It's beginning to feel a lot like . . .

time to work on some holiday sewing!

I made this mug rug for the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap on Flickr. This group is entirely to blame for my mug rug addiction!

My mug rug was inspired by this awesome pincushion, and I used this free template for the design with Heat-n-Bond Lite. It was easier than I expected!

And here's a little sneak peek of a project I'm working on for someone on my Christmas list -

Fabric: Pure by Sweetwater
Block tutorial: found here in the Moda Bake Shop

How's your holiday sewing going? I'm way behind, as usual, because I'm a procrastinator! I like to think that I work better under pressure :-)

Happy sewing!
Mary

Fishy Mug Rugs

After hoarding my Heather Ross goldfish stash for a mere three months, I just had to cut into these guys and make something fun. No sense hoarding fabric and never using it, right? (But believe me, it was hard to make the first cut!)

I just love these fish combined with bright and cheery patchwork in aqua and tangerine. My inspiration for these came from here and here.

I like how Splashy is the star of the show on this first mug rug. Isn't he cute? He won the heart of one of my bloggy friends and is already off to his new home in New England!

This second mug rug stars Helen and Bjorn. They're great friends and I just couldn't bear to separate them. They're also up for "adoption" in my shop!

This final mug rug stars Splashy and his friend Spooky. These little guys are going to be participating in a giveaway for 100 Quilts for Christmas.

Haven't heard about 100 Quilts for Christmas? 'Tis the season for giving, and this wonderful event encourages us quilters to donate a small quilt or blanket to a local charity for a child in need. Click here for more details, and I'll keep you updated on where and when you can enter to win my fishy mug rug!

Happy Wednesday!
Mary

Join the Pin.Sew.Press. Flickr group! (and a sneak peek of my latest project)

Hello lovely sewing friends! How have you been? I spent last week taking care of a sick little one. I'm ready to get back to blogging, designing, and adding some new goodies to the shop!

First order of business today . . . I now have an official {Inspired by} Pin.Sew.Press. Flickr Group! If you've made one of my Stay-Put Kitchen Towels or a mug rug inspired by one of mine, please add your photo to the group! I'd love to see what you're making!

Last week I finished up three more Bliss Cross mug rugs. I think this may be my last one is this particular design and fabric combo . . . it's time for me to design something new!

Here's a sneak peek of what I've been working on for the past few days. Yes, it's true, I finally cut into my goldfish stash! I came up with three new mug rugs starring these fantastic fishies, and I hope to finish the bindings soon so I can show you the set!

Next I really need to tackle some holiday sewing. I've been procrastinating, but Christmas is quickly approaching! Time to get to work!

Happy sewing,
Mary

Sew & Tell Friday: Mom and Daughter Handbag Set

I was thrilled when one of my previous co-workers asked me to make this adorable set of mom and daughter-sized handbags. I mean seriously, how cute is that?!

I used this pattern by I Think Sew and copied the pattern at 70% for the mini bag. I think the mini bag is my favorite . . . it's just so darn cute! And I love the Amy Butler combo my customer chose. You just can't go wrong with Amy Butler!

I'm linking up to Amylouwho's Sew & Tell Friday. Be sure to check out all the other finishes!

Happy Friday!
Mary

I heart artsy-crafty babe (and she's having a sale!)

Surely you know Beki of artsy-crafty babe, right?

I just love her patterns! Here are some bags I've made from her patterns. They're from my pre-blog sewing days, so I haven't showed these here before.

This one is called the Ava Rose Tote:



And this one is called the Short & Sassy Pleated Handbag:



(Can you tell these pictures are from my earlier days of photography? I think they were both taken with a flash (ahhhh!). . . there's definitely a reason I've switched to all natural-light photography!!!)

And here are the bags I've made from Beki's free patterns- the Pleated Tote and the Phoebe Bag.



Right now Beki is running a big sale over at her shop. All bags are 50% off and all patterns are only $5.

Seriously, how do you resist cuteness like this?

Happy sewing,
Mary

Modern Meadow Mug Rug Madness!

Prepare your eyes for a feast of Modern Meadow + Linen! I finally sat down and finished handsewing all of the binding. Phew, that takes a while! But you just can't beat the end result.

On this one I went a little crazy . . . those finished squares are only 1/2"!!! I love the look though.

These mug rugs are in my shop, and now I'm back to work finishing up some custom orders!

I hope you had a great weekend! Did you eat tons of candy? I'm trying to pace myself (and my daughter!)

Mary

Another mug rug and tips for sewing with linen

I've been having so much fun making mug rugs! This one is a mix of Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane with linen. I'm officially in L-O-V-E with linen! I just love the color and texture.

Here are a few tips if you'd like to sew with linen yourself. First, prewash! I never prewash my cottons, but linen shrinks quite a bit so I recommend prewashing in hot (yes, hot!) water and tumble dry low if your finished product is going to be washable. So if you're making a zip pouch you don't really need to prewash, but for something like mug rugs or placemats or a quilt I'd say prewashing is a really good idea.

Second, spray starch is your friend! When linen comes straight off the bolt it will have a slight stiffness to it since the manufacturer applies sizing to the fabric. But once you wash it, linen becomes very soft and wrinkly. It also tends to be pretty shifty when you're sewing with it, so I use lots of Magic Sizing (which is only a couple bucks at WalMart) and a hot, hot iron and basically starch my linen into good behavior. It makes a huge difference!

I've added my lastest mug rug to the shop, as well as a made-to-order option for both of my Bliss mug rugs in case you wanted one but missed out the first time.

I've been working on three more mug rugs with Modern Meadow. They just need binding and then hopefully I can show them to you tomorrow! I'm having way too much fun making these teeny, tiny quilts!!!

Happy sewing,
Mary

Sew & Tell Friday - The Nigella Bag

Hello and happy Friday! Amy at Amylouwho is featuring me today for Sew & Tell Friday, so if you haven't visited be sure to hop on over and check it out! (Oh, and if you finished something this week and blogged about it, be sure to join in the fun and link up!)

My finish this week is a birthday gift for a good friend of mine. She L-O-V-E-S bags so I knew just what to make for her! It was fun talking with her about features she wanted and styles she likes and having her go through my stash to pick the perfect fabric. She asked for a bag with one strap, preferably more wide than tall, with exterior pockets. Here's what I came up with -

I started with the Mabel Messenger Bag pattern and made several modifications to meet my friend's needs. First I added two exterior pockets on the front and a "fancy" (ha ha) faux leather bottom. The bottom was totally inspired by this awesome bag. I found the faux leather at a local shop that sells home decorator fabrics and it was surprisingly easy to sew with. The only major difference is that you can't pin it, but I sewed using my regular 1/4" foot as well as my walking foot and it worked just fine. Oh, and I did use a size 16 needle for this bag since some parts of it where really thick. I love that the faux leather bottom will help this bag stand up to everyday wear and tear!

I'm not a huge fan of traditional metal snaps. I have tons of the 18mm variety, but the magnet is so strong that I often find it difficult to unsnap them. They can also be a bit unsightly sometimes. Enter the hidden sew-in magnetic snap closure. LOVE it! Although it was a little tricky working with the magnet sewn into the bag since it wants to stick to EVERYTHING - my scissors, my iron, the metal plate and feed dogs on my sewing machine. It wasn't a huge pain, but it was amusing!

My next addition was a metal swivel clasp just inside the bag so that my friend can just clip in her keys and not lose them in the bottom of her bag. The fabric I used for the interior is from Kate Spain's Verna collection.

Then I added metal rectangle rings, just because. These were really great during the construction of the bag since I didn't have to sew on the straps until the very end. It was nice to not have to deal with the strap being awkwardly stuffed between the exterior and interior while I was sewing them together. Also I should note that I deviated from the pattern here and made a fixed strap instead of the adjustable shoulder-to-messenger-bag strap the instructions called for.

And for my next trick . . . an interior zipper pocket! This was my very first one, and wasn't hard AT ALL! The pattern includes directions for this zip pocket, and I'm thrilled to have finally learned how to do it.

The fabric I used for this bag is from Amy Butler's Nigella home dec weight collection. It's so pretty, and luckily I have just enough left over to make myself a new ironing board cover. I sure wouldn't mind looking at this fabric every time I have to iron, and it sure beats the ugly cover I have now!

Well, this bag is off to meet her new owner tomorrow. I hope she likes it!!!

Happy sewing,
Mary

More Bliss Love . . .

After my little weekend sewing project I just HAD to come up with some new sewing projects to use more Bliss! This time I paired it with linen, which is such a yummy combo!

I made two mug rugs, and I love how they turned out. Patchwork + linen + scrappy binding = GOOD STUFF!!!

What is a mug rug, you might ask? Well, it's like a coaster only bigger. Think of it like a tiny piece of art for your desk and a pretty place for your mug to rest. Or just a really, really tiny quilt. This one measures about 6 1/2" x 7 1/2".

I couldn't help making another tiny log cabin. They're just so much fun!

This one measures about 5 3/4" x 7 1/4".

You can find these little mug rugs in my shop. (P.S. - mention my blog in the comments section at checkout and I'll give you free U.S. shipping now through October 31st.)

These little mug rugs are addicting. I'm already dreaming up a few new designs using Modern Meadow and more linen. Stay tuned!

Happy sewing,
Mary

I heart patchwork

Just a little weekend sewing to share -

{Front and back of patchwork cosmetics pouch}





This cute pattern is from Rashida Coleman-Hale's book "I Love Patchwork."

I hope you're having a great weekend!

Happy sewing,
Mary

Modern Meadow {x 2} = Double the Fun!

What do you do when you can't decide on just ONE quilt pattern to use?

Make two quilt tops and forget about having a back!

This side was inspired by this mini quilt by Ashley at Film in the Fridge.

And this side was made using Elizabeth Hartman's Mixtape Quilts II Pattern, which I LOVE. The directions were so clear, the cutting was super easy, and she even provides a guide for block placement so I didn't have to stress and rearrange my blocks 100 times. Thank goodness!

I used simple straight-line quilting on either side of the sashing.

I absolutely love how the quilting looks on this side!

The fabric I used is from Joel Dewberry's Modern Meadow line, which I'm completely in love with. I mixed it with Kona solids in white, navy, avocado, stone, and aqua. (Mr. PSP loves this fabric too, so I'll be using it to make something for us when I can finally get around to it!)

This special quilt was made for my good friend Shannon who's having a baby boy in less than two weeks. Shannon and I met way back when we were 21 and working together and became fast friends. I will be forever indebted to her for introducing me to the wonderful world of modern fabric and modern sewing. Last August she posted about an Amy Butler giveaway on her blog. At that point I didn't even know who Amy Butler WAS! *gasp!* But once I clicked through a few links and started browsing modern fabric and patterns I was absolutely hooked. My very generous mom set me up with a sewing machine and all sorts of sewing supplies and the rest is history!

I had a blast making this quilt for Shannon since she's my only "real life" friend with an appreciation for modern fabric and modern quilt design. I mean, what other friend of mine will ever send me inspiration links from Crazy Mom Quilts?! When I sew for my other non-sewing friends I'm always a little afraid that they won't "get it" or might not necessarily love handmade gifts, so it was such a pleasure to sew for a friend with similar interests!

Now I just can't wait to meet the new little man!

Happy sewing,
Mary

Purse Week - I made the Top 10!!!

I'm so excited to share that my Miss Maven Ruffled Handbag made the Top 10 in Purse Week over at A Lemon Squeezy Home!

You should definitely hop on over and check out the finalists and vote for your favorite. There's some serious talent over there!

I have a new quilt to show you guys but I'm waiting for it to be delivered in the mail. It's a baby boy quilt with lots and lots of Modern Meadow goodness . . . can't wait to show you!!! Hopefully it will arrive by the end of the week. Talk to you again soon!

Happy sewing,
Mary

Plan B

If at first you don't succeed . . .

make coasters!!!

These little blocks were originally going to be part of my DQS9 quilt, but once I made them I just wasn't in love with the quilt idea. I tossed them aside and made this quilt instead.

But after making my last set of coasters, I got the idea to make these into coasters too. They finished at about 5" square, which is a really nice size. I was so pleased to find a new (and better!) use for these tiny blocks! I gave the coasters to my parents when they came for a recent visit.

And speaking of my parents . . . happy *early* birthday Mom!

Happy sewing,
Mary

Miss Maven Ruffled Handbag

Can I even tell you how much I love Amy Butler's latest book Style Stitches?

A LOT! A book full of fabulous bags? Yes please!

And after no less than 12 hours of hard labor, I'd like to introduce you to the Miss Maven Ruffled Handbag.

I used Amy's Full Moon Dots print and a Midwest Modern print and I love the combo. So pretty!

The inside of the bag has a false bottom for extra stability. Nice detail! I deviated from the pattern on the pockets and made my own to suit my needs.

I have to tell you, this was THE.MOST.DIFFICULT. bag I've ever made. The pattern is listed on the "Experienced" level and they aren't kidding! When I first read through the directions I didn't think that any one step sounded too hard and I dove right in. But I must have overestimated my skill level because this sucker gave me run for my money! I had broken thread drama making those ruffles, and don't even get me started on making and attaching those adorable handles! I can't even tell you how many times I pinned and re-pinned and stuck my fingers. But then it was done and it was so worth it!

I'm really grateful for the deadline of the Amy Butler Sew & Tell Challenge to keep me going, because I might have given up otherwise! My bag is far from perfect but I feel really good about working through such a difficult pattern.

After making this crazy hard bag I need some serious quilting therapy. My next task is quilting a baby quilt for a friend, and believe me, that's EXACTLY what I need!

Happy sewing!
Mary

{Aqua & Tangerine} Tiny Log Cabins

I decided I wanted to play around with tiny log cabin blocks the other day. I had so much fun I made five. Four became coasters -

I'm disappointed with the skipped stitches in my quilting, but I was using a size 9 needle and maybe it just wasn't up to the task. I later switched to a size 14 and didn't seem to have any more trouble.

I love the backs of these coasters too!

The fifth log cabin became an easy pincushion. I experimented with the triple stitch on my machine for the quilting on this one.

I just love these colors!

AND, I just have to share that I used basting spray for the first time ever on these little log cabins and I'm IN LOVE. Sooo nice to not mess with pin basting on such a tiny "quilt sandwich." I used 505 Basting Spray from my LQS, but I'd like to find something cheaper. The 505 spray was $13 - yikes! Not sure I'd be willing to use it on a larger quilt at that price.

I definitely see more tiny log cabins in my future . . . too much fun, and perfect for scraps!

Happy sewing!
Mary

Pleated Handbag

Three cheers for another bag!  I had this one all cut out when I made my first one a couple months ago, and I'm just now getting around to finishing it.  It sure is nice to pick up a project when everything's already cut out!

I love this bag pattern by I Think Sew.  There are so many fabric combinations I want to try!  I like this one because it can be used for daytime or evening.

You can find this one in the shop.  Up next: clutches?  zip pouches?  perhaps some Stay-Put Kitchen Towels?  So much to sew, so little time!

Lauren starts preschool tomorrow (three mornings a week) and I have high hopes for a very productive fall, sewing-wise.  When do you get your sewing done?  I sometimes sew while Lauren is awake, but that can be challenging to say the least!  Most of my sewing is done during naptime and after she goes to bed.  I sure don't watch much TV anymore!

Happy sewing!
Mary

A new bag and a new venture

I gave in and splurged on a little Far Far Away 2 recently.  I'm proud of myself for not hoarding it - within two days I dove right in and started cutting it up!

I love this color combo for an early fall bag, and I'm loving this Bracelet Bag pattern by Keyka Lou too! It was fun learning how to make those cute circular handles, and I finally understand what the sewing term "facing" is all about.  Aha!

The exterior fabric is Roses in Dusk and the interior fabric is Moon and Stars in Tangerine.  I also have to mention that I love this lightweight cotton canvas.  It's so perfect for bag making and so easy to work with.

Aaaaannnndddd . . . after dragging my feet for at least the past six months, I have finally opened an Etsy shop!  Let's just call this a soft opening, since my only item listed is this Bracelet Bag.  More to come soon!

If you want to visit my teeny tiny shop, click here.

Happy sewing!
Mary