Color inspiration

I'm still working on quilt backs for old projects.  Or at least I'm still thinking about quilt backs.  In the last week I've mostly been pulling fabrics and calculating yardage to buy.  

I love this stack of Jennifer Paganelli fabrics for the back of my Mod Valentine quilt. 

Just looking at the gorgeous colors and mix of prints inspires me to get this quilt finished!

  

I'm also still swooning. 

Slow and steady.  Slow and steady.

This is Swoon block #4, made at a Portland Modern Quilt Guild sew day at Fabric Depot last Saturday.

 

And this is Swoon block #5, made at my sewing circle.  I just kept my head down and soldiered on while hilarity ensued all around me.  

Nothing is more entertaining than the shenanigans that take place at sewing circle.

 

My Swoon blocks so far....

 

The Swoon colors are so soft and lovely.  Peaceful and springlike.

However, as we start to see a little more sunshine each week in the Portland area, I am starting to really enjoy and crave color.  Rich, saturated color.  

No one enjoys the sun more than Portlanders.  Yesterday we had a real variety pack -- rain, hail, and sun.  As soon as a few rays would break through the clouds, everyone was outside and in high spirits. 

I love the colors of these Kaufman Pure Organics!

 

 

"Oh, did you not want me to sit on this stool where you so carefully placed your Swoon blocks and Pure Organics to avoid cat hair?"

 

 

 A friend is planning on making her daughter's wedding invitations, including some stitching and decorating with fabric flowers.  I pulled a few fabrics from my stash and now can't stop looking at the beautiful color combinations.  I'm not planning on using the Paradise Gardens on any particular project in the near future (at least not until I finish those UFOs), but I'm really enjoying the colors and prints.

My collection of red and white prints for my Christmas in July quilt is really growing now.  You may remember that I started collecting them for my Swoon quilt, but couldn't wait and went a different direction with fabrics and colors.  I'm still planning on my red and white Christmas in July quilt; however, now I can't decide if I want to make another Swoon quilt (which I think would look fabulous) or go with another pattern.

The red and white idea came from Christmas 2010 when my daughter bought all red and white paper for gifts.  It looked beautiful!

In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy a variety of other colors

 

 and beautifully cut and stacked fabrics all tied up with a bow. 

I just love it when fabric stores take such obvious thought and care when cutting and packaging fabrics.  This stack was purchased from Sew, Mama, Sew, and they always do an exceptional job.

Sometimes I have to just leave these pretty little stacks all around in the sewing studio for inspiration.

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

Savoring moments; enjoying the process

Hello, Friends!  It has been so long since I have shared with you, and yet time is going by so quickly right now!  And it goes by faster and faster every day!  

My daughter is getting married!  I know you know that, but -- WOW -- my baby girl is getting married! She has always been such a joy and inspiration to me, and now she is marrying the perfect man.  I am overwhelmed with peace and by God's blessings!  

 Peter and Molly

I am trying to grab hold of every single moment and savor it!

Last night I hosted a special bridesmaids' dinner to honor Molly and her bridesmaids and so many other fabulous friends and family members who have been and continue to be so helpful (e.g., throwing showers, making crafts, hosting an address labeling party, etc.).   What a joy to experience so much love and support and to be able to celebrate with those you love.

You may remember my little gathered clutch obsession from last summer.  

Well, I can now make them in my sleep and hope you enjoy sharing a little in the process.

Soul Blossoms fabrics by Amy Butler.

Cutting and strip piecing fabrics (Soul Blossoms and Essex linen cotton blend in natural).

 Prepared patchwork strips for front exteriors.

Gathering the Essex linen cotton blend (natural) for the front exteriors.

Press - sew - press.

It's all about the assembly line...

...carefully saving strips, for which Molly will find 101 uses...

...and sewing and sewing and sewing.
The gathered clutches are a modification of a tutorial by Anna at Noodlehead.

Molly "helped" me with the invitations by pretty much conceiving the idea and making them for me while I sewed clutches.  In less than an hour she went from idea to invitations ready to be mailed!

The gathered clutches were stuffed with a few goodies (hand sanitizer, lip gloss, chocolates, tissues, an emery board, and a few mints).

 

 My crafty Miss Molly also made these cute place cards (one of many uses of the leftover fabric strips).

 

Looks good!  It must be time to pack up and go!

 

 

The Venetian Theatre and Bistro, Hillsboro, Oregon

Step this way...

 Molly's beautiful tablescape
I mostly just watched and handed her things as needed.

 Another use for leftover fabric strips: Molly tied a strip on each mason jar of white tulips.

 Beautiful friends and family.

 Lots of laughter!

The end of a perfect evening!

In other big news, guess who started a crafty blog!?!?  Molly!
You can follow the wedding plans, events, and creativity here.  And I plan on making a quilter out of that girl yet!  You watch. You wait.  You'll see.

With wishes true and kind -- Joan

Pillow Talk 4 Sneak Peek

I hope my partner loves it as much as I do.  

It's a modification of Elizabeth's Rain or Shine quilt pattern in Practical Guide to Patchwork.  

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

What's up?

 I just posted a blog giveaway for the Portland Modern Quilt Guild, so hurry on over and enter.  Just one quick comment will put you in the running for a Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton charm pack or 2 half yards of Holiday Happy fabric donated by The Happy Zombie.  There will be 10 lucky winners!

Come back here (and PMQG, too) on December 13 for Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway Day.

I just ordered 4 half yards of some gorgeous, newly released fabric for my giveaway.  Any guesses?

I recently stumbled upon these OOP Amy Butler Temple Flowers fabric on Etsy 

and just couldn't help myself.  I wasn't even looking, so I maintain that these fabrics found me!  

And I have been making progress on my Pillow Talk Swap pillow.  It just may involve a modification of a quilt pattern from Elizabeth Hartman's Practical Guide to Patchwork, some Amy Butler Love, yo-yos, and a Kona Cotton solid (to be determined).  My partner is not afraid of color, so color she will get!

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

From defeat to victory

Wednesday I wrote a blog post that I never posted.  I had been trying to figure out how to put in a zipper on a gathered clutch for a flickr swap, and gave up.  I went to the computer and poured out my frustrations, then suddenly stood up and went right back to the sewing machine for one last attempt.  Success!  I finally got that zipper in.  I went back to the computer and changed my post to a Wordless Wednesday, showing off my partially completed clutch.  I can't tell you how many times I opened and closed that zipper in awe.

A few of you noticed the seam ripper in the photo.  Yep.  That's because when I tried to do some topstitching on either side of the zipper, I paid no attention to the status of the lining on the other side, defeating the purpose of the zipper since there was no longer an opening to access.  No matter.  The hard part was over.

Clutch #1

Molly and I started working on this clutch at the end of June, but stopped when it was time to put in the zipper.  I was originally stumped by the fact that the pattern calls for an 8" zipper, which is not an actual zipper size.  Although I was afraid to shorten a zipper, Penny (Sew Take A Hike) provided the encouragement and I was able to accomplish that.  However, I still could not figure out how to install the darn thing.  Last Sunday afternoon, I packed the whole thing up and took it over to a friend's house.  Kathy sews a lot, took one look at it, and explained my obvious problem.  I was trying to use directions for a regular zipper to install an invisible zipper.  She did some figuring and finally sewed the invisible zipper in for me.  So, I never actually did any of the sewing on this one.  It looks pretty good in the photo, but is a little flat (no interfacing on the back exterior piece) and is ever so slightly wonky.

Clutch #2

Much better, but the little pouch that was almost never finished.  This is the one I thought had completely mastered me, only to go back and conquer it on the last attempt.  The tabs on the zipper ends slope down a little, giving the top of the pouch a slightly rounded look.  But it looks like it was intentional, so I'll say, as I always tell other people to say: "I meant to do that."  This one was supposed to be for my gathered clutch swap partner, but I think I'll make another one for her (also with Good Folks fabrics), because I now know I can do better.

Clutch #3

Not perfect, but getting pretty darn close!  This one is for my poor hexie swap partner.  I hope she believes in "better late than never".

I'm so pleased with myself, you'd think I had invented the zipper!
Now I'm off to practice by making clutches for a few more victims -- I mean friends!
And to remake the one for my swap partner.

With wishes, true and kind for zippered perfection -- Joan