Pot Holders, Pinchers and More

Several weeks ago I was contacted by the publisher of a new sewing book by Chris Malone, Potholders, Pinchers & More, offering a complimentary copy for me to review on my blog.  Last year I participated in a blog tour sponsored by this same group for their book Purses, Bags & More, so I knew that the books they produce are really excellent.  This one is no exception.

The book contains 20 projects that are grouped into eight coordinated sets.  These kitchen helpers are great projects for using up small bits of fabric from your stash, and can be customized to match any decor.

When I review a book, I like to "test drive" one of the projects to see how the instructions function in a real-world setting.  I had a hard time choosing which pot holder I wanted to make.  Then I remembered three pieces of fabric that I bought at a little quilt shop called the Scrappy Apple in Winchester which were nearly identical to the fabrics used for the red flowered pot holder above.  Here's my version.

This little project was super quick to make.  In fact, it's got me thinking about replacing all of the ugly/burned/worn out pot holders currently residing in my kitchen.  These would also make great hostess gifts, especially when coordinated to the recipient's kitchen.  Most of the supplies you will have on hand in your sewing room, with the possible exception of the insulated batting material (Insul-Brite) used inside. 

This book is published by DRG under its House of White Birches brand and can be purchased online from Clotilde.  Having now reviewed two books by this label, I can share with you what appears to be their consistent strengths.  The books are beautiful to look at.  They are full of detailed colored pictures of the projects.  The instructions are well-written and illustrated, and all of the necessary patterns are included.  In a world where clear, concise instruction isn't always easy to find, these books are shining examples of how to do it right.

I really love that chicken oven mitt.  I have a secret penchant for chickens and dream of one day filling a farmhouse kitchen with their image (and my backyard with the real thing).  Until then I think I'll have to find just the right fabric for this one and put it in my hope chest.

Happy Birthday to my sister!

Today is my sister’s birthday and here’s a fabric postcard I made for her a few years ago.  I went through a phase where I couldn’t stop making (and mailing) these cards (here’s another one).  They are the perfect little canvas for creativity.  I bought both volumes of Caroline Reardon’s Postcard Quilts.  These are lovely books with really excellent instructions, full color illustrations and templates plus lots of inspiration to help you create your own unique postcards.  Caroline also explains in detail the steps you need to take to ensure your postcard can be sent through the mail (as is, no envelope).  I’ve had a really great time making these postcards over the years and hope you will try one for yourself.  They make lovely little mini-quilt gifts.   A current Google search did not turn up a reliable source for these books at present though you might find them on Ebay (if any of my readers finds a source please leave a comment with details).  Quilter’s Newsletter has an article referencing Caroline’s work with a template for two Christmas designs.

Happy Birthday, Jane!

Accordion-Fold Photo Albums

Today I am sharing a tutorial (over in my Tutorials section) detailing how to make a small, accordion-fold photo album.  These are really fun to make and the creative possibilities are endless.  I think these make great gifts for just about anyone.   I am going to share some photos of albums I have made as gifts and show you several possibilities for the cover designs.

This is the cover I created for the tutorial album.  The inspiration for this piece came from an article in Fons and Porter’s Love of Quilting magazine, November/December 2007 by Angela R. McIntyre.  Angela created a stunning photo album cover using pieced fabric, embellished with free motion quilting, couched fibers, beads and silk flowers.  Angela has a pattern for this lovely album cover and you can purchase it from her if you want detailed instructions about making your own.  Or use this as inspiration and come up with your own unique, mini-quilt with your own style.

Here are two pictures of albums I made one year as Christmas gifts for family and special friends.  Earlier that year my little family had had a photo shoot done, and I filled these albums with pictures I had printed from that event.  Since I needed multiple covers for this project I created a large quilted and embellished piece and then cut it into the 6” x 8” rectangles I needed.  I waited to add the silk flowers and beads until after the cutting was complete.   These were a big hit (I included a note that said that once the recipient was tired of looking at our pictures they should remove and save them and use the book to house their own pictures).

Another popular gift idea is to make one of these albums for an expectant (or new) mom or grandmother.  These make great little brag books.  They hold about 10 photos and are small enough to carry in most purses. 

In these examples I used a machine embroidery design by Evy Hawkins of A Bit of Stitch and a built-in font to create a baby photo album.  You could easily add the baby’s name or use any number of embroidery designs that would suit the recipient of this gift.

This is an album I made for my husband a number of years ago.  I used rubber stamps to emboss acetate/rayon velvet and used that fabric to cover the front and back covers.  You can find details about embossing velvet, along with all of the supplies, at Hot Potatoes.  The sheer ribbon goes well with the embossed velvet.  My husband fills this album with pictures of our kids and me and takes it with him when he travels.  He can set it up in his hotel room as a little reminder of home.  Do you know someone who travels a lot?   They would probably appreciate an easily-packed gift like this.

Lastly, you don’t have to do anything fancy at all to make a lovely album.  This one is simply a piece of 100% cotton quilting fabric that I used to cover the front (I used a solid black for the back cover).  With the variety of fabrics available you can customize your albums for any possible situation.  Wouldn’t this make a great gift for a graduate or for dad on Father’s Day?  The possibilities are endless.

I hope you will hop on over to my tutorial and take a look.  I think you will have a lot of fun making one or more of these albums for yourself.

Bag of the Week 50

Folded Quilted Tote Bag

Many years ago (before I had kids) I used to attend a sewing retreat with the Richmond Chapter of the American Sewing Guild at Holiday Lake 4H Camp in Appomattox, VA.  Our sewing space was a lovely lakeside cabin with beautiful views.  I met so many nice people at those retreats, and one year I watched as a number of the ladies made this fantastic tote bag.  I went home and made one for my mom out of fabrics I had in my stash.

This bag is terribly difficult to photograph – it has lots of nooks and crannies that are just impossible to show properly.  In the photo above there is a pocket underneath the triangular flap and an identical one on the opposite side of the bag.  In addition, in the center of the bag (between the top folded edges is another pocket.  PLUS I added a zippered pocket on one inside wall.  This bag starts out as a flat square, 31” in this case, which is then folded and stitched into the tote you see.  It is a fun and easy project.  Below are instructions for folding your finished square into the bag.  You can make your square in any method you choose.  My sample is strip-pieced onto a solid fabric foundation (with a thin layer of batting between) and the edges bound.  You can also use whole cloth for both sides and either bind the edges or stitch right sides together and turn. 

1.        Fold square diagonally with right sides together to form a triangle.

2.       Measure along the folded edge, divide this length into thirds and mark.  Beginning at the folded edge, draw a perpendicular line at these points stopping 1 inch from the top of the triangle.  Stitch along these lines, backtacking well at the top.

3.       Turn the side points to the outside of the bag along the stitching line – they will overlap and form a pocket on each side.  Stitch the two layers together where they overlap.

4.       Add a strap by stitching the ends to the inside of the bag, centered over the side seams.  Customize your bag by adding pockets to the inside of the bag before assembling.

Bag of the Week 49

Angel Pail

Back in February of this year I featured a Snowman Pail by Farmyard Creations.  This Angel Pail is another one of their patterns, though I took a lot of liberty with the details.  The outer pail fabric is layered onto batting and the fused appliqué is then stitched with a machine blanket stitch.  French knots are added for the eyes and the cheeks are blushed with powder blusher.   The pattern calls for loops of ribbon for the hair but I chose to wrap jute onto knitting needles (wet with spray starch first) and use the resulting ringlets as the hair, topped with a ribbon bow.  The wings are 3-dimensional and the sign around the angel’s neck was machine embroidered with a favorite saying of mine (the pattern suggests hand embroidering “an angel is someone like you”).   The quilted handle is attached with buttons.

I recently dressed up one of these pails with a paper-wrapped can nestled in some glittery tissue paper designed to hold some holiday goodies.  I also think this would make a great way to corral all of the greeting cards I receive during the holidays.  You can occasionally find these out of print patterns on Ebay.