Kristen Mary

2009-11-12T06:19:00.000-08:00

I'm having a blast this week checking out the "Cross Country Christmas Quilt Designer Blog Hop"! A group of accomplished quilters each take a day between Nov. 9-20 and have a free tutorial or project on their blogs! I heard about it through Terry Atkinson who is a local quilt designer. I have one of her books and it is great inspiration!! I copied the websites from Terry's blog so you can see them too!

Nov. 9th. Gudrun: http://www.gudrun.typepad.com/
Nov. 10th. Sandy: http://www.piecesfrommyheart-sgervais.blogspot/
Nov. 11th. Terry: http://www.terryatkinson.typepad.com/
Nov. 12th. Pat: http://www.patsloan.typepad.com/
Nov. 13th. Heather: http://www.ankastreasures.wordpress.com/
Nov. 14th. Pam: http://www.pamkittymorning.blogspot.com
Nov. 15th. Kari: http://www.newleafstitches.com/blog
Nov. 16th. Terri : http://www.whimsicals.typepad.com/
Nov. 17th. Sherri: http://www.thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/
Nov. 18th. Carrie: http://www.lavieenrosie.typepad.com/
Nov. 19th. Roseann: http://www.rosebudscottage.typepad.com/
Nov. 20th. Linda: http://www.lindalumdebono.blogspot.com/

Professional Quilting?

2009-10-30T12:32:00.000-07:00

As you have seen, I'm going a bit quilt crazy this year. I've really got the bug and am having fun with it. I don't have the world's most advanced sewing machine and I can't find a darning foot to fit my machine to enable me to do any free form quilting. So right now I'm stuck with straight lines, which is really fine while I'm learning.

But I can't help but be attracted to the stippled quilts and zig zaggy finished quilts, and I might want to try and bring one of my quilts to a professional for a more advanced quilting look.

How do you find someone that can professionally quilt your project? Does anyone know of a professional quilter in the Twin Cities? A basic search on Google yielded no relative results for me.

Thanks!!
Kristen

Wedding Quilt Continued

2009-10-19T18:04:00.000-07:00

I finished the top of the quilt for Blake's step-brother's wedding gift. Slowly but surely I'm getting it completed. Hopefully they'll get it in time for their first anniversary! LOL

This design is from Rosemary Wilkenson's book "Quick Quilts to Make in a Weekend". It is the Feedsack Scrap Quilt. The end measurements are approximately 60x55. I really liked it but was skeptical when I finished the middle section. Since the fabrics were made by different companies they responded differently and the whole thing was pretty lopsided. But I put it aside for a week or so and then when I added the borders it all sort of came together. I think that's why I like quilting so much and I know it is why I love sewing so much. It doesn't have to be perfect to be awesome. And there are a lot of ways to "fix" things to make them appear straighter or nicer.

Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland Costume Set GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-10-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland Costume Set GIVEAWAY!!!!

This is a link to the blog "Grosgrain" where she creates amazing children's clothing and gives them away! (I still can't believe that) You'll have to check out the link above to see all of the photos of the dress in action and close-up details.

Quiltmania Continues

2009-10-08T18:47:00.000-07:00

The start of belated wedding present for Blake's step-brother.

More Scrappy Hedgerow Blocks

2009-10-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

Slowly but surely, I'm getting my Christmas Quilt blocks together. I really enjoy finding combinations of smaller prints to put together.

Christmas Quilt

2009-10-08T18:16:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a Christmas quilt! I love the idea of having a special holiday quilt that we take out each year as he weather turns cool. I'm following a pattern by Oh Franson! called Scrappy Hedgerow blocks. I had originally signed up to be in a quilt block swap but for some reason my registration didn't go through, but I wanted to still try them out. So we'll have our own quilt instead! I love the "fussy cutting" the middle blocks. I found some fun white fabric with dots on it to use for the fabric in between the blocks. They look like snowballs so it will be perfect!

Quilt Catch Up

2009-09-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been so long since my last post! It has been a very busy summer. My husband and I are working on a new blog project together and I was waiting to do my next post to introduce that but it has been delayed slightly. It is going to be very exciting though! I'm looking forward to it. More about that soon. For those of you waiting on the fabric paper dolls pattern that is coming along and will be ready soon as well. (I promise!) Thank you for being patient!

In the meantime, I thought I would catch up on all of the quilting madness I have been up to lately. This was a quilt I started working on before Ronan was born and only finally finished up. I was really stuck on how to bind this quilt. Do I make my own binding or use store made bias binding? How wide? Do I use satin blanket binding or cotton? How the h do you miter a corner?!?!

The quilt was actually very simple because the front is a panel and the back is a solid cotton. It has been so long now, I can't remember the name of the fabric I used for the front, but I'll keep looking and update this post if I find it. This is a quilt of firsts for me because I was able to do some simple machine quilting with just the regular walking foot. I traced the diamonds in the sections with diamond shapes and those without I traced the outer square. It worked well! Forgive all of the fuzz on the photo above. :-p

My first mitered corner!!!!! It took me ages to get up the courage to try this. That might sound totally weird but it is true. Every time I read a tutorial on how to do this I just didn't understand what they were saying. The photos didn't make sense. Finally I found "Posie Gets Cozy" who did a wonderful binding tutorial and it clicked for me. The binding was so much easier than I realized! I machine sewed the front part and hand sewed the back part.

Lazy Days Skirts

2009-07-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

My favorite easy skirt pattern from Oliver + S in action. My nieces model their skirts as well as the bonnets I made for them designed by Amy Karol ~ Kingpod.

Dreaming of a Fairy Garden

2009-07-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

Ever since my year working on Rebecca's Garden TV show, I've wanted to create my own Fairy Garden. Rebecca Kolls had an episode of planting tiny versions of normal sized plants and building a miniature garden home that a fairy could live in. I was glued to the screen. What a clever idea! I saw in the Chasing Fireflies catalog today that they are selling elaborate fairy garden supplies! They are all too expensive for me but they really capture the fairiness of this garden idea. When Blake and I finally buy our own home, we will make sure there is a magical piece of yard that I can dedicate to my own fairy garden.

Brilliant

2009-07-24T12:36:00.000-07:00

I had to file this under "holy crap!" So many times in crafting circles you see many versions of the same things. That doesn't mean they aren't all unique and great, but every once in a while you see something so clever that it sparks all kinds of creative thoughts. This is one of those times. "Miss Pretty Pretty" (Julie) designs Imaginative Play Toys and sells them on Etsy. My favorite are the card table tops. They seem to be a pretty simple design, made out of felt, with all kinds of embellishments and it fits over a standard card table. She also makes custom orders to fit over other size tables. It is just too clever! I love it. On top of it all, she is a fellow mid-westerner hailing from Menomonee Falls, WI. Check out her shop today!

Toddlers Rule

2009-07-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

There is nothing better than watching a toddler figure out a new skill. Here Ronan is working on his new favorite project, buckles. He sports a fashionable underpants-and-rain-boots ensemble.

Favorite Books

2009-07-10T14:50:00.000-07:00

My son is now 15 months old and showing distinct preferences in what we read at night. I usually get to snuggle and read with him before bed so I'm very familiar with his favorites. Now that I know that they have toddler books at the Library, I get to mix it up a bit. Here is Ronan's favorite book right now:
He really likes books with photos more than illustrations, so this book is just right. It is very simple and features some kids with down syndrome. "My Up & Down & All Around Book". He likes this set of brothers the best as they demonstrate on and off of a big pink ball.

I'm "reading" this book right now, "Airman" by Eoin Colfer, one of my favorite young adult authors. (from Ireland of course) I put "reading" in quotes because I'm actually listening to it in audiobook form. Also from the library and racking up late charges as we speak! Well, I have to support my local library some how, right?

I believe Blake is reading John Hodgeman's "More Information than You Require" that he got as a Father's Day gift. (Or was it his birthday?) Well, from Ronan anyway... And I'm looking forward to reading it when he is done!

Weekend Plans

2009-07-09T07:39:00.001-07:00

(image taken from Pink Hobo website)

I'm excited for this weekend because
1) We barely have any plans (don't tell anyone!) and
2) The one plan we do have is to go to the Yo Gabba Gabba exhibit at Pink Hobo!

I've never actually been to this gallery so I'm pretty excited. Y-G-G is one of the 2 shows we let Ronán watch. We have a couple of episodes saved on our DVR and break them out on a rainy day. Our favorite is when Jack Black comes to spend the day with the crew. Too Funny. It will be cool to see what Ronán thinks of the exhibit!

Embroidery

2009-06-30T18:37:00.000-07:00

I am loving the Sublime Stitching guest artist series that Jenny Hart has come up with. I love her drawing style but the fact that she is introducing guest artists makes it even more interesting and the obsessive collector in me wants each one! This one is from The Black Apple and I am having tons of fun mixing and matching the images. These are embroidered on a natural color linen and don't have any particular destination! Too bad these photos didn't turn out a little bit better. It was weird lighting that day, I guess.

New Pattern Coming Soon!

2009-06-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to announce that due to popular demand, I'm putting together a pattern of the Fabric Paper Doll that was featured on HGTV and that recieved a blue ribbon at the 2008 MN State Fair! It will be available soon in my Etsy shop, I'm very excited to be putting the finishing touches on it and getting it ready. I'd also like to do a kit version that includes the supplies and possibly down the road a "kid" version that would have less intricate steps so a child or beginner could easily put one together. Hooray! A summer project!

HGTV!

2009-06-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

Well, my episode of "That's Clever" finally aired yesterday! I didn't realize it so I didn't get my self-promoting email out to friends and family. Luckily I tape every single episode so that I don't miss it, and I got to see it! The show had two segments with me in it, the first one I do my fabric paper doll and the second, shorter one I do an embroidered kitty ornament. This YouTube clip is the shorter segment. I'm not sure the longer one will fit on YouTube, so I might have to break it up into 2 uploads. Anyway, here is part of it!

Dress Fun

2009-06-09T12:55:00.000-07:00

Way back in '06 I made my sister a "house dress" to wear on hot Texas nights around the house. I found this great butterfly fabric from JoAnn Fabrics that was cute and had a bit of stretch to it. I blogged about it here.

Today I was browsing fredflare.com for the latest and greatest in trendy style and I found this cute dress available for pre-order! It is a bit cuter and a lot better made (I'm sure) but I was so pleased to see the similarity to the Simplicity dress I made for Gretchen!

Photo credit, Fredflare.com

Results of June Poll

2009-06-08T13:41:00.001-07:00

I am really enjoying these monthly polls. Thanks to all that have voted! Here are the results to the queiry: Is selling something you made from an online tutorial wrong?

9% Yes - You should always only sell something completely original
45% Only if you don't ask permission first
27% It is okay as long as you give credit to the original designer
18% No - if it is online it is intended to be used by all

Looks like asking permission first is the majority.

Daydreaming at Work

2009-06-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

When you are at work, what do you daydream about? In between putting out office-style fires, I dream of sergers...

New Summer Purse!

2009-06-01T18:25:00.000-07:00

I got this great purse at Johnstock during Art-a-Whirl a couple of weekends ago. It was an awesome find, I love the fabric! Made by Calissa Designs

Fat Quarter Sheets

2009-05-18T10:22:00.001-07:00

I found out today via the True Up blog about Home Ec Shop selling fat quarter packs out of vintage sheets. How incredibly clever! I love the idea of using vintage sheets for projects but not the idea of having loads of sheet scraps all over waiting for multiple projects. This really answers that problem!

I Heart BookMooch!

2009-05-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

My sister told me about bookmooch.com recently and I found a few books that I could give away and signed up! When you really love a book you want to give it to someone that will love it as much as you do. Let's face it, there are only so many bookshelves in the world and I'm not going to stop buying books anytime soon either... So this is a fun and addictive way to to give yours away and get some for free! The only thing you have to pay for is postage for your outgoing packages, (and a donation to the site if you so wish). You can mooch a book and send it to a friend as a gift, or just hoard them all for yourself! I highly recommend checking it out!

Loose Teeth Vintage Inspired Sundress with Petticoat GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-05-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

Loose Teeth Vintage Inspired Sundress with Petticoat GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Cute new giveaway this week at Grosgrain! (photo from Grosgrain blog)

New Poll!

2009-04-30T09:43:00.000-07:00

In light of the many cases of copyright infringement in the indie crafting community lately, I thought I would start a new poll this month on the topic. Unlike the many obvious copyright thefts (see Sublime Stitching, Syko, and Greenbean Baby to name only a few...) what about selling something that you made from an online tutorial?

On one hand, this is clearly a process that someone took the time to think about, work the kinks out and show you how to do step-by-step. On the other hand, it is something they offered online, free of charge to everyone.

What are the guidelines for something like this? How about courtesy? It seems like the safest thing to do would be to email the person and ask their permission to use their tutorial to sell your own projects. But what if they never write you back?

I would love to hear your take on the subject!!

Thanks,
Kristen Mary