Zippy Pouch take two

Tried out another pouch.
I used block 57 from Tula Pink City Sampler
I also added in a layer of stabilizer for a bit more structure to the pouch.

 

Tea Cup Block

I ran across this fun Tea Cup tutorial and just had to try it out.
I used up some scraps and now its sitting on the wall awaiting its final destination.....
Maybe a coaster?

Dec Goal

December!?! Already!?!
Time sure did fly by this year, as I get older I notice the days weeks months go by much quicker.
I didn't set a goal each month and on some that I did I didn't finish. Life!
Well today I am setting a goal for the final Link Up at ALYOF.
With these lovely fabric sets I am going to make a few Kyoko Dresses.

Sew BitterSweet Designs
Fiber of all Sorts

a piece for me

Just a few days ago I came across this fun tutorial.

Then today I notice this on my desk.

So of course I just had to pull out some scraps and go to town on my very own Halloween (quilt as you go) mug rug.

Some pictures along the way.......

Shopping!

It's been a long while since I stepped into a fabric shop, boy I was surely excited to touch and feel and match pieces up in person.
When we lived here a few years ago I found a great little shop a few towns over into the next county, takes about 30 mins to get there, not bad at all. I was really hoping the shop was still around. It is still there but under new ownership and new name. prices went up as well :/ Before I could get a yard of Micheal Miller for $6.95!!! now its close to the online prices of $9 something.
I am hoping this doesn't mess with my final Dress prices all to much, I'll be doing up some math in the next few days to figure it all out.
With all this shopping...yes the shop with be reactivated and stocked up soon too :)

 Here's a peak

Framed Fairies

Just a few days ago my friend Melissa @ Sew BitterSweet Designs launched her new pattern All Framed Up and I jumped at it. 

I fell in love with this when she debuted it as a block and was hoping she'd make a quilt pattern out of it.

For my quilt I used fabrics from my stash.

Alphabet Fairies. Flower Fairies by Michael
Miller, the green was left over from another project from last fall, the background fabric with dandelions is a piece of Japanese cotton my mom brought back for me, the back is a natural cream.

This took me a few nights to work on but it went together quickly.

 I played a bit by adding in the corner pieces to the back as well as trying out different quilting stitches my machine offers. For the binding I used my backing a tutorial Melissa offers.

I am so happy with MY quilt! 

Yes MINE, this lovely lady with take center stage on my couch.

If you ever make anything that Melissa offers stop on by the Sew BitterSweet Designs Flickr group, I'd love to see your creations.

September goal

My UFO - 

A Bucket Bag I started last fall  :/ 

My goal this month is to finish it.

I'll be linking up along with lots of others for September goal- A lovely year of finishes

On the table today

Working on a treat for my niece whose due in a few weeks. Here's a peak. Lots of trimming going on, taking these hst scraps and cutting them down to 1.5in squares o_0

Office chair makeover

You ever see that fabric that you "must have"? 

Buy it by the yards, then it sits and sits and you never use it.

I figured out a solution.

Office chair makeover 

That's right, with just a few items you can have a new chair in just an hour or so.

Take an old ugly (free in my case) chair, 2 yards of "must have" fabric, a few nails and hammer (or staple gun could work to), scissors, pins, allen wrench (or screwdriver depending on your chair) and the ability to do straight line sewing.

Here's my fabric that has been sitting, I love purple and green! This was gifted to me by my mom but I could not figure out what to do with it.

Here's my free chair from a neighbor


Here's a picture to show the hardware on the arms, super simple, 4 screws each side, no fussing under the seat at all.


This particular chair required an allen wrench
(I keep everything that has ever come in a box of furniture that needs building, so I had a few on hand)
Once you remove the arms the back is also disconnected


I placed the back on a small table, standing it straight up as if it were still attached and ready to be sat in. I then took my fabric, print side facing chair pad, tucked the back under (towards me) about 6 inches


I worked the right side first, with about 3-5 inches available to work with, I tucked and folded the top corner until I liked it, pulled the back side around and pinned it.


I then followed the side crease of the chair pad straight down, pinning along the way, stopping a few inches away from the bottom


Repeat the above to the left side

Once both sides are pinned I then trimmed the piece I tucked under earlier, I left about 3 inches, both on the back that tucked towards me and then tucked the front piece towards the back and trimmed.


Heres the back side all nice and flat, adjust your pins if needed, then pull off the "slip cover"


On to the bottom seat.
I took the remaining fabric and laid it over the seat to measure, I was short on both sides, just a few inches, so I took the trimmings of the top that I had just cut off and placed and pinned along both sides as needed



I didn't get a picture of the sewing but I'm sure you can imagine. I took both the top and bottom and straight stitched along the outside of my pins, trimmed any access fabric, turned the top right side and headed back outside, fabric pieces in tow.

Heres the fun part, no really, I wasn't thinking before I started this project.
I swear we have a staple gun..... oh where oh where can it be........
If you have one, great! These next steps will fly right by.
If not, well then get to digging for teeny tiny little nails and a hammer.
(see, I said dig and dig is what I did)

just for these little guys


Here is another option, not mandatory at all, but helpful, yes.
Basting spray (my new favorite "tool")
I sprayed the bottom seat before placing the fabric to help stable it while I pulled and tucked and nailed.

see how nice and flat and clean that looks


Time to flip and get to work,
I pulled folded and nailed in the center of each 4 sides


Then at the corners I tucked and folded left and right and nailed them in place, creating this triangle extra piece around the corners


I cut off a few inches


Then tucked and nailed the corners
(yes I know my nails are bent, the under side of the chair did not like me or my nails)


Repeat all 4 bottom seat corners and...wala...



Don't forget to make and puncture the holes for the arms


Back to the top, slip on the cover and adjust the folds around the top corners, making sure the back is flat to



Lay top on its back, tuck the back under and inside

If you have the basting spray, you can spray the top down now for a little stability while nailing the final tucks in


Pull the top down nice and smooth, tuck and fold and place over the bottom tuck, nail in the center



On the two bottom corners I pulled and folded similar to the top corners, not worrying to much because they will be hidden, I didn't even cut off any extra I just tucked it in and nailed


Again make the holes for the screws (I just stuck a pencil in them)


Add your arms back on,
TADA!!!

I most fabulous looking office chair ever, J/K :-P