Gone To Earth

Gorgeous Delilah...

I've been playing around creating photographs to use for magazine adverts. I never find it easy.  Too small a space to say or show all you want to... given how easy I find it to witter on about fabric. So, for me, working out a pictorial essay in an advert space is definitely a exercise in something but I'm not quite sure what. 

This morning I've been taking Delilah photographs;

(I like Delilah.  I think it can go together to make a complete vintage/retro look or it can be something very modern looking.)        

The side effect of all this stacking and re-stacking of fabric to try and show it off at its best are two new bundles.  One in pink...

which joins an already mostly pink bundle.

and one in blue...

I hope you love them.  Have a great weekend.

LouLouThi, a nine patch block and a new addiction

A piece of fabric... ok, maybe one or two pieces of fabric, plus little sewing. Result?  A nine patch block and a new addiction.

This is a nine patch block that I was working on absolutely ages ago.  It's made up of prints from LouLouThi and LouLouthi Needleworks.  

 LouLouThi Needleworks has been designed by Anna Maria Horner and it represents something a little different in that the design on the fabric is marked out in little crosses .... and yes that means that you can cross-stitch the design for something wonderfully textured or you can use it as a cloth in it's own right 'cos it's just pretty.

(This print is called Vision in Pangaea.  The background is a soft cream with the various motifs picked out in different colours against it.)

My nine patch block does have an intended desitnation, it just hasn't quite made it there yet as I've been distracted by the rest of the piece of fabric I used for the blocks.  

A fat quarter of this is huge when it comes to cutting out little squares... because the bolt is a massive 54 inches wide.  Yes - there's a lot left, so I've been stitching that too.  Cross - stitching to be precise.

(... and I've bought some new threads in lots of pretty colours.)

I'm addicted to it.  I haven't actually done any cross-stich since I left junior school so it took a while to get back into it again but now I'm really enjoying having something that I can just pick up for a few minutes and then put down. (Actually it isn't easy to put it down. I'm finding that really difficult.)  I'm using Pearle sewing threads on this as I'm loving the slight reflectiveness of it.  I may not use all Pearle threads as that might be overkill but I'll make that decision as I go along.  

This piece is intended to make a 'small' (note the word small) sampler style cushion but that really depends how long it takes me.  It may end up as a small bag or small mat for the table in the hall.  Just now I'm enjoying the 'doing'.

A stitch in Colour

Stitch in color - charm squares and jelly rolls.

I've never made it a secret that I love rich colour which is why I find it difficult to buy the pale and 'interesting' colours for the shop :)  You don't really need to know that but it does explain why I really love this fabric collection designed by Malka Dubrawsky.

If you've ever come across the book "Fresh Quilting" by Malka Dubrawky or her blog "A stitch in dye", you will know that she loves colour; bright, saturated glorious colour.  Her sewing is full of rich and exciting colour combinations and inspiring design.

I love this tote bag which shows off some of the fabrics really well.  It's from her Flickr set which you'll find over here if you wish to explore more images.

These are a few images from her book which show her love of colour and contemporary design.

 

A pair of Pot holders ...

...and a quilt developed from the same improvisational design.

I think her choice of colour always gives her sewing such a lot of energy.  Gorgeous.

So you see, that now she has a fabric collection out called a 'stitch in colour', I really wasn't able to ignore it.  It is deliciously filled with colour and interesting designs.  

Note the already patchwork and 'quilt stitched', look of some of the fabrics.

I hope you like them too!

Something to share

Ali over at Very Berry Handmade is hosting an extremely delicious fabric giveaway to kick start January into sewing frenzy of a month ( and hopefully the following 11 months of 2012).

(Kate Spain's Terrain fabric - just one possible prize amongst many.)

 

There are many prizes and different ways in which you can participate, so why not join in?

What are you going to resolve to sew in 2012?  Are you going to start sewing for the first time or tackle or learn something completely new.  Tell Ali and take part in her massive giveaway, which is open until the 26th January.

 

 

Soul Blossoms Corduroy from Amy Butler

I've had a couple of emails about these fabrics asking if they really are corduroy or had I made a mistake when I listed them in the shop.  

(Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms Corduroy)

Well, yes they genuinely are corduroy... lovely soft, tactile needlecord or pin cord if you prefer and they are part of Amy Butler's new fashion fabrics range.

These are Soul blossom prints;

English Garden in Bluestone,

Trailing Orchid in Blue Velvet... lots of blues, highlighted with a little green.

This is the blue solid which can be used alone or to accent the English Garden or the Trailing orchid fabrics.

They are the same designs as the home decor fabrics of the same names which I'm guessing is where the confusion comes, but these are a narrower fabric as they're 44/45 inches wide (110/112cm) and not 54 inches wide like the home dec fabric. The pattern scale is also smaller.

They can be used to make clothes and bags, pouches of all kinds ....

(The Liverpool tunic in English Garden in Bluestone corduroy - photograph from Amy's site)

 

 

.... and quilts such as this one.  

(photograph from Amy's site)

Enjoy!

Ruby by Bonnie & Camille

This layer cake comprises fabric from Ruby, a new fabric collection designed by Bonnie and Camille.  It has 42, 10 inches square pieces of fabric made up of 35 different designs.  Some designs are doubled up to give a good balance of colour, print and design scale.

Ruby is full of gorgous little prints, tiny scallops and polks dots and lucious florals in beautiful ruby red, greys, greens and a delicous aqua.

It's got quite a retro feel to it being inspired by the youthful optimism of the 1950's.

This is a link to the Moda Bake Shop and a wonderful quilt designed using this layer cake.

(Photograph from the Moda Bake Shop website)

It's designed by Corey of 'Little Miss Shabby;.  Pretty isn't it?

Psst...

I wanted to share this with you.  Look at these lovely charm squares;  Rooftop Garden by Moda and Modern Workshop by Liesl Gibson of Oliver and S.

Judith over at Rags to Bags is having a giveaway as a celebration for passing a 100 followers.  She's really excited and you may be excited about the possibility of joining in ?  It's open until Monday the 17th October so why not visit?

 

Whilst you're there have a good look around as there are so many gorgeous sewing ideas and it's dripping with pictures of bags and quilts.  Bet you stay a while :)

Speak soon,

Julia x

 

Jenaveve and a litle giveaway

Jenaveve is a gorgeous fabric line designed by Valori Wells.  It's a blended fabric made from 45% cotton and 55% linen and is a massive 54 inches wide. So, you get the benefit of cotton and the delicious texture of linen.

Let me introduce you to a few of the designs.

This is Tribal in Merlot in deep pinks and burgundy background. Valori has just taken part in a Library show featuring her fabrics so take a look at her pictures to see the scale of this richly coloured fabric.

 

This is Leaves in Merlot which has a burgundy tending to brown background.  These pretty leaves are in pink, peachy pink and tangerine in colour and measure approximately 7.5 centimeters in length with each individual leaf being about 1.5 centimeters in long.

 

 

Pebbles in Merlot has pink and orange coloured petal shaped marks picking out this floral yet geometric pattern.  Take a look at the Martha Stewart website to see this one in action. (How to make a Reversible hat - feel tempted to make one?)

 

 

Pebbles in Merlot

Pebbles in Teal is just as beautiful in a gorgeous blue teal.

 

All of them are brilliant for all kinds of sewing....clothes...bags.....cushions... all kinds of things.

But. perhaps you'd like to try some?  If you do then just leave a comment on this post to enter my little giveaway consisting of one fat quarter of each of these fabrics (four fat quarters)., which is 1 metre of Jfabric for some lucky person.  A fat quarter of this fabric measures a hefty 50cm by 70cm - that's a lot of small bags !  I'll use the random number generator to select a winner next Friday. (September 9th).

 

Speak soon - Jx

 

Fabric weight ....

(Fabric packs of quilt weight (medium weight cotton fabrics) from Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms range.)

If you're fairly new to buying fabric, it can be thrillingly exciting... so many different designers, so many mouth watering colours, and amazing patterns.  So, far so good.   But then something complicated starts to happen and you begin to see words such as 'medium weight', heavy weight, home decor weight and then the mist starts to descend and you really aren't quite sure what it is you want.

Basically fabric weight is a term used to describe the thickness of the fibres which make up the fabric weave.  

The fabric weight determines how the fabric behaves in terms of drape. Will it hang nicely, if my design has a lot of gathers will it still look soft and not all bunched up and stiff.

Heavier fabrics have a denser weave, think denim or corduroy as being a heavier weave. Therefore these are best suited to projects where they are likely to get 'heavy' use  and least suited to sewing which require nice soft pleats and flouncy gathers.

(From Amy's site - some pretty floor cushions in home decor weight fabrics)

Home decor/heavy weight fabrics are good for those places in the home which get a lot of use such as upholstery, cushions, covering dinning chairs, jackets, bags and purses because they tend to be more hard wearing. 

So how do you decide which weight of fabric you need?

There more questions to ask here than just fabric weight but generally when you're buying fabric you have a sewing project in mind.  If you're planning to make clothing with pretty gathers, tucks and pleats then you will achieve better results with light weight/medium weight fabrics which will be more inclined to flow around body contours and curves, rather than bunch up unattractively. So, think about how important the that is to the overall look of the garment.

(From Amy's s - pretty bag in Paradise Gardens in Midnight) 

If you're sewing garments where this isn't such a consideration, designs with a lot of structure for example such as A-Line skirts, bags or jackets then the heavier weight or home decor fabrics may be perfect.

(From Amy's site - The Sandlewood Jacket made with Sandlewood in Ivory Fabric)

Heavy weight fabrics or home decor fabrics come in some beautiful and colourful designs.  Just feast your eyes on these beauties.

Pretty aren't they?

Plodding along...

How is everyone?  I feel that I've been 'missing in action' for a while.  

Do you remember my post about joining in a quilt-a-long without really owning up to it?

Well I'm still plodding along, getting bits and pieces done.

I've cut all the fabric out now.

(A few cut out pieces...)

I've definitely played around with laying fabric side by side.... 

I've been sewing blocks together..... it's such a simple but effective block pattern.

I love the way the fabric looks in this little layout.... When I first saw Good Folks I thought it quite a dark collection but over time I've changed my opinion.  I think it's the golden yellows, tangerines and intense pinks that make it sing.  That yellow is quite exotic... very warm.

 

 
As I've sewed more blocks I've begun to relax a bit about which fabrics go together because there doesn't seem to be an 'awful' combination... but there are definitely some that sing particularly loudly. 

I should point out that I need 80 blocks to make the complete quilt... and I have about 20, but that's a 1/4 of the way there isn't it?  I don't want it in a hurry, which is really just as well. Making this quilt for me is really just about enjoying the process.  I'm wondering if perhaps I should settle for a throw sized quilt.

(A few blocks laid out on the table... just to admire the colour)

Instead, I'm focusing on my piecing.  I'm trying out Elizabeth Hartman's suggestion of pressing the seams open instead of pressing them to one side as is more usual in patchwork. (The traditional pressing of the seam to the side is supposed to make a stronger seam by protecting the stitching from wear and eventual splitting.) Elizabeth's method ensures that a block which is intended to be six inches in size actually ends up as a six inch block. Providing of course you've sewn an accurate seam allowance :) 

Others I know argue for using a 'scant' 1/4 inch seam, to ensure your blocks end up the size you wanted them to be.  This means that you have to make allowances when piecing for the fact that pressing a seam to the side actually takes up the width of the thread. (Multiply those thread widths over an entire quilt and it can add up to make a surprising amount of difference. But I suspect that loads of us have made up that difference in the border.... Who me?)  

Elizabeth's method is certainly simple enough but I'm wondering what will happen when I actually quilt it.... we'll see.

Speak soon.... I should have a few more blocks by then.