Tag Archives: Zakka Along 2

Seeing Spots

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As mentioned during WiP Wednesday, I have a pouch swap this week at out Modern Quilt Guild meeting. It took me all week to do decide what I would make and finally I decided to get a couple of goals out-of-the-way with the one pouch….

  1. Finish a pouch for my partner at our guild swap.
  2. Finish the Patchwork, please Week 14’s Triangle Patchwork Box Pouch.

The Patchwork, please design gives you a couple of choices on how to do the main panels; I chose to paper piece the triangle fronts. I also decided that I would choose all blue fabrics with a theme of spots. Are you “seeing spots”?

Pouch_SeeingSpots_FrontClosed

I would say, if you want a pouch project that you could knock out quickly – this is not it. All up, this pouch was 3-5 hours worth of work. It was not what I expected.  It turned out great. I decided to continue the theme of spots for the base, but add a splash of orange for contrast, and then continued that orange for the lining.

Pouch_SeeingSpots_FrontLining

Fabric details for my “Seeing Spots” Pouch are as follows
Fabric Choices for Triangles
Aunt Edna Circle Dot Blue, Denyse Schmidt Collection, Joann
Micro Mod Blue and Citron, Cloud 9  – City Quilter, NYC
Metro Living Circles in Turquoise, Robert Kaufmann – Fresh Modern Fabrics
Polka dot fabric from Joann’s
Meadow Lark Circle Tile, Denyse Schmidt Collection, Joann
Meadow Lark Circle on Tonal Aqua, Denyse Schmidt Collection, Joann
Mirror Ball in Starlight, Mark Hordyszynki, HB Fabrics – City Quilter, NYC
Metro Living Circles in Navy, Robert Kaufmann – Fresh Modern Fabrics
Kona White
Fabric Choices for Base and Sides:
Flirty Flowers Tonal Dots, Robin Zingone, Robert Kaufmann – Fresh Modern Fabrics
Kona Navy
Fabric Choices for Lining:
Blossom Reel Plaid Orange, Denyse Schmidt Collection, Joann

Pouch_SeeingSpots_TopLining

Linking up with the Debbie’s Zakka Along 2.0 over @ A Quilter’s Table and with Kristy @ Quiet Play for Paper Piecing Party.

Let’s Get Acquainted New Bloggers blog hop

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Plum and June

Today, it is my turn on the New Blogger blog hop. This post has been one of the hardest posts, I have had to write so far. I had fun writing it, it gave me some time to reflect on how far I have come and how much things have changed, since my blogging journey started. I am so excited, I have some great news to tell you and just want to blurt it out…. but first I should share some information about me 😉

Why did I start blogging?
I enjoy sewing/crafts, fine arts and cooking/baking and I wanted to share what I was doing with people of similar interest and join a community. Facebook just didn’t quiet have enough room for all my thoughts. That is what let to me blogging in September 2012.

How did I come up with my blog name?
When looking for a blog name I wanted Jack/Jill of all trades but that was taken, with a little use of google I found “Factotum”. Factotum is Latin, and in english means “a person having many diverse activities or responsibilities”. Perfect!! Factotum of Arts.

What are 6 things most people don’t know about me?

  • My banner for my blog is one of my chalk pastel drawings of a dried lily.
  • I started sewing in August 2012, before that I had made a pillow case in home ec. class when I was 13.
  • I studied in New Zealand, my undergrad is in Biology and Statistics, my Masters in Marine Science
  • I really like science fiction and fantasy. I am currently reading Finale, Becca Fitzpatrick; Clockwork Princess, Cassandra Clare; and Shadow of Night, Deborah Harkness. Buffy the Vampire, and Supernatural are two of my favorite shows.
  • My favorite places I have visited are Lisbon, Portugal; Prague, Czech Republic; Rarotonga, Cook Islands; Tahiti, French Polynesia
  • I grew up in New Zealand, lived in Sydney, Australia; Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany and now live in Cary, North Carolina, USA and I love to travel.

What are my favorite aspects in quilting/sewing?
Fabric: I think my favorite thing, and somewhat an addiction…is fabric!!! I see a project in every fabric line.
Color: I really like being visually stimulated by color and then playing and using color when designing projects.
Ideas/Designing: I love taking an idea to the final product. My head is always full of projects floating around and I try to write or draw these down, so I don’t forget.
Best tip, so far: I was having trouble lining up rows for a postage stamp cushion, and Adrianne from “On the Windy Side” came to my rescue. Using her tips definitely helped in so many projects….here are her tips.
Projects:  I love projects that can be done in a couple of hours and interspersing these with long-term quilting projects. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, and keeps me going on the longer projects.  Here are some of my 2013 projects:

mosaic55ed8cc99adb9131ca6212f450b34d5bbb66634b

Now for my exciting news….I am introducing my first paper piecing pattern…

“Royal – X – Plus Block”TealOrange_Royal_X_PlusBlock

The block reminds me of a mashup of a union jack and the X & + Block (hence the name). It was inspired by a floor tile. I would consider this Intermediate due to the joins but an easy sew since they are all straight lines. The biggest tip I can give, is when joining the 3 sections using opposite pressed seams to match the pieces up (like you would matching up a row of squares).

I reached out to others participating in the New Bloggers blog hop and a big thank you goes out to my three testers that tested my pattern. I am so appreciative of the work and great feedback. Here are their blocks:

Cath @ Wombat Quilts, who posts a paper piece block every Monday which are always amazing!! She made her block 11.5 x 11.5″. finished block

Alison @ Making Happyness, who is a newbie at paper piecing. Her first paper piecing was a beautiful rose.Ali @ Making Happyness

Lisa @ Hilltop House Creative Works, made this very cute mini quilt from the block. I could definitely use this as a mug rug or a pot holder/trivet….don’t you think??DSC01700

In the process of making the pattern I tried a couple of blocks, and after feedback from Alison I wanted to show you all how a couple of blocks would work together.Royal_X_Cross_Blocks

You can get the free pattern from Craftsy, here. If you try it out I would love to know, so I invite you to post photo’s of your finished block on my Paper Piecing Flickr Group.

Finally, check out the other modern quilting new bloggers participating in the blog hop:

Friday, June 7th
Nancy @ Owen’s Olivia
Amy @ 13 Spools
Ashley @ Wasn’t Quilt In A Day
Casey @ The Studiolo
Nanette @ Yeah, I Made That
Ange @ Heart Of Charnwood
Kim @ Robot Mom Sews
Erica @ Kitchen Table Quilting

Friday, June 14
Julie @ Jolie Maxtin
Melissa @ Melia Mae Quilting
Adrianne @ On The Windy Side
Molli @ Molli Sparkles
Laura @ Little And Lots
Sarah @ Duck Egg Threads
Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation
Cari @ There’s A Thread
Valerie @ Between Quilts

Friday, June 21
Leigh Anne @ Ella’s Cottage
Stacey @ The Tilted Quilt
Sarah @ Quilt Candy
Jackie @ NW Patchwork
Liz @ Beadqueene’s Bits And Baubles
Erica @ Happy Fabric
Stephanie @ Simple Sewendipity
Lauren @ Seraphym
Amy @ Cloud CouCou Crafts

Friday, June 28
Green @ So Sew Green
Gwendellyn @ The Rainbow Revolts
Jessica @ Stitched In Thyme
Amira @ Little Mushroom Cap
Kathy @ Kayak Quilting
Michelle @ Factotum Of Arts
Paula @ The Sassy Quilter
Kris @ Sew Sunshine
Camilla @ Faffling

Friday, July 5
Christa @ Christa Quilts!
Alyce @ Wonderland By Alyce
Anna @ The Crooked Banana
Rachel @ Sew Happily Ever After
Stephanie @ Quarter Incher
Shayla @ Sassafras Lane Designs
Caroline @ Carolines Craftiness
Lisa @ Hilltop House Creative Works

Friday, July 12
Leona @ Leona’s Quilting Adventure
Karen @ Karen, {Novice} Quilter
Anne @ PlayCrafts
Rachel @ Let’s Begin Sewing…
Jan @ Sew And Sow Farm
Anna @ Quilting Along The Grain
Cath @ Wombat Quilts
Sarah @ {No} Hats In The House

Friday, July 19
Karen @ Little Birdie Quilting Studio
Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures
Katie @ Snuggle Up With A Dish From Karma
Alison @ Making Happyness
Ella and Nesta @ Ella & Nesta’s Little Room
Adrienne @ Chezzetcook Modern Quilts
Nicole @ Modern Handcraft
Aylin @ AyliN-Nilya
Kelsey and Amanda @ Everyday Fray

Friday, July 26
Vicki @ A Quilter’s Mission
RobinSue @ RobinSue Quilts
Elisa Lea @ Lovelea Designs
Elizabeth @ In The Boon Docks
Jenny @ A Note To Follow Sew
Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts
Sonia @ Fabric & Flowers
Emily @ Sew E.T.
Em @ Sewing by Moonlight

Market tote: Details

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In this post today, I wanted to take some time to fill in how I made the Market tote from the pattern in Patchwork, Please.

8491226708_180f965751 IMG_7116

Here are the other two post associated to the overall process:

1. Designing and thoughts
2. Finished Product

Purchased Materials + their usage:

  • Sand Essex Linen (one piece – bottom and side exterior)
  • Kona solid fabric (front exterior, and backing/edging of inside pocket)
  • Keepsake Calico Fabric from Joann (lining and inside pocket)
  • Oh Deer by Momo for Moda Fabrics (exterior back)
  • Quilted Osnaburg from Joann (handles)

All the materials here were cut and prepared…ready to start. This project does require quite a bit of fabric. I used approximately $40 to make the bag.

IMG_7141

All the above pieces were chosen to work with the “quilt as you go piecing” I did for the front exterior pocket (shown below). This pieced pocket was completely using scraps from my warm scrap bucket. What is even more impressive, much of this is made from samples I have received when buying fabric or been gifted to me (that is $0).

I had no plan when selecting the fabric from my scraps, I just wanted to keep within the same spectrum of color, with a touch of purple. I finished of the panel by adding binding, which was purchased and machine sewn on.
IMG_7137

I was a little confused by the instructions in the book but I got the general idea and it worked well. Now looking back, it may have simply been to the fact, this was my first bag I had made. I had a lot of fun making the bag….the actual construction (minus the quilt as you go project) took about two hours.

I loved the teal/aqua exterior front solid. It complemented the front pieced pocket and it keeps with my original design to keep it bright and celebrate Spring. Below are the pictures for the completed front and back exteriors of the back.

IMG_7143

Note that I only used 1 exterior pocket even though the book makes two. I decided to use an all over print t give enough visual interest…the Oh, deer! fabric was perfect and kept within the color selection I was using.IMG_7144

To get to this finished product, I made a couple of changes. The bottom you see is very structured and flat. I used a piece of template plastic which I inserted in under the seam folds, between the exterior and the interior lining before I sewed the bottom of the lining together.

The handles are extra padded (at least x2 the requirement in the book), this is due to the fact that I used pre-quilted Osnaburg I purchased from Joann’s. It was a little difficult to topstitch  the top part of the handles since it was thick, but my needle (90/14) worked well through the layers for the top-stitching (with a little appropriate handling).

I would recommend pinning the lining and the exterior to ensure the corners align. It will make it much easier. IMG_7150 IMG_7151

The book does include an elastic and button to close each exterior pocket. I just used a colored elastic hair tie and a antique button I had in my button stash. They can be seen here:
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I would definitely recommend making this tote. It was a fun project, in fact, I plan on making one for myself, since I used this one in our swap on Sunday.

Don’t forget to check out “Zakka Along 2.0::Patchwork, Please” that is starting June 3rd. You can join on flickr here.

Linking up this week with:

Better Off Thread