Last week at work we received a new shipment of fabric from Moda. The new Summerville collection.

I had the job of pricing and cutting the fat quarters before preparing it to put out on the floor. I loved every design in the collection (and wished I was still ordering new fabric for my etsy shop!) When I got to the above print I had a little moment of epiphany. Do those “doodles” remind you of anything? They are totally Zentangles! I think I will buy a half yard or so just to use it as reference. Or better yet, I may use it to make a bag or zipper pouch to hold my pens and sketch book.

I decided it might be best if I document them all here and make a list to prioritize what needs to get done first and what I want to get done next. I need to throw a couple in there that if I don’t do them now while the idea is fresh in my mind, I will put aside and they probably will never get done.

Project 1: This little project must be put at the top of my list because it is for the theater. My friend is directing a show now and needs two old fashioned aprons for two characters. And even though I auditioned for the part and didn’t get cast, I’m still willing to make some costumes pieces for him. That’s how much I love him and this theater. I should be able to knock these out relatively quickly once I get the pattern traced and the fabric cut.

Project 2: This is one of the “need to do before I lose my motivation” projects. I got the idea that the dogs needed some kind of mats for their crates this winter. But I knew that if I put anything with padding or stuffing in there they’d just tear it up. Plus I wanted something easy care and washable. I got the idea to get a heavy denim and machine embroider their names on it and then “quilt” it together with a fleece and bind or serge the edges to finish everything off. I wanted to do it before our trip last weekend but didn’t get time. I’m hoping that if they have warm, cozy blankies in their crates they’ll get off my bed, but who am I kidding?

Project 3: This top kind of needs to be made by Saturday so I can wear it to work. We are having an Event at the store and I am giving a Power Point presentation on Trends in Garment Sewing. Of course I am trying to promote the apparel fabrics that we sell, etc. so I want to make a top out of this fabric we carry and wear it with my jeans. I know this pattern can be sewn up really quick and I already have it traced off so I should be able to whip it up some night this week. This fabric is also perfect for making Infinity Scarves, which I did out of the black/grey/silver color of this fabric.

Other Projects and/or Stash Fabrics: I added a bunch of miscellaneous cuts of fabrics that may or may not get sewn into something anytime soon. How’s that for non-committal? Here they are in no particular order.

This is more navy than it appears in the photo. Just a misc. jersey knit I grabbed on sale. Will probably become one of my TNT knit top patterns before the winter ends.

This sale knit is still in my stash from late summer. I now need to decide which of the DVF inspired wrap dress patterns I’m going to use to make it. Both get mixed reviews on Pattern Review. I had hoped to make it to wear in Florida but didn’t get it done so now it goes back onto the shelf for a while until I get time for it. This will pretty much be a hopefully wearable muslin unless I get really lucky with fit. It was super cheap fabric so no harm, no foul either way. Any readers have experience with either of these patterns and want to weigh in with an opinion?

More super cheap single knit from Fabric.com. No plans for this, just wanted to see what the fabric was like since it was so cheap. Will probably make a quick draped neck sleeveless top out of it for summer at some later time. I’m sure the fabric won’t hold up to much wear so I’m not investing much time with it. The color is a really pretty apple green anyway.

These are both polyester ITY knits. The print on top is cool but what doesn’t show up in photos is that it has a “sparkle” to it. I don’t have any set plans for it. I’m sure once warmer weather gets here the colors will inspire me to make something fun out of it. I bought 2.5 yards of it so I have enough to make a dress, maybe another DVF inspired wrap if I am successful with either of the above mentioned patterns. It would also work well in KS 3658.

The deep burgundy ITY is very nice and I’m sure it will become either a dress or top. The two fabrics do coordinate so I’m thinking I may make simple tops and elastic waist A-line skirts that I can mix and match as separates or wear together for a dress look.

The last pile of stash and new projects deserves a post all its own. I have another sewing Mt. Everest to climb and that is Swimsuits. I’ve been stashing patterns, books and fabrics of the lycra variety lately. Stay tuned for that! But right now I’d better get actually sewing, or at least tracing and cutting or I’ll never get through all these projects!

First off I picked out a few of my favorites from Lila Tueller’s newest line, Santorini.


(Note that the olive print with the creamy yellow background is backordered)
I lovelovelove these prints! The colors match my kitchen and living room and I’m dying to get my sewing machines out finally to make some pillows out of these.

Next up is the newest from Tula Pink, Hushabye.

(Note there are two other small scale prints available in all the colors, they are listed in my etsy shop.)

This is such a fresh line for babies. My niece is expecting her second baby next spring and I’m excited to make something special for him or her out of fabrics from this line. I just love all the little hidden animals and surprises to be found in the details.

 
     
Urban Couture by Basic Grey

 
Tranquility by Sandy Gervais

 
Bird Panel from Tranquility.
I love the deep rich colors in this panel and the versatility. Each bird panel is 12×12 inches square. One yard has nine total squares plus a narrow border of matching quilt labels. There are a variety of ways this can be used. Each panel can be cut apart and used as individual quilt blocks, pillow tops or small decorative wall quilts. It can be used as straight yardage for home dec projects like a shower curtain or use a yard as a cheater fabric to make a quick and easy lap quilt.

Above are the selections from Amy Butler’s latest, Midwest Modern 2. I hate to say it but her newer stuff is quite often as not getting a “meh” reaction from me. I only selected five from the new colorways and added two from the original Midwest Modern to round out my current selection. I also added four prints from her Daisy Chain to match up some of the orphans from my first order from this line. I still think some of my numbers must have gotten mixed up on that first order because I *know* I ordered some of these dark blues and pinks that didn’t come in my first order. (That’s why I’m taking pictures this time so I know what I decided on!)

I’m also a little frustrated annoyed disappointed that her colors don’t match across collections. She has an olive in her Midwest Modern and one in her Daisy Chain that are close but not quite. Also I’ve found that often she’ll have a pattern/colorway in a collection that doesn’t really *fit* with anything else in the collection. I read on a fabric blog recently that Kaffe Fassett keeps pretty much the same color palette from one collection to the next and adds and subtracts to keep things fresh. But that way if you have an older fabric in your stash you can still find something new to coordinate with it. Of course my impression of Kaffe Fassets collections is that he just uses ALL THE COLORS so it doesn’t really matter!

A new line and new to me designer is Snow Flower by Dena. This was one of those bundles of fabric that I opened and my reaction was, “oh yeah!” I wanted it all, but you know that isn’t happening. So instead I did what I’ve learned is the best way for me to stock fabric, I select one or two of the colorways in a collection and go from there. (I’m sorry I can’t find this collection online anywhere yet.) After I decided which colorways I want I pick and choose from there. I loved the brights and black set in this collection so I chose a wide selection of these. I really don’t have a lot of really vivid brights and no black at all right now in my stock so this will fill in some much needed holes.
   
I’m also really in love with acid green and chocolate brown right now and aqua with green is a hot combo too. I think this collection is going to be really popular. I know I’m looking forward to sewing up some bags or girly dresses out of it this winter!

My Moda rep was also in at the end of last week with her bag of goodies from Quilt Market. I don’t have pictures of what I selected from her but rest assured, it is awesome! They have added some new designers who are really adding a fresh face to their collections.

Materials for One Towel

1/2 yd. hemmed cotton toweling

1/2 yd. cotton fabric (enough for 3 finished towels) or a fabric remnant at least 18 x 14 inches

coordinating all-purpose thread

Step One:

Cut two (2) 7″x18″ strips from the cotton print fabric.

Step Two:

 
 
Place toweling and fabric right sides together (RST) matching raw edges. The print fabric should be approximately 1 inch wider on each end.
Sew RST using 1/2″ seam allowance.

Step Three:

 
Press seam allowance toward print fabric.
Press 1/2″ along unfinished edge of print fabric.
 
Fold print fabric RST matching folded edge to seam.
Pin short ends.

Step Four:

Sew short ends using edge of toweling as seam guide.
 
Trim seam allowances and corners to reduce bulk.
Turn right side out and press.

Step Five:

 
Carefully topstitch 1/4″ from seam line from the right side being sure to keep underside flat and straight.
Press and trim threads.

    
The second bunch of fabric to arrive this week is also from Moda. This time it was the “Pumpkins Gone Wild” line from Sandy Gervais. Really fun and bright. I love the falling leaves one and the all-over funky floral is really cool. I think I see a groovy witch or seasonal apron coming soon out of some of these.

Way back in March before I even had any real furniture here in the store I met with my Moda Fabrics rep. She had all the new holidays lines for 2008. It was really hard choosing because I had never done this before and they were all so cool. They’ve started to arrive this week and I’m thrilled with all of them.

To get everyone in the mood for holiday crafting I’ve decided to put all these new fabulous fabrics on sale for the month of July! They are regularly priced at $8.99/yard and for the month of July they will be marked down 25%!!! Stock up now and get ready for gift giving and decorating early.

First off: True Up: this is a relatively new fabric blog dedicated to fabric and nothing but fabric. If you’re a lover of all things fabric, this is the place for you. Somedays she features new fabrics offered by the hottest new designers, other times she shows fabulous vintage fabrics, and then other times she inspires us with ideas of becoming a designer ourselves!

Looking for awesome apparel fabric? Gorgeous Fabrics is just what their name states. I found Ann and her site via Project Rungay, she’s a regular commenter and “Friend of Emmett.” If you are a lover of all things Bravo and fan of fabulosity, you must read TLo!

I’ve had a thing for aprons for years. I bought my first antique ones at a church rummage sale back in the early 90s and began looking for them at yard sales and antique stores ever since. I struck apron gold a few years ago when we still had a vacation house in western Illinois and had the opportunity to shop some tiny rural antique stores along the Mississippi River. How excited was I to find The Apronista blog! And with a tag line like; “Life, Love and the pursuit of Ric-Rac” I knew I had found my peeps.

Last but not least; 5th Street Studio in Nebraska. I’ve gotten a lot of inspiration from these ladies. They are creating the kind of local community of artists and crafters that I would like to bring together here in the Fox Valley. Lots of fun classes, tons of eclectic messiness, and a fabulous community of people working together. Reading this blog and seeing what they are doing at their studio makes me want to put $80 of gas in the Volvo and take a road trip to Nebraska.

Edited to Add:
As soon as I hit post on this entry I clicked over to Google Reader and saw the latest from WhipUp and read a very cool tutorial: Recycled Dog Collars. Heidi and Shadow may be getting new high fashion neckwear soon.

I encourage you to go visit these sites and leave a comment.