WIP Wednesday

Works in Progress Wednesday! We all have them. Some more than others. I may have 4 or 5 of them right now.  I am trying to be better about completing a project before starting a new one.  Well today I want to share with you a project almost finished, it's a personal project, not for a client.  I have never made a quilt for myself.  When I saw this fabric while I worked at Purl Soho, I fell in love. And purchased so much of it.  It is the Charley Harper line from Birch Organics.  I was overcome with excitement and inspiration!  I couldn't wait to start sewing.  I wanted to make a dress, a skirt, a dress for Harper and a quilt! And then another little quilt for Harper! So many projects so little time.

Here it is.  I am thinking of doing a dark teal navy blue for the binding.  What do you think?

back side

For the back I am using Shot Cotton in Jade, the natural is Kioyhara linen blend, Charley Harper and Shot Cotton in cactus.
My walking foot  has been giving me problems so I quilted this on my Juki industrial.  Some spots on the front I am not too happy with.  So I am hoping to try the walking foot again.
The batting is the lightest weight cotton Dream batting.  The quilt size is a queen.

I am so excited to finish it, I am hoping to buy the binding fabric tomorrow.

Do you have any WIPs? Please share by posting a link or picture!

Tracey

Color Palettes!

Pantone beer labels by Spanish Designer Txaber

You may have noticed I started a new page on my blog, it is called Color Palettes.  I am starting to work on my Fall and Holiday palettes, attending color seminars,  researching magazines and fabric shops, looking at the runway shows in Paris, Milan and New York.  Even though my concentration is kitchen wares, color is still very important.  Color affects our emotions.  Do you want something bright and cheery in the kitchen? Or something sophisticated and peaceful?  Or feeling the autumnal season, like the photo above?

So check my color palette page and I would love to hear how you put together your palettes?  Is something particular inspiring you this season?

The Unofficial Start of Fall: Nantucket Holiday

Sankaty Lighthouse

As many as you know I usually visit the island of Nantucket in Massachusetts this time of year.  And this year is no different.  Except that we are here for two weeks and my daughter is 15 months old so it's not really a vacation.  However, it is still incredibly enjoyable to be here.  I do love coming to the island.  It is magical.  There are several historical associations on the island and they have done an excellent job at maintaining the integrity of the island.  We always go to the beaches but if it is a cloudy day it is not a loss.  You can find me on one of the many walking tours!  If you are not a walking tour type of person just submerge yourself and get lost.  Harper and I take a walk every morning.  There is inspiration everywhere!

Classic Cape Cod style houses, gardens and yards are well cared for and after Labor Day the crowds leave.  As someone said to me this morning on my walk, "It's the most beautiful time of year". 

DIY Watermelon Coasters

So if you follow me on Instagram you will know I've been working on these bad boys for awhile. Summer is busy and I have to say I actually keep making more of these instead of writing up the post.  Finally I said to myself "self just start writing". "Get something on paper". Yes call it old school, I like a pen and paper.  

There are a few things that I really like  about this project: one, the wool felt is lovely and easy to work with, two, you can really mix up the colors. Watermelons range from soft pink, not quite ripe flesh to deep sweet pink, super ripe.  Three, you can hand sew or machine sew these coasters.   Which means it can be a travel project. 

I struggled with the shape in the beginning.  My inspiration for this project came from Molly's apple coasters on purlbee.com and this piece of fabric that I fell in love with two summers ago:  

I wanted to do watermelon coasters because the shapes can be different and these are a whimsical coaster for a summer BBQ.  So I've experimented with a few shapes, colors, threads and techniques.  You choose what you want to do. See what you like best.  So choose your design and your color palette.  Once you choose your palette you will need 1 piece of felt per color.

My palette: the greens are lime, kelly, olive

pinks: baby pink, bright pink, pink, fuschia

white: ecru, white

Supplies: 

1 18" square felt per color

hand sewing needle- I used an embroidery needle between sizes 5 and 10

dmç cotton perle 8 -  greens #700 and #906 (lime green),  ecru, deep pink #718, bubble gum pink #603, baby pink #818

For the seeds: I used DMC embroidery floss in black #310, it's a 6 ply but I only used 3 ply.

fabric scissors

pinking shears

1.  Your design is chosen; half circle, full circle, cut slice.  Cut out your pieces of felt. 

The following directions are for circle and half circle. I used the bottom of a large jar that had a 5" diameter.  This was for my green piece and the largest size, from here I sized down about 1/2" for the white then the pink.   If you have Adobe Illustrator or a compass, you can make your circles quite easily.   I created a template in Illustrator.

I played around with the design of it.  In the top photo you will see I experimented with strips of pinks to add some dimension.  I also experimented with shades of green thread to  add watermelon skin texture.  I ultimately settled on the circle and half circle, 3 layers and keeping the flesh a solid piece of pink felt.

2. Sew the seeds. Place one piece of pink felt on top of white felt and using the black thread, either 3 ply of DMC floss or the perle DMC  do a simple running stitch starting at the back side (the white).  With a disappearing tracing pen I drew little v's to follow as a shape for the seeds.  You can also machine stitch the seeds.

 For the machine stitch I used a zig zig in black or chocolate brown on top.  Remember to sew the seeds before putting the last layer, green, on. This way you won't see the underside of the seeds.

3.Lay the pink and white section on the green.  Do you want a really ripe melon? Then choose your dark green.  Pin the layers together and if you want to make a bite into the piece of melon now is the time to bring out the pinking shears.  

Hand sew pink edges with your choice of pink Perle thread and then do the same with the white.  You can sew a green Perle thread around the edges, this would just be a topstitch. 

Time to have a watermelon cocktail!

PS these are machine washable cold, but please line dry.

And be sure to check out my post on etsyny website on cacti color palettes for the fall!

Have a great weekend!

Tracey

Time for a Picnic!

I would like to introduce my new product, yarndyed and quilted picnic blankets! With beautiful summer weather, what is better than enjoying the sunset and having a lovely meal maybe a glass of wine or two in the park or at the beach.

This summer is my return to Celebrate Brooklyn! a summer long music and movie festival in Prospect Park.  I am one of the 17 people selling in the EtsyNY booth.

There are two different styles.  One is quilted with a cotton canvas or poly canvas bottom.  The canvas is water resistant so if the ground is damp your bums will stay dry.  These are also quilted with a light batting and pieced on top with some fun summer prints or limited edition of Charley Harper organic prints by Birch Organics.

The other style is called the Flattie.  This is a basic picnic blanket made with yarn dyed cotton so it is vibrant in color, strong weave and softens with each wash.  These have a pocket so you can hide your phone or wallet or tuck your shoes in there and keep the blanket from blowing up in the wind.

Serano Deluxe with Anchor

yarndyed stripe flatties or solid organic ice blue

These are easy to carry or pack in a bag or under a stroller.  A problem I am now familiar with.  I made these yarndyed throws to be compact and fit in the diaper bag or under your stroller. 

The size is approximately 45" x 55" perfect for a family of 3. 

 You can pick one of these up at Celebrate Brooklyn shows in Prospect Park and later this week they will be listed in my etsy shop!

Hope you are having a great summer!

Tracey

Hot Summer Hues

Photo by Kimberley Hasselbrink etsy.com

         I've been thinking about the colors peach, neon peach and coral shades. It's definitely the new neon pink. The past few years, summers especially neon and hot pink is the color for men, women, kids, interior design and crafts.

Naturally we would tire of all the pink.  The other morning while waiting an exceptionally long time for the subway I noticed how many people, mostly women, were wearing shades of peach and coral and not pink.

I myself have been designing with more coral and peach color shades. Ive been working on picnic blankets like a crazy woman.  I've hired a sewist to help me ramp up production because the blankets keep selling out this summer.  Such a great feeling!

I've also started working on a new knit blanket for Harper.

 My co-worker Derya helped me choose the shiny matte shiny palette.
This is what we are calling it because of the matte organic yarn alternating with the shiny Pima cotton.
And what a pleasant surprise at work this past Sunday when I saw the new color of Madeline Tosh yarn, neon peach

neon peach from Madeline Tosh

 oh my! I can't wait to work on this. I've already started designing a new winter scarf.  ahh these yarns are amazing!

etsy.com london tierney

Take a look around and drink in all the peach hues this summer!

Tracey

May Giveaway

We are almost thru May and barbecue season is beginning.  I can hardly believe it! I have been prepping my back yard every free minute.  Planting new flowers, veggies and herbs.  And I just cut the grass today, yes we have a small area of grass and I own a push mower.  I have never really used a push mower.  It's not that bad.  Quite easy and I find it enjoyable.  Relaxing.  The other day we started up the grill just to give it a little test run.  This Saturday will be our first barbecue and Harper's First birthday and I don't want to run out of gas.  Or the grill run out of gas.  Do you grill? Do you wear a grilling apron? One of those that have some sort of funny sayings?  Well in May one of my aprons is part of a give away on the Etsy New York blog.  Just click here to see the whole post.

Butcher Style apron with Liberty of London pockets

And while you are cooking, keep your hair pulled back with this bandanna.
Made of Liberty of London Tana Lawn and finished with bright neon pink stitching.

Basically all you need to do is visit my facebook page and like it.  Then in the comments write #maygiveaway.  You have two more days, the raffle closes on May 23.  And if you love free things you should check out the Etsy New York blog often because every month there will be a give away! How sweet is that!

Good luck!

16 Hours of Sewing

16 hours of sewing... well not really.  I just completed teaching another session of Introduction to Sewing 1 Intensive at the Sewing Studio in Manhattan.  I am always so impressed with the results.  These students started four weeks ago knowing nothing about sewing, fabric, patterns, grain, zippers and measuring the body.   Grain? like 7 grain bread?  No. 

I taught them how to use a machine, how to wind a bobbin,  we moved on how to make a drawstring bag and how to make a zipper pouch.  And their final project, picking a pattern and making a skirt that has a zipper.  It was 4 weeks long and it went by so fast.  These were the results. Here are 3 skirts, 3 varieties.  All have a zipper, darts and was adjusted to fit the sewist. 

I am so happy and impressed with these ladies.  They were a great group to spend a Saturday afternoon with.