edamame

kalahari quilt...done

 

After toting my sewing machine into Manhattan last week (carrying that thing up and down subway steps was not fun, I can tell you), the last few days have been a whirl of crafting - catching up with all the things on my list.

First off was the construction of some goodies for my lovely Back to School swap partner Kelli, who is being very patient about receiving her parcel! But everything is in the mail now, so hopefully she won't have to wait too much longer.

Then I was onto the completion of the Kalahari Quilt, that I started a few weeks ago. I had done the quilt top back then, and I was left with the quilting and binding to do. I was definitely intimidated about the whole thing (especially with a tight deadline looming - the wedding is next weekend in Canada). So I was quite surprised that I actually enjoyed it as much as I did!

The quilting went like a dream, although my walking foot seems to be a very noisy piece of kit. It was making me smile that, what with me bashing away with the walking foot, and my boyfriend playing a stupid shoot-em-up video game (eugh!), it must have sounded like World War Three in our apartment. I never thought that machine quilting would remind me of machine guns... Does anyone else have this issue, or is it just me and my cheapo Brother?

By far the hardest part of the quilt was doing the binding. It was definitely a matter of trial and error, and not worrying too much about slightly inconsistent binding width. I'm not the only one who has had issues with this, but there are some useful tutorials out there (here and here). Of course I didn't see them 'till after the fact. Once I got onto hand stitching the binding on the back, it was downhill. I really enjoyed this part. And although it probably took about four hours, it was really relaxing and satisfying to do.

I added this special label with the names of the happy couple. It is embroidered on the shot cotton I used for the binding, which I stabilized with some double-sided fusible interfacing. I realised this was a bit of a mistake, because it meant sewing it onto the quilt was tough - two layers of fabric and interfacing is hard work to hand-stitch. I used a variegated 2- and 4-ply embroidery thread which had yellows, oranges and pinks in it and lettering templates from Sublime Stitching. 

So my first quilt is all wrapped up and ready to go. I'm sure I'll be making another one before too long...

swap-citement

These parcels arrived yesterday. Delivered to my desk at work in a large white box. And believe me, it took every ounce of self-restraint not to open them on the spot or on the subway ride home. I may have left work a little early. Just a little, so I could rush home to tear into my Back to School Swap goodies.

Oh boy! I felt really lucky to have been partnered with the swap host - Heidi! And she has sure set the swapping bar very high, as this is the first one I have ever received. Amazing stuff. First of all, please just notice how coordinated everything is, in these pretty aquas and sage greens. Love. From the post-it notes and pen roll to the packing ribbons and note card.

I got not one, not two, but three notebooks to get me going at school. Phew - lucky me! The tote bag is really great. Very generously sized (even for a notorious over-packer like me), with brilliant details in the lining. I love the Friday Prize label and tag detail. 

Well. It wasn't Friday, but it sure was one hellofa Prize. Thank you, thank you so much Heidi! And thanks for organising the whole thing too.

NYC Summertime and living is easy

I'm hanging on to the summer here. Today was a perfect summery day. This is a poem I wrote on the subway

July in Harlem
Bright colours taste like fresh squeezed juice
Heavy air vibrant with fast burning incense
The sound of shaved ice feels sweetly refreshing
As I brush past crowds of exotic aromas
I listen to the rush of this sensuous summer.

And some photos taken this weekend in SOHO

sewing blues

Not much sewing going on around because my sewing machine is not being cooperative. Humph. A visit to the crazy lady at the nearest Brother dealer is necessary. But to avoid crafting withdrawal I have managed to make some things which do not directly involve my Brother.  I'm loving lino printing. I have only made a couple so far, but it is seriously addictive. There is an inspiring Flickr group here.

 

The elephant image was taken from this brilliant Japanese fabric which I am hording for some special baby gear. When I have time and a working machine I'll be making some Amy Karol's bend-the-rules bibs.

The past week was a series of goodbyes.  Two of my favourite people in the city have moved to far flung places. This guy has gone to work with children and youth in Aceh, Indonesia
The t-shirt was a no-sew solution using heat-n-bond. He liked it!

And my final exhibit is a book for Piet, my brilliant Dutch friend who is returning home after two years of fun and games in the Big Apple. All her friends and students (she worked with youth in the Bronx) made a page, and I made the covers and bound it.

images from italy

My family lives in Florence, Italy, and I love going to visit:

Spending lazy days reading and sewing on the beach

Getting colourful inspiration from a new surrounding

And even finding time to buy some traditional Italian trim

monday post post

Arrived in the post today. I'm thinking tote bags, purses and maybe some more of these turtle buddies I made from Bend the Rules:

I made some Big Little New Old Trees today. I stumbled into A Little Hut yesturday, and saw these amazing tiny trees made from recycled paper. Patricia very kindly (and without delay) sent me the pattern. It was dark by the time I had got back from work, glued, snipped and slotted them together, so this photo is, well...

But I did that on purpose. Really. Because of that cool (if distant) view from my window. Spot the Empire State Building anyone? And I like the way they look kind of real and big, even if the small one is no more than 2 inches high.

Mine are truly second-time-around new old trees because the beautifully thick, luxurious card I used was found by me and my brother in a skip in SOHO while he was visiting last year. There were boxes and boxes of brand new paper and card, and it hadn't rained. So I took a big box. It wasn't so fun to carry around for the day of sightseeing, but I seem to remember using it as an excuse to buy a new bag (I needed it). So I love using this stuff, because it is something I would probably not buy, but is perfect for all manner of craftyness. And you can't beat that kind of price tag.

less sewing, more salsa

Well, my plan was to have a calm, crafty weekend, but it turned out I had a social life instead. A fundraiser on Friday night for an organisation I helped begin. Cool t-shirts were being sold for charity, I bought a bright red one which says Debt: Drop it like its hot. Get your own! Then on Saturday night friends and I went to Sounds Of Brazil to celebrate a birthday and dance the night away (see above). The birthday girl got this Amy Karol-designed clutch and a coordinated headband as a gift:

The closest I got to crating was showing a friend the basics of sewing on Saturday morning. She was inspired to buy a machine, after hearing about my Brother purchase a few weeks ago, and now she is plunging into the joys. She made an Amy Karol clutch too, and loved doing it. Despite the slightly "blind leading the blind" nature of our little lesson, I think my evangelizing has worked, and another soul has been converted.

This friend travels for work, and has a really amazing collection of fabric to show for it. The outside of this clutch, that you can just see, is traditional indigo cotton from Shanghai with butterflies on it. Inside is a cheerful print (from India I think).

kalahari quilt in progress

Walking foot purchased, Denyse Schmidt read cover to cover, fabric cut, arranged, rearranged, top pieced together. Now I'm *really* scared, because the actual quilting begins! I think I am going to pause here, and spend the weekend acquainting myself with the walking foot and making a mini quilt as practice. Wish me luck!

fabric

Ok, I think I am little obsessed. Addicted. Whatever.

Today treated myself after a very productive day at work and went to Purl (probably my favourite fabric shop), and fell in love with some very soft but not too thin shot cotton. I decided on the spot that this was what Tom and Martha's wedding quilt should be made of. Tom and Martha met in the Kalahari Desert, so it is inspired by colours of South Africa (where I also lived for a while). So I got some lovely yellows, oranges, browns and greens for the quilt top. Then some amazing blue/turquoise shot for the binding, and a really rich red colour for the backing. I'm going to quilt in yellow and orange thread which will look really cool on the red I hope. I'm so excited to get started. Mission for tomorrow is to buy a walking foot for my machine, then it is go. I'm a little nervous because it is my first ever quilt and I so want it to work...

Phew. Had to tell someone.

I made these place mats  and some matching napkins for a special person.

full of firsts

My first blog entry yesterday, and today signing up to my first crafty swap! I am so excited to be participating in the Friday Prize Back to School Swap. It is slightly scary to be making something for someone else, but fun to have an excuse to pick out some cool fabric and goodies. And I have a passion for snail mail, so... yes... I'm excited. And thank you Friday Prize for making me feel so welcome! She checked out my Flickr pictures and liked this bag I made too, which was literally the first thing I ever made with my machine. It is from the Lotta's Simple Sewing book. I would add lining and interfacing if I made one again, because this one is rather floppy.