Official Martha Stewart Crafts Store - Crafting Essentials, Weddings, Holidays, Kits, Projects

Official Martha Stewart Crafts Store - Crafting Essentials, Weddings, Holidays, Kits, Projects
The geek in me is screaming "Yes! That is SO cool!!" Here is the source for your Martha Stewart craft supplies if you want a better chance of them looking just like they do in the magazine photos. I can't say much about the quality of the products, but I'll bet they are at least halfway decent since she it is the marketing director's name straight on the package. KWIM? Her towels are pretty nice, but at least you know you are getting the right colors with her very own craft supplies.

Well... they had BETTER be the same ones they use in the pictures, damn it!

My First Quilt

I have done it!

I have SO many projects that are partially done that I am just thrilled that I managed to do this one from start to finish within a week! Isabel's encouragement (and her claiming ownership) really helped.

the quilting does take considerable practice, but I am pretty satisfied with my progress and very happy with my machine: JukiTL90E - the quilter's sewing machine, which my husband bought for me because of it's "cottage industrial" claim. A great machine all-around.

I love the finished "quilted" look of the project. I know, it IS a quilt, but the quilting just makes it look so much tidier and like a true quilt. I have done "stitch in the ditch" before (sewing carefully down the seams) but this method (the name eludes me right now) makes it look so much more, well, professional.

I found a great deal of help from tutorials on the web, especially Oh, Fransson!: http://www.ohfransson.com/ (Great name, but the way.)

Basically, if you follow the tips, quilting is much easier than previously thought, but, you will cause yourself a lot of trouble if you don't have the tips -- the magic, if you will. It is well-worth the time to read through a good quilting blog, until you feel quite inspired or can't take the anticipation any longer.

Well, not bad if I do say so myself.

The fabrics are Recess from the American Jane line from Moda (the colorful squares), Mary trellis from the Bell Bottoms line by Jennifer Paganelli (the back of the quilt), a very nice Egyptian cotton for the background framing of the squares, and Coriander from Amy Butler's Lotus line.

American Jane Simple Quilt

I have some other squares cut out, but I wanted to go ahead and make use of these beautiful "Recess" squares. I thought they would no nicely with the light and airy look I am trying to create for Isabel's room. I want to go ahead and start teaching myself how to quilt; making use of what was already taught me, plus winging the rest. I guess I have new inspiration from learning the basics on stippling. I already have the batting (I do want to switch to the cotton because I heard it "drapes" much nicer) and tons of fabric sitting around so this is a good way to make use of it. Maybe I will even sell some of these at the Oak Harbor Market this summer. Of course that depends on how well the turn out.

Wax The Thread

I love LOVE finding new tips on how to do stuff -- the right way. So when I found this one site, I was really pleased with the simple details and especially the tip on waxing the thread in order to preserve then integrity and strength of the thread as well as prevent knotting. Oh, it really worked. I just happened to have my Nan's little beeswax teddy bear on hand, since she had passed me most of what she had left of sewing things.

I thought it turned out pretty nice. they took about an hour each, but I was quickly getting better and I found it gratifying, although a bit of an overkill. I would probably like to have done each one in 2 minutes with a machine, but I do like the look of the handmade buttonhole.

To Top It Off...

The coordinating fabric.

Isabel loved this and immediately decided she wanted to wear it - glad it was a beautiful and warm day today.

Now, to start quilting... I am rather excited.

I will try to take pics to post progress.

Hi My Name is Amy...

And I am addicted to fabric.

It is a good thing I have a little kiddle to dress, otherwise I am not sure what my excuse would be. I know, I already thought of it: I would be an avid quilter. I plan on doing that anyway, but here is my latest little kiddle skirt. I am tickled that Isabel loves skirts so much; they are so easy to make, and take up very little fabric compared to other things. The cost of this skirt was about $10 taking into account shipping, excluding notions and time.

It totally satisfies my want for fabrics.

Next, I am making a 1950s baby "bra" out of the coordinating mushroom fabrics. I may even finish it today, while we wait for the car to come back from the shop.

Damn it! Martha!

Now I want to make these. The think is, though, that they will go perfectly in Isabel's new "circus theme" room, so I guess it is acceptable that I get sucked into one of her crafty ideas. Well, we all know they are not all her idea, and that she is a marketing guru, but I suppose that is fine. But I do feel a bit like a sucker. Sometimes I wonder if crafting is really a waste of time. I have never done a themed room before, or even fully decorated a room for that matter, but I am finding the process a bit fun and rewarding.

So pom poms, here I come.