Itajime Cross Body Bag

Itajime Shibori.  What?!  Itajime Shibori is a shape-resist technique.  The cloth is sandwiched between two pieces of wood or plexiglass shapes and clamped together very tightly.  The shapes prevent dye from penetrating the fabric, creating some amazing designs. 

I received this Itajime fabric from my daughter, Britt.  When she was first starting her Fiber Education she was required to try many different techniques.  This was not her favorite, but she came out of the class with some pretty gorgeous pieces of fabric.  This piece has been sitting around for way too long!  

10" x 10"

I mustered up the courage to attempt a new purse.  I am not known for making bags and frankly, I'm not comfortable making them.  They never turn out right!

So, I decided yesterday to kill two birds with one stone...use this fabric and make myself a small bag. You can't get any simpler than this one!  But could I pull it off?! 

The piece of fabric was not large.  I had to work with the width and that was fine.  I wanted smallish.  One piece for the outside, solid for the lining, fusible fleece...oh, and a little pocket too!  I lightly quilted the outside, but I didn't want to go overboard.  

For some reason I decided to square the corners.  Which I'm fine with.  A long skinny handle was the final decision.  Super easy, super fast and in all honesty...I had fun, I like it and plan on using it!

I will admit that it took me awhile to figure out how to assemble this!  I know, like I said I am 'bag challenged'!  I looked several patterns from bags to buckets!  Seriously!  I got this! Give me simple!

LINKING:

ANYTHING GOES MONDAYS

LET'S BEE SOCIAL

Hearts & Hedgehogs!

A while back...April to be exact...I attempted my first paper pieced hedgehog (Link to post HERE).  

He was adorable and I was inspired to make another one even bigger than the orginal (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").  I did.  But let's not stop there!  I made an even bigger one for the MQG Fabric Challenge featuring Michael Miller fabric. 

3 3/4" x 5 1/2"

5 1/2" x 7 1/2"

I wasn't sure what I would do with the pieces after I finished them.  Both were without sight for 3 months!  

After finishing the MQG Fabric Challenge Pillow, I knew I had to finish these guys.  Why not a zipper pouch?!  I was finally having some luck putting zippers in without having them look like a two-year-old did it, so had to keep the momentum going!

I also had a chance to get some fabric dyeing done too!  Britt and I have been trying to use up some dyes so we can make fresh colors.  Its been so long and my stash was next to nothing.  

I ombre dyed some onesies and wanted to see how a couple would turn out doing Shibori on them.  Both worked out great!

I was sure I could use this method and make a heart...worth a try for sure!  And it worked!  Cute little hearts!

3 1/2" x 5 1/4"

I thought the Radiant Orchid was a nice touch for hearts! 

Just a couple finishes I have actually and finally finished!

Shibori~ is a cloth resist-dyeing technique that may include binding, stitching, folding, twisting or clamping.  Very labor intensive!

Linking:

FABRIC FRENZY FRIDAY

CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP

Summer Fun

Summer is in full swing.  The lure of the great outdoors is ever present.  But first, gotta get those blocks done!

My June BOM is done.  Actually I have had it done for a good week or more.  And since the next series will be hitting the 'in' box, I thought I had better share this before I get behind! 

This time I actually followed the directions and didn't mess either one up!  I am getting so excited for the end of the series.  Only because I am getting antsy to put all these blocks together.  Participating in my first block of the month has been so much fun.  I definitely would and will do another one!

Many thanks to AnneMarie of Gen X Quilters for hosting the Vice Versa BOM!  I'm sure it was a lot of work, but she pulled it off beautifully!

I was lucky enough to steal some time (mostly from weeding) to hand dye some baby onesies!  

I decided to do the first batch using a 'dip dye' ombre method.  The ended up pretty good, but next time I think I will do much better.  They are cute...and tiny!  Are babies really that small?!

For the last two, I wanted to try something a little different.  Shibori is a little time consuming, but I love the effect you get from it.  Radiant Orchid for this little outfit!

Can't forget the boys!  Blue!  I doubt that I would do so many tiny circles on the next ones, but it sure turned out cute!

There it is.  My little world.  In between weeding.  And more weeding.  Oh, did I mention I'm weeding again today?!  

Here I Go Again!

Back at it!  Improv/Abstract mode in full swing again!  After finishing the biggest quilt I have ever made and taking a well deserved brain break from it...I'm 'back in the saddle' so to speak!

Here is the post where I revealed the finished quilt:  Well Worth It!  It was massive and very rewarding!  The finished quilt was delivered to my customer who loved it!  Whew!  It's always a relief to hear that!  You just never know!

The next phase was pillows.  She asked, I said yes...thinking two regular sized pillow covers.  Turns out it four and 3 different sizes!  Luckily I'm up for the challenge!

This is the first one and the smallest of the four measuring 12" x 24".  All the pillows will end up with a classic envelope closure.

I wanted to make each pillow like the quilt, but different so they stand out a little bit.  This one is much darker.  I used a little white, but mostly colors.  Measuring at a whopping 18" x 52.5" it is the biggest pillow I have ever made!  I guess this quilting project has become the 'bigger is better' project!

Right now I am working on the last two.  In the end they will be 26.5" x 26.5" square.  

It was really hard to get back in the improv mode after the quilt.  I was fighting it, trying to get my head in the game.  

It helped to take a break.  I finally got to hand dye more fabric!  My stash has been slowly dwindling!  Here is a sneak peak at a few pieces me and my daughter dyed:

We played with the Shibori method on these pieces.  Kind of a loose version I would say!  It's amazing what a little twine, twisting and folding can create!  

Linking:

WIP WEDNESDAY

FABRIC FRENZY FRIDAY

CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP

CITY SUNSET

Its always a great feeling to finish a quilt!  The planning, pieceing, doubts and (sometimes) aggravation are all behind you.  All that is magically erased.  Forgotten.  And there it is...all done!

'CITY SUNSET' may be the quilt I am most proud of, most in love with.  For me, improv quilting is a gamble.  You are taking a risk, betting that that idea in your head can be executed with fabric.  Quilting without a pattern is intoxicating, energizing and exhilarating!  You never know what you will end up with and can lead to some pretty amazing and bold designs.

49" x 62"

I named this one CITY SUNSET.  I added random pieces of gray throughout that ended up reminding me of sidewalks, streets, concrete.    

The hand dyed fabrics were the perfect choice for this one.  Adding a few Shibori pieces throughout created a some more visual interest.

Using several different colors of thread, I machine quilted a geometric design.  Determining how to quilt it was the hardest part, I think!  I was scared to death about this step!

How do you decide what quilting design you will do?  Will you machine quilt, free-motion quilt or long-arm quilt it?  If you are like me, you haven't mastered the FMQ technique (that is another post!)  I keep saying that one day I will. 

I couldn't wait to wash this one!  I love seeing the final piece after it has been washed and dried.  Maybe the rumpled, crumpled, crinkle look from drying is what makes you feel like it's complete, it does for me.

I have to say, I love a pieced back.  I used four different solids, added a few curved lines and there you have it!    

I'm thinking that I'm happy with this final quilt.  Happy how it came together, happy the 'vision' in my head was translated to a quilt, and happy its finished!

Now on to the next one....