Local Fun

     Since graduating in May (Yay!) I've been working on some projects for a local kids' clothing store, Papoose.  It is incredibly cute (and one of L's favorite places to go downtown).  Cate, the owner of Papoose, has created a space where kiddos can play, mommas can shop, and the local crafty can sell their wares.

She carries a super cute boutique clothing line called Tea Collection.  This is my favorite dress that L has gotten from her so far.

   
     Some of the items I've made I've created just for her.  She asked for some locally made shorts so I whipped up these beauties:

She is calling them "shorties".  They are like little board shorts.  I had a very unwilling model, but I needed a baseline to work on my pattern so I had to bribe a little.  But we got them done.

L in her size 4's.

L in her new bribe headscarf.

Cate also asked for some floor cushions.  I have made several for the store from an altered Moda BakeShoppe Pattern, and even did a little class last summer.  She asked for a boy, girl, and unisex cushion.

     One of the best parts about Papoose, is that there is Tipsy Star Fabric all over the place!  Cate has bought fabrics from us, and encourages a lot of her makers to do so as well. 

      I've continued to work on my cushions and have listed them on our etsy page. 

 If you would like to make your own, you can find the original tutorial here.  Instead of jelly roll pieces, I used fat quarters cut in half, but otherwise you can follow the tutorial.  Fun and easy and a quick project when you swap in the fat quarters.  After you've made a few, you can start altering it to make different types of cushions.

Busy

We've been busy at the store.  We've been working on several custom quilts as well as lots of quilting project.  Mom has been a binding fool and I've been quilting up a storm.  Starting last weekend here's my week of quilting.

I worked on one of my quilts last weekend.  I cut out most of the pieces and my Nan put it together for me.  Its a crazy one.

Next I did a stipple quilt for Ashley.  She did a simple but fun pattern "Cheddar No Crackers" with some of our bright modern fabrics.  The interesting thing, is that she used a plaid for a background fabric.  Not something I would've chosen before I saw this but it turned out great!  Now I have my eye on one of the other plaids in this collection. . .

Next I worked on a couple of quilts for Mrs. Moffitt.  She did a happy piecey red throw out of Hometown, which we just quilted with a stipple design.  She also brought in a miniature table runner that she wanted "custom" quilting for.  It was a challenge to choose patterns that would bring out the fabrics and piecing without overwhelming them.

Pam brought us another quilt this week that I jumped right into.  She made an oversized Shoo Fly from August's American Patchwork and Quilting.  She wanted it quilted similarly to the quilt in the magazine, so we did serpentine lines.  Ours were about 2 inches apart whereas the magazine looks like it is about 1.5" or 1".  It was interesting to work with because it is BIG.  102"x102".  I think it turned out well though.

Today I worked on Lupe's Indian spice throw.  He didn't want batting, just a fleece backing.  I didn't think that was going to be an issue until I started the machine and had a thread break, and another, and then 10 more.  Very frustrating.  An hour of troubleshooting, thread changing, needle changing, and tension adjusting later, it finally started to work (mostly) properly.  He chose to use my off-set squiggles pattern, that looks a little Moroccan.  I really like the way the quilting looks on the back.  It blends on the front.

So that's been it so far.  More projects to work on this week for the store.  Bunches of homework to get ready for after Thanksgiving.  Maybe a little sleep.  But luckily, I have a crazy monkey helper:

Super Fun!

I'm writing today about one of my favorite customers, Bel.  
She has started a new crafty venture called "I've Stepped Out".  

Check out the Tipsy fabrics ;-)

L loves when she comes in the store because sometimes she brings her buddy, Henry.

She is making super cute kids capes that are extra great because they are cotton.  (so you don't have to worry about melting the weird polyester fabrics that most kids' costumes are made out of)  

She has also been making Christmas stockings, and is talking about bags.  

I've Stepped Out's items will be included in our booth at the Big Crafty if we are lucky enough to be included.  

In the meantime, you can find her at The Little Flea in West Asheville on Saturdays, or everyday on her facebook and etsy.  

Just call me the finisher. . .

I was on the last steps of two different tops and I finally got them done today.  So satisfying.  Tomorrow I have to put in a full day of quilting, but as you can see, we had a lazy day.  (evidence: my naked feet in the quilt shop).  The first top is my non-jelly roll version of a jelly roll strip quilt.  I've been collecting leftover 2.5" batik strips for months as well as pulling some pieces from my stash.  I started with about 1600" of 2.5" strips.  Seriously long and tangly.  But I ended up with a neat 64"x75"ish throw.  Now I have to decide how to quilt it.

My second finish was this big Ziggy yellow and white full-size quilt.  I made the zigs last summer, but just couldn't decide what I wanted to do with them.  I decided to keep it simple with white strips down either side.  I'm planning to quilt in the center squares and zigs and fill in the white background.  I'll post pictures when I start quilting.

Today as L and I were leaving the shop I walked by the side window and noticed the fabric that I had (carelessly) left on the large cutting table.  Who in their right mind could walk by these guys and not come in?  

New Fabric Ordered!

We haven't been ordering much at the shop lately, so it was a special treat for me to get to make the call to FreeSpirit this week.

A little Christmas cheer in early June, Starflakes and Glitter by Tina Givens

I'm starting the solid buying spree one bolt at a time.  My goal is a whole row of our big shelves filled with solids.  This week, Manatee:

And finally, I chomped up a little bit of a fabric line I've been eye-ing for awhile.  

They are discontinuing it, so I was feeling a little pressure.

Silent Cinema by Jenean Morrison

I'm so excited to get all of these goodies in the shop!