tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53929811385856713652024-03-08T04:14:42.783-07:00Pick 'n' Stitch"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."
Philippians 4:8picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-79613742657883916382010-12-26T10:45:00.000-07:002010-12-26T10:45:04.847-07:00New Blog Site!I've moved! Come follow me to: <a href="http://picknstitch.com/">http://picknstitch.com</a>picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-50470614342044958182010-11-28T08:39:00.000-07:002010-11-28T08:39:08.399-07:00New Blog Site!I've moved! Come find me at <a href="http://www.picknstitch.com./">www.picknstitch.com.</a><br />
Thanks for following me there,<br />
amypicknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-15930660967674355782010-11-22T19:56:00.002-07:002010-11-22T20:09:37.656-07:00I've Been Bad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5200368666_0d07b919d5_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5200368666_0d07b919d5_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
My sister comes to town and what do we do? We go shopping, of course! There's a new "green" yarn and fabric store that recently opened called <a href="http://www.woodenspoolsquilting.com/">Wooden Spools</a>. It collects overages and unused stashes from stores and individuals and offers them for sale. There's a nice selection of mostly natural fiber yarn in the front of the store. The back half of the store is dedicated to quilting cottons, anything from fat quarters to entire bolts. They also have a long arm quilting machine set up and their website says they offer custom quilting services. Nice idea. Great prices! Could. not. resist. buying. something.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5122/5199776229_4efa68eb7a_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5122/5199776229_4efa68eb7a_m.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>I found a book of knitting projects by Lucinda Guy with Rowan yarns. Every project is irresistibly adorable and I fell in love with the stuffed animals. As luck would have it, there was a nice colorful supply of Cascade cotton yarns at the shop for an unbelievable price, so I of course had to bring home an entire basket of them to knit up a bevy of imaginative creatures. Florian Fox is first on the list...picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-65472287900164657392010-11-17T16:49:00.001-07:002010-11-19T17:41:02.297-07:00Another Tunic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1346/5165485742_5125eafeb4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1346/5165485742_5125eafeb4.jpg" width="497" /></a></div>Just a quick pic today. Another tunic I made up using my basic t-shirt pattern. A double inset in the v-neck was a little interesting to figure out. Knits are so fun and quick. This was about 2 hours of stitching, most of which was spent on the neckline. But it took no time to cut out- just fold over the rounded neck pattern to create the v-neck, and fold and cut the stripe in the middle. I love cozy tunics and fast projects!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5190399001_f35c095766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5190399001_f35c095766.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I played around with different shapes around the neckline, and here's what I came up with. The dark thin line is just a narrow strip of knit, cut crosswise, then folded in half and basted around the neck, right sides together.<br />
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The grey knit collar is cut in the shape of a long skinny football, then folded in half. I folded the collar again so the points matched up. I measured the circumference of the neckline, divided that in half, then used that measurement to measure from the fold in the neckline (that will be the center back) towards the points and pinned where the measurement ended. I sewed a sharply angled seam at the pin to become the center front line, pinned it around the neckline edge and stitched all the layers together. A v-collar! It sounds more complicated than it is. Try it.picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-31726082634482649342010-11-16T16:53:00.002-07:002010-11-16T16:58:20.877-07:00Thankgiving Menu Planning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5182434247_d25bd0f8ee_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5182434247_d25bd0f8ee_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>See those woods behind the bean field? Wild turkeys live there. This is my parents' farm. In July. It doesn't look like this now. Now it's cold and often windy. The beans have dried and long been harvested. The trees are mostly bare save for a few leaves vibrating in the breeze. The ground crunches with fallen nuts and dry leaves. But the turkeys are still there. They're settling in to wait out the winter. Safe. Yep, safe even this time of year. When Dad was still alive, he'd tell me about his turkey sightings whenever they'd venture out of the woods to forage. Sometimes on foggy days, they'd strut, Mick Jagger style, up to the lawn around the farmhouse looking for tasty morsels. He liked to count them and talk about them as if they were pets. Tom Turkey and his brood. I miss those conversations. The turkeys are still there, still elusive like quiet ghosts; they are there to remind me of Dad. Thanksgiving will cause them no harm. Safeway is just up the road.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5183241066_3bd1d4ea00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5183241066_3bd1d4ea00.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I have 20 coming to Thanksgiving this year. The menu is planned, very midwest traditional, including Grandma's raisin stuffing and big bowls of jello. Today I pulled out napkins and tablecloths to wash and iron. This weekend my daughter and I will scour the weeds at some open space nearby in search of table decorations. I'm hoping for Martha-Stewart-worthy nature, but will probably wind up with, well, weeds. No matter. It's my table and I'm going to call it beautiful. So there.picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-66100925618857232172010-11-12T08:10:00.000-07:002010-11-12T08:10:09.040-07:00Scalloped Edge Treatment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1096/5114979308_5460bb3759_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1096/5114979308_5460bb3759_b.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here’s a super simple edge treatment using the blind hem stitch on your machine. It works best on light drapey fabrics. Be sure to experiment on a scrap of fabric first to get your settings right.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I used this treatment on a strip of cloth to trim a neckline, but you could also use is as an edge finish directly on a neckline or front edge. Just remember it’s rather fragile, so don’t use it on a edge that’s going to be tugged and pulled on. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1235/5168744128_6b29ec41b0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1235/5168744128_6b29ec41b0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I started with a bias strip 1.25” wide. I didn’t need that much finished width, but that width gave my fingers enough fabric to hold on to it while ironing. Cutting on the bias helps reduce fraying.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Fold the fabric toward the wrong side 1/8” and press. For this polyester peachskin fabric, the effect worked best if I only turned the fabric to the wrong side once. With more sheer fabrics, it might work to turn the fabric twice so there’s no raw edge exposed, even though the edge gets encased in the zig-zag stitching. Experiment. <o:p></o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5168754076_a822fb70f1_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5168754076_a822fb70f1_m.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A blind hem stitch looks like this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1263/5168755972_8c8bf6f904_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1263/5168755972_8c8bf6f904_m.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My upper thread tension wheel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Set your machine for a blind hem stitch and increase your thread tension as high as it will go. Consult your manual if needed. Increasing the thread tension causes the top thread to pull in the fabric when it zig-zags out to the fabric edge, creating the scallop.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1234/5168771984_6c59b9ed8a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1234/5168771984_6c59b9ed8a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Align the folded edge of the fabric under the pressure foot, right side up, so the zig-zag stitch moves just beyond the fabric edge. Adjust the stitch length and width until you like the look. I used .5 mm length and 4 mm width. Go slow, and use your fingers to guide the fabric.</span><o:p></o:p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1314/5114978824_d183e5c2e6_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1314/5114978824_d183e5c2e6_b.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the trim applied to the neck edge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1228/5114377567_37d6a9c399_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1228/5114377567_37d6a9c399_b.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the back side of the finished trim.<br />
Notice the raw edge encased by the stitching.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
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</span></div></div>picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-20512978067702701172010-11-11T16:26:00.000-07:002010-11-11T16:26:17.825-07:00Runway Inspiration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1108/5115934852_e374e8e749_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1108/5115934852_e374e8e749_b.jpg" width="217" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t watch television much, but after reading some blog posts about <a href="http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway">Project Runway</a>, I watched an episode online, and I was hooked! It’s now my Friday guilty pleasure to watch it when I’m supposed to be doing real work. A few weeks ago, the challenge was to design looks that fit into Heidi Klum’s (the show hostess) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=heidi+klum&x=0&y=0">new active clothing line</a>. I was inspired by the color blocked designs of <a href="http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway/season-8/designer-portfolios">Andy and Mondo</a>, and decided to create a simple color blocked tunic for myself. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1196/5115335873_576288b7bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1196/5115335873_576288b7bf.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It was a great way to use up some of my overflowing stash. I had an odd shaped piece of heavy grey knit that came off a remnant table, and some polyester peachskin that I bought because I fell in love with the dusty plum color, even though I don’t usually wear slinky synthetics. Combining the two fabrics was perfect- nice color, comfy stretch. Although it’s not runway ready, it is shopping-errand-day worthy!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1096/5114979308_5460bb3759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1096/5114979308_5460bb3759.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">To add a little texture, I created some scalloped trim from a bias strip of the plum fabric and stitched it to the neckline. (Ignore the tomato colored t-shirt; it's the standard uniform of my dressform Stella.) Soon I’ll write a small tutorial on how to make your own trim.</span>picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-88581304853704506752010-06-25T14:07:00.000-06:002010-06-25T14:07:18.206-06:00Lotta's Garden Tote<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1196/4722552817_44efaf58d5_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1196/4722552817_44efaf58d5_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/TCUKa-azESI/AAAAAAAABlY/xierkLSsdps/s1600/51DgaVhv1rL._SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/TCUKa-azESI/AAAAAAAABlY/xierkLSsdps/s200/51DgaVhv1rL._SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></a>Let me end the week with one of my latest projects: a Garden Tote from Lotta Jansdotter's book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0811852571/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=02JNPP6XC2HPE16E7AVJ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846">Simple Sewing</a>.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The tote went together very easily. Lotta's instructions were very clear, yet concise so I wasn't bogged down in a lot of words. I love her simple graphic style.<br />
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It was a present for my nephew and his wife who just moved into a new house with a yard filled with literally hundreds of botanical specimens of all types. For instance, the front yard contains no grass, but has instead strawberry plants for ground cover. It's an amazing yard, and I hope my little tote can help them in some small way to manage the gardens! Enjoy your weekend!picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-60864547833113259312010-06-22T21:01:00.001-06:002010-06-25T13:49:39.038-06:00Experimental Monday: BiscuitsI've always wanted to make really good biscuits. Most of the time, I'm in a time crunch and just do the Bisquick thing, but they always turn out crumbly and they're not my family's favorite. I want to make a biscuit that people remember-- in a good way.<br />
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Hence my recent fascination with Alton Brown's book, <i>I'm Just Here for More Food</i>.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/TCF0FROHzEI/AAAAAAAABlM/ayiKDY0thE8/s1600/61SZJAJD04L._SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/TCF0FROHzEI/AAAAAAAABlM/ayiKDY0thE8/s200/61SZJAJD04L._SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
In that geeky, science-y way that only Alton Brown can pull off, a whole section of the book is dedicated to learning about the biscuit method. Then he gives us his favorite recipe, a recipe that is four pages long. Very detailed. Just what I need. Here's what I thought of my first try at his recipe:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1181/4722549249_a41bcb13aa_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1181/4722549249_a41bcb13aa_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alton warns that his recipe produces a very soft gooey dough, and he's right. My dough was soft enough to run right through my fingers, and although I could cut a circle with my biscuit cutter, there was no way it was going to lift off the wax paper without a fight and several contortions. In the end, instead of trying to first cut circles, I just heaped a mound of dough on the baking sheet and smooshed it into a circle using wax paper on top so my fingers wouldn't get glued to the stuff.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/4723200696_dfb7b073e8_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/4723200696_dfb7b073e8_b.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Despite all the gloppiness, the biscuits turned out great! Warm, buttery, soft, melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Just tiny crumbs. They were gone in a flash. It was an involved process which made me think they need to be the main course and not just a side dish, but I'm willing to try it again. They were that good. Next time, I think I might try adding just a touch more flour, and a little more adjusting for high altitude, since I live at 5000 feet. Other than that, I think I can finally get rave reviews at dinnertime. So worth it!</div>picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-70205208773453406282010-04-08T15:40:00.000-06:002010-04-08T15:40:01.222-06:00Mud Bath<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/S75KkXsVarI/AAAAAAAABd4/j1FVhhRyb5M/s1600/IMG_1680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/S75KkXsVarI/AAAAAAAABd4/j1FVhhRyb5M/s400/IMG_1680.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I think the clouds over my house decided to do their spring cleaning two days ago because, well, it rained mud. Icky brown, sticky, runny mud, all over my car that was parked in the street. It rained for no more than 5 minutes this morning. My car did not look like that last night. Really. The evening news said the mud rain was caused by some dirty upper air turbulence something-or-other, but I like my story better. At least somebody is doing spring cleaning...<br />
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Inside the house it's like slogging through mud as well. Now that I'm back to work (my day job is designing and managing print publications) projects and requests are coming at me faster than I can keep track of them. I feel like I can't get done with one simple project before three emails and two phone calls have distracted me into six different directions. It's like those dreams where you're trying to run but your legs won't move and you don't go anywhere. There now, I have used two analogies in one paragraph. Stunning.<br />
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Sorry for my long absence from this blog. I was suddenly hit with some unexpected health issues that kept my body and mind focused elsewhere. They're not over yet, but I'm recovering well, and back at the sewing machine, thank you. Updates on projects soon. Promise.picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-10820428104403810422010-01-12T11:59:00.000-07:002010-01-12T11:59:20.248-07:00Top Ten Favorites of 2009<a href="http://TrueUp.net/">TrueUp.net</a>, a blog I love to follow, is asking readers to give them a list of favorite fabrics and designers of 2009. Here's my Top 10 noteworthy entries:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/S0zFqZI57JI/AAAAAAAABbA/hHst4Q3COlo/s1600-h/favoritefabrics2009-250wide.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/S0zFqZI57JI/AAAAAAAABbA/hHst4Q3COlo/s320/favoritefabrics2009-250wide.png" width="320" /></a><br />
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• Favorite Quilting Weight Cotton Collection: <a href="http://www.fabric.com/quilting-fabric-shop-by-designer-amy-butler-designer-cotton-print-fabric.aspx">Amy Butler "Midwest Modern II."</a> I think the majority of the accessories I've sewn for myself this past year have had some of her fabric in them.<br />
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• Favorite Home Decor Weight Fabric: <a href="http://www.jcarolinecreative.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=JC&Category_Code=1005l">Jessica Jones "Modern Flora."</a> Beautiful prints that are easy to work with.<br />
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• Favorite Juvenile Print: Michael Miller "<a href="http://www.michaelmillerfabrics.com/MMF/Swatch.cfm?&Kwds=mono%20bot">Orange Mono Bot</a>." I came across a small remnant of it somewhere and I want more. I don't even have kids to sew for at the moment, but never mind that...<br />
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• Favorite Color Trend: I can't believe I'm saying this, but ORANGE. I grew up in the 60's and 70's and hated orange then (along with avocado green), but these sherbet oranges I see now are adorable.<br />
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• Favorite New Fabric I Worked With in 2009: My favorite fabric is actually an ancient fiber: silk. In all these years, I had never worked with it till this past year. Now I don't know why I waited so long. It was a dream to sew and the projects turned out beautiful. I used China silk, raw silk, silk kimono fabric, it was all good. Try some, really!<br />
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• Favorite Handprinted Fabric: <a href="http://jansdotter.com/">Lotta Jansdotter</a>. When I grow up, I want to be her. I love her aesthetic.<br />
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• Favorite Solid/Nonprinted: What else- Kona Cotton. I discovered Robert Kaufman makes a <a href="http://www.pinkchalkfabrics.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1532">Color Card</a> for their Kona Cotton line, so I invested in one. I love being able to match up prints I've picked up here and there with solid colors on the card, then ordering the solids online, since I can't find many of them locally.<br />
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• Favorite Overall Designer: <a href="http://www.dsquilts.com/">Denyse Schmidt</a>. I'm not much of a quilter, but if I were, I'd want to be like Denyse. I'd love to "get in her head" and experience her creative process while working out a project. Amazing.<br />
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• Favorite Local Fabric Store: Denver Fabrics. No, this has no relation to the DenverFabrics.com online store. This is local only, no website. I like Denver Fabrics because I'm never sure what I'm going to find there. About half of their fabrics are ordered from manufacturers, but the other half come from various sources- end bolts from the garment district, left over fabric from design houses, imports, you never know. On my last trip there I discovered some rolls of silk kimono fabric, a bolt of cashmere wool that was as fluffy and soft as a cloud (think snuggly cardigan), and a tiny houndstooth check wool in soft pink and grey that came from a New York design house. I love the thrill.<br />
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• Wildcard Category: I love it when I find product packaging that I can sew with. This past year, Purina started making its dog food bags out of a plastic coated mesh material that's very easy to sew. It would be great if others followed suit, like the big bags of flour and sugar at Costco. Then there's the big bags of rice packaged in burlap. Those are great too. Here's to more reusable packaging in 2010.<br />
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To see all the Favorite Lists on True Up,<a href="http://www.trueup.net/?p=8561"> click here</a>. To read about the Favorite Fabrics event, and even participate by January 15, <a href="http://www.trueup.net/?p=8500">click here</a>.<br />
<!--EndFragment-->picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-80587829252016286042009-12-23T10:41:00.002-07:002009-12-23T10:45:23.052-07:00Santa Trauma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/SzJVdlmFy9I/AAAAAAAABaE/yEk_XWYUNI8/s1600-h/Menges+Xmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/SzJVdlmFy9I/AAAAAAAABaE/yEk_XWYUNI8/s400/Menges+Xmas.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Christmas 1995</span><br />
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As I'm busy finishing up Christmas presents (I'm down to the wire, I know), I thought I'd let you know about a contest. <a href="http://paulaprass.blogspot.com/2009_12_01_archive.html">Paula Prass</a>, designer extraordinaire, is hosting a giveaway on her <a href="http://paulaprass.blogspot.com/">blog</a> open to anyone who sends her a funny photo of kids NOT having fun while getting their picture taken with Santa. Check it out, the photos are sure to make you laugh, and while you're there, vote for your favorite. Here's my submission:<br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can remember things from when I was really young. Like going to see Santa. He lived in an A-frame shack that was put up in the town square next to the fountain. With my dad carrying me, we opened the door, stepped in, got within three feet of the big jolly guy, and I started screaming and climbing up and over my dad's shoulders and on top of his head. I know I was really young because he still had hair then. Come to think of it, I could be the reason he went bald... Anyway, I was apparently headed for the rafters and was going to swing my way outta there like a monkey. There are no pictures of me with Santa. Go figure. What does it mean that I'm now 50 years old and still traumatized by the event? Worse, what does it mean that I endangered my own children's mental health by putting them on Santa's lap for a photo shoot? Therapy? Yea, I'm thinking about it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Merry Christmas, everyone!</span></span>picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-16505268462941900772009-12-17T14:38:00.000-07:002009-12-17T14:38:04.932-07:00Dear Blog,Really, I haven't forgotten you. I know I owe you a huge post filled with pretty pics of all I've been up to lately, but right now I'm in the rush of Christmas presents to finish making. There's linen to stitch up, yarn to crochet, packages to wrap, cookies to bake, it's all so busy. But it makes me happy! Here's a photo of the view I enjoyed during my recent quilt retreat with my friends. Maybe it'll help you ponder great thoughts on your own while I finish up my to-do list. I promise to get back to you. Promise.<br />
Love, Amy<br />
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</div>picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-14734753852941317922009-11-24T16:26:00.001-07:002009-11-24T16:28:17.846-07:00Tiny Goodness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/SwxrhP69vsI/AAAAAAAABSU/QxFgdhE5YwM/s1600/IMG_1316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/SwxrhP69vsI/AAAAAAAABSU/QxFgdhE5YwM/s400/IMG_1316.jpg" /></a><br />
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I had a hankerin' to try my hand at making a bag with a metal purse frame. Above is my first effort. I dug around online and found some tiny frames on the cheap at eBay. They're so tiny that a credit card won't fit in one, but I made the bag long enough to accommodate a tube of chapstick and some rolled up dollar bills. It now resides on my keychain. To create a pattern, I used the instructions I found on the U-Handbag blog <a href="http://u-handbag.typepad.com/uhandblog/2007/01/eye_eye_glasses.html">here</a>. The glue I used to attach the fabric to the frame was <a href="http://www.biosafe-inc.com/craft.htm">Craft by Goop</a> (I bought mine in the craft dept. of Walmart). It did the job, the fabric stuck tight, but it was a little stiff and hard to distribute evenly in the metal frame channel. U-Handbag suggests using Gutermann fabric glue, but I can't seem to find any. If anyone knows of a source, share your info!picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-53613479498530360712009-11-24T14:05:00.001-07:002009-11-24T14:07:15.978-07:00Denyse Schmidt Quilts Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/Sww61REo8cI/AAAAAAAABRc/z1pPhIuOsI4/s1600/DSC_0243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/Sww61REo8cI/AAAAAAAABRc/z1pPhIuOsI4/s400/DSC_0243.jpg" /></a><br />
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Lately I've been digging into the book Denyse Schmidt Quilts, and loving it. When I bought it, I read it cover to cover. Actually, I bought it right after I had seen the movie "Julie and Julia" and I wondered if I should make every project in Denyse's book the way Julie in the movie made every recipe in Julia Child's cookbook. The reality of how much time that would take eventually dawned on me, so I abandoned that idea, but I have made a couple projects from the book.<br />
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At first, I expected the book to give me some insight into Denyse's creative process and explain how to improvise patchwork projects the way she does, but it's actually a book of projects with pattern pieces that when sewn together, look like you've improvised a free-form patchwork piece. Being such a newbie to quilts and patchwork, this method is probably a good thing for me. It's like someone holding my hand while I get use to the construction methods. Her ideas are cute, modern and very doable.<br />
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Her scarf pattern uses a foundation piecing method. The strips of wool and silk are successfully sewn to a muslin foundation fabric until you have the right dimensions, then square it up and stitch it a soft wool lining. It was quick and I love the look. Our weather has turned cold the last few days, so it was done just in time to be put to use!<br />
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I made this fun apron for a housewarming present for my niece. She loves vintage things and all the fabrics I used came from a pile of old fabrics I bought at a garage sale last summer. It's a very easy pattern with a wonky log cabin block pocket. I'd love to make an entire log cabin quilt some day. But in the meantime, these small projects are fast and satisfying. The pom pom fringe is a fun sassy addition. I also whipped up a couple pot holders to match using my own design. The thing I like about these is the pocket on one side. With my hand inside the pocket, I feel like a have more control when grabbing something out of the oven.<br />
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</div>picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-9060535942446229292009-11-24T12:27:00.001-07:002009-11-24T12:27:45.660-07:00Thank You, Detail!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/SwwzoV70wnI/AAAAAAAABRU/UrW4qcLQ8xE/s1600/DSC_0234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/SwwzoV70wnI/AAAAAAAABRU/UrW4qcLQ8xE/s400/DSC_0234.jpg" /></a><br />
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I actually won a giveaway! A. at her <a href="http://withdetail.blogspot.com/">Detail</a> blog sent me this wonderful cloth basket filled with scrap fabrics. Lovely little pieces that I'll soon be showing off in a project I'm working on now. Isn't the ribbon detail on the top of the basket clever? I love it. Thanks, A.!picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-62651815889684527122009-11-24T12:20:00.002-07:002009-11-24T12:21:26.342-07:00Trying to Catch Up<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">Wow. Blogging has been left in the dust while I've been trying to catch up on some "chore" projects around here. Pretty straightforward stuff. Here's a rundown:</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I finally finished a shower curtain for my hall bath, using <a href="http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/ItemList--Michael-Miller-Fabrics-by-Paula-Prass--m-1122">Flights of Fancy fabric by Paula Prass</a>. On the wall, I covered four art canvas frames with a coordinating Flights of Fancy print. Simple, quick, done!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">My college age son moved out in September, but it took me till October to clean out his room. Yeah, it was THAT bad. Really. Anywho, the room is now a study room for whoever needs it. This antique chair belonged to my dad, and although I wanted to use it, I also wanted to protect the wood seat and the leather back. I covered it in a paisley print that matched the wall color, and also made very simple matching valances with the leftover fabric.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now that I'm a little more caught up, it's time to think about Christmas presents...<br />
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</span></span>picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-15100878224325524472009-11-06T18:14:00.003-07:002009-11-06T18:20:18.307-07:00Inspiration Overload<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/SvTKGtcsSBI/AAAAAAAABQE/b8O8dn4ji7k/s1600-h/DSC_0182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/SvTKGtcsSBI/AAAAAAAABQE/b8O8dn4ji7k/s640/DSC_0182.jpg" /></a><br />
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I found this book on Amazon Marketplace recently and had to scoop it up. A copy of this same book was on our bookshelf when I was growing up. Actually, it wasn't on our bookshelf, it was always in somebody's hands, either mine or one of my sister's. A sister now has that copy, with a missing back cover and loose spine, but it's still readable and well loved. Every page of that book is like an old friend, comfortable and familiar.<br />
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That book, along with a couple of Pack-O-Fun magazines, were all we had for crafty inspiration. But it was enough. I believe I've made, attempted to make, or dreamed about making every single project in this book. See the stocking pattern above? My mom used that pattern when she made my stocking, which still hangs on my mantel every year, along with the stockings I made for my husband and kids. There's a rag doll pattern in the book that my older sister made for me. It's the first doll I remember having, and the doll I hand stitched clothes for when I was a preschooler. That book taught me how to knit, how to carve soap, how to sew, how to create.<br />
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Contrast those sweet memories with today. I have a bookshelf full of crafty books, a basket full of sewing magazines, an endless list of blogs I love to visit, and just about any idea I want to explore is only a Google search away. I'll never accomplish a fraction of the projects that swim around in my head from all this inspiration. Everywhere you can hear talk of the "information overload" age we live in. Sometimes I think we can also be burdened with "inspiration overload" as well.<br />
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Don't get me wrong. I love having books at my fingertips and being inspired by all those creative ladies that let us glimpse into their lives through their blogs. I love the resurgence of creativity and sewing I've seen developing in our country. It's just that sometimes I find I need to take a creative step backwards, simplify my thinking process, and remember to enjoy the simple things in front of me. Enjoy putting needle to fabric for the sheer pleasure of it, enjoy the sound of knitting needles clacking together in a rhythmic pattern, enjoy a completed project being put to good use. Sometimes I need to stop trying to be a more inspired, creative, unique craftsperson, and simply find joy in the person I am right now.<br />
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So, to all of you, have a relaxed, simply enjoyable weekend!picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-61499948338621837972009-11-02T09:39:00.000-07:002009-11-02T09:39:11.405-07:00Why I Love ColoradoWednesday, Thursday: Lots of snow.<br />
Friday: Digging out.<br />
Saturday, Sunday: Bright sunshine, warm weather, no jacket required (just avoid puddles of melted snow). You gotta love how Colorado does its thing, then gets over it and moves on.<br />
Monday: Back to business as usual.<br />
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I'd like to have a gallery of beautiful finished projects here that I accomplished during the snow storm, but it was more like a must-get-mundane-chores-off-my-list kind of snow storm. Things like:<br />
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1. Finish cleaning out my son's bedroom. He moved out in September. There will be no "before" photos of that room. Way too embarrassing. I could take a photo of the big black garbage bags of stuff I hauled out of there, but where's the fun in that? There will be a few photos later of that room as I complete some very minimal decorating projects in there to turn it into a quiet study room.<br />
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2. Baked apple dumplings with my daughter. Whole peeled apples wrapped in pie crust pastry and baked. Yea, I should have taken a photo of those beauties with their leaf cutout tops, but when they came out of the oven, all I could think was must. eat. NOW. We're making those again.<br />
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3. Mended more rips in my jeans. Four more rips to be exact. I have an awful time finding jeans that fit, so I hang on to the pairs I have till there is just nothing left of them. And no, I'm not photographing the behind of my jeans. We're not going there. Ever.<br />
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4. Worked on a shower curtain out of Paula Prass fabric. Photo as soon as I get curtain rings to hang them up.<br />
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5. Started some Quiet Room projects. More on that later. Nothing too exciting, though.<br />
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6. Watched movies, ate popcorn, drank hot chocolate with marshmallows, read the new <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/Sewing/Magazines/Stitch-Fall-2009.html">Stitch</a> magazine (l-o-v-e i-t), slept in late.<br />
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Now it's back to reality. Wish me luck.picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-21033392200634625492009-10-30T15:00:00.000-06:002009-10-30T15:00:11.675-06:00Snow Day #3: The Big MeltdownThe sun is back! Hope you all get to stitch this weekend!<br />
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</div>picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-29976132716325612222009-10-29T15:00:00.001-06:002009-10-29T15:02:41.423-06:00Snow Day #2It started snowing here on Tuesday night and hasn't stopped yet. We have 19" so far. This is my daughter's second snow day in a row and she's like a little kid, building snow forts in the backyard. Me? I'm dreaming of getting back down to the sewing room to finish some projects, so I'll make this quick and just show off a couple pictures from my back yard.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/SuoAw8LHYdI/AAAAAAAABO8/xHfsDDF2ojs/s1600-h/DSC_0140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/SuoAw8LHYdI/AAAAAAAABO8/xHfsDDF2ojs/s400/DSC_0140.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above is the view out my back door. For some reason when I peeked outside this morning, it made me smile to see that row of little bright pots braving the cold and sheltering themselves under the bench while the rest of the landscape had turned white. I like being happy!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have a warm day, everyone!<br />
</div>picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-19606811418567837932009-10-23T11:50:00.002-06:002009-10-23T12:17:29.926-06:00Scrappy Belt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/SuHryaQYAUI/AAAAAAAABI8/GwyVaM9_mgo/s1600-h/IMG_1221+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/SuHryaQYAUI/AAAAAAAABI8/GwyVaM9_mgo/s640/IMG_1221+copy.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/">Sew Mama Sew</a> is hosting a Scrap Buster Contest this month. They have had lots of great ideas submitted, please head over and check it out. I wanted to come up with an idea that would use up small, not-necessarily-quilting fabrics, so here's my tutorial to make a simple patchwork style belt out of any kind of fabrics you have on hand. Here's a link to my <a href="http://picknstitch.googlegroups.com/web/scrappy_belt.pdf?gda=49Q4i0MAAABMUVHwiEruOs8dgif3G7_Xn9DR6XQhNcQkSkpLVV9M6uycljEtXZzM--EQdLeCQWUytiJ-HdGYYcPi_09pl8N7FWLveOaWjzbYnpnkpmxcWg&hl=en"target="_blank">Scrapbuster Belt</a>. It's my first tutorial, so please email me with any comments, suggestions, corrections. I'd appreciate it! Thanks!picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-18365907615210706772009-10-21T16:55:00.000-06:002009-10-21T16:55:03.331-06:00Fabric Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/St-QS50qpXI/AAAAAAAABIQ/oVJw9zL3gGo/s1600-h/kiyoharabundleclose-450x674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/St-QS50qpXI/AAAAAAAABIQ/oVJw9zL3gGo/s400/kiyoharabundleclose-450x674.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span><div>Hey, mosey on over to the <a href="http://www.trueup.net/?p=6712">True Up blog</a> for a great giveaway of a half-yard bundle pack of Liyohara fabric. Beautiful prints! And if you haven't visited <a href="http://www.trueup.net/">True Up</a> before, you'll enjoy getting lots of fabric news and tons of inspiration. Check it out!</div>picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-77758726394431707542009-10-10T19:35:00.000-06:002009-10-10T19:38:53.833-06:00Baking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/StE12rDJ0AI/AAAAAAAABHU/ix16ME5bAhU/s1600-h/DSC_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/StE12rDJ0AI/AAAAAAAABHU/ix16ME5bAhU/s400/DSC_0031.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oatmeal muffins with dried cherries and dark chocolate chunks.</span></span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We've had our first snow of the season! The cooler weather makes me crave time in the kitchen to bake. I don't know why that is, but what I do know is I'm going to have a hard time fitting into my jeans tomorrow.</span>picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392981138585671365.post-9165811500487203932009-10-08T14:00:00.000-06:002009-10-08T14:02:33.041-06:00Chilly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/Ss5CiOCqmJI/AAAAAAAABDw/0uHb0gZzrmA/s1600-h/DSC_0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/Ss5CiOCqmJI/AAAAAAAABDw/0uHb0gZzrmA/s400/DSC_0029.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/Ss5Cfia8K5I/AAAAAAAABDo/o3nL0E4nxlE/s1600/DSC_0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x_BmRsF3iJ8/Ss5Cfia8K5I/AAAAAAAABDo/o3nL0E4nxlE/s400/DSC_0027.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My nose is cold.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My front yard is carpeted in yellow.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My back yard is sporting more than the usual red.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I turned my sprinklers off for the year.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have a cup of hot chocolate on my desk.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm going to a football game this weekend.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm enjoying the moments of the season.<br />
</div>picknstitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.com1