The Cloche

Amy Butler fabric, but can't remember which collection.

My friend Nancy sent me a blog that had a pretty cloche hat with a link to the free pdf pattern (on another blog, written in German) which I duly saved and made today.  Voila!  So, why is it posing as a lampshade instead of a hat?  Because it's too big for my head.  I asked Sabryin (the King of big heads) to try it on and he pronounced it "Too Big," as well.  You ask "Why didn't you try it on before you finished it?"  and I reply "The story of my life."  Now, I'm not going to remake it because I can easily wear it with the brim turned up on my forehead (the only problem with this solution is that you get to see more of my face).  I will, however, alter the pattern pieces so they aren't so generous.  I think my problem from the get-go was sewing 3/8" seams instead of 1/2". 

Happy Easter!

P.S.  That quilt on the wall behind the hat was made on the day of the big California earthquake back in '94. 

Key West Quilt

This is where I am with the formerly-known-as-Beach-Grass quilt, currently renamed the Key West Quilt.  In reality, I was going to copy the FKABGQ but realized that the instructions called for creating some blocks with on-the-bias sides and that didn't make any sense to me.  So I designed an entirely different process and, therefore, I can call it whatever I like.  Key West is what I like.

I find creating these blocks is addictive.  I've used only 1/10th of the fabrics I've chosen so far, but I am very pleased. 

If I think of it tomorrow, I will take photos of some of the thread-saver blocks I am finishing while making the Key West top.

We are currently riding out Day Two of spring severe storms featuring lots of rain, some hail, flooding, tornado watches.  Hope you are safe and dry!  xxoo

"Under the Gunn" (Shoot Me)

I was a late-comer to the Project Runway phenom, but I've made up for it by watching all the seasons on Lifetime or Netflix.  I've even watched all the Project Runway All Stars seasons.  I was so excited that Tim was going to continue with something similar!  Well, I watch it faithfully, but I will say I am pretty much bored by it at this point. 

The only thing remotely interesting to me is Tim himself.  The judges suck, the contestants are horribly uncreative and mundane, the mentors are unlikeable and distant and the whole thing is just not begging for another season, IMO.  I mean, Shan won last night's challenge by making what I would consider to be a pillow case dress with a long train . . . slapped together in one hour and made of the most horrendous GIANT POLKA DOT fabric I've ever seen.  Oscar doesn't win because his gorgeously crafted piece (which was totally inspiring from the color to the draping) was "too old."  And Asha's dress looked like lettuce in bondage -- UGH.  They are all so awful, I don't care who wins.  Oscar is the only one with a personality; at least he is happy week after week and always has an idea and always chooses the right fabric and makes beautiful things.

I don't dig the LA vibe, either.  Maybe that's why the show isn't edgy enough for me.  I like a little "Fierce"ness; I like the NY streetscapes.  It's busy, it's business; LA is like . . . vacation. 

So, whaddya think? 

Holy Kay Rap, is it March Already?

Remember this little one, an off-shoot of the Kitty quilt from last month?  Ta Da!  It's all quilted and everything and I just need to sew on the binding.  I love this one, although it is only 15-3/8" square. 

It's sitting on top of a selection of fabrics that I am going to use for a new quilt inspired by the colors of Key West and the Florida Gulf.  It is a simple string quilt and I hope it will be beautiful.  I was forced to supplement my light greens because I just didn't have many of them and those that I did have were blooming with lots of pink roses!  That seemed to be the case with the blues, as well:  bunches of pink flowers.  I don't want this to read pink.  Ninety percent of these were in my stash . . . a lot of Amy Butler and  few Heather Bailey fat eighths.  I'm looking forward to working on this one and will provide status reports every once in a while.

It felt a little like Spring today!  But that reminds me we are only getting closer to the Ides of April. 

xxoo

No Kill Shelter Quilt

I finished it yesterday, but I'm about to go off and have surgery so I'm afraid it won't be in the auction tomorrow.  Completion was delayed because I developed skin splits in my fingers -- something that happens often in the winter time, which I blame on antibacterial soaps and detergents -- and I had to wait for the splits to heal (cocoa butter and bandaids).  The quilting was all that had to be done and I tried free-hand (not freemotion) and loved it.  This is 44 x 44 and is cotton 1800s repro fabrics with warm & natural batting.  The gold block is in honor of Ginger Jasper, who crossed the Bridge last year, and the brown and carmel calico on the lower left is in honor of Sweet Praline, who left two years ago.

Detail of the free-hand quilting, which I think is fairly expressive.

Photo of the back-lit backing.  Kitty ghosts! 

What would you bid?

Spay-ghetti Auction Quilt

 Making progress with the calico kitty quilt for the Spay-ghetti Dinner auction.  All the blocks are done and now I have to create a setting and decide on borders and backing to complete the top.  If I work on this diligently through the rest of the week, I could probably finish it by the weekend. 

1800's reproduction fabrics, for the most part. 

I can never toss the little triangles that are left over from any of my projects, so I made half-square triangles and added a square to create a flying geese mini-block.  These are so cute!  I will sew them together, put on a border and make a doll quilt from these.  Doing this also helped me to come up with the final arrangement of colors.  A lot easier than schlepping big blocks around on the floor!

Having fun!  I'll be adding a few patterns to the etsy shop this week, too.  xxxoo

Ice, Ice Baby!

It's beautiful if you don't have to go anywhere on foot or en vehicle. The birds are quite confused.  Good day to stay inside, sew on charity blocks and search for saddle-yoked blouse patterns for your friend Nancy!  I was able to find five, but two are actually "faux" saddle-yoked.  I am posting the photos here for Nancy's convenience so she can see what I have, if she's interested.  Hope everyone else enjoys this little pattern fashion show.

This is a faux saddle yoke.I made so many versions of this to wear with skirt suits; it was a real favorite!

Bodice and back pleats!

Favorite camp shirt fits like a dream.

This is a faux saddle yoke -- particularly original.  In the right print, the collar is not as obtrusive as in the photo.

So this is what I have.  Most are from the 70's; the Valentino might be earlier, but not sure.  I am not willing to part with the Willi Smith or Valentino patterns, but they are already cut so we can work something out in private. 

Okay, so back to the Calico Kitty quilt blocks.  Only four to go!!  Stay warm and safe everyone!  xxoo

Bears Paw Done

Bhu's still got his eye on the thread spool but you can see it is all for naught:  it's DONE.  The only thing that caused a delay was the fact that the skin on my fingers is shredding and splitting open.  It hurts!  I blame it on the combination of antibacterial soaps, cold medicine, and dry heat from the furnace.  So, now that it's done, what do I do with it?

Yesterday I started making a Kalico Kitty quilt for the silent auction at the Spay-ghetti dinner the local spay and neuter organization is having.  It's in a month and I plan on having the top done by Friday.  We shall see. 

xxoo Patty

So Much To Do, Part II

Remember this?  Well, I knew this wouldn't take long to make and I was right.  I finished the top yesterday in a couple of hours.  It took much longer than usual because I dawdled.  And because I decided to expand my fabric choices to include more than just those scraps in my one go-to freezer bag of 1800's repros.  That meant taking down plastic bins and moving them around, so I probably spent thirty minutes just moving stuff around . . . searching, searching, searching for just the right 2-1/2" square scrap!  I am so OCD.  Really, I had to remind myself this was an EXERCISE, not an exam!  So here is what I came up with:

I like it.  I decided to arrange it en pointe, as you can see.  I found the corner fabric in my stash (I have way too much fabric, friends) and there's plenty for the backing.  Actually, I think I have about five yards of the stuff.  For some reason it is reading grey and blue, but it is actually more of a khaki and blue; a nice, substantial cotton of unknown vintage.

The reason it isn't quilted and 100% finished yet is because I didn't think I liked the corner fabric and I was about to pull out all the stitches and try another fabric, but decided to take a photo first thinking I might ask for opinions.  My Color Muse (Sabryin) was off doing some sort of errand, otherwise I would have left it up to him.  He has one fantastic eye for color.  Anyway, as soon as I saw it on the preview screen, I changed my mind about changing my mind.  It's a keeper.  So, I will now start on the quilting.

What do you think?

One Down!

So, here it is!  I still have a lot of hanging threads to clip, but it is all done, quilted and bound.  This is not an heirloom or a masterpiece, but it is now a practical item that can be used for warmth as opposed to a bag of blocks that can be used for annoying the dipstick out of me. 

The background fabric and the binding are both VIP prints from the 80's or 90's (or both).  Do they still make VIP prints? 

It's 36 x 36 (give or take) and comes from a cat-managed home.  Loving it!  xxoo

brrrrrrr

Most of you are experiencing one form or another of The Big Chill and so am I.  I don't want to think about it.  I am in denial.  So in order to avoid thinking about it I have been trying to keep myself busy all day with tasks.  First, I crocheted a dice bag for Sabryin . . . just scrap yarn that's been hanging around the house since the last time we had this kind of weather.  Second, I darned a pair of Sabryin's socks (80's vintage and handknitted by someone in South America).  Third, I was shuffling through photos on my jump drive and found this UFO:

Seven blocks made using xmas fabrics.  So I went down into the cold, cold sewing room and found these and decided to get to work.  My dilemma:  I need nine blocks to make a small quilt.  Eureka!  Found one 9" block and added borders to it to get a 12-1/2" block.  Found two 6-1/2" blocks and two 4" blocks and added borders and sewed them together to make one 12-1/2" block.  I took an old mattress pad and cut it up to use for the batting because I decided to do a quilt-as-you-go process on this one.  By the end of the afternoon (and well after the snow stopped), I have quilted three of them.  Then I came up and made meatballs for dinner (with pasta and sauce, of course).

Tune in tomorrow to see if I've made any progress.  xxoo

So much to do

And so little motivation!!  For the past few months I have not had any interest in quilting.  Usually I love to make little quilts from the scraps and leftovers of my sewing projects, but this year it just hasn't captured my interest. 

My friend Nancy forwarded a blog post to me that featured this cute little bear's paw "quilt" and lots of other really cute, small FAST projects -- one a month.  So I decided to follow along (at least this month) and see if that will jump start my quilting habit again.  Otherwise I just do not know what I will do with all my fabric!  (Yeah, right!)

The blog is written by a professional quilt book writer and you can find it here if you are in the same quandry as I.   Of course, all the little projects will be from her books and I am not endorsing any of the stuff that she sells.  I will not be buying anything because I can draft my own patterns and I have a ton of fabric, mercibeaucoup.   She's lovely to let us come along for the ride, though and her blog is full of cute projects!

As 2014 gets off to a start, I am going to be paying more attention to myself and being less judgmental about being lazy or whimsical.  Hope you all have a happy, safe and healthy year!  xxoo
 

Shocking

Today is the 40th anniversary of the death of Elsa Schiaparelli, sometimes called a genius and mostly known as an artist among fashion designers.  Her work continues to inspire designers today and, in some cases, results in outright copying (skeleton dress, for instance).  She was a pioneering genius at branding, endorsing any number of products, fashion- and non-fashion related.   And though her garments were innovative -- from the fabrics to the styling -- her accessories were the height of creativity.

However, her greatest design might have been the life she led, which was extraordinary.  It is encouraging to think of all she was able to accomplish while a single mom during a world war.  I love her message (which is Be Yourself, Be Bold or any translation/interpretation thereof).

I hope today you will spend a little time investigating her work and perhaps checking out her book "Shocking Life," written in 1954.    xxoo

All Saints Eve Listings

I have many new vintage patterns to list and these are a few that are now in the shop.  Lots of hooded jackets and garments for winter wear.  I'm really like the Marlo Thomas pattern McCall's 4904.  Note the very different attitudes of the 70s and 80s Raggedy doll patterns!  More coming in the next few days!

Also check out my table toppers and doll quilts.  I can take on a few custom orders in the next few months for baby quilts or table toppers, so send me a message or leave a comment.  xxoo

Hot August on etsy!

As summer grew, it got hotter and steamier and drier!!  Perfect weather for listing items in the etsy shop:  some vintage stuffed toy patterns, a wish book/journal and embroidered kitteh kit.  Hope you'll visit soon!

Lingering UFOs

Am I wrong?  We all have them.  Here are just a few and I'm looking for inspiration to finally finish them.  I thought if I post them here, the shame-factor might kick in.  I will confess, I already made one of these into a quilt -- no shame required.  So, let's open up this stuff and see what we got.  (Click on the photos to get a closer look, if you like.)

I'm not sure if this is the oldest, but some of the fabrics are 60's.  It includes a lot of scraps from clothing projects:  that red and white paisley is from an empire waist peasant dress; the tan swirly design came from a jumper; the brown and red floral was a blouse.  I think the bright blue scraps came from a friend's left-overs.  There is also some early 70's fabric in this -- the prominent red, for sure.   As you can see, I tried paper piecing and it would be very easy to date this; looks like pages from a magazine.

Here's a closer look at this piecing technique.  First, baste the diamonds to the paper piece and then sew them together with a blanket stitch.  All by hand.  I'm sure I did this sewing during the 70's, because I'm having flashbacks of watching Little House On the Prairie!  

This is a small top -- let's say cot size -- so it would take very little to finish it.  Thing is, I can't bring myself to pull out the papers!  I think that's why I never finished it.  I have that tendency . . . to leave things as they are and to see the beauty in that.  I swear, if I had the room I would hang it from the ceiling in its current condition.

So, help me here.  Should I "destroy" it and make it into a quilt or put it back in the bag and bequeath it to one of my nieces or nephews?

P.S.  If you ARE a niece or nephew of mine and would like this, just say the word.

xxoo

Sew Sew Summer

One of the things that was blocking my sewing progress this spring/summer was the enormity of the quilting required for the nine-patch.  You know, when I was basting the sandwich, I ran out of pins it is so big.  Well, I just have that one little table and the brave, heroic Pfaff -- no fancy, schmancy long-arm or recessed Koala furniture like so many stay-at-home crafters have.  My plan for it was just cross-hatch quilting -- no fancy, schmancy feathers everywhere.  My friend Nancy LOVES feathers, but I have become a little annoyed by the elaborate quilting done by long-armers.  Seriously, to have a top quilted professionally anymore, you pay $200 or more.  How much is that per feather?  So, this was the daunting scene Thursday:

At this point, I had just started and had three hatches done.  Half of that mound on the left was on the floor and I just could not imagine how I would get all of that into that tiny space to the right of the needle!

But I did and I finished it this morning.  Still have to do the cross hatching, but now that I have no fear it should be a breeze.  While I was working away diligently on this, I realized that one of my inspirations is Shane, who blogs on Recycled Quilt.  He is one prolific quilter.  I really have never seen anything like it -- he starts one and before you can say "Take a break, dude," it's done -- quilted and everything!  And even more admirably he does it without a lot of fancy, schmancy equipment and very little space.  Thank you, Shane!

xxoo Patty

Bravery at a very odd age

Every time I have to give up a sliver of my anonymity, I freak out.  So I was being extra brave when I actually entered an Arts & Crafts Show at the University where I work.  Although I have a milliion quilts (okay, less than 300 but it seems like a million), I decided to focus and feature the dolls I have been making.

I think these are "comfort dolls."  I did not plan to make dolls; they were just born of my imagination and after each one was created I felt I needed to make a quilt for each.  As I was creating the display (totally an extemporaneous event), I realized what a treasure these would be to give to a friend who might be dealing with an illness or grieving over an ended relationship. 

Each "set" consists of the doll, the quilt, a journal and a ditty bag.  The quilt underneath is one of my favorites and I'm so glad I got to use it for this purpose.  I think this whole display is rather cheerful and I'm very happy with it, even though it didn't attract very many visitors.  Let me know what you think!

xxoo

Amish Doll Quilt, etc.

This Amish-style doll quilt was made back in the late 70's on an old Singer Stylist sewing machine.  It's almost 40 years old and I'm not sure if it qualifies as an "antique," but since I listed on etsy it has been "favorited" by at least a dozen people and added to a Treasure List.  It's only $12.  Do you think if I prepared kits to make these they would sell?

This morning I finished another doll quilt I'm calling "Falling Leaves."  No photo yet because I am copyrighting the design and preparing a pdf pattern to sell in the shop.  Let's see if I can actually DO this!  It is a really cool, fast and easy pattern from which you can make "seasonal" wallhangings or doll quilts or table runners by switching out the fabric choices.  The first quilt I made is called "Easter Egg Hunt" and I designed a winter-themed piece called "Ice and Snow" for winter.  Next up is a piece I am calling "Wildflower Field." 

Tuesday I am going to participate in my first Arts & Crafts show.  I'm really nervous, but I don't know why.  It's not a sale, but there is always someone who wants to know "How much?"  Also, I'm worried about theft.  If any of you have any insights or advice about this, leave a comment.  I will be forever grateful!! 

Back to the drawing board!  xxoo

UPDATE:  This little quilt was finally "favorited" permanently and flew to its new home up North!

Sew Patty

Some of you might have noticed that I did not make one Ditty Bag in March and haven't made one yet in April.  So I decided to change the name of this blog to Sew Sew Patty.  I'll be sharing photos of stuff I'm making or have made and things that will be featured in the etsy shop Pattyskypants Sew Thrifty.

My workroom is in the basement and this is just one corner of it.  You can see some of the fabrics are organized by color and I have plastic containers for specific designers, but for the most part it is total chaos.  By the way, that bright green thing with orange piping is a vintage apron from the 50s. I bought it at a yard sale in '78.  I noticed a few years ago that someone decided to "copyright" it and sell the pattern. 

That blue basket block hanging over the chair is now quilted, bound and for sale in the etsy shop.  Oh, and those blocks on the chair?  There are 80 of them and most of them have now been made into sampler quilts. 

TTYL!  xxoo

Ditty Bag 02/26/2013

I'm lovin' today's Ditty Bag.  While I was making it, I thought I'd like to put a certain someone's Chocolate Easter Bunny in it!  The fabric on bottom is another trade from the 90's with everything else being of recent vintage.  I love stripes and I love flowers!  Last night we had a mighty nasty snow storm with very wet snow that weighed down all the branches.  Had to go out and help the roses and redbuds lose some of the weight by tapping on the branches and the trunks.  The Sweet Gum out front lost a branch in the driveway, though.

xxoo
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pattyskypants

Ditty Bag 02/25/2013

This one is late because I had a very full day.  We're getting another ice/snow storm and everything will be closed down tomorrow, so I went to the grocery store and got some stuff and then went to work early.  Got home and made meat loaf for dinner and by the time I got into the sewing room, it was already after 7 p.m.



I'm not too happy with the grossgrain ribbon ties, so I will probably change those out for something else.  What I love about this one is the squirrels, owls, foxes, frogs and rabbits in the blue print.  It's another one of those prints that I don't remember who sent it to me, but I love it.  The gingham is vintage from the 60's and the pink print is a modern Chez Moi offering.  This one has a drawstring top that is elevated from the rest of the bag.  I used some sulky decorative thread on parts of this.  Measures 9" x 11-1/2". 



Ditty Bag 02/24/2013

This one was created this morning -- a sunny, warmish winter day on which I can almost hear the snow melting.  I saw a squirrel digging down into the snow looking for his nut stash.  Actually, I first spied only his tail; the snow is still about 10" deep.  I think because of all the snow, I'm attracted to the spring and summery prints in my stash.  This one is  another print that was traded to me back in the 90's and features ties made of a vintage VIP print, with casings and trim made from a 21st century 30's repro. 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pattyskypants

Ditty Bag 2/23/2013 -- Day One

Ditty Bag of the Day

Today I decided that I would make a ditty bag every day for an indefinite period of time.

Why #1:  Because I love to sew and I have a huge fabric stash and I enjoy combining fabrics that weren’t made to “coordinate.”

Why #2:  Because I have peripheral neuropathy that has eaten away my ability to dance (although I can still walk with difficulty) and is now whittling away at my dexterity.  After it finishes with my hands, it will go for my eyes, but I hope that is several years in the future.  I really love color!

So I want to make as many of these as I can in the time I’ve got!

Each one is made of cotton fabric sewed by me on my home sewing machine.

Each day I choose a base fabric and then add fabrics for the various components.

No two ditty bags are alike and each one has the date on which it was made written somewhere inside.

They can be machine washed and dried.

Each will be listed in my etsy shop:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/pattyskypants

Today’s Ditty Bag:  02/23/2013

This bag measures 12-1/4" x 14-1/2" and features double drawstrings.  The top fabric is a VIP print circa 1990 – aqua bunnies on a white background.  The bottom fabric is a yellow, green and blue floral that was traded to me sometime in the ‘90s, so I don’t have any information about who made it.  The casings and drawstrings are made of 30’s repro fabrics from the 90s.  This one is very cheerful, reminding me that spring is very, very close!  Bunnies, daisies and tulips will be here soon!