Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Summertime progress & blogoversary giveaway!

So how is everyone doing out there? Are you all stitching away? We've been having great weather - our June has been much cooler than usual which has been so-o-o-o nice. Usually we are frying in temperatures from 105 to 115F this time of year, and we've had some very pleasant days. It also helps keep that air conditioning bill down a bit and that's always good!

I've been making some good progress lately - my DH has been out of town for 3 weeks so I've had more time to myself than I usually do. Not to mention no cooking and less laundry to do. :) Ida Mae Crow's dress is taking shape you can see below. This is my first time stitching on Lakeside Linen's "Vintage Buttercream". I think it's one of their newer colors and I love it! It's a really nice shade, sort of what I would call "butterscotch-y".


I also made a new start over the weekend. This is "Captain's Inn" from Little House Needleworks. I've always wanted to do a grouping of nautical-related pieces. You might think I live by the ocean - NOT. I live in the desert southwest but often wish I did live by some water as I'm starting to really crave it. I've kept a list of charts I'd like to do for this theme and it's time I got busy. I'm stitching this on 32-ct Pewter Lugana (I think....'someone' never labeled it when she brought it home).


It's been awhile since I stitched on an evenweave and I forgot how nice it is - no issues with the coverage like I get with some of the linen & silk combinations. (Note to self: stock up on some more evenweaves.....) It has just the right bluish-gray tone for this piece. I'm not real fond of stitching lettering and I'm anxious to get to the 'fun' part which is the tavern sign. That being said, I still do have plans to stitch the Gettsyburg Address one of these days. Erica Michaels has a chart out for that but I like the one that Liz of Primrose Needleworks is designing on her blog (http://howtomakeanamericansampler.blogspot.com/) and hoping she'll offer the pattern for sale when she gets the model done.

Now on to more exciting things. I have a couple of giveaways in honor of my 3rd blogoversary! There are 2 sets of charts below - some of these are extras I had or they've already been stitched - might as well pass them on. I will also be including a mesh project bag with each set (which I'll be making this weekend so not pictured!). Two names will be drawn so sign up by leaving a comment if you want to be in the drawing for the giveaways. Signup deadline is Sunday June 28th - I'll draw the winning names on Monday the 29th.


Also, here is the information a few of you requested about the mesh bags. The pattern is called "Zip It!" by Nancy Ota. You can find it easily on the internet or perhaps at a quilt or craft store. The most economical way to make these is using black vinyl mesh that you can get at home improvement stores. I get mine at Lowe's but Home Depot probably has it also. It is sold as "pet screening" and you can get a roll for $8 or $9 usually - it's in the department where they sell replacement door or window screening. You can make at least 4 large bags out of one roll. Colored mesh is harder to find - most of mine I have bought at quilt stores or shows where they had vendors. I did find several places online where you can buy the colored mesh. Of these listed, I have only ordered from Erica's before and they gave me good service. As far as sewing skills, these are not difficult to make. The instructions are good and once you make one by following the directions you kind of pick it up pretty easily. You do need to own and know how to operate a zipper foot on your sewing machine. The inside seam is covered with single-fold or double-fold bias tape (either one works) - this is optional but I recommend you do it so there are no rough edges inside that could snag your project.

Links for buying colored vinyl mesh:

http://www.lylefabrics.com/Vinyl-Mesh-for-Bags-Vinyl-Mesh/c28_29/index.html

http://www.ericas.com/sewing/patterns/totes_screenplay.htm (also has the pattern)

http://www.elegantstitches.com/Purses.htm#Bag%20Accessories (scroll WAY down the page)

http://www.metroscreenworks.com/shop/petscreenaccessoriespetscreencolors-c-2_74.html?page=1&sort=20a

http://www.fabricdepot.com/index.php?page=CatalogPage&pageid=5515

29 comments:

  1. Oh I love the fabric for Ida Mae! Fabulous start, Jeanne!

    Happy blogoversary! Ooo, lovely giveaway! Enter me please!

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  2. Happy Blogoversary! Thanks for the info on mesh bags, good stuff to know.

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  3. Happy Blogoversary! I would love to be included in your draw, what wonderful charts. My email details are in my blog profile. Thank you.

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  4. Happy bloversary!

    I love both sets, please enter my name in the darwing!

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  5. Happy blogoversary ! What a lovely giveaway ! Please include me ! Thank you :)

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  6. Ida Mae is looking lovely, and that fabric looks good enough to eat, very butterscotch-y indeed!
    Please enter me into your draw. I am sure that I can hear Jolly Kringle calling my name :-)
    Happy Blogoversary!
    Have a great week,
    Sadie x

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  7. Happy Blogaversary! And thanks for the links for supplies for the bags. I love Ida Mae Crow's fabric and will look forward to seeing your progress on this one. Please include me in the drawing, too.

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  8. Anonymous4:34 AM

    Oh, please enter me in your drawing also. Those charts are wonderful!!!! and may have to try a mesh bag. I'm not a great seamstress but I can sew a straight line (most of the time, LOL)
    Robin
    robinpich.blogspot.com

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  9. Happy blogaversary! IdaMae is looing great. I have her in my stash, just haven't started it yet. Please enter me in your draw. Have a wonderful day!

    Theresa in NW Kansas
    tpmeis@yahoo.com

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  10. Happy Blogoversary! I'll skip the drawing though...I have most of those in my stash already :)

    Your mesh bags are fabulous! Thank you so much for the info on instructions and supplies. I have always wanted to try making them, but had no clue where to start. I see a trip to Lowe's in my future :)

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  11. Happy Blogoversary! Please include me in your generous drawing. I love the Ida Mae Crow fabric - so scrumptious! I lood forward to seeing your progress on Ida Mae and Captain's Inn.

    Carolyn
    rcscg at aol dot com

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  12. Wonderful new starts! Happy Blogoversary!!! I would love to be entered in your generous giveaway, thank you!!!

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  13. Please add me to your great pattern giveaway - Thank you!
    kimberlybreid@hotmail.com

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  14. Happy blogversary....
    Please include me in your drawing.
    Thank you for this opportunity.

    Those mesh bags sound great.

    Your stitching is beautiful.

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  15. Happy blogoversary! What a generous giveaway! I'd love to be included.

    I am currently stitching on evenweave for the third time, and I know what you mean. Lovely cloth. I just wish it weren't so stiff.

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  16. What a beautiful fabric the Buttercream is - I wish we could buy fabric like that here in the UK.
    Our summer hasn't really started here yet - I hope it isn't a hot one!
    I would love to be entered in your drawing please.
    Have a lovely day!
    Lynda.

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  17. Happy blogoversary! I'll pass on the giveaway, but thanks!!

    Lovely progress on your WIPs, Jeanne! Thanks for the link to the Gettysburg address sampler. I LOVE it! I liked the one by Erica Michaels but think I like the second one better.

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  18. I would love to be entered into your blogoversary giveaway! what fun!

    Your mesh bags are awesome, very cute! and your cupcake finish is very cheery!

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  19. Happy blogoversary Jeanne, your wips are looking lovely

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  20. Erica's! Erica's is about ten minutes from my house here in Hoosierville..I never would have thought that there would be such a long distance connection! And, considering that I am a regular in the pet screening dept at Lowe's, I guess I should check out this pattern and zip up some zip up bags, no? Woo Hoo!

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  21. Wishing you a very happy blogiversary! :D

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  22. I would love to be entered in your drawing. The charts are great. Happy Blogoversary!

    Also Ida Mae is looking good!

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  23. What a fun give-away. Please add me to the drawing. Thank you!

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  24. Lovely work on your WIPs. Happy Blogiversary and I wish you many more! I think I will pass on the giveaway this time around

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  25. Please include me in your giveaway! Love your blog.

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  26. Please include me in your giveaway! Love your blog.

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  27. Well...Happy Blogoversary!!!
    Please include me in your drawing.

    Joanie R.
    jdnrob@roadrunner.com

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  28. Happy Blogiversary! Please enter me in your draw!

    Your WIPs are lovely.

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  29. Happy Blogaversary Jeanne!! I'm so behind on blogging, I almost missed this!!


    Enjoying your wips...LOVE Ida Mae:)

    Thanks for this exciting opportunity...I'd love to be entered in your drawing!

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Thank you for stopping by - I love hearing from other stitchers and crafters. If you have any questions be sure to leave an email address if you don't have one in your blogger profile so I can contact you. I appreciate your visit! (I've had to turn off allowing anonymous comments due to spammers)