Bow Clutch!

I've been admiring this clutch on pinterest for some time now, and this weekend I decided to make one!

These are actually exactly the same, the yellow one has stuff in it already!

It seems easy enough - pretty much it's just a zip pouch with a little strap and a bow on the front. I know I could have figured it out on my own, but it was super simple to use the tutorial. The only thing I'd do differently next time, is I'd use interfacing on all my pieces (especially since I did use quilting cottons for the whole thing).

Quick and easy - I made two of them in about an hour! One is for my sister - at the suggestion of her best friend I made hers red. Mine is Bella Solids Mustard. Here's my only issue with the tutorial, the materials list says you need WAY more fabric than you really use. I made mine out of 1 FQ of the outer fabric and a 10" x 12" scrap of the lining. No need for half yards here - check out the cutting diagram I made for using a FQ. Much less wasted fabric!

I'm not a tiny purse type person, but I figure once in a while it's nice to not have EVERYTHING with me. And it'll work great with my Pretty Pleats Tote! :)

I even remembered to sew in those little "handmade with love" tags!

FQS Bella Parade : Season 2 : Post # 8

Bella Solids Mustard

Hello! Today is one of my favorite colors out of all the new ones! Mustard! Go see what Shruti has to say about it! 

Pretty Pleats Tote

This weekend I've spent a bit of time playing around with fabric for myself. First I'll share my favorite - the Pretty Pleats Reversible Tote!

A few weeks ago I started seeing all my bloggy/flickr friends making these - they were pattern testing for Michelle. Let me tell you, I've only ever followed one purse pattern before, so it wasn't like I typically do this sort of thing... furthermore, I hate following patterns. This one was a breeze though!!

I can't tell you how impressed I am by this pattern!! I love that Michelle provided cutting instruction to make frugal use of your fabric (and to make cutting easy!). Most of the pattern pieces can be at least partially cut using a rotary cutter!

The directions were straight forward and precise. No surprise "try to figure it out yourself" moments. It was late-night-sewing friendly. No cussing even. :)

I'm so excited to use this tote! I think it's my new going to work bag!

Thanks Michelle for writing such a fabulous pattern! I see more of these in my future!

WIP Weds...

Here are those WIP's hanging in my closet!

Finished: 
Pretty pleats tote - it's fabulous. I want to make more.
Two random zip pouches which are also pretty awesome! - one is for my sister!
Mommy's Nap Time Flickr Group - (haha thus far unpopulated) created.
Swimming Suit for Allie - A random start and finish all in one day. :) 

Bow Clutch and Pretty Pleats Tote

In (immediate) progress:

Bella Bella Quilt (the round one) - finished piecing the next round, now to add it and continue... 

My Precious QAL - no progress.

Super secret project - Homework is imminent... tomorrow? Soon!

FQS Bella Parade Season 2 I've got two more samples to quilt up. But I did get a big chunk of blog posts written and scheduled.... 

Zip pouches for my sister. Always. Oh and one for her best friend too.

No progress (none planned):

9 million random things.  - no progress

{Modern} Robin - no progress

New projects: 
RATZ swap june round is open now (sign up here- it's a quick and easy swap!)... I'll be making some magnets as soon as I get my partner assignment!

Linking up with fabric tuesday and WIP Weds!

FQS Bella Parade : Season 2 : Post # 7

Bella Cloud

Head on over to Shruti's blog for today's installment of the Bella Parade! Go check out Cloud!

FQS Bella Parade : Season 2 : Post # 6

Bella Solids Eggplant

Hello everyone!! :) Are you still with us for the Bella Parade?! Just joining back after the long weekend? Head on over to Shruti's blog to read more about luscious Eggplant!!

Maquettes and why I love Jacquie.

How cool do those look? All rolled up in the back of the car!

Oh dear blog readers, I'm so terrible. It's been more than a month since the fabulous Jacquie Gering presented at our Chicago Modern Quilt Guild, and I still haven't shared it with you. 

I saw this quilt in person! This is one of my faves!!

My little story starts last year just before Christmas - we had scheduled a sew-in for our CMQG meeting, but the park district had forgotten our extended time frame and didn't unlock the building for us early. We all ended up down the road at a diner hanging out and drinking coffee - there were a lot of us, and a lot of new faces. It just happened that I sat down next to Jacquie - of Tallgrass Prairie Studio - it was her first CMQG meeting after her recent move to the city. You know her, I know her, we're all immensely inspired by her -- but even after chatting with her for about an hour I didn't recognise her (it makes you think though - what do you bloggers look like?). lol. How embarrassing! 

Back to the present - er - last month. Jacquie presented for us at our April guild meeting and it was spectacular. It really was one of the most inspiring meetings ever. You should have seen it - all those beautiful quilts, and she told us a bit about each one, and about herself, and her journey in quilting. She's really a fantastic person - truly inspiring. 

If you have any idea how amazing this quilt is in real life?
It's about 200x more amazing than it is on the computer screen!

So the point of this post? Other than sharing with you about meeting Jacquie and how awesome her presentation was, and her book - let's not forget about that! (I keep getting side tracked). The point is, she had brought with her many smaller quilts "Maquettes" she called them. A smaller version or a test piece for a larger quilt. Genius! 

Everyone needs a purse to match their fav. quilt right? 

I've had this idea floating around in my head - a quilt I want to make that involves giant strips of paper pieced parts as well as strips of free piecing and textured things etc. It's intense. I've barely even attempted to sketch it out since it's so involved. And I want to use my bits of Bohemian and other precious fabrics... but I haven't been able to decide how big I want to make it, so I haven't started. Just now it has occurred to me, what I really need to do is make a Maquette - it's manageable, not overwhelming, and will help me decide if I should make it into a big quilt or a small quilt. 

Book signing!

A maquette, thanks for the idea Jacquie! And thanks for the inspiration! 

Of course I failed to get a single picture of a maquette ... but Ebony did, so go read her write up about them! 

I still need to get a copy of this for myself! It's a great book though!!!