Patchwork Pink
Once a week my son attends a preschool program. It is two hours of girly freedom for Lucy and I. We go to the local cafe, browse the bookstore, occasionally bringing lessons along. There just happens to be a lovely little fabric shop nearby where we will linger if time permits. I recently let my daughter begin to chose fabrics out of the discounted fat quarter bin. Out of hundreds of fabrics, she will inevitably chose the one I dislike most. And inevitably, when we get it home I will realize that it is the most gorgeous fabric I've ever seen. She really has an eye for putting patterns together - far better than my own. Over Christmas I let her chose 6 or seven fat quarters in shades of pink. We didn't use them for their intended purpose, so we set about thinking up different projects combining all the fabrics. This, my friends, has made for a wonderful January.
A pincushion from Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts. I'm so glad I ordered this book. It is rare that I purchase a book for myself and this one was worth the splurge.
A bookmark. This was so fun. We randomly pieced together tiny scraps. I folded and pressed the raw edges under, sandwiched a piece of cross stitch cloth between another piece of fabric (folded and ironed around the raw edges of the cross stitch fabric) and top stitched it all together. The cross stitch cloth gave the bookmark some body.
A quilt. This was the biggest project and one I did on my own. It is mostly white cotton fabric, but with three pieced stripes down the side with a plain, pale pink binding. It is small, only 45 * 45 inches. I only quilted the pieced bit because I wanted a sort of down-like look to it. I also wasn't particularly fussy about edges matching up. I just finished Lucy's quilt which wore me out with the perfect lines. I like them both for different reasons.
Coasters - This was probably my favorite project, as it is the one Lucy helped with the most. I appliqued a heart onto a square of patterned pink with a zigzag stitch. Then I folded down the raw edges and blanket stitched it to a piece of wool felt. THEN I let Lucy take over, using a running stitch to add another piece of wool felt for sturdiness. She helped a bit with the blanket stitch as well. This will be someone's Valentine's Day gift. It would be so cute paired with a place mat of similar design - maybe a pink plate of chocolate chip cookies and a pretty pink coffee mug as well? We'll see!
A zipper pouch - This pattern came from Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing, another happy indulgence. It is pieced together strips with a solid pink lining. I desperately needed a makeup bag. It went together fairly quickly and I intend to make many more of these. They would be sweet teacher gifts at the end of the year - containing a gift card perhaps? Lucy chose a different pattern for her own. I'll post it next week. It is gorgeous.
A cozy flannel pillow case - ah, I love this. This was Lucy's most recent fabric choice - a full yard of pretty pink heart flannel. Anticipating much laundering, I sewed the edges using a French seam (I don't have a serger). I think a contrasting edge is traditional, but I like this as is. And tiny pink ric-rac? It had to happen.
I think that's all.... We still have many scraps left over. I can't believe how far a few fat quarters stretched. Obviously I used a few other materials from my craft supply bin pile of terror that currently sits in my dining room corner. Perhaps we will have a study of green next? This all involved my favorite method of crafting with the children - give them (or me) a set of materials and see what they make of it. Up this week: glitter, stickers, markers, card stock, scissors, punches, and ribbon for a Valentine's Day cards.
Those are great! I love little projects like that.
I feel very inspired to get my sewing machine out.
Thank you
Posted by: Catching Fireflies | January 20, 2008 at 03:24 PM
So completely gorgeous!!
Posted by: patience | January 20, 2008 at 03:56 PM
Oh Jenn. I am utterly in love with every single item. Especially the quilt! Oh my! I covet! Tell you what, come on over and I'll teach you to crochet and you can turn my fabric stash into something lovely. Or hey! Want to barter for books? ;) LOL!
Posted by: Melissa Wiley | January 20, 2008 at 04:25 PM
P.S. LOVE the new banner! And the fresh pink design!
Posted by: Melissa Wiley | January 20, 2008 at 04:27 PM
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!!!!I love it all!
Posted by: Theresa | January 20, 2008 at 05:44 PM
http://blissbyheather.blogspot.com/2007/01/tutorial-super-cute-wristlet.html
Super cute projects! Check out the above link for a tutorial on making a great little bag. Very nice.
Posted by: Cheryl M. | January 20, 2008 at 07:38 PM
Gorgeous, Jenn, and so very sweet! You have no idea how much fabric I have sitting downstairs, awaiting great projects like this. My girls each got sewing boxes for Christmas in hopes of some regular Mommy time. These ideas should get us started---thank you!
Posted by: Diane | January 20, 2008 at 08:11 PM
So pretty - all of it! I hope one day to sew such beautiful creations with my girls.
Do you mind if I ask you what sewing machine you have? And are you happy with it?
Posted by: Kristen Laurence | January 20, 2008 at 09:26 PM
Absolutely beautiful!
Posted by: Cay | January 20, 2008 at 11:48 PM
I love the soft pink fabrics. Looks like alot of fun!!
Posted by: Nori Coleman | January 21, 2008 at 06:27 AM
Oh my it's all just so delish!!! I'm with Lissa, let's do a trade :)
Posted by: Meredith | January 21, 2008 at 08:34 AM
These are absolutely gorgeous! I'm so inspired!
Posted by: JennGM | January 21, 2008 at 09:15 AM
All of these are delectable! i want in on that craft date!
Posted by: Mary Ellen Barrett | January 21, 2008 at 09:43 AM
It all looks beautiful!
Posted by: Cheryl | January 21, 2008 at 10:08 AM
I LOVE the coasters! What a cute idea! And all this just has Lucy's name written all over it. You two are very talented.
Posted by: Kellie | January 21, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Oh, those are so beautiful! My dd is lying on the couch - well, she's actually eating dinner at 8:15 pm - sick. I didn't realize she had a fever until about 6 pm. So, no school tomorrow! But, she's actually doing pretty well, so maybe we'll try some sewing tomorrow if she's up to it!
Posted by: Dana | January 21, 2008 at 06:14 PM
What a fabulous quilt!
Also that makeup bag is gorgeous.
And the pillow slip too!
Makes me wish I could sew :)
Posted by: theotherbear | January 21, 2008 at 10:02 PM
You've inspired me to get my sewing machine out! Thank you!
Posted by: Donna | January 22, 2008 at 02:37 AM
Would you be willing to homeschool me too?
Posted by: Margaret in Minnesota | January 22, 2008 at 03:58 AM
Exquisite! Such creativity, such lovely fabric!
You've inspired me...it's a "home ec" day! Last night my oldest dear son learned to bake homemade bread. I think we need to roll with this.
Posted by: kimberly | January 22, 2008 at 04:04 AM
Beautiful fabric. I can't wait to see what the whole thing looks like. I really need to try quilting. It looks like so much fun. First, I need to find some time. :-)
Posted by: Jennifer | January 22, 2008 at 04:44 AM
I like Melissa's thinking--I hope you are taking her up on that offer, by the way. But I am in such a state of envy over the zipper bag that I think I might have to ransom those mittens for Linus that are on my needles right now...See, I take a nice offer to barter and turn it into a ransom--I need to walk away from the cute photos I think. love ya--
Posted by: Chrissie | January 22, 2008 at 05:39 AM
I LOVE it all! As Anne just said, looking over my shoulder at all your lovely work, "She must be making you feel like a sewing dafty!" Indeed!
Posted by: Karen Edmisten | January 22, 2008 at 07:14 AM
Pretty, pretty, pretty projects! What a talent for creative combinations you have!
Posted by: Kimberlee | January 23, 2008 at 12:24 PM
You have super cute gift ideas, your projects are absolutley adorable! I personally enjoy homeade gifts, they are such special displays of love. I work with Dove, and they have a really sweet contest "Expressions of Love", you should enter, all you have to do is explain the special way you say "I love you", and it seems like you are a master at that. You could win a 5.58ct Diamond necklace, you should take a look at http://www.mydovechocolate.com. You have such a talent!
Posted by: Jenn Patterson | January 23, 2008 at 04:11 PM