Green!

I can remember the summer between 4th and 5th grade when I took my first sewing class. We were supposed to pick out a 'simple' pattern to make an article of clothing. I picked a one piece romper with a zipper, of all things! My favorite color at that time was green. I found a green calico at the local fabric store, Rags to Stitches, and was so excited to sew it up. Needless to say it was way over my head and I can never remember wearing it! It kind of soured me to sewing and I had no desire to sew again until I got married. The moral of that story is give someone a super super basic pattern to sew as a beginner so they feel like they could actually see themselves sewing again! The good thing about that class is that I met a friend that I still keep in touch with to this day, so she is my 'oldest' friend. She is the one who first told me about etsy and encouraged me to open up my shop 4 years ago. So that's the good that came out of that class! :) My favorite color has changed over the years, unlike some people who keep the same favorite their whole life. In high school, purple became a favorite until around the year 2000 & then I was into red. About 3 years ago, thanks to Jennifer Paganelli, aqua has been the forerunner! So swinging back to the blanket I made above from various fabric designers, it is an ode to my childhood sewing class I took so long ago! It is now available in my shop. :)

Tips for Working with Minky

I work with minky ALOT, and I've seen how many say its really difficult to work with. It is, but its not impossible! Here are some tips for success when sewing with it.

*First, pin. Then pin. Then pin!!!

Minky wants to shift, so this is really helpful. I like to pin going in both directions~ see top photo.

*Pin on the floor or a surface where none of the minky will hang over the edge. When transferring, try not to bunch it, but keep it straight as much as possible. Sometimes once its on my sewing table I carefully fold the outside edge over. You don't want the minky to hang over the edge and then become distorted. This is important the whole time you are sewing it.

*Give yourself some wiggle room, just like when layering a quilt.

I cut my minky at least 2" larger than the cotton fabric I'm sewing it to.
Some shifting will occur no matter how careful you are pinning, so if it gets a tad askew, you won't end up without minky in a corner.

*A walking foot helps stabilize the layers as well, but sometimes I used my regular presser foot & it works well, too.

*Don't pull the minky as you sew it or you will definately be off by the time you finish sewing that side.

*If you find that you are REALLY off as you are sewing, you are better off ripping the seams out and starting over or your whole project will be off.

*Remember not to iron on the minky directly or it will melt! :)

Hope these tips are helpful. Its so soft and cuddly and the end result will be your reward!

My Favorite Colors

Aqua and fuschia are my favorite colors right now. I was itching to make a blanket with those- especially since I picked up a BUNCH of both fuschia and aqua minky. These fabrics- mostly Jennifer Paganelli- just sing! My daughter has tagged this as her favorite so far, but it seems that changes, too. I am grateful that she has the fabric bug at 11 and knows how to coordinate colors. I like to ask her opinion when posting colors and often she will say, "My favorite is this one, I don't like that one." I am making pajama shorts with applique tshirts as gifts for her friends' bdays and always have her pick the fabrics and coordinate. A sewer in training! :) I want to do a totally aqua patchwork blanket next.

Darla Fabrics

I have had a few orders lately requesting Tanya Whelan's Darla fabrics. I just love them! They look vintage and fresh and I love the different patterns within the colors- check, damask, floral, toile, small floral- really pretty. I have enjoyed every minute sewing with these fabrics. The quality is wonderful, too. I'm thankful I still have more orders to fill and can still work with them!

I love aqua

I have purposely and accidentally been drawn lately to aqua fabrics. I finally let it loose and cut some of it up to make a purse for me 'n etsy and some scarves. I have had a good response to the aqua patchwork purse. It looks so spring-like and satisfies my love of aqua for now!

Happy New Year

I am excited that 2009 has started. I have many sewing projects in the works. I am still hand quilting my duvet, although I would like to get it into my room as it is finally painted and I have picked out the drapery fabric. It is a Laura Ashley print called Suzette in the Gilt colorway. I am also going to be teaching sewing and am looking forward to that new chapter in my life. If I can pass on my love of sewing to someone else, it will give me great satisfaction. I feel like sewing is a dying art in some ways. With the internet, I can find so many wonderful sewers, but in my life and area, they seem to be few and far between. I hope my daughter loves to sew as I do. She is moving right along in her skills and recently completed a rag quilt with her cousins and the family friend who taught me to sew, Pam.

Slipcovers!

Sometimes it seems crazy, but I love to slipcover things. I have slipcovered my family room table because I thought it was ugly, I have slipcovered my couch twice, my bedroom headboard, and 3 chairs and some seats. My husband doesn't understand my obsession, but there is something wonderful in creating a new object and transforming it. My most recent slipcover is slipcover #2 on my bedroom couch. It was originally dark blue with cat scratchings from my mom and I have since slipcovered it twice. The first time was when I had a purple and tan bedroom and now it is red, harvest gold and olive green with lots of cream accents. My mother in law found a matlasse throw for $1 with some stains. I cut it up, added some fabric samples from the designer in my family plus remnants from JoAnn fabrics and voila! I recovered the throw pillow, too. I cut off a family heirloom pillow case that was ripped and made a topper for the pillow. Great reuse! H & I are still working on her Christmas quilt and my duvet, but I should finish the binding today before the end of the day. Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving. My etsy shop has free shipping on any items thru December 1.

Amazing Color

I just finished this tote and love the colors! Anna Maria Horner has the best stuff. I love pulling colors out of her fabrics and combining. Holly & I are moving along with our quilts. You can see hers her with the photos. Christmas is so soon. I hope I will finish and same for her. I am doing a craft fair for the MOPS group at Calvary Church on Saturday. I am looking forward to seeing friends and hanging out. Lots to do to prepare for that, so that is all for now.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. Here is an update on my sewing projects. I am still hand quilting my duvet. I can't believe how much I am enjoying it! Holly is learning how to hand quilt in tandem with her Christmas quilt for her room. I will post photos of it. I am finishing up on projects for Christmas gifts- scarves, quilts, coasters, shirts. I am getting lots of sewing in despite my cold I am battling. http://sewfunbymonique.etsy.com/ is the link to my shop if you have any gifts you need to by, mention this blog and shipping is only one cent! Such a deal.