The Cube Purse Class

I just wanted to let all my local peeps know that I'll be teaching The Cube Purse Saturday January 22nd at Midwest Sewing Center (West Location).  Please contact them directly to reserve your spot and grab the supplies list!  See ya soon.

The Cube Purse Class

T-Shirt Quilt

My friend wanted to make a t-shirt quilt from her decade of Old Navy Flag Tee's. What a great idea right?! She has 1999 all the way to 2009. There are a total of 12 blocks, with one blank one for her to write/embroider names of her family members. She and I got together every Wednesday with the help of her cute little 14 mos old daughter to make this little beauty. We interfaced all the logo areas with lightweight fusible interfacing. The blocks are all cut to 12 1/2" with a 2" (finished) sashing. We'll be building the back very soon from extra border + sashing fabrics. This is the second quilt she's ever made and I think its turning out awesome.

T-Shirt Quilt

Class Projects

I recently taught a bag class at the local sewing machine shop. It went really well, I think. The younger students were able to complete their bags in the one session. We did run a bit long, but all in all, a great class. Thank you. All of the students were brand new to sewing, so I'd say this is pretty awesome!

We used the FREE Tote Bag pattern on the ReannaLily Designs website. That pattern will only be up for a limited time, so if you are looking for a 2-fabric easy grocery green-bag with soft quilted handles, go grab it now- before its gone.

Class Projects

New Classes Added!

I'm happy to report the new Fall Classes have been added to the ReannaLily Designs website and blog. I'll be in and around Wichita with a variety of class types to choose from. Aprons to Quilts, Tote bags to Circles. Check out the free demo THIS FRIDAY the 17th at Hen Feather's Quilt Shop, part of the Kansas City Bus tour. You will need to contact each shop directly to sign up.

You can also sign up to receive the ReannaLily Designs newsletter to receive class updates and pattern release news directly in your email inbox.

New Classes Added!

Material Girls Quilt Shoppe

(logo image from Material Girls Quilt Shoppe Website)

There's a new girl in town- or should I say GIRLS. Our town has many quilt shops, but with an 800 active-member guild, there's plenty of room for more quilt shops.

The newest addition is Material Girls Quilt Shoppe. They hosted a grand opening grand party this passed weekend. I was there to enjoy the party.

This is Jan and Jo. The run the place. They are super nice and its very clear they are loving their new job- And man, they can throw a party.

It was really, pretty full of shoppers, by 10:30a. And it wasn't even Saturday yet! Door prizes, shopping, snacks, shopping, drinks, oh and um... shopping...

Lets check out the store, shall we:



mmmmmmmmm.................................

This shop has a HUGE selection of soft fabrics. I'm sure it all has different market names, per company but the Minki, snuggly soft stuff- tons of it.

And I'm super happy to report that Material Girls Quilt Shoppe carries ReannaLily Designs patterns. (You can tell I'm happy because I have the big goofy grin in the picture.) Not only do they carry the patterns, but I'm going to be teaching Intensity on Sept 25th at 10-noon. {{Its the black and white quilt above my silly-self in the picture.}} You'll see how the Seamingly Accurate seam guide can make the half-square triangles in a snap and learn some scrappy techniques for this fat quarter friendly pattern. Click my classes tab, or head over to the MGQS link to get signed up.

Let me show you my absolute favorite part of the store- more favorite than the 5000+ bolts, the class and awesome loft-like layout- yes- more favorite than that:

They have a whole center for kids. Its adjacent to a sitting area, in the middle of the store, right by the cash wrap & cutting table. The sitting area has wicker furniture for adults and a whole set for the little people. Can I just say, thank you. I wish more quilt shops would recognize that, yes, sometimes young people with kids would like to give ridiculous amounts of money to your shops. {{This is a huge peeeve for me.}} To see more and more shops embracing the kids is well worth the 10 sqft spent on it. You guys rock the house!

Congrats on the big grand opening!

Material Girls Quilt Shoppe

Cube Purse Class Samples

Whooo- class samples are done!

Wanna see them in person? come to Hen Feathers Quilt Shop tonight!

Cube Purse Class Samples

The Cube Purse CLASS!

Logo from www.henfeathersquilts.com website

Yes, its true. My local quilt shop, Hen Feathers, carries The Cube Purse pattern and has asked me to teach a class on it! So very excited about it. This will be the first sewing class I've ever taught of this pattern and the first in a quilt shop. Its broken down into two class sessions. The first class will be learning the elements of the bag, like the handles, welt zipper, pockets and magnet clasp. The second class will be the construction (including those pesky Y-seams).


The class is Monday evenings, June 14th and 21st. If you are here in Wichita and want to take the class, you should give Hen Feathers a call.

See you there!

The Cube Purse CLASS!

Bindings

This weekend was absolutely beautiful and although I slipped out for the kid-sports-games, I was mostly inside working. In the evenings I worked on binding my two new cover models. I love the hand-sewn binding part of a quilt. I don't know if its the hand-sewing or the knowing I'm in the home stretch... either way, love it.

One thing I don't love is the binding seam falling right at the corner. The above picture is fine, nice and smooth. The below picture.... well, have a look-

I join my binding on a 45-degree angle, so there's not a big lumpy seam along any part of the quilt edge... unless the binding seam happens to fall at a corner. Now its lumpy and tricky to hand-sew through. I suppose if it bothered me that much, I could cut away some fabric and move that seam, but I don't think that will happen any time soon. It just baffles me how the quilts can be any size with binding strips at various lengths and inevitably a seam gets into a corner. Chaos theory at its finest.

Speaking of bindings, though, my friend Barb made two videos explaining in detail how to add a binding to a quilt. I add mine almost exactly the same way. (I cut my quilt square first and cut my strips to have 45-degree angles, rather than layering them at the sewing machine- that will make sense when you see the video.) I thought I'd share them here with you because they are great! The ironing tip is especially cool and it really works.






Lets hope these links work in blogger. Enjoy! Thanks for the videos Barb!

~jen~

Bindings

The Next Class

The next class I'm teaching at the community college is Headbands. The pattern for the class is the same pattern that you receive free when you purchase a pattern or finished item from my pattern shop or etsy shops. I realized last night, that I haven't actually taught this pattern before and I have NO samples for it. {GASP}

This morning I went to work making up the step-by-step samples.




Ok, that should do it. All my classes have a "learn a technique while finishing a project" theme to them. This technique is working with elastic + casings for beginners. I think the steps are pretty well outlined with these samples. And its a super easy pattern for spring/summer. In fact, I should whip up a few more headbands to have on hand for after the pool. Lord knows, my curly hair decides to have a wild party on top of my head after a trip to the pool.



The class is March 4th and there's still time to sign up through the continuing ed department of the college. You can email me for more information. Space is limited, so hurry and sign up.

And if you are in the Wichita/Andover KS area, feel free to "retweet" this post to your networking sites.

The Next Class

Zipper Workshop Tonight

Ok, today is the first class at Butler Community College. Its Center Applied Zippers- while making a fun throw pillow. Students will be providing their own supplies. Super excited about it and a little nervous.

Hopefully, I remember the camera tonight... and the iron... and the ironing board... and the rotary cutting tools... and scissors.... um.... goodness.... I'd better get off the blog and start making my list.

Previously I taught in a large discount craft store or at my home- both of which had supplies at your finger-tips. Tonight- its a classroom with no sewing specific things- just a big empty classroom.

Yes- I'd better go make that list.

ps- Fabric in the samples above are Art Gallery's Girly Girl

Zipper Workshop Tonight

College Classes

Ok, I've managed to update all the supplies list and post the "when the classes are offered" pdf flier for the upcoming spring sewing classes at Butler Community College, over at my website, www.reannalilydesigns.com. You can find all the information here. You do not need to sign up for all 5 in order to take one, nor do you need to have taken a sewing class previously to taking one of these classes. Some of the projects include Valances, Pillows, Headbands, Totebags and Aprons. Choose one, choose two or choose them all. Its great way to spend a Thurday night, this spring. See you there!

You will need to contact Butler Continuing Ed to sign up.

College Classes

Giving Back

I'm so happy to announce that this spring I will be teaching my project-based sewing classes (all mentioned on the blog before) at the local Community College! The schedule was just released and I am teaching 5 classes. These are leisure classes through the continuing ed department. I'm so happy to have a venue to reach all the curious crafters/seamstresses. I'm in the process of updating all the supplies lists so the college will have that information available and it will also be there for you to access easily on my website. I'm sure I'll be blogging more about that as I check off my to-do list this holiday season. Thanks for all the continued support and if you are in the Wichita area, looking to take a sewing class, please contact me or the continuing ed department.

Giving Back

The Quilting Class

The are the class products from our Beginning Quilting series over here at ReannaLily Designs. I'm so proud of the students. Neither lady had ever quilted before and through the 3 (or was it 4) class meetings, they have produced these excellent quilt tops from the Baby's Boxes RD2012 pattern. If you love the design, check out the Patterns page on the ReannaLily Designs website.

Today's class was the final one in the course. We machine quilted and discussed binding. It so great to see the big 'ole smile on the faces of students when they finish/make a new item. I love the "I made that!" look.

The next class at ReannaLily Designs will be headbands, at the end of May. You'll have to check out the Classes tab on the website later for dates and times.

The Quilting Class

Productivity

Holy smokes I've been productive on Earth Day, today!

First up, I finished an order for a lovely repeat client. She's asked for a zippered bag and diaper case to match her big Recycled Uniform book bag. I found the dimensions for the diaper case on the internet. It's lined and has a velcro closure.



Here's the book bag, which you've already seen.

If you'd like any of those items for your very own, please email me and we can iron out the details of your custom order. reannalilydesigns@hotmail.com

Next up, on my day of productivity- I stitched the samples for Monday's last quilting class. My students are making the Baby's Boxes Pattern. It was a 3 class series, cutting, piecing, quilting & binding. The samples are for my students to take with them in case they forget the information on quilting & binding. The samples are smaller than a page of paper, but the students can practice machine quilting on one end and have the partially applied binding on the other end as a reference. They're made entirely of scraps. Pretty handy, if you ask me. Hopefully, at the end of May I'll have a much-less-involved Elastic Headbands class. Stay tuned for the time & date.

I also took photos of the 8 aprons I mentioned in an earlier post. Turns out the green fabric that I originally noted "boy-ish" definitely looks "girl-ish" on my mannequin. I'll be listing it as a girl apron. That brings my total to 8 girl aprons and NOTHING for boys. I should remedy that... In the mean time, these babies are headed to my finished goods Etsy shop.

Love the rope/cording tie!

So you can find these aprons over at www.llyrric.etsy.com (in the aprons category) Now, if you sew & you mega love these preschool sized aprons- you can own the pattern for your very own. The Adjustable Aprons pattern was recently picked up by YouCanMakeThis.com. I'm sure I'll have a whole blog post about it next week when the pattern goes live.

What a day! Thankfully, the only thing left to do it fold a mountain of laundry and have dinner with the fam. ~jen~

Productivity

The Adjustable Apron

I offered a class for the Adjustable Apron (#RD2015) last month and used my own pattern to teach the ladies the techniques for making this functional little kitchen accessory. This pattern uses French seams, a fabric turning tool and casings to achieve a very finished apron. The pattern also gives you designer leeway to add/omit the contrasting band and to add trims where they will look the best for your design and fabric combinations.

Well, after a bit of drafting and testing and retesting- I'm happy to announce that the Adjustable Apron pattern has an ADULT size and a CHILD size.... and you might have guessed it- It's available in my shop. {It was previously only available to students in the class.}

Now lets talk about making a pattern. My mom had made a couple aprons for my own children about 6 years ago. She says the design is just more functional than having a strap around the neck and separate straps for the ties. So with her permission, I asked if I could draft my own measurements for her concept and author up the pattern. She agreed.

I've been selling the finished Adjustable Apron on Etsy for ... um ... about a year or so now. I have a few aprons currently in the shop. Those are all adult sized, though can fit elementary school age students, as well. I needed to draft and test the additional child size apron measurements. Thankfully, I have a little test model here in the house. The child size is designed for 2T to 4T.


I was debating what kind of cover image I'd use on the apron pattern. The cover image is very important because no one buys a pattern thinking the text is going to be flashy and fabulous. They buy patterns based on the picture on the cover. So I'm thinking: Should I have someone wearing it? Should I have them in a kitchen? Should I have them holding a bowl or wisk? Outside natural light is better, maybe I should have someone grilling in the apron... On and on, I did take this funny Kitchen Model Action photo- but, in the end, I opted for dress forms + outside light + drop out all the background. I think the cover is clean and still showcases the variations in the apron design.

My little model was so funny though- when you ask him to put on an apron, you should be specific and say with your clothes. It must be wonderful to be 3yo. Did NOT go with the "in the kitchen with mom" approach for the cover image for the pattern.

I do hope you'll check out "the patterns" over on www.reannalilydesigns.com and drop an Adjustable Apron pattern into your cart. ~jen~

The Adjustable Apron

The Recycled Uniforms Catalog

Because its Valentine's Day weekend & because I LOVE ReannaLily Designs...

I've been working on putting together a virtual catalog for my Recycled Uniforms Designs. It is absolutely current and is in a nice tidy pdf form. You can find it by clicking on this image:

The image will live in my blog side bar and will always be there when you need it. =) I will be adding my new Gathered Bag to the Recycled Uniform Line-up very soon.

And in an effort to be oh-so 21st Century, I started a Facebook fan page for ReannaLily Designs.

I'll try to post on the Facebook page often. I'll have class info and product info over there. Its nice also, because all of the photos for the designs are hosted right there ON the page. I have a handful of images up- Its only been a day, though. Feel free to drive on over to your Facebook account and become a FAN of ReannaLily Designs.

Have a super great lovey-love Valentine's Day weekend!

The Recycled Uniforms Catalog

A Big Fat Thank YOU!

I've got two pictures to share with you of sewing done by my super great friends. First up, we have a couple of the Aprons from February's Apron Class with the French Seam technique. The above picture is my friend's absolutely adorable 2 1/2 yo daughter wearing moms brand spankin new pink and yellow apron. (Which makes me think I need to draft a pattern for a slightly smaller sized chef- so my guests can make Mommy & Me matching aprons.) AND then below picture is of a couple students from the Friday class, graciously modeling their designs for me. The apron on the left is two different sizes of black gingham, which looks excellent in person- but kinda tricky for a photo.

And as you faithful blog readers know, I'm hoping to release 4 patterns in March and two are already back from the testers. She chose to use green and cream for the design and I do think it turned out very well. Check out this little sneak peek:

The photo above is just a portion of the larger queen size scrappy quilt. Its called Boxed In and will be landing in my pattern shop soon. Of course, I'll have a big blog post on that day. =)

I cannot thank you ladies enough for testing the patterns and supporting my local classes. I love sewing, designing and teaching and you make it all possible. Thank you.

ps- AND thank you so much for letting me post your pictures.

A Big Fat Thank YOU!

Apron Class Next Week!

Ok, local friends- I've got my apron classes coming up next week, Friday the 6th and Monday the 9th. Due to a scheduling conflict- the Friday class will be in the afternoon at 1:30p. So if you're considering the class, please make note of the time change. I do have only 2 spots left in the Friday class and two in the Monday class. The apron class will feature the French Seams technique and you'll leave with a super cute adjustable, full-length apron. Tell your friends.

Apron Class Next Week!

The Swap and Patterns

Wow guys- you're awesome. This swap is taking on a life of its own! I've got everything sorted and tracked on an excel spreadsheet. I just opened up Section 4. The swap is listed with SwapDex and Sew Mama Sew- so thats a good bit of coverage for my little Spring event. Sign-ups are still open 'til Jan 26th. Please do check that your name is on the side bar and the color is correct. I do still need email addresses for


Sect 3- Ginny, & N Canadas

I need to get these addresses so that I can send out the "where to mail 'em" email at the end of January. Most of you have your blogs listed/linked to your name under the section where you're playing. Thanks again for playing!!!

And in other news, I'm working on two new patterns for my small modest little pattern line. I'm very excited. The first one is finish & tested, I just need to finish up the photography for the cover. The second pattern is finished, and the photography is finished- I just need to have it tested. Its currently at the pattern testers' house right now. I'll have the images on here as soon as they're available.

The Center Applied Zipper classes were this past weekend. I must say, they went really well. The students worked with cotton, satin and even faux fur. Turns out, you can put a zipper in every single one- no problem. One student made TWO pillows in the allotted class time. With that one down, I'm already marketing my February class. Its the Adjustable Apron. I've got more details on the Class page of my website.

Ok, its official- I'm a link-aholic! I put so many linky-words in my blog posts. Holy smokes. It only takes a second to do... Everyone's doing it... hehehe.

Many irons in the fire.

edited to add- Thank you ladies, for sending your email addresses.

The Swap and Patterns

Real Life Quilt Block Swap

Since I've already outlined the Quilt Block Swap guidelines and rules- I thought, what the heck, I might as well have a separate section of swapping with my own local guild. I'm happy to report it was well received and now, I have a list of real-life players over in my side bar. In fact, if you want to use the guidelines for your own guild or social sewing group- please feel free to do so. Of course, I'd love it if you mentioned my blog and where the original rules started. So, since I signed up with ORANGE for my real-life guild swap, it looks like I've got a bit more sewing to do.

And just an update on the swap- sign-ups are through Jan 26th and I still have two colors available in Section 2. As soon as Yellow and Dark Green are taken, I can open up Section 3.

I'm teaching the Centered Zipper Pillow cover class this morning. Hopefully, I'll be hosting the February Adjustable Apron Class in the community center, instead of in my small dining room. I'll keep you posted.

Have a GREAT Friday. ~jen~

Real Life Quilt Block Swap