A New Purse for Me!

 I started thinking about this purse when Anna Maria Horner released her Loulouthi line and I saw her fabulous pillow she embellished with hand quilting using the Summer Totem print. (I tried to find it in my favs on flickr, but it was too slow and I became impatient!) I was thinking it would be fun to use that print as a flap on a purse and hand quilt/embroider some details on it. I did that on the flap, sides and then just did a running stitch through the squares on the front and back. I am not a good hand quilter, and this was my first attempt at embroidery, but I love the results despite the imperfections. It is my own design using 4.5" squares, 4.5" sides. It will hold quite a bit for my summer travels. I decided against using a closure on the flap as I don't really like pulling the flap off each time. It's long enough to where things aren't going to fall out. I used the grapefruit color of the Summer Totem as I love the hint of pink and the colors Anna Maria chose to go with that light pink. I knew this would be a summer purse, so I focused on pulling out the lighter colors. I'm so glad to get this UFO off my list! :)

Sew Fun Scraps

I have a destash shop here and have just listed 'large cuts' of various designers if any of you are interested! :)

Super Fly is in the House!!

Super excited about Super Fly! Bold colors, graphic prints! Jane is a beautiful large scale print that coordinates well with so many of Jennifer Paganelli's other collections! There is also a large scale zebra print called Lauralee. I love how all her fabrics have women's names! It took me about a day to decide what I wanted to make. First I had to group her new with the old(er) fabrics. The world stops when I get to do this~ my fav!

Mixed with Crazy Love, Queen Street, Girls World Vibe

Mixed with Girls World Vibe, West Indies, Pretty Please, Crazy Love, Honey Child

Mixed with Bell Bottoms, Flower Powers, Sis Boom Basics & Crazy Love

I decided I wasn't ready to cut it up, so I kept it whole and sewed strips of 8" squares to either side and put aqua minky dimple dot on the back. The perfect throw in summer colors, so it will be called The Summer Throw in my shop! :) I purchased my Super Fly at Hawthorne Threads

Millie's Market Tote

I am guest blogging on Sara Lawson's blog as part of the exciting Purse Palooza this month! Lots of prizes as well, go check it out! Here is the rest of the tour schedule:
June 18 - Monique @ Sew Fun by Monique (Millie's Market Tote from Happy Home by Jennifer Paganelli)
               Katie @ Swim, Bike, Quilt! (Green Bee Scoop Tote)
June 19 - Jennie @ Clover and Violet (Lunch Bag from Pink Penguin)
               Joanna @ Shape Moth (Emmaline Bag)
June 20 - Jen @ Bettycrockerass (While Baby Naps Metal Clutch)
               Krista @ The Spotted Stone (The Sometimes Crafter Amanda's Knitting Bag)
June 21 - Katy @ The Littlest Thistle (Noodlehead 2-4-1 Tote)
               Terri @ Sew-Fantastic (In Color Order Lined Drawstring Bag)
June 22 - Elizabeth @ Don't Call Me Betsy (Amy Butler Weekender Bag)
               Sarah @ Fairy Face Designs (bag from the Bag Making Bible)
June 25 - Amy @ Sukie Don't You Know Who I Am? (Amy Butler Sophia Bag)
                Heather @ {House} of a la Mode (Retro Mama Granny Bag)
June 26 - Julianna @ Jednoiglec (Charlie's Aunt Kitchen Garden Bag)
               Jeni @ In Color Order (Bari J. State Street Tote)
June 27 - Kerry @ Very Kerry Berry (bag from Suzuko Koseki)
               Michelle @ I Like Orange Too (Left Bank Granny Bag)
               Laurie @ On the QT - Quilting Tangents (Betz White Hexie Hipster)
June 28 - Kay Whitt @ Sew Serendipity Studio (tutorial: adjustable strap with metal slider)
               Amy Barickman @ Indygo Junction (tutorial: installing grommets/magnetic snaps)
June 29 - Melissa @ Bittersweet Designs (Bella Nonna Boutique Shoulder Bag)
                Kelly @ Kelby Sews (Pat Bravo Paris Bag)
                Bianca @ Sweet Diesel Designs (Lisa Lam For Pleat's Sake)

Prettiest Apron from Happy Home

I was so excited when Jennifer Paganelli announced that her next book following the amazing Girl's World was going to be called Happy Home. I am more of a home dec sewer than clothing sewer, although the Sis Boom clothing patterns have started to sway me more towards clothing!  :) I am a HUGE fan of everything she does, and this book just continues the beauty and inspiration she gives us every day, with every collection, pattern, project or book.

Pretty girls and their aprons in Happy Home

I wanted to make the Prettiest Apron in the book and was pleased with the results! There were no pattern pieces, just cutting instructions which was great! You make quite a bit of bias edging for the sides/tie top and the gather under the bust that ties in the back as well as the top of the pocket. If you want to purchase premade bias tape, you would need (2) 3 yard packages of 7/8" wide tape. I prefer the look of coordinating, but in a pinch or if you are planning on making a few as gifts, that is another option. The pattern sewed up easily & I like the fit on me. The gathered area under the bust is adjustable, not sewn in a particular position, so you (or the recipient if it's a gift) can adjust the fit.

 You can see me pictured in my own happy kitchen with my Casey Scroll dishtowel & my cute apron on my Devon Peasant top I'm wearing. A girl has to look good in her kitchen, just like the girls pictured! Bottom line, I'd make this again and again & would like to make them for Christmas gifts this year.

There are so many wonderful patterns in this beautiful book to create your own Happy Home making quilts, duvets, pillow shams, throw pillows, bed skirts and more. You can design your home to your tastes using the patterns in this book. Part of the 'happy' in this book is Jennifer's amazing color in her fabrics. My entire sewing room is done in her fabrics and everyone who comes in here calls this my happy room! I couldn't think of a better title for her book!

Fabric details: Priscilla in brown, Amanda Fleur pocket and Maritza dots for accents. Here's the rest of the blog tour, you can still join if you want to make something from Happy Home!

une 11 Jenny Fish  www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com

June 12 Cathy Caprio Peckiconis http://sewingstoryproject.blogspot.com/

June 13 Judy Buchanan  www.hickity-pickity.blogspot.com/ 

 June 14 Guest on Sew Pretty Dresses: Shannon Branscom Winters www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com

June 15 Leah Kinghorn  http://makinglifewonderful.blogspot.com

June 16 Monique Reynolds  sewfunbymonique.blogspot.com/

June 17 Melissa Peda  100billionstars.com/

June 18 Jamie Harned http://theinsecurequilter.blogspot.com/

June 19 Stephanie Messer Danko www.tabbodesign.blogspot.com/

June 20 Kristi Pernell Elston  burlapbutton.blogspot.com

June 21 Kathy Hennessey  http://handmadedresshaven.blogspot.com/

June 22 Courtney Watford Davis www.sweeterthancupcakes.blogspot.com/

June 23  Guest on Sew Pretty Dresses: Jade Nocella Jenny Fish  www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com

June 24 Sally Keller http://sallysangelworks.typepad.com
  
June 25 Tour Wrap Up www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com   

Yasmin's Nursery

I had to share the pictures Yasmin shared with me of her completed nursery! Jennifer Paganelli's bright, fabulous colors look so amazing with the accessories she chose for the room. It always makes my heart happy to see the things I make 'in action' as they are produced in my sewing room and sent off to places all around the world. In this case, Australia. :) Enjoy the eye candy!

Happy Home Book Tour

And the Happy Home book tour starts today with Jenny Fish making the above banner. Here is the complete schedule. If you want to be added, just contact her!

June 11 Jenny Fish  www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com

June 12 Cathy Caprio Peckiconis http://sewingstoryproject.blogspot.com/

June 13 Judy Buchanan  www.hickity-pickity.blogspot.com/ 

 June 14 Guest on Sew Pretty Dresses: Shannon Branscom Winters www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com

June 15 Leah Kinghorn  http://makinglifewonderful.blogspot.com

June 16 Monique Reynolds  sewfunbymonique.blogspot.com/

June 17 Melissa Peda  100billionstars.com/

June 18 Jamie Harned http://theinsecurequilter.blogspot.com/

June 19 Stephanie Messer Danko www.tabbodesign.blogspot.com/

June 20 Kristi Pernell Elston  burlapbutton.blogspot.com

June 21 Kathy Hennessey  http://handmadedresshaven.blogspot.com/

June 22 Courtney Watford Davis www.sweeterthancupcakes.blogspot.com/

June 23  Guest on Sew Pretty Dresses: Jade Nocella Jenny Fish  www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com

June 24 Tour Wrap Up www.sewprettydresses.blogspot.com

Lilly Pulitzer Quilt

I had the privilege of being sent a customer's collection of Lilly Pulitzer prints & making them into a random patchwork blanket (minky on the back, no quilting). It was like a puzzle interlocking all of these beautiful prints in a pleasing combination. Many of the fabrics were different weights~ home dec, voile-like, quilting weight & the white one with palm trees was textured like toweling. The result is an eye catching combination filled with different textures and motifs. I could spend hours just looking at all the beautiful prints! I hope my customer loves it!

Another Devon and Other News

So, the Devon Peasant is officially my favorite pattern right now! This is my third one and I have all the dimensions down on how I like it on me. I'm excited at the possibilities. My mother in law wants one as a bathing suit cover up, so I'm going to make her the dress length one. :) Normally I don't make clothes, but I sure have posted quite a bit about clothing sewing lately. I love the Scientific Seamstress patterns so much because I am sooo visual and there is a picture in every step. Love that! I chose Joann in pink from Crazy Love and Jackie in fuchsia from Pretty Please & it looks great with my dark jeans! :) You can buy and download it here.
Lots of stuff going on within my blog this month. First up I will be sewing the Prettiest Apron pattern from Happy Home (You are going to LOVE this book!) and review it on June 16. Jenny Fish is hosting a blog hop and several of us are going to make projects from this book and let you know how it goes 'cause we all love Jennifer Paganelli and we all love Happy Home!! You can buy one signed by Jennifer here.

The first one up will be Jenny on June 11th. She should have a schedule up soon.

And starting today, June 4, Sara Lawson is kicking off Purse Palooza with lots of sponsors & prizes. I will make and review the Millie's Tote from Happy Home on June 19. Check out the schedule of amazing sewists here and you can read the rules on how to enter, the list of prizes, etc. It should be a really fun June which will hopefully make up for my lack of blogging lately!