collecting

::Collecting Spook::

October 27, 2015 By Katie 11 Comments

Halloween is my favorite holiday.

It is a creative holiday with its costume and decor. Some go for scary, vintage or gruesome. I just go for what I love. And you get to walk around and check out what people decided to be and how they decorated their houses.

I hunt around every year for a few unique, high quality pieces and then try to hold out for the sale. Some places like Crate and Barrel are obvious, but I poke around in less creative venues as well. These pumpkin heads I got one year at Safeway and they still remain my favorite.

I love it when I enter someone’s home and my eye keeps moving from one thing to the next without being overloaded so I try to remove the other distractions. I also like to have something displayed before it is put to its actual use, thus the candy and punch bowls become ‘planters’ until Friday/Saturday.

I resisted fabric this year and created with what I actually have. There are still some napkins to be made.

New pillows were added to the handmade goods.

I pulled out the quilt as you go trick or treat bag I made Roan last year. He requested I make a larger one. I suggested he might need a larger pancreas.

My mother-in-law even got me some bling this year. It is perfect for the hallway.

And even something for the bathroom. It helps distract from the wallpaper that I’m resisting until kitchen is done;)

The crows like to congregate in my fir tree so I’m all set on the wildlife.

I’ll let you know next year what I find at the end of the season. I’ve got it all saved to my Pinterest board for a quick look Sunday.

Happy week peeps;)

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I have a few openings in open studio and workshops. Drop me an email (sewkatiedid@gmail.com) if you’d like to join in.

Open Sew:

~~Thursday, October 29th from 10am-3pm~~ – Full

Wednesday, November 4th from 10am-3pm – 2 slots.

Off-the-Wall workshop:

~~Saturday, November 14th, 10am-3pm~~ FULL
~~Wednesday, November 11th, 10am-3pm (this is Veterans Day if you have it off)~~ FULL
Sunday, December 6th, 10am-3pm/ 1 space left
Thursday, December 3rd, 10am-3pm/ 2 spaces left

::Meow::

February 20, 2014 By Katie 24 Comments

I’ve been trying to stay away from buying fabric, but how could I resist?

Last Monday Maureen and I hopped the ferry to collect the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild’s Binary quilts Island Quilter had on display as their January exhibit and I was immediately onto the bolts of these kitties by Lizzy House.

I have triangles or simple log cabins already in my head.

Have you resisted?

Football+Fabric=?

January 30, 2014 By Katie

Giveaway closed. Thanks Brenda, Quilt Sandwich will get in touch.

Might equal happiness and hopefully a win for all or one of you if you follow the rules at the end and don’t fumble.

I’m teaching Sunday, but hoping to get out in time to catch most of the game. My Mother-In-Law was the first Seahawks office employee and it’s that office where she met my Father-In-Law when they brought him in to coach the Sounders years ago. The story is hilarious with her not looking her best in her purple pantsuit, handsome him and his accent…all ancient history now.

But while we’re waiting for the game…

Everyone wins when you play with Quilt Sandwich at their 25% off sale and just like the Superbowl (well, kind of) only one of you will win two- 1/2 yards of quilting weight fabric.

I’m seeing stars in Seattle’s future.

Here’s the rules to win:

Like Quilt Sandwich Fabrics Facebook page
Leave a comment here telling us the sum of this equation: Football+Fabric=?
Make sure the referees don’t make bad calls (just kidding, but not really:)

I’ll pick a winner on or around Tuesday when I return home.

Go Hawks!

Small print: Richard Sherman may not comment (haha). Read his great article on his ‘rant’ here. What a good human.

::Merry Christmas to Me::

December 24, 2013 By Katie 6 Comments

Apparently one Christmas quilt in the works isn’t enough in my mind, so I started searching out Christmas prints for another. It quickly came to light that in the sea of ‘Not-For-Me’ Christmas fabric my favorite current Christmas print line is Cherry Christmas by Aneela Hoey

I also noticed when I started looking for it that it is becoming a little more difficult to find, that in itself generally throws me into a panic. Luckily Sandie said she’d split the yards with me which means, ‘Merry Christmas’ to her too. We’re good at buying ourselves gifts:)

Isn’t it sweet?

Quilt Sandwich Fabrics still had two of my favorites from the line and what I bought of it is all washed and dried. I started cutting for another Sarah Fielke Made in Cherry quilt.

I always think I’m going to love a whole line together and am always disappointed once I get it up on the wall. Unfortunately I ran out of time to start adding other fabrics, the good news is I’m together with my family in Palm Springs. Which I’d love to report is experiencing above average temperatures.

My folks and my in-laws live a block from each other. It’s been extremely fun to just stroll down the street for a cuppa tea, Monday night football or a buddy to swim with. My brother has already come and gone as well as the Northern Irish, but the rest of us are in for the long haul.

I’m signing off for the holiday.

Wishing you all a grand celebration with your friends and families.

Log Cabins

August 21, 2013 By Katie 13 Comments

SaveSave

::Collecting Alexander Henry::

August 11, 2013 By Katie 28 Comments

Do you ever buy fabric with nothing in mind?

Just kidding.

Quilt Sandwich makes it hard for me to resist with their stock of Alexander Henry. Even though I need ZERO fabric, they make me feel like I’m running out.

I’ve collected a pile of the previous Ghastlies lines and ever since market have been waiting for Ghastlie Holiday to come out.

Pillows have already been made as samples for my invisible zipper class and the sage color will go onto my my holiday couch to replace some Halloween Ghastlies pillows.

Maybe a holiday A-Line skirt?

This jeweled web will be the backside of napkins as soon as I purchase the coordinate with the little costumed kids holding hands in a row.

The detail in Aoi Has Two Sisters is what you expect from Alexander Henry. Each dress is made of a fabulous print itself. Even the flowers feature different prints.

I’ve already made some napkins for a friend and myself.

Napkins and pillows apparently give me a good excuse to buy fabric.

Happy Sunday! Now go sew.

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::Upcoming Classes::

::Astrid::

July 30, 2013 By Katie 14 Comments

I always anticipate Erin McMorris’s new lines. Her first line Park Slope still lingers in some of my projects and in my mind her way with flowers is her signature on the fabric world.

When ordering some basics the other day from Quilt Sandwich’s stocked sale section I asked Becca if they had the Astrid line in yet and was so pleased to hear it had just arrived.

Astrid, steps Erin’s flowers out from their usual whimsical theme to the modern.

I also tend to be drawn to the same color palette that Erin’s fabric lines have and Astrid has done it again. I want every color of the whole line, but stopped with the basics.

This line works so well together with a solid or two. Generally most fabric lines most fabric lines don’t mingle together without a flat effect, but Erin’s got you covered on all the color values you need for a successful project whether it be patchwork or apparel.

I had a little left over modern crazy piecing so I went to work making an Ipad case and Astrid worked itself in perfectly. I’d love to see the hourglass print reproduced on a mini scale and a million colors.

Thanks Quilt Sandwich!

Off to teach. Have a great Sunday!

::No Resisting::

July 1, 2013 By Katie 7 Comments

I’ve long been a fan of a good cross-hatch. First Alexander Henry came out with Heath and I’ve definitely thrown my fair share of it into projects here and there. Then Carolyn Friedlander came out with her wonderful cross-hatch version and now Timeless Treasures has a tone on tone version in every color.

The West Seattle Fabric Company has several colors of the collection. I couldn’t resist these jewel tones. I’m trying to move onto some navy in my work too, though I’m having some difficulty escaping my purple obsession lately and this was good fuel.

I also picked up more of Michael Miller’s cotton couture in teal. This solid is fabulously soft and just seemed to polish off the new additions.

My thought with these crosshatch prints and solids are some mini versions of the Tunnel Vision quilt from the book. I’ve made a mini pillow version with Heath recently and am going to branch out with the other colors offered in this Timeless Treasures collection.

In fact, I’m off to quilt those tops now and make them into pillows with invisible zips. Class coming soon.

We’re in heatwave mode in Seattle, so it’s a good day to sew or maybe visit a nicely air-conditioned fabric shop!

Happy first day of July!

::Field Study Fetish::

June 21, 2013 By Katie 8 Comments

Look what arrived from Quilt Sandwich?!

I don’t know what it is about Anna Maria Horner fabrics, but each line takes a bit to grow on me.

Then I think maybe I’ve waited too long and it’s all gone.

With a Zip Pouch class coming up I thought I would put my favorite of the pile (the poppies) to use immediately for a sample. I didn’t even wash it, gasp…so unlike me.

Such a great poppy red.

Oh, and look what’s coming soon to Quilt Sandwich? I think there are key fobs in my future. I’ve only had all the hardware for a year. What can I say, I like to mull things over for awhile.

::Shopping Solids::

June 10, 2013 By Katie 8 Comments

I’ve got this Barn Quilt Block idea that I’ve been playing with.

It started with pulling out my Prisma colors that I still have from high school.

Although I’m not much for drawing out quilt design, I still use them here and there when it comes to a traditional square block. My original thought was robin egg blue, white, grey and orange. One of my favorite color ways.

Drygoods Design carries the Michael Miller Cotton Couture which I’m drawn to more and more. The hand is soft and the weight perfect for quilting.

My color way changed when Keli and I picked this Michael Miller Les Amis Ripples flannel up.

Does the color way look familiar?

I put them all together with some purple. It’s interesting how color and value are relative, the purple makes the grey in the flannel appear to have a purple tint. I’m looking forward to working with more of these solids.

Quilt’s basted, quilting tomorrow.

::Virgencitas::

June 2, 2013 By Katie 11 Comments

No one does Mexican folklore fabric like Alexander Henry. I’d like to know the story behind what draws them to this genre of art?

I picked up more of the La Virgencita line when I saw it at Island Quilter. Island Quilter carries two color ways and they ship!

I’ve now made an apron and a set of pillows for Christmas time with the purple color way. The metallic bling adds some nice depth.

The tea colored background made it into the back of my Seam Ripper IPA quilt. I really wanted to showcase this fabulous print and did not piece a thing into the backing.

I bought some more to make my sister-in-law pillows for her birthday. Raised in Catholic schools she has collected virgin statues for years.

My new favorite this year that Island Quilter has is Lupe. It’s a delicate print that will make its way into napkins or little girl projects.

Perfect Sunday Stash!

::Stash Additions::

May 27, 2013 By Katie 5 Comments

When I shop with Quilt Sandwich, I drop a load into my cart and then edit myself back out. I like to curate a coordinating stack with one focus print and its supporters. I grew up in a household of Japanese art, brought back by my folks when we were living in Tokyo. Not all Japanese fabric speaks to me, but the whimsical Alexander Henry Anasema Doll fabric did.