lap quilt. preliminary border

this border is kickin' my butt.

first, i thought i'd do connecting triangles of the blue and green tie dye, like i used in the hourglass, for the four corners. and i'd cut strips of the same two around all four sides.

i didn't like the color match against the "leaf" and "marble" batiks i used to border the blocks.

so i decided to connect triangles of the leaf and marble. i like it much better. but how do i lay it out?

i did pyramids of the marble.


the corners would not match.

alternating seems to work better. however, there's still the issue of the corners. maybe i'll do a solid square of the yardage seen in the bottom right which is to be the back?


it does help to have these photos to re-create. for some reason, it's easier to see then when standing directly over the top.

i'll gladly take any suggestions, to all you quilters out there!

and in the meantime, if i could make myself let this sit and begin something else, trust me, i would. ar. ocd. i can yet be some of both though time and getting older has certainly helped with that! but now, of course, my brain's fried with age. wore, slap out! :D

lap quilt. continued

life's been a bit maddening lately, but today i decided to step away from those things i can't control right now anyway and finish up the blocks and rows for my island batik lap quilt top. 5 rows, 20 blocks. the green rocks my world. now, i just have to decide on a 4 inch border, whether i'll do strips or squares and from what fabrics, these or two or three others i have to choose from. fun, fun, fun! doesn't freak me out anymore.

lap quilt. growing on me

yeah. with two rows done, i'm diggin' my first hourglass lap quilt. and i should have plenty of fabric to do a nice border, binding, the back. and then some. maybe one of those cute little doll quilts i've seen. a wall hanging? that would be good, too, practicing some other cut & element. i'll post now only when i'm done. or you might get bored here. :D and in the meantime, there are more projects, like, a valance. and a betty shopper for my sister.

lap quilt. first blocks

pattern: hourglass
fabric: island batiks (see previous post)

i think i've settled on some kind of design for my lap quilt. i'm going to stick with the hourglass...4 wide, 5 high...because i like it so much, repeating with these same fabrics, alternating the blocks. these are mad colors. i don't know what i was thinking when i bought them. the red probably won't get used unless i bring it into the border or if i piece the back. i've absolutely no red in my living room. there's a grape, too. that could go somewhere. you really don't know until you start sitting things, one next to the other, what works, what won't. i don't want to get too busy. this is enough for the mind to know as is, but i kinda like it because the hues are deeper, not super bright, even that green tones down nicely with what lies nearby. let's see how it looks as i continue to piece. you can't really mess up, can you? :D

four seasons. winter

pattern: market bags by portabellopixie boutique patterns
a pattern by sandi henderson
fabric: michael miller mod. black mod leaves & black mod patchwork
other materials/notions: canvas, 2 - 1 7/8" buttons. orange paisley & black paisley
modifications: extended straps by 5 inches. basted canvas to exterior & interior fabric. button loop & buttons for closing.
completed: 08January2009

phew! i'm totally loving this bag & was so excited about the look & feel of the mod leaves & patchwork that i decided to use a button closure to wear the bag in either print, not a magnetic snap that would be noticeable when reversed as completely dysfunctional.


it took some time to topstitch for the double canvas, but this baby is super sturdy. no matter how i turned it, i wanted the exterior fabric to have stability.

i decided to stick with the same pattern i used for four seasons. fall because i love the size, the shape and the ease with which i can get into this bag at the checkout, bank or anywhere i need quick access to cash, keys or phone. i also divided the pockets on the outside & in to hold my cell phone in one, the checkbook or a wallet in the other, for example, inside or out, without fear that either would topple out from a loose side. and with the canvas on the pockets, too, well, they lay nice & flat.

i've been using fall ever since i made it. now i've got this gorgeous winter. i can color coordinate and still have a hip bag i love.

the bottomline is...no matter your preference in fabric (i know mine tends to be a little...uhm...bold?), the color or design, you gotta love what is you and you have to enjoy what you make. when you do, the end result is pleasing as beautiful art! and then strut your stuff around town. don't be shy! :D

and now, maybe i should really get that christmas tree down from the living room. yikes!

make the cut

the island batiks i purchased back in september '08 for the lap quilt i want to make. i have no clue how i'm going to cut & coordinate. is there any sense to these designs and colors? but, at least i've actually taken them out of the drawer, sat them out, to touch, feel, to "peace" a pattern in my mind. :D

and in the meantime i'm ironing to cut the pieces for my winter. four seasons bag. it's a rainy day, perfect for quiet, sewing time.

2009. off to a good start

pattern: simplicity 9499 - a longer view d
fabric: a blue flannel purchased at a hancock fabrics in december 2007
other materials/notions: fusible interfacing for buttonholes, webbing, buckle
loungewear for: tee
completed: 04January2009

i've about 25 projects on my 2009 sewing list. tee's flannel shorts were first on that list. done! the new year is off to a good start. and as we'll yet have some colder weather, i'm really not horribly late or completely slack about dear tee's simple request. :D

pumped. practice hour glass block

inspired by these fabulous batik quilt tops (see here and here) and with this trusty book in hand as reference, i stole a little quiet time this morning as sadie entertained tee to practice what i have decided will be a block for my own batik lap quilt, the fabric which i have had on hand for months now.


these are not the actual batiks, just scraps from my stash in somewhat coordinating colors to practice, of course! i'm super pumped because i finally understood piecing triangles to squares and strips. and my points match up pretty darn good, too! yippee!

my plans are to have a 48" x 58" lap quilt...four 10" blocks across in 5 rows with a 4" border plus the binding (i haven't done the math...maybe it'll be a tad bigger then 4' x 5' for the width of the binding?). i'll alternate this hour glass with a solid block matching a 4-patch block (or something simple like that).

it'll take me a while to cut everything and i'll need to work on tee's flannels (no, i haven't done those yet!), but if i do one block at a time, when i've time, it'll be quite pleasurable and i'll know a great challenge...until i get to the actual quilting and binding, that is. I'm getting freaked again! :D

four seasons. fabric

no sewing here this past week, but some total fabric loving. so happy with the mid-weight cottons i've found for two more of my four seasons bags.

yep, winter. the hippest black i was looking for.


top: mod. black mod patchwork & bottom: black mod leaves by michael miller. purchased online here. the leaves will be the exterior, the patchwork the lining.

and for summer, this delicious, bright golden yellow (exterior) and abstract black (lining), fresh paint, by michelle d'amore for marcus fabrics now on sale here.


i may go with the purple carnival bloom or clementine far out floral also from michael miller for spring, but i've plenty of time to make that decision.

may you know a safe and happy new year's day. and health, prosperity of love and creative talents gone wild in grand accomplishment and sweet contentment this 2009!

obsessed. just a couple more

i was pleasantly surprised this morning with the sparse traffic on the way and in the grocery store for those last minute fresh items needed for Christmas dinner. that's done and out of the way. cooking will start tomorrow for those things that are best left to set overnight.

and as i had a little time to myself after dusting and vacuuming while tee was watching tv before we take a nice stroll to one of our favorite burger joints downtown for a late lunch, i went to work on a couple more patchwork cards. totally addictive. except i can be overwhelmed by all the scraps to choose from. you know, the perfect combinations.

so, yesterday's card i posted will be a graduation/congratulations/new job type of greeting. and these, the top with the flamingos, christmas, of course and the pinks/purple partridges, a girlfriend/sister/mother type birthday card. yeah. they're blank inside. i'll have to pen a poem freehand. perfect. i needed to diversify my personal line and this is perfect.

i'm outta here! i've yummy fabric for four seasons i'd love to post. it can wait, though. there's a holiday to enjoy.

peace on earth!

patchwork cards

as soon as i saw these cards in this book (as meghan so kindly shared here), i was itchin' to make some. this morning i had just enough time after early day errands and before i head out the door here in just a few with tee, who is on vacation through the 1st and insists on fun time around the city, to make just one.

as the author promises, these are addictive. like a lays potato chip, you won't want to make just one. so, my scraps are scattered on the floor where they'll remain until i clean up for christmas day that i may sneak up here and patchwork a few more greeting & notecards when no one is looking for me. i didn't make my holiday cards this year for lack of a good digital image. phooey on that. next year, i'll have a stack of these babies in wild & happy designs to send out.

a black ties affair. apron

groovy gold café apron by apa
fabric: robert kaufman imperial collection 4: asian-inspired. aqua & m. e. hordyszynski for michael miller fabrics. fairy frost.
date completed: 20December2008

here it is! the christmas apron. i had this fabric in mind, remnants from the parisian purse by indygo junction i made for one of my sisters & an everyday bag by favorite things i made for my mom, because it's the closest to silver & gold that is the holidays in your ornaments, tinsel & garland and the only remotely holiday fabric in my stash. some green, but not a stitch of red in my possession. wow. i just realized that.

anyway, the combination...a little offbeat color? :D i think it's kinda "sexy" since it's cafe style...shorter...yet demure (me?) for the scallops.

and consider this. use the front, which is the aqua & fairy frost while cooking, turn it around and use the reverse for serving.


a formal affair indeed. well, as close to formal as it gets in this house. you know. jeans & bare feet.

a joyous holiday, everyone, to you & yours. be safe. know health & prosperity in the love and beauty that is family, friends, your truth, passion & creativity! may we all live our art in 2009.

for apron lovers. new pattern. popular designer & men's flannels

the new domestic goddess apron. by amy butler. I heard about it in a newsletter. i haven't bought it. yet. i kind of like designing my own. but it's super cute. i wouldn't mind having it in my collection. some day it, too, will be vintage.

and she's a new halter top. that might appeal to summer lovers. and beach bums. oh to be so super talented. make things that so many like. santa, bring me a sack full of my dreams, please?


last year i made tee some flannel lounge pants, simplicity 9499. in place of a drawstring, i used this webbing & a buckle, much like what he has & likes on some comfy nylon hiking shorts. he wants another pair, to the knees. and it just so happens i have this blue flannel in my stash. perfect. i should really get to work on these for him. whip it out in a jif. but, i'm still thinking on that christmas apron. can't get it out of my mind. :)