time to zip it up....

You may have noticed the Triple Zip Along happening around blogland awhile ago.  Well, I made one too {whoo hoo!} and snuck it into the flicker group just in the nick of time.  I've been running all around with it because I love it so, but somehow I neglected to show all of you here.  I think it is about time I made my little zip pouch respectable and blogged about it, don't you?

 



Even though my zippers are boring white, I kind of like them  {i had to shop local, and we have poor color selection}

AMH Innocent Crush, inside & out :)  Oh, and I found the perfect lilac thread for top stitching in my thread bin!  little things like that make me so happy :)

Hmmmm, looks like my pouch is getting a little sassy and showing off her backside ;)

PS - next Friday is my turn to host TGIFF.  meet me back here with some finishes, ok? :)
I'm linking up to Submarine Sunday!, Show and Tell Tuesday  & Fabric Tuesday

some improve curves

I'm working on a project from the second week of Curves Class involving improv curves.  The top is done, and I just need to baste, FMQ, and bind.

I used a sharm pack of Salt Air by Moda, and I love how the improv curves mimic ocean waves and extend the theme of the fabric! :)



I pulled these AMH Innocent Crush fabrics out of my stash for the Triple Zip Along!  Yesterday I cut them up, and hopefully today I will sew it all together!

Hopefully I will be able to get a bit of sewing time this week to turn these WIPs into finishes!

What sewing did you do this weekend?
i'm linking up to Design Wall Monday over at Patchwork Times!

I've Conquered the Invisible Zipper!

Or has it conquered me?  It's hard to tell, haha! 

Last fall I cut out pieces to sew a skirt from fabric I bought a loooong time ago.  I had a ridiculously frustrating time doing that much , so the pieces have just sat around {until this weekend}

So, last week I came across this: 

and decided to finish my skirt and wear it to church on Sunday.  Even though I hadn't even looked at it for months.  And I wasn't sure where the pattern was.  But hey, why let the little details get in the way, right?

I bet you want to see that zipper :)

Ick, sorry for the crummy photo.  It looked better on my camera, honest :)

Can you see the line of stitches to the left of the zipper?  there isn't one on the right, and this is why - the directions said to handstitch the lining to the zipper.  It took me an hour to stitch one side.  Ok, I was a little distracted by the tv, but still.   I decided I could live with some top stitching showing on the other side.  Who is really going to see it, anyway?  the zipper goes over my butt, and there just aren't too many people who have any business looking that closely at my butt  :) 

interesting facts in no particular order:

- I used this awesome chocolate brown shiny stuff for the lining but didn't think to get a picture of it. no idea what it is, but it's shiny & pretty & feels so nice!

- I have no idea what the exterior fabric is, either.  I half expect this skirt won't survive the washing machine, since I'm not even certain this fabric is washable.  But it feels incredible! hehe 

- this is the first piece of clothing I've made for myself!

- I started sewing late Saturday afternoon. 

- lesson learned from this project:  when it is late Saturday afternoon and you are faced with the choice of either washing laundry or sewing new clothes (which you've never done before) if you don't want to go to church in your pj's, you probably should wash laundry.  Or go in your pj's.  Especially if you have a thing against sewing hems on Sunday mornings while getting the kids ready to leave.

- pattern is Barcelona Skirts by Amy Butler

And I finished just in time to slip it on & head out the door Sunday morning! 

P.S. - I'm back from my blogging break! hehehe  Actually, I've been lurking around.  Turns out it is hard to quit blogging cold turkey :)

Edited to add: I'm linking up to TNT Thursdays!  new things tried - sewing clothing, & an invisible zipper!
I'm also linking to Whoop Whoop Fridays & TGIFF!

a little R & R

I went on quilt retreat!!! Yay!!!
Look, here is my machine on vacation:

Doesn't she look relaxed?  {grin}

I went for four days, along with the Fabulous Leslie, whom I hitched a ride up with.  My Mom and two of my Aunts stayed the whole week {I'm sooo jealous}

While I was on retreat, my hubby was in San Diego, so the kiddos bounced around relatives :)  They couldn't have been happier.  In fact, they had a countdown started six weeks ahead of time ("Mom, are you leaving yet?") and they are already trying to send me back {no arguements from me :) }

It was crazyness getting the family ready to head in so many directions, and it wasn't until the last minute I even thought to wonder if we had enough bags to send five people in three directions at once (nope).  Guess who lost out in the bag-grab-fest?  Not to worry though, I found a pattern for the perfect travel bag while I was away.  Next year, I'll be traveling in style :)

I may have arrived with the fingernails of my left hand painted and my right hand bare, (crazyness I tell you) but I had a wonderful time.  Food to die for, pastries and desserts you wouldn't believe, and a steady flow of hot coffee (helpful when stitching 'til 1am). Yum.  (best part - someone else to wash dishes!) I don't think I ate for two days after I got home :) 

Here is something I made while I was away (I didn't just eat):

My second go at a zippered pouch went much better, now that I have a zipper foot.

I'll show you more later :) ta-ta for now

Easter sewing

Look what bloomed while I was out to Easter lunch Sunday :)

What do you cook for your in-laws, or company in general?  I have a habit of cooking something new, something I've never tried before.  Sometimes it is a total flop. But even when it isn't, an unfamiliar recipe under pressure can be stressful, you know?  I usually kick myself a dozen times over and vow not to put myself through that again.  And then I do.  I suppose the reason I search out new foods for special occasions is that our usual fare is rather dull.  I have better odds of getting dinner into the kids if it is simple food.  :)

Well, this weekend I did kind of the same thing, but in front of my sewing machine instead of the stovetop.  You see, I decided to bring a hostess gift for my Sister-in-law to Easter lunch.  Instead of flowers, I decided to sew her a little zippered pouch. 

I'd never sewn one before,  or any zipper at all.  I bought the fabric and zipper Saturday afternoon and spent Sunday morning sewing.  This is what I came up with:

It turned out fairly well I think, although I had my doubts for a little bit.  See, the directions called for a zipper foot, but somehow mine is missing.  I can't think what could have happened to it, I've never even used it.  So I made do with my walking foot, but the zipper pull knocked everything out of kilter when I had to stitch beside it.

I had a teensy bit of trouble when I didn't follow directions, and used too small a seam allowance.  Oops.

The corners on either side of the zipper are a bit odd.  There were openings on both sides of the zipper, because of the wrong seam allowance, that I had to hand stitch closed.  Oh, well, my sister-in-law liked it, and I'm planning to give it another go when I locate my zipper foot.  And I'll follow directions this time :)  If you're interested, I used a tutorial from Kelbysews.  And just to be clear, all problems I had were my own creation, the tutorial was great.

I love this picture :)
As for Easter lunch, I decided to ask the kids what they wanted me to bring - corn on the cob and ants on a log.  Nice and simple.  :)