handmade kate

my first at thirty-nine

I finally did it.

I made my first-ever quilt! 

Funnily enough, I've always had sewing machines that were considered "quilting" machines, chosen because they tend to have the most basic stitches.  My first machine was a 1934 Singer featherweight (I still love sewing on that dear one!) and next was my Bernina Virtuosa 153 QE (now vacationing at my Mama's house).  Then along came this dreamy machine thanks to the folks over at The Sewing Republic. But I have to 'fess up--I've never made a real quilt.  Patchwork projects, sure, but the thought of putting together and maneuvering all of that fabric for a quilt was just too intimidating. 

Lately, I've been inspired by Erin's and Daria's wonderful loop-de-loop quilting and some gorgeous new fabric collections. So when my fabric purchase from said collections arrived and they all looked so pretty together in a bundle, I thought to myself, "please Kathryn, throw that agonizing perfectionism to the wind,  and just give the damn thing a try!"  So I did, and I put it all together in a quilt. 

I had no plan or pattern other than to base it on the Floral Columns Quilt I had seen once in Kaffe Fassett's Museum Quilts, quilted up in those wonderful loop-de-loops.  And it had to have linen in it, too.  I fought that nasty perfectionism the whole time, worried that my loops weren't all the same size.  (Thank heavens for that dandy BSR--at least the stitches were even!)  Yet when I finished each row of quilting I would hold up the quilt and think "I love this!" in spite of all of the wonky loops.  I finished hand-sewing the binding last night and I threw the whole thing in the washer with a scoop Biokleen with my fingers crossed; then a bit of magic from the dryer.  It's comfortably soft and crinkled, warm but cool, and to me, just perfect.   A project that I think I so desperately needed to coincide with my (yikes!) thirty-ninth birthday.  About time, I say.

I took these photos this afternoon, determined to get them taken in spite of a slow, chilly drizzle outside. Now I'm warm and cozy, curled up on the sofa with my new quilt, a plate of take-out from one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants, with a kitty and my laptop on my lap.  Gary and I will be watching a movie as soon as the kids go to bed. 

Thanks for letting me share my little milestones!

   

girls and boys

Taking a break from a big project to whip up a couple of burpies for some sweet new babes.  Inspiration from the lovely ones Juliette made.  I only wish I had followed her tutorial--I'm a bit worried now about how the straight stitching along the edge will hold up with all those washings!  Zig-zagging (is that a word?) along the edges makes much more sense.

*Hopefully I'll get that big project posted tomorrow--that's my goal at least!

someone's in the kitchen with Mäda

My apron tutorial is now up in the Sewing Republic's project gallery! 

It's been all things kitchen-y around here lately with Miss M.  (Making waffles and peeling hard-boiled eggs being some of her favorite things to do)  We've bought a couple of cookbooks to try out, but most importantly, we now have matching aprons!  Not wanting her to be without the most important of kitchen accessories, I came up with this variation on a half-apron.  It had to have just enough ruffle and trim for her, but could be simplified for her rather "plain-jane" Mama. 

And here's my girl modeling her new apron, looking an awful lot like this young lady:

Gustav Klimt Portrait of Eugenia (Mäda) Primavesi    

I guess the 'tween stance has been going on for generations.

Happy Mama's Day All!

 

to give...

I finished up my Pleated Beauty bag last night for the Bend the Rules Sewing Swap, and it's off to Nancy in London today.   As soon as I saw her blog, The Philosophy of Lists , I knew I had to pull out some of my most-favorite-ever fabric. Her photos have such lush lighting--most are outdoor shots--and the green of England is ever-present and oh-so-pretty!  All those greens and browns brought to mind this fabric:

I hope she likes the combo--Tina Givens ZaZu in earth and lime and a smidgen of Joelle Hoverson's Cake Rock Beach, lined in my favorite linen for a bit more sturdiness.      

I hope you enjoy the bag as much as I enjoyed making it for you, Nancy!

And on a totally un-related note, I was thrilled to read that she has some "in-town" chickens, too!  (I've got to write to you about that Nancy!) I'm still working on the husband, trying to get him to go for our own backyard flock.  Just ask him how much I love saying "chicken tractor"! 

itty bitty

I finished my Itty Bitty Bag this weekend, gaining a bit more confidence using the BSR on the Aurora.  Click on the photo to see my first-ever "official" free motion quilting!  I even purchased a pair of quilting gloves to "gear-up" properly.  Hardly necessary for quilting on a 9" x 12" piece of fabric, but never the less, I was prepared! 

Karen West is a local celebrity (or to me at least!), teaching at one of my favorite fabric shops, so I'm glad I finally gave one of her patterns a try.  But I do think I made the pattern much harder than necessary (can anyone say "adult ADD"?). I had the hardest time keeping up.  The pattern really wasn't very difficult, but it did require that you take it one step at a time.  I guess my focus was a bit off this weekend.  All of the little details make for a quite "professional" looking bag though!

springtime toddler togs

Linen and gingham and a beautiful spring weekend.  Hope yours was wonderful too!

tutorials!

Exciting news!  The Sewing Republic has begun to post our tutorials, and the first one up is my Summer Serendipity Bag!

I do hope you'll enjoy it!  And if you've popped in from The Sewing Republic site--welcome! The bag is a super-simple project and will lend itself to all sorts of variations.  Unfortunately, one key piece was left out of the project instructions--the template for the bag's handle.  I've emailed the folks at Bernina to let them know about the omission, but meanwhile you can download the pattern piece here.

I'm thrilled how the site has turned out.  Really, it has surpassed everything I ever expected, and I'm in awe of how the patterns, directions and photos are being presented!  I'm equally excited about the new projects that will be posted every week by my fellow contributors:  Stacy of Stacy Sews, Juliette of Chickpea Sewing Studio, and Nicole of Appliance Clothing.  They are such talented ladies; there's more goodness to come!      

a new sewing republic

Ta da!

I've been nearly bursting to tell everyone about a new project that I've been contributing to, and this weekend I finally got the go-ahead to share!  Go take a look at The Sewing Republic!

It's Bernina's brand-new website for the next generation of sewers, something that is quite near and dear to my heart.  Right now it is only in it's first phase, showcasing product information, a find-your-dream-machine quiz, and some pretty nifty special offers. But what I'm most excited about are the sewing tips, tricks, tutorials, and projects that will be posted beginning in April.  I'll have 6 projects featured over the next year!  Here's a little peek of a few of them over at my flickr site. 

When Bernina contacted me a while back to see if I'd be interested in partnering with them to provide sewing projects for younger sewers, of course I didn't hesitate!  A long-time fan (and user) of Bernina machines, I almost thought it was a joke--that's how serendipitous it was.  And how they ever found me over here, quietly posting in my little corner of blog-land, I'll never know.  I'm ever-so-grateful though, and super excited!

Meanwhile, I'm happily sewing on an Aurora 440QE kindly loaned to me for the year by the folks at Bernina.  And my Bernina Virtuosa 153QE is visiting with her Grandmother for the interim!  (Hi Mom!!) 

Now, I can't wait to start on some quilts now that I've been introduced to the Bernina Stitch Regulator--oooh fun!

it's a wrap!

I had such a wonderful vacation and holiday season, and I'm so glad to be back.  I took a little longer vacation than I had planned, but over the last few weeks I was working quite hard to finally clear my plate of all of those "should-be-working-on" projects.  With my last custom sewing order finished up and safely delivered last weekend, I feel like I can finally start the year and enjoy the freshness of it.  Time to indulge in exciting projects and pursuits, something I hope to do a lot more of in this new year!

The wrap skirt above was just finished up this morning, a project from Sew Everything Workshop.  After the deliveries were made last weekend, I decided to treat myself by browsing the craft books with a cup of hot tea in my hand. Oh, how I love books like these!  Even though I have been sewing since forever, there is still something so appealing about a well written "how to sew" book.  Simple, basic, and easy patterns with lots of inspiration for different and creative interpretations.  I can see this book becoming as much of a well-worn, go-to book as my copy of Sew U: They Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe. 

So, my skirt was the second (i think) project in the book, and made up in no time in one of my favorite Katie Jump Rope prints.  I made very few alterations from the pattern other than lengthening one of the ties so they wouldn't be so lopsided when tied and making a buttonhole rather than a slit in the seam for the tie to slip through, for a bit more of a "finished" look.

We have snow in the forecast for the weekend (2-4 inches in North Carolina--wow!), so now I have a wonderful excuse to stay in and try out another project or two.  As if I needed an excuse!

*photograph by my dear daughter, who I think, is becoming quite an awesome photographer!  thank you, sweetie!

more of near-'bout the same

Linen patchwork coasters made from this tutorial found here.  (again!)  I'll be packaging them with a couple of handmade pottery mugs, hot cocoa mix, and a couple of peppermint sticks.  Ignore the silly cards--they feel quite vain to me--but maybe they will fool the recipient into thinking it's quite something special :)

On an un-crafty note, we've had such a gorgeous fall here.  If we had such a long wait for the fall to finally arrive, it has most certainly been made up in all of the beautiful colors this week.  So I set out this morning when I took the children to school with my camera in hand, determined to photograph some of the glorious scenes along the way.  Really, I have to catch my breath as I'm driving along.  Picturesque can't even come close.

But when I arrived home, my photos really couldn't convey what I see. So frustrating.  I'm slowing learning to appreciate my husband's quest for perfect landscape photography using the 'old Deardorff.  It is so hard to duplicate what our eyes see into a photograph.  (Perhaps a wide-angle lens would help.  Hint, hint, Santa!)  Anyway, it turns out that the only decent shot was from my very own yard.

An ancient old dogwood with flame-red leaves.

I'm wondering what all of your plans will be during one of the few weekends before winter settles in.  How will you all enjoy this last fling of color?   I have a brief interruption from all of the gift crafting planned (They may well turn into gifts--but, well, not likely.  I do love those little gnomes!)  And I have to finish up putting down the remaining cork flooring in the albatross otherwise-known-as-the Lake House.  Gorgeous views up there, though!
 

I hope you all have a colorful and warm and wonderful weekend!