Fun Packages in the Mail

Well, the school year has come to a close--finally!  I love the kids, but I also love having the summer off (although the lack of a paycheck isn't quite so enjoyable)!

This year has been especially stressful as I have some mean spirited, down-right snotty co-workers to deal with who add a lot of stress to what should be a simple fun job.  Go figure.  Maybe they should get a hobby so they can occupy themselves in a more positive manner.

Anyway...after a crap-tastic week of work, I came home to some packages in the mail.  The first was a winning from the Sew Mama Sew giveaway day---some fabric, who doesn't cheer up with fabric?  I won this over on A Quilt and a Prayer blog.  Teresa is a great person and her blog is fun to check out.

I haven't decide what to make yet.  Maybe a thread catcher or a Hoop Travel Bag.  Hmm...

As if that wasn't fun enough, I also had another package.  This one actually surprised me because I wasn't expecting it at all.  It was from Alexandra408, who I had sent a quilt to in DQS12.  She had sent me a lovely Thank You package!  (And she had already thanked me in Flickr!)  Some fabric, a cute notebook (always needing those), and look at that adorable bird design she made.  It's already hanging on my wall!

The bird design is made of felt, in case you were wondering, and hand stitched.

But, the part about these packages that really made my day--the lovely notes included!  Each was so kind and thoughtful, it really touched me, especially after a long week of dealing with petty co-workers.  I admit, I'm not one to normally write long notes.  You want long, find one of my sisters.  You want short and to the point, that's me.  (Not that I don't send a good thank you note, email or message--I never skip that!  I just tend to run into writer's block when writing notes, so they tend to be short.)  These notes were from two ladies who took the time to write something extra when they didn't need to.  I'm thinking I need to be better with my note writing, because it does mean something to the person receiving it.

So thank you Teresa and Alexandra--you totally made my week!

Rapid And Tiny Zakka Swap--RATZ

A fun new swap group is starting--come join me in the fun!  It's the Rapid and Tiny Zakka Swap or as we like to call it the RATZ Swap!  RATZ

Some of us from the Doll Quilt Swap wanted some quick, easy swaps between rounds, so this new group was born.  We'll be making and swapping small usable items like grocery bags, cup cozies, zip bags, luggage tags, inches, etc.  Our first round is key fobs--how fun is that!  There are so many cool tutorials and patterns out there that I've always wanted to try, now I have the perfect excuse.  This is an international, no extras included, swap--keeping it simple--you just create the item, stick it in an envelope and mail it off.  Everything is fairly small and light weight keeping postage down--and everything is quick and easy to make, keeping time involved down!  Join in on the rounds you want and watch on the ones you don't--but always have fun in the commentary!

For those who are wondering what exactly a zakka item is, here's Wikipedia's definition:

Zakka (from the Japanese 'zak-ka'（雑貨）or 'many things') is a fashion and design phenomenon that has spread from Japan throughout Asia. The term refers to everything and anything that improves your home, life and appearance. It is often based on household items from the West that are regarded as kitsch in their countries of origin, but it can also be Japanese goods, mainly from the fifties, sixties, and seventies. In Japan there are also so-called Asian zakka stores; that usually refers to Southeast Asia. The interest in Nordic design or Scandinavian design, both contemporary and past, is also part of this zakka movement. Zakka can also be contemporary handicraft.
Zakka has also been described as "the art of seeing the savvy in the ordinary and mundane". The zakka boom could be recognized as merely another in a series of consumer fads, but it also touches issues of self-expression and spirituality. "Cute, corny and kitschy is not enough. To qualify as a zakka, a product must be attractive, sensitive, and laden with subtext."

I hope you all join in the fun!


Oh and here's a bit of fun now--a discount code for Fabric.com.  It expires 4/30/12 at midnight, but you can use it as many times as you want.  For 20% off a purchase of $40 or more, just use code FB412.  Have fun shopping!

Fabric for DQS12

This week a few packages showed up for some of my swaps, including the solids I plan on using for my DQS 12 quilt.  Although it was cloudy the day I took these pictures, you can still see how lovely the range is.  The first three bundles came from Pink Chalk Fabrics.  I do love their quick service, nice packaging and mixed bundles.

From left to right:  Moda Bella Solids American Blue, Kona Cotton Dusty Blue, Robert Kaufman Quilters Linen Taupe, Essex Linen Dusty Blue, Pure Organics Steel, Kona Cotton Sage, Kona Cotton Herb, Essex Linen Jungle, Moda Bella Solids Etchings Charcoal.  These are from the Parson Gray Curious Nature Coordinates Collection.

From the Apple Cider Bundle (left to right):  Kona Cotton Paprika, Kona Cotton Curry, Moda Bella Solids Ochre, Kona Cotton Raisin, Kona Cotton Butterscotch, Kona Cotton Moss, Kona Cotton Amber, Kona Cotton Brown.

From left to right (August-Hot Summer Nights Bundle):  Kona Cotton Dark Violet, Kona Cotton Coral, Kona Cotton Violet, Kona Cotton School Bus, Kona Cotton Cerise, Robert Kaufman Pure Organic Cherry, Kona Cotton Chocolate, Robert Kaufman Pure Organic Orange.

This last bundle set I bought from Sew Fresh Fabrics on Etsy.  I needed a few more greens and yellows.  I love how each had a label on it (easily peeled off), so I could remember the colors.  This was the bundle inspired by Outfoxed Outwitted.

Left to right (all Kona):  Natural, Medium Gray, Herb, Zucchini, Olive, Basil, Banana, Corn Yellow.

How did I choose all these colors?  Well, my secret partner loves modern, contemporary styles and leans towards warm earthy tones (both of which, I admit are not my norms--but, I love being pushed in my creativity and while I don't normally get to work with all solids or these tones, I do like them).  I did a little checking on Google images and after seeing photos of the beautiful area that my partner lives in, I choose colors from the surrounding landscape (sky, mountains, trees, wild flowers, earth, etc.) and then found mixed fabric bundles containing the colors I was going for.  I'm looking forward to mixing in the textures of the linens with the cottons.  Hopefully, these will all translate well into the design I've got floating in my head--guess we'll see!

DQS10

Well after lots of brainstorming, I've decided on a pattern and fabric for my secret swap partner.  I'll give you a peek:

Mmm...I just love Kaffe Fassett fabrics.  And so does my partner.

Okay, I admit, I didn't always.  The first few times I saw some of his fabric designs I thought they were kind of obnoxious.  But then my dad decided to give me some charm squares of the stuff.  I guess it just grew on me and now I really like the prints.  I plan on making myself a huge Kaffe quilt, but first I need to make a doll sized one for my partner.  If I stick with my design then I'll have at least 50 different Kaffe Fassett fabrics in it--that's a whole lot of Kaffe.  I'm still waiting for some to arrive in the mail, so I'll work on what I have as well as a few fun extras to include in the package in the between time.

Some of you may remember the tree quilt I did for DQS9--very simple fabrics but lots of work on the shape of the tree and the quilting.  Well, this time, I'm kind of going the other way with simpler blocks and quilting and lots of busy fabrics.  Stay tuned.

Doll Quilt Swap 9--Finished! (Big Sigh)

After all the planning, the fusing, the cutting, the placing, the applique, the fussing and stressing---it's finished!  The lovely quilt I created for my secret partner for the Doll Quilt Swap 9 has been carefully packaged in its Priority Mail tube and shipped off to its new home (wipes tear from eye) along with some extra goodness.  What did I include in the package?  Well, hopefully it's all stuff my partner will like (otherwise I'll feel bad that I spent the extra on postage instead of eating the vanilla Goldfish crackers like I was tempted to do).  I included some metal embellishments (one says "cherish" and the other "love"), a pin cushion, pin toppers, a mug rug and before mentioned vanilla Goldfish crackers, which, btw, if you haven't tried you absolutely must.  Really, I mean it.  Go, right now and get some--then come back and finish view the world's most awesome quiltie.  (Don't worry, I'll wait.)

Well you don't really need a closer look at the Goldfish crackers, just try some (and get the chocolate ones too while you're at it).  But here's the little pincushion I made.  One point didn't line up right, argh!  Otherwise, a perfectly cute little 4 inch pincushion made with some Hoffman Meadow Dance fabric (my partner loves green) and some Kona Coal, another partner fav.  I found the most perfect matching button in my vintage button collection--doesn't it look like Kona Ash and Coal!  And while I am often loathe to part with my buttons (it's an obsession really), it was just too perfectly coordinated with the pincushion and quilt to not use it.

Here's the pretty back--some of the Westminster Fibers fabric that I used on the quilt back.  (Won from Bearpaw in a blog giveaway!  That fabric has been from New York to the UK to Oregon and now back to the East coast.  The fabric is more traveled than I am!)  Another vintage button--the photo really doesn't show the color right it's actually closer to the fabric pink in color.  I'll tell you, sewing those buttons on so that the center indented was a big pain in the neck, but the results are worth it.

My partner, without knowing that she was my partner, mentioned that she was so busy that she'd regrettably had to turn down being in the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap.  (Horrors!)  We can't have a sad little mug with no rug (hmm, that sounds a bit Dr. Seuss-ish).  So, of course, being the completely sneaky partner I am--I made her one.  And, of course, I matched it to her quilt.  I did use different fabrics for the birds just so it wasn't totally the same.  I did a little free-motion drawing with the thread to make branches and leaves (some got cut off when the binding was added, but I like the effect.

Here's the back.  You can see how the applique stitching and thread drawing create the picture on the back. 

I needed to come up with something else that was fun to add to the goodie pile and then I saw pin toppers.  Adorable customized sewing pins with cute things at the top--like the old hat pin toppers, only much, much smaller.  I traded one of my sisters some seamstress work for her to create me some to give to my partner.  Sure, I could  make these, but why--she's already a genius talent with fimo clay (she makes miniature dragons and such), so why not let the expert do it.  Of course, she could not find her little tools, packed away somewhere, but being the artist that she is she adapted with a straight edge razor and a bamboo skewer.  (What can I say, the girl's got skills.)  My sis took a look at the quilt and then made these three pin toppers--how cool is that?!  These are made using glass head sewing pins that are only 1.5 inches long--we're talkin' uber tiny toppers!  Note the pearlescent nature of the toppers, so fabulous!

And now, what you've all been waiting for...drumroll please...  may I present... Leafy Treetops, my Doll Quilt Swap 9 creation!  (And the crowd goes wild!  Okay, so there's no crowd.  If there was a crowd though, it would be going wild right now.)

Just for a quick recap on fabric:  the background is Kona Ash, tree is Kona Coal and binding is Kona Black.   Sorry, I have no idea what the fabrics for the birds and house are, the selvedge is long gone.  I appliqued the edge and echo quilted the entire thing (took forever, but with these results, I can say it was definitely worth it) using Sulky premium 40 wt. rayon thread in Light Silver (number 1236) for the top and a Mettler thread (color 623) on the back which blended perfectly with the Kona Coal.  The rayon added a little sheen which glints here and there as the light hits it which I love.  This combo also quilted beautifully without any problems.

Where'd I get the name?  From a children's song that I learned as a small child (luckily, you don't have to hear me sing it)  that goes "In the leafy treetops, the birds sing good morning.  They're first to see the sun.  They must tell everyone!  In the leafy treetops, the birds sing good morning."

Some of you have asked if I drew the design.  Sadly, no.  My drawing skills are fairly limited unless you're talking drafting or perspective or a garden landscape plan.  It would take me far to long to draw this tree.  I used three different vector images which I combined and altered to get what I wanted.  You can find these kinds of images by going to websites that sell royalty free stock images (such as istockphotos or fotolia or shutterstock) or you might find some by Google searches.  Just be sure and get permission if its from a private source and follow all copyright laws.

Check out that quilting!  This was not done free-motion despite the appearance.  (I so wish my free-motion quilting was that good.  Nope, I'm at the same skill level as kindergarteners doing division.  So sad.)  I used my applique foot and meticulously (and slowly) went around and around and around.  So, see!  You don't have to have advanced quilting skills to get great results on a project.  Just be willing to put the necessary time in and you can have something wonderful!  Then, keep working on those skills.

My younger sister thought the lines reminded her of those Japanese sand gardens with the rocks--you know that have the lines rippling outward from each rock.  Yeah, now you're feelin' the Zen.  Okay, last quilting shot.

And finally, the back of the back of this quilt.  I love the texture the quilting created on the back.  It reminds me of those antique whole cloth quilts--except those where completely hand stitched which is a completely other level of skill that still amazes me.  Guess I'd be more accomplished if I'd turn off the tv and stay off Flickr...not happening.

I know you've all been wondering who got this little work of insane art.   The big reveal:  Dolores Goodson, also known as DeeRoo G!  Yep, this little quiltie has traveled completely across the country to Lovetsville, Virginia.  I thought the little snails were cute--and fitting as I took so long to make this.  They're from a vintage embroidery pattern that I colored in with colored pencils and then outlined with a Pima pen.

 

One last look at the quilt before I move on to the next project.  Sigh.  I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  Enjoy your new home Leafy Treetops!

Update (I thought you all would enjoy reading my partner's emailed response too):

I'm feeling faint.....I mean....I have no words! Hold on...some are coming to me....OH MY FREAKING GOSH!!! Shayla...I am tearing up here while I type this....wait...let me get a tissue. Sniff.

Ok...I'm composed. I really,really don't know how to express how much this means to me. This is definitely going into the livingroom WHEREVER I live!! You lady are a truely talented person....Counting the ways....

1. Colors, perfection

2. Stitching, amazing

3. Subject, spot on

4. Continution of the theme...mug rug, mini pins...brilliant

5. Pincushion...in green and grey...my too favorite colors...guess I'm an open book that you read perfectly!!;)

6. I LOVE goldfish!

7. The label, another mini piece of art

8. The back, splendiferous

9. Fabrics, Now that's what I'm talking about!

10. Bragging rights....you got them and I'm going to continue them!!!

Yep....time to get another tissue....now my husband seriously has to get our house finished so I can put this in a place of honor....ALWAYS!

Thank you sooooo much Shayla....I'm even keeping the card!

xoxoxo dolores

ps...I'm going to blog about this and use my 10 ways of loving this package!;)

Doll Quilt Swap 9

While I was busy with house painting, canning, quilting and all sorts of stuff, I little package arrived in my mailbox all the way from Riverdale, Maryland.  It was my doll quilt (the one I was receiving) from the Doll Quilt Swap 9!

In the package was an adorable, cheerful quilt and some cool vintage fabrics.  I'm sure those will be put to good use sometime soon!  The card she included is adorable with button flowers--how creative!

My partner (not the same one I'm giving too) was KatieJeanBags (Katie).  Here's her little quiltie:

The binding is in Kona Coal with a white background and Coal for the centers.  The rest of the fabrics are from a mix of designers.  I love how she created some dimension by pairing coordinating fabrics of more solid/dark with more open/light.  I do love a good scrap quilt, always have.  It's fun to look at the fabrics and pick out favorites.  My favorite fabric in this quilt is probably the orange snail fabric, it is just so funny and cute!

On the back is a lovely orange polka dot fabric (sorry I don't know which fabric line).  You can sort of see the quilting creates a star pattern.

This quilt is such a joy to have with it's cheerful colors and patterns and it's clean white background!  Katie's life is so busy and full of other people and things that are more important, but she took the time to make this doll quilt specifically for me.  I know I'll treasure it always.

DQS9 Update

Just a few pics to quickly update you on my Doll Quilt Swap 9 quilt--and then its back to work for me!

Here it is with all the pieces fused down and ready for stitching:

Then I stiched everything down with a simple straight stitch in matching thread but it just didn't seem to really pop.  So...I  went over everthing again with black thread which gave what I was looking for.  (Kind of like when an artist adds outlining to a drawing.)  Doing this did have the unfortunate effect of causing some of my stitching to be a bit wonky, but on the whole it's good and hopefully my partner will overlook its flaws.

It's a bit wrinkled looking from all the handling as I moved the quilt around for stitching around all those little leaves.  I'm not yet very good at free-motion stitching, so I just used a regular applique foot and worked slowly. 

For the back I used Kona Coal with a wide strip of some Westminster Fibers fabric I won in a blog giveaway (more on that when I get a chance to actually catch up with blogging).  You can see the stitching from the applique as I did sandwich all the layers prior to stitching--this way the stitching acts as quilting and gives a nice little puff to the applique helping it to stand out more.

All in all, I think its turning out well.   That's all for now--more pics when the quilting and binding are done, but right now its work, work, work to get it finished and mailed with goodies by the 8th!

Doll Quilt Swap 9

Just a quick look at the beginnings of my doll quilt swap quilt (okay, I'm a bit behind on posting, but I'll catch you up quick).  Here's the Kona Coal being cut out by hand using a rotary cutter and straight edge blade.  It took quite a long time and made my hand a bit sore, but I think the end result will be worth the trouble.

DQS 9 Fabrics

Well, as you know, I was accepted into the Doll Quilt Swap 9 this year.  While I can't say anything about who the quilt will go to (top secret), I can show the quilt as I go.  So, here are my fabric choices after reading my partners blog (the whole thing), looking at her favorites and comments on other quilts, etc.

Left to Right:  Kona Solids Coal and Ash, 2 Cara Collection Gelatos

Pretty right?  The idea right now is a miniature double wedding ring quilt, but we'll see as we progress.  I'll begin cutting right after I finish up a couple of mini quilts for two other swaps.  Photos to be shown after they are received as those are swaps where partners are known, but results are secret until received.  July blocks coming up as fabric arrives.

Enjoy the sunshine everyone!