Author Archive

Lidmen

Saturday, January 19th, 2008

lidman

Australian mama Cheryl makes these great Lidmen (and Lidladies and Lidbots and animals for the Lidland Zoo) for sale online and also offers a tutorial on how to make your own. What a great green craft for kids. If you’re lidless, or don’t think your country’s lids are as cool and colorful as Australia’s, you can also buy a kit. (via)

Best Sewing Patterns 2007

Tuesday, January 15th, 2008

Simplicity Pattern
the big winner - Simplicity 3775!

The folks over at Pattern Review have compiled their top 15 favorite sewing patterns of 2007. Amy Butler and Built By Wendy both made the ranks. Each entry includes photos of FOs made from the patterns by Pattern Review members. I’ll definitely be picking up some of these patterns at the next 99-cent sale. (For those not in the U.S. — do you have equivalent sales or do patterns tend to hold fast at full price?)

Sewing How-Tos

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

Three helpful sewing how-tos I’ve bookmarked lately:

How to choose a sewing machine. From Dress a Day.

How to sew with knits on a regular sewing machine. From the Fabric.com blog.

U-Handblog’s Design Sketch
How I design my bags by Lisa Lam at U-Handblog.

What’s Quilting

Saturday, December 1st, 2007

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“Transport Pillow” by Feed Dog

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Glittergoods has been on a quilted pillow kick lately.

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Lovely wool tied quilt started in Grandma’s stash and finished by Redheaded Snip It

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Lady Harvatine calls this “Audio 1,” inspired by the random zig zags of audio waves

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Luckybeans made this red, white, and blue quilt for a lucky cousin’s baby girl

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Mr. Monkeysuit found a place for all those Japanese fairy tale prints and other juvenile/novelty fabrics she’s been collecting.

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Ruched made a black/white/green/blue quilt inspired by this quilt by Yarnstorm

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A month or so ago Pink Chalk Studio released patterns for Anna Banana, a collection of four designs for the table. Lovely!

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By Small Means has finished some fabulous white-backgrounded scrappy quilts lately - this is just one of them

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You know how you tend to gift the things you make, and you realize you and your family are the last to benefit from your crafty talents? Tree Fall was happy to finally complete a superpink quilt — and her daughter adores it.

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And Wise Craft made a “boy version” quilt for her son after her daughter got a girl version of the easy lap quilt from Amy Karol’s Bend-the-Rules Sewing book.

A Month of Tutorials

Friday, November 2nd, 2007

Every day in November, the Sew Mama Sew blog is posting a list of web tutorials centered around a different theme. The idea is to provide lots of inspiration for creative holiday gifts. Here’s the list:

Sew,Mama,Sew! Handmade Holidays: 30 Days of Gifts to Sew

November 1 ~ Aprons
November 2 ~ Pincushions & Pins
November 3 ~ For the House
November 4 ~ Lunch Bags
November 5 ~ Tote Bags
November 6 ~ Blankets for Baby
November 7 ~ For your Purse or Pocket
November 8 ~ Whimsy
November 9 ~ Fabric Ornaments
November 10 ~ Ties and Belts
November 11 ~ Reading & Writing
November 12 ~ For the Table
November 13 ~ Placemats
November 14 ~ Kids’ Clothes
November 15 ~ Warm those Toes
November 16 ~ Gifts for the Crafter
November 17 ~ Purses
November 18 ~ For Baby
November 19 ~ Tech Gifts
November 20 ~ Gifts for Organization
November 21 ~ Pillows
November 22 ~ Fun for Hair
November 23 ~ Soft Toys & Games
November 24 ~ Sachets
November 25 ~ For the Kitchen
November 26 ~ Embellishments
November 27 ~ Gifts for Warmth
November 28 ~ Drawstring Bags
November 29 ~ Fabric Boxes
November 30 ~ Gift Compilations

Related: The Handmade Holiday Pledge.

What’s Sewing: Softies Edition

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007

Future Girl - Elephant

Ernest the Elephant by Future Girl (pattern
from the book Sock and Glove)

Cherry Tomato - Pear

Pear by Cherry Tomato

Craftapalooza - Pirate Kitty

Pirate Kitty by Craftapalooza

Cheeky Beeks Pirate Bunny

… and a Pirate Bunny by Cheeky Beaks

Jess Hutch - Nan and Gom

Nan and Gom by Jess Hutch

Momma Pajama - Stupid Sock Creature

A Stupid Sock Creature by Momma Pajama

I Knew That - Wee Wonderfuls Bird

A Wee Wonderfuls Hand Sewing for Fun Bird by I Knew That!

Soto Softies - Bat

Bat by Soto Softies

And don’t miss the softie ingenuity going on over at the 2007 Holiday Softie Awards!

What’s Sewing

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007

Garment roundup!

green kitchen’s dress

Crocheted bodice dress by Green Kitchen

Jacket by All Buttoned Up

Jacket from a Japanese pattern, by All Buttoned Up

Fehr Trade Ikea Dress

Dress from this Burda patter + Ikea shower curtain, by Fehr Trade (which was included in a recent New York Times article on Ikea hacks)

Supafine - Sew What Skirt

Skirt from thrifted sheet and Sew What! Skirts pattern, by Supafine

Red Sylvia Skirt

And Red Sylvia made this skirt from this McCall’s pattern

Julieree - Sundress

Red sundress by Julie Ree for her twin sister

Soulemama - Top and Skirt

Linen reversible wrap skirt and Built by Wendy top by Soulemama

What’s Quilting: Children’s Quilts

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007

Baby and children’s quilts tend to be done simply and quickly, 1. because you’re usually working on a shower or birthday deadline and 2. because you know they’ll get messy. Yet they are
some of the most satisfying and beautiful quilts around.

What’s Quilting - Soulemama

Soulemama’s quilt, made for her son

Craftlog-Baby Quilt

Becket of Craftlog’s green and brown baby quilt

Six and a Half Stitches - cot quilt

Six and a Half Stitches’ baby quilt — it includes tags to attach toys to — genius! (Currently being auctioned on eBay as part of One in Ten)

Baby Quilt by Anita of Bloomin’ Workshop

Anita of Bloomin’ Workshop’s monkey & crab baby quilt

blempgorf-baby quilt

Blempgorf’s baby quilt with vintage and japanese fabrics interspersed with embroidery blocks

By Small Means baby quilt

By Small Means’ baby quilt

New Feature! What’s Sewing

Monday, August 6th, 2007

I have loved Kathreen’s “what’s knitting” posts of late (if only because I have trouble keeping up with the zillions of knitting blogs lately), so I asked her if I could do similar posts covering the current sewing and quilting zeitgeist around blogland. Please use the comments to let me know of notable sewing and quilting projects, made by you or someone else.

It has definitely been the summer of Bend the Rules Sewing, Amy Karol’s new
book. It’s got a few great bag patterns, my favorites of which are the Pleated Beauty Handbag and the Artsy Clutch.

Here are some lovely Pleated Beauties:

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by Kathy from Pink Chalk Studio

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by Blair from Wise Craft

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by Make It Snappy

And some cute little Artsy Clutches …

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by Laeroport

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by Dogged Knits

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by Quilt While You’re Ahead

Many many more projects from the book can be seen at the Bend-the-Rules Sewing Flickr Group.

Embroidery Artist Ethel Wright Mohamed

Monday, June 4th, 2007

Ethel Wright Mohamed - A Dream
“A Dream”

Often called Mississippi’s Grandma Moses of stitchery, Ethel Wright Mohamed was born in 1906 and died in 1992. She used beautiful and intricate stitches to tell the stories of her family’s life on fabric. Through this unique and beautiful “painting with thread” she has given us a view into the history of the Mississippi Delta’s way of life. She called her work “memory pictures.” This history includes her marriage, eight children, and numerous scenes of family memories that they all shared. She included their beloved housekeeper, Mittie, who helped raise the children and care for the family.

Ethel Wright Mohamed - Waiting for Stork
“Waiting for Stork”

You can visit the The Ethel Wright Mohamed Stitchery Museum in Belzoni, Mississippi. This summer there is also an exhibition of her work at the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel, Mississippi, titled “The Needle’s Song: The Folk Art of Ethel Wright Mohamed.”

Thanks for the links, Stephenie!

The Mother of All Mother Craft Sites

Wednesday, May 9th, 2007

Nursing Pillow

Jan Andrea’s Baby Crafts is a fantastic source for baby sewing projects: carriers of all kinds including ring slings, pouches, mei tais, ring wraps and all their variations; nursing pillows, sleep sacks, crib sheets, diaper bags, and chair covers. There are also instructions for converting regular sewing patterns into maternity patterns and altering regular bras and T-shirts into nursing wear. Her own patterns are free and shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. She also provides plenty of links to other people’s patterns around the web.

Baby Sling

(both images from Jan Andrea’s Baby Crafts website)

Tilleke Schwarz

Wednesday, March 21st, 2007

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In to the Woods, embroidery on linen

Tilleke Schwarz is a Dutch artist working in embroidery and also drawings on paper. Look for her work in the upcoming traveling exhibitions Fiberart International (U.S.) and the Knitting and Stitching Show (U.K./Ireland) over the next two years. There is also a wonderful article about her in the current issue of Selvedge magazine.

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Count Your Blessings, embroidery on linen

She has a book being released this week — write to info@tillekeschwarz.com for ordering info directly from the artist, or wait a few weeks, when it will be available online at Twisted Thread.

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On Color, 66cm by 70cm, embroidery on linen

Denyse Schmidt: New Traditions

Friday, March 16th, 2007

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Denyse Schmidt’s solo exhibition opens tomorrow (3/16/2007) at the P Design Gallery in Denver, Colorado USA. If you’re lucky enough to be in town, you can meet her in person at the opening. The five new quilts are made from wool and vintage cottons. The show runs through May 19.

Block Swap Quilt Auction

Saturday, March 3rd, 2007

Last year, Jessica of Seedpod Books and Art attended a Denyse Schmidt workshop and became inspired to host a block swap. Dozens of people participated, creating blocks using any or all of four particular colors of Robert Kaufman kona cotton solid fabrics. Everyone made extra blocks to contribute to a quilt which would be auctioned off for charity. Jessica herself completed the piecing, and the illustrious Ms. Gina of Quilter’s Buzz donated the machine quilting. Here is the finished quilt!

The auction is underway right now on eBay (ending March 6, around 8:30am Pacific time). The full cost of the quilt will go to Heifer International, an organization that provides milk- and wool-bearing animals to families in need. Bid like crazy, people!

Shiso Mama’s Collage-a-Day

Sunday, February 25th, 2007

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Shiso mama makes a small piece of collage art every day. See them all on her website and on Flickr. She explains her motivation on day 1. What a great way to keep the creative juices flowing, and develop your creative voice along the way.

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Some are representational, some are abstract. Get a peek into her process here.

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The collages are giving me all sorts of ideas for quilts and quilting patterns.

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What other do-something-every-day projects are there out there?

Denyse Schmidt’s “Katie Jump Rope”

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007

Katie Jump Rope - Denyse Schmidt

Today Quilter’s Buzz posted a preview of Denyse Schmidt’s new fabric line, Katie Jump Rope. Denyse talks about her inspiration for the fabric in the post. I just love it all around! It should be available following its debut at the spring quilt market early this May.

Christa Maiwald

Wednesday, February 7th, 2007

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Hillary Clinton wincing, excerpt from Laughing Stock (2006), cotton, thread. 13″ x 13″.

Artist Christa Maiwald, in addition to her work in other media, creates fantastic embroidered portraits of celebrities and everyday people.

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Present Tense (2004). Cotton, thread. 52″ x 66″.

Maiwald’s embroidery pieces, hand sewn on cotton and linen handkerchiefs, are executed with a richly detailed elegance reminiscent of early Christian mosaics, but the delicacy of technique and materials is offset by images that are funny, mysterious, crude - at times all three. — from absolutearts.com

(images used with permission of the artist)

Fabric Box Tutorial

Monday, February 5th, 2007

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Melissa of All Buttoned Up presents this great tutorial for a fabric box perfectly sized to store your trims.

Cool Fabric Alert: Alexander Henry “In the Kitchen”

Friday, February 2nd, 2007

I am loving the new “In the Kitchen” line from Alexander Henry Fabrics. In stock at eQuilter and Purl Patchwork (both ship worldwide). I just wish that Alexander Henry kept their website more up to date so we could see this and other new collections!

Alexander Henry - In the Kitchen

Inspiration Stations

Friday, January 19th, 2007

People are jump-starting their creativity with creative inspiration boards …

Shim and Son's Pinboards

Gorgeous cork boards covered with linen and fused fabric trees by Shim + Sons … see also her wall pockets

Instructions for making a lightweight, pinnable Homasote aka “pressed paper sound board stuff” inspiration board, from Domicile (via Not Martha)

Bella Dia's Inspiration Collage

Bella Dia makes collages from inspiring magazine images (above) — see her posts here and here. Try making your own, centered on a colorway, shape, mood, or any other theme you can think of.

Cheeky Mama provides a tutorial on converting a bulletin board to a prettier fabric and ribbon-covered board.

And of course! An Inspiration Board Flickr pool.