Softly Against Black...

One of my favorite quilting blogs is Rachel's Stitched in Color. Rachel has such a fresh writing style, her blog is simply wonderful to follow, and most importantly, she has a real love and appreciation of color. I mean really, what's not to like?

Today she opened her blog for a mosaic contest. I don't usually participate in these contests, but this one appealed to me. The theme is "Softly Against Black." There is just something so gothically romantic (I think I just made up a word)  about this theme, that I decided to play along.

The rules of the contest are that we need to visit Fresh Modern Fabric's Etsy store, view the fabrics and create a mosaic of 12 fabrics that describe our idea of "Softly Against Black."

This is my mosaic:

My inspiration is "Behind City Walls." 

I've always like the Ghastlies fabrics, so I used one of the Ghastly Ladies as my inspiration of a City Woman. The tapestry prints are akin to the wall paper I imagine in those Park Place Gothic apartments, however beneath the surface there is a vulnerability and sweetness represented by the pink fabrics. I included the cityscape fabric because it's a sketch of a city, and I also put in the birds because I felt like they show some of the hidden color and beauty in a city when you take a closer look.

I really feel like this mosaic represents what you find when you look closer and see everything softly against the black...

If you'd like to play too, the contest is open until September 20th. The winner gets a fat quarter bundle of the fabrics used in the mosaic. The contest costs nothing and lets you wax poetic about fabric.....so why are you still here? Get to picking!

Gnomervention

It's time for a gnomervention. 

Welcome to your happy place. 

Gnome Sweet Home Sleeve-O-Rama for devices up to 7"

Welcome Home Doctor Whosters!

Pop quiz time! What do you get for the guy that really wants a Doctor Who themed item, but isn't sure about a tote bag or a basket?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Bueller?



The answer....fabric coasters aka Doctor Whosters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shout out to all the lady superheroes!

Aren't these great?! I know fabric coasters are not something new and you can find thousands of them over on Etsy, but these are my first attempt and I'm pretty proud.

I love that you can take ANY fabric out there and whip it into a perfect coaster that puts the "fun" in functional! 

These coasters are made with that fantastic T.A.R.D.I.S. print by the Unicorn and the Wasp and finished with cotton batting for absorption, and Kona Gray for style.

This is one of those times when it's hip to be square.

The recipient of these Whosters is pretty excited. I have more of this fabric so I put a listing up on Etsy. I think I'll take some of the scraps I have from the bags I made recently and do an "eclectic" Doctor Whosters set. *cough* shameless plug *cough*.

I can't wait to try this out in the I Love Lucy scrap squares that I have, as well as the other fabrics. Batman? Avengers? Wonder Woman? Oh My!

Suzy Sells Seashells at the Seashore

There is really something special about fabric that lets you take a vacation year round whenever you look at it!

Here is a pouch I made for a friend's iPhone. It also fits my larger Android phone and my Canon Powershot (which apparently had a hard time taking a clear picture).

This fabric is so pretty in person!

I've had this sandy colored fabric with pretty pink stars for awhile now and figured it would just be smashing with this case. I was right!

Smashing!

I discovered those fusible velcro strips about a month ago and I just can't get enough. So easy to "install" and just makes for a nice finish.

This was a fun project to make on a rainy, gloomy, East Coast night.

Do. Good Stitches for August & September

It's time for another check-in for the Do. Good Stitches BELIEVE Circle quilting bee. After being "Right on top of that, Rose" for July, I procrastinated a bit on my August blocks. In fact, I completed the August blocks on the first day of September. Close counts, right?

August was Stephanie's month and she asked us to make two Asterisk style blocks using the tutorial found on the Selvage Blog. She asked that we use teal, gray, and yellow fabrics.


At first I was a bit intimidated by this block, as it looks so complicated. However, after reading the tutorial, I realized the block just *LOOKS* complicated when in fact, it's rather simple. I'm pleased with my final results!

Teal, yellow, and gray, hooray!

Not wanting to have a repeat of August, I made my September blocks on the first of the month. September belongs to Vicki from Sew Inspired, and she asked for two blocks in a modern log cabin style inspired by the below quilt.

Jacqui of Tall Grass Prairie Studios Scandia Crush

There is no hard and set pattern/tutorial for this style, however we were asked to use a color scheme in black, gray, pink, red, and/or white, prints or solids.

This is a fairly easy style to whip up and I decided to go with a black, white, and hot pink theme. 

 

I LOVE how these blocks came out. In the future I may have to expand on this style and color choices. Next time I join an online quilting/block swapping bee, such as Nubees Monthly Block Swap, I'm going to request this color scheme to help me get started.

Doctor Who Is My [Their] Bag!

One of the greatest things about weekday holidays have to be the television marathons. In honor of all the students going back to school this week, and late last month, the Chiller channel ran a Buffy the Vampire Slayer marathon. While I would have LOVED to have sat down to watch this all day, I found myself occupied with another cult classic--Doctor Who.

Oooh! Aahh!

Not watching Doctor Who, mind you, but creating some Doctor Who themed goodies!

I received a request for a custom Doctor Who order of three tote bags and one Sassy Shopper. Talk about exciting! My customer checked out the amazing artists who make their prints available on Spoonflower.com and then let me know which fabrics would make the perfect bags for her daughters.

She requested the TARDIS bag with my favorite Doctor Who themed prints, T.A.R.D.I.S. by The Unicorn and the Wasp and All The Whos by Third Half Studios.

The second bag features All The Whos as the outer fabric with Hello Sweetie by Scrummy as the interior fabric.

The third bag features The Untempered Schism in black, also by Scrummy, with All the Whos as the interior.

In addition to the tote bags for her daughters, she requested the Sassy Shopper for herself. The bag features the Untempered Schism on the outside with Hello Sweetie on the inside. There are three interior pockets, one large one and one divided in half. The bag is finished with a magnetic closure. To help with sturdiness, I used some light interfacing and cotton batting.

The tote bags have been delivered and arrived just in time for the season premier of Doctor Who. The Sassy Shopper is heading out in the mail tomorrow. Loved making these bags!