Ever since I had the chance to visit Liberty when I was in London, I have regretted not picking up some of their fantastic fabric. It was so expensive, and though it would have been a fantastic souvenir to actually buy it in the Liberty store, I left empty handed.



Luckily Marisa linked to a great store with a wide selection of Liberty available as affordable fat quarters, so I was able to correct my "mistake."


The lovely turquoise fabric is a recent purchase from here.

I'm so bad about hoarding fabric, not actually using my "nice" fabric, I hope I can actually use these!



In the grand scheme of life it's a small regret to not buy fabric on a business trip, but it still brings me joy to have these gorgeous prints as a reminder of London!

Labels: fabric

Sorry for the slew of home improvement posts! Hopefully you're like me and LOVE before-after pictures. With $40 of paint (why is paint so expensive???) and some motivation to finally hang things on the wall, our office nook went from this:



To this:


Ignore the concrete floor - one step at a time!





It's still a little plain and definitely needs some organizing, but I love it!

Labels: homework, OPAM

There is a lot of really interesting history about labeling quilts. This is something I've never done - I know I should, but my quilts have all been gifts and I'm never finished early enough to get on a label. I was about to send off the diamond quilt when I remembered these posts by Marisa.



Since I had to get this quilt packaged and in the mail today to be on time for the baby shower, I stayed up late last night to get this on there. I stabilized the fabric with Heat-n-bond, waiting to peel off the paper backing until after I was done writing. Supposedly the Heat-n-bond is washable, but I did decorative handstitching around the edge anyway.



I used a pigma pen like Marisa recommended and did really like it. It has a soft tip, and I wonder how it will wear after writing on relatively rough fabric, but for now it is fantastic. If you're a quilter, do you always label your quilts? I think I will from now on!

52 Nights Update - Night 17 - I got right to work painting when I got home and finished the nook - pictures as soon as I hang a few things on the walls. Then I made dinner (since it was after 8pm it was tempting to skip this and just eat junk, but I behaved!), and decided to do the quilt label. Handstitching did allow for a little TV time, perfect to relax after a busy evening!

Labels: 52 nights, quilting, sewing

Where did this weekend go??



We made progress on the floor. (Well, the boys did, I cheered them on.)



I made another batch of the caramel shortbread - I put a batch in the Relay for Life auction at work and the lady called to remind me I owed her!



Is it bad to go to my book club meeting when I haven't finished the book? Turns out in this case it was a good thing, since now I'm motivated to finish - seems like there's a lot of interesting events I haven't gotten to yet!



And among other chores and errands I got the nook ready to go - hopefully paint will go up tomorrow, thanks to no tech night!

Labels: homework, misc

My two-color plan for the nook is half done! I realized in my before picture you can't see the bookcase wall, but it was the same off-white as the rest of the nook.



Now it's khaki! Two coats are up, and I don't think it will need a third. Tomorrow I'll tackle the other color. Off to work on pinning my quilt - I haven't touched it since last weekend!

Labels: homework, OPAM

I've had a few questions about how to install a recessed zipper closure on a handbag. This has to be the longest tutorial written in the history of tutorials! I did my best to explain, but please let me know if anything is unclear.



You Will Need:

- (1) 14" zipper
- (2) 15.5" x 2.5" inside upper fabric
- (2) 15.5" x 16" inside lower fabric (I demonstrate using my own pattern, feel free to experiment!)
- (2) 15.5" x 18.25" outer fabric (or your own pattern)

* If you use your own tote pattern, be sure to alter your lining pattern to account for the extra fabric above the zipper - you want your outer and inner pieces to match after you install the zipper. I'll address this a little more later.
* I interface all my fabric for sturdiness and I've found it also keeps the lining fabric from creeping up while you're trying to close the zipper. It's really up to your personal preference, though.

1. Take one 15.5" x 2.5" piece of fabric. Pin the zipper as shown, zipper pull facing down, centered based on the zipper, not the webbing.



2. Sew using your zipper foot and 1/4" seam allowance. When you get close to the zipper pull, leave the needle down and raise the machine foot, pivoting the fabric so you can move the pull to the other side of the needle. Finish sewing.






Lift the presser foot and pull the zipper to the other side of the foot. May take some wiggling.




Back stitch at the beginning and end, by the zipper stops.

3. Take one 15.5" x 16" inside fabric and place the zipper face down on the top edge, sandwiching the zipper between two layers of fabric.





4. Sew as in Step 2, following your first sewn line as close as possible.





5. Repeat with the other pieces of inside fabric (see photos). Be sure the small lining pieces are on the same side of the zipper.


Center the 2nd top strip along the zipper and sew.




Place last bare side of zipper face down on last lining piece and sew.



6. Your lining is finished. Now is a good time to check if the lining and outer pieces are the same size. Trim if needed.



7. Unzip the zipper about halfway. Match one outer piece to the inner piece, right sides together, along the 15.5" edge. This is when you'd insert your straps if you want them at the top of the bag - mine are attached in a lower seam. Sew with 1/2" seam allowance, backstitching at beginning and end to secure.







8. Repeat Step 7 with the other outer piece.




You should be getting an idea of your finished bag!

9. Now it's time to finish the bag. Open the zipper almost all the way (so you'll be able to turn your bag right side out). Match the outer pieces, right sides together, and pin.



10. Match the lining pieces, right sides together, and pin.



11. Starting in the middle of an edge on the outer pieces, sew one direction as close as you can get to the zipper, backstitching to secure.


Fold the zipper towards you to help get the needle closer to the zipper.


You can see I don't always get super close to the zipper - it won't matter!

12. Go back to where you started in Step 11, and sew the other direction, overlapping your first stitches for a few inches. Sew as close as you can get to the zipper, backstitching to secure.



13. Repeat Step 11 with the inner pieces.

14. Repeat Step 12, except leave ~6" open to turn your bag right side out. Back stitch each side of this opening to it won't rip when you're shoving the bag through while turning.



15. Your bag should be sewn completely except for your opening in the lining.

16. Using pinking shears, trim the seams where the outer meets the lining to reduce bulk at these intersections.



17. Pull the bag right side out.







18. Close the opening in the lining, either by hand-stitching or carefully sewing with your machine.





19. Top stitch if desired.





20. Admire your bag!







I hope that made sense! It took a lot of photos and explanation, but it's basically like a glorified zipper pouch. Please let me know if anything is unclear - or if you figure out an easier way to do something!

P.S. This is the bag for the winner of my Relay for Life raffle - it'll go in the mail soon, Megan, I hope you like it!

Labels: bags, how-to's, sewing