Ticker Tape & a question for my vast horde of readers

I made this a while ago using teeny scraps. When I started quilting, I read about scrappy projects, using up scraps, scrap swaps, even selling scraps. So I saved ridiculously small pieces, without understanding that for most folks, "scraps" means anything smaller than a fat eighth. But a little ticker tape quilt can use up eensy little pieces. The first one I saw was created by Amanda Jean (tutorial here). This particular quilt is doll sized, and has been used constantly - I'd love to try a lap sized version. Wondering if anyone has made one with pinking the scraps? Does it look weird? Less fraying, less charm? Leave a comment & let me know!

Pay It Forward craftiness

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Originally uploaded by micmacker@gmail.com

Here's my first completed project for my 2011 Pay It Forward crafting whatsis from Facebook. This is for Cheryl, whom I've known since high school. Cheryl gets to be first because last year, I only completed half of my pay it forwards. Oops. I chose a lot of blue for Cheryl to match her eyes, and I just think she'll get a kick out of the owls.

watching the game

I have zero interest in football.  When the Barry and I first moved in together, I had no idea how much he LOVED watching the Patriots.  In the throes of early love, I tried, I really did.  But if you can't find it in yourself to embrace someone else's thing under those conditions, it's never gonna happen.  Watching sports on tv is just. not. me.  The frogs, though, are on Barry's side.

Easy laptop cases

In my desperate run of pre-Christmas sewing, I needed an easy project that a guy would like.  I found this free tutorial by Elizabeth on her blog Oh, Fransson!  If you're new-ish to sewing, check out her patterns, both free and for sale.  Lots and LOTS of photographs of each step, and instructions that simply could not be clearer.  She has a new book out, too, "The Practical Guide to Patchwork" that's high on my wish list.  I don't know Elizabeth personally, nor is this a paid endorsement, I just think her work is terrific.

So I think Zachary liked his laptop sleeve, but I'll bet Elisabeth stole it from him.

 I went on to make another sleeve sized for an ipad - the pattern is customized according to measurements.  

I have a couple of panels of this Italian alphabet fabric - wish I'd gotten more.

A few of my favorite things

I ordered zippers and pulls from Jennie's Etsy shop Zipit.  I'm a new fan - unbelievably attentive service, great prices, and really fast shipping.  She threw in a few extra zipper pulls at no charge, which was both unexpected and sweet. I swear on the head of Bob the frog, I will never buy zippers from JoAnn's again.  Watch for a future post about how much I hate that store.

The zipper pulls are now stashed in a little zakka bag I made.

Which brings me to one of my favorite things:

Maybe some day I'll have a fancy computerized sewing machine, but right now, this is my favorite.  Vintage 70's Viking, with embroidery cams (they fit into the back).  That's how I did the little hearts on the bag above.



And here's the goofy cover I made.  This fabric cracks me up: "That's Sew Wrong" by Michael Miller.

And last year's Christmas present from my DH.   Who doesn't love peg board?

See those things on the left near the basket, above the pliers & jewelry tools?  Those are some of the 58 headbands my daughter and I made as a fund raiser for her 5th grade field trip.  They're reversible & $5 each if anyone wants to buy one.  I'll throw in free shipping to the U.S.  The trip is to Boston, but if we don't sell more of these, she won't make it past White River Junction.

My favorite things in the sewing (ahem) studio - not including fabric:

Sort of from left to right: my machine with embroidery cams, Grammy's pin cushion (probably over 60 years old), an inexpensive Sunbeam iron WITH A RETRACTABLE CORD (because life is too short to wind up cords), little zakka bag, Gingher scissors that cut fabric like butter, my Kona color card (it's the affordable version of Le Corbusier's color palette), my trusty 45mm rotary cutter, cute tape measure on a lanyard, and a signed print by Heather Ross (who called me personally about my order for her studio sale! I was awkward in a fan-girl geek kind of way, but she was sooooooo nice.  We had a conversation and everything).

And here's the dark underbelly of my very small space:

Yes, it's the tenement housing of fabric.  The problem is space.  I don't have any more room for shelves.  As it is, I have to take the sewing machine off the table - which is too high for sewing and too low for cutting - to cut fabric, and the ironing board half-blocks the bedroom door.  But I make it work, and I pretty much know where everything is.  And hey, I can reach just about everything without getting out of the chair.

Babies at Christmas are like chocolate with caramel

This Christmas, we had another family of three with us: my friend Lis, her partner Zach, and her gorgeous girl Faelen.  Faelen is now a year and half, and shares a birthday with my daughter.  The two girls adore each other, with Faelen following Susannah (when Sus isn't toting her).  Between the Christmas tree, the guinea pigs, the toys we hauled out, and the refrigerator magnets, that little girl had a very busy schedule.  But you know what her favorite thing was?  The box of corks on the butcher block shelf.  You know what my favorite thing was?  The incredibly yummy pasta dinner Lis and Zach made for us.  Still thinking about it.

I started Faelen's quilt last summer, and even had the quilt top done for her birthday.  Yup, took me another six months to finish a baby quilt.

2 out of 1,000,000

In early December, I made a couple of pillowcases for the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge.  Jen, owner of Stitched in Williston, collected pillowcases and dolls to be donated to the local hospital.  Thanks for the inspiration, Jen!  I used a really quick method I read about on Karamat.  After cutting and pinning (the pinning was a little fussy for me - geez, do I hate pinning) it was super fast, especially with a serger.  Fast, like under 5 minutes fast.  I felt like Wonder Woman.