Category Archives: Uncategorized

May 21, 2012 · 11:59 AM

Personalized Fabric Notebook Cover

My roommate from college visited me from out of town last night. Her birthday is tomorrow and I wanted to make her a gift. Here is what I made for her:

Finished notebook cover with pen pocket

I was inspired by this pouch that Lynne had at the DC Modern Quilt Guild meeting on Saturday. She was given this as a swap item. Pretty great, don’t you think?

Personalized pouch – front

Personalized pouch – back

Fabric notebook covers are my “go to” item if I need a quick gift. I made a ton of them for Christmas gifts this past year. My quilt guild, Needlechasers of Chevy Chase, has made many of these to sell in our boutique at our next quilt show and that is how I first learned to make them. It is an original design by Candy Glendening as featured in “Quilting Arts Gifts” Holiday 2011/2012 magazine. You can figure the measurements to fit any notebook. I like to use a hard covered spiral notebook that I can buy at Staples for about $2.00.

Hardcover spiral notebook 9 1/2 x 6 inches

To personalize this gift, I put Karen’s name into a blank word document and played with some different fonts until I found one that I liked. I then added the little “flourish” to each letter because I liked that kind of look on Lynne’s pouch.

Font is Bradley Hand ITC – embellished as shown

I freehand copied it with washable blue pen onto my piece of linen fabric.

The embroidery was done with 3 strands of DMC floss and an outline stitch.

Embroidery of name done.

I added some lazy daisy flowers in green with pink french knot centers and then sewed some fabrics around it in sort of a log cabin style. On the back I did a little bit more patchwork and hand stitching. I also did some top stitching with my sewing machine in pink as an easy accent (around the linen square on the back and “KAREN” on the front.)

Outside of notebook cover.
Ready to be sewn to inside.

The inside of this notebook cover has flaps to insert the notebook into. On the inside of the front flap is a little business card holder which I stamped a little design on. The inside of the back flap has a (green) pocket.

Inside – ready for final sewing

Once the inside and outside pieces are all complete, the right sides are put together and stitched all around except for an opening in which to turn it. The final step is edge stitching all around the edge to close the opening and finish it off nicely.

Finished Notebook cover – open to show front and back

Karen loved it! And I loved having her visit. Happy Birthday tomorrow!

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Filed under Gifts, Notebook covers, Uncategorized

Tagged as Fabric notebook cover, gift, notebook cover, quilted gift

May 16, 2012 · 9:31 AM

Looking forward to the Zakka quilt project

Have you been sewing along with the projects from the book Zakka Style? It’s been fun to see all of the different versions of the projects starting from the beginning of the book. The first project was a tote bag and it took some time to make up. However, since then, the projects have been very quick and relatively simple. The idea with the Zakka Sew Along is to read the guest blogger’s notes for that week’s project on Monday and make the item up and link it by the following Sunday. I’m going to be traveling some over the next few weeks so I thought I had better look ahead.

Japanese fabric charm pack

There is only one quilt in the book and it is coming up in a few weeks. I have a charm pack of Japanese woven fabrics that I’ve been saving for just the right project, and I think this is it! My squares are 4″ and the pattern in the book calls for 6″ but that does not deter me. I will just add more rows/columns to make the quilt the same size.

I made a sketch to help determine materials and sizes needed.

I’m considering sewing this together with my serger. I have never sewn a quilt together this way before but all of these fabric are rather loosely woven (especially this linen) and I think it might be a good idea.

Quilt layout on design wall

I did not get last weeks project (mini magnets) done due to travel for my husband’s birthday. However, I still feel like I’m ahead instead of behind because I’ve got this quilt all cut and ready to sew.

Happy Birthday Dear!

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Filed under Family, Uncategorized, Zakka Style sew along

Tagged as japanese fabrics, quilt, zakka, zakka quilt, zakka style, zakka style sew along

April 19, 2012 · 11:40 PM

Studio Gatz – handcrafted gifts and more!

Check out Studio Gatz. My daughter, Sandy, just opened this online store and it has some wonderful handcrafted items including cards, pillows, glassware and dishtowels. She is also mixing in some vintage items. If you need a special gift, this is the perfect place to look.

Studio Gatz – Vintage Finds & Classic Designs

I was the pillow maker this past week. These pillows are made out of linen or other textured fabrics. I covered the cording and added it to the edges (I was told the pillows HAD to have this). Most have a hidden zipper in the back with a decorative fabric strip doing the hiding. Sandy wasn’t sure she would like the look of this but we both loved it once I did the first one.

Linen Hexagon Pillow – Front

Linen Hexagon Pillow – Back

I used this tutorial from Sew Mama Sew to insert the zipper. It made the zipper a breeze and so beautiful. I think the back looks just as good as the front. Don’t you?

Back of pillow – hidden zipper

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Filed under Family, Pillows, Uncategorized

Tagged as linen, pillows, Studio Gatz, zipper

April 3, 2012 · 1:40 PM

Today is my 30th wedding anniversary

I got married 30 years ago today and see those 5 bridesmaid dresses and 1 flower girl dress? I made them! Wow, have styles changed. Just the fact that we all wore long sleeves seems odd now. The dresses are all out of date but the important thing is that the marriage is still going strong. Part of the reason for that is because he encourages my creative pursuits.

Check back soon to see my Zakka project in progress – but I had to take a time out today to remember my wedding and making those dresses. My apologies to the groomsmen who I cut out of the picture!

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Filed under Family, Uncategorized

Tagged as flower girl dress, wedding

March 31, 2012 · 8:53 AM

I finally have time . . . to start a blog!

I’ve been admiring all the quilting blogs that are currently out there. So much inspiration! My time has been spent doing lot’s of things over the years. I’m a mother to three daughters who are now all in their 20s. My career was as a registered nurse and I was fortunate enough to be able to work part time instead of full time while my girls were growing up. Those were busy years! Marriage, work, church, dance lessons (my girls, not me), Girl Scouts, volleyball, band, and a lovable golden retriever thrown into the mix.

Somehow I have always found time to sew. Why? Because I have three daughters! My sister has two daughters and my brother has one (and one son – the only male cousin). I learned to sew in home economics in 7th grade and have always loved to make things. I learned to smock when my oldest daughter was a baby. My girls and nieces grew up in smocked dresses (as did their dolls). Or at least wore them until about the age of 8 or 9 when they no longer wanted them. I even learned how to do french hand sewing by machine (talk about an oxymoron) so they also had fancy lace dresses for special occasions.

Smocked Easter dresses

I found the time to sew back then, in between everything else that was going on. But I never really felt as though I had time. Dare I risk jinxing myself now? Because I feel as though I finally have time . . .