Ipad case with pocket

A while back I was watching my nephews for my sister in law. She had brought her new Ipad wrapped in magazines. I said to her you know I could make you a case…

We talked and she asked if it could be big enough to have a pocket to slip paper in to it. So I must say I was happy to see this tutorial  by Valerie for a tablet case appear on Ellison Lane Back To School free pattern series. Thanks ladies! It was perfect for my needs! Well my SILs…

The size was awesome for an outside pocket! The paper fit perfectly! So she can slip her papers in there while meeting with clients in the midst of designing some fabulous architecture piece! She is one talented lady.

I managed to use pieces and strips left over from her Science Fair quilt that I made for her and her husband for all the design and help they put into our house. The lining is a mix of random fabrics.

 

This is a great pattern. It took longer because of the piecing but it was totally worth it! If you are looking for a bigger pouch this is a nice sew!

linking to finish up friday over at crazy mom quilts

Winner and WIP

Thanks for all the sweet comments! Mr. Random picked  RobotMomSews! Congrats!

Plus I have to announce I have finally started a big quilt again. It feels nice to have a quilt in progress. I am finally making my brothers quilt! I am using the LRstitched quilt along pattern she did last February called Orbit. So far it is coming together quickly and I should have it done with plenty of time to spare before my brothers birthday! (I am also making this as a thank-you for tiling part of my house and soon to be kitchen back splash… Love him!)

Now to find the time to press and square those HSTs!

Thank-you and giveaway :)

I just wanted to say thank-you to everyone who reads and comments on my blog new and old because this past year has been really tough. Last September I lost my Grandma suddenly. Plus in the following months my uncle had a major brain aneurysm forever changing his life, my mom broke her hip, Miss L broke her arm and lastly my Dad going missing by trying to kill himself in a  motorcycle accident, UGH. It has taken a lot out of me. I haven’t really said anything much on here but if you look at the amount of projects I made this year compared to others you could say that I drowned my sorrows and worries into fabrics. Creating and learning new things. Your comments encouraged me and helped me. You put a smile on my face when I just felt like crying. I never thought that I would make blog/sewing friends but over the past year I have! Near and faraway. I have to give a shout out to the sweet quilting/sewing community on IG too!

Back to my Grandma. Throughout my life my grandma taught me so many things. I remember her just sitting and showing me how to carefully shade with pencil crayons. I remember her trying to teach me how to cross stitch. I remember making tons of cookies with her. Laughing, crying, just being me, I could go on… lol. I have so many things that are part of me because of her and I miss her dearly!

I often made her things as gifts growing up. My last handmade gift that I made for her was after she had passed. While we were going through her things I came across a hankie carefully folded in a jewelry box. It must have been special but no one really knew why. It was suggested that I embroider her initial on this hankie to put in her hands in the casket. I was hesitant. Emotionally raw but during the few days prior to her funeral I did it. I used her colors. I felt her love. I later slipped it into her hand, that was hard.

Here is what I stitched for her on her hankie. I am finally able to write about it and share it with you!

I am grateful for all the little things that remind me of her. My oldest daughter is named after her too. (Well her middle name that is.) I have a home video of her holding Miss L and saying how proud she was that her first great grand daughter was named after her. It is precious to me. Look how little Miss L was, four and a half years passed by really quickly! Sorry for being sappy but it has to happen once and a while. I think that my Grandma would be proud of me and all that I do. Well I know it. I am forever blessed that she is my Grandma!

If you are still around I would love to offer up some goodies as part of this thank-you. I have four fat quarters of some Waterfront prints. All you have to do is make a comment telling me how you follow my blog or if you are a follower of mine from IG that is cool too, just let me know! (If you are a non reply blogger please leave your email address!)

I will close this giveaway by Wednesday the 25th . Thanks again for all the love and support!

*****Giveaway is now closed! Thanks for all your sweet comments!*****

Mermaid dolls

A while back Miss L asked me to make her doll pajamas so that day we set off to do so. I mentioned to her that she is lucky that her Mom knows how to sew because not all Moms do. She responded with “Why?” I tried to explain it to her that some people know how to do things others don’t. Sewing seems to be just part of her. She always is digging in my scraps trying to come up with something to make.

Anyhow this past week I went to my first Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild meet with my new sewing buddy Christina! It was awesome. I had been on a search locally for the Summer 2013 addition of Stitch and the lovely Michelle brought her copy to the meet to lend it to me. So nice! The next day Miss L was going through it and feel deeply in love with the mermaid doll.

For the next few days I was asked “are we making my mermaid doll yet?” I finally gave in yesterday morning. We printed out the pattern and picked out fabric. We of course needed to make two!

I made these mermaids between yesterday and this morning. They are very pleased!

One of the reasons I sew is to make these two happy! I love being able to create for them and  teach them. Of course sewing makes me happy too!

Linking to Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts

September is Craft Book Month

I have to say I haven’t made a ton from my quilting/craft books but recently I was ask to help make quilts for a local hospital so I took this chance to make the  “Little Man” quilt from Camille Roskelley’s book Simplify. It had been on my list to try for quite some time.

This was such a quick and simple quilt to put together. A great size too! I used flannel for the blocks which was a little bit of a pain, it kind of stretches a bit. I would for sure make this quilt again.

I decided to use Amanda’s tutorial on machine binding the quilt. I was pleasantly surprised on how smoothly it went. My last attempt of machine stitching binding down was not this smooth.

Linking to September is Craft Book Month at Craftbuds.com

Flying Geese for Laura!

Secret project finally revealed!!! It is so hard to keep a secret…

My brain went crazy trying to figure out in what direction I was going for Laura’s sewing machine cover. I changed my mind a few times and then dove in! I decided to make some flying geese. I hadn’t made them before so I went with the paper foundation technique to make sure there were perfect points!

I first made these strip pieces pulling as many fabrics I had that were favorites. Some Denyse Schmidt, Lizzy House, Anna Maria Horner, Joel Dewberry (Okay maybe that is one of mine) Architextures, and more.

I then printed out this template to make the front or back well one side of the cover. I paired it with Robert Kaufman Linen in Putty. It took some time to do but was totally worth the effort! If you have this on your list you should try this pattern out. I think it would be awesome as a pillow!

I decided make a box on the other side. I printed out this template but shrunk it down some. This was a little trickier than I had expected but it is so good to learn new things. I also decided to not do all the geese in the strips but add one in each direction.

(pardon the bubbly bottoms my machine is a little short…)

The little left overs became a border. I ordered a new Denyse Schmidt Florence print for the binding. I wanted to go with something a little darker. I even snuck in a fussy cut from Memoirs of  “little” since Laura’s blog is called little and lots.  I thought it was kinda perfect!

Thank you so much for swapping with me Laura, it was so lovely making something for such a talented lady! I hope this makes your “sewing space” a little happier.

Super Tote

I decided to sew a little something for me this past week/weekend. I pulled out my Echino Cherry birds in Green to finally make my Super Tote! Another awesome pattern by Anna over at Noodlehead. This fabric has been sitting patiently waiting to be sewn.

I paired it with some Robert Kaufman Dyed Linen in Flax for the handles and gusset. Tarika in Moss from Dena Designs Taza line for the lining. A Dandelion Habitat print by Benartex for the inside pockets.

I added a layer of scrap batting in the handles to add some padding if it gets heavy. (I didn’t have fusible fleece.)

I decided to be brave and try sewing in a recessed zipper on the back panel. I used the instructions from a different tote pattern as a reference. It went together a lot smoother than I had expected. I think that this pocket will be super handy for my cell phone.

Another suggestion given to me by Stephanie was to put something on the bag to keep your keys from being buried. I decided to put a little d-ring on a loop. (I will just have to add a little clip to my key fob.)

Lastly you can see that I fully lined my outside pocket. I like the amount of structure it adds! Since I was fully lining it I decided to use Krista’s cheater piping method. Basically you cut your lining piece a 1/2 inch longer than the outside. You then cut your interfacing a 1/4 inch longer than the outside piece. Next you sew your lining and outside together at the top then fuse the interfacing on the outside piece matching at the bottom then fold over your lining matching the bottoms together and ta da! Make sense?!

Anyways I am in LOVE with this tote and am happy that I finally have a handmade bag! Next somehow my sister has convinced me to make one for her, lol. She just starting going to school for 3D animation and needs a big bag to tote about.

Linking to Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story and Sew Cute Tuesday at Better off Thread