Lovely Jelly Rolls

These are sooo inspiring.  More of my packages from the other week were these Jelly Rolls.  The two on the left I'll be taking my folks when I go next week.  I'm going to make a simple Jelly Roll quilt top while I'm there. (I'm hoping anyways....)  I'm not sure yet what to do with the other.  I was suposed to receive a charm pack of that line and instead I got the jelly roll.  I asked her if she wanted me to ship it back and she told me that if I could use it, then we could call it even.  Wow!!!  I'll have to pay that forward somehow.

On the left is Simply Color by V & Co. for Moda.  The top is the ombre co-ordinates to the prints in the bottom one.

The one on the right is Cuzco by Kate Spain for Moda.  It's a yummy collection.

Felt Food Tutorials

In 2007 I posted a thread on Crafster that caused quite a stir.  It led to quite a few felt food sales a few online interviews or mentions as well as Crafsters Best of 2008 in the Toys, Dolls And Playthings category.  It's been 4 years and I still receive requests for more tutorials and ideas.  With my son turning 2 this last August, I pulled out our felt food collection.  He immediately got started putting things together.  It's amazing how he just knew what to do with it all.  Now my head is buzzing with ideas for new items to make for him.  All that being said I have decided to finally add my short but sweet tutorials that I had posted on Crafster here.  I'm going to update this as I have time to be more detailed.  My ultimate goal is to put it all together in a PDF format for easy viewing and saving.  I will also be scanning my existing patterns and posting them as I have time. Well... on with it already!

For pictures and more ideas just click here.  I'm working on a good gallery, it's just not ready yet.

General directions and materials for all foods.

I used my machine for about 75% of all the sewing.  Detail stitching was done with embroidery floss.  I used polyester stuffing for rounder shapes and some thin quilt batting in things like, peanut butter & jelly blobs, bread (stacked a few layers) spaghetti sauce, pancakes, etc.

Templates and patterns: For the larger circles I use a mason jar lid, small plate, small bowls.... things like that.  And all non circled shapes were just free drawn into the desired shapes. Really it's all about just the general shape of something. Most things in natural are “organic” so really you can't go wrong. Just check out my pictures and you can get an idea of the shapes used for things. For round shapes I found some free fabric all templates and just used those. Or altered them slightly for other shapes.

Wool felt or acrylic felt? I use both. My local fabric store has a very limited collection of wool felts. I buy some only when they go on sale of if I have a coupon. Otherwise I just use cheapy acrylic felt. It comes in about 20 colors and a few times a year it goes on sale for $1.99 per yard. That's when I buy .5 – 1 yard of almost every color.
Basic Instructions For Some Items.

Bread: The bread is just two cream colored “bread” shapes. Rectangle about 5” long and rounded on the corners. Then I cut 1.5” stripes of light brown for the crust.  I then sewed down the strip on one side of the bread, then attached the other side leaving a space for turning. (I left about 4” open so I could lay in batting) I then layed in about 4 thin layers of batting to make them full and hand stitched the opening closed. Alternately you could use polyester stuffing or just add a few layers of felt and make your bread thinner.

Infinity Bread:  I've decided to keep this one a mystery for the time being. 

Meatballs & Hamburger Patti:  Two brown circles sewn together leaving an opening for turning and stuffing. Turn and stuffed to desired shape then sew opening closed.  I added some fabric paint to add detail.  (grill marks on patti and splotches on meatballs) You could also use embroidery floss for details if you wish.

Bacon:  Layer three free form cut pieces of felt into bacon shapes. (2 brown, 1 light brown)  Stitch “fat” blobs in center of bacon.  Cut out just the top layer of felt to reveal the light brown “fat” underneath. 

Eggs:  Cut two free form white egg shapes.  Cut one yellow circle.  Sew yolk to one white egg shape leaving a small opening to stuff. Add some stuffing and sew the opening closed.  Sew both egg whites together.

Bow Tie Noodles:  Cut 1” wide strips of felt. Using either pinking shears of regular scissors cut them down to 1” x 1.5” rectangles.  Then I gathered the centers and ran them through my sewing machine. If you want one continuous length of noodles, dont' cut the thread between sewing them. Sew one , then sew a few stitches without any fabric, then insert your next noodle and make one long string of noodles. This will save you so much mess! They will all stay together and still look awesome in a bowl.

Quesadilla: Three large circles (two cream one orange). Sandwich first the cream, then orange, than anther cream together. Sew all the way round.  Then using either your rotary cutter or scissors, cut the quesadilla into pie shapes like you would if cutting a pizza. Take each piece back to you sewing machine and stitch around the wedge. *Note that my kids used the quesadillas for pizza crusts. It worked great and makes one thing act like two!
Cucumbers were just two green circles and two smaller cream circles all sewn together and detail stitched.

Onion slices:  For these I cut out two large circles (maybe 5-6” round) and I cut the circles in half.  I then started sewing a kinda rainbow (kinda hard to describe) so that I could cut the pieces apart to make it look like a sliced onion.

Kiwis, Lemons & Limes, Cut one circle in appropriate color and fold in half. These have a bit of stuffing in them and were stitched closed.  I detail stitched where necessary.  The kiwis have an extra cream circle in the center and I added black seed beads as the seeds. For toddlers, feel free to makes the seeds with embroidery floss.

Apples & Oranges: These are made with two pieces.  The top “flesh” part  was a circle cut from a mason jar lid.  The rind was a pointed oval.  I used the machine to attach the pieces.  I won't do that next time as I think it distorted the shape.  I'll hand stitch them.  I used embroidery floss on the details in the center.

Strawberries: Cut out circles then cut the circles in half.  Machine stitched the flat side together to make a cone.  Stuff the insides with fabric scraps or any stuffing and gather up the top. I then used green yarn as the stem and attached it to a green square piece of felt.  Then I stitched freehand the green square to the gathered top.  After it was secure I cut off the access green felt into a wavy circle.  Then I stitched on the yellow seed beads. Again, you could use embroidery floss for the seeds for younger children.

Carrots:  For baby carrots cut two free form ovals (the more uneven the oval the better)  Sew ovals together leaving an opening.  Turn, stuff, hand stitch opening closed.  For whole carrots, cut a triangle and stitch up side.  Stuff and free stitch some green on top.

Flat Stuff Including:  Lunch Meat, Cheese, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Pickles, Bananas, Pepperoni, Pancakes, Butter, Tea Bags, Cookies, Chips, Sauces....
- For these I cut out 2 layers of felt in the correct shape of that food.  For most of these I just used a fancy stitch on my machine (you could also use a zig zag) and stitched the two layers together.  Some needed additional detail stitching inside the piece.  The tomatoes and pickles I sewed the two layers together (leaving a small opening) and then turned them right side out.  Then I top stitched and did the detail stitching.  The pancakes, butter, and tea bags have one layer of batting inside.  Sauces are layered pieces of felt free stitched together.

Needle felted items:

The grapes were needle felted into shape.  I then took a piece of hand spun yarn (any chunky yarn would do) and knotted up the yarn a bit then sewed the grapes onto the yarn.

The cherries were needle felted circles.  It then used brown embroidery floss that I pulled through the whole cherry and then knotted up the stem.

The fruit snacks were needle felted into oval shapes and I made them felt bags.  The wool I used I had dyed using kool aid.

Massive Batts From Etsy

My mail lady delivered so many yummy packages this last week.  It's funny, but I received 4 packages from 4 different Etsy vendors on the same day.  All ordered at different times.  I'll post them all over the next few days.  But, I'm starting with these yummy batts.  I purchased one of these from Jahtsemer Serene To Extreme Fibers on Etsy.  I've wanted to purchase one of these forever, and with the free shipping it was the time!

My eldest daughter and I opened the package... she wanted to rip it all out, but I told her that we were going to pull one thing out at a time and savor the moment.  With a huff she agreed.

First out of the bag was this pink batt called "Pink Poodle" 4.4 oz with merino lamb, shetland, romney, cvm bamboo, faux mohair and angelina.  My daughter said "It's pretty but it's pink"  Hehe... she either hates pink or loves it.  Right now she is in love with super bright electric pink.  I think it's so pretty and soft.  In fact, it was the first I spun up too.  It made up 3 skeins as I couldn't fit all it's yummy goodness onto my small bobbin.  I think it's time for a jumbo bobbin.

Next out of the bag was was a sparkly purple batt called " Thai Bazzar" 3.9 oz SW Merino, cashmere, milk fiber, bamboo silk, puller sari silk, and glitz.  We both really oohed and ahhed over this one.  It's just so sparkly!

Next was a jumbo batt called " Mancala Mama" 5oz. SW Merino in top and cloud, banana fiber, faux angora, and faux cashmere.  I would never never pick these colors normally.  But, seeing them all together like this kinda makes me drool.  My daughter proclaimed it her favorite and she can't wait for me to spin this one up.

At this point I couldn't believe there was more in the bag.  My mouth was hanging open and my daughter was giggling.  My hubby was looking at both of us like we were crazy.  My hand went in the bag one last time and pulled out a batt called "Moody Blues" 3.5oz SW Merino, BFL, cashmere, mulberry silk, and faux mohair.  My daughter says this one looks like the ocean waves.  It totally does.  I'm spinning up this one next.  It reminds me of my parents who live at the beach.

So, in review of this Etsy store....Her fibers are amazing, she is crazy generous, and I would encourage anyone who is even remotely considering buying from her to go ahead and do it!  Don't walk... run! 
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It's So Fluffyyyyyy!!!!

Piles of handspun goodness is covering my workspace.  I got the bug to spin last week and I just can't seem to stop.  And who would want to?  I mean, just look at that pile of yummyness. And, this isn't even all of it.  I've spun more since this picture was taken last weekend.  Below are all of them singly (except the bottom left two)

 First up are the two Icelandic skeins.  I dyed both of these ages ago.  The top darker green one was slightly felted from the dying process.  It actually spun up quite well as a bulky yarn with some slubby goodness.

Dark multi green Icelandic wool. Worsted - Bulky Wt. 86yrds. 2.5oz.

 

 Lime green Icelandic wool. Fingering - sport wt. 115 yrds. 1.4oz.

"Kitchen Sink" Skeins.  These are my first inclusion handspuns that are this crazy.  I literally went through all my sewing trims, yarn remnants, and misc. bits of wool and locks.  Then I picked a base fiber.  Then I just went to town spinning everything I could into these beauties.  I can't say how much I love them!  The white one is mostly sari silk, locks, and some commercial art type yarn pieces.

 Black "Kitchen Sink" skein.  Singles. 55yrds. 3.8oz. (Alaina loves this one and wants a hat)

 White "Kitchen Sink" skein.  Two ply with coils. 

Merino Tencel from a person on Ralvery.  I hated spinning this so I stopped about 1/4 of the way through my 4oz roving.  But, after letting it sit on the bobbin and then plying it, I'm actually really liking it and I think I'll spin up the rest of it.  Light Worsted Wt. 1.4oz and 115yrds.

OMG Tailspun.  My first and certainly not my last.  I had sooo much fun spinning this one up.  First I spun up the locks, then I plied it with some gold thread.  It's crazy soft and so colorful.  2.4oz and 38 yards.

 This one is from a roving that I got on Etsy.  100% Superwash BFL Worsted Wt. 4oz 225 yards.

 More to come later this week.  If I'm not to busy spinning!

We Love You Mom

I came home from grocery shopping to find this on our dinning room table.

Swoon.... I do love my girls.  My oldest did the drawing of the eye. 

Sewing Week With My Mom

My mom and dad came up for a whole week of sewing last month.  It was the first time since they moved that mom and I have been able to really work on things together.  It was so great.  We chatted, played with the kids, and sewed, sewed, sewed.  It really was awesome now much we got done.

My mom asked the girls to each design something to sew up.  Ali used some graph paper to design a quilt top.  About 20 minutes later she came in with a "Tetris" quilt top.  Mom and her chose colors from both our stashes and they got that thing sewed up that afternoon.  Mom quilted it and I added the words "Tetris" in different colors around the border.  The backing was some sock monkey flannel that I've had.  It turned out really cute. (tetris quilt is on the right)

Mom made up a sea life & bugs jar quilt.  She had some super cute fabrics stashed away for this one.  Black background, and red and yellow sashing made this top sooo cute.  She got this thing cut, back pieced, quilted, and bound in the week she was here.

Rachel designed a pillow top.  She picked out her favorite prints from our scrap boxes and mom sewed it up for her.  Mom quilted it and I put the pillow backing together to finish it up.  She loves it and has taken it to all her slumber parties so far this summer.

Mom also started her all reds quilt.  These were big blocks in all reds.  She's making it a queen size I think for their guest room.  I think she had 10 or so blocks done before she left.  What did I make?  Well... I mostly finished this up.  I added the purple border to my Terrain quilt.  And, added the sashing to Cael's Robot Factory quilt.  Then I pieced up 2 of the 3 vintage sheets lap throw tops.  Finally I started working on Ali's quilt.  It's from Sunday Morning Quilts.  I need to piece together 200+blocks for this one.  I'll make a seperate post on that one later.

Above is a pile of most of our finished goodness.  From bottom to top: Tetris Quilt finished, Jar Quilt finished, Robot Factory top, 2 Vintage Sheet tops, Terrain top, and Ray's pillow.

Mom and I at the end of our week.  Tired, but very happy to have had such a great week.  I'm hoping to do this more often.  Now that Cael is bigger I'm hoping to drive down to her on a weekend some time. 

Oh... and you may ask what Curtis and my dad were doing this whole week.  Well... Curtis had the week off so he and dad went shopping to some stores that Dad doesn't have down by him.  The worked on the cars, and read books, etc.  General guy stuff.

My Pie Fashions Has Re-Opened!

 I've taken a two year break from commissions and dollies in general.  Lately though I've felt like I needed something of my own again.  I decided to open up for commissions again on the Den Of Angels forum and I've been very pleased and tickled with the response. I've had 2 commissions so far and am working out details for two more.  All in just 19 days! 

Here are pictures of a set I made for Lati doll Rucus.  It included a pair of black slacks, jeans and a black shirt.

 I've closed down my old My Pie Fashions website and have decided to just use my old blog.  My hubby made me a new banner and some great icons and such. I'll keep this one for family stuff and all other artisticness that I'm doing.  Including the 3 quilts that I need to finish and a heap of kids summer clothing to make.

For now I just wanted to say... Yeah!!!  I do so love to sew for dolls.

Bonus picture of the Hero Of Canton.  Just cause he makes me smile.

Vintage Sheets For The Win

I purchased a big ol' bundle of not so perfect vintage sheet fat quarters from this shop on etsy.  There were 27 in all.  There was only one that didn't match all the rest so I used 26 funky fat quaters to make 3 quilt tops for X-Mas gifts for this next year.  I divided them up into sets.  Stripes, Polka Dots, and Flowers.  A picture of the floral quilt will be posted soon.  It's done, but I haven't taken a pic yet.

These are smallish quilt tops right now. I would say small lap size.  I'm thinking of bordering them though.  For backs I'll be using a vintage sheet that I'm hoping to find at our local thrift store.  I've found one blue and white floral for the back of the floral one.

 I think I'm going to do just simple quilting on these babies.  Free motion stipple for the border (if I do one) and then maybe using my wave stitch stretched on my machine for line quilting the rest.

If your looking for a way to make some quilts as gifts this is definitely a way to go.  For $21.50 I have 3 quilt tops!  And, the vintage goodness and patterns are perfect for the people who will be receiving them. 

For The Love Of Terrain.....

Terrain, Terrain, Oh how I love thee.....

 I saw you and I knew I had to have you.  Two charm sets and a few 1/3 yrds of my favorites later... and I have an absolutely gorgeous quilt top.  I did a simple disappearing 9 patch and used Kona Purple and Kona Thistle for the center blocks. Purple Tile for the border.  I'm not sure how I want to quilt this one up.  I have a yummy bright blue and apple green print for the back.  How would you quilt this one?

Robot Factory Quilt For Cael

Cael needs another quilt for his bed.  I saw this fabric and loved it!  I love how boyish it is.  Even my hubby loves it!  I found this pattern and knew it was the right one.  I really love how it features 3 of the fabrics, yet the rest are cut to big enough blocks to be nice and viewable.  I made a flannel backing for it and now I'm just deciding how I want to quilt it up.

Fabrics are Robot Factory by Robert Kaufman.  I was able to get all the prints!

Kona Color Card In The House!

I finally broke down and bought the Kona Color Card.  And, immediately after the postman delivered it, I started matching up solids to the Flea Market Fancy Legacy fabrics for my king size quilt I'm planning.  I must have spent 3 days trying to find color matches online with very little success.  I did find these.  But, they were with the original prints and not all the colors were matched up.  Plus, Kona has more colors now!  I took photos and edited them and got them on my Flickr.  It's been raining and my pictures were quite bad. My hubby came home and laughed at me.  He pulled out the scanner and said "Why didn't you just use this?"  He helped me scan all the color matches. Such a great hubby.... he must love me or something.  The colors are showing really true in most of the images.  Gotta love that!  If you want to see all the color matches they are here.  I'll be adding more collections when I'm working on stuff.

Here are a few of my favorites.  I ordered these and more and I can't wait to get them!

 I really love sage here.

I love both the chartreuse and the lime.  I ordered both!

Papaya... oh how I love thee...

Finished Lizzy House Quilt!

I got around to quilting my Lizzy House quilt last week.  Boy, did I have a time of it!  I decided to try some big swirly circles....yeah... my machine has a medium size arm and it was still tough.  By the time I was on my last row of swirly circles I was just getting it down.  My circles were about half the size as they were when I started, but at least the looked ok.  After a washing it puffed up beautifully and hopefully no-one will notice my less than par quilting job.  Overall I love love love this quilt.  It's so colorful and happy.

Swoon... A Pillow For My Mom

I haven't blogged in forever!  I've got so much to catch up on.  I thought I would start first with this pillow that I made for my mom for her birthday back in April.  Isn't it gorgeous!  I finally broke down and purchased the Swoon pattern.  This is a smaller version of the quilt block from this tutorial.  It made a great 18" pillow cover.  I used some lovely reds and whites.   My mom's colors.  I quilted it by going around those star points.  You can kind of see it in on of the photos.  She was very pleased with it and so am I.  I can't wait to make a whole quilt with Swoon!

Lizzy House Quilt Top & Pillow

I absolutely adore Lizzy House Fabrics.  My favorites by far are the 1001 Peeps and the Castle Peeps.  I hunted and hunted for a good scrappy lot of these prints until I finally found a set of 50 13X8" prints on Etsy!  The set also included some of her wonderful Outfoxed prints.  When they arrived I just sat and looked at them and organized them and looked at them some more.  I was a bit timid about starting a quilt.  I wanted to use up every last scrap of this yummy stuff.  And, I did!!!

I found a pattern in a magazine and used it as a base for my big blocks (some changes were required) then I made up my own borders.  It's about 60" x 50"  It'll be a nice comfy size when I'm done.  I used some flannel that I have on hand for the backing.  Now I just need to layer and quilt it up!

Just look at those yummy fabrics.... drool...... Above is the blocks about to be assembled.  Below is the finished quilt top.  Notice those HST's in the corners of the border.... I've come to learn that I need a LOT more practice matching up points.

With the tiny scraps I had left I made a pillow.  In both the quilt and pillow I used some of the selvages in the seams.  I'm really happy with them both. And, the pillow has already seen cuddle time.

Finished Solstice Star Series Quilt

I finished the top to my Solstice Star Series Quilt Along today.  I posted about 4 of the squares here.  I used a different pattern for the 5th block.  The 5th block from the series I'll make for the back.  I'm loving the top. Very crazy colorful and busy... but you can't help but smile when you look at it.   I found the polka dot rainbow batik at the Puyallup Fabric Show a few weeks ago.  It was a remnant at 52 x 44.  I needed it to be 60 x 44 so I added the rainbow up top.  For the backing I'm using a nice batik and am going to try and keep it very simple.   I'm planning on just straight line quilting it.