a few finishes during a crazy, beautiful summer ; )

It has been a wonderful summer so far!  The weather has been beautiful and I've been spending lots of time in the yard gardening.  We even made it to the beach on Wednesday - I love Seattle in the summer!  With the boys out of school, and the distractions of summer, I have not been sewing as much lately.

But there is a bit of Progress ~ I have mailed some bee blocks!  It is so nice to be caught up!  We just started round 2 of the Cocorico - the sewing machine is for Erin and the berry basket is for Melinda.
The dress is for Penny in the Ringo Pie bee.
You can find patterns for the sewing machine and the strawberry basket in my Etsy and Craftsy shops!

I have found some time to create a larger version of my twelve patch pouch - it is made with 3 1/2" squares so it measures a nice and large 8" x 12".    You can find the tutorial for the smaller version [Here]

 I added the small tabs to attach a shoulder strap or wrist strap.

This project is a request from my mom for a smaller bag that she can use to carry her wallet for walks to nearby shopping destinations.

I put together this stack of fabrics while organizing my stash - they just look so yummy and summery! 

I'm thinking a parasol quilt - umbrella blocks similar to one adorning the bag I made for Stitch Magazine last Spring.  Or a simpler half square triangle quilt to show off the beautiful fabrics.

Have a lovely day!
xo
Charise  

Fresh Sewing Day

  

 

 I'm linking up over at Lily's Quilt for Fresh sewing day!  I haven't done this in a few months.  It is always fun to see what I've made the month before and feel proud of accomplishments : )

 

 

The Strawberry pincushion swap was tons of fun and I made a few new items!

I'll be making some strawberries for Christmas gifts.

 

Stitch Winter 2013 has a few projects I designed!

 

My last bee block is finished.  Looking forward to starting up again in the new year with the Cocorico Bee!

 

Happy Sewing

xo

Charise

Party Dress

As of today I am caught up on All of my bee blocks.  This one is for Penny in the Ringo Pie Bee.

Penny requested garments and the like and I had already designed this 1950's party dress!

It is definitely similare to my vintage dresses pattern but a little more complicated.

Vintage Dress from Hemlock Vintage Clothing

It is inspired by this vintage dress I found on pinterest.

Making dresses in miniature is so much fun and I have more in the works.

 

Have a lovely day!

xo

Charise

Random Sunday

Wow - two posts in one day : )
I wanted to update those who are quilting along with me in the Vintage Block Quilt Along.  I am behind a few months now.  The latest block is in process - the pattern is done - I just need to make the block and write the tutorial.  Thank all for your patience and I will have it available very soon!

It has been a crazy but good month!  Still a contestant in the Super Online Sewing Match......and just got back from a much needed vacation to Hawaii!  It was pure heaven....lots of reading and relaxing!

I finished a bee block in the midst of making the Negroni shirt for the Super Online sewing match.  Marit's butterfly for the Ringo Pie bee.  This is a pattern I designed last year which can be found in my Etsy and Craftsy shops.  One more block and I will be caught up, yay!!!

Have a lovely evening!
xo
Charise

Sunday Sewing & Sunday Stash

I hope you had a good weekend and Summer Solstice.  I was going through some sewing bins and found this block in pieces.  I think it was an option for Ayumi's ringo pie block  that I abandoned!  I have wanted to make a pattern from this block for ages.  Hopefully soon ~ It was fun to put it together : )

I had a wonderful first week of summer break and a wonderful weekend.

On Thursday, I met Melinda  (quirky granola girl) who was visiting Seattle from Maryland!  We have known each other two years online via Flickr through the Farmer's wife bee, Cocorico Bee and Ringo Pie bee. 

She is the loveliest person and we had such a fun afternoon shopping for fabric - of course : )

I also had a wonderful afternoon with my friend Sue who loves fabric as much as I do!

 

Here are my new acquisitions!

 

 I heart these lovely new Atsuko Maysuyama prints from Lecien.  Becca at Sew Me A Song has a nice selection in her shop here.

 

Sweet Low volume fabrics.  From Left to Right:

Avalon for moda, Posy by Aneela Hooey for Moda, Avalon for Moda, Basics by Alison Lindhardt for Adorn.it

 

Fun Pink, Red and Aqua

From Left to Right:

Timeless Treasures, Boho by Urban chiks for Moda, Giddy by Sandy Gervais for moda, Chemistry, Lakehouse dry goods, Avalon by Moda, 30's collection from Lecien.

 

Some of these have already made it into my Pretty Triangles quilt!

 

xo

Charise

Rockin' the Block

Well....maybe not quite rockin' the Bee Block - that would mean I'm actually caught up with my bee blocks but I am proud of myself for being close to caught up!
I finished Kerry's house block for the Cocorico Bee. I love making these blocks and filling the windows with little snippets of favourite and treasured fabrics!  The pattern is from Kumiko Fujita 318 which is now going for $200.  They really need to reprint it!!!

I also completed Anna's snowflake for the Ringo Pie Bee.  The pattern is from Rumi at 3 Patch and she was so kind to send the pattern to me!!!  It is a wonderful pattern with so many possibilites.  Anna wanted linen and white so I kept is simple : ) 

Have a lovely day!

 

xo

Charise

On a roll......

So happy I finished another Bee Block today!!!  This one is for Melinda in the Ringo Pie Bee and she asked for guitars.

I had no idea where to start so I did a search for patterns.  I found a great one at PaperPanache!  This is going to be an extra special quilt because it is for her son Henry!  I hope he likes the block : )

xo

Charise

***2012**

Oh my goodness!!!  It was a very busy 2012!  I was lucky enough to be published in a few of my favorite sewing and quilting magazines!

It was incredibly gratifying to contibute to Stitch - I designed two skirts that are in their Spring 2013 issue!  It was fun to go back to my roots in fashion design!!

Details:

From Upper Left, clockwise:
Pomme Potholder - Stitch Spring 2013
Rainy day tote - Stitch Spring 2013
Cozy Slippers - Stitch Spring 2013

Two Dresses - Quiltmaker 100 blocks Issue 6

Cozy Slippers - Stitch Spring 2013
Uptown/Downtown Skirts - Stitch Spring 2013

Gathered Clutch - Stitch Gifts 2012
Quilt Blocks Sachet Trip - Stitch Gifts 2012

Links:
Stitch Gifts 2012
Stitch Spring 2013
Quiltmaker 100 Blocks

 

 

I designed more paper pieced patterns than I realized!! 

 

 

My Ringo Pie blocks numbered five!  I'm a bit behind but look forward to catching up this month!

 

 

 

My Cocorico Bee Blocks numbered six though two are for Leila's Where the Orchids

Grow : )

I'm also behind here and looking forward to catching up.

 

I love to make bags and pouches!  The purse in the upper left hand corner will be a completed pattern.....soon : )

 

 

And lastly, some miscellaneous makes, most of which were for swaps.

 

Happy 2013 to everyone and Happy Creating!!

xo

Charise