Bookmarks

Happy Thursday friends! I hope you are all healthy and enjoying this slight warmup (if your from MI that is, is your from somewhere that's been nice and warm, well then I'm quite jealous...)

I had grand plans for this weeks sewing project, but as so often happens life sort of got in the way. I'm okay with that, or at least I'm learning to be okay with that. Yesterday a friend (my maid of honor and college roommate, actually) came to visit with her four kids. It was wild, loud, and crazy and I loved it. Time spent with old friends seems so rare these days, it was certainly precious. This morning during time I would have been getting ready and doing my chores I was snuggling my two sons. It seemed like they needed it, and truth be told, so did I. I think it's okay to put away the plans we have, to put on hold "the things we have to do" to make room for the things we really need.

As you can see easy enough that I made an entire bouquet.

That doesn't mean I have nothing to share. As luck would have it I had started another project for Valentine's that just so happens to be perfect for this little corner of the internet. I have been desperately craving flowers, and gardening, and sunshine, which, is why this project spoke to me (that and it was fast and used up lots of little pieces of fabric. Seems to be a theme with me lately).

These little bookmarks were a project idea I found on Pinterest. The original pin is HERE if your interested in the step by step. I used pieces from my Moda charm pack that never runs dry, scraps of green from RJR Fabric Garden Medley (in store) and vintage buttons from my collection. Super simple to put together (I didn't even use a pattern for the flowers just free handed it). If your looking for a small Valentine's or thinking of you gift, this is great for any person who loves to read. Finally a bookmark that won't fall out (or be pulled out by children)!

Happy Sewing,

Love,

Jessie and Sue

Valentine's Fabric

We're snowed in again! And, while my cold is finally on it's way out the door I spent most of the day shoveling huge amounts of snow out of the driveway and into mountains that were almost too tall. If we get much more I won't be able to reach the tops of them. I'm still quite tired and worn out (I'm sure the shoveling didn't help) so I'm glad to be inside writing a blog post to you.

I know it's hard to believe but Valentine's Day really is around the corner and if your looking for something pink and red and romantic we found some fabric that we'd put away for just such an occasion. Moda's Sandy Gervais, it's all candy stripes and hearts and pink polka dots! Click HERE to shop online or come into the store. I bought myself a few yards, can't wait to share that project with you all. We've also got some lovely pajama and robe patterns in stock.

We also restocked some of our Grunge basics. Tan, Snow White, Black and Grey. There are so many projects and ideas in the store. If your looking for a new project: from sewing clothes, to bags, to quilts... Maybe your more interested in hand sewing, we have such beautiful embroidery kits and patterns.

If your looking for some Valentine's crafting and sewing ideas check out our Valentine's Sewing Board on Pinterest Click HERE. We've been pinning lots of ideas and tutorials. If you were interested in the necklaces from our fabric box tutorial you can pop on over to my (Jessie) personal blog for more information.

I hope your staying warm and I hope you've got lots of projects to keep you company. 

Happy Sewing

Love,

Jessie and Sue.

Underwear

I suddenly find myself under the weather with a cold. Is it too early to be sick of winter? I want to go out and dig in my garden and sew some shorts and a vintage inspired bathing suit but alas it's hot tea and blankets for me. I thought I would mention if your looking for new project ideas or inspiration or just an escape from the cold weather, check out out our Pinterest boards. We've pinned loads of ideas, free patterns, and tutorials and links for your perusing. Click HERE to check it out. We're also now on Google Plus our user name is Sew Unique if you'd like to connect with us there.

This is the only successful pair of under type things I've made.
The fabric is in the shop in a few different colors. You can read more
about it on my personal blog, click HERE.

It's Valentine's time, or almost anyway, and that means that I'm about to enter my annual sew-under-things-madness. Happens every year about this time, I start thinking I might like to sew a nighty or I start researching how to make corsets (which I never wear and look incredibly difficult which is why I've never actually made one). Last year I went through this panties fever where I was convinced I could make my own Vintage inspired High Waisted Pin up type underwear. I bought a downloadable pattern, went crazy in the blog world reading all about it, bought lots of different types of fabrics from online sources and that cute little lingerie elastic that sort of looks like lace. First I made a "muslin" (that's like a mock up to see what needs changed). Oh Lordy so much needed to be changed! I am very happy with my post-baby body but it's not exactly modelesque, and no matter what I did my underwear endeavor ended up with me wiggling into drawers that were too tight around the thighs and reached nearly up to my armpits... not exactly what I was going for. Then almost as quickly as the fever started it disappeared. Leaving me with a few pairs of giant granny panties and lots of see-through fabric that had no purpose.

I'm starting to feel the urge again, and I'm trying to stave off the sewing crazy, but I did buy this book...because amazon told me I might like it... and it is VERY fascinating...

What do you think? Do you crave pretty under things? Have you had ANY luck sewing your own? If so I would so desperately love to hear about it. Let us know your tips in the comments below.

Happy Sewing,

Love

Jessie and Sue.

Fabric Covered Box

This post is late and let me begin by saying I am sorry. We had major computer difficulties which really threw a wrench into my plans, I had no idea how many things depended on my dear ol' lap top. Even my current knitting project was on there! So any way the folks at the apple store were able to fix her up and now I'm here, just a day late.

Valentine's is just around the corner and I thought it would be fun to highlight a few different Valentine's projects. Today's project is a fabric covered box. A wonderful way to use up small bits of fabric. I've used these boxes to gift homemade necklaces and even homemade chocolate truffles.

Materials:
Small paper box (you can find these at most craft stores, I got mine at Michaels for $1)
Mod Podge (I like the Matte finish it's not as shiny)
A small cheap paint brush
Fabric (For this project I used coordinating squares from a Moda Charm pack).

Cut fabric the height of the sides, paint the sides of the box with Mod Podge and smooth fabric onto the sides. If there is excess fabric fold it over onto the bottom or into the box to cover the inside walls. You may need to snip the corners to get it to lay flat.

Cut another piece of fabric that will fit the top of the lid and smooth down onto the sides. You might need to snip the corners to get it to lay flat much like you would if you were clipping or trimming a curve in sewing.

Trace around the top to get a piece that will fit in the upper lid

Once you have the fabric glued to the box paint a coat of Mod Podge over the entire box to seal. Let dry completely (with lid off the box). Then decorate with ribbons, buttons, beads or other trims.

I've also covered other boxes with old poems, sheet music and other paper in the same way. These little boxes are very inexpensive and quick to make yet take small gift giving to another level.

Little Toys.

Heather Bailey's Sweet pattern is available
in our online shop or in store.

One of my favorite things is to take patterns and ideas and sort of repurpose them to fit my needs. An example is the children's messenger bag repurposed into a small messenger bag/purse, from last week. This week I took the cutest little pincushion pattern and repurposed it to a toy.

Honestly this little guy is so cute I'd have a hard time sticking him with pins any way and I've found that this is the perfect little baby toy. I'm attending a shower for a friend in a week and a half and decided he'd be the perfect little friend for small baby hands.

What I love about this pattern is how little fabric it uses. I also love mixing and matching fabrics and it's a great way to use up fat quarters! AND, most of it can be done on machine which is my true love, it's hard for me to sit through a lot of hand sewing. All I did to make this a child's toy was make sure the shell was doubly stitched on and then embroidered a sweet smile to warm him up and give him some character.

Here's one that's a fungi! I made him a few years ago you can read
about him over at my personal blog.

Lastly it's been awhile since we had a music playlist to sew too. I spent quite some time looking for songs that are actually about sewing, or mention sewing, or quilting. Believe it or not there are some out there, mostly country, though I did find a march, and some jazz.  So here's the sewing song list for the week, this one SONGS ABOUT SEWING, enjoy!

Let us know if we missed any sewing songs, and what your favorite songs are to sew to.
Happy Sewing,
Love,
Jessie and Sue.

New in the Shop...

Coming to you from the shop today where we've started getting in our spring fabrics and Let me just say how wonderful it is to feast ones eyes upon fabrics in pastels and greens and pinks while the landscape outside is white, white, white! I realize Christmas is barely gone and I'm ready for gardens but at least I can make "gardens" out of pretty fabrics.

New Jelly Rolls from Moda from the Sewing Box collection. Oh dear these fabrics are close to my heart with their pins, and measuring tapes, and scissor themes. I actually received a charm pack as a gift in this collection and I CAN NOT decide what to do with it. Something special but I just can't decide. I thought about doing patchwork pillows, but is that too mundane? Perhaps a skirt, or even a purse I just can't find the right project for this special collection. I would love your advice, what would you do with such a sweet collection of fabrics?

We also got in three new quilt patterns and some new quilting tools. These short days and long cold nights are the best time to start a quilting project. Especially now that Christmas is over.

Lucky Stars Quilt Pattern

Dresden templates

To the Point Quilt Pattern

New Dresden quilt Pattern

Then my favorite thing this fabric Hello Petal fabric. It's so springy and whimsical! Lots of Layer Cakes in this one.

We're starting to think about Valentines and what kind of projects we'd like to do for this special pink and red holiday.  

Now that we're finally able to get out of the house I hope we'll see you soon. And as always...

Happy Sewing!

Love,

Jessie and Sue.

A New Year.

Happy 2014! A new year, means new sewing projects and new classes and new fabric! YEAH!! Here in Michigan we've been under house arrest and frozen for a week. I'll be honest I'm going stir crazy and wouldn't you know that this happened while I was in-between projects. You might think that I could have used this week of solitary confinement to take down my holiday decorations or deep clean the house but that's just not how I roll. I mostly moped around and watched lots of Netflix. Now, however, I am finally getting back into the swing of things. One of my sons went back to school today and I'm back to the blog, feeling a little less lethargic and more like myself.

Out with the old and in with the new. All our Christmas fabric is 25% off for the rest of January. Come and see our new spring fabrics and get a jump on next Christmas by getting some holiday fabrics for the stash!

Some of our new fabrics! How springy is this scene?

 This is our new kit. It includes the pattern fat quarter strips and the backing for $40.00 if you already have the pattern you can get the kit pieces for $30.

Crabapple hill club resumes Tuesday the 14th at 10. Look at this beautiful winter embroidery, that would keep the winter blues away, or at least give us something to do while we're trapped inside dreaming of flowers. We can embroider them instead.

What are you working on in the new year? Any resolutions you'd like to share? I've embarked on a new project you can check out my personal blog HERE to read about it. We'd love to hear what you've been up to during this blizzard.

Happy Sewing
Love,
Jessie and Sue.