Fiesta Bag - Options

Are you inspired by all of the great fabrics that we have available to us? I am! Last week, I had a request from Portsmouth Fabric Company (located in Portsmouth, NH) to adapt my Fiesta Bag pattern to Home Dec weight canvas. (This is from Amy Butler's August Fields collection). It made a great go-to-market bag! If you have this pattern and some leftover slipcover or curtain fabric - go to town!

Because we used the home dec weight fabric, there was no quilting required and the handles were made without a stiffener inside them. I also didn't bind any edges, just folded and topstitched.

This is the sample at Portsmouth Fabric - if you are in the area, stop by - they are located at 112 Penhallow Street. You will love their selection of funky fabrics!

Happy Sewing!

-Kris

Inspiration and Results!

Last Monday's post contained a "color inspiration" photo of a Gerbera Daisy. Well - here are the results! This is just a doodle that I made using fabrics in my that represented the colors in the daisy. I used 505 spray on the back of the fabrics that I layered on a piece of Peltex. Then I just "doodled" with variegated thread. It's a coaster for my tea!



I think this is an outstanding way to practice your free motion quilting - do a small piece. Don't try to free motion on a big quilt if you haven't had some practice - you can do it! Give this a try!

This would have been a postcard except that I cut it about 5" square - it needs to be 4" x 6" to be a postcard. Here is a great site with information on fabric postcards here: http://www.sewfunpatterns.com/fabricpostcards.html
Have fun!

-Kris

Sewing Room Savior!

As all of us quilters do in the spring, it's time to organize organize organize! I found the neatest hook at Home Depot to organize my rulers! It's the 3M Command Utensil Hook!

I stuck these hooks on the side(s) of my cutting table and (poof!) organization! Who knew it could be so easy?

What's your organizing trick?

A Primitive Twist on the Star Sampler

Nancy Dey of Kaukauna, Wisconsin sent me these photos of the Star Sampler Totes she and her friend made from Sew and Go Totes! These are great! Don't you just love her version of this Tote?
Awesome!

The bags were made by Nancy Dey (assembly and pressing) and Jeanine Drzewiecki (block piecing and quilting) and kits will be available for them at Primitive Gatherings in Menasha, WI soon. Primitive Gatherings will have a booth at the Chicago Quilt Show in April and this bag will be there along with the kits.

Nancy and Jeanine are long arm quilters and the quilting on these bags is just beautiful(I hope you can see from this picture). The pockets stars are reversed from front to back.

Thanks for sharing! PS - I love the tablerunner, too!

Sew and Go Totes - What's inside?

My new book, Sew and Go Totes published by Leisure Arts is now available! You can find it in your local quilt shop, at Leisure Arts, on-line bookstores, and through my website!

I thought I'd show you a few projects from the book today. This bag is called the Crafty Tote (shown on right). I chose to show you this first because it is my favorite bag for going to quilting events: retreats, classes, etc. It holds an 18" wide cutting mat with ease and all of your other quilting tools as well as fabrics and batting. YOu'll be able to tote your dog or cat in this one as well!

The mini bag (left) is a small shoulder bag that can hold your camera, your cell phone and keys! This is a great little bag to use when you are traveling light! There is a simple 4-square design on the front, that can be embellished with paint, beads, etc. This bag can be made in no time (with your scraps) and you'll want to make more!

Last but not least - the floral stripe bag. This bag is pretty and versatile - make one for yourself and one as a gift! I hope you enjoyed this peek inside - more coming!

Purse Strings

Today I am finishing a bag for Spring Quilt Market which will be part of a display for Blank Quilting. It's the "Mini Bag" from my new book, Sew and Go Totes. I needed an alternative to the 1/4" braided cord used for the strap. I decided to create a strap for the bag using pet screen.

I have a hard time finding "strap" materials that I like - so let's create our own!

Note: I cut the pet screen along it's length as it lays flatter in this direction.

You will need:

1" wide piece of black pet screen at the required length
1 1/2" wide piece of accent fabric at the required length

1. Fold outer (long) edges of pet screen in to meet at center and zigzag down the middle - this will create a 1/2" base for the accent fabric to "sit on". (Luckily, my walking foot is marked on either side with 1/4" mark, so that it is a visual guide for the 1/2" wide strip!)

2. Fold accent fabric in half lengthwise and press. Open out accent fabric and press outer raw edges to the fold; then fold in half again (you have now encased those raw edges).

3. Using your walking foot, top stitch the accent fabric to the pet screen strap, making sure that the "raw edges" of the pet screen are hidden behind fabric accent. Voila! This is what I ended up with - a strong 1/2" wide strap!

Welcome to Quilting at the Poorhouse!

Happy Spring!


Welcome Quilters and Sewists!

I am (finally) diving into the world of blogging and I hope you'll join me! I am a quilt designer from Derry, New Hampshire. You can find my designs at poorhousequiltdesigns.com; stop by and take a look at my new book and patterns! I lean toward quilted bags - I just love to carry around my love for quilting - don't you?

What is the purpose of this blog? I'd like to share my design development (a.k.a. experiments), inspirations, and other quilty snippets with you!

I have just returned from attending a quilting retreat in Manchester NH that was hosted by Stitched in Stone (located at 53 Church Street in scenic Kingston, NH). A good time was had by all! Tammy treated everyone like a quilting queen. We had a lot of laughs! Tammy inspired us with quilt as you go, and dyeing and painting techniques -we all enjoyed the creativity of these techniques. I was able to test drive a new design! I came back to the studio refreshed and ready to create. More from this event coming soon!

On to Color Inspiration of the Week!
I bought this Gerbera Daisy because I could not resist the colors - deep green leaves with red/orange petals and yellow centers...this would make a great bag or quilt or table runner! Stay tuned.....