Since taking a look at gifts I made for Gerre a week or so ago, I decided to look at gifts I have made for Mom and Julie. Here are the various gifts I have made for my mom. Many have the different artist fabrics I have collected.
Commentary about works in progress, design & creativity
Since taking a look at gifts I made for Gerre a week or so ago, I decided to look at gifts I have made for Mom and Julie. Here are the various gifts I have made for my mom. Many have the different artist fabrics I have collected.
Cutting out pieces for bags is the hardest part. It is also, for me, the worst part. I often make two of a pouch or bag at the same time. Cutting out two of each piece at one time doesn’t seem to be that much harder than cutting out one. That is how I made this pouch. I decided on the spur of the moment to make the same pouch for Lil Sissy for Christmas that I was making for myself. I didn’t think really hard about the fabric. I grabbed this Alison Glass fabric, which is super cheerful, IMO, and for which I hadn’t yet found a use.
I am on the fence about whether I should have used a different fabric for the zipper plackets. I have trouble figuring out where pieces are going to go and most independent pattern makers don’t really tell you beyond naming the piece. I think using the same fabric on this pouch looks fine. If I used fabric like the Dripping Rose again, I would probably use different fabric. The motifs get broken up too much.
I picked a specific inside for this pouch, because it is for my sister. She is an artist, thus the splatter print. She seems to like the bags I make for her, though I have always used Paris related prints for her. This fabric is a departure.
I put a gift certificate inside.
Welcome to the first V&S for 2022. Hope you find some fun things in the collections I compile this year. Send along anything interesting you find and I’ll include it.
Projects, Classes, Patterns & Tutorials
I was looking at The Crafty Quilter site and saw a recent post. When I saw the picture I thought for sure Julie (of The Crafty Quilter not Friend Julie) had made a Mega-Pinnie. I have never seen anyone else make a Mega-Pinnie, so I was intrigued. It turned out to be a super box-like pouch not a Mega-Pinnie. The post, however, reminded me of the Mega-Pinnies. Maybe I need to make some more. Gifts??? The Mega-Pinnie designer’s post has some interesting options. One has a wrist strap. I didn’t see that before and it would be useful. Another uses horizontal stripes for the pockets. Blue Patch Quilter shows a number of different Mega-Pinnies. They are used for different things and have a variety of features and decorations. Would you use one for remote controls?
QuiltFolk is supporting a Kaffe-style color class.
Two people brought needlepoint projects to the Sew Day Holiday party last month. NEEDLEPOINT! I didn’t really think people did needlepoint anymore (stupid, I know), but there they were. Now I am seeing it everywhere. I saw a link to Ehrman Tapestry for Brandon Mably designs. I navigated around and found some Kaffe pages with inspirational information and a video. Now I want to do needlepoint. I am not going to buy a kit, though. I don’t need anymore cushions and I don’t need anymore handwork. Still it is tempting.
Tula had a video on how to sew 30 degree triangles.
Natalie from Sew Hungry Hippie has a whole Drive folder full of free patterns.
Check out the Bust the Stash Challenge from Border Creek Quilts. The block is now available. The block information is very complete and looks like the author knows how to write quilt directions. If you make at least 52 blocks (one per week for 52 weeks), you can qualify for a special prize. The page has previous stashbuster challenges as well. This project forces me to ask will your stash ever be busted? What does busting a stash look like? Will my stash ever be busted?
Do you want to know how to use SVG files with your Cricut Maker**? This is made with information from Michelle Graham who works with Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness.
Books, Fabrics, Notions & Supplies
Enamel pins are not really supplies, but Sew Hungry Hippie has some cool examples. I saw the color wheel pin and had to buy some as gifts. They have others that have really great crafting sayings.
I found this shop, Modern Quilt Company, when I was testing a tool at work. I always use quilt topics as I know the subject so well. I can identify the errors or weird results more quickly. They have the regular modern fabrics. They also have a blog with an interesting bag pattern. I also like the way their menu stays the same regardless of what page you are visiting. That feature makes it much easier to navigate. Lots of pre-cuts. If you want the Daydreamer kit, Pining for You by Tula Pink, they have some.
There are a lot of great places to buy zippers. Have you tried Zipper Valley?
Furniture
I am thinking of buying an EddyCrest Cutting Table. The model is 6040. I met this company when I went to Houston in 2014. They have really nice pieces. The sewing table I have now is really nice, but it doesn’t fit my upgraded machine, so I think a new sewing table is in my future as well.
Media and Inspiration
Barbara Brackman posted a unique and beautiful red and green quilt on 12/27/2021. Apparently there are three of them, which she followed up showing on subsequent days. I know this is really a modern quilt, but the angle of the swags and the spinning look of the Rose of Sharon variation blocks is amazingly beautiful. The quilt is owned by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. It makes me want to make one.
The Butler Method is a technique of putting in a zipper pocket. Someone mentioned this method when I complimented them on their work and they shared this video.
Check out the Quilter’s Last Will & Testament
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I finished the Percheron Pouch over the Thanksgiving Weekend, which was a great relief. I couldn’t show it because it was a gift for my mom and she reads this blog.
I gave it to her on Christmas and she really liked it. She filled it up with all of the other gifts she received.
I really liked the look of this bag, which is why I decided to make it for my mom. I like making her bags I think are interesting. She always seems to appreciate them.
I really struggled with this bag. As I said before, I cut this bag out in June. Then it languished for all the same reasons that other projects languished: workroom upgrade and work.
I worked on it a little, but was frustrated with all of the sewing and ripping that I had to do. I don’t know what the issue was with this bag, but I struggled with the pattern and the video.
Finally, over Thanksgiving, I decided to work on it in earnest. Yes, I still ripped and sewed and ripped some more, but I was able to finish it.
I thought it looked good enough to give away even if it isn’t perfect.
I gave Julie this Large Retreat Pouch for her birthday the other day. This is the bag I made over Halloween weekend, but couldn’t show you since she reads this blog.
The Retreat Bag is a free pattern from Emmaline Bags. It requires a frame and the frame is not free, but also not very expensive. The frame allows it to open all the way, providing easy access to the contents.
I realized around that time that I needed to get busy and start making any gifts that I wanted to make for the holidays. That weekend, this was one of two Large Retreat Pouches that I made. As I mentioned then, it was the first time I had made the large version of this pouch. I added a leash to this one, because I thought it would make the bag more useful.
This is a pretty large bag. It would be great for a few balls of yarn and knitting needles as well as some EPP. I think it could also be used for a sponge bag or makeup kit.
The lining actually fits pretty snugly though it looks baggy in the photo.
I used some of my favorite purple fabrics since this was going to one of my favorite people.
2021 blog posts: 362
2021 fabric used: 13.28 yards net (150.78 total – if you do the math, you will know how many yards of fabric I bought or was given.)
I didn’t feel as productive this year as I was in 2020. I definitely sewed a lot, but somehow I didn’t finish as many large projects.
Finished 2021 Quilt Projects
Finished 2021 Small and Non-Quilt Projects
This category covers bags, toys, aprons and knitting as well as other non-quilt projects.
Looking at all of these accessories and small projects makes me excited to make more. I just don’t have time to do as much sewing as I want. 🙁
Doing Good
In Process or To Make
The ‘In Process’ is used to denote projects on which I am actively working or are on the design wall waiting for me to stitch. I am continuing to try not to put away projects. I find putting a project away ensures I never work on them, because I just lose steam.
Quilts
Small Projects to Make or in Process
Most of my progress involves thinking or just cutting.
Handwork
I decided that some of my projects are in a different class because they are hand piecing or embroidery or beading. They take longer. Thus I created a new category and have moved some projects here.
Ready for Quilting
In the Quilting Process
In the Finishing Process
Still WIPs
I still have WIPs. Who doesn’t, after all? A project in the ‘UFO’ category means I am stalled. A nicer way of saying UFO is a WIP. The list is a lot shorter and the projects are newer, for the most part.
I have been stuck on small projects. It is because of the workroom redo , but I am also enjoying working on bags and pouches. Don’t worry, I am not giving up quilts.
I also finally made it into the green in fabric usage. WHEW! I’ll never make it to 100 yards unless I give a boatload of fabric away, but at least I have made up for the fabric I have purchased this year.
I know it wasn’t that long ago that I wrote a post about the gifts I have made for my friend Gerre. I have made her a few more gifts this year and wanted to post them all together again. Surprisingly, I had forgotten to list a few of them, like the travel pouch, so I have added them.
I have enjoyed revisiting gifts I made for Julie and my mom. I haven’t made as many gifts for Gerre, but I decided to revisit them anyway.
I enjoy making gifts for other people, especially useful gifts. Revisiting them is just a way to enjoy them again. I also like to see what gifts I tend to make for multiple people.
I definitely didn’t make as many donation blocks in 2021 as I did in 2020. Still, I have a few to share and I am a firm believer in the old adage ‘ every little bit helps’.
I started making the guild 16 patches in May. Even though I cut tons of squares, I just didn’t get to it. I was using other projects for leaders and enders. Then I started the workroom upgrade. It has all conspired to make me not as productive in the donation area than last year.
This is still an important part of my quiltmaking and I’ll get back to making more blocks again.
At work I have a team meeting every Monday. For some reason I started to show whatever items I made over the weekend to my workmates. Now it is a regular feature of our meetings.
After showing the bowl cozies I made for the BAM swap, a big discussion ensued about what they were, how to use them. I offered to make some for everyone, but only my boss took me up on them. I finished them yesterday.
I am really pleased with the fabric choices. I am glad she wanted red and black!
After making these using the same tutorial I used before, I am thinking of making bowl cozies as family gifts. I could make gift bags as soon as I finish the bowl cozies and I wouldn’t have to do anything in December. If I start in January it won’t be so bad. You can remind me of my big plans when I am moan about family gifts in December. 😉
This was the other Large Retreat Pouch I completed over the Halloween weekend. I sent it off to Gerre for Christmas and am assuming she liked it.
The Retreat Bag is a free pattern from Emmaline Bags that requires a frame. The frame is not free, but also not very expensive. The frame allows it to open all the way, providing easy access to the contents.
I ran out of the ice cream fabric I used for her other gifts. I bought this, because I thought it was fabric she would like. I made some pillowcases out of the fabric and she told me she really liked them. I don’t really like it, however. I only had a yard of it, so I will use the rest of it for smaller gifts and then find something else that will work for future gifts.
I didn’t use the Sugar Skulls for the inside, because I always like a light inside for bags. As I have said a million times, it makes it easier for me (and people) to find things at the bottom of the bag.
I used a Joel Dewberry Notting Hill poppy print. I have had this laying around for a few years and am so glad I used it. The inside is so pretty!
As mentioned, this is the pouch in which I put an inside zipper pocket and needed to consult with Tim as well as watch the video. I also made a slip pocket, which is included in the pattern, but I don’t like it as much in this iteration. It will be fine, but I’ll do it differently, if I made this size again.
I had some zipper pulls and decided to use one on this bag. I got these on sale at Michael’s, I think, and always forget I have them. I have been going through my hardware bag regularly. I remembered and thought one would be a great addition.
I bought this Purse Organizer pattern from Sotak Handmade sometime in December 2020 when she was having a sale. It was an impulse buy. I thought that the bag would be useful in my work laptop bag for carrying my wallet and some items I would normally put in my purse. When you don’t have a desk, everything has to be portable and carrying a purse in addition to a laptop bag and a lunch bag makes me feel like a small pack animal.
I cut out this pouch on New Year’s Eve eve 2020 and sewed it together on New Year’s Day 2021. Once cut out, it was an easy project.
The excellent thing is that I was reminded how easy Zipper slip pockets are to add! Tim and I have talked about these types of pockets, but I was reluctant despite the cool zipper ruler I bought. This pattern got me back into the swing of those zipper slip pockets and I feel more confident that I can put them into any bag. I did have trouble keeping the zipper straight as I sewed it, so that is something to work on.
I also should have clipped the corners of the bag before turning it as I couldn’t poke the corners out and make them look sharp.
I decided to make this as a gift for my mom for Mother’s Day, but ended up giving her something else, so it was a Christmas gift.
I have visited Wooden Gate Quilts out in Danville many times. The store was small, but had really good items and great fabric. They crammed a lot into a small space. I first talked about it in 2010! It is great to know that the shop has been there that long.
Mom and I have a routine when we meet. We meet at Starbuck’s since traffic is unpredictable, then go to the quilt shop, then have lunch at the gluten free cafe. When we got together the other day, the only thing that worked was Starbuck’s!
We chatted for while at Starbuck’s, then headed over to the quilt shop. It was GONE!! I couldn’t believe it. Fortunately, my phone came to the rescue and we found that it had just moved. We rearranged and headed for the gluten free cafe. Closed. 🙁 They are now only open Thursday-Sunday. I checked, but missed that tidbit. I had planned to pig out on GF pastries, so was disappointed. We went and got GF pizza. It was good, we could eat inside and the place wasn’t crowded. It was a longer walk than Mom had planned so she skipped the quilt shop and I went looking for it later.
The inside of the shop is just how I would decorate: bright white everything with the fabric highlighted.
As you can see the shelves were 3 high, which I thought was not too tall, but provided a lot of space for bolts. All of the shelves were full, but I didn’t think they had tons of the fabric.
I liked the selection, which included some of the new Tula Daydreamer line. The shop used to have a good selection of Michael Miller solids (Cotton Couture???), but I didn’t see them this time. I think they might have switched to Bella solids.
I wanted to buy some neutral charm packs to make more half triangle squares for Peggy, but no such luck. I’ll borrow SIL’s 5″ die and cut some myself. I have plenty of white, which should surprise nobody.
I think their notions area is a little smaller than before. Still, they had great notions. They have all of the Quilter’s Select tools by Alex Anderson- rotary cutters in two sizes and a variety of ruler sizes.
I thought about buying one of her rotary cutters to try, but it was nearly $60. Well worth it, I am sure, but too much for me to give it a try. I have plenty of rotary cutters and am happy with my squeezy handle cutter**. I’ll look for deals. You never know.
The lady working told me they have twice the space. I believe it. The shop had a classroom before, but this one was nice and big. My back is to the class in this picture, so you’ll have to go visit the shop to see it.
I think the floors were the same as in the previous location. I don’t know that I would choose them, but I think they add warmth and keep the white walls and shelves from being too stark.
They had a large cutting table before and this one might be the same. I didn’t buy any fabric (have you seen my statistics? Abysmal for 2021!!) though I covet that cutting table. If I had space, I could cut more than one project at a time, have a place for scraps, etc.
I only bought a couple of things, including a new thimble to try. I couldn’t find any of the light grey (Aurifil 2600) when I made a purchase at Pink Door‘s sale. I saw the right color, so I picked up a spool.
The shop is in a mall called The Livery. The mall or group of shops has beautiful old trees, which enhances the appeal. Parking is good.
Wooden Gate Quilts
310 Sycamore Valley Road
Danville, CA 94526
Phone Number: (925) 837-8458
Email: debi@woodengatequilts.com
Masks are required in the shop.
**I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.