More Project Progress

I found lots of time over the last few days to work on my Midwestern Landscape project (the hard way - I was really sick with a head cold). Last project post I showed you the finished quilting on the background for this project. Now I've moved on to hand sewing layers of applique shapes on to the background:

All this hand stitching has been a learning experience, just like everything else with this project. You can see the stitches a bit on the shape to the left in the picture above. I was trying out different stitches before I switched to a more invisible stitch. I may go back and re-stitch that piece if the stitching really stands out when it's close to finished.

You can still see some basting stitching and pins here. I used both basting and pins to hold all the shapes in place for stitching. But now you can start to see what this piece is all about!

Still a few more stitches to go on this part before moving on to the other shapes to be added. Getting this far has me excited about finishing this project, and I hope to work more on it this weekend. Stay tuned for more updates!

On my bookshelf: The Mode in Dress and Home

This vitage Home Economics textbook is one of my very favorite books that I own. Originally published in 1935, this is the "New Edition" published in 1939 by Dulcie Godlove Donovan of the Los Angeles, California Department of Home Economics.

The purpose of this book is to teach a young girl how to be attractive and popular, how to cook and sew, how to care for a home and family of her own, how to dress and talk and act accordingly and how to become "a worthy member of society."

There are absolutely charming illustrations all throughout this book:

And when it comes to sewing, there is great information about all manner of things:

There are times when I just take this book off the shelf and page through it. This volume has definitely seen better days, and has pen and pencil marks throughout the book, including the name Jeannie penned just inside the front cover. Sometimes I wonder what ever happened to Jeannie, how she did in Home Economics, and if she managed to fit in "as a worthy member of society."

As for me, I struggle to balance the life that Jeannie learned about in her textbook with that of a working professional, sometimes it all comes together and then there are days when it all comes apart at the seams!

Take a look at this wonderful book yourself! Browse through the 1935 issue of  The Mode in Dress and Home right here!

Quilt THIS!

Sunday our regular meeting at the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild turned into an all out quilt-off competition called the IRON QUILTER! We broke up into teams, each team was given a paper bag of limited supplies, and we were told to create a quilt in just a few hours. My fellow teammates Sarah, Rachel and Donna were all great to work with and I learned so much from quilting with them for just a few hours.

I brought my camera, but I was SO FOCUSED on helping to finish our project that I didn't take any pictures of our group until we were almost finished. Here is Donna quilting our team's creation:

Our team's brown paper bag was full of mostly red, dark blue, and ecru colored fabrics, a small piece of batting, some really busy (i.e. ugly) bright prints and a ziplock bag full of cording, yarns, buttons and trims. We made blocks that looked like tic-tac-toe boards (which I learned are called nine-patch blocks) with some wonky cut strips and stitched all together in one piece. We all added some embellishments from the bag onto each of the blocks - so we ended up with something that looked part traditional and part modern. Here's a run down of all the entries:

Group #1 (my team!):

Group #2:

Group #3:



Group #4:

And Group #5:

I think these are all so amazing for being created in just a few hours! Want to know who won the Iron Quilter? Just click on over to the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild blog to find out!

Quick Softie Sewing

I had a ton of housework to do on Saturday, but I really didn't feel like doing load after load of laundry, or cleaning the bathroom, or even finishing up the spring cleaning. Instead I decided I really needed to make a kitty cat for my tot!

I free-handed a quick pattern, cut out the pieces and stitched him up while she was napping. I suck at hand embroidery, so I was pretty pleased that the face didn't look like a giant pile of twisted embroidery thread. I actually picked up a few pointers from my friend Emily at the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild that has made my hand embroidery a little less sucky (thanks Emily!).

He's made from an old jacket and some Benartex fabric, some felt scraps and buttons.

And of course he has a long twisty kitty cat tail.

My tot loves the kitty, especially the long twisty tail! On the other hand, hubs thinks it's creepy and actually said it was "freaky looking." Good thing I didn't make it FOR HIM!

Moonwatching

Finally!

Sunshine!

Although with all of this bright sunshine streaming through the windows, I realize that it's time for spring cleaning. I'm all about the clean, but I am kind of dreading the work this year. How about you? Do you love spring cleaning or loathe it? Do you have a great plan for attacking the dirt, or do you just take it as it comes? Do you take it one room at a time, or do you blast out all the dust at once?

Sew to Survive a Zombie Attack!

What will you do when zombies attack? Are you prepared to sew for survival?

If you're not exactly prepared for the coming of the zombies, especially where basic sewing is involved, you need to attend Sew to Survive a Zombie Attack!

At this event you will learn what an actual zombie attack might mean for you, and how to start preparing – including learning some basic survival sewing skills. Starting with your own Stitch or die! needle book stocked with sewing needles and pins, we’ll cover hand sewing basics from the right way to sew on a button to basic stitches to help you start sewing for survival.

You will also learn the absolute necessities for putting together a basic emergency sewing kit, exactly how to pack it up, and how those fancy little pre-packaged sewing kits will fail you when it comes to survival.

Of course we’ll also discuss zombie survival tactics as we sew up a basic survival skill sampler, so come prepared with zombie survival strategy tips to share or your questions that we’ll try to answer! And we’ll put your new sewing skills to task by taking a discarded t-shirt...

...and transforming it into a sturdy carry-all, perfect for toting anything and everything.

The handy carry-all can be folded into a small lightweight package, perfect for when you're travelling light! Oh, and these are also great to use for recycled grocery totes, you know, while you're waiting for Z-Day to come.

And if you're looking to learn even more about zombies, survival, and sewing, never fear - you'll leave with a handout full of resources! Oh, and depending on where this even is held, we may even take a break and share a zombie snack!


Sewing for Survival When Zombies Attack!
When and Where: Please visit my Classes/Events page for up-to-the-minute details.
Supplies: You will be provided with a kit in class to help you complete the project. Bring an old t-shirt to transform into a post-apocalyptic carry-all.

Oh, and if you're in Chicago and think you know of another place that would like to host this event, please let me know!

On my bookshelf: Little Girls, Big Style

I have had my eye on Mary Abreu's book for a few months and finally just picked up a copy of my own. This summer I want to sew most of my little girls clothes, and this book is where I will start.

These are not only great little patterns, but each pattern can be sewn in many different ways to make an endless wardrobe (Like the versatility of the Peasant Top/Dress). In fact, there are so many great choices of dresses, tops, skirts and pants to choose from that I almost can't decide where to begin!

I love the Pocket Pinafore with the Lace-Edged Gauchos and since I have to start somewhere, I think this will be the first outfit to try. The step-by-step instructions in the book to accompany the patterns look very straight forward, and I really hope the clothes sew up just as cute as they look in the book.

Oh, and as luck would have it, I happened to win a full set of Jen Allyson's Quite Contrary fat quarters from her blog giveaway. They should be arriving in the mail soon, and don't you think they would be perfect for stitching up some of these beautiful big style outfits? :-) Yay!