Custom Orders Available

I have been doing a lot of craft shows lately.  My dilemma in this endeavor is inventory.  I never seem to have enough of anything, except for the handbags.

The iPad covers are great, but not everyone owns an iPad - and now there is the mini.  Of course, none of these are the same size - that would be far too easy!

So, I offer custom ordering!  Then, a customer can get get exactly what they want!  So, please feel free to pop me an email a bisbetica at hotmail  - I don't put a real link here because the spam bots will get me.

Art Quilt

My new sign/logo and my very first "art" quilt.  Not bad...

Inventory

I have been working on inventory for an upcoming craft sale.  It was a very productive day, as you can see.

Along with my purses I have made a while ago, here is the collection of iPad covers and journals, some matching sets.  The sets I am hoping will encourage people to purchase together.  It is a wide variety of fabrics, but I hope it will entice purchases.

I had set up fabric choices to make more, but my health has kept me from sewing as much as I would have liked.

Cross your fingers!

A new technique and friendship

I am absolutely in love with the binding technique!  And it does not require handwork as long as you match the bobbin thread to the back and the top thread to the "piping."  You can learn about it here: http://www.52quilts.com/2012/05/tuesday-tutorial-susies-magic-binding.html

I have to say that I had to send this one out for quilting since I was not in good health.  It came out beautifully.

This piece is from my quilting friends from New Jersey.  They gave it to me after my recent surgery as a get well gift.  Not sure you can see their signatures.  I am so grateful for the support of my friends and family.  It hangs in my sewing room for inspiration.

Another Journal

Here's another journal cover.  I tried to do foundation piecing and wonky it up a bit.  It's hard to see, but I used some decorative stitches on the seams to mimic crazy quilting.  Not sure if it looks like crazy quilting, or if I can't make straight seams, but it was fun.

I am enjoying playing with the different textures of fabrics - leather, silk, cotton, metallic.

More to come.

Another Book Review

Another great book to share with you.  I have a fascination for quilted book, journal, and other covers.  This books gives excellent directions and loads of inspiration to cover all types of things.

Book Review

As I mention in my sidebar, I am a Librarian by trade.  I get the luxury of selecting the books for my library's collection.  so, naturally, my library has an excellent quilting section!

We recently got in an excellent book:  Modern Patchwork: 12 Quilts to take You Beyond the Basics by Elizabeth Hartman


Great modern quilts and excellent advise.  This one got my creative juices flowing.

Trying Some Things Out

I was trying out a few things with this journal cover.  I thought the block was the right size for the front...obviously I was wrong.  My new machine is much more touchy about sewing through the leather than my old, cheapo machines.  But I don't think it is bad looking, and I learned a few things along the way.

The real question is, how much to charge for it?  I usually charge about $15 for my fabric journal covers, but $20 may be too much.

Embellish or Not?

So, I spent the majority of my Sunday choosing and cutting fabric to increase my inventory of iPad covers and journal covers to sell.  I tried this time to think more like the average consumer rather than with my unique aesthetic.  I am not sure I completely succeeded in that, but there are definitely a variety of materials.  Then I ran across my stash of embellishments.  I also ran across some light weight leather and suede.

Now, I could use trims and things to make these items more unique and special...
Or, I could keep them simple and more plain.  Maybe a mix of both?

What would you do?

It has not been a good year to sell handmade items in my area.  I am still willing to give this a chance, but I am cautious.  People say they like what I make, but they don't buy.  Is it the economy?  Is it my taste in materials? 

Quilt Show!

Most of my haul from the Hershey Quilt Show.  I also purchased a hand dyed flannel quilt kit that they will ship to me for free because they had run out.  Gorgeous watercolor inspired blocks with white sashing.

Lots of sample fabrics for a class I am going to take in a few weeks.  It's called The Artful Eye - art quilting.  Looking very forward to that.

On Point Wins!

On point wins!  And I think 2 borders is enough.  The clock fabric is cool, but this baby is big enough.  I do my own quilting, so I need it to be manageable.  74X62 - a big twin.  Not bad.

Now, for backing.  I am thinking either flannel or fleece?  What do you think?  The denim seams are a bit bumpy, so I thought batting plus fleece would make it more comfy.

Dr. Who and Blue Jeans

This is a fun pattern I found and decided that Dr. Who needed to be paired with Blue Jeans scraps.  Original pattern calls for the blocks to be on point, but I am torn.  Which do you think looks better?

I LUV the Dr. Who fabric - too darned cute.






Borders?

Silk

These are the first blocks from a kit I purchased while in Kansas this summer.  I saw a sample of this quilt on the wall there and I literally started to drool, it is just so beautiful.  Purple being my favorite color and silk being just gorgeous.  i will likely name the quilt something appropriate to the visit.  My blogging/husky owning pal, KZK, brought me to this shop, which is her local place.  It was a wonderful shop and the folks there were extremely helpful, allowing me to spend lots of money!

Funky Learnin Quilt

Finally!  I finished this quilt!  I had started it at least a year ago.  Saw the pattern at a quilt show and had a lot of fun piecing it, but when it came to quilting it, I was stumped.  So, I decided that I would just PRACTICE and do whatever I wanted.  I tried a bunch of stuff, didn't care what thread I used, everything.

Gotta love that funky zebra binding, huh?  I put the binding on by machine and totally missed the front seam line - don't care!  It was fun and it is DONE!

Coatesville Table Topper

Finally, I have the Coatesville Table Topper finished - at least the top of it.  Now to layer and quilt. I won't go too crazy on it, but most like do a lot of ditch quilting.  I hope people like it and maybe bid on it if we decide to auction it off at the fundraiser.

More Borders Added

It looks like the right size now.  Not the way I had originally intended it to look, but still pretty good.

Now, how to quilt it.

Card Tricks

Worked on this today.  It's going to be a wedding gift for our friends.  I am pleased with it, but it needs to be bigger - it is only a large twin.  I am going shopping tomorrow for possible choices.

The block is not hard, but you must lay it out and pay attention while you do it.  The points are not perfect, but I think it turned out pretty good.

Coatesville

I work in a place with a lot of interesting history.  A staff member had some fabric designed on Spoonflower with sketches from iconic places in Coatesville.  She gave the fat quarter to me so I could make something with it.

What to make is the question....

Fussy cutting will most likely be involved.

Hmmm....

Travel Iron Tote

I found this cute travel iron caddy pattern: http://www.clotilde.com/detail.html?prod_id=15216

Cute right?  And I happen to have this little iron, which I L_U_V.  So, I think I'll make this cute little caddy for it.

Worst directions ever!  Doesn't even tell you how to fold it so it folds properly.

Just sayin....

The Man Bag

This is the same bag as before, but requested by a male friend of mine, who happens to collect owls.  Corduroy helps make is manly - I hope!

Teacher's Messenger bag

 This bag was a request from my cousin for her daughter, who is a teacher.  I had a really hard time finding teacher themed fabric, but I did find this alphabet fabric.  Also requested were bright primary colors - and boy is it bright!  Then I found this really cute Ric-rac - I couldn't resist.

Quilting was fun too - lots of loops to offset all of the straight lines in a colorful variegated thread.  She wanted her daughter's name on it, but, frankly, I didn't trust my free motion quilting skills quite enough to do her whole name.  So I settled for initials instead.  Can you see them in the picture?  They are there, but subtle and I like the way that looks.  The alphabet fabric would have competed with any other kind of lettering, I think.

I hope she likes it!

Wolf Quilt

Finally got it done and just in time.  The MaPaw Beef & Beer Fundraiser is just 2 weeks away.  I am hoping seeing the quilt in person, verses a picture, will garner higher bids that last year's quilt.  I don't have a godd place to take pictures - can't get back far enough and you cannot see the quilting.  I am pleased with the finished product.

Ironing Board

I decided that I needed a large ironing surface, so off to the hardware store I went to get a nice, pre-cut piece of plywood.  Then off to the craft store for foam, batting and silver iron cover.  Armed with a trusty staple gun, I made my nice, large ironing surface.  It fits nicely on top of my cutting/pressing table and can be put away when guests invade my sewing room.

As you can see, my assistants are not thrilled with the prospect of my using any tools.  Just can't get good help these days.

Karla's Bags

Found this great pattern for what they called a messenger bag.  I made the first one, but it really is a messenger styled purse - too small.  After playing a bit, I found the right measurements and now it has a matching true messenger bag.

Raw edge applique for the monogram - I think it's fun.  Love, love, love the dots.

Now I can feel good about giving this to my friend.

Table Topper

Shiloh inspects my finished table topper.  I absolutely love the rusty Indian print fabric and I am very pleased with the quilting design.  I am not sure you can see it in the photo.  Circles in the center and radiating hexagons in the outer ring.

Messenger Bag

A friend asked for a messenger bag, red & black.  I saw this fabric and thought it was perfect.  I imagined the monogram immediately - raw edge applique.  I love it!  It is smaller than I thought the pattern would end up.  I hope she likes it, but I could easily make a bigger one, if need be.

Wolf Quilt

Finally got the borders and corner stones on this.  Now to baste and quilt.  Have to get this finished by March for the Mapaw Siberian Husky Rescue's Beef & Beer.

Fresh

Someone actually wanted to pay me for a bag!  Happy to oblige.  Love the fresh green and oranges.

My new logo

I think this shall be my new logo.  What do you think?

Happy New Year

I always think of a New Year like an Empty Canvas.  It's an opportunity to start fresh.  I know, it sounds cliche, but I really do get this feeling from the holiday.

I should have made a list...a list of the things I wanted to do after the hub-bub of the holidays were over.  For the life of me, I cannot remember what they are!  Oh, well, something else is sure to come along, or if it was important, it will come back to me.  But this time...I'll remember to make a list.

I received some very cool crafting and quilting books for Christmas and a snazzy new chair for my craft room.  After the great re-organization project, I am now eager to get going on some really juicy projects.  I have a quilt to design and make for a wedding later in the year - never too early to start on that.  And I found this really cool Dr. Who fabric I am just itching to make something out of for one of my friends.  I have a table topper to quilt, and I found a few new small organizer type patterns I'd like to try out.

So, here's to the New Year!  May it bring us all crafty happiness!