Winner

Well your chances were pretty good if you entered the Charming Traveler's give away.... and the winner is:

She blogs at Just Something I made.

Congrats!  Please email me with your address.

Charming Travelers Charm Pack Giveaway

I just received a pack of the Charming Travelers from Vickie at More Stars in Comanche.  The Charming Travelers Giveaway started with Diane "From the Blank Pages".  Now it is your chance to win.

Rules:

• winners must be active bloggers
• This is the blue pack and it is traveling throughout Canada as well as the US - you must be willing to ship to either country to enter that giveaway.
• before sending the charm pack off to the next winner, there must be 56 - 5" x 5" squares of fabric inside - please no yucky fabrics
• to help keep the map updated, winners will fill out the quick and easy form with Diane to let her know where you are!
• if the charm pack arrives full of unwanted charms, let me know and we'll clear it out and fill it back up with some more beautiful fabrics!

I was able to take a few fabrics that really fit my fancy.  It is fun to see all the places the pack has traveled.  Just leave me a comment.  Giveaway ends 11/25.

1 - KOcanQuilt of Quilting, Losing and Tea, MN

2 - Marika of Live, Laugh, Love... Sew, Magog, Québec Canada

3 - Jeannette of Jmday.com, TX

4 - Sally of Grendelskin, CT

5 - Pam of Mama Spark's World, Canton, MI

6 - Sara of Growing Stitches, Raeford, NC

7 - Tammie of CraftyTammie, Richmond, KS 

8 - Katy (LarthargicLass) of Plethora of Pinatas, Ottawa, ON

9 - Sarah of Army Quilting, Lawton, OK

10 - Shirley of SimpleSew, Arlington,

11 - Vickie of More Stars in Comanche, Texas

12. Me,  I live in Ketchum, ID

13. You!

Are your creative juices flowing?  I hope you are feeling inspired today!

Leave a comment to WIN!

Giveaway now closed.

Modern She Made

It finally has come together!!!

I picked out the fabric I was going to use for my Modern She Made project a few weeks prior to Sewing Summit. My partner had mention she liked English Paper Piecing, she also seemed like she would like pretty much anything. Her mosaic was very beautiful and so I was immediately inspired. I wanted to use the Spring Carnival Pattern by Katy at Monkey Do  since I had bought it in hopes to learn some more EPP tricks at Sewing Summit. I did get to meet Katy however I was not in her class so I still am just self taught. I think I am doing it right, and it looks good, so I guess I doing it correctly. I was not exactly sure if it were to be a bag, a purse, or something else. Tonight I re-read her request and saw she would like an iPad cover. I have made a few using this tutorial by One Shabby Chic, so I decided to go for it.

I finally finished hand stitching, and I cut way too many pieces out. That's what I get for being indecisive. I really love how it came together. Now I just hope my partner loves it!  I have tohe okay from the swap mama so this will be going in the mail on Monday morning.

Inspiration is all around us. What inspires you to create?

Mouthy Stitches Sent and Received

A few months past I stumbled upon the Mouthy Stitches Swap on Flickr.  I am so glad I joined because of all  the crafty work and inspiration I gained from other people's projects.  These are some of my favorites.

1. Tote & Keyring - all finished!, 2. Option 1, 3. Mouthyfront, 4. Mouthy Stitches #2 Tote - front, 5. Mouthy Stitches 2 Tote Front, 6. Mix tape bag, 7. Mouthy Stitches 2 - Perfection received!, 8. MS2 received, 9. Mouthy stitches 2 tote, 10. tote, 11. Mouthy Stitches II, 12. Mouthy Stitches

I was so lucky to receive this fabulous bag from Jan Marlowe of isisjem.blogspot.co.uk.

Her hexagon work is so wonderful. She did some really nice fussy cutting and I just love all the hand stitching.

The matching keyfob is so much fun too!

This is the bag I made for my partner Jen.

This is what Jen said:

"Oh my goodness, I just got the most wonderful tote from you! Thanks so much. You did a great job of matching my mosaic -- rainbow and paper piecing and texty fabric, it's all there. I never would have thought that I was a cupcake fabric kind of girl but every time I see it I just smile. It's perfect! My favourite part of all though is the stitching on the handles. Maybe it's a minor detail but I just love the texture combined with the rainbow thread.

The key fob is adorable and already has become the official key chain for my car keys.

I probably should stop gushing or you're going to think I'm a little crazy but I really do love the tote. Thanks so much!!!

Jen"

I am so glad she liked it!

This weekend I am hoping to finish my project for the Modern She Made Swap.  What creative juices are flowing at your house?

I WON... your chance coming soon!

I just won my first giveaway.  I have entered a lot and I never seem to win.  Today however I am the lucky winner.


Diane from From the Blank Pages, has set up the Charming Travelers.  Check out all the different places the charms have traveled on her blog.  Vickie from More Stars in Comanche posted her giveaway this week and I won.  56 Charm squares are on the way to my abode.  When they arrive I get to take the ones I want and fill it up with other fun charm squares... pretty ones that is.  So keep your eye out.  I will have the giveaway as soon as they arrive!
Hope you are feeling the creative juices flowing this weekend!

Blog help

After going to the Sewing Summit I have been inspired to keep blogging.  I am always discouraged because it is possible that no one is reading the blog.  So why am I writing?  Well for me of course.  However it might be true there are some followers out there.  So I decided I should look further into making my blog a little snazzier.  Since I am not sure how many people really care, I know I should not spend money trying to make it better.  Since I am kind of a geek, I like knowing more about technolgy, I decided to ask one of my favorite bloggers for a little help.  Rachel from Stitched in Color let me know to use the information on Jenelle's Blog Echinops and Aster to get a bit more savy on my Blogging.

Her tips are great and the first is how to read HTML.  Wow, I did not even know what it standed for, so I am already ahead of the game!  The second is what I really wanted to know.  How do I put cute little social media buttons on my blog?  First step is to download all of the cute little pictures and upload them onto the internet.  I decided to post them her.  I got the buttons from Carrie at Carrie Loves.

Now I just need to follow the rest of the directions to get the buttons to actually work.  I hope this information helps you make your blog a cute place to visit.

UPDATE:  I did it!!!  Carrie's blog is so helpful!

Christmas Creativity has begun

Well actually the creative juices on this one started way back last January when my Stepmom asked me if I could make her a new modern tree skirt.  I had been eyeballing "The Hood" by Brioni Greenberg in the Fat Quarterly Holiday 2010 editionbecause Faith had featured it on her blog Fresh Lemon Quilts.  I am loving how it turned out.  I really want to makeone for myself, however it is not on the top of my to do list, so we will see if it actually happens.  My husband did say that we can go cut a tree down this year so I am really excited.  We will see it might just happen.  For now I can just drool over this one.  

I had enough scraps in the scrap baket to make all of the little houses.  I pulled some of the green for the trees from my charm pack swap fabrics I received.  

I love how all of the pebbling turned out even though it took many days to finish I love how it looks like it is snowing.  I used double wide bais tape that my lovely friend Cat gave me to bind it off.  This is the first time I have attached the binding by hand.  I sewed it onto the front and then hand stitched it to the back.  

One Christmas present down.... 100 to go.   Well actually that is an exaggeration but not to far off.

Inspiration Overload

It seems every time I get on to the computer, go to the fabric store, talk to my neighbor Cat ... or just think, I get inspired to make something new.  Now just to get inspired to finish what I have already started.  There are so many amazing projects to make. No just to make them.  Pinterest has a pluthera of ideas, now I just have to actually do some of them.

I joined in on with Alyssa to try and get someof my ideas into action.

Today I almost finished with one of my Christmas presents.  My stepmom asked for a new treeskirt for Christmas.  She liked Fat Quarterly's "The Hood" pattern, so I have been sewing it up for her.  It has been a very fun yet time consuming project.  I will post on it once I get the rest of the binding sewn on.  

Of course midway through the sewing I got sidetracked today and started another project.  I have been wanting to make new curtains for my sewing room.  I already took down the old ones and gave them away to the Goldmine our local thrift store.  I went ahead and cut fabric to take with me to Sewing Summit thinking that I might be able to get it done there.  Unfortunately I did not even get them started. I did meet Amanda from Crafty Fox I just loved her pattern so I am trying to mimmic it.  I was able to get a few rows done today and I am loving how it is turning out.  I look forward to getting them put together.  I plan on making them into the Roman Shade type and I think they will look great and keep some of the warmth in our house this winter.

I hope you are feeling inspired today!

October Bee Blocks

Well with Sewing Summit in the middle of October and all of the ore sewing and cutting I was working on prior to the event... I felt a little overwhelmed with keeping up on my Flickr blocks this month. I am really happy with all of the results. I usually try to have all my blocks done as soon as I receive them; however this month that was not the case.

For Sew Blues Bee

I made two blocks. The first was easy and I was able to finish it up prior to the Summit.

The second for Staci, I just finished last night. Her quilt is going to be so fun. I really wanted to do mini hexies and embroidery. I had fun.

The Modern 99 block

The Block Party block I also was able to do prior to leaving.  Apparently I did not get a picture prior to sending it off.  Oops.

Last but not least were my two blocks for the Promise Circle of Do Good Stitches. I really love the value in these blocks. I took a picture and then looked at in black and white just to make sure I did it correctly. So much fun.

I am so excited I already have one November Block done and it has not even started.

I have also been working hard on getting my Modern She Made Swap Item finished.  I am getting closer to getting the EPP part of it finished and now I need to decide if it will be a pillow or a bag... hmmm?

May you be inspired to create!

Shawn

Travellin' Stitch Blog Hop

Hi!  Welcome to my blog.   If you have not been here before, thanks for stopping by.  If you are a regular, I really appreciate someone listing to me rant about my crafty side.  Well, today is my day of the Travellin' Pic Stitch Blog Hop.  I was lucky to meet the hosts at Sewing Summit this year and have been stalking them via Instagram as they travel around the West.  To find out more about the HOP follow this link.  Check out the projects the other participants have made.  They are very fun and inspiring.  I love the Play Crafts Palette Builder. Take a picture, load it up, and the builder will tell you which colors go with your picture.

Sage and I went out for a walk a few weeks ago when the Fall colors were really starting to hit.  I am glad we went when we did because two days ago we got dumped on with snow... so it looks more like winter now.  Fall is my favorite as I am addicted to orange.  I just love all the colors!!

If you are unfamiliar with English Paper Piecing there are a billion tutorials online.  I am in love.  I love how I can take the projects with me wherever I go.  I decided I was going to make a travelling sewing bag for all my rulers and tools, so I could take it with me on my trip to Sewing Summit.  I used Carrie's tutorial for the Travelling Art Case.  I modified it a bit and it turned out great.  Thanks Carrie.  I made the mistake of not cutting the fabric long enough to make the pocket like she showed, so my tools sometimes slip a bit.  If I were to make it again I would definitely modify it.

This is a picture of the trees just North of our house.  We live in such a beautiful place.  I love Sun Valley, Idaho.

Thanks for giving me a chance to participate and share my project.  I hope you stop by again to see my crafty side. 

This post is part of the Travellin' Pic Stitch Blog Hop.  From 1st October - 30th November we are hopping all over the world EPP-ing in some fantastic locations.  Check out the full list here and be sure to check out the other participants. On 30th November it's over to you to link up for a chance to win these fabulous prizes! Sponsored by Paperpieces.com, FabricwormPink Castle Fabrics ,  Marmalade Fabrics, the Fat Quarter Shop, WantItNeedItQuilt, and Aurifil.

Full details for competition entry can be found here.

Yeah!! We have visitors!

I am so excited.  My mom is coming to spend Christmas with us!  I called my mom a few weeks ago, asking her if I could put her up at our house for Christmas if she would come?  I really did not think she would be able to; however I asked my husband to start building Sage a bed in his room that hangs from the ceiling so we could stay in his room with him, if my parents came to visit.  Low and behold, he started building the bed, and they booked their tickets!  This will be the first time my mom and stepdad will spend Christmas with us since my son was born, and actually I can not remember the last time they were able to spend Christmas with me.  I think it was prior to me meeting my husband.  Christmas in Sun Valley is so much fun.  The decorations are outrageous.  Free Sun Valley Ice Show and Torch Light Parade on Christmas Eve.  They will hopefully get to see Sage ski and of course they will get to spend just over a week with us!!!!

In crafty news, today I spent the day with the local guild ladies learning how to handstitch wool.  Kerrie Green of Kerry Stitch Designs came to teach a wool fibers handstitching class.  This is the bag we are making.  It was a lot of fun to learn new stitches and hang with the ladies in the class.  I was surprised how fun stitching on wool is.  The bag is actually quite large.  I thought it was going to be much smaller.  I am very happy as to how it is coming along.

Lesson learned

As I drove back to my girlfriend Kate's house the quote, "one time at band camp..." kept popping into my head. Instead I was saying "One time at Sewing Summit..." The memories that were created this weekend are unforgettable, the friends, the teachers and their creative inspirations, the moments of pure laughter are truly unforgettable. While digesting the Sewing Summit weekend, I realize I have come away with a power of creativity I look forward to realizing. The creativity has always been there. It has just been rekindled.

When I signed up for Sewing Summit I had the intention of taking classes to improve my quilting skills. The classes filled up quickly, and I was unable to get into my first choices. So I signed up for classes on garment making. I did not realize these classes were going to have such an impact on the creative process if of my mind.

First and foremost, I realized I know how to quilt. Prior to the Sewing Summit, I was not feeling confident about this. But there truly is no reason to doubt the skills I own. They are not so bad... Actually quite good. The classes on quilting therefore should not have been my priority to begin with. On the other side of the coin although I have many garments for myself, I really do not know all that much about it. I am lucky I have a pretty straight forward body. I make a pattern and to my surprise it usually fits. However when it doesn't I really do not know what to do. This is where the classes at Sewing Summit come into play.

The first class "Handmade Wardrobe " with Mena Trott was fantastic. Her humor and insight on a journey to make herself a wardrobe she felt good about was definitely a creative inspiration. It seemed most people in the room followed her blog Sew Weekly. I had not. I have now and it seems I might need a few hours to really be able to look at it because wow it is chalked full of info. I walked away from the class ready to get started and ready to make a personal goal to make more clothes for me!

I also came away with a new sense of who I am writing for. It really, in my life is not about the reader. There are a few of you out there. But really I do not need to prove anything to the blog world. I need to write and sew and create for me, it makes me happy, it makes me relax. So really, read if you want. I need to write to clear the clutter. You are welcome to listen.

Jeni Baker from In Color Order spoke next. She was fabulous and laid out the principles of the color wheel. This was not new to me... However she did explain some things in a clever way. Like try not to put too many bossy fabrics together because they will fight. Her example photos were beautiful. We also got to take home a Cotton Couture Color Card from Michael Miller. So pretty.

The third class I took was With Amy Ellis on Precision Piecing. I realized I really am not in to being soooo precise and probably why I prefer a bit more of the wonky blocks. However I am not that bad at it and probably should just keep practicing.

Finally during the final session on Friday I took pattern making with Carrie of Thismamamakessstuff.
Awesome!!!! She showed us how to take a staple pattern and add creativity to it. She was very inspiring! I learned the slash and add method. I am so looking forward to modifying patterns to fit me and my ideas.

I slipped in a curves class with Amanda from A Crafty Fox. I got to touch and fell her beautiful sample curved quilt and got some layout ideas for making my vintage curtains for my craft room. Now to just get them put together. Thanks Amanda for taking the time to teach us.

Friday eve was the mixer,,, I hooked up with the ladies from the pizza party and headed out. We squished in my car and yes we did pay for parking but silly me put the ticket in upside down and I got a ticket. If I remember to send it in... I will be let off the hook.

The mixer was great!!! Sukie thanks for all the loot. I got a 25$ gift certificate to fabric.com yeah! I also had a blast pretending I was the waitress. In the end I even got a tip... Thanks ladies for all the belly laughs.

Thanks for the bunting Sukie... not sure who made it but it looks fabulous!

Late night in the sewing room was also a blast Kati Spencer From the Blue Chair sat down with me one on one to teach me how to piece hexagons and diamonds, and Faith Jones  from Fresh Lemons Quilts taught me partial seams and equilateral triangles. I will post pictures once I get them done. Thanks ladies for the attention. I really appreciate it.

Well this is the world's longest post but hey... I said it now I won't forget it. Stay tuned for more... Saturday at the Summit.

Sewing Summit

Over the past few days, I have been having such a fantastic time at the Sewing Summit.

On Thursday we hopped from fabric shop to fabric shop. Although we were not on the official bus, we had a wonderful time and I was lucky to meet some wonderful people. Ani, an amazing mom! Sally, who I have had the pleasure of swapping blocks with online on Flickr. Judith, the Navigator who was very patient with all of our constant chatter, and Leigh who is a sensational Brit I had the pleasure of truly bonding with.

After the long day of shopping I headed over to Nostalgia to meet a few of the teachers. It is funny how, I put in my mind that I wanted to get back into garment sewing, and then, how I was then so fortunate to meet some amazing influences to lead me in that direction. I look so forward to taking my classes today from Sarai and Sunni! They were so fun to get to know over coffee. Sunni has an online notions store, and Sarai makes patterns! I also met Tracey at the coffee shop and look forward to continuing a friendship with her.

After the mixer on Thursday night, Leigh invited me up to "Texas Fi". This was just what I needed these were the ladies I was wanting to meet. Tsoniki, Fi, her mom paula, Liz, and Jessie were so sweet to me and gave me the little relax I needed. Liz was sweet to loan me some homemade comfy pants! We chatted and bonded, drank some beers, laughed, and ate pizza. Later in the evening I headed down to do some embroidery, and Lee from Freshly Pieced was so kind to give us her tips on Paper piecing. I feel so lucky that all the teachers were so available to share their ideas! The pictures below are of the final project.  I put the pattern to gether on a bag to send to my partner for Mouthy Stitches.  I hope she likes it!