Tutorial

Spring Table Runner

April 8, 2013 by Wendy Cohen 12 Comments

This super cute spring table runner has been in the works for the past month. I finally finished it up last week and it is ready to show off. I do not claim this super cute pattern all myself. You can find this super cute pattern at Shabby Fabrics. They get all the credit for this cute table runner.

I happened to purchase it as a kit at the Road to CA quilt show in Ontario. It was the first kit that I ever purchased from them. I have to say that it was so well put together and organized; every single fabric labeled and nicely organized. Fantastic!

I worked at first on the applique sections at each end of the table runner. I used the machine applique method that is demonstrated in the tutorial here.

I took the photo here so that you could see the front of one of the panels and the back of the other panel. I use blanket stitch and matching thread as much as possible.

Here’s the machine piecing in progress for the small squares that make up the bulk of the table runner. Yes, I pin every single square on each side of the each and every seam. I think it makes for a better end product.

I have now assembled the entire table runner and am just starting to sew on the ric rac across the top of the applique piece.

TIP: Do not pull the ric rac too tight when sewing it on…it will pucker the other fabric around it.

Here are the finished photos of the table runner. I did simple line quilting on the squares and then did some meandering quilting around the applique pieces.

A super cute backing fabric and binding.

Here’s the entire quilt! Super cute and very spring!

This quilted table runner can be yours (if you don’t want to make it yourself)…it is available on my etsy site right now!!! Here’s the link.

Happy Spring! Hope it is starting to warm up in your part of the world. Today, we are getting one last blast of winter here in California.

Filed Under: applique, create, etsy, flowers, garden, Gifts, home decor, quilt, sewing, Tutorial Tagged With: applique tutorial, flower table runner, machine applique tutorial, quilted table runner, shabby fabrics, shabby fabrics table runner, spring table runner, summer table runner, table runner

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Embroidered Book Bag

March 24, 2013 by Wendy Cohen Leave a Comment

I am back! I have been neglecting my poor blog for a few weeks, but I am back! I have plenty to share with you; just because I haven’t been blogging doesn’t mean that I haven’t been creating!

Today, I am sharing with you a super cute embroidered book bag. It was simple to make, but hard for me to photo so please excuse the subpar photos!

The project started out as a simple embroidery project from A Little Sweetness by Tasha Horsely. You can find the embroidery pattern here on her Etsy page if you wish to purchase it yourself. I love her prints and embroidery patterns; so simple and sweet.

I created two panels for the front and back as well as two panels for the inside lining. Sew them right sides together. I used 12×14 panels for this bag

After you have the right sides sewn together…remember to leave the top open, then you square off the bottom of the bag by measuring in 2″ from the corner and drawing a diagonal line that you then sew across.

Then, you create the handles. I used 4″ strips of fabric 20″ in length folded in half to meet in the middle and then in half again. Top stitch each side for a nice and neat finish.

After that, you place the exterior portion of the bag inside of the lining (right sides together) and place the straps in between. Make sure you line up the seams of the lining and the outside of the bag and pin them. Then, measure from these seams for placement of your straps. Pin your straps. Your straps will be in between the two fabrics after you pin all the way around the top of the bag.

Sew all the way around the top leaving a 3″ hole at the end. Once complete, pull the outside of the bag through the small hole and turn everything so that the lining is on the inside of the bag and the outside of the bag is on the outside. Now, fold in the area you left open and pin all the way around this time with the handles out and prepare to top stitch all the way around the bag.

The instructions might seem a little hard the first time you make a bag like this, but once you do this a few times it will become easier. I did not use any fusible web or lining to stiffen the bag, but you can also do that. Here is the finished bag.

Here’s the inside of the bag using Riley Blake fabric…one of my favorites.

Another shot of the bag with the cute embroidery pattern on front.

You can find this cute tote bag on Etsy for purchase! Hope you are enjoying spring in your neck of the woods. Here in California, the flowers are blooming!

Filed Under: Books, craft, embroidery, flowers, garden, pinterest, sewing, Tutorial Tagged With: a little sweetness, book bag, cotton book bag, embroidered tote bag, embroidery, riley blake, tasha horsely, tote bag

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Project Life Album

February 27, 2013 by Wendy Cohen 2 Comments

I stumbled across Project Life for the first time on Heather Bailey’s blog a few weeks back and was intrigued. I had never even heard of Project Life until I saw this blog post. It is a scrapbooking system that can be as simple as you would like it or as involved and creative as you make it.

I have never really been into scrapbooking; just not my thing. But, I do have several drawers full of photos, momentos and memories that need to placed into photo books.

What I love about this is that everything is pretty much laid out for you and it is very simple to start and complete a book within a few hours. You can see the entire product line here on the Project Life website. The packaging is amazing and everything is so easy to use.

Project Life Olive Edition

You start out by gathering your photos and laying them out throughout the book. All the pages are laid out with pocket designs which come in a variety of layouts. Then, using the project life cards throughout the book to fill in the gaps, to provide descriptions, stories, etc. Here are the cards…they come in two sizes and many different layouts.

I used glue dots to attach special things inside the pockets like travel tickets, lanyards, etc. I also purchased some simple sticker packs to add some texture, color and sentiments to the pages.

Then, I went through added my special touches with captions and stories throughout the book.

Here are a few sample pages…they were difficult for me to photograph (my skills aren’t that great). Here is the front page of the album..see how the front page sleeves make for a graphic that is connected…so cool.

Another page where I used large pockets to highlight some postcards, my bike number and a few emails that I saved along the way. These different sized pockets are so great for all your treasures.

A few pages…

I would highly recommend using this system…it is quick and easy. And, can be as creative as you like. There are many different Project Life styles that you can find on the Project Life website and are readily available from Amazon. If you go to the Project Life Getting Started page, it is a quick way to understand what you need to get started.

I always love to share any new products I share with you. Hope you enjoyed this one!

p.s. If you are curios…I did the California AIDS bicycle ride in 2001 from San Francisco to Los Angeles to support AIDS research. It was 575 miles of true inspiration and physically hard work!