My New Favorite Thing...I feel like Oprah!

Good grief. I feel like I've been on the road for at least four months. I haven't, I mean, we've been doing some traveling, but I feel like I just haven't had a chance to stop and chill out in a while! It won't be happening any time soon either. We have our orders moving us on to the next base and the house is going on the market in 4 days, I am neck deep in boxes of tax paperwork (us creative people lack in the organization department) and our next big show is about 6 weeks away. I would rip at my hair if there were time but there isn't and what good would it do anyway?!

Instead of ripping out the hair, I think I'll play with my new favorite pattern book, One Yard Wonders! This book was written by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins and is filled with 101 projects that require just one yard of fabric! FINALLY! Something to do with all of the one yard cuts I impulsively buy! Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about! You see a fabric, you love it, you have absolutely no idea what you are going to do with it but you just have to have it! "One yard, please!" Yep, I have a whole closet full of "One yard, please!"-'s. Fabric too pretty to cut up into tiny pieces but need a fabulous project of their own. That's why I love this book! First of all, the book itself is gorgeous! The photography is beautiful, the fabric used in the projects are, well....they are all in my "One yard, please!" closet and the projects are simple and quick! A book right up my short-attention-span alley! The first 20 pages are full of fabulous basics making the book great for a beginner or a seasoned sewist who might need a couple refreshers (like me!). All of the pattern pieces are included in an envelope attached to the inside of the hardback, spiral bound book.





This book has patterns for re-purposing older items, household domestic projects, organization, accessories, clothing, handbags, childrens clothing and accessories, childrens toys and even a section for sewing for your pet! If you never sew a thing from it, it's just fun to look at!

Here is my first project from the book. My daughter was complaining about the chicken nuggets with "spots" that they serve on Wednesday in the cafeteria. I suggested carrying her lunch once a week and told her to pick out a couple fabrics that she liked and I would make her a lunch bag.

I know, she's not as flashy as I am. She picked the two quietest fabrics she could find! Now, I did add an iron-on vinyl to the outside of the bag so clean-up would be easy and used a hot/cold interfacing inside so her PB and J with juice would chill 'til lunch time.

When she came home the first day carrying it she said her friends wanted to know where her mom bought her lunch bag. She told them I made it and then they all wanted one!! There just isn't a better compliment out there!

I loved this book so much that I added it to our store! It's not online yet, but if you're interested, shoot me an email. It's only $20.95, I thought that was an amazing price for what you are getting!

It Could Be Worse...right?

When I heard Heather Bailey was coming out with a new line of fabric, I scooped it up sight unseen. I've never seen a fabric she designed that I didn't like. This was back in August and it was due to arrive in December/January. Well, in that time we found out that the Navy requires my husband's service elsewhere and an impending move was looming. In my level-headed attempt to be logical, I called my Heather Bailey rep and canceled my Nicey Jane order. Of course, I cried, blubbered really. (It was ugly.) But we have to be smart about these things, right? The Navy will already laugh in my face about the 300 plus bolts of fabric I have here. I'll be renting a U-Haul for sure. After a few weeks of mourning, I was certain I made the right decision.





Imagine my surprise when my favorite UPS man arrived on my doorstep with four large boxes of Nicey Jane fabric....





Now, I started with the logical thing again...I never have been too good at that. I left the boxes in the garage knowing that I would place a call to my rep and have him send a call tag to send them back. "Well, let me just drag them into the house, they'll be safer there." 30 minutes later: "Well, they're sitting there and it wouldn't hurt to just break them open and take a quick peek. I can just tape it back up when UPS comes to pick them up. " Let me just spare you the inner angst I've experienced over the last 24 hours and end the story with, "Of course I kept the fabric."




My rep was very nice and apologetic and was very willing to have the fabric returned but my obsession with all beautiful textiles won over. I'm half wondering if someone knew my downfall and weakness and sent it knowing that I wouldn't be able to resist. There has to be a support group out there for me. My name is Joy, and I'm addicted to fabric. (It could be worse, right?)

Show and Tell Time!

Yes, finally, pictures of my rag quilt. I have finally put it down long enough to photograph it. I was watching my daily Golden Girls episode this morning all wrapped up with my cup of coffee with Pumpkin Spice Creamer. It just doesn't get any better than that!



This is made from Amy Butler's new flannel line. The prints are from her LOVE collection. You can find it all at www.ajoyfulsoulfabrics.com. I used the warm colorway, Heart, on the ragged side.

I love the way this flannel ragged. Just one cycle in the washing machine and it softened right up. So pretty. I used the spring scissors by Fiskar and saved my thumb from massive bruising! Those things are worth their weight in gold!

A rag quilt is very simple. Just make mini-quilt sandwiches. Your choice of square size (I usually don't go over 10"), place wrong sides together with a piece of batting in between (the batting square needs to be one inch smaller than your flannel square). With all three pieces together, sew an "X" through your layers. Once all of your squares have been "X"d, lay out your preferred design and start sewing your squares together to form rows. Using a 1/2" seam allowance, sew your squares together back side to back side so the seams are on the front of your quilt. Once your squares are sewn together in rows, sew your rows together then sew a 1/2" in from the edge all the way around the quilt. Once everything is sewn together, snip into your seam allowance about every 1/4 ". BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO SNIP INTO YOUR STITCHES OR THE WHOLE THING WILL FALL APART WHEN WASHED! Toss the quilt in the washer and dryer, (clean your lint trap a couple times during the dry cycle!!) and you have a new woobie!!

I used the cool colors, Soul, on the back. The back will be smooth as all of the seams have been sewn to the front. SEE!? SO EASY!! Make one for yourself! It's getting cold! You need one!

Music to Meander By

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a rather eclectic taste in music. Some may call it schizophrenic, I prefer eclectic. I love country, pop, classic rock and have even been known to haul butt on the treadmill to Maria Callas and Pavarotti. I haven't however been bitten by the electronic bug yet...until now. The number one downloaded song on iTunes this week is Fireflies by Owl City. This song is played on my XM radio station about 20 times a day and I don't ever get tired hearing it so I bought the album and uploaded it to my iPod. My new sewing situation isn't great. Where I used to be facing the great outdoors surrounded by bay windows, I am now resigned to my bedroom and I stare at a wall instead of the inspiring grass and blue sky. I am trying to make the best of the situation and make it as creatively nurturing as possible so I've moved my iPod speakers in and I listen to my music while I work.


I am trying to learn the art of free-motion quilting which is pretty stressful stuff but I am so happy with my progress and I discovered that I am a better quilter with Owl City playing!! This music is magical. Tinkling and sparkling notes with happy rhythms and whimsical lyrics. I love music that just makes me happy. Not deep or brooding (i.e.; Blue October...who I LOVE but you have to admit, it can get pretty somber at times) but just happy and fun. I literally see cartoon animals frolicking in a park when I listen to this stuff. (No, I haven't been dipping into the liquor cabinet...I am perfectly sober!) When I quilt to this music the fabric just glides along like it's being moved by the little electronic sounds and gleeful rhythms. My meander is AMAZING!! Go to iTunes and listen to the little snippet of Fireflies. I dare you to not smile and tap your toe!


'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs
From ten thousand lightning bugs
As they tried to teach me how to dance

A fox trot above my head
A sock hop beneath my bed
A disco ball that's just hanging by a thread


How can you not love those lyrics?



I firmly believe that whatever is going on around you while you create gets infused into the project you are working on. If you are happy and creatively free, your work is just better and if your project is a gift, that love and happiness moves on to the recipient. The twins will love their Pony quilts because I truly enjoyed making them! Every stitch was done with happiness and love with Owl City playing in the background!


(So now that I have come to this realization, the last quilt I pieced for myself was done while watching Uma Thurman in the Kill Bill series of movies. It's now my "Girls Kick Butt" quilt!)

Amy's LOVE Flannel is in!

The flannel has arrived and it's every bit as beautiful as I expected. Only 8 bolts were printed but it is the perfect mix of LOVE prints, four cool and four warm. I can't wait to get it cut into some rag quilt squares!

Check out the LOVE Flannels NOW!

LOVE is in the air!

I just received our shipment of LOVE and I am already designing! I'm working on a quick messenger bag that I can take with us to Market in Houston.

~

I am thrilled to see my favorite textile artists, Amy Butler and Heather Bailey, and too excited to spend time among my fellow fabric shop owners. I am even more excited about finding the newest and latest patterns and cool things to bring to you! Among the new patterns I'll be ordering are Amy's two new additions, "The Liverpool" and "Sweet Harmony". The perfect projects for the new fabric! I'm so ready to be inspired and rejuvenated among my peers and am looking forward to passing it along to you!

Do you have any questions for Amy or Heather? Is there anything you've just been dying to ask them? Let me know! We'll be heading down on Thursday and I'll be seeing both of them on Friday and Saturday! They are the sweetest women and I have a feeling no question is too strange! So let me know what you want to know!

Garment Sewing for Dummies

As mentioned before, I have a dress floating around in my head and I really want to attempt to write a pattern and actually create it. Problem is, I don't have any idea how to do this. I mean, Step One, I need a dress form with my measurements... yikes...that would be a big dose of reality I'm not sure I'm ready for. But I have a tutorial on how to make a mold of my body so I just need to do it. Then, a bolt of muslin to start draping....okay, I'm going to be honest now...the fact is, this happens to me every time Project Runway starts a new season. All of sudden, I'm certain that there is a jewel of a fashion designer deep down inside of me and all I need to do is get a big bolt of raw silk and my T-shirt/Duct Tape body form and POOF!.........The Most Fantastic Formal Dress You've Ever Seen! I'll be the talk of the Navy Ball..."Did you see Joy?" "Where did she get a gorgeous dress like that in this small town?" "Deb said she made it!" "No WAY! Seriously? That's AMAZING! She should be on that Project Runway show!"



Okay, so I'm a little on the crazy side. This is what happens when you suffer from two weeks of insomnia...you start having these scenes evolve in your head and visions of a gorgeous gown of your making...well, at least that's what happens to me. Fact is, not everyone can sew garments. It takes a special understanding of how clothing goes together to best flatter a body. A "garment engineer" if you will. The last thing I want to do is invest a ton of money into a bolt of a fine fabric only for the dress to be completely unwearable (like that sheer mess of a dress that went down the Project Runway runway a couple weeks ago~huh?) or I can see myself getting so frustrated that I can't even do the simplest thing like design and construct a formal dress that everyone will oo and ah over so it all gets scrapped and ends up in the bottom of my closet. Well, not the body form, I'll bet my husband would recycle that into some horrible and gruesome lawn ornament for Halloween.


So, what I have concluded is: I will, for the time being, soak in all the info I can on the subject...I've enlisted help from my sewing friends on Twitter who have already replied to my call for help, at 6:00 am (Twitter is the Land of Insomniacs...I'm certain!). I will get a few patterns and actually try to put together a full garment before making one of my own design. The dream hasn't been shelved. I will just execute it in a slow and meticulous manner. You never know, I may still be the next Project Runway star-in-hiding.


Which brings me to the reason for this random post...Does anyone know of a good Garment Sewing Tutorial book?