Tag Archives: Sewing

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Great place for quilt, sewing, needlework & craft lovers

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If you love reading about crafts with plenty of tutorials, free patterns, information, projects that are being created, and much more on various blogs, then Creating the Hive is for you.  This is a website started for the craft world which includes sewing, quilting and needlework.

You join (free of course), then set up your profile for the type of crafts that interest you.  Also, you can join groups for your favorite crafts, such as Love of Sewing, Fabric Lovers, and Aprons if  you love sewing and quilting.  There are other groups for the many various crafts, such as scrapbooking, Christmas crafts, color, dolls, general crafts and many, many more.

People post their blogs to these groups so that you can have a condensed place to read great blogs, find out about new products, as well as free patterns, and more.  You can post your blogs and if you don’t have a blog, you can write a blog right on this site and have it go to the groups you choose.

Creating the Hive is new, slightly over a month old, but growing rapidly.  You will find your favorite blogs there.

Check creating the hive out and if you join, let me know by following me and I will follow and see what’s going on with you.

Have a great week of sewing, quilting or crafting!

Phyllis

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Sweetheart Ballerinas fabric in Hancock Fabrics stores.

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I knew four of my Sweetheart Ballerina fabrics were going to be in Hancock Fabrics stores.  But while running errands, I ran in Hancock’s to buy some notions I needed and there they were!  Thank goodness for my cell phone so I could take some pictures.  I pulled out the fabrics and took pictures and then I neatly rolled them up and put them back on the shelves.

The black and green prints above are a small cow pattern based on the black spotted cow ballerina in the collection. To see the pink spotted cow fabric (not shown) made into an adorable little girl’s girl dress, please see my prior post. And for a tote bag, made with the 2 pink fabrics above, check out this post.

To see the full collection for “Sweetheart Ballerinas” from V.I.P. by Cranston, please visit my website. And if you are in Hancock’s, please look for them.

Happy sewing and quilting,

Phyllis

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Quilting for the dogs (and more)!

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Don’t you love surprises!  Receiving a new book is always wonderful but this one has 3 quilt projects of mine in it.  5-10-15 + Fat Quarters, published by House of White Birches is a beautiful book filled with projects that you can complete with pre-cut fabric bundles.

Now, wouldn’t you just love to make this dog coat for your dog?  It’s made with “It’s A Dog’s Life” fabrics I designed for VIP by Cranston Printworks. (Just a note to tell you that some fabrics of this collection are in some Walmart stores as precuts). The pattern is easy to make so you can have the best dressed dog in the neighborhood.

OK, now that your dog is dressed, you can move onto making a cozy quilted pillow for a favorite child or each of your favorite children, since I’m sure you have more than one. This “chick pillow” is made with a full size pillow so it will fit nicely on a bed. Three pockets to hold little treasures are appliqued with a chick on each pocket. Can’t you just imagine the surprises that can be tucked away in these pockets for safekeeping until the next morning! (no snakes or snails I hope!)

Now its time to move onto some serious quilting and make a table runner for yourself or as a gift. A “Warm Breeze” tablerunner is made with Jim Shore’s Angel Among Us fabrics by Quilting Treasures. I had the good luck to meet Jim Shore a couple of months ago (see my prior post).

Since you have now had a few days of sewing and quilting, take a break, eat some ice cream!

I hope you enjoyed looking at these quilt pictures and I would love to see any that you make with these patterns.  Check out the book and you will be delighted as I was with all the fun projects made with precut 5″ charms, 10″ squares and fat quarters.

Happy sewing!

Phyllis

 

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Quilt like the Gypsy Wind!

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The colors of the fabrics used in this quilt – turquoise, lime green and purple – are my favorite colors. So I was “in heaven” while designing and sewing “Gypsy Wind” for the book “Patchwork Comforters, Throws and Quilts” published by House of White Birches.  The fabrics are Marie Osmond’s “Gypsy Breeze” collection by Quilting Treasures.  

41 colorful and exciting quilts are shown in this book along with patterns and instructions.  It is a book quilt lovers will cherish.

And if you love these fabrics as much as I do, please check out my earlier post where I met Marie Osmond at the International Quilt Market with another quilt I designed using these fabrics for Quilting Treasures’ booth.

I wish you a day filled with your favorite colors.

Phyllis

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Sew a reversible apron!

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Trendy and flirty aprons are so much fun to wear and are so easy to sew.  I designed and sewed this reversible apron that was featured in the June issue of Quilter’s World. This one is unique in that it is reversible so it gives two distinct looks with one apron.  And for an extra detail, the bodice is quilted.

I chose my favorite colors when creating these aprons, purple and green (with a touch of turquoise) for one side and turquoise and purple for the 2nd side.  The fabric is from Quilting Treasures.  The pattern is the same for each apron side, however, I created 2 different looks by changing the bottom edges.  One edge is a straight border design while the other apron has a bottom edge with ziz zag design.

I hope you enjoy the hot weather by staying inside and sewing.  Aprons are easy to sew and a great way to show off your sewing skills!

Phyllis

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Quilted table runner – 4 panels to fit each side of your table.

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I love table runners.  I recently received a copy of the book Patchwork Table Runners by House of White Birches of the DRG Network and its filled with wonderful table runners to quilt. And, I’m excited that a table runner that I designed is in the book.

I wanted to design something different, so I created this Four Panel Table Runner that fits across 4 sides of a table, plus it can fit just as well on a round table. Another plus is that it can be used instead of placemats.  Its easy to make and works up pretty fast.

I hope you check out this book – you will love all the great table runners, including some for the holidays.

Happy Quilting,

Phyllis


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Sew a Christmas apron with this easy pattern.

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Cooking and entertaining goes with the holidays, so I designed and sewed this Christmas apron for a festive addition to kitchen chores.

The first step was to hit my fabric stash to find red and green fabrics.  I found the perfect combination of  red, green and red and white stripe fabrics.  I created a simple pattern that can be made in less than 2 hours and is easy enough for a beginner at sewing. The ties are long enough that you can tie in the front for a fresh look.  This pattern and other apron patterns can be found in Etsy WhimsyColor.

I would love to see pictures of aprons you make using this pattern.  Enjoy and have a fun Christmas as you whiz through the kitchen wearing your new apron!

Happy sewing!

Phyllis

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What a sweetheart! And she’s wearing her new Sweetheart birthday dress.

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I love hearing from readers of my blog with projects they have made with my fabrics or designs.  Its always fun to see the projects!  I just have to show you the adorable dress Jessica made for her equally adorable daughter Raelyn.  In this case, it was a special honor for me, as Jessica made the dress for Raelyn’s birthday dress for her 2nd birthday.

Jessica chose the pink cow print fabric from the Sweetheart Ballerina fabric line that I designed for Quilting Treasures.  Raelyn loves cows and also had a pair of new pink cowgirl boots (aren’t they just too cute!).  Jessica made the dress to match the boots but also made it reversible as well.  She used the green ballerina fabric for the reverse side.

It looks like Raelyn had a wonderful birthday and is a fabulous model as well!  Thanks to Jessica for sharing the pictures.

Have a wonderful day and many more happy birthday’s to Raelyn!

Phyllis

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Free patterns for a locker caddy and notebook cover

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Enchant your kids with a whimsy locker caddy to hold their “stuff” or a whimsy notebook cover with a large pocket on the cover.  You can easily sew both of these using the free patterns on the Today’s Creative Home Arts website.

Think how fun it will be for kids to have this completely useful locker caddy hanging in their locker.  I designed it with various size pockets to hold their school supplies and other treasures.  Plus, think how neat and organized their lockers will be – oh well, one can only hope!

The locker caddy and notebook cover are more projects that I designed  using the “It’s A Dog’s Life” fabric collection I designed for Quilting Treasures.  I love sewing with these fabrics and seeing the projects come to life with personality plus! Of course, you might say I’m a little prejudiced toward the fabrics, but they still make me smile.

Using this free pattern for a notebook cover, you can cover a drab notebook.  The large pocket on the front will hold those little extra items that might be needed for class.  Again, another little step to keep them organized

I hope that you enjoy these patterns.  I would love to see a picture of your project made with them, along with the smile of the lucky recipient!

Happy Sewing!

Phyllis

 

 

 

 

 


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Apron pattern made with whimsy dog fabrics

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Note:  This pattern is no longer available.  Similar apron patterns can be found in my Etsy store.  Please check there for other apron patterns.

I am showing 2 aprons in different color combinations with different accent embellishments.  Both aprons are accented with large dog block pockets on the top part of the apron.  One apron has an additional small pocket and the other is appliqued with a bird and dog bones. The aprons are easy to make and can be completed in 2-3 hours tops.

The fabrics that the aprons are made with are the Its a Dog’s Life collection that I designed for Quilting Treasures by Cranston Printworks.

I just love aprons and am delighted that they are so popular.  I remember when my grandmother and aunts wore aprons daily and seeing all the aprons now brings back wonderful fond memories.

For products to coordinate with “It’s A Dog’s Life fabrics, please visit my Zazzle store.

I hope you enjoy the patterns and sew away.  I would love to see a picture of your finished apron.

“Bone” appetit!

Phyllis