Is There No End ?

Yes, there is an end!  I feel like I am finally at the point where my 'print' stash is good ~ better than it's ever been!  But like all good things, there has to be an end.  Or a temporary pause in the madness!

Not much is as exciting as a beautiful stack of fabric...for a quilter!  I mean, really!  Maybe two stacks, but I'll take this and not complain one little bit!

The color of this first bundle grabbed my attention.  Peachy-orange.  A dessert, really. Scrumptious!  Mini Pearl Bracelets, Art Gallery...a feast for your eyes!

Awwww...yes.  Cotton + Steel.  The pink made me take notice, along with grey and black.  I find it very intriguing.  





When I saw that Pink Door Fabrics was having a sale on Instagram, I jumped! There use to be so many great finds and deals on Instagram (#thegreatfabricdestash) for fabric.  As of late, I really haven't seen much.  While you can find good stuff, you really have to be there at the exact right moment.  Has anyone else noticed that?

This next batch of goodies comes from Fort Worth Fabric Studio.  I put in my request for fabric for a tutorial I'll be doing in February, and thought I may as well grab a couple things while I was looking!

I was in need of more insul~bright and also happened to see a remnant of Kona Pepper on sale.  Usually I go with Kona black, until recently when I thought I would try Kona Pepper.  I think it will be a great alternative.

I love a good shot cotton.  The warp and weft of two different fibers gives shot cottons amazing dimension.  When I say this bundle on sale I thought it was a good time to test out Moda's Cross Weave Wovens.  The colors are beautiful, they feel wonderful and are thick almost like Peppered Cottons.  I'm excited to see them in a quilt! 

For pure fun, (I'm living on the edge here!) I had to have a magnetic pincushion.  I have never had the pleasure of such a luxury, so sheltered!

But really what I'm most excited about are the zippers.  Lace zippers.  In December I made a massive stack of Clear Vinyl WIP Bags.  It didn't take long before I was obsessed with making them.  While I was happy with the pattern (from Amanda Jean @ Crazy Mom Quilts), there were a couple things I wasn't happy with.  Ideas were swirling around in this pea brain of mine, and I may have a better way for me...do make more!  Stay tuned.  You know I'll blog about it!

That, my dears is all I have!  Except for yardage, I'm done plumping my stash!  This girl has to get to quilting!

I feel a little behind when it comes to my fabric choices.  You know, yesterdays news!  What new line is coming that you are frothing at the mouth for?

LINKING:

Sunday Stash

A New Adventure

A couple of weeks ago I was asked if I would like to participate in a local Holiday Pop-Up Show.  What is a Pop-Up show?  It's an event that last a short time, a place where local artists can share their craft, a way for people to see and buy unique items they wouldn't normally have an opportunity to elsewhere.

Because my daughter is also participating, I thought I would give it a go too!  Nothing to lose!

Gift Horse Pop-Up Shop

604 Gallatin Ave, Ste 215, Nashville, Tennessee 37206

Monday-Friday 10:30-4:00

Saturday 10:00-6:00

Sunday 12:00-4:00

Sawtooth Print Shop

What the heck should I offer?  Quilts, not so much!  Small.  Something small.  I thought long and hard and hard and long.  

Pot Holders.  I spent a couple days making half a dozen or so sets.  They are unique, great for people who are looking for something different and unique, right?  We'll see about that!

4" x 9 1/2"

Pencil Pouches ~ whatever pouches!  I was thinking pencil pouches when I decided to make these, but they are certainly big enough for lots of other things.  

I pieced together a few front panels for those who like that look. 

Rainbow and pencils go hand in hand.

Lined, zipper tabs...the kitchen sink!

I found a couple pieces of my hand dyed fabrics that I thought would work well.  Plus, offering options in the way of designs and colors can't be a bad thing!

Vertical:  3 1/4" x 4 1/2"
Horizontal:  3 1/2" x 4"

You can buy zipper pouches everywhere, I know.  Hopefully there are people who appreciate handmade, love to support local, and want something that isn't mass produced!

I made a few...a few more than a few...coin purses, card holders, zipper pouches. Whatever you want to call them or use them for!  Multipurpose might be a good description for these or any zipper pouch!  I'm thinking stocking stuffer...

These are about as basic as it gets!  No lining!  I decided I would use Shape Flex Fusible Interfacing to give stability and the illusion of a lining.  Do you think that was okay to do?  

I had a lot of smaller pieces of hand dyed fabrics that were perfect for this project.  Shibori, Itajime, stamped, low water and even a couple Anna Marie Horner wovens!

Whether or not these sell is another question!  But that's okay.  If nothing else they make great gifts!  

I was actually very happy to sit and make something different for a little while.  A nice change as always, we all can appreciate that sometimes! 

I'm very appreciative that I was asked to participate in this event!  Along with my things, there will be soap, art prints, greeting cards, jewelry, ceramics and much more!

LINKING:

Crazy Mom Quilts

TGIFF

Fabric Frenzy

Oy Vey ~ Bionic Bag Workout

I always say I want to try new things!  Push myself!  Case in point:

Have you heard or seen the Bionic Gear Bag?  Back in October or November, a couple ladies showed their bags at our Guild meeting.  Many of us were amazed and decided we should make one!  With encouragement from our 'Bag Specialist' Jenny and Stefanie, we ordered zippers, picked fabric, bought the patterns and started making the bags together via Facebook.  Stefanie started us out right before Christmas with some great videos, but with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we put it on hold.

I decided it was time to finish it up.  I can read...I'm sure I can finish it!  I'm not a person who can make bags/purses.  They intimidate me.  Freak the crap out of me!  But I was determined to power through.  

The pattern is available through Craftsy.  Here is the link to the Bionic Gear Bag.

I picked Tula Pink and Anna Maria Horner fabric for my bag.  Love the combination of fabrics together!

The first step was zippers.  Lot's of zippers! This bag has 5 zippers total and I choose 5 different colors.    

Such a pretty combination!  It seems like I never can remember from one zipper project to the next how to put zippers in.  Retention is not my strong suit!

I'm not going to lie.  I had to read some of the direction over and over and over before I figured it out. The step where you put the sides on...I ripped it out three times!  The first time I discovered I didn't sew the two pieces together before attaching them to the pockets! Then I put one side on the wrong way!

This bag is a massive tug of war!  Twisting, turning, pulling and pushing!  I was scared for my machine!!  

Once I got the sides on the right way, it was time to fit the outside together.  Pins are your friend through each and every step of this bag!  

  
With all of the pieces together the final steps are binding.  It was a long and slow process. I have never machine sewn a binding from start to finish.  You thought I used a lot of pins in the previous picture?  You should have seen the binding pins.  I wanted to be sure I actually stitched in the ditch while actually catching the other side of the binding!  For the most part it was a success.  

The part that I was worried about was the big long crazy zipper!  However, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be!  

Look at all the zippers!  I do have a few spots that aren't pretty.  A couple of the inside pockets I missed catching the inside lining by a tiny little bit.  

My take on this bag, my bag...I love it!  It's full of personality, especially with the flaws. In my eyes however, its perfect!  I do want to make another one, one day...soon!  It was a huge struggle.  You almost need to be a bionic woman to make it!  I powered through.  

I tend to jump into things and then second guess myself.  I'm happy I did.  It was a huge confidence builder.  Huge!

Look at the space!  I'm not sure I have enough 'stuff' to fill it up!  I may have to go shopping!

Has anyone made the Bionic Gear bag before?  What did you think of the process? Will you make it again?  I heard there is a smaller version of this kind of bag.  I would love to find that pattern too!

It's too cute not to show it again....

LINKING:

FABRIC FRENZY FRIDAY

TGIFF

CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP

LET'S BEE SOCIAL

WIP WEDNESDAY

NEEDLE & THREAD THURSDAY