Fobio

Why did I wait so long to make one of these?!

I've had all the stuff for over a year! It only took about 30 minutes to make the first one, which included reading the instructions and practicing putting on the zipper pull. It took about 20 minutes to make a second one.

I'm going to need to add this pattern and the supplies to my next order so I can have these in my shop.

After the Snow Projects

I've completed another panel design.

This one is more a wall hanging. I thought about adding another border using the border stripe print in the fabric line, but ultimately decided against that. Instead I used the border stripe print and some extra star blocks to make a table runner.

The quilt will be 34" by 54" when finished and the runner will be 25" by 40". The runner does lay flat! I didn't realize how waffly the edges look in the photo. It's just because it is laying on the grass instead of hanging.

Row by Row Experience Begins

The fun began yesterday and goes through September 5th. I got the pattern for this little lady last year but just got around to making her.

This is Bobbin the Robin and she is the official mascot of Row by Row. Isn't she adorable?!

The pattern is easy. I'm not sure why I put off making her.

The shoes are 18" doll shoes (think American Girl Doll). Her legs are BBQ skewers painted white and then I used a Sharpie marker to make the black stripes. There is air-dry clay inside the shoes so she can stand up.

The theme for this year is "On the Go" and this is the row for my shop.

Our row celebrates Alamosa as a town "on the go!" Alamosa was founded as a railroad town. The whole town was transported on flatbed railroad cars from just east of Ft. Garland in the summer of 1878 and set up in just a few days. There is a famous story that the owner of the hotel served his guests breakfast in Ft. Garland and dinner in Alamosa that same day in the same building! Just like last year, our row was designed by Janet Davis exclusively for Alamosa Quilt Company.

If you want a kit you can come in to the shop or call to order one, (719) 937-2555, or email me or leave a comment so I can email you. Please do not send credit card information in an email or comment though! I'll call you for that.

Row by Row rules do not permit shops to mail out any patterns or kits until November 1st. This is so that only folks who actually go into shops are eligible to win the associated quilt contest, which ends October 31st. So if you do call to order a kit, just be aware that we are not allowed to ship it to you until November 1st. Last year we took orders, processed the sales and packaged everything to be ready to ship on November 1st. That way everyone who called was assured to get a kit, since we set one aside specifically for them at the time of purchase. For more information, go to the shop Row by Row page by clicking here.

Just Because

I've had the materials for this bag sitting next to my sewing machine for several weeks. Last weekend I decided to set aside the shop sewing I needed to do and make something for myself. This was handy and quick.

This Moda Man comic print canvas is too funny! It was one of those things that when I saw it I knew I had to have some for my shop. For the lining I used the light blue polka dot print that is also on the straps. 

It's just a simple tote bag. No pockets, zippers, magnetic snaps or anything fancy. I used the same method that I show in my trick or treat bag tutorial. For this one I started with 18" squares and cut a 4" corner out to box the bottom. For the handles I used cotton webbing (two pieces that are 24" long) but I also cut a strip of the lining fabric to dress them up. I stitched the fabric strips to the cotton webbing leaving about an 1/8" of the cotton webbing showing on either side of the fabric strip.

It holds a lot of stuff and has become my main bag for hauling stuff between home and the shop each day.

Funny Farm Quilt Top

I'm in design mode - designing some panel quilts. This is the first one. The fabric line is Funny Farm.

This is a panel we've had in the shop for a few months, but I'm just now getting around to designing a project for it. The quilt will finish at about 40" by 52".

I got a couple of Christmas panels to work on next. I have one of the quilts designed but haven't had a chance to make it. That is high on the list for this week. The other one is still in the planning stage.

Hand Embroidery

I received a fabric in my shop recently that is printed with the Colorado State bird and flower.

I thought these would be perfect souvenirs for tourists traveling through who stop at my shop, especially since they only cost $1.00 each! A local customer purchased one and embroidered it then turned it into a pillow sleeve. It is adorable! So I decided to embroider one.

I'm not sure what I will do with mine, but it sure was fun to do and didn't take very long. I used size 8 Eleganza pearl cotton embroidery thread for my version and it measures about 10" by 10" at the moment.

Allium Spool Sac :: A Finish

I'm so excited to be able to use this bag!

It was easy to finish once I had all the supplies. I ended up having a little bit of cork fabric left over and used it for the bottom. I hope it will be more durable than the wool the pattern called for.

Here is what it looks like opened.

It holds three of the zipper pouches, which each hold 72 spools of thread. As you can see, I have room to grow my thread collection. ;)

Bugsy Backpack

Another new bag pattern I've tried out.

This one is fabulous! They also sell a hardware kit so you can get all of the rings, clips and slides that coordinate and are designed to be used with the pattern. I will be carrying both the pattern and the hardware kits in my shop soon.

The bag is a great size, not too complicated to make but probably not a beginner bag project. I used another one of the metal "handmade" labels on this one.

There is a key clip on the inside.

The bag is fully lined too. There are no inside pockets but you could add some if you wanted.

I can see myself making this one again! This bag is a shop sample, but I may need to make one for personal use.

Details: 

The pattern is Bugsy Backpack by Sassafras Lane Designs. The fabrics I used are a Flower Shop Canvas print by Cotton + Steel for the outside, a black batik for the outer pockets and a cream Pixie Dot by Ink & Arrow for the lining.