Inspiration!

About a year ago, while on one of my grand shopping expeditions, I saw a piece of fabric that made me stop in my tracks.  It was so pretty and the feel in my hand was so soft.  I knew this could be something truly striking.  Maybe a handbag or apron.

Sadly, there wasn't much left on the bolt, but what there was went home with me that day.

Over the past year, I've looked at this piece of fabric many times, not knowing just what to create with it.  The print is retro and lovely - large pink and yellow flowers and shaded green leaves scattered on a light sage background.

Over the past several months, as fabrics around this bolt were chosen and sewn into aprons or handbags, inspiration just never moved me to create something from it.  I still loved the look and feel of it, and admired it often.  Poor, sad little piece of fabric.  Kind of like Cinderella before the fairy godmother episode.

All that changed this morning.

After my usual (huge) mug of coffee...have I mentioned lately how I love coffee...and after watering the plants and a little more wandering about the house thinking of what I might create today, I went into my sewing room and my eyes fell on that piece of fabric and ... inspiration lit up my life!  I can see it in my mind - a beautiful retro apron - the lady wearing it has a pink flower in her hair - her hand brushes the soft fabric as she smiles - it's a beautiful moment!!!

I'll add pictures of the finished apron soon.  In a few minutes I'll be cutting and then sewing.  My machine is at the ready, the ironing board is all set up, and Bob is sleeping under my chair.  All is right in my world and I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Guess the fabric had a fairy godmother episode too!

Love Americana? Let's Make a Flag Pillow

Several years ago, when my husband and I used to do craft shows, our style was a soft country primitive, and I find myself leaning toward that warm and comforting style again.  It's the soothing, restful look popularized in Country Sampler magazine rather than the coarser look of folk art.

My stitcheries have always been country primitive, and late last week I started an Americana themed batch - stitcheries were a great way to create quietly as my husband slept while recovering from surgery.

Today I'm going to sew a flag pillow and thought perhaps you'd like to see how it's done and maybe create one for yourself.  This is really a simple and fun little project, and the pillow is perfect for any country primitive decor.  Let me show you.

The finished project will measure about 7" high and 17" long.

All you will need to complete this pillow are dark red and navy blue checked homespun fabric, unbleached muslin, a rotary cutter and mat or scissors, a quilter's ruler or long straightedge, a water soluble pencil, gold embroidery thread, a bag of polyester fiberfill to stuff your pillow. and a sewing machine.

 First, you will want to cut 2" wide strips of the red checked homespun and the muslin into 14" lengths.  To make yours like mine, you'll need 3 - 14" pieces of the red homespun and 2 - 14" pieces of the muslin.

Press the strips well to remove any wrinkles or creases.  Sew a red strip to each side of the muslin strips, right sides together, with a 1/4" seam.  In this photo, I've already sewn one red strip to one side of the first muslin strip, and am sewing a red strip to the top side of the same red strip:

After sewing all the strips together, you will have something that looks like this:

Now, I'll cut the navy blue homespun for the star field - mine is 6" wide by the exact length of the sewn strips:

Pin right sides together and sew with a 1/4" seam.  Press the seam open and you'll have a pillow front that looks like this:

Using your quilter's ruler or straight edge and water soluble marking pencil, draw a primitive star on the blue homespun like this:

I'm using all six strands of DMC color 781 - Very Dark Topaz - to backstitch the star:

At this point, you could also add something on one of the muslin strips, such as God Bless America, I Pledge Allegiance, Sweet Land of Liberty, or some other short phrase of your choice.  Just use simple, primitive lettering and go for it!  Don't worry if your stitches or letters aren't perfect or even - in Country Primitive or Primitive styles they're not supposed to be.

Stitching is done - now just rinse off the water soluble pencil marks, wait for your pillow top to dry and then press well.

Using your flag pillow front as a guide, cut a pillow back the same size from the muslin and press well.

Sew the front to the back, right sides together, with a 1/4" seam.  Leave about a 6" opening on the bottom side so you can turn right side out and stuff.  Turn right side out and press again.

Almost done - just stuff with fiberfill and hand stitch the opening closed.  Place your Americana Flag Pillow on a chair, couch, deacon's bench, or any other favorite location and enjoy your masterpiece!

If you would like to make a taller pillow, when cutting strips just continue to add red homespun and muslin strips till your pillow is as tall as you want it to be.  to make it longer, just cut your strips longer.  Remember to cut your navy blue homespun accordingly.  You can also stuff your pillow more firmly than I did to give it a "rounder" look.  It really is that easy!

Of course, if you want me to create one for you, just let me know.  Message me here, on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GypsyWindDesigns or at TalktotheGypsy@gmail.com and I will be glad to make one for you.

Happy Stitching!

Supply List

Dark Red and Navy Blue Homespun - I used the 1/8" check on tan background

Unbleached Muslin

Rotary Cutter and Mat or Scissors

Quilter's Ruler or long straight edge

Water Soluble Marking Pencil

Gold Embroidery Thread - I used DMC color 781

Polyester Fiberfill - I used Poly-Fil

Sewing Machine and Thread

New Year's Resolutions

On this first day of the new year, I'm acting on one of my resolutions.

My blogging has been nonexistent for many months...wonder if anyone remembers my (so clever) comments from last year?  No matter - my husband says I talk a lot, therefore surely I can find something to write about.

I usually have awesome ideas when I'm in the middle of cooking something labor intensive, or when awaking from a sound sleep at 3:20 AM, but those ideas are lost after several heartbeats.  There is now a small pad of paper and a pen on my night stand - writing by the Droid light should prove interesting.  My best beloved will have to take notes when I'm cooking.

Today is a "nonworking" day - spent the morning working on a new Facebook cover that will debut tomorrow on Gypsy Wind Designs.  I love it and can't wait to share with you and would love to read your comments.  Then, I created this:

Love the quote - Rosamunde Pilcher, The Shell Seekers - and have always loved shabby chic.

Shabby Chic designs will figure more into Gypsy Wind Designs this year - working on lacy, delicately colored floral, oh-so-feminine handbag and apron designs for when my my poor poor Janome comes back home.

Have a wonderful day my friends and, if you feel so inclined, tell me what you think of  my Shabby Chic ideas.

Chocolate!

Somedays I am just hungry for chocolate.  Chocolate something...anything...I'm craving the food of the gods today.

Maybe Godiva truffles...

Or maybe a REALLY LOT of Ghirardelli ...

Since it's still morning, maybe chocolate chip pancakes or waffles would be a good place to start.  But then again, that doesn't seem to be quite what I'm wanting.  But who turns down chocolate chip pancakes?  Except maybe for chocolate filled crepes.  Hmmmm.

Is it too early for mousse?  I think not.  Probably never too early for mousse topped with whipped cream.  No one is counting calories on a Chocolate Day.  Besides how many calories could there possibly be in something so light and frothy?  Maybe only 5 or 10 - it's the whipped cream that will be on my hips tomorrow.

My lovely daughter gave me a this cookbook for my birthday - best present ever:

My darling daughter knows me well!

What an awesome book this is - chock full of only chocolate recipes.  No such thing as chocolate overload at my house!  I've made the chocolate buttermilk tea bread - chocolate + coffee = 2 of my favorite things - and the chocolate muffins - so rich and decadent - and several other recipes that were sinfully delightful.

And, it's still early.  I've got time to make the chocolate silk pie for dessert this evening.  Oh happy day!!!

By tonight I'll be sitting in the rocking chair, stitchery in hand, in a euphoric state of chocolate bliss.

Thank you, Lord, for this day and for chocolate!

The Making of Angelita's Purse(s)

A good friend asked that I make her a purse in time for Christmas, and quickly amended her order to two identical purses - one for her and one as a gift for her sister.  She knew just the style of purse she wanted, so that part was easy.  Her only other request was that the purses be washable.

The color story she chose - gray, black and cream, with a kiss of khaki - was nothing short of awesome!  If shabby chic could be in those colors, this is how it would look.  So beautiful!

The top fabric with the lovely, lacy, swirly print of roses, medallions and butterflies will be the body of the purse.  The gray with black polka dot fabric on the bottom will be the top bands and the pockets, while the complementary black on black print will be the lining. 

When cutting fabric, I use (really) sharp shears and a rotary cutter, so the process is fairly quick.

With the fabric cut, it's time to choose the stabilizer or interfacing.  The correct stabilizer or interfacing is of the utmost importance for body and structure, and makes the difference between a homemade look or a crisp and professional look.  In this case, Angelita wanted a softer bag, so the choice was a polyester fusible fleece.

Lining pieces laying on the interfacing ready to be pinned and carefully cut out.Then the next step is ironing on - bonding - the fusible interfacing to the wrong sides of the fabric.

Here are all the purse pieces all bonded.  Now I can begin sewing!  YEA!!!

I usually begin with making the pockets and attaching my label.  Always press well after each step - the fleece will respond well to heat and steam, and you will be able to smooth and shape if necessary as you go along.  Also, be sure to clip the corners of the pockets before turning them right side out to get that nice, pointy corner!

Once the pockets are all finished, they can be attached to the lining by stitching close to the edges.  These purses will have divided pockets front and back.  Four pockets give lots of room for organization, and this is how they look:

Next, I made the handles.  A favorite way is to fold the handle pieces in half, then bring each side into the middle, pressing again and pinning.  Pins are your friend here - don't be afraid to use lots - but don't sew over them!  At the minimum you will bend the pin, but you could break your needle or worse.

The next step is to edge stitch each handle, a really easy step with my beloved Janome.  Thickness is generally not an issue for my mighty machine - it goes through the layers like a warm knife through soft butter:

Next I made the pleats in the body fronts and backs, and it's now time to attached the handles, right sides together and stitch close to the top edge.  This is stay stitching and it will take the place of pinning to make construction much easier:

Now the top bands will be pinned, right sides together and stitched - being careful over the handles - it gets a little thick:

Press and edge stitch 1/4" from the seam to finish the edge.  I pin carefully, removing them as the needle approaches so there is absolutely no slippage!

Sew both sides of the front together to make the outside of the purse, trim the seams to reduce bulk so the seam will lay nicely and press well.  Then, I sew the top bands to the lining pieces, and sew the front and back together, leaving an opening at the bottom to turn right side out ... that is a really fun part ...trim the seams and press well.

Almost done now and the magic begins!  Turn the outside of the purse right side out and leave the lining inside out.  Put the outside of the purse inside the lining, right sides together and pin carefully, matching up the side seams and being careful that the handles are pulled down out of the way.  Stitch around the top of the band, attaching the inside to the outside.

Pull the outside of the purse out of the opening in the lining - slowly and carefully.  This is what I see:

Now all I have to do is hand stitch the opening in the lining closed, push the lining down inside the body of the purse and edge stitch around the top of the band:

All that's left to do is a thorough pressing and shaping, and the purses are finished:

Angelita was very pleased and happy with her purse and sent the second one down to her sister for Christmas.  I love how they came out as well, and was extremely happy that I was able to make her precisely the purse she had in mind.

A very big thank you to Angelita for allowing me to share the process of sewing her purses with you!  I know I've said this before, but creating handmade items that are beautiful and functional is truly a joy, but sharing them with you is a blessing.

Happy New Year everyone!