Amy Butler – Free Patterns – Quilts

Whoa, I’m impressed. Photoshop Elements Version 10 really allowed me to show you some of the free patterns that Amy Butler has to offer on her website for quilters.

I’m not a quilter, but I know there are lots of you out there. And maybe one of the  quilts shown above might interest you.

To get these free patterns, visit Amy Butler’s site. Go to the free patterns and download the PDF formated file. Each file consists of instructions and measurements.

Envelope Back Pillow

Recently I made drapes for my son’s girlfriend’s town house. Once I finished all of them I had fabric left over. I told her I would make some pillows, for when she puts her place up for sale it’ll look a lot more cozy and comfy.

Now I am one of those crafters that well I can create without patterns nor using the net to find instructions on how to make items. I had seen some where, where you could make pillows that had an opening in the back to slip a pillow cover on it. So basically I took the material figured how I was going to make them and just sewed them up.  I didn’t even know these pillows had names. Yeah they are called envelope back pillows, I can see where they got the name too.

If you click the link it’ll take you to a site with instructions on how to make them, below is how I did it, using home decor fabric. Some of the sites that I visited on how to make these, they had added embellishments, the fabric my son’s girlfriend wanted, no embellishment needed. Look very professional and expensive as well.

Cream color fabric was a silky material and raveled like crazy. The red and brown fabric was a lot heavier and there was a tendency to ravel but not as much. With both fabrics I turned the ends over twice,  these ends are the opening to stuff the pillow, consider the ends hems, one on each side. I then folded the material a few inches so that the material would overlap on both sides when the pillow was inside. I stitched along both the bottom area where the folds were and at the clean edge. This makes the envelope opening cleaner.

Put the fabric on the table, placed the pillow form on top, folded the finished edge to the area of the pillow i wanted it placed. Then I took the rest of the fabric folded it over to figure how much material was needed to finish off the other end. Did the other end like above. Then placed the pillow again on the wrong side of fabric and folded each end, trying to keep the envelop opening centered or to my liking. Slipped the pillow out making my markings where the openings were to be set, pinned and then stitched 1/4 inch seam. measured the pillow to 15 inches (14 inch pillow form) and did 1/4 on the other side for a seam. At each corner cut a slant towards the seam. Flipped the fabric inside out and then slipped the pillow form inside. There was a good amount of overlay that you could not see the pillow form.

Sorry but the pictures are blurry but you can see the envelop opening in both pillows above, where as I could not find that with other sites I visited. And you can see the end product with the others. They look really nice and it was a big surprise on her part.

Best thing to do, buy pillow forms when JoAnn’s has them on sale for 50% off! I can just see taking a stock pile of pillow forms and taking remnants of fabric, making these Envelope Pillow Covers and having your daughter fill up her bed with them.

Flower Creations – Dakota Collectables Decor

For the past week I have been working on making daisies and asters from the Dakota Collectable Decor Design set – 970384. The package is called Flower Creations. I’ve always wanted to try my hand at making flowers with the embroidery machine and see how they turn out. I acquired the CD from SewforLess, which by the way is currently on sale for 34.99. 

The CD consists of 26 designs to make four different types of flowers, daisies, asters, pansies and one other flower. Included in the CD are 6 gift tags. Perfect item if you like to personalize your gifts to family and friends. On the CD you get full instructions of how to put the flowers together using wire and floral wrapping tape. Of course additional materials are needed to complete the project. It is very simple and easy for those beginners out there. I don’t consider myself a beginner, but I’ve worked with floral tape in the past and once I got the momentum going I was whizzing through them quickly.

When I decided to make these flowers, I thought I would try a new stabilizer, as my supply is running low. And you say what Donna is going to change her brand, thats not like her. I went ahead and got a sample package of Wunderstitch from SewforLess’ site. The sample package includes 20 sheets of 9 various stabilizers, which include some of the following; medium, heavy soft tearaway, medium cutawy, tear and wash and sew and wash. Would also like to indicate that this package is on sale on the SweforLess site at 26.24, almost half price and it includes free needles. Since I had some sew and wash from another company, figured I would do a comparison between the two stabilizers.

When I started my first daisy on my off brand, noted that one layer of stabilizer was not going to do. Sometimes with the density of the item, you sometimes need 2 or 3 layers. So I trashed the first daisy that screwed up and doubled up on the stabilizer. Did several flowers with the off brand and then the remaining flowers I used the Wunderstitch Sew and Wash, otherwise know as Aqua Lace. I noticed that the off brand was thinner or weight was lighter than the Wunderstitch. When I dissolved the items I even noticed that the Wunderstitch was different in weight, it was heavier, only one sheet necessary. I even accidentally left a set of flowers outside on the table, as I was drying them faster in the heat, forgot to bring them in, rained overnight, still had plenty of body in the flower. 

Starting out the project did lots of flower pieces. Yes that’s right LOTS!!! My daughter saw what I as going to be doing and said, hey Mom can you do pink daisies for Kim, her friend. I said sure what the heck. So I gave her my container of pink threads from Metro Embroidery and said pick. LOL was that a mistake, not really as she picked out three colors. The mistake was me doing 4 of each color! What was I thinking? So pretty much 2 days later I had all my leaves and petals done. It pays to always have a second hoop on items that you are doing a lot of, worth the investment. 

After all the items were sewn, I trimmed the wash away stabilizer from the sewn pieces. I like to trim a lot of the excess because the water doesn’t get sticky/icky quickly. Say that three times fast! I put the pieces into a plastic container of warm water. Watched the stabilizer dissolve and then shook them to get more of the water off. Took them outside on the patio table to dry.

As they were drying, took out the wire and floral tape. Originally was going to buy the wire that had the floral taped on it, but it was going to have to be wrap all together, so nixed that short-cut. In the beginning I cut the wire for the leaves and then wrapped the floral tape on the wire. Big mistake as I realized later, faster and easier to tape the wire and then cut to your size needed for the leaves. But them again, I don’t follow directions unless needed, rolling eyes!

Once all the wire was done and the sewn items were dry, I glued the wire and leaves together using tacky glue. While those items were drying started wiring the petals. Two sets of petals per each wire. Placed a dab of tacky glue between the two petals so they wouldn’t move. Waiting for everything to dry. Now to put together.

Started wrapping the floral tape to the stem of the flower and made sure it was at the base of the flower. Took one of the leaves and bent the wire and wrapped the floral tape around and continued to bring the tape downwards until I knew where I wanted to place my next leaf. Bent wire, wrapped, brought tape down and placed another leaf. When all the leaves were in place continued to wrap the floral tape all the way to the bottom. I dabbed some tacky glue on the underneath side of the petals.

To hide the wire on the daisies I purchased some itsy bitsy pom-poms. Now do you think they would sell a package of just yellow ones. NOOOOOOOOO, what to do as my flowers were pink and the contrasting colors in the petals were yellow. My daughter suggested to dye the pom-poms. Please I am not going to buy a package of dye for 12 itsy bitsy pom-poms!!! So took food coloring dye. They aren’t exactly bright yellow, but they aren’t white either. I was happy with the result. Took a dab of tacky glue and put the pom-pom to the petals. Project done!

I was impressed that I decided to make a bunch of asters, in different bright colors of course. Again I made 4 of each color. When making the asters I thought of my sister Susan’s purple room where her Mad Cow painting hangs. The painting contains purples, blues, yellow, orange and greens. Went through the whole process and the flowers look great. Going to take a bunch of the flowers up to Susan and then she can find a vase to put them in.

When I was completed, my daughter liked them so much she asked if I would do more but in her favorite colors from bands, uhm okay black and red, whatever. Planning on doing some more daisies in white and yellow!

Whats New with Amy Butler and a contest to boot

Check out Amy’s new line of Sweet Life Bags. This is her second set of bags. The new line of bags are constructed with August Fields fabric. Click on the photo to the left to get a slide show of the new products she is offering. When Amy designed these bags, she thought of the crafter; the knitter, the quilter and sewer. She implemented extra pockets, channels, stronger and longer straps for carrying comfort. The collection consists of

Dew Drop Sling, oval shaped with a long needle and cellphone pocket on the outside, two larger zippered pockets on the inside to hold yarn and other essentials. It has a wide shoulder strap for a more comfortable feel.

Diana Sling which is a modern, playful bag. It has roomy spaces, as she has created a zippered center pocket. There are several tool channels and a cellphone zippered pocket. The bottom has an expanded panel with a soft comfortable shoulder strap.

The Pearl bag is is very stylish and practical. One side of the bag has three pleated pockets. There is a zippered inner pocket allowing for more than one project, thus organization. I can see using this bag as everyday use, not just for those crafty days.

Check out her other Sweet Life bags, the Hampton and Sanibel.

I can’t wait for Amy’s new field bag and tote. I “love” her bags and have almost everyone that she has designed, including her free project ones.

I like her mini dress tunic & top pattern. It sure will be a hit with the younger set and will be prefect for the upcoming season.

 

Amy is coming out with her first CD software program. It runs on Windows XP, Vista and MAC systems running Windows program (woo hoo). There are 22 projects with 9 bonus projects. You can make the projects as designed OR you can customize her projects with a program using the software tools. Just think of the possibilities of her bags you can design to your liking. She has included in the CD clear step-by-step instructions for each skill leveled sewer. And if help is needed, you can contact the Electric Quilt support team. Now all I have to do is make sure my MAC is running the windows program! Click the photo to the left to view a slide show of projects.

Now to move on to the contest. I have more to share, but I will post more tomorrow on “What’s New with Amy”.

The Mid Mod Contest runs from June 1st through September 15th. To see rules click on the photo to the left. This contest marks the one year anniversary of Amy’s Rowan Midwest Modern fabric line.

All you need to do is make a project using Amy’s Midwest Modern fabric. The project can be one of Amy’s patterns, one of your favorites or an original item you have created.

There will be 10 winners announced and Amy is putting together a Flickr account for all entries from her website. The winning entries will receive fat quarters from Amy’s line, Midwest Modern, a signed copy of Amy’s software and a great selection of her newest sewing patterns.

So time to get stitching. I’ll have to figure out what fabric and item I wish to enter into the contest.

Happy Stitching!

Happy Hour EmbLibrary – This weekend only ending May 17th 2009

This week-end, until Sunday, May 17th, EmbLibrary is having “Happy Hour”. If you are not a member of EmbLibrary you are not aware of what “Happy Hour” is. This is were you can receive machine embroidery designs at half off from their normal price. This includes design packs. So take advantage of filling up your shopping cart with designs, add the special code, Nifty50, and see the prices drop before your eyes.

With this particular week-end Happy Hour there is a bonus. After you have placed your order, go to your order history. There you will see a folder titled something like VIP, these are the five free designs, which I’ve posted above.

So stop by and check out this week’s new designs and sale items <sale is certain designs for a dollar a piece, the Nifty50 code does not apply to these items, only regularly priced items>. Maybe there might be a design that you wanted to purchase in a previous week, but didn’t, now you can take advantage of the “Happy Hour” and get those 5 free designs. And as a reminder, pick up the free designs and check out their 17 cent designs for the month of May.

Remember this “Happy Hour” sale ends Sunday, May 17th 11:59 pm, Central Standard Time.

SewforLess.com Giveaway – Fantastic Flora from OESD

Sewforless.com has stuff overflowing in their “free stuff box”. So they are starting to share the love. The embroidery love.

Check out the rules here, then head over and post your entries. That’s right, entries, there is no limit on how many entries or comments you post. You have until May 20, 2009, around 10 AM, to get your entries in.

Check out OESD Crafter’s Collection #853 – Fantastic Flora. This package of designs can be sewn out on any item you deem and then sold. Look at the elegant swirls, leaves, flowers and paisley designs.

Check out sewforless.com and enter to win this package that regularly sells for $129.99. 

I will be posting more SewforLess.com Giveaways in the future as well as possible sales they are having.

Get chatting….

KWIK SEW CLUTCH – Free download

Looking for a quick and easy clutch to sew?

Jump over to Kwik Sew for their free downloadable clutch.

I’ve made several of these clutches as gifts for family members. It is such a simple, straightforward pattern. I would say it only takes under 2 hours to complete. Even a beginner can follow the easy instructions without questions.

The pattern only calls for 3/8 yards of fabric, lining and interfacing. You can embellish the pattern by adding piping, decorative trim or even machine embroidery. The clutches made, used upholstery fabric that I had in my stash. You can go from elegant to plain Jane on this clutch depending on the type of fabrics you use.

I use the smaller clutch as a make-up bag for my huge purse. You can even use the smaller clutch for toiletries when going away for the week-end. Even though the pattern doesn’t call for pockets, it is easy to make small thin pockets to slip a credit card, ID, even a slim pocket for a cell phone. If you want to make one for make-up or toiletries, you can make little holders for items like mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, or a pocket with a Velcro closure, so the items don’t fall out all over.

Well, tomorrow time to pull out the zebra cotton print fabric, promised to make one for a friend, as a belated birthday gift.

Go check out the instructions on this trouble-free clutch.

EmbLibrary Customer Appreciation Sale, New Freebies and 17 Cent Designs

This week at EmbLibrary they are having a FAB Customer Appreication Sale.

There are 4 coupons that you can use on separate purchases to get maximum savings on embroidery designs. Please be advised that only one coupon can be used per order. You have to make sure that you put the appropriate code in the box and click on “Apply Code” in order to activate.

This sale ends Tuesday, May 12th at 11:59 pm, Central Time.

Buy 10 designs for 10 bucks – you can’t go wrong there! Take your pick of any design, find all the ones that are costly. Put in your shopping basked enter the code GiveMe10 and see the prices drop!

Single designs save 60%. Put single designs in your shopping cart. When you are ready to check out, enter code SINGLE60 and each regular priced designs will be discounted! 

 

Buy one design pack, get the second one free – we know how we like our design packs. No matter how many design packs you want, enter into your shopping basket, enter BOGO4U and if you buy 4, the two will be free, buy 6, 3 free and so on.

$5 off a $10 order – cannot be used with first coupon. Add designs or packs to your shopping basket until the total is $10 or more. Enter code TAKE5 and your order is discounted $5 bucks.

Don’t forget to check out their new items for this week and the “TWEET” for the week. You can apply “TWEET” to one of these coupons, prefer single design coupon for a savings of 60% off the dollar price.

 

 

 

Don’t forget to get May’s 17 cent designs. There is a total of 4 different designs, but all designs stem around the one I posted here. If you already collected their hummingbirds, this is another one you must have.

 

Finally we have the monthly May free designs.

Pop on over and collect them before the end of the month!

Cold and rainy – Simply Spring Birds and Buds

Well haven’t seen any snow, but it is cold enough. I was reminded once again, when you turn off the furnace, put it back on when you know its going to be cold the next day. Hey I’ve got too much on my mind to remember these things and what’s wrong with your fingers or eyes to check if its on or not – LOL.

Did some machine embroidery again today, reminds me I have towels in the washer that I am preshrinking… <run downstairs and transfer>

Here is one of the new designs from EmbLibrary that was purchased from their Wishful Thinking promotion from this week-end. I am very happy with the outcome once again of their design. This makes a great set for any occasion, remember Mother’s Day is coming up. Was thinking of putting this on my ETSY site, but not sure whether to put it as a set or individually. Can always put in the description area, if interested as both towels and apron, converse with me. Can indicate a price and they can get the whole package deal.

Started a second design, the apron only got completed. That’s why the towels were in the wash. Don’t like to embroider on items that haven’t been preshrunk. The design is being done in green, matching towels will be green. These towels are really nice. They were purchased from All About Blanks. Susan has great quality items and her prices are very reasonable. Have to take a trip over and see what’s new.

These items were done using fast frames. It almost seems that I might pack away my hoops since the frames are working very nicely (any one interested in an extra set of PR 600 hoops). I just found out that they have a jumbo fast frame now. Get this, 12 x 14 sewing field. Guess what <giggle> I’m buying one!!! Lets see, metrothread last week, EmbLibrary yesterday, uhm fast frame tomorrow. Gonna call my sewing store to see what price they will give me. AllBrands has it on sale for 99 bucks, lets see if my sewing store wishes to continue receiving my business by giving me a better deal <wink>.

Okay so time for me to start downloading items to flickr and etsy. I’ll keep you posted on my projects. And guess what – – – ITS SNOWING!!!!! ARGH!!!!!

Aren’t these a “Hoot”

On Friday decided to get into the sewing room and do some machine embroidery.

Jennie Baer of Homeberries is known for hand embroidery, but as I stated late last week she is learning to do machine embroidery. Decided to check out her “OWL” design for a couple reasons; owls are popular and there are sew many applications in using an owl.

Here I have put her applique artwork on a purse, mother/child apron (with a cute saying, credit from Allie) and on colorful children’s tote bags. 

The purse that was bought, went to open it so the stitching would be hidden by the lining, but dang, the way the purse was constructed, there was no way that it could be done. Can easily put a pocket over the stitching in the same fabric as the applique.

On the children’s tote bags, small tote is about 4 x 6 for crayons and a medium tote that measures 7 x 8.5 x 3(depth). Used the fast frames for these projects. The small tote was too small for the size of the applique so editing needed to be done through Embird. Added snaps to both totes so #1 the crayons wouldn’t roll out and #2 you can snap the smaller tote to the other one when traveling, that is as long as the item in the bigger bag doesn’t extend the top. These totes would be especially great for the upcoming summer for vacation or little tikes can use it going to the library or to grandma’s, 100 uses!

I really like the design Jennie did and it was so simple. Visit her Homeberries site, on side bar,  to check pricing and her other designs that are available.