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Happy Friday!

May 3, 2013 by 5 Comments

Happy, happy Friday! After spending a bit of time cleaning up and organizing over the last couple days, I sat down with my scraps. While putting things in order, I found my paper pieces and could not resist making a star flower using Anna’s lovely Field Study print for a wild, exotic look. Wild Star Flower in AMHSomehow, I pulled myself away and finished trimming up these left over bits for a future something.Pieced scrapsThere was even a bit of “what if?” play with other left over scraps.What If? ScrapsI’m clearly having a hard time focusing.  But I’m enjoying the deadline free, pressure free play time. Ideas need execution and that’s the goal for next week. Before that happens, time to have fun!

Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Filed Under: Amy Butler, Anna Maria Horner, blog buddies, fabrics, Heather Bailey, Kaffe Fassett, quilting, sassaman, scraps, sis boom

Stuff On The Back Burner

April 17, 2013 by 7 Comments

Usually, the arrival of Quilt Market sewing assignments means putting a project aside until the craziness abates. This year, there are multiple projects waiting for my attention. None of them on a deadline, thank goodness.Big scrapsI’m finding it especially difficult to tear myself away from this one. I assembled 3″ strips from all the Free Spirit and Rowan designers in my stash. Big enough to see the gorgeous prints and decide which elements to incorporate. They’re sitting on that proverbial back burner, bubbling away.

If you had this little stack of fabrics, what would you do with it? I’d love to hear how this stack inspires you.

Filed Under: Amy Butler, Anna Maria Horner, blog buddies, fabric, Heather Bailey, Kaffe Fassett, Market, Parson Gray, Rowan, sassaman, sis boom

Keeping Up

March 20, 2012 by 7 Comments

Have you had a chance to make one of the Catch All pockets? After sending my young niece off with one of my Heather Bailey pockets, I chose to replace it with one made up in Sis Boom’s Crazy Love.

A lot of other things are going on here and I wish I could share them. Unfortunately, I cannot. However, if you check out Generation Q’s latest blog post, you’ll see a teaser about some of the contributors whose work will appear in the premier issue. See that line about teasers. The one that says “Melissa Peda”. Yes, that’s me. I have a quilt in the first issue and I’m so excited for you to see it. June is going to be a great month!
If you read the first paragraph of Gen Q’s Kickstarter page, you’ll see that they’re creating this magazine for  “modern and contemporary quilters and sewists who don’t know how to march to the beat of the Quilt Police’s drum”.  I think I’m going to fit right in, don’t you?
Filed Under: blog buddies, color, creativity, embellishments, fabrics, Heather Bailey, house and home, pattern, sewing, sis boom, tutorials

Catch All Cutey Tutorial

March 15, 2012 by 6 Comments

There’s a new little tutorial/pattern for you over at FreeSpirit’s blog.  It’s just the right size to keep near your sewing machine. Use it for thread trash or for the other essentials you need close at hand.

Like most of my patterns, it comes together quickly and is easy to personalize.  Just think of the pizazz a little row of pom poms would add around the top band. Or jazz it up with some fringe. Use fusible tape to iron a row of ribbon around it. So many choices, you’ll need to make several.

This would also make a great little pocket over a bedpost finial for the little things you don’t want falling off the nightstand. Or hang it off a hook for outgoing mail. But first, you need to hop over and get the instructions.

As always, I love to see your finished projects, so send pictures if you make one.

Filed Under: creativity, fabric, Heather Bailey, house and home, pattern, sewing, tutorials

Something For The Boys

March 15, 2012 by 7 Comments

 It’s not always easy to keep the boys supplied with handmade goodies. Not that they mind, of course. Technology and toys make them just as happy. However, there are times when you just want to supplement the “cool” stuff with the “made with love” stuff.

One of my nephews turns six very soon. He does appreciate Aunt Melissa’s homemade presents just as much as the “cool” stuff.  Yesterday, I remembered Jennifer and Carla’s Bosco Bow Tie. A quick pass through the scraps, an hour of time and three bow ties later, I’m satisfied.

I think he will be too.  I’ve used Heather Bailey’s Nicey Jane and Jenean Morrison’s Power Pop for these cute but not too cute bow ties. I think a little Kaffe would be awesome too.  Or maybe Parson Gray’s Curious Nature.

Filed Under: blog buddies, clothing, fabric, Heather Bailey, sis boom

Market Sewing – Fleece

November 3, 2011 by 3 Comments

Let’s move on to those sewing projects that took up so much time last month, shall we?  First up, the dog bed with toy.  Stinka had two jobs–modeling and quality control. Striking a pose and attacking the toy seemed to come naturally for her.  Although I think she was really just making sure that cat hairs made the trip to Market.  Or else sending a message to whatever dog might end up on this bed in the future.

The fleece is printed with Heather Bailey’s Nicey Jane designs and it sews up beautifully.

Two child size ponchos (McCalls 6431) went together quickly.  I kept thinking about a flannel lined fleece robe.  Sounds perfect for winter, doesn’t it?

Filed Under: cat, cats, clothing, fabric, Heather Bailey, Market, sewing

Braided Rug How To — The Tutorial is Available

December 3, 2010 by 5 Comments

Remember the braided rug?  Want to make one for yourself?  Maybe you’d like a unique centerpiece or set of placemats for your holiday table.  Head over to Free Spirit Fabric’s blog for the tutorial link.  (If it takes too long to load the first time around, try hitting the refresh button.  If you still can’t load it, send me an email and I will make sure you aren’t left out of the fun.)

The placemat/centerpiece seen in the photo above is made in Heather Bailey’s Nicey Jane fabrics.  The golden hues are a great holiday accent to any table.  Use Tanya Whelan’s Delilah fabrics in the reds and greens for a more traditional Christmas look.  Or liven up a New Year’s table with a centerpiece size in Sis Boom Queen Street.  Endless possibilities.  Just endless.

(Quick note:  If you have Honey Bun pre-cuts sitting around, you’re ready to get braiding right now!)

Enjoy!  And share your pictures!  I would love to see your interpretation.

Filed Under: crafts, Heather Bailey

Retro Ripple Drawstring Bag

August 31, 2010 by 2 Comments

Ready for a trip down memory lane?  A blast to the not so distant past?  According to fashion magazines, drawstring bags like those popular in the 70′s are making a comeback this Fall.  I’m not really sure they ever went away entirely.  And they were certainly around long before hippie chicks added them to their ensembles.

This one has a definite 70′s vibe.  I was inspired by Candi Jensen’s drawstring ripple bag (Crochet Bags!: 15 Hip Projects for Carrying Your Stuff) and by Lucy of Attic 24 fame.  Candi’s pattern was smaller and the ripple pattern is not my favorite.  For my favorite ripple pattern, it’s Lucy’s Neat Ripple Pattern.

The ombre cotton yarn creates an undefined but interesting pattern when worked up in a ripple design.  Using different colors for each row would look fantastic too.  And I’m convinced that a felted ripple bag like this would look amazing.

I lined the bag with Heather Bailey’s Nicey Jane fabric using the Church Flowers design.  It perfectly matches the yellow and green and adds a lot of interest to the interior.  I sewed it to the bag using size 8 perle cotton thread and big stitches for more of that 70′s retro handmade look.

And of course, it has to have tassels.  This is the kind of bag to take to the beach or the park.  Measuring 16 inches wide and 15 inches high (excluding the tassels), it easily fits the necessities.  Even a few extras.

Filed Under: crochet, Heather Bailey, yarn

A Place for Everything

June 26, 2010 by 5 Comments

After bathing the cat, I needed some creative play time.  My mind has been mulling over different project bags for yarn work.  I have a tendency to keep each project in a different bag.  And plastic grocery bags are just not making the grade.

A little scribbling and sewing later, I had a pretty project bag.  The fabric is Heather Bailey’s Nicey Jane from Free Spirit.  I lightly quilted the bag’s exterior, put in a welted pocket and added wooden handles.

This was just what I needed.  I think a cup of tea and some yarn time is next.  Hope you are enjoying your weekend.  Don’t forget to take time for play!

Filed Under: Heather Bailey, sewing, yarn

Summer Preparedness

June 23, 2010 by 1 Comment

Summer is officially here.  And yet we still have unusually cool temperatures.  Something tells me we might go from June Gloom directly into July Fry and not have any segue to speak of.   I intend to be ready. 

This is New Look 6803–shortened and without sleeves–in Heather Bailey’s Nicey Jane collection.  The pattern is very simple.  More importantly, quite comfy.  I will definitely make another.  Quilting weight cottons work well with this pattern.  You could also use your quilting cotton scraps on the yoke and seersucker, gingham or lawn for the body.  Lots of different looks from one basic pattern.  Perfect for a weekend afternoon project.

Filed Under: Heather Bailey, sewing
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