Where the Sewing Happens

I had just started sewing not too long before we moved to Brasil. I had a craft table in the office of our house and it wasn't really mine. The room anyway. It was mostly bookshelves piled with books, a desk, and then my corner.  When we moved into this apartment, I knew the exact place that would become mine. My area. For the most part. 

I always love seeing where people sew. And it's different for each person. Some have peculiar habits and ways, some sew in the kitchen...but the common denominator is that we sew wherever we can, because we HAVE to, you know? I've quilted on a dining room table, cut fabric on the floor, ironed in my bedroom...the where often doesn't matter so much as long as we are sewing. 

Anyway - when we do get a space that is ours, we are proud of it. And again, no one quite appreciates a designated sewing space like another quilter. 

Here is mine. 

This place is considered a den or small living room, off of our family room. It has a fireplace that I'm not sure functions, but is great for holding stuff. I haven't put any pictures up, and I probably won't, because I like putting up my WIP. They become my art, and I love that it changes. Side Note: It's not usually this clean. The cushions are always off the couch, the little one colored on it the other day)

This room comes equipped with a baby gate prison. I try to keep them out, but darn it, if they don't figure out a way to weasel in. I love my table. I stand up to sew. I think for some that wouldn't work, but for me it does. Especially when I have to leap over the fence to corral kids every few minutes. Most of the time I don't sew until they are asleep! It's safer that way!

I get the craft bug a lot. When I was pregnant with my first son, I saw a picture like this and decided I needed to paint one. I'm not sure why since it doesn't match our style at all. But when you're pregnant, sometimes things you do don't make sense. Now, I love it. It reminds me of Abby Latimer (@alatimer IG) she's a long arm quilter that I follow and she does some awesome work. She started doing an orange peel pattern on her quilts a while ago, and ever since then when I look at this...I think of her. We don't actually know one another.

For the most part, the table is always messy. My stash is somewhat rumpled, but there is always something going on. I've been back in Brasil for a month, and I'm three and a half quilts, and two bags in. I've been way more productive than I thought I would be.

There is a flaw with the current layout, however. Right now, I literally crawl under the table to get to the other side to sew. I want to be able to see the kids, and referee them, but it's hell on my knees. I can show you the bruises. When my husband gets a free moment, I need to have him move it..again.

So that's my space. I love it. I love it because it's mine...All mine.



I'll leave you with a few of my current inspirations, or things that I must make -- just add them to the super long, always growing, will never be done... List.

I made some quilted ABC's for a friend, and they turned out so cute. So when I saw these fish, I thought that they would make an excellent Christmas Gift.

I'm really into scrappy quilts. These next three photos are also on my "To Make" List. In fact, I've been in the process of hoarding Scrumptious and all my Bonnie and Camille scraps, just so I have enough to make at least a Scrappy Trip and the AQ - Tone it Down Quilt. (I think that's what it's called).

My Christmas List

Or "Ways to Increase My Stash" or "Guess Where My Money is Going?" There really are a lot of different titles I could give to this post. It's really all to say that there are some really awesome lines of fabric coming out soon. That are going to make it impossible for me to say no to them. I guess I'll take one for the team...  :o)


You may not realize this, but I'm a HUGE Bonnie and Camille fan. I pretty much love all the lines that they have come out with, as well as their patterns. This February they will launch their next line Daysail. I Love. It. For a lot of reasons. One: While it still has floral, there are some serious graphic prints and "boy" prints that I can use. Let's face it...Quilting for boys is hard. Two: Love the Blues, specifically the navy. Three: It's different. I know, they are all different. But this one seems really different. The colors are bright and fresh. And who can't see this sitting on a shelf just waiting to be made into a fantastic quilt for the beach, or for picnics!

Either way. It's at the top of Santa's List.

Running a really close second for Christmas List status is the Limited Edition Line from Art Gallery Fabrics, designed by Katy Jones.

Love. Love. Love. Everything about this line. (Photo credits go to LiveArtGalleryFabrics.com)

These two prints just scream to be made into a backing for a quilt.  I can't say that I love them enough.

This line comes with Knits and Voile. I don't even know what Voile is, but darn it, if I'm not going to look it up and find out. I'll need at least a HY or Full Yard bundle. 

Patchworkthreads.com -- Have you seen their shirts? Do you own one? or five? Seriously, so comfortable and modern/graphic enough that you can flaunt your quilting style without wearing a quilted appliqué vest. (Unless you are into that sort of thing.)

I have the Hexie Shirt, Make It, I Quilt So I Don't Kill People (Ain't that the truth!), and the Gold Flying Geese. Trust me. Eventually I can wear one each day, which also saves time in the morning. Not that I dress up. Ever. But these make me feel cute, and a little more dressed up than the 15 year old yearbook camp t-shirt I usually wear.

Stash Building (Fabric Hoarding)

There were two thoughts that came to mind when I sat down to write this post. The first: Quilters (Fabric Freaks) are really proud of their stash. And I don't mean mustache. We post pictures, we talk about it, we stare, we caress, we reorganize, color code, and we create little bundles that show off previously unseen layer cakes. We would love friends to come over and swoon as much as we do, but unless they too are fabric lovers, chances are pretty slim. I mean, I think we might get offended if someone couldn't recognize a Bonnie and Camille charm pack at 20 paces. Am I right? 

The second: You couldn't find anyone more prepared for the apocalypse, as you find quilters that are prepared for really any quilting/sewing project. It's not that we are all girl scouts tried and true. I believe that quilters are born with the ability to sniff out fabric stores and other quilty friends, which helps enable the fabric hoarding. Don't agree? Go check out #thegreatfabricdestash. I guarantee you'll change your tune after checking out that Wallet Snatching hashtag. 

On with the post: Stash building. It's not really a secret that I live in Brasil. I haven't been here too long (January), but I experienced a bit of homesickness and loneliness the first few months I was here. It can be difficult to "run" out and find relief with retail therapy (stuff is crazy expensive) and after researching, there just really aren't any Moda dealers down here. Bernina, totally different story. 

Anyway, I began shopping online and having stuff shipped to my mom. It was pretty easy. Like too easy. I joined a fabric club (Westwood Acres, Inside Voices, anyone?), I shopped the destash, Etsy, etc. I didn't think it was really a problem until we got ready to leave for Brasil, after our summer vacation, and I began packing. And packing. And purchasing a duffle bag to pack some more. 

 The picture doesn't do the size of the suitcase and duffle justice. It was big. And the duffle weighed 40+ pounds, the suitcase was just under 70.

But it was SO worth it. Look at all that gorgeousness.

 I bought several yards of basic white because you can never have too much of that, and I had just run out before we left for the US. And I have a thing for the Blueberries from Country Girls, and why not add two jelly rolls. Seriously, jelly filled quilts are awesome.

On the left you will find Kate and Birdie Autumn Woods. I'm thinking Swell quilt with those. The right are Inside Voices bundles. The best fabric club, EVAH! Some Cotton + Steel basics.

The fabric destash led to an obscene amount of Kate Spain Fandango. I'm not even sure what is going to happen with that yet. Sigh.

This is FQ's of Meadow and Tule by Leah Duncan. Not my usual style but I'm pretty much in love. How about that top print. I would love that in some serious yardage.

And of course the B & C.

Miss Kate Charm pack and F8. Jelly Rolls of April Showers and Happy Go Lucky. FQ of Scrumptious. April Showers FQ's. Yardage of Jump, the list goes on. And then she has her DaySail line coming out in February. Shut the front door and take away my credit card.

One thing I really wanted was yardage. I can never seem to have the right fabric for quilt backs. Now I have lots and lots of choices.

And because my To Do/Want to Make list is so so short, let's add a Farmer's Quilt. I'm sorry, but it has to be made with all of my B & C scraps. Right? Did you see Camille's? Seriously.

Totally not of my stash, but my craft room was painted while I was gone! Woo hoo! It's hard to tell, but it's an Ashy Lavender color. Love Love It!

 My White's I ordered. One seems off. I don't know if it's the difference between 97/98 Bella Solids, seriously, I thought they were both Bleached White. I'm a little bummed.

@quiltstory made a fabulous quilt from her low volume bundles. I'm totally going to copy her, and do the same!

I don't really have one regret of all the fabric I bought. I know I will use it all eventually. And let's face it...There is more to come. I swear there are like at least three lines that are coming out this fall that I MUST have. Because we HAVE to own them. Or our quilty world just isn't right.

Current Projects and Crafter's ADD

I'm a one-project-at-a-time crafter. I see posts on Instagram about ladies working on multiple quilt tops at once, and I just can't do that. Don't get me wrong, there are times when a quilt top is uninspiring and I want to throw my hands in the air, but I stick it out. One at a time. Slow and steady wins the race. I'm the tortoise. 

I recently finished a baby quilt and tucked my machine away, knowing that we would be leaving for the US for two months. I didn't really want to start anything new, and not finish. But, I got the itch. I blame IG - @saracecilquilts more specifically. Go follow her. She'll temp you to sew stuff. 

Anyway, she was starting an "Along." I've never "alonged," but I've been curious. She also happened to be using the Adorn pattern from the Simply Retro book. I wasn't doing anything, it looked quick, I succumbed to the pressure. 

I will say, it was quick. There are some ladies out there that had their Adorn block done, in hours. Mine was more like 2-3 days. It's a one block, mini quilt, to Adorn your wall. The triangles were very scary, but I did it. And I really like it. IG is great because you can take a picture of your WIP and ask questions. I now have a better method of handling those triangles because of that community. Check out #adornalong and you will be so amazed by all the beautiful work out there. Hand quilted perfection. 

I'm actually going to try and hand quilt this one. I've never hand quilted anything, but why not? I'm taking it home for two months, and I will be without a sewing machine, so no time like the present, right?


I was feeling pretty good about that Adorn quilt. It was a satisfying piece to complete. I tucked my machine away, again. Then Joel Dewberry's Botanique was calling me. I just HAD to know how easy or hard a Swoon block was to complete, so I cut enough fabric for one block...and then two.

The first one I made was great. There is a mistake in this block, but I love it. I don't think quilting is about perfection. It's not for me anyway. I think if someone would pay me to make quilts to give to others, I would. Hands down. I love to make stuff for people.

Then the second block happened. And let's be honest. I do not like it. The Ikat design looks horrible when it's cut up. At least on this block it does. I really had to stop and reassess. I changed up some of the other fabrics to provide more contrast for each block, hopefully I will like it once the whole thing is complete. But let's just say, this blue Ikat block is a "bottom - left corner of the quilt- block."

Every day I'm inspired by the IG community. This picture has inspired me to take up crocheting again. Do I need to crochet? No, but it's like crafter's ADD. I see pictures, I'm completely inspired, and I MUST try it. Sure I'm knee deep in fabric, but what's one more hobby? Once I figured out what type of yarn this was, I was on Pinterest creating a crochet board with Sunburst Afghan tutorials. I went online and looked where the yarn was sold. It took a lot of will power to not go ahead and order everything I need...but I took a breath, and decided to wait until I got to the US. Then, it's every man for himself. Seriously, those colors are amazing. 

Quilting 101: What the Heck Do I Need?

Disclaimer: I am not a professional quilter. I don't have years of experience to back up my claims. I'm an intermediate amateur at best, but I have the passion of an 85 year old women in a quilting bee. A friend has been going back and forth about whether she wanted to give quilting a try, so she asked me what she would need to get started:

These things that I mention, I learned from other quilters. I feel like it's my duty to pass them along to other newbies.

First: Inspiration. It sounds crazy, but what else would cause you to want to make a quilt, other than being inspired my someone, or some insanely gorgeous fabric. I was inspired by a quilt on Pinterest, and the rest is history, as is my spare money.

This is my next project. A Swoon quilt that I'm using Botanique by Joel Dewberry. I'm linking one of my very FAVORITE fabric stores. Their customer service is stupendous and they have a great selection. I'm also a part of their Inside Voice Club.

Basics -  A rotary cutter and cutting mat. These are essential. Don't think that you can use your Fiskars scissors from your junk drawer to cut and piece fabric. Oh Honey, the mess you will make. Many people I stalk follow on Instagram use Olfa for both.  I didn't know this when I started, so I just went to my local craft store and bought what they had. You can do the same, but I'm kind of a follower. If Camillie Roskelley is using it, I will too.

Thread: Aurifil. Just do it. I used Coats & Clark from a local store in beginning. But then I saw the error of my ways. I kept seeing all the quilting rock stars using this "Aurifil." So I got some and have never looked back! Plus, although I have only ever used white, they come in TONS of great colors.

Ruler: I have a 5" x 18" it's a beast. Hard to use. Then I got a 2 1/2" x 18" because "you know who" said that's what she used, and it really is much better. Easier to move around and place.

Pins: For my first quilt I used some large yellow head pins. They were fine. Then I ordered some Little House pins and they are fantastic. They are small, and thin - be careful if you drop them and then can't find them, until your foot does...

Feet: You can use the presser foot that came with your machine. I would recommend using a 1/4 inch presser foot because it has a handy little guide on the right side to keep your 1/4 seam accurate. Now, if you are planning on quilting yourself, I would suggest a free motion foot. This allows you to create literally whatever shape you want when quilting. BUT - there is some much needed practice time before you get all "Meandering Stitch" on your quilt. I would suggest making your quilt sandwich and having a couple or four test runs. 

Depending on the type of machine you have, will depend on the exact foot type you need.

Machine: I have a Bernette 7. It's the little sister of Bernina. I wanted to invest in a Bernina, but at the time it just wasn't possible, so this was the perfect solution. I love this machine. It can be difficult to quilt on, as it doesn't have a long arm table attachment, but overall I love it, and will definitely upgrade to a Bernina when possible.

White Material: Yes, it needs it's own section. It is likely that you will need some white material for the background on your quilt. I've used one kind, and it's all I will ever use. I buy it by the yard(S) and keep it in stock. Bella Solids Bleached White 97. She uses it, therefore I do. But I can speak from experience that it is really a lovely white. Creamy, but not yellow, and not Bright white.

Online Help: This one is pretty important. I would HIGHLY recommend enrolling in a Craftsy course. They are not expensive. You can watch the videos over and over and over for the rest of your life. Once you've paid - the lessons are yours, forever. They have a great variety, depending on what you are seeking. And honestly, I watch them all the time. I'm constantly inspired by watching someone else quilt.

Storage Space: If you are like me, then fabric hoarding will become a problem. While my inspiration for quilting started with a quilt, it's the fabric that has solidified our relationship. I like it...a lot. I buy it ... a lot...on the sly, so my husband doesn't really notice how much I have. You'll want a space devoted for your fabric - mine is hideous right now. This is just one cube, there is more.  But even in it's messy state, it's beautiful. Such is life. 

Quilters and Rock Stars

I'm a dabbler. An amateur. A jack-of-all-trades. I love being creative, no matter what the source. I've painted, knit, crocheted, wielded a jig-saw, and quilted. If I think I can, I will try. I love the process of creating. It starts with an inspiration and ends with something tangible that YOU made. I love looking at things that I've done around my house - there is some serious satisfaction in that. 

Quilting, however, is my thang. My passion. My must-have. My "if we must move to Brasil, how quick can my machine get there?" It's important. 

I taught myself to quilt. Cayden was 6 months old, I stumbled upon a quilt on Pinterest (imagine that!), and I said, "I can do that!" I bought a cheap machine, and pieced and basted, and free motion quilted that bad boy until it was complete. There are definite flaws in that quilt, but I love it, because it was my first. 

Three years later, I have amassed an obscene number of quilters I follow on Instagram, and whose blogs I stalk. All in the name of creativity...right? Quilters and fabric designers are celebrities in these circles; rock stars if you will. One in particular - Camille Roskelley. She's amazing. Mother of 3 boys, a quilter, a fabric designer, and crazy talented when it comes to decorating her house. She makes it all look flawless, yet easy. She and her mom, Bonnie, have designed 10 lines of fabric for Moda. I've only been on the buying end of the last three, but when I say they are hot commodities, I ain't lying. I've seen fabric sell in seconds on IG, because it is Bonnie & Camille. People hoard it, take pictures of it, vowing never to use one square inch because of it's beauty. They stack it high, and flaunt it! I'm really not joking. Others make quilt, after quilt, after quilt, because that is what it was made for. Rock star status - that is what she has. The followers, kind of like groupies, on the look out for the next bolt or the next pattern. 

I found Camillie's blog right after I finished that first quilt. I bought her book, read every single blog post she's ever written, and cemented myself into her fan club. Her patterns are easy to read and follow, which is important for those of us on the less experienced side of quilting. She also has two classes through the Craftsy website. They are Spectacular! I have subscribed to both, and I'm telling you... If you don't run out and make something after watching her, then there is something wrong. 

I recently finished her Puddle Jumping quilt for my second son. It was the most difficult pattern I've used so far, but really easy. Is that an oxymoron? oh well .

These are some of the fabrics from their Happy Go Lucky line. Perfect for a boy.

I tend to like the stripes, polka dots, scallops more than any other pattern in their fabric. Probably because I have two little boys, and a husband who would like for it to be less frilly around here. Either way, each line has something for everybody, and you can mix and mingle the lines. Perfection.

So, I've been wanting to start this blog for several months now. Something that was geared more toward my crafty side, my love of fabric, where and from whom I find inspiration, how I have time, or not, to work on quilts - You know, the balance of reality and creativity. I got my FaceBook page lined up, my Instgram, and Pinterest. I posted a picture of a quilt I am working on, just to have something on the new IG, and then this happened:

See that comment by Thimbleblossoms.... that's HER!! Not only did she "like" the picture, she took the time to comment on it. Seriously, I took a screen shot of it, showed by husband (he wasn't quite as excited as I was), and it pretty much made my day. She's like that though. She comments and "likes" quilts and things that others have made using her fabrics and patterns. The quilting community is wonderful. It's just another reason to check out her blog, and if you haven't seen her fabrics and patterns, take the time to look at those too. You won't be disappointed.