Sample making CRAZINESS!

It has been a CRAZY week at my house. I have squeezed out every possible extra second of my time I could to finish up my class samples for the Fall Class Session at Seams Like Home! 

You would think that I would start earlier.. not try to cram it all into the last week before samples are due, but NO WAY, I wait! (I always know the due date too.. in fact, I'm the one who sets the deadlines! :P) 

And of course, my hubby had to go out of town this weekend for work, so I've been staying up WAY too late working on stuff! 

On the plus side, I'm only teaching a few classes this session so I didn't have that much to do.. and with my awesome new sewing room set up, I really enjoyed the time I've spent with Gertrude! 

(Shameless Advertisement: I picked up the new #97D foot for the 9mm Bernina machines, and OH MY! is it amazing! As you'll see here in a few, one of my classes is a mini series.. we're talking 1" strips here people, and the new foot made all the difference in the world!) 

Anywhoo.. getting back to it.. I'll be teaching three classes this fall! They are, Free-Motion Quilting Series, Jaybird Quilts Mini Series and Beginning English Paper Piecing! I've really had a blast making samples and can't wait for the new session to start (looking forward to some adult time) and seeing what my students choose for their projects! I always find inspiration while teaching! 

As promised, here is a sneak peak for you!

 If anything you see here looks like fun, come by Seams Like Home on Friday, Saturday or Sunday this week to sign up for the class! Sign ups open on Friday, and our sale starts that day too; 20% off class fees and supplies! It is a great time to sign up! 

Hope to see you in class this fall! I might even let Gertrude out to come to one or two!

Happy Sewing,

Enjoli (and Gertrude) 

Sometimes Done is better than Perfect!

Sometimes I feel like I have a better working relationship with my seam ripper than my sewing machine! (Sorry Gert!) And some days I wish those corners would just magically match up with no effort on my part. And most days I am afraid that if anyone looks too closely at my project they will see all my imperfections (or the chocolate smear from a helpful little munchkin).

I worry, stew, throw my hands up in the air and decide I'll seam rip tomorrow. Then I go to bed. Of course I lay in bed and wonder "Should I seam rip? Should I just keep sewing? It will quilt out right?". I find myself agonizing over something that is supposed to be fun. I mean isn't that why I sew, to enjoy myself and relax? I do it for the satisfaction of saying, "Yes I made that!". And yet I criticize myself the whole way.

Of course, after a good nights sleep, I come back to the project and realize, "I don't have time to seam rip!" I have maybe 10 minutes before the kids realize I'm gone and hunt me down! So I remind myself.. "This is for me, I'm supposed to enjoy this!" and I just keep sewing. And most of the time, I can't even find that imperfection again.

I finally realized that if I tried to match every corner perfectly, I would drive myself crazy and would not enjoy the process or the finished product. I realized that I'm not perfect (despite what I tell my husband) and that it is ok if my creations have imperfections. Aren't those imperfections what make our projects unique? Isn't "handmade" about creating from the heart? Isn't it about the closeness you feel to someone who gives you a handmade item? (Just go with me on this okay guys!)

Every time I see pictures of perfect quilts, I tell myself "Anyone can do that!"; what I can do is so much better because if there ever was confusion between my project and someone else's, mine can  quickly be identified by the little imperfections! :)

The moral of the story: Take your time, enjoy the process and revel in your "little imperfections" because darn it, you meant to do it that way right?!

P.S: For those of you who make "perfect" quilts, just know that despite what I just said,
I am totally JEALOUS! :P

New Fabric & Hair Color

Hey All, 

So it seems that even though I feel like my week has been crazy busy, I get to Sunday night and always wonder.. Why am I so tired? I didn't actually get that much done? :P You probably know how it goes! 

So, the two things I can remember from my weekend are...

1. I bought every piece in the new Charlie Harper line we just got at the store, and

2. I dyed my hair "Dark Cherry Brown", which isn't a new color for me, but my roots were starting to creep out! 

Here is the proof for you! Excuse the crazy state of my hair.. I.. yah.. I have no excuse.. that's just how it looks at the end of the day! :P 

OH look..I also painted my nails and hung my un-bound Hexie quilt up! I do have the binding, but haven't found the motivation yet to put it on!

In other exciting news, I get to head to Nashville on Wednesday with Mom and Sis for Bernina University, which is going to be awesome. 

We will get to see the Bernina Long Arm, which has me all a flutter! :P I have had to make all sorts of promises to certain husbands that I will not bring one home or consolidate our kids into one room just to make room for one. (He spoils all my fun sometimes! :P ) 

I think Gertrude is a little jealous of my eagerness to meet this new machine! I promised her that nothing hasty would be done! 

Hope you all get a chance to sew this week! I'll keep you posted on my fun discoveries in Nashville! 

Happy Sewing,

Enjoli (and Gertrude)

P.S: The contest from last week is still open so head over and check out last week's post and enter to win a fun little prize! (Hint: It will have something to do with EPP!)

I heart Hexies!

I am kind of on a hexagon kick right now, or so affectionately called "hexies". They are just so modern and fun! The cool thing about them is that you can do so many different things with them. 

If you aren't into EPP (aka English Paper Piecing) you can turn your beautiful hexies into a "ticker tape" style quilt, where you stitch them down as you quilt your entire piece. For example, I found this great project on an awesome site called Modern Handcraft! 

Here are the project specifics: Machine Stitched Hexagons! It just so happened that I had the same mini charm squares as her (also from Spring Quilt Market)!

The other cool thing about this project was that I got to test out the new floor for creating my quilt sandwich! Worked like a charm!

I tape my backing fabric to the floor so that it does not move while I am trying to baste the layers together. The tape is kind of hidden in the photo, but that is why the new floor is SO much better than the carpet! 

If you are a fan of EPP, you could create something like this:

Okay, so I don't really have a pattern in mind for this, though I did kind of steal the idea from Tula Pink! I am in LOVE with her "Hex on the Beach" quilt, but cannot find a kit anywhere to save my (sewing) life so I am making my own. I am using slightly larger hexagons, and probably a few less than what she uses for the kit, so I guess it's not really a copy, just more of a borrowing?! Yah, I don't know?! 

Any way.. here is my progress so far. 

Hmm.. so I guess I kinda of covered it with stuff..but all those pieces stuck together.. thats what I've done! :P I have all of my tools laid out for you to see too!

I just picked up The Bottom Line thread, which is super strong and straight wound so it doesn't curl off the spool (helps to avoid tangles). I am using Millners size 10 needles, small Gingher scissors and the Sewline glue (to secure the fabric/hexagons together). I carry all of my supplies in a handy dandy Seams Like Home vinyl bag! 

We got stuck in the Alaska summer construction on Sunday night coming back into town from Palmer so I had an extra hour and a half to work on this project! Though that extra time in the car wasn't on the top of my list as Ms. Avalyn was very vocal about how unhappy she was being stuck in the carseat for so long!

The fun thing about EPP is that is can travel, which is nice for long car or airplane rides, or even just a great way work on a project while re-watching your favorite TV Series (Yes, I am watching "Friends"!) or movie. 

The only bad thing I've discovered about EPP is that I miss out on bonding time with Gertrude. :P 

CONTEST ALERT!!

So, I am curious, how many of you are EPP fans and how many are not?! Leave a comment telling me why you LOVE EPP or why you DON'T and there may just be a little prize floating around here for one of you! :) 

Happy (hand or machine) Sewing,

Enjoli (and Gertrude) 

P.S: I just discovered and awesome (kinda new) magazine! It is called Love Patchwork & Quilting, it is from the UK. You can get it at Barnes & Noble, though about 2-4 weeks behind the release date. OR you can get it through e-magazine on your Apple Newstand or Nook (I think, don't quote me). 

It is an awesome magazine and last months issue had a whole section on EPP (which you can safely blame for this post!) :) Check it out, I love it.. PLUS they always have a FREE Gift! Even for us e-zine subscribers!

Moved Back In!

Well all, I am happy to say that Gertrude and I have moved back into our small but wonderful sewing room! It is now totally dedicated to our creative adventures and not hindered by pesky dressers and hangers getting in the way.

I have actually had some time to sew, and I think Gertrude is happy to be "working" again! 

So far, we have:

- sewn bean bags for a friends kids' birthday party

- sewn background and the first row of the Park Bench project 

Ok, so it seemed like the list would be longer, but we (and by "we", I mean "I") have been doing a lot of cleaning and organizing.. Gertrude just sits and watches, she doesn't even offer to help.. seems unfair.. oh well!

So, here you go.. my (ok "our") new and improved sewing room:

I am so in love with the painted door! The color just makes me smile and welcomes me into my Happy Place!

So, as you can see, there is still a little organizing to be done, but I think I've figured out where everything is supposed to go now.. though that ironing board has me stumped! 

So LOVE that cube! It can hold my mini ironing board plus some of my fabric and books! The tower next to it is super convenient for holding my little notions items (elastic, cording, zippers, buttons, etc.). The cabinet on the far left was a total Salvation Army score, I got it for $15 and it is just perfect for holding my interfacing, see below!

Isn't it just perfect?! Plus the top is just the right size for my small rotary mat! YAY!

I'm not going to lie, I really don't want to ever leave this room again! :P  Alas, someone has to make sure the kids don't destroy the rest of the house! 

Any who.. here is a peak at a few of my favorite things in this room:

Ahhh.. my precut stash..actually this isn't all of it.. I do love me some precuts though!

Best Iron ever, but really I love the little key rack for holding scissors!

Recognize that Fat Quarter Pack?! It is the one I scored at Spring Quilt Market! Still can't bear to take it apart! Just have to find the right project!

One of my little helpers, guarding the books!

Okay, I'm not going to lie.. I thought this was pretty genius! The hook I used to hold my handmade bags is actually a curtain tie back! :P I put it on a stud and it is SUPER strong to hold my handmade stash!

 So, this concludes the Sewing Room Tour,  any Questions?! :) I had such a blast working on the floor and getting everything set back up.. though I have to say that getting to sew in the room again is AWESOME! 

Speaking of.. here is that photo I promised of my progress on our Park Bench project!

I'm not going to lie, as much as I have LOVED working on this.. I can't wait to give it to my Mom to quilt! She does some pretty amazing things and it is going to be stunning! 

Keep an eye out for it at the shop in the next month or so! :) 

Happy Sewing,

Enjoli (and Gertrude) 

Gertrude's Room Re-do

It seems that whenever I get an idea for a "home improvement" project, it is always during a period of our life that is particularly crazy! Maybe it's because I feel like, "It's already hectic, so why not throw a bit more craziness into the mix?!" Or maybe it was because I was coming down from my disappointment with our recent camping trip (which will now be referred to as "the trip that must not be named"). 

Any way, I decided that instead of using my walk-in-closet to house clothes (two small dressers and some hangers) I wanted to convert it to be entirely used as my sewing room! And by I, I of course mean, my husband! I had in my head the idea that I didn't want carpet anymore, but a wood laminate or something that looked more "studio-like"! Who knows where I get these ideas in my head from?! 

Knowing that my hubby had Friday off, I broke the news to him on Monday. He had all week to prepare himself! :P Surprisingly he didn't object that much! Probably because he got to move the cars out of the garage and break out all his toys! 

So, here is what we did to Gertrude's room: 

Laying "Cabinet Grade" Plywood Floor.

Now to stencil!

Starting to look good!

Polyurethane coating and trim are on!

Time to put everything back!

Clearly I need to do some cleaning and organizing!

I was getting so anxious to get the room back together because I had a Father's Day project to get done. I had to move Gertrude downstairs to the dining room table to work; I think she enjoyed her time in the natural light though! I'm hoping that now that I have this "little home-improvement" project out of the way, I can get some actual sewing done! :P I miss the hum that Gert makes when she is happily working!

Hope you're all enjoying the sun (and getting a bit of sewing done!),

Enjoli (and Gertrude) 

Camping, Kids & Hexies!

It started out well enough...

I even had a few moments of peace in which to stitch up a some hexies in the evening sunlight!

Captured a few moments of play..

Unfortunately these beautifully captured moments are NOT AT ALL the reality of our weekend! 

Mommy & Daddy came back exhausted, kids came back cranky ... and we all slept for 3 hours upon arriving home. 

In hopes of recovering the weekend we stopped at Bearly Threaded Quilting in Cooper Landing so I could partake in a bit of retail therapy .. what do you think? I think it really helped! :) 

Hopefully I will be fully recovered by the middle of the week and can let you all in on a few projects that are close to completion! 

Have a great week!

Enjoli (and a Gertrude in desperate need of attention!)