Spring has FINALLY sprung!

Finally we have been getting spring weather here in Wisconsin.  It's been a tough winter. To celebrate the warmer weather and blue skies, here's an couple adorable pics of my nephew, Jeffrey, playing outside.  

Isn't he cute?  He's obsessed with being outside and I have to say, with this weather, I am too.

Have a great week!!

Julie :)

How do you DO that?

Several people have asked me how I make my bags/pouches, or even hats.  Honestly, I just make it up as I go.  I will most likely never post a tutorial because I rarely use a pattern, plus I never make the same item the same way.  If I do use a pattern or tutorial, I'll include the link on my post so you can easily find it.

Basically, I go on Pinterest and do a search on an item.  Anything really.  I pin those that I like.  If there's a tutorial or pattern with, great.  If not, I just use the pin as inspiration.

Then I search youtube.  I search for tutorials on anything I'm not sure how to do.  For example, how to insert a zipper into any bag or making a basic beanie.  Those videos I save in my favorites on my youtube channel.

Sometimes I use graph paper to make a diagram of what I'm thinking of making.  It will have the measurements for the item and any details I plan to add.
Like this...

Then I just make it.  Spend plenty of time sitting and staring at my fabric or a picture too.  Just thinking about how I plan on going about making it.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  If it doesn't, then I have ideas on how to improve it and make it work.  I just keep trying until I get it how I like.  Then I'll make several to practice.  

And there you go... 

Luckily I have lots of friends and family that are willing to use my duds or will be guinea pigs for me.  And they help me think of new ideas to make as well.  

Julie :)

Mail Sack bag

Well, I finally finished it.  My first project that I made off an actual pattern.  Whew... 
Wasn't that bad but I definitely need to practice.  I bought this pattern at my favorite sewing store Life's a Stitch (I know the owners).  I followed the mini mail sack pattern and this is what it looks like....

I really liked this bird fabric I found at Joann's Fabrics.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find it again.  Should have bought more.  

I used a fusible interfacing to make it more sturdy but I'm not exactly liking it.  It's a pain to sew with.  I had some problems with the lining because I used a smaller seam allowance (like an idiot) than the rest of the bag. Oops.  So it was bigger than the outside and, therefore, harder to add.  But from the pics you'd never notice.

Have a pocket inside that is split into two medium sized pockets and a small narrow pocket for a pen or pencil.  

Overall, cute bag.  And pretty easy to do.  I want to try making one without the interfacing and see how it turns out... oh, and use the right seam allowance for the lining, too.  

It measures approximately 12 inches wide by 11 inches high.  The strap is approximately 36.5 inches long.  I'd like to make the strap longer for me as it is too short for a cross body as it is.  
This is what it looks like on...

My son's beautiful girlfriend, Brittany, is modeling the mail sack.

Julie :)

Evergreen Guild Quilt Show

Last weekend, March 29-30, was the Evergreen Guild Quilt Show here in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  It was held at Ashwaubenon High School and is one of our biggest.  So I went with my grandma and aunt on Sunday.  One word... unbelieveable!  Amazing to see the beautiful work people can do.  I was in awe.  It sparked a lot of creative energy within me.

I took a ton of pictures so I won't post them all, but just highlight some of the ones I liked the best.  This one had beautiful free motion quilting elements and I like that it isn't a typical "quilt."

Next...

I loved this cat quilt.  Colorful and original.  The quilter stated that she had several cat patterns and created this quilt to merge them all together. Here's a couple close ups...

So cute, right?  The work that goes into these quilts is mind blowing.  

Here...

...are two quilted wall hangings.  They look more like paintings.  The one on the bottom with the fish won an award and actually had beading in it as well.  

I noticed that several quilts had 3D effects.  Loved the look.  This bird quilt wall hanging below was so adorable and the leaves on the branch were a nice touch.

This quilt was more traditional and looks like something I may be able to replicate.  It received an honorable mention.

 Here's a close-up.

Besides the quilts on display and being judged, there were booths with local quilt shops.  Of course, I had to check them out.  I hadn't heard of most of them.

This booth was for Silver Thimble Quilts and displayed some quilting kits they offer.  

I, of course, loved the dog pillows.  The fabric they offered was wonderful.  Needless to say, I'll be visiting that store here in Green Bay.

There also was a table with handmade christening gowns on it.  This one was my favorite.

The details on it were amazing, especially the flowers on the bottom.

Gorgeous.

This post is getting really long so I'll just finish up with a couple more pics.  I can't wait to visit some of the quilting stores I found and to try out some of the ideas I saw.

There's a Shop the Top Shop Hop coming up I plan on going to.  It's May 2-10 and is located in the upper peninsula of Michigan. You can purchase a "passport" for $5.00 at any shop on the tour and it entitles you to 20% off your fabric purchased at each shop plus a different holiday pattern from each shop.  There will also be door prizes if you visit all 10 shops.  If you are local, I highly recommend going.  Here's a list of the shops:

Alley Kat's Quilt Shop-Marquette, MI

Ben Franklin-Marquette, MI

Country Garden Quilts-Ishpeming, MI

The Fabric Patch-Ironwood, MI

Jeri's Quilt Patch-Norway, MI

Pine Street Quilts-Marinette, WI

Portage Quilt House-Houghton, MI

Quilter's Haven-Menominee, MI

Quilts 'n Stuff by Glenna-Escanaba, MI

Sew Irresistible-Houghton, MI

More details can be found by following the link for The Fabric Patch.

Can't wait for Summer!!!!

Julie :)

Flowered zipper pouch

I have another zippered pouch to show you all.  This one is my favorite one so far.

I used Pellon fusible fleece interfacing which gave it a more quilted feeling.  The zipper turned out great and I made a little tail on the end.  I didn't really use a long enough zipper, which would have made it easier to sew. Oh, well.  I'm still learning.
  Here's the inside...

  And here's a close up...

I love the lace embellishment. I've got tons of ideas for different pouches so I won't post all of them.  Just the ones that turned out the best.

This weekend I plan to finish up the "mail bag" to show you and I will post pictures from the Evergreen Guild Quilt show I went to last weekend.  It was amazing.  Hope to see you back here for that!

Julie  :)

Couple matching zippered pouches

Really liked this fabric and decided to use it to practice my zippered pouches.  I'm getting the hang of it now and found out how to square off the zippered ends nicely.

Take a look...

I used both of them for our spring break weekend at the Wilderness in Wisconsin Dells.  The one standing up has a boxed bottom with more rounded zipper ends.  Here's a close up...

The inside is a pretty turquoise with a flower pattern.  Hard to get a good pic but here it is...

 I really enjoy making these pouches.  My idea is to make a bunch to sell at craft fairs.  Thinking of having little kits to go along with them.  Just a thought.

Julie  :)





Pinterest review...Cottage cheese eggs

I've decided to share with you, not only my current craft projects, but also my comments on things I've tried off pinterest.  Here is one now...

So I was intrigued by this pin Egg and Cottage Cheese Scramble
I tried it.  Now, my pic does not look anything like the pin's pic but I didn't exactly follow the directions.  I mean, how hard can it be, right? 

 

Soooo... not appealing, is it?  Didn't taste too bad.  Has the consistency of bread pudding.  In case you have issues with textures.  I had a bagel with cream cheese with this so I must have had a good protein boost for the day. 

 

Here's the big question:  Would I make it again?  I hesitate to say for sure, but probably.  Maybe it would look better if I had followed the recipe or microwaved it. 

 

If you decide to try it, please comment below and let me know what you think!

 

 

Julie  :)