sewtakeahike

pink red and white

 

Good morning!  It's a fine winter's day here at about 1 degree.  I'm so thankful our furnace is in working order!

 

Are any of you cross stitchers?  I had always thought I didn't like cross stitch.  Maybe because of the overabundance of really icky designs out there?  But then I started seeing the sweetest designs on IG by the frosted pumpkin stitchery and then came along this book:

 

 

The cover got me.  Sweet and simple designs.  (I ordered it here from the sweet Nobuko)

 

 

The very day I received the book, I did the wellie.  And this morning I did the strawberry (from a different book).

I'm seriously hooked.  But, it's really made me realize how bad my eyes are.  I have to pull my glasses down to the end of my nose so I can see what I'm doing.  Maybe a magnifier is in order?  But it would have to be one that clipped to my glasses because I need both hands free.  Anyone have any tips on where to find such a thing?

 

 

 

 

 

This is Leila's Ringo Pie block.  She asked for something that speaks of ourself and this block nails me to a board.  The pink linen was thrifted from a vintage tablecloth, the pitcher fabric was given to me by a dear friend, and the retro "kitchenalia" design is so me. 

It really feels good to get a tardy bee block done.

Happy Monday to you all!

xo,

Penny

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

 

 

Winners!

 

 

Before I announce the winners, I have to show you a new quilt I finished yesterday (just the top is in the photo) called "First".  It's made with several of connecting threads blue and green solids.  Sometime in the near future, I'll be giving away a kit to a lucky winner to make your very own First!

 

Now on to the winners!

210-  Joy! who wins the Technicolor Tidings fat quarter set

Who said, "I would have to say 1. technicolor tidings 2. Circle of Love 3. Sweet St. Nick and 4. Maple Skies. I also like Connecting Threads. Thanks for the giveaway

91- Ramanda Nash!  who wins the Maple Skies fat quarter set

Who said, "1. Technicolor Tidings  2. Maple Skies
3. Sweet St. Nick  4. Circle of Family  I love Connecting Threads! They fit my budget!

54-  Norine!  Who wins the Circle of Family fat quarter set

Who said, "I am so excited! I love Connecting Threads! I love all of them, but here are
my favorites in order:
Technicolor Tidings, Circle of Family, Maple Skies,
Sweet St. Nick.Blessings to your Mom and your family.

146-  Jenn!  Who wins the Sweet St. Nick fat quarter set

Who said, "1. Maple Skies 2. Technicolor 3. Circle of Family 4. Sweet St. Nick Thanks for the chance!!

 

Winners, please email me {sewtakeahike} {@} {gmail.com} with your mailing addresses!!

 

One last thing!  Kerry and I have two new pattern sets we'd like to introduce to you at Sew-Ichigo!

Button It by me!, and Rainbow Rack of Spools by Kerry! (isn't it lovely???)

 

You can purchase each set separately, or together at at discounted rate here!

 

And here's a little project I made using Ayumi's basket tutorial.  I"ll be posting a tutorial on how to modify her pattern to include the buttons and spools on sew-ichigo very soon!

 

 

 

Unity and a Go! Baby winner

First, really quick, this is a quilt top I cut and sewed in two nights this week after work.  It's based on a photo I have pinned in Pinterest that looks like a photo that was taken of a quilt in a Japanese magazine?  It looks like their blocks were 3-4", but I made these 6.5".  I just love the colors they used.  It's called "Unity", and is for some friends who will be married next month.

Thank you to everyone for playing the vacation game!  You have all given me some great ideas and it was so uplifting to read what you are all excited about.  Your comments made me smile over and over and melted my heart!

And now for the Go! Baby winner!

Congratulations to #260, Bonnie Ledet!   Come on down, you're the winner on sew-take-a-hike!  I'll be in touch you with via email later today to get all the details worked out!

~Penny 

 

 

Ringo Pie- member expose'

 

I feel so very fortunate to have the opportunity to be a part of Ringo Pie.  Ayumi and I dreamt the bee up last fall and asked 10 others to be join in and every single one of them said yes! 

We wanted to have a bee that featured patchwork, and since the Japanese are the masters at patchwork, we decided on naming the group Ringo Pie.  Ringo is Japanese for the word "apple", and since we both love food, we thought the name was very fitting!

Each month, one bee member chooses a theme.  The other members pick fabrics from their stash and patchwork together something that fits the theme.  I love that each member has total creative license to use whatever fabrics they wish, and design to their hearts content.  No limits!  That excites me. 

Today, I'd like to introduce you to the Ringo Pie members and show you one of my favorite blocks each of them have made.  They are one creative bunch and I am inspired by each and every one of them!

 

Firstly, there's Ayumi.  Hmmm, what to say about Ayumi?  Kind, creative, inspiring and encouraging.  Her work totally speaks for itself!

 

Then there's Kerry.  What a treasure she is!  Each month I have been completely blown away by her creativity!

 

Then Anna, who is so very humble and a fantastic seamstress who is great with teaching/tutorials.  She turned out this amazing block and acted like it was effortless.

 

Next up, is Lisa. Lisa is a machine!  She is constantly posting new projects and I am drawn to everything she makes.  How do you do it, Lisa?

 

Then Erica.  Erica has fantastic taste in fabric and her projects are completely droolworthy!  I can't wait to see her blocks start rolling in!

 

And Lucinda.  I was first turned on to Lucinda's work when I received one of her famous chairs as my doll quilt for the DQS8.  I just loooooove Lucinda's paper piecing!

 

Then Marit.  Marit is a whiz at improv piecing and I just love her style!

 

And then Lynne.  Almost every time she makes something it makes my knees buckle.  I'm not even kidding.

 

And Corey.  I love Corey's sense of style and the fabrics she uses.  Doesn't this Nicey Jane just make the siding look sooooo real on her block?

 

 And Amber.  I can't tell you enough how inspiring her designs and fabric choices are to me!

 

And lastly, but definitely not leastly, Amy.  Amy's work is impeccable.  Bright.  Creative.  Inspiring.  I want to be just.like.her when I grow up!

 

So there you have it, Ringo Pie in a nutshell.  I hope you are just as inspired as I am!

~Penny