Please don't hug my Calendar

My rolling calendar is done!

Let me tell you about the finishing up parts-

First up making those numbers. I know I wanted to print the numbers, but I was WAY to cheap to get a fat quarter from Spoonflower. Instead, I went on the internet and looked for information regarding printing at home. I have an ink printer and a laser printer. The ink printer was, of course, out of color ink. When I researched printing on the laser printer, the skeptics all said "never put fabric in your printer it will catch fire" but the people who seemed to have actually tried it say "I did it, but I don't think its washable- and no fire." So I went with the second group of people, especially since I will not be washing my calendar numbers. Yes, rolling the dice on that fire hazzard bit. I pressed my 100% white cotton to an 8.5" x 11" sheet of freezer paper and fed that guy through the laser printer. Since I am here on the computer this morning, you can assume, that I also didn't start a big blaze in my office. I wished the red was more vibrant, but you know, I'm flexible.

Next up, I needed to "back" the numbers with fabric. My plan was to attach them to the calendar from the back with a safety pin, BUT I didn't want to see that pin from the front of the numbers. I needed a two-ply number.

I laid the whole sheet of numbers on a piece of scrap linen (left over from the calendar body) and stitched some free-form squares around each number. Then I cut the numbers apart. I ended up NOT using safety pins to attach the numbers. I used straight pins, stuck on a diagonal, completely concealed- BUT PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do NOT hug my calendar.

Next I added a little detail in the topper. I needed a way for the calendar to hang up.

I wanted to use this natural rope/cording, too. I think it works with the natural linen. Once I decide on the forever home of the calendar, in my home, I'll have the rope suspended from a nail or hook. For attaching the rope, I decided to go with these huge grommets. I do like the look and I like the knot on the front to help balance that poor lonely bird on the right hand side. One problem though- even with a bit of interfacing inside, the calendar top wants to buckle up (like cinching up shoe laces) across the top. I ended up using some staples, vertically, IN the stripes to actually hold the calendar to the wall. Live and learn, next time I'll use a dowel or something on the backside to hold the calendar flat across the top edge.

Now for the mom bird: She needed to be a little more home-maker-y, so I went ahead an added a string so she could be sewing all those months to the top of the calendar. When I stitched each month's patch, I made sure they all started 1" down on the left hand side, so all the months will appear stitched by the bird.

Interesting thing about the linen in the calendar body- Its from a dress from a thrift shop. Instead of paying however much a yard for the beautiful new linens, I went to the plus sized rack at Goodwill and picked up a tea-length jumper dress for a$4.00. I have SO much linen to use now. And I'm always on the look out for more thrift dresses. R.E.C.Y.C.L.E

Oh, this is such a long blog post, but I just realized I didn't show you any pictures of the big pocket on the back of the calendar, which holds the other 11 months. The pocket has a loop + button closure to hold them all in.

Ok, so that is the big calendar project for the new year, finished a bit early. Next up- more Flight Suit Cube Purses for the Etsy shop, for Christmas. Pictures coming soon!

Scene in Person

Everyone knows that many things are better when seen in person than they are in pictures... um except maybe poisonous snakes, or sharks or volcanoes. ...come to think of it, I really don't like pictures of snakes all that much... anywhoo...

International Quilt Festival: Quilt Scene arrived at my house this week. Of course, we just moved, so my mail has been forwarded. I think most of the other contributors to the magazine received their copies a short bit ago. I've seen a few posts on a few blogs related to "LOOK! I just got my copy" and - Thank goodness the mail forwarding actually worked out fine. - I too have MY copy.

My two little projects, a table runner and napkin rings, received 4 PAGES in the magazine. I'm so thrilled.

Here's how the process went down: When I first submitted my project idea (napkin rings) via email, I was hopeful. Time passed and I thought- they'll probably pass on it. Then, after about 3 months, I receive an email saying they liked the napkin rings and would like to make a 1/2 page article on them. WOWSA!

The brainstorming started and the ideas kept coming and after talking with the editor, I submitted the table runner as a companion to my napkin rings. I drafted up the design for the table runner, scanned it, made it pretty in Photoshop and Illustrator, and the editor approved it. (The image below is the computer generated design file of the table runner, which I submitted via email.)



One thing- the REAL table runner had to be submitted within about 1 week of the approval of the electronic design. {That is not the norm at all, its just how it happened to work out this time.} Not a problem.... OH- EXCEPT YES, the town I lived in (at the time) didn't have a great fabric shop, didn't carry Anna Maria Horner's Chocolate Lollipop OR the enormous rick-rack AND we were heading out on summer vacation that week. It actually worked out beautifully. I was able to pick up the supplies at cities along the way to my family's house and while on our summer vacation, I was able to sew the table runner. Thank goodness I have so many stitchers in the family!!!! (Thanks for letting me use the Bernina, Colleen!!!)

I mailed the whole set off on July 5th. And here we are. It was a super exciting process. I definitely want to try it again.

And now, with the magazine in my hot little hands- did you see the other designers in there?? Oh my gosh!! I'm so flattered to be in the same pages as Malka Dubrawsky, Kathy Mack, Susan Brubaker Knapp, Patrica Bravo, Kaffe Fassett, Paula Prass and Bari J just to name a few. I cannot believe it.

Now I'm off to curl up with some lemon poppyseed cake, decaf, and a fancy-schmancy magazine this morning!

Military Life

As you know, or maybe you don't, I am a military spouse in this small, yet humongous, community dedicated to protecting our freedoms. My heart goes out to fellow military families at Ft. Hood.

On a much more up-beat note, my little brother is also Active Duty and he returned safely from the sandbox this week. Hooray!!!

The Circle Purse Evolution

Remember this circle purse?

Well, I've evolved it into my own MILITARY themed purse. I have recycled yet another bit of green BDU (Battle Dress Uniform) fabric.

I used the record as my template, which I showed you before; here. And I did a little crazy piecing work on the exterior of the bag. All the fabrics for the exterior were scraps from other projects. The fabrics are Art Gallery Fabrics Alhambra Collection and the US gov't, of course.


The bag is very slim. Definitely more of clutch than a full-on purse. It has no gussets or bottom edge piece. Its a flat circle and can hold just enough for a quick trip out. I haven't tried to fit anything other than purse essentials down in there. I did add these two large pockets inside, though. The pockets are definitely an upgrade from the previous two circle designs.


Maybe the next one will have a wide bottom edge. We shall see where the design process leads. In the meantime, I'm loving my new little camo clutch!

Making progress!

I have all the months for my rolling bird calendar... wait... HAHAH "rolling birds!" That's kinda funny. If I had a rock band, that would be what I name it. Anywho- I have all the months stitched and framed for the top of my, ahem, "rolling bird" calendar. There's a 3" strip of scratchy velcro on the back of each one. The soft side of the velcro is already attached to the front of the calendar.

Now to make the back, with pockets, to hold the other 11 months so I don't misplace those. And then to make the numbered dates. Hurry, 2010 is right around the corner!!!! Then it dawned on me, if I finished it sooner rather than later, I can use it anytime- that's how its designed.... to roll.

Calendar

Are you all thinking about 2010 yet? I'm a big fan of the gift calendar. Each year I make a digital scrapbook style calendar for the grand's. This year is no different... but with all this calendar thought, I realized that I don't make myself one.

Well, that's about to change! Let me show you the beginning of my calendar. Its pretty much done in the "design wall" stage of where should I put stuff. In fact, I am about 80% finished with it.

I'm making the months to go in the blank space {via velcro back} and I'll have move-able numbers for each of the dates. Those dates will probably be safety pinned from the back side.

Hopefully I'll be showing you a finished calendar sometime BEFORE 2010! Stay tuned.

The Test Quilt

I don't always get to see my quilt patterns test versions in person. My pattern testers don't all live in my town, or go to my guild. {Especially not since the great move of 2009.} But I am lucky, one of the pattern testers is my own Mom. Yeh, who will be more brutally honest about typos and layout than a mom?? My mom lives 10 hours away and came to visit this weekend. She brought me the sample for Half Square Triangle Jubilee. Her version doesn't include any military uniform fabric and I thought I'd share it with you.

And she does mid-arm machine quilting on her Hinterberg frame. I thought I'd go ahead and show you a little picture of that too. She's a big fan of the meandering.

The quilt colors are so home and so fall. I do think my more wild side might make another Half Square Triangle Jubilee in wild crazy bright colors. Its only a matter or time, really.

Thanks for letting me see the lovely finished top.