sewtakeahike

hand quilted with love

I've been a fan of Sarah Fielke's since I cracked open her book "Material Obsession" a few years ago.  Sarah's projects are so right up my alley.  Full of fun, bright scrap happy fabrics. 

Needless to say, I was so very super excited to get my hands on her "hand quilted with love".

 

 

This book is packed full of great information, useful techniques, awesome patterns, and incredible inspiration.

 

 

As with every quilting book I've looked through, there were a few quilts that jumped off the pages and into my heart as soon as I saw them. 

 

The Bangles quilt

 

 

and the Made to Measure quilt:

 

I hope to make both of these quilts at some point.  And if you're interested, the lovely and talented Amanda is having a Bangle-along! 

 

So if you're looking to be inspired by some scrappy goodness, this is a book for you!

xo,

Penny

p.s.  Sarah, I proudly found the perfect place to put the card you gave me at dinner last year. 

 

 

 

Instagram on my not so instablog

Good morning to you!  How's your weekend looking?  Anything exciting going on?  I have a few projects I'd like to finish up and maybe go to a movie with L-man, but other than that, nothing major happening here. 

I have a confession to make.  I guess I've known for some time, but it wasn't until I looked to see how many posts I've done on sewtakeahike in the last month until it really hit me.  I'm addicted to instagram.  If you're on, look me up.  I'm listed as, you guessed it, sewtakeahike.  I post there quite frequently because it's quick and easy and no fuss. 

So today, I'm going to share a few pics that I posted to IG recently.

Like this:

 

A "latte to go" mug rug with a gift card sleeve on the back.  I'll be teaching this class at Mama Said Sew on Nov 17th.  If you're going to be in Fort Collins on the 17th, you should sign up!   It'll be super fun!

 

And then this:

 

The first issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited is out and I have project in it, an iPad cover.  And by the way, I've been bugging L-man for over a year for one and just this week, he started asking me questions about which one I might like!  I think the iPad cover I made might have something to do with it?  Anyway, I used some of my very favorite fabrics on this cover, including a piece of Mr. Donut fabric Ayumi sent to me. 

 

And then, there's this guy:

 

A little project I'm making for the Liberty Scrap Challenge for November.

 

And then there's this:

 

Did you know these two books are one in the same?  The top one in Japanese and the bottom in English.  I recently did a search on Amazon for the bottom book, and I found several for a steal.  It's an awesome book by Suzuko Koseki.

 

And last but not least, a gratuitous shot of Fozzy (L-man thinks he's hilarious with the remote thing)

xo,

Penny

 

 

Zakka Style Sew-Along: belated

I didn't break any speed records getting my Zakka Style Sew-Along project finished.  However, I did finish it before the sew-along ended, so I'm happy about that.

 

I had no fear when I couldn't complete it on time though, because Lindsey had my back.

 

The Patchwork Potholder is by Kim at Retro Mama and is in the book Zakka Style.  Kim's correction post for the pattern is here.

I didn't follow the pattern to piece the front, but just kind of did my own thing (and I forgot to do any quilting on it at all!)

 

I used some brown linen and a new Connecting Threads fabric called Hello Sunshine.  Isn't it so bright and cheery???!  It makes me smile!

 

Which, by the way, I did a retro-active giveaway for one of these fq bundles.  Meaning, I chose a winner for it from the comments that were left on one of my last three posts and the winner is:  Suzanne!!  Yay!  I'll email you to get your mailing info Suzanne.

 

 

Alrighty!  I hope you had a great Labor day weekend!

xo,

Penny

 

shocked.

When I looked at the QuiltCon workshop schedule, there were two classes I had my heart set on.  One of them was Lotta's print class, which I got in to.  The other one is a class with Yoshiko Jinzenji.  I nearly cried when I realized she will be teaching her classes at the same time as I will be, so I won't be able to take a class by her.

Back to the title.  I'm shocked that Yoshiko's class isn't sold out.  I am seriously at a loss for words.  The only thing I can think of is that people don't realize who she is.  So let me help. 

Yoshiko is the first Japanese quilter I fell in love with.  Her quilts and projects are fabulous.  Minimalistic, and packing a whopping punch.  My first bits of Yoshiko fabrics were given to me by Jacquie 2 or 3 years ago. 

 

And when I found her book

 

I poured over the images for days

So do yourself a favor.  If you have time in your schedule on Saturday or Sunday T QuiltCon to take her half day class, you must.  If only to tell me all about it!  For me, I'll have to be satisfied with a lecture she will be giving.

xo,

Penny

p.s.  I hope you don't mind, Alissa, that I used your Traveling Quilt as the backdrop for this post!

let's celebrate Quilting Modern!

 

I'm so excited to be a part of Jacquie and Katie's Quilting Modern celebration weekend. 

Every.time. I've looked through this book I've felt a fresh wave of inspiration blow through me. 

One thing I've come across again and again when teaching others or just doing a casual sewing day, is that lots of people are (dare I say?) s.c.a.r.e.d or simply say they "don't know how" to do improv.  So if you've ever found yourself saying those words, this book would be a great addition to your sewing book library.  I love how they've taken improv and given some some basic instructions for how you can DIY. 

Their "slice and dice" technique was used to make this quilt

 

and their instructions for making the "pods" in this Sardinia table runner are so very simple and straightforward.

This is definitely a book I will be reaching for often!

I couldn't resist making my own version of the "add it up".  I've only gotten the top made at this point, but once I get to quilting it, I'm going to pretty much copy the quilting on Jacquie and Katie's quilt.

 

More Quilting Modern Blog Party Participants:
A Stitch in Dye – Malka Dubrawsky
Fat Quarterly blog – Tacha Bruecher
Film in the Fridge – Ashley Newcomb
Generation Q – Jake Finch
Handmade by Alissa – Alissa Haight Carlton
Happy Zombie – Monica Solorio-Snow
iheartlinen – Rashida Coleman-Hale
Oh Fransson! – Elizabeth Hartman
One Shabby Chick – Amber Carrillo
Pink Chalk Studio – Kathy Mack
Quilting is my Therapy – Angela Waters
Sew, Mama, Sew! – Kristin Link
Sew Take a Hike – Penny Layman
West Coast Crafty – Susan Beal
Whip Up – Kathreen Ricketson
Wise Craft – Blair Stocker

Happy Saturday to you!!

Penny