Day 1 of the Simply Striped Pillow Blog Hop !

            Simply Striped Pillow Blog Hop
                             March 2

Welcome to my first Blog Hop at  Susie's Sunroom!

I invited six "super star" quilters to make a pillow  "any way you like" from  one pattern-   
     the Simply Striped Accent Pillow Pattern   { available on my Craftsy here}!

Each day of the hop,  we will  have a guest blogger and  they will share their own pillow.

I also have a giveaway to share with you at the end of the post!  **The Giveaway is now closed.**

So let's get started!!

Our first quilter, as well as designer, is the talented and artistic Elaine, of Summercrafter blog:                                                     

Meet Elaine    @ Summercrafter  blog

Hi! My name is Elaine the Summercrafter. It used to be that Summer was when I could really enjoy crafting and quilting. Now, I am embarking on a pattern designing business and I couldn't be happier doing something I really enjoy, like making pillows for one. I had a great time doing Susie's Striped Pillow Tutorial (once I decided which fabrics to use).




For me, choosing the fabrics always takes the longest, yep, I over think it!





I am in the process of making a baby quilt for a little bundle of joy due to arrive early in the Summer. Once I had the quilt pieces cut out, squares and rectangles, I had the rest to use for my pillow.




I had to play with Susie's measurements and see which pieces would work best.

Because of the fabric restrictions I encountered, I ended up making two FRONT versions of the pillows. On one side, I used rectangles to make the stripe in the color scheme I was using for the quilt. I love how it pops on the gray.



On the other side, I accented the pillow with orange chevron.

To assemble the pillow, I was able to "patch up" pieces of batting and adhered it using spray baste which I like to use for small projects. I basically had two small quilt tops. After flipping the pillow, I dreaded that closing stitch that never quite comes out as neat as I would like. So I decided to add a little binding for some color contrast and to conceal the stitches.

I left a big opening to stuff the pillow. TIP: Always sew the binding on completely to one side BEFORE stuffing the pillow!





Overall, I have to say Susie's tutorial was really easy to follow, her photographs were very detailed and helpful for us visual learners. You can find the pattern for the pillow right here.


And more pictures...





 ;









I think this pillow can grow up with the baby right through college!

Elaine

Wow!!  I just love Elaine's pillow!!  These fabrics are so vibrant,, and I love the binding addition to my pattern!  This will be a much-treasured gift for that little baby boy!!

The Schedule-    here at Susie's Sunroom  :      
                        

March 2   Elaine    Summercrafter       

March 3   Susie  Susie's Sunroom      

March 4   Geta      Geta's Quilting Studio     

March 5   Sheri   Sunshine in the Attic         

March 6   Lara    BuzzinBumble          

March 7   Amanda    The Patchsmith   

March 8   Amy  Amy Made That!     

Now for the GIVEAWAY :    ~the giveaway is now closed

The Prize:    

Windham Fabrics  Wallflowers charm pack  plus 1 yd  Wallflowers Lattic Green
plus  Easy Angle 6 1/2 " ruler  by Sharon Hultgren

 

The  Prize:

One  Wallflowers  Charm pack   (by Windham Fabrics)  and

One yard -  Wallflowers Lattice Green fabric      and 

 Tool-   Easy Angle 6 1/2 " ruler   by Sharon Hultgren 

To Enter:      Simply leave a comment on this post.
  If you need an idea... you can  tell me ( or confess ) if you have a large or a small fabric stash!

Contest dates:    Monday,  March 2 - Friday,  March 13, 2015   midnight EST * now closed*

Giveaway is open to USA and International friends !!  

If you are a no-reply blogger, you must  leave me your email address so that I can contact you , if you are the winner.   If there is no email address, I will have to do a re-draw and pick another winner.

Good luck everyone!  
Come back tomorrow to see what I  have made for the blog hop!

1. The pattern          2. Summercrafter

I'm off to my sewing room!

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

The Bookbag Backpack and a Giveaway!

It's a cute Bookbag and a Backpack... in one

I am as happy " as a clam" when I am testing out a new pattern.  
Sew couldn't be happier right now, because I just got to try out a new backpack pattern designed  by Samantha at At Home with Mrs H !  

Samantha's new pattern.... The Bookbag Backpack

For the first time , when I was picking out what fabric to make the backpack ,I decided to use a home decorator weight fabric. I wanted a fabric with extra durability.   I chose all of my fabrics from Terry's Fabrics .  Terry's Fabrics carries gorgeous  curtain fabrics.  ( I think this is what we call home decor weight, here in the US.  ) The prints are big and so pretty.

Fabrics:  I chose Sayuri , in moleskin color , for my main fabric.  

Sayuri   in moleskin color

Then I picked this brown poly/cotton blend fabric for the handles and straps.

Kensington  fabric    in mushroom color 

I wanted the lining to pop out with color, and luckily, they had just right color of yellow... lemon!

Panama cotton  Lemon

Zipper:  Coats Sport zipper  30 in   (I got mine at JoAnn Fabrics)
            2-  10 inch nylon zippers (from Zip It )
2 Tri-glide buckle ,4  square rings, 2 swivel hooks from JoAnn Fabrics

Intefacing:  Pellon SF 101   and Pellon FF987

I decided to split my tasks into several days, since this is a bag with many pieces to cut out and sew. 

• Day One, I read through the whole pattern and was so thankful that  Samantha's  pattern has excellent directions and pictures to show all of the steps in making this backpack.  I then cut my pieces from the fabrics, and labeled them.
• Day Two, I cut all of the interfacings out.  Since the outer fabric was home decorator weight, I used the SF 101 interfacing on the backs of those pieces.   I used the FF987 fleece for the lining.  And the straps were made from a poly/cotton blend, and after making a small test strap, I decided it did not need interfacing. Then, I sewed all of my straps and handles and hooked up the hardware to them.  I used a brown thread that blended with my brown fabric.
• Day Three, I sewed my bag together.  

( I left out , Day Two Evening.... I carried  my finished  straps ,with the cute  hardware attached, around all evening and then  to bed , to admire )

The backpack finished size is :  12 inches wide x 14 inches high x 3 inches deep
This bag can hold a lot!

The Bookbag Backpack     by Susie's Sunroom

I love the yellow pop, from the lining of the outer pocket.

It has strap for over the shoulder, too!

The back side  , with the backpack straps

Inside, it has a zippered pocket in the lining.   I added a slip pocket on the other side.

I smile when I look inside my bag, seeing this beautiful, lemony fabric!

Handles on the top of the bag.  I love these details.

Surprise.... there's another zippered pocket in the front pocket!!

What do I think about this bookbag backpack , after making it?
I  L.O.V.E. it!!

It's sturdy in it's design... yet so stylish.
It will hold a lot of fabric books and things!  It will really 'work' for you.
You have the options of using it as a backpack , or a bookbag .... using the  handles on top  or the shoulder strap.
It has lots of pockets!!!  I adore that front zippered pocket hidden  inside the front slip pocket!!

This was a project where I did have to stop to  rip out some stitching.... but it was a careless mistake that I made.   
I put one of the backpack straps on upside down.   (I  now have marked my directions with a red marker at that section!!)  But this is an error caused by my rushing around and not "checking it twice".

Will I make it again?  I most certainly know that I will. I think I might  make one , leaving the backpack straps off.  I love the handles at the top of the bag, and the shoulder strap.
I can see it carrying my laptop around when I travel.

Where can you get this fabulous pattern?   Click here:   At Home with Mrs H 
It is available on instant download!!  

Not only is Samantha an awesome designer, but she is also a sweetheart who is donating a free pattern for a giveaway on my blog!!  That means that you have a great chance of winning this beautiful and functional bookbag backpack pattern!!

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you for your comments!
When?            August 28, 2013  12:01 am EST  -  September 4, 2013 10:00 pm EST
How to enter:    leave a comment on this blog post....  anything will do.
 Need an idea?  You can tell me what you would carry in your bookbag if you made one !
Leave me your email address in the comment....     then I will email you directly if you are the winner.  (If I can't find an address for you, I will have to have Mr Random Number Generator pick a new winner.)


Good luck!  

I'm off to my sewing room!

I am linked to :  And Sew We Craft Together Linky Party @ And Sew We Craft

                              Sew  Darn Crafty @ Sew Many Ways

Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways

Blog Hop Party Time!                    

Welcome to Susie's Sunroom! 
Grab your mug of coffee or tea... or whatever!  and check out this fun blog hop!               Look what is happening, starting Aug. 25!

                                

You are invited  to hop along  with me to visit the blogs that are participating  in the Back to School  Blog Hop Party!  The Party is being hosted by Quilting Gallery. The full list of bloggers with giveaways is there!

I am happy to say that I am having my first Giveaway! Here are the details to enter my Susie's Sunroom  giveaway:

  Leave a  COMMENT on this post, 

telling me how many sewing machines you use !

(Details optional...  like nicknames for your machine, brand, etc...)

That's all you have to do!  One entry.

The contest starts Sat, Aug. 25 and ends Monday, Sept. 3 at 10:00 pm EST

If you are my winner, I will notify you by email 

and announce it on my blog in another post on Sept. 4

(If you are a no-reply blogger, please include your email in your comment, so I can reach you.)     International visitors can enter.   :)

And now for The Giveaway:

                  A   PDF Pattern -  The Rosie Patchwork Bag  
                     

           - Designed by  Handmade By Mrs H !  Her newest pattern!

I was lucky enough to be a pattern tester for Samantha, and so I know first- hand that the pattern has clear directions and instructions, and it  makes a beautiful bag!   I love how it mixes  linen, a modern shape  , and the  patchwork blocks together!

My Rosie Patchwork Handbag

Samantha is also generously giving a 15% discount code for any of  my  friends/family/blog readers who want to purchase the pattern---- just use NEWPATTERN15 in the coupon code box on checkout at her etsy shop Handmade by Mrs H  !   

Good luck to everyone!  See you around on the hop!

I'm off to my sewing room!