sewtakeahike

warp speed ahead

There have been lots of changes going on lately, so I thought I'd give you all a quick update.

First, as you all have probably heard, google reader is out.  That means, bloglovin' is in!  You see the new bloglovin' widget I've added over there on the sidebar?  Click on the widget to follow sewtakeahike through bloglovin' if you haven't already!

 

And btw, I downloaded the widget from Isabelle's lovely site.  She drew the widget and it's available for a free download.  I love it!!

 

And second, did you all know that etsy FINALLY has the option to add pdf files to your listings?  So that means no more waiting for the etsy seller to email your purchased pdf files to you!  Thank you etsy!!!

To celebrate, I'm offering all my sewtakeahike patterns for 30% off today and tomorrow.  Just use the coupon code instantpdf when you purchase any combination of patterns from my etsy shop.

 

Lastly, I have been using touchdraw a lot for pattern makng recently and am totally loving it.  It's a vector program so the images it produces are clearer than what I can get from photoshop.  Here's an image I drew with it:

To learn the basics, I walked through all of Lynne's  touchdraw tutorials.  Since then I've been able to take off with it and I love it.  I'll be posting more soon about touchdraw!

xo,

Penny

 

snowball QAL tips

 

If you're looking for the initial Snowball QAL post, it is here

and the flickr group is here!

 

Just a few tips to make your snowball block production quicker should you use the pattern I provided! 

But before we get into that, make sure and join the flickr Snowball QAL group!

First, instead of completing the snowballs one at a time, do the snowballs in batches, cutting, then sewing and trimming several at one time.

 

 

So in other words, I cut all my triangles and squares and patterns and then stacked them like this so I can sit at my machine and just sew all the triangles on; not having to get from my machine over and over.

 

Once they are all sewn

 

 

I will press them all, then trim them all.  Make sense? 

Doing this "production" type sewing will definitely speed things along!

I like to do them in batches of 30 or so.  Only because that immediate gratification part of me dictates it this way if you get my drift!

xo,

Penny

Special K

 

Once a month, Ange at Mama Said Sew has a crafty meet up.  For the last one, she organized a fabric swap.  So I loaded up some fabrics and off to the swap I went.

You never know what kinds of fabrics you'll find at swaps, but I have to say, I scored big time.

 

 

Beth brought four panels that each consist of three vintage blocks. She also brought a load of feedsack scraps!  I was in heaven!!

On a whim, I decided to draft up a pattern for the block so I can make my own.  It's full of Y-seams at every turn, but extremely satisfying to make!

 

 

I've not seen this block before (although, there are two similar but different blocks in Patchwork 163, thanks for the info Amy!) and don't know what the name is, so I'm calling it Special K. 

 

 

 

It's a 16" block and the second one was infinitely easier to make than the second.  I think I'm addicted to inset seams thanks to this block.  Hmm.  Did I just say that out loud?

Happy Friday!

xo,

Penny

 

p.s.  The girls over at Spoonfulzine are having a super fun Spoonful Easter Competition, 2013!

They're challenging individuals to design/draw an Easter pattern, to get in the springey chocolatey spirit and win this handmade Easter bunny! 

 

 

Isn't he adorable!!!! 

QuiltCon diaries Part 1

 

Hello everyone!  I've missed you!  And I have so much to tell you since I was here last.  Fair warning, this will probably be a long one!

 

 

I'm going to break my QuiltCon posts into a two because there was just so much to take in.  Honestly.

What to say, what to say.  It was inspiring.  Joyful.  Exciting.  Fun.  Heartfilling.  Nervewracking.  And I had several proud momma moments with my students. 

I taught threee classes.  Foundation piecing.  Freezer paper piecing by template.  And Designing foundation blocks.

I was so impressed by each and every student in all three classes!

 

Vicky and her cupcake from the foundation piecing class

 

Claudia and her microwave design/block from the design class

 

Elaine and her flappy finned fish design/block from the design class

 

Monica says hi from the foundation piecing class!

 

Gillian's elephant (applique, applique that ear!! lol) and Anne's St. Bernard patterns from design class

 

Joanne's key pattern/block from design class

 

Audrey's headless "Marigold"

 

Eileen's ladybug pattern/block from design class

 

Whaaaaat?  They're all so fabulous!  And there are so many I missed. 

 

So yeah.  I had some serioulsy goofy students too. 

Or maybe it was me (no, not me!) and I forgot to tell them it was OK to take their blocks home with them after the photoshoot?  Ooopsie! 

 

If you were in the class and you see one or more of your blocks here, shoot me an email to sewtakeahike at gmail with your addy and I'll pop them in the mail to you! 

 

 

And you should probably hurry before Fozzy tears across them.  He's a total spaz. 

Also, I have your original bridge design one of you left in the design class that I'd love to get back to you!!

 

And lastly for today, a photo of some of the concentrating design class students

 

 

And a couple of gratuitous class sample seam block photos

 

 

See you in a few days for QuiltCon diaries part 2.

 

xo,

Penny

 

QuiltCon is in the air

It seems unreal to say, but QuiltCon is less than a month away! 

The last several weeks has been a flurry of prep work and trying to think of the tiniest detail so the classes I'm teaching go off with as few hitches as possible. 

Yesterday, I checked on the current weather situtation in Austin, and this week it appears to be all sunshine and highs of 79 and lows of 60.  Wow.  By the time I'm there at the end of February it could be even warmer?  Looks like it's time to break out the tanning lotion.

One super fun thing I've done in the last few days was to design some new mugs.   I'll have a few of these at QuiltCon for purchase, and a couple to do a few fun giveaways in my classes.  (as a side note, it was super easy to upload my design to vistaprint and order the mugs.  I seriously think I need vistaprint 12 step program!)

 

So are you going to QuiltCon?   If so, what classes are you most looking forward to?  Please do tell!  And if you are going to be there, I really really hope to meet you!!

xo,

Penny