one shabby chick

The Paper Pieced Home (and a giveaway)

I absolutely love paper piecing (but it wasn't always that way).

I remember when I first started out, I was so nervous about it - probably because I was in an amazing bee with a bunch of paper piecing geniuses!

And I'm still pretty bad at translating my ideas to actual patterns but that's ok - because I have friends who are amazing at it and have patterns and books to help us all!

The Paper-Pieced Home: Quilting a Household One Block at a Time

By Penny Layman

Interweave/F+W

Penny is one of those friends and I can't wait to meet her in real life one day too. She has a pattern company with Kerry called Sew Ichigo and she just wrote the most fabulous book - The Paper Pieced Home : Quilting a Household One Block at a Time by Interweave.

I was thrilled when F + W asked me to review her book - it was an instant YES!

She has the BEST tips and techniques at the beginning of the book to help you even if you are new to this technique.

And my favorite part about the book? This great cd that you can put in your hard drive and print out pages as you need them!

This book is packed full of patterns and project ideas - there are so many, it's amazing!

I chose to do the Stack of Books block - it reminded me of the first block I ever made for the Ringo Pie bee (which Penny and I were in together).

I used the block as the front panel for a tote bag - isn't it so cute?!

This would be adorable as a library bag. The leather and sparkle canvas handles were a fun touch.

I also used the little mason jar block in the book and made two little zip pouches.

I used a stamp I have and made them little "aloha" jars. There are so many ways to use the projects and blocks in this book!

And the best part of this post - I have a copy for one of you to win too!! The book giveaway is for US addresses only (sorry international peeps). Leave a comment and tell me where in the US you live and you will be entered to win!

But I do have a giveaway for you international peeps!  I'll send one of you an aloha zip pouch! Just leave a comment telling where you live and you will be entered to win as well!

I'm one of the last stops on this book tour but here's a list of the entire tour if you want to check out everyone's amazing projects:

The Paper-Pieced Home

Blog Tour Schedule 

3/16       McCall’s Quilting / Sewing Machine Block

3/17       Love of Quilting / Review

3/17       Sandi Sawa Hazlewood  of Crafty Planner / Watering Can Block

3/18       Quilty Pleasure (Quiltmaker blog) / Review

3/18       Imagine Gnats / Rotary Phone Block

3/20       Verykerryberry / Lion Block

3/21       Artisania / Cast-Iron Skillet Block

3/23       Where the Orchids Grow / Lamp Block

3/24       Katie Blakesley of Swim Bike Quilt / Layer Cake Block

3/24       House on Hill Road / Oven Mitt Block

3/24       Lee Heinrich of Freshly Pieced / BBQ Grill Block

3/26       Pink Penguin / Allie-Gator Block

3/26       A Happy Stitch / Giraffe Block

3/27       Bijou Lovely / Jar Block

3/27       Two Little Banshees / Saucepan Block

3/27       Charise Creates / Espresso Mug Block

3/30       Karen Lewis Textiles / Couch Block

3/31       Poppyprint / Clawfoot Tub Block

3/31       One Shabby Chick / Stack of Books Block

3/31       During Quiet Time / Sleeveless Dress Block

4/06       Pat Sloan The Voice of Quilting / Author Podcast Interview

Good luck everyone!

 

Comments are now closed!

2015

Well, that was nice two month break huh?! Lol! First of all:

If you follow me on Instagram you know I haven't taken a break - I tend to OVERgram there. Just wish that would translate to blogging as well.

I do know there are people in the world NOT on Instagram - ha ha! I just take most of my photos lately with my phone so it's so easy to post them there. We do have plans to upgrade our camera soon so you might see more blog posts again! I still love this space so it's not going anywhere.

So what should I share first?! What I've been making these last few months?

I started a new Single Girl quilt (pattern by Denyse Schmidt) using an assortment of blues and greens from Cotton and Steel's latest collections.

I'm really loving this color way right now. Whipped up a quick baby quilt (well, top) last week in the same colors.

I've been making knife pouches....

and coffee bags...

and little dresses...

but what I really want to do is sew ALL THE QUILTS - lol.

I also sewed up some little sock sacks for a few knitting friends (pattern here)

and I finally used this amazing fabric I found on Etsy a while back and made some clutches/project pouches which I sold on Instagram (thanks everyone!).

So I've been keeping busy! What have you all been up to?

 

318 Patchwork Patterns

I am so excited to be on the blog hop for 318 Patchwork Patterns.

I remember the first time I heard about this book. It was the first year of our Ringo Pie Bee and everyone was talking about it. I tried to get my hands on the book but never could.

I am so glad World Book Media decided to reprint it (and in English!).

This book is packed full of amazing paper pieced patterns - they can be hand sewn and are also adaptable for paper piecing/freezer paper piecing.

I chose the Christmas blocks and at first was thinking I'd just choose a couple blocks to add to my Ringo Pie Christmas blocks.

But then I saw the reindeer and Santa blocks and decided I would make a few reindeer and have Santa in the back guiding them all.

I turned it into a cute Christmas table runner.

I chose a Constellation print I found on Ebay as the background to represent the night sky and I freezer paper pieced the blocks.

I enlarged all the pieces by 300% and printed them on freezer paper.

Kerry has a terrific tutorial on her blog about paper piecing.

I have to admit - my blocks are not perfect. I do not claim to be a perfect piecer. But I think they look good and I had fun bringing it all together. And that's the most important thing.

I quilted it using very "organic" lines and bound it with a cute star fabric and some of the red Suzuko Koseki fabric I used in Santa's suit.

Want to know the best part?

I have 2 copies to giveaway!! Why 2?

Well, I had pre-ordered the book before I found out about the blog hop so Zakka Workshop has a copy to give away and so do I!

Leave a comment letting me know your experience (or lack thereof) with paper piecing and you'll be entered to win!!

Thanks to Zakka Workshop for sponsoring this blog hop!!

Check out the full blog hop and more chances to win:

·      October 20- Kerry from http://verykerryberry.blogspot.com/

·      October 22- Penny Layman from http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com

·      October 24- Angela Pingel from http://cuttopieces.blogspot.com

·      October 27- Amy Sinibaldi from http://nanacompany.typepad.com

·      October 29- Amber Carrillo from http://oneshabbychick.typepad.com

·      October 31- Latifah Saafir from www.thequiltengineer.com

·      November 3- Charise Randell from http://charisecreates.blogspot.com

·      November 5- Leila from http://wheretheorchidsgrow.blogspot.com

·      November 7- Amy Friend from http://duringquiettime.com

·      November 10- Faith Jones from www.freshlemonquilts.com

·      November 12- Caroline from www.sewcanshe.com

·      November 14- Rashida Coleman-Hale from http://iheartlinen.typepad.com

 

Comments are now closed! I'll announce the winners tomorrow! Thanks!!

Summer Living

OK so another 3 months have gone by - can I blame it on summer?

How about I just show you what we've been up to?

We spent a lot of time at the beach.....

and I've been doing lots of sewing:

experimenting with leather

having lots of fun with Cotton and Steel fabrics

making lots of Jane Market totes for friends

 

Have gotten obsessed with a new shorts pattern

 

and with making patchwork panels

more beach days

and now school and soccer are about to be in full swing. I'm not ready!!

So, how did you spend your summer?

Bee-autiful Bee Quilt

I took a few quilts to Idaho to have quilted while I was there.

This one has been a ufo for a while! I looked it up - 2010!!

I absolutely love it - the colors are so gorgeous! The pinks and oranges are so fun - this was the best bee!

Such a talented group! I kinda miss being in a bee but it's nice not to have the pressure every month!

I sent a bunch of Denyse Schmidt fabrics for this quilt along with some Heather Ross and Kona solids and told everyone to make wonky log cabins.

I loved seeing each block appear on Flickr (you know, that social media we used before Instagram - lol).

The back is that wonderful Ikea print and a little Leah Duncan Meadow.

I entered this quilt into Amy's Bloggers Quilt Festival!

Woo hoo I'm back!

I know - it's been a while!

I am still here and still sewing - posting pictures all the time on Instagram in case any of you want to follow me on there (oneshabbychickhawaii).

I just haven't been into blogging. Part of the reason is my camera won't upload photos to the computer anymore but I finally bought a card reader so I'm back in business!

And my first order of business is to post about one of my favorite quilts.

I made this quilt last month when I traveled to Idaho for a little sewing retreat with a few of my buddies.

I had seen a few cross quilts on IG and Flickr (Ashley's and Rachel's) and had been dying to make one. Rachel has a great little picture tutorial on flickr that gives you all the sizes you'll need.

I had also been wanting to make a low-volume quilt and decided to pair it with my collection of Suzuko Koseki fabrics.

I cut everything out before I went to Idaho and even made some blocks beforehand.

So while I was there, I sewed the rest up, finished the quilt top and back and then left it at the Quilt Barn to get quilted.

(Amy and I had too much fun in Idaho)

I chose a super cute circle pattern and I absolutely love how it turned out.

Then I decided it needed to have a better photo shoot then just in the back yard so we ventured down to the beach this morning and took some pics.

My son was such a good sport!

I rewarded him with ice cream on the way home.

 

I entered this in to Amy's Bloggers Quilt Festival too!

Vinage Quilt Revival

I'm sure you all have heard of this book right?

It's soooo good! And authored by three of my favorite quilters:

Swim, Bike, Quilt - Katie

Freshly Pieced - Lee

Fresh Lemons Quilts - Faith

I had the pleasure of making a block for a charity quilt using one of the patterns from the book.

I chose the Wheel of Fortune block and made it low volume/scrappy.

The best part about this blog hop was we all made blocks and sent them to Faith, Lee and Katie and they are making them into charity quilts! Isn't that awesome?! I can't wait to see how they turn out!

This book is laid out so well and gives you great ideas for each block. All the templates are very clear and it comes with a cd (which I LOVE) so you can print the templates right out.

I'm thrilled with how they took traditional blocks and gave them a modern twist.

It really is such a great encyclopedia/workbook to have on hand. I have a few more blocks from the book that I really want to use to make full quilts.

Plus they have pillows, zip pouches and mini quilt projects along with a bunch of full sized quilts.

There's a big group of us that joined in on this blog hop:

January 13th (Monday):

Crazy Mom Quilts - Amanda Jean

Don’t Call Me Betsy - Elizabeth

Film in the Fridge - Ashley

Happy Quilting - Melissa

Noodlehead - Anna

January 14th (Tuesday):

I’m A Ginger Monkey - Katy

Quilting Is My Therapy - Angela

A Quilting Life - Sherri

Sew Mama Sew - Kristin

Tall Grass Prairie Studio - Jacquie

January 15th (Wednesday):

Christa Quilts - Christa

Diary of a Quilter - Amy

Quilting Gallery - Michele

Sew Take a Hike - Penny

V and Co. - Vanessa

West Coast Crafty - Susan

January 16th (Thursday):

Bijou Lovely - Holly

Don’t You Know Who I Am - Sukie

Lily’s Quilts - Lynne

One Shabby Chick - Amber

January 17th (Friday):

Swim, Bike, Quilt - Katie

Freshly Pieced - Lee

Fresh Lemons Quilts - Faith

So go check out all the blocks everyone made and then tomorrow the finished quilts will be revealed!

Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love

I am so excited to be a part of the blog hop for Kerry's book, Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love.

This book is so sweet (just like the author) and it was so fun trying to decide which project to make first!

**I totally stole a couple pics off Kerry's website :-)

I have loved getting to know Kerry through this book hop - she is the sweetest!

And we got the BEST goodie box ever from all these amazing sponsors:

Fiskars, Dritz, Fairfield, Bosal and Free Spirit

Thanks so much to all the sponsors!

They sure came in handy too! I think I used every single item (except the fabric - which I saved to give away to one of you) while making my project.

OK so on to the project I chose.

I just HAD to choose Casco the Dolphin. I mean, I live in Hawaii...how could I not?!

Dolphin in Hawaiian is Nai'a - that sounds like such a pretty name for this mama and her baby.

And oh my goodness....they turned out so cute! I love them!!

We went down to the beach for a little photo shoot.....

Mama and baby on the rocks:

Sunning his tummy:

Nai'a looking out to the ocean, dreaming of swimming away:

and a few more:

The whole week is filled with fun stops and cute projects from the book. Check them out here:

MONDAY: Nov 4th
Mollie Johanson – Wild Olive
Jessica Fediw – Happy Together
Abby Glassenberg – While She Naps
Jennet Jones-Rau – Feathered Nest Studio

TUESDAY: Nov 5th
Sabra Gubler – Sew a Straight Line
Amber Carillo – One Shabby Chick
Caroline Hulse – Sew Caroline
Amy Friend – During Quiet Time

WEDNESDAY: Nov 6th
Miranda Anderson – One Little Minute
Andrea Taddicken – Knitty Bitties Sews
Kristi McDonough – Schnitzel & Boo
Terri Harlan – Sew Fantastic

THURSDAY: Nov 7th
Shari Butler – Doo Hikey Designs
Jodie Carleton – RicRac
Jen Goode – 100 Directions
Justine Henshaw – Sew Justine Sew

FRIDAY: Nov 8th
Emily Levey – Strawberry Patch Ramblings
Nicke Cutler – Kiss Kiss Quilt
Cathe Holden – Just Something I Made
Kate Henderson – Two Little Banshees

Kerry did such a great job with this book - my daughter has picked out a few projects she wants me to sew  for her. I love how much imagination went in to each project and how much kids will be able to use their imagination when they play with these lovely toys too.

Now...for your chance to win 4 FQ's of Heather Bailey's new Lottie Da fabric, go check out Kerry's book on Amazon or her blog and let me know your favorite project from the book.

I'll pick a winner on Friday! Good luck! Comments are now closed!

3 little quilts

I've finished up some baby shower gifts this week.

The first two are for a set of twins that were born in May but I'm just now finishing them up.

I used Elizabeth's wonky nine patch tutorial.

The fabrics are a combination of Les Amis and Tula Pink - just different colorways for the two quilts.

The third quilt is for a baby shower I'm going to today.

As soon as I saw Jolene's pattern in Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe, I knew I wanted to make it.

Our friends are having their first baby (a boy) so it seemed like the perfect fit. I love Jolene's use of different neutrals in her quilt so I did something similar.

Then I quilted it with large loops and bound it in a stripe from Patty Young's new line, Just My Type.

And with that, I'm off to the shower!

Home again, home again (and very tired)

What a fun trip!

I can't believe all the people I finally got to meet (and I'm bummed I wasn't better about taking pictures with everyone)!

Jacquie (we've been friends on-line for so long so it was so nice to finally meet her).

Rossie (another longtime on-line friend) - we ran into each other on one of the aisles and talked forever (I loved it)! This picture is not the greatest of the two of us but oh well....

Melody Miller - eep! Total fan girl moment here - and she is just so sweet!

And I'm going to apologize in advance mid-post cause if you follow me on Instagram, you've already seen ALL these pictures.

But my phone was the only camera I took so they are all I got.

Peg (from Sew Fresh Fabrics - and Becca too but somehow I spaced on getting a pic of the three of us)!

I had such a fun time. Heather was so generous in letting me crash at her house - thanks again, Heather!

I had never been to Market before so I wasn't sure what to expect. Besides seeing all the amazing booths, my favorite part was just running into people on every aisle and just chatting away!

I saw so many friends that I had met at Sewing Summit.

And of course my trio of sweet friends from Seattle (Katie, Krista and Sandie).

Loved getting to know them better this trip.

I hung out with Laura and John a bunch (he's just as sweet in person as he is on-line). And Laura is just the best - they are both so mellow and easy to talk to. We even went to a Cold War Kids concert (I felt really old at that one - lol)!

(I stole this one from Laura who I think stole it from John)

And the booths!!

Violet's quilt from her new line - it's AH-mazing! It's called Waterfront Park.

Jeni's booth - her new line is SO good! Love the colors and patterns! She is such a sweetie. She witnessed my fan girl moment with Melody Miller - lol!

Mo Bedell's booth - she won first place too - it was gorgeous! So bummed I didn't get a pic of Mo, Monica and I :(

Patty Young's new line:

how cute is this outfit?

Rashida's booth - again, can't wait for this line!

Tula Pink (who is hilarious). And her new line is amazing!

And Melody Miller - of course I LOVE her new line! :-)

And the new Echino/Kokka lines - I'm dying - those scooters are SO good! And the cameras!

Fun parties, good food, staying up super late - no wonder I'm tired now!

I have some production sewing to do in the next few days. Knife cases for my dad and some clutches for a wholesale order. Better find a good book to listen to.

We also have a jiu jitsu tournament this weekend - life doesn't slow down for you just cause you are tired, does it?!

That's ok - I'm happy to be home and itching to sew up a few quilts that are in process! Hopefully soon!