Dark Sparkle Torsade

I had the notion that I needed a torsade necklace. After thinking about it for awhile I allowed myself to go over to Chevere to see what I could find. I say 'allowed' because I could get lost for days playing with the strings of beads and gemstones and crystals...so many shiny objects to draw me in. I may be part crow.

To make the necklace I used three different sized strands of faceted black glass crystal and a strand of faceted amethyst beads. I went for the real gemstone on the amethyst beads as they had a different quality of sparkle than the glass. I interspersed silver bali beads in two of the black strands. I strung them on flex-rite stainless wire and used some pretty end caps and a toggle closure. Very pleased with this sparkly little trinket! The cat however would like me to keep it out of his sunny patch.

My Little 301

I had mentioned to my friend Coral that I was considering a Singer Featherweight because I was tired of lugging my heavy Bernina to getaways. She asked if I'd ever tried one and I replied, no. She made me sit down right there and try hers out. I quickly realized why it has such a cult following. A beautiful stitch, steady feed, and despite being such a tiny thing it just feels solid and doesn't vibrate or move as you sew.

At our guild's quilt show one of our vendors was Bob Harrison, who sells and services vintage Singers. Coral and I flocked to him. He has a great selection and is very knowledgeable. On day one of the show I chose one of his Featherweights to take home. Coral decided to try a Singer 301, which is like the big-sister of a Featherweight, and she ended up going home with it.

On day two of the show Bob brought in another Singer 301 and table. I tried it out. It's only a few pounds heavier than a Featherweight. However different from a Featherweight, it has retractable feed-dogs so you can do free motion quilting on it. It also has a slightly longer arm, slant needle, and is gear driven. After playing with it for a few minutes I was hooked. So I bought that and the table too. I really like the table because the machine sits down flush in it, but it has the insert piece to cover the hole so that you can use it as a card table too. Even though the legs fold up, it's still a very sturdy table.

Once home I checked them out fully and started playing with them. I quickly realized that though the Featherweight is the darling of the vintage sewing machine market, my heart went to the 301. This thing sews so fast - it whips down a seam in no time with no puckering or shifting. I find myself going up to my sewing room every day just to look at it, yeah it's love.

References:
A Fine Line Quilt Studio
Bob Harrison - Bob's Featherweights
Learn more about the Singer 301
Sew-Classic Blog - Vintage Singer Parts & Info

Saturday Afternoon Wall Hanging

I started off Saturday afternoon with the intent of using my new sewing machine (more on that later) to sew together some of the many jelly roll strips I've acquired. I had a pattern from a book in mind but wasn't haven't much luck getting the pieces grouped the way I wanted. Then I started playing with my batik jelly roll strips and remembered the pattern that my friend Kathleen had given me, "Hot and Cold Flow". I took that out and got out my Leaves Galore Templates from my friend Sue Pelland and within a few hours I had this lovely piece that I'm going to hang in my office at work.

Because I was using the jelly roll strips mine is a bit bigger than the pattern and I actually have enough pieces left to finish another wall hanging. I made two colorwaves, each with 10 jelly roll strips (I used 1/2 a length of jelly roll strip). Then went at them with the Grande Leaves Galore template. The finished wall hanging is 32"x20". This was also my first attempt at the invisible binding and I must say I really like the result. Kathleen had given me the tip about making the backing a 1/4" smaller than the front, and that was just the trick. Her pattern is easy to follow and the whole project goes together super quick!

What's funny is that using the batiks and Kathleen's pattern I thought I was going to end up with a piece that looked something like her style. But when I stepped back and looked at mine I laughed out loud - my warm color choices - the reds, creams, green, and navy are me all over.

References:
Kathleen Murphy Designs Hot and Cold Flow Pattern
Sue Pelland Designs Leaves Galore Templates

I Spy a Blue Speedo

Thimble Pleasures Quild Guild's Show is coming up soon - March 24 and 25 at Blackstone Valley Tech High School in Upton, MA. This is an I-Spy Quilt I made for the silent auction. That's right - you could win this quilt! I love I-Spy quilts and this one has some particularly good fabrics in it - Snoopy, ATV's, Dogs, Lions, Cool Cats, and of course the wrestler borders. Also on the back is Scooby Doo!

References:
Thimble Pleasures Quilt Guild

Amigurumiaddiction

I saw these cacti on a blog and became smitten. Then I found the pattern was made by another crafter named June. How could I not love that? So I ordered the patterns, bought some yarn on my way home from work and set out to make them. I had a hard time stopping myself from crocheting to get up or take a break or eat. I crocheted until my fingers were sore, my arms were aching, and my shoulders were in knots. I love how they came out and they are going on my desk at work - which is excellent because I don't have a window in my office so it's hard to keep any plants alive in there. June Gilbank's instructions were excellent and included pictures - it was all nice and clear, even for a novice such as myself. I will be making more of these as I bought the succulent collections as well. I just need to give my little hands a break for a few days - though it's all I want to do!

References: Planet June Cactus Collections

Little Heart Pillow

This was the gift I made for my secret valentine. I got the idea from a quilt called, "Hearts on Fire" by Cindy Cooksey in the book, "Pretty Little Mini Quilts". So cute. While I really like the look of the ticking stitches, and because they are big stitches you'd think it would be easy - it was a surprisingly tedious and time consuming step!

References:
Pretty Little Mini Quilts

From My Secret Valentine

My quilt guild does a secret valentine exchange and I received this lovely table runner along with some chocolates (long gone), fabric, and a new tracing wheel. Love it!! Am just trying to keep the cat off of it...

My Funny Valentine

In my Christmas stocking this year I got a crochet book "Vanna's Choice Easy Crochet Critters" and some gray yarn. So I set out on my second attempt at amigurumi to make Peter a Valentine's present as he loves elephant. For the eyes I had not gotten any craft eyes so I improvised with some vintage cufflinks. I had a little trouble with the trunk, but overall am very pleased with the results and think I've perfected my counting of stitches with this project. Peter was smitten with it and is now keeping it on his bureau away from the cat and dog.

References: Vanna's Choice Easy Crochet Critters

Foamy Amigurumi

Got a crochet book in my Christmas stocking and had bought an amigurumi book a while ago. Saw a video the Craftzine blog and gave it a shot. I made a few dish cloths using the technique and with a little help from YouTube crafters to help me with some stitches I tried a few more little items. And then I hit Ravelry looking for some more dish cloth patterns and I came across this cute pattern for a Foamie. And so last night and this morning I crocheted this little guy with some leftover cotton yarn I had. I need to make more of these little things. Time to take on the book...

References:
Craftzine Crochet 101 Article
Ravelry Foamies Pattern

Catalog Christmas Trees

I came across this little craft in the book, "Complete Origami" by Eric Kenneway, however I've since seen instructions for it posted around some craft blogs as well. It's a great way do something with all those catalogs that come (I could have created an entire forest). No glue or cutting involved, just some folding, and tada, cool recycled Christmas trees.

Crafty Sister Scarf

My sister won the Martha Stewart prize this Christmas, giving Mom a hand crocheted scarf. Max learned to crochet when she was three from a great aunt who was a prolific crocheter. I recall Max made some interesting toilet paper cover dolls, and she also made crochet Barbie clothes and other little goodies long before anyone had ever heard of arugami. Beautiful!

References:
Max Happyfeet

Clothespin Angel

My mother still puts this little angel on the tree every year that I made as a child. I was probably in Brownies or Girl Scouts. It's a classic craft of a clothespin, felt, yarn, glitter, and glue. Still cheesy and loveable today!

Amazing Angels

My mother's friend Chris Ingersoll made my mother and my sisters these amazing corn husk angel tree-toppers. The one on top is my mother's and the one below is mine. I wish I had pictures of the others because they are all unique and truly exquisite in craftsmanship and detail. They are all made of natural materials, I especially love the Milkweed pod wings. I love bringing them out every Christmas!

Books: Saturday Night Hat

I do love a good book. And my mom sent me this hard to find goody for my birthday, "Saturday Night Hat" by Eugenia Kim. The designs are pretty basic and technically easy to do, but she uses those to build upon with creativity. Especially good is the Haircut Hat, a standard cloche that she modifies the edge on to make it look like a sassy bob with bangs - so cool! I also loved her whimsical pillbox that looks like a slice of Wonderbread with butter. Nice inspiration and fun, an excellent addition to the hat book collection!

Eugenia Kim

Rebicyclist Belt

The West Coast JP's did very well with their green gifts this year. Peter received this awesome bicycle tire belt made by Julien Jaborska. How cool is that? I made need to borrow that from time to time...

References:
The Rebicyclist
Another Gift from the JPs

Trendy Mittens

For my birthday I received a lovely pair of hand-knit mittens from my friend Elizabeth. The wrist is done in a Missoni pattern, ooh-la-la. She also made them in a washable wool - I can wash them - hurray! Because I always end up with soiled mittens (I'm such a naughty kitten).

References:
LizaP Designs
Missoni
Three Little Kittens

Recycled Gift Wrap

Not only did the JP's give green gifts for Christmas, but they also used recycled newspaper wrap. However, I'm not sure what Miss Manners would say about giving someone newspaper wrapping with the Sudoku already done!

Happy New Year!

Well as the holiday season usually goes, I got a little busy and behind in my blog updates. I've got lots of pictures and goodies to post. Here is last year's Christmas craft from Dad - a lovely Christmas Tree tray. There were several other patterns he made for the family, below is the stocking he made for Mom. Just right to separate the tipsy balls from the nuts!

Kid In A Candy Store

My friend Kathleen went to the International Quilt Festival in Houston and kindly stopped by Marcia Derce's booth to pick me up some fabric. I had previously bought some hand dyeds from her that I just love. Now she has a commercial line of fabric out that is just wonderful and is true to her hand made ones. It is truly fabulous - I am just giddy and have been drooling over it and re-arranging the colors/patterns into different combos. I don't know what I'm going to make, but it's going to be great.

References:
Kathleen Murphy Designs
International Quilt Festivals
Marcia Derse

Redwork Christmas Row Robin

I participated in a 'Christmas Row Robin' with some members of my quilt guild. We just had a party to reveal our rows and this is what I got! The top row is the one I made and I sent around the fabrics and the snowmen pattern to the others in the robin. I love how it turned out...now I just need to put it together and quilt it!

I've had the redwork pattern from Buttermilk Basin sitting around in my pile of patterns and I'm glad I used the pieces for this - or I may never have gotten it finished! All the finished robins will be displayed at our Guild's quilt show in March.

References:
Thimble Pleasures Quilt Guild (Visit for info on the show)
Buttermilk Basin (See the original Redwork Pattern)