Finishing Touches

Ok the faux fur has finally come to and end! I put the zips in my coat and vest. Abbys’ coat has snaps and buttons. Here are some pics:

Alright then I moved on to fabric I bought in the summer time and started making my apron, hot pads and placemats:

I thought lining this would make the apron a little sturdier and a lot nicer. I loved how it turned out.

I used the thermal lining meant for oven gloves, and hot pads.  and I used the same red polka dots for the back.

Cute!

Alright I had to take a break from sewing to tend to the newest addition of our family. Lu-Lu is a shi-poo puppy we got a little over a month ago. She is great! Lovely disposition and pees outside beautifully it’s the other thing…….not so much I find little presents for me all over the rug! I am watching her like a hawk today to try and catch her in the act!!

I gave her a bath today:

Wet pooch!

And here is the after shot all freshly brushed from her spa treatment! lol

I got back to work and finished the placemats that goes with the whole apron theme. There was a tiny bit of trim left over and I bought some tea towels and topstitched the “cook books” onto the tea towels to go with my whole culinary set.

I folded a few of these over so I could show you all the cute prints that came in one panel.

Shut the Front Door

August 1st 2013

Nicole Wrote:

We stopped at San Luis Obispo to eat and sleep.

Well let me tell you this town has some very old fashion charm. It is one of the oldest towns in California. This craft and fabric store is HUMONGOUS !!!!! I had to wipe the drool off my chin many times!! Lol ok my gosh we should do a girls trip over a weekend to come here its awesome!!

I’m going back to the store tomorrow to buy stuff!! I’m psyched!!

I will take more pictures of the store tomorrow !!

PS: This is not the only fabric store in this little town.  Shut the front door right?!!

Love ya
Nicole

Jen Responded:

Shut the front door is right!! AH! We must make a girl’s trip there indeed, and I might have to drive up there, break into the store, and fall asleep on that big delicious pile of heaven. Unbelievable.  I hope you’re both having an awesome, relaxing time. Do email pictures  tomorrow of the treasures you get….can you see how green I am over your phone?!

Nicole Wrote:

Ok every Thursday in this cute town they have a farmers market,  all sorts of goodies!!

We went into a restaurant and around 9:30 when we were leaving there were  a TON of crazy bicyclists hooting and hollering down the road half-naked or dressed all crazy not sure what the hell is going on but after a few drinks I’m digging the vibe of this town!

Lol Peter wants to move here FYI ! I told him no way I have great friends and I  don’t want to move.

PS: We met an Italian soprano that sang for the pope in 11 different languages!!

Lol seriously I’m not making this stuff up!! Crazy night.

Love Nicole

Jen Responded:

It sounds like an alternate or parallel universe! No way are you allowed to move, but hmmmm….if you did, I’d go too. Peter and Ingmar could go crazy nuts on their bikes and we would be wading through sewing projects with butt loads of awesome fabrics. Sign me up!

Here are the fabrics I bought at the fabric store:

This print is adorable and I love the mustard yellow color of the tape fabric, it  brings out that same color in the sewing machines. I am in desperate need of a cover for my sewing machine and serger. This is what I am going to make 🙂

I love to cook!! Isn’t this the cutest apron. My second favorite thing about this apron are the polka dots! I LOVE POLKA DOTS!! I am going to line this apron with the red polka dot material.

These panels are  so pretty I love vintage things. The dress forms are adorable. As soon as I saw this I knew I was going to use them for something other than sewing. I bought some stretched canvas’ and I am going to do a multi media wall hanging, I will add texture, and other fabrics.  I think it will be super cool.

Here is the matching  culinary  print for the apron. I bought tea towels and will put the strip of cook books on the end of the tea towels for an accent to match my placemats which I am going to back with POLKA DOTS of course.

 I love batiks and I have a “quilt as you go” plan for these beauties.

Seam allowances and sewing machines

July 17th, 2013

Jen Wrote:

Good morning, Nicole!

First off, you and the crew are missed…Next, Abby and I hope you’re all having a ball with your family.  🙂  How’s that tree house coming along?  Is it just awesome to be able to spend time with your parents?

Not much new stuff to report here…Cubby’s swim classes are going pretty well–better than my sewing!  I’ve had some fights with my machine and will tell you about those mishaps in person rather than bore you with that in an email.

I started to do the reversible placemats that I hope to have done soon for my Mom’s and mother-in-law’s birthday presents….my Mom gets a small table runner (more like a centerpiece–the specs look like it’s not going to be much larger than a placement but that means I may be able to squeak out more placemats).

Thought about napkins to go with them, but my fabric isn’t printed on both sides, so is that too thick to sew 2 pieces together???  I have so many questions for my sewing goddess.  🙂  I’ll send pics of all the flannel for the baby quilts and the 3 fabrics for the placemats/ table runner/ napkins on my phone after I send this.

Your company is missed!  Have a great rest of your trip!

Love, Jen

p.s.  I’m shitting my pants over this Saturday’s craft fair…I’ll take pics of my set up.

July 18th, 2013

Nicole Responded:

Hey Jen

My trip is awesome and my back has been good! I can’t wait to see everyone again! Also very excited to see how your fair goes!!! I like the cute coasters you made very nice job!! I get back the 23rd in the evening.

Ttyl

Love Nicole

Jen Responded:

I’m so glad!!  Have fun and keep that back feeling good!

I’m itching to continue with the quilt (all the squares have their sewn X’s on them), but I forgot how to do a 1/2 inch seam allowance on the sewing machine–how is it that I can’t figure that out?!  I see the 1/4″ notch to follow but not a half inch…

Do I just keep the end of the flannel along the right outer edge of the needle plate/ foot plate/ whatever that do-hicky is called???  What a novice!

Nicole Responded:

Your manual will tell you what needle position you have to be in, if you have the fabric even with the edge of your foot I think it has to be to the far left 🙂 (7)

Happy sewing

Also I have a trick I use to help me follow a certain seam allowance. Take a sticky note and attach it to the correct marking for the seam allowance you desire.  You then have a great well marked edge to follow 🙂

July 24th, 2013

Jen Wrote:

Hi, Nicole!

I think you guys fly back today?  Or maybe yesterday?  Hope that all the travel goes well and can’t wait to see you all soon!!

July 25th, 2013 

Nicole Responded:

Hey Jen

Yes I’m back got in Tuesday night. I felt a bit under the weather today, the kids are still in Canada they come home with my parents on August 7th. How did your craft fair go? Did you so anything else? Hope you’re enjoying your machine! Can’t wait to see you again.  Hope all is well

Love Nicole

July 27th, 2013

Jen Wrote:

hold the phone….the kidlets don’t come back for another week plus????  That means Ingmar could watch Abby during a weekend time sometime soon and you and I could:

sew  a little

sew a lot

sew not at all

drink a scooby snack

drinks a couple scoobys

drink not at all…

…you get where I’m going.  It would be great to have a little time together without worrying about atrocities are happening, kid-wise!

Off to Sea World, but more soon…I hope you’re feeling better and YOU’VE BEEN MISSED!  Can’t wait to see you!

Nicole Responded:

Ya absolutely I’ll be around tomorrow my beer fridge is full I got Scooby snacks and I got a boat load of fabric! Lol call me later tonight on the phone my home number is *** **** my cell phone reception sucks!

Miss ya can’t wait to see ya!

Jen Responded:

WOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Jen Wrote:

Hello, Sewing Goddess,

I can’t wait to hear all about your trip…and see all your new fabric!  I have to bring over the squares I have for a baby shower gift….I have many questions.

I tell ya, I think I may be in over my head:  in the next 6 weeks, I’ve set out (in my mind,at least) to do 2 baby shower quilts, a diaper cake for my cousin’s baby shower in Pittsburgh, 2 sets of placemats and table runners, and just last night I saw this super cute tutorial on DIY burp cloths….  http://www.designsbymeganturnidge.com/blog/?p=2114

So like a lunatic I ordered fabric from Joann’s and even though they were on sale, it wasn’t cheap and I already don’t know how the quilts are going to get done in time.  What a looney-tunes I am!

Big hugs,

Jen

Here are the burb cloths

Here are some pics from the Great White North with Bob and Doug McKenzie. Take off eh!