Monday, October 31, 2022

It's in the Bag with By Annie and Island Batik

 




The Island Batik Ambassador Bag Challenge is one of my favorite challenges.  It features patterns from ByAnnie.  The patterns are always easy to read and come with extra add on videos.  Together you can't go wrong making any of these patterns!


This month I am showing off "A Place for Everything 2.0". 
Sewn together with Schmetz Needles 


and 50 wt Aurifl Thread in matching colors.







For this project we got to pick out the fabrics. 





 I chose the main fabric and the coordinating pink from the Sunset Plains line by Kathy Engle.  The yellow comes from the Island Batik Foundations lines.  I wanted something bright and fun every time I opened the bag.  And pink and yellow make a great color combo.






This bag is loaded with pockets!





For this bag, I particularly like how you can take the two pocket pages out.








Annie's videos help you make everything. If you are a visual learner they are a must to watch!
She has free ones to help with binding and zippers as well as the detailed add on video specific to the pattern.





There are so many different options for this bag and you can design the pockets to fit your needs.  
The introduction video for this bag has some great idea.  You can check it out on the details page for the pattern:  A Place for Everything 2.0





There were some bulky seams in some places, but the Schmetz needles went through everything with out any problems.  The video suggests using a 90/14 size needle, but I already had an 80/12 in the machine and that just worked fine.




The next step in this project it to fill it up with all my quilting goodies!

And then figure out what By Annie pattern I want to make next!





Happy Sewing!


=^..^=



Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Gremlins, Goblins, and Ghouls Oh My! Blog Hop



Welcome to day two of Ghoulish Halloween inspiration.
I love Halloween, mostly the cutesy fun part. 
 Nothing too gore-ish or gruesome for me.  And I can't do scary movies! 
 Mr. Boodegy is my limit. lol



 But I do love treats and cute ways to pass them along.

This year I made some festive triangle pouches for some special little Gremlins and Goblins.


I used up some of my fun Halloween Prints for these.


These are super quick to sew up, and hold lots of sweet goodies.




There are many different tutorials on the web on how to make these, just search for Triangle Pouch and you are bound to find one that fits your style.




I tried two different types, both with an inside lining: A zipper on the edge and a zipper in the middle.

Can't wait to fill these up and pass them along!



I have also been working on another spooky project. 





The pattern is Bats by Cluck Cluck Sew.





 I cut out all the pieces for it last year and started making the blocks this year.




These are big blocks and are going together pretty quick.




 I am hoping to have it finished in time for the Family Halloween party on the 31st.




I have been asked to do some party games.
A spooky bat quilt would make a nice grand prize...


Be sure to hop on over to the other sites below to see more spookiness!





Happy Sewing!


=^..^=




 

Thursday, September 22, 2022

Queen of Gadgets Blog Hop

 



Welcome to day four of the Queen of Gadgets Blog Hop hosted by Carol of Just Let Me Quilt.
The challenge for this hop was to use our favorite sewing tool to create a project and tell why we love it. I went big for my project so it isn't quite finished yet, but it's close enough to give you an idea of why I love the tool below!






Right now my favorite sewing tool is the Blade Saver Thread Cutter by Purple Hobbies.





 I am a chain piecer and assembly line sewer.  I cut everything at once, then sew it, then press it, then sew another batch and press, etc.   A lot of times that leaves me with a chain of 100 or more pieces to cut apart before going to the iron.


This little tool helps me separate the sections lickety split.  I have tried other brands, but I like this one the best.  Sometimes my rotary blades are still super sharp except for one spot, like when I tried to cut a pin or something,  so it is nice to be able to use the best part of the blade for something else.   Plus the blade fits inside the stand if you ever need to take it with you.  Small and compact and easy to carry.




What better way to show off how to use this tool then by creating a quilt that has lots and lots of pieces.  The Greenhouse pattern by Elizabeth Hartman has been on my "want to make" list and I figured this was the time to make it.  I really wanted to go big on this one so I needed 56 different ten inch squares.

I pulled squares from three different Island Batik 10 inch stackers.

Drizzle - an older pack I had been saving for a while
Farm Fresh and 
Garden Gems.

The background is my favorite Island Batik neutral called Sprinkles.



Cactus plants...




Flower plants...




The Blade Saver Thread Cutter in action!




Prickly plants...




Jade plants...





 and Aloe plants.




So many pieces to separate!  I am glad I have this little tool!

Oh, does tape count as a tool?  If so I am loving the Diagonal Seam Tape by Cluck Cluck Sew as well.  You can see it on the sewing machine in the picture above.  No more drawing diagonal lines on fabric for sewing guidelines, just use the tape.  A definite need for this pattern too!



Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Island Batik Tool Talk Blog Hop

 



It's time to talk tools with Deb Tucker Studio 180 Design tools and Island Batik




During the month of September Island Batik Ambassadors are showing off their projects using the new Island Batik fabric lines coming out now along with some fun rulers by Deb Tucker.






The fabric line I am showcasing is called Silverado Canyon by Kathy Engle, hitting stores now, and the ruler I got to play with is the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star.  






I love everything about this fabric line! From the different shades of blues, tans, and cremes, to the plants and animals in the prints. It makes me think of gray canyon walls on a nice summer afternoon.






Using the Rapid Fire Lemoyne ruler sure helped make perfect stars.  Cutting the pieces out big and trimming down makes perfect diamonds and triangles.  I usually end up with wonky shapes or triangles that are a wee bit too small when I try to cut these exact by myself.  I would usually paper pieced these types of units, but I can skip the paper now with this ruler.
 





The ruler also lets me make multiple sizes which is nice.  I used several different sizes for this quilt.  My smallest star finished at three inches.  The stars in the center of the big blocks are four inches and the star parts in the sashing would have made six inch stars if you put them together in a square 



The backing is made up of some a few different Island Batik Foundations prints.  



I also love my new wool pressing mat given to us from Prairie Spirit Alpacas.  I was zooming along and didn't get a photo of it in action this time, but you can check them out here.





Hobbs Batting is inside this one again.  It really is some good stuff.  This time I used the Hobbs Poly-Down Batting.  It sure makes it nice and fluffy.  Super nice to cuddle under.





And of course, sewn and quilted with Schmetz needles.  




Make sure you check out Claudia's blog to see what she created with this same collection.




And don't miss the Island Batik Blog to see all the new fabric lines and your chance to win one of these bundles of fabric!  




Happy Sewing!


=^..^=