  I love to paper piece!



                    
And every month, there is a new theme  for our   Across The Pond Sew Along  . It's our
  casual, monthly sew- along group , with fun  projects and ideas... you can join in                          with us at any time! There is  open invitation to all!
                                     ** See up at the top of my blog for more details and how to put your pictures 
                                                     in the ATPSA  Flickr group!  **

Sneak Peek.... something I am working on for the September Across The Pond Sew Along !

 Question #2; How does your work differ from others of your genre?
 I don't think that I try to be different.  I just try to be myself.  And , in that sense,  I hope that my work and sewing style reflects my happiness... to simply be sewing and sharing.  I love lots of colors , many different styles, and learning new techniques in this wonderful world of sewing.  


Question #3: Why do you create what you do?
When I began to sew,  I started to " sew" in my dreams.  Often, I get up extra early to continue sewing a project that I was working on the night before. And I just love giving a gift of something that comes from my heart and my hands.
( And lastly .... there  are soooo many glorious ,rich and gorgeous, shiny ,subtle, texty and batik-y bolts of FABRIC  , just sitting there on shelves ...waiting to be "adopted " and taken home to be "petted" and added to MY STASH  !  )



Some projects       by  Susie's Sunroom

Question #4: How does your creative process work?

 The foundation:   I  spend a lot of time doing "research" and learning ...by reading blogs by the talented quilters and designers out there.  I save the  projects, patterns and tutorials that I think I may  use in the future. And so have built up a nice library of patterns and ideas. 


New experiences:   I like to try lots of  new things.   I really enjoy being able to help some seriously- talented and creative designers,  as a pattern tester.  I love learning from this experience and trying different projects to sew, that may be out of my comfort zone.  

 The raw materials:  I am not an orderly fabric stacker and organizer....  I like having a overflowing  gigantic stash so I can pull "the right fabric " out  at a moment's notice and begin to sew. 
  I have been known to lay out fabrics in a few lots of  piles, around my work table and sewing machine... until a good inspiration hits me  company is coming and I am forced to clean up .  (Truly, those piles  are "ideas still brewing " in my mind!) And it makes my heart happy when I see my kitty, Whiskers, napping peacefully , curled up to a  pile of fabrics, a.k.a. the next project.

Lastly,   I usually know if it was a good idea.... when I want to  go to my sewing room to look at it about ten times a day!


That's more than enough about me....Where will I be sending you on the Around The World Blog Hop?  To   Sheri, from  Sunshine In The Attic , on Sept. 8.    Make sure you look at her Quilt Festival  page HERE to see more of her gorgeous work!  

Thank you for stopping by to visit my little spot of the sewing world.  




I'm off to my sewing room!

Sunday, August 24, 2014

A Few Quiet Moments

A Summer Sunday Morning....

It rained last night...  
               and I took some moments to enjoy the morning quietness....




















                                       


























And I was so thankful for being audience to ...
                     the fluttering  dance of the Rose Of Sharon blossoms
                                                                        in the morning breeze.




I'm off to my sewing room!

Thursday, August 21, 2014

A Duel Personality Bag and A Giveway

The " Is It a Diaper Bag or Is It a Travel Bag? " Giveaway !


The Nappy Bag Pattern   pattern available at Sewing Pattens by Mrs H

One thing  (oh, and I admit there are alot !)  that I can't refuse, is the opportunity to  test a new pattern by the talented designer, Samantha,  of  At Home With Mrs H blog.

Samantha,  or Mrs H,  is expecting a little baby soon, and decided to design her own diaper bag.   (They call them Nappy bags, in Wales where she lives.)  Since I won't be expecting any babies (that was 24 yrs ago!) ,  I made my Nappy  bag with just a few minor changes. This will be perfect for me when I am traveling. 

My Nappy Bag - 
The Nappy Bag        in Joel Dewberry' s Bungalow fabrics



Pattern:  The Nappy Bag      by Sewing Patterns by Mrs H
Bag Dimensions:      18 " wide x 10 " high x 5 " deep

Fabrics:   Joel Dewberry   Bungalow-  Dahlia Grass ,Chevron Lavendar & Hive Pink
               Quilters Linen Print Pink
Long Strap : Adjustable, over- the- body with swivel clips (optional)
Bag Top Zipper:      22 " long
Pockets:      outer front  - magnetic snap closure for the flap
                  outer back -   optional velcro closure, with hidden zipper pocket inside
                  outer side pockets -  2  - elastic- edged
                  inner lining zippered pocket
                  inner large slip pocket and divided slip pocket on other side
                  inner bottle holders(elastic)- optional

Stablizer:   I used Annies Soft and Stable.  It is a pleasure to use... lightweight , flexible and  easy to sew!

My adaptations to make this a travel bag:



  
I didn't add elastic to the top of the lining pockets, or on the outer side pockets.








Top View     see the outer back pocket and the hidden  zippered pocket !


The outer front pocket easily holds a tablet.
 Notice the  stylish flap that closes by a magnetic snap


Back outer pocket with my cell phone

                 





The outer side pockets -  holding my cell phone in an otter case




Now for the giveaway:   Who would like to win this Nappy bag Pattern? 
Simply leave me a comment-   tell me how you would use this bag if you made it ?
      Drawing open until Friday August 29 at 11 PM EST.

If you you'd like to get the pattern or any other pattern ...Samantha, of 
At Home With Mrs H,  is generously offering all my readers a 10% discount on any purchase from her store, patterns & hardware...just use the code
 ATHOMEWITHMRSH10 for the discount!

I'm off to my sewing room!
PS
Whiskers wanted me to tell you how she'd use the Nappy Bag-



Whiskers
There's another use for the bag.... travel  kitty bed

Linked up at-    And Sew We Craft Together @  And Sew We Craft  and
                       TGIFF  @ Devoted Quilter    and
                      Can I Get A Whoop Whoop! @ Confessions of A Fabric Addict  and
                    Sew Darn Crafty Party @  Sew Many Ways