JemJam

Improv Curves-Trimming

About a month ago, OKC Modern Quilt Guild had Lisa Calle as a guest, she spoke to us one day and taught a class another.  She showed us improv curves, it was a great class because it was basically a demo, then we sewed for a few hours.

 

I am trimming my blocks this weekend (I made 100) and after Thanksgiving, I will work on construction.  I really can't believe that I am trying to squeeze in a project right now, but, I'm really excited about this quilt!  

Oh yes, I pieced all of the blocks on my white Singer Featherweight.

 

 

During class with OKCMQG, I passed out little card holders to the students, I love making little things to give away, sometimes it hinders life progress, but, I can usually get things complete.  Every single one of these are scraps from other projects--pillows, clothes, crib sheet, bags, to name a few.  

If you are attending DELUXE WINTER MARKET this year, I will be providing these little card holders in swag bags!

 

Fabrics used:

Fellow member & teaching buddy, Emily and I both used the Lulu Summers line, Summersville, we picked a lot of solids to mix up with our prints and it will be interesting to see how each of ours looks.  

I hope to have this quilt done in time for the Oklahoma Winter Quilt Show, where we will have an exhibit and information booth about our guild, go us!

 

 

Botanics Super Tote

I recently traveled to Houston for Quilt Market and I NEEDED A NEW BAG. I had the Super Tote pattern in my sewing queue for months, it was time to tackle it.

 

I made a patchwork pocket using the quilt-as-you-go method, now with the variety of color, it matches all of the clothes!  Maybe not.

The bag has a nice amount of pockets inside and held up nicely during my travel. I have plans to teach this bag at Je's Bend soon.

Fabrics: Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander (precuts available to ship immediately in my shop)
Linen by Yoshiko Jinzenji
Pattern by Noodlehead 

Shark Quilt

Our guild (OKC Modern Quilt Guild) meets at a place (Neighborhood Alliance) that has been very nice to us this year, we meet there monthly free of charge and since our guild is fairly new, we have been so thankful.  NA has an event each year where they honor a neighbor and they win awesome prizes, the OKCMQG donated this quilt that I made.  

 

Oh, I suspect you feel like I did when I tried to get pictures!  Bobbin loves fabric.  Anyhow, I wanted to use neutrals hoping anyone would love this lap quilt, I almost talked myself out of the lime backing and binding, but two guild members convinced me to go for it!  I'm glad that I did, I really like it!  I was pressed for time (as always!) and needed to make something quick, my original idea consisted of more work, but, I'll just save that for another project.

 

Good neighbor, I hope that you are enjoying your quilt!

 

Collage Birds

"Mommy, today in art, we made collage birds and I'm wearing collage birds!"  I love little coincidences like that!

I have tried to squeeze in a few little dresses in between teaching classes at Je's Bend and catching up on unfinished items, since late August, this is dress number 3 for Evangeline.

 

I sewed this dress using the Geranium Dress pattern by Rae Hoekstra, I have made it once before in a size 5, now, larger sizes are available, this is a size 7.  E is six years old and on the taller side, so, a 7 is more practical and will last longer.

 

 

This dress is very easy to sew, I would say a confident beginner, for sure could have this done in a few hours.  I have a serger, but Rae gives you instructions for finishing as if the maker does not own one. There are a few versions to try, I have one to show soon with a flutter sleeve and pockets.  

 

Fabric:  Bird Dot from Collage by Carrie Bloomston (available to purchase from my Etsy shop)

Dog Tired

I'm on a roll with pillows and pillowcases these days, our home needs sprucing and pillows have magic powers to liven a room.

           To protect and serve, the pillows

A friend came to a sewcial at Je's Bend and had an awesome pillow form for her pup, I bought 2 and whipped up some covers! We keep one in our bedroom and the other bed in the front of the house, also, I can wash one while he uses one.

 

Bobbin sleeps a lot, he's like a newborn baby with the loose stools.

 

I had a few people ask and I scheduled a class to teach how to sew a dog bed. The class is scheduled for October 19, 2013. E-mail if you would like to enroll and impress your pet.

It's fall break now and I've got a few kids to teach this week, I'm excited and already tired.

Fabrics:
Pillowcases- Cloud 9 fabrics (available at Je's Bend)
Dog bed- koi print by Rashida Coleman-Hale for Cloud 9 Fabrics & Flower Power by Jennifer Paganelli.

 

 

Ready for School 2013

First grade needs a backpack, a linen backpack. I bit the bullet and made the toddler backpack from Rae's pattern, I enlarged it by 2 inches and used a bigger zipper (all noted in the pattern). I didn't line the bag and I'm pleased with it. I did goof on enlarging the body, I forgot to add 2 inches to the length, so I cut down the bottom because I could not figure out what was wrong. It wasn't until the next morning, it clicked, oh well, her folders fit in there. I will make another just to make it correctly. As a quick pattern review, I like it, reccomend it, and will make another, it is a PDF only, and I'm a fan of that, no tracing and I just read the instructions from iBooks on the iPad.

Next, I crammed in dress making time on my birthday to make a first day of school dress. I originally wanted to make the Roller Skate dress from Oliver + S but didn't have time for that, I mean, it was my birthday, I needed to brunch on a patio, mimosas get in the way of sewing.

 

          first grade also needs Converse sneakers

I still used the body of the pattern pieces and did my own thing, I put an invisible zipper on the back (with 1 button at the top), binding at armholes, and partial facing at the neck. The dress looks like it has no shape to it because E wants to wear belts and this was a perfect way to "blouse out" the top and still have suitable length on the garment.

I wouldn't be myself if I didn't make another dress....

Tune in next week to see duplicates of items for Bobbin the Dog.

 

Fabric:

backpack:  Echino 2012 print

gray dress:  Koi by Rasida Coleman-Hale

yellow dress: Waterfront Park by Violet Craft

 

Cheater Skirt

Phone post!

After I made this skirt, I immediately made another one, I had 2 half yards of this print, 1/2 yard isn't quite enough to make a size 7 and I really wanted the pockets to line up.

 

 

It's crazy to see her wearing a sweater--it was Aug 3, it was early, too. Our summer hasn't been normal, which is fine with me, it made for cuter pictures in the end.

School starts soon, I'm turning into a sewing machine over the next few days, I hope.

 

 

 

Of course, I want one of these skirts, now.

 

Fabric is an Echino 2012 print.

Bobbin

After making this skirt, E asked for one with the same fabric and because I bought a lot of it, I had plenty to spare for a tiny skirt.  I have made 2 of these skirts in smaller sizes, so I didn't have to buy a thing--I actually won the pattern from Sew,Mama,Sew a few years ago during a Back to School (sewing) promotion!  I have one more size to get out of it since it only goes to an 8.  Anyhow, I have been working on my classroom/studio/small shop space (Je's Bend) so, I have not been sewing, it felt good to knock out one of these, acutally, I made 2...

 

A kickpleat is necessary for this gal

 

Also,we adopted a dog!

 

Meet Bobbin!  

He's a beagle/pointer mix who sneezes a lot and is very quiet.

 

 

 

What was I talking about?  Oh yeah, sewing...

Skirt pattern:  Oliver + S Sunday Brunch Skirt (it appears to be out of print, but available in digital format)

Fabric:  Field Study Linen by Anna Maria Horner

I know that I have to stop calling her clothes tiny because she's wearing size 7.

 

My Sewing Table, Painted

As promised, here are pictures of my desk that Mr. JemJam made.  

I started painting it (while still in 3 pieces) and it took several nights, I enjoyed working on it after daughter was in bed, I moved a car out of the garage, turned on some jams, and got busy!  My husand sealed it for me and moved it to my studio and then put the top on with screws.  I quickly filled this desk!  No, really.

 

 

There is so much storage and the top holds 2 24"x36" cutting mats, perfect for my small business, Je's Bend.

 

                                             my desk was scuffed up in the move, but, I was able to clean most of the smudges.  sigh.

 

If you have the room and use for anything that requires extra storage, I highly recommend this table, it would be a great piece for a shared space (kids books/crafts).

Plans for this desk are from Ana White.

My New Skirt

Last year, I found out that Jona Giammalva was writing a book, I didn't know what the subject was but I knew that I would own it, I love her patterns for children, her blog, and I still miss her online shop.  Finally, it was released earlier this year and I could not wait to get my hands on it.  An adult skirt book!  Yes!

 

I did not have time to make anything immediately when I received the book, I was headed to Quilt Market in Portland, OR soon and had other things to do like make silly kitty bags, ahh, fun times...

 

I sat in on Jona's schoolhouse to show support, here she is telling us how fabulous she is.  Sadly, I didn't get the teary-eyed picture of her while she read a letter from a lady who wrote her and said that she was so happy to install an invisible zipper without any problems, it was sweet.  

 

 

 

All of those skirts in the picture above are versions from The Essential A-Line.  She explained that an a-line skirt is flattering on most everyone, she probably said "everyone" but, I don't want to hear it if you don't like it on yourself.  Most of the skirts on the wall are made with quilting cottons, which is perfect for spring and summer, the skirts are lined, they are finished nicely.  There's one skirt in the book for pregnant ladies!

 

Jona signed my book while we took a small break.

 

Well, the next week, I came home and whipped up a skirt in no time!  My skirt is the basic version, I used a linen (by Anna Maria Horner) for the main fabric, it has batiste lining and a red invisible zipper, I love it.  I have washed fabric to make more skirts, but I am not able to sew much right now with prepping the studio for operation and summer with aforementioned six year old.

                                                                                   6 year old photographer

 

Well, in that schoolhouse, I WON A BOOK, how about that?  I asked Jona to sign that one, too so I could share with a lucky reader that is interested in making one of her skirts.  So, here's your chance, five people that read this blog!  Leave a reply in the comments telling me if you have made clothes for yourself before (what's your favorite pattern?) or if you want to take the plunge soon.  You can tell me anything else that you want.  Because of outrageous postage prices, this giveaway is for the United States only, please.  I will pick a winner on Tuesday, July 2, 2013.  

If you don't want to wait to get your book, Sew, Mama, Sew has them.  Support that little shop!