Swoon-y Floor Pillow and Basket

Swoon-y Floor Pillow

I finished the items for Modernista Homemade Swap, a floor pillow cover and basket. My partner requested  a floor pillow in navy and dark browns, which I didn't have much of in my stash. So this was an excuse to shop, but the ideas just were not coming and I had a hard time wrapping my brain around the color scheme. Then I saw Kirsten's 'Love of Solids' pillow she made for a swap - is it not amazing!!
Check out her blog Gemini Stitches, she is sooooo talanted!!!

Swoon-y Floor Pillow another pic

I started pulling what Kona solids I did have and added a few more to include the light turquoise blue, khaki and even a rich reddish brown ***need to add names of the kona colors***

Draft in EQ7

I used Electric Quilt 7 and changed all the colored areas to gray - this way I could calculate the colored shapes and the background shapes without being influenced by the colors as I wanted a scrappy yet planned block. I love the whole design process and I have to admit that its my favorite part of quilting! Sometimes I purposely start from scratch and draft designs that may have already been created. I know - just a little bit weird I am. Now I know I could have purchased the pattern, and in no way do I want to offend the pattern designers out there and I am not selling or distributing this block in any way and will not do any tutorials on it either.

Back of Swoon-y Floor Pillow

The back is done envelope style using two different fabrics. I love the navy text with the brown print.

Fabric Basket

For the basket I used Domestic Groove's "Basket Tutorial" and have to say her tutorial was well written and a breeze to sew! It's a great size, much larger than I expected. I will definitely be making more of these!!

Glamour Shot of Swoon-y Pillow and Basket

The pillow cover size is 26 1/2", just the right size for the 27" pillow form (this way its a fluffy pillow) they sell at JoAnn's. I sure hope my partner likes it!!

Yummy, yummy color all stitched in scraps!!

Bottled Rainbows {ticker tape quilt-along} by Stitched in Color.

What a lovely idea!! Pop over to Rachel's blog Stitched in Color and check it out!!!

Maybe for once I can join in - "it's a leisurely quilt-along inspired by Rachel's own bottled rainbows."

See, she even said it too!! Leisurely - I think I can handle :-)

Fashion Color Trends Spring '09

If you love color as much as I do or are interested in how color forecasting affects fashion, then you might have visited Fashion Trendsetter . It's agreat site with loads of information on color and fashion.

.............

I always head strait to the color trends page and check out the latest in color forecasting. Pantone is one I love! The Pantone's color report for spring 2009 has been out for a while (since Sept 08), but some of us really don't get into the swing of spring until it's peeking around the corner.

Pantone Fashion Color Report 2009

With Pantone's color report there are 24 designers and thier inspirations for spring 2009, 'Must Haves' and outlook on products for spring. It's 29 pages of colorful motivation for me, I usually download the PFD and print it in color (you can down load it here Color Report ). Then I drool over it while using the information to crank up my sewing mojo.

If your ready for color forcasting for Fall '09 it's also at Pantone.com.

Call it my Red/orange phase

I call this my red-orange phase, because I crave the color orange and mostly red-orange. I use to hate orange, could not stand it- but all that has changed.

I can't seem to get enough, I even colored my hair auburn, to the surprise of my family. But then again - if you know me I love playing with color and that even goes as far as my hair. (odd pic but it's hard to take a picture of the back of your head)

I saw a dress at a local thrift shop and fell in LOVE with the colors!! It was a plaid in red-orange, orange, deep green and fuchsia. What a combo, just loved it, but it did not fit. Soooo.....

I used the plaid design and colors to inspire me to dye two pieces of cotton, in hopes of making a Fab'O handbag. I know it doesn't look like much now but just you wait.

Christmas Sewing

I have started sewing my gifts. Like many other bloggers I am not buying premade things this year, but trying to make gifts that are special. So the first WIPs (work in progress) are shorts from McCall's OP 2568 .

I have had this pattern since 2000, when I made my DH some shorts (sleep/lounge shorts). Those have since worn out and now I have been told more are needed.



I found this COOL fabric at my favorite little quilt shop here in town. It's called "Madame Butterfly" in the Opulance series by Paula Nadelstern. This pair of shorts will be for DH.


And this flaming colorful fabric from the Headgear series by Fabri-Quilt will be for my son. Saying all this my DH and DS don't read my blog, so I should be ok.

I have to be honest, I really wish I was sewing the 'Share the Love' ruffle bag- the fabric turned out very nice.

And I found a cute rose & vine print in my stash for the lining. I did get the 32 ruffles cut out, yep 32. See there are 8 on each side = 16 ruffles total. I am using the self fabric as the facing so that makes 32 curved pieces. If I was using suede or leather I wouldn't need all this, just 16 ruffles. Any-who this looks like its going to be very funky!!

Try adding some color

From a beam of light all the colors we know are formed.
A rainbow of light - really!!

From that first box of crayons, we started playing with color. Today we pick the color of our car, what paint to use in our homes, what color clothes we wear, and the color of our hair. Whether we know it or not we make a choice on color for just about everything in our lives.

Colors can stir emotions, calm, stimulate and leave an impression. Companies use color to entice us to purchase their products. We use color to beautify ourselves and make foods more appetizing (could you imagine eating a green pancake?). We live in a colorful world.

So many people are just plain scared of color, you have always been using color and you didn't even know it. So stop being so scared of color and have fun with it in your life. Try using an unusual color, a color you never would have thought of to use - in your home, in your hair or wearing a pop of color. Sometimes you need to let go - give in and try that really wild color and you will see,
it really isn't gonna hurt after all.

The color of the object illuminated partakes of the color of that which illuminates it. - Leonardo da Vinci

What color are you?

That was a question I was asked recently.................. what a question, at least for me!!

Hmmmmm, I guess I would have to say yellow, no pink, well maybe purple, naw blue, oh red, I just can't pick because all the colors including gray invoke all my moods and feelings. BUT if you have got to see what color you are check this out

They say I am:

BLUE

You give your love and friendship unconditionally. You enjoy long, thoughtful conversations rich in philosophy and spirituality. You are very loyal and intuitive.

Find out your color at QuizMeme.com!

Boy-oh-boy have they got me all wrong.......................... I am a bowl full of delightful color, changing with every mood!!!!

A day With Barbara Randle

What fun we had today!! I got to see Barbara Randle and lots of her beautiful creations. (sorry for the blurry pic)

A whole day of awe inspiring deliciously colorful sewing fun!

She had a truck load of handbags, wall art, clothing and home decor items for us to drool over. Showed us crazy quilting techniques, how to use color, and embraced us with her southern charm.

I met some very talented people and learned new sewing tips & tricks I will use everyday. We all exchanged ideas and came away with inspiration and excitement for our next projects.

Days like these I could never get enough of. When the day was over -it was sad to go, but Barbara makes you so inspired that I could not wait to get to my sewing machine and go to work.

Oh, I wore my new headband and got lots of complements.

I like making a piece of string into something I can wear. ~Author Unknown