National Sewing Month

  

September is National Sewing and Quilting month! 

Fat Quarter shop is hosting the “I Love Quilting and Sewing” Blog Tour all month long to celebrate the art of sewing and quilting.  They are dedicating the month of September to spread the awareness and love for this craft.

They asked a group of bloggers to share why we love sewing!  

I honestly feel like sewing makes my heart sing and fills my soul!  It is my creative outlet and I am grumpy if more than a few days go by without time to spend with my sewing machine or designing a new project!

The Fat Quarter Shop also asked the participating bloggers to make something we have not made before!  My project is a purse and I chose to add an appliqué detail. 

It was a fun project and stretched my skills as my attempts at appliqué have been very small details but not the focal point of the project. 

 I used a freezer paper technique that I found in Playful Patchwork by Suzuko Koseki.

 Fat Quarter Shop also asked up to answer the following questions:

1.       How did you start quilting/sewing?

I started sewing when I was six years old.  My mom taught me to hand sew clothes for my Barbie dolls.  I was hooked and knew I wanted to be a fashion designer when I grew up.

My uncle gave me my first sewing machine when I was twelve.  It opened up the world of sewing clothes and I never looked back. 

My best sewing memory is when I made a tailored button down shirt for my grandfather for Christmas when I was thirteen years old.  He opened the box said "Thank you Charise" and put the box down.  

My mom proceeded to say " Dad, Charise made that shirt!"

He wore it for decades until it was thread bare  : )

2.       When was the first time you knew that you were a quilter/sewer?

 I'd have to say I considered myself a sewer when I made my first doll clothes at age six.  

3.       Do you have any sewing/quilting horror stories or faux pas?

Not making a muslin when garment sewing!  I've been sewing for over 40 years and I think I have finally learned to always make a test garment before cutting into your precious fabric!!!

4.       What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting out in sewing/quilting?

Take classes.  Try new techniques and take your time : )   Don't be afraid to try something new and fail on your first try .... you will master a technique if you practice!

I love this sewing because there is always something new to learn no matter how old your are or how much experience you have!

Happy Sewing!

xo

Charise

Cozy Cottages

Over two years ago my first paper piecing pattern was published in Fat Quarterly - Cozy Cottage.

I have made it available for purchase in my Etsy and Craftsy shops.

I really do love the pattern.  It was fun to find cute images for the windows.

This is the "Sewing House" with the sewing themed items in the window.
The sewing themed brown roof and yellow details are from Suzuko Koseki - one of my favorite fabric designers.

This is one of my favorite pillows made with the "Sewing House".

I've dreamed of making a quilt with different themed houses as boutiques - Boulangerie, Sweets shop, Clothing Boutique .....shops that you would find in a quaint little town : )

Happy Creating!
xo
Charise

Fat Quarter Shop - Robert Kaufman Sale

Hello!  My apologies for being so quiet over here!  I have been spending time organizing my fabric which required a trip to IKEA for some bookshelves - with doors - to store my fabric.  My stash has outgrown the plastic bins I now store them in. I will share some photos soon!  It is so nice to have my fabric arranged by color! 

I wanted to let you know that Fat Quarter Shop is having a sale -  20% OFF ALL ROBERT KAUFMAN FABRICS with coupon code: RK2014

This includes Kona,  Ann Kelle, Carolyn Friedlander, Darlene Zimmerman, and Many more!

This offer starts TODAY, September 22^nd until SUNDAY, September 28^th  at 11:59 PM CST.

I may head over myself, but only if I have some room on those new shelves : )

xo Charise

Sunday Stash with Liberty Tana Lawns

I hope you are enjoying your Sunday.  I picked the last of the lavender from my garden that I will use for sachets and cooking.  My husband makes killer Lavender lemon scones!  The recipe is from my favorite Seattle bakery - Macrina.  

My roses are still blooming - you can see a little peek in the upper right hand corner of the photo.

My house is full of vases with the luscious smelling blooms.  I will be sad when they are gone.

I could't resist making a sachet with the my Liberty Tana 

Lawn scraps  and lavender from my garden!  The pattern is one I designed, way back when, for Stitch Gifts 2012.

You could also use my tutorial for a simple four patch sachet - tutorial is [here].  It is a great project for using your favorite scraps.  

Here is a little sneak peek of a project I am working on for the Liberty Craft Blog with these beautiful fabrics!  They are so summery which is nice since summer is coming to an end.  I love the citrus colors (hint, hint).

Have a lovely evening!

xo

Charise

Work in Progress Wednesday

It is Wednesday again and time seems to be flying by.  The kiddos have been in school for a week and I've been struggling with setting a schedule for myself.  My main work in progress is grading my Anna Blouse.  Basically grading means taking a pattern and making it larger and smaller.     I learned to grade in design school but that was over 20 years ago!  A task that I dreaded at first, but have come to enjoy as I measure each seam, feeling very satisfied when the pieces sew together!

I have a stack of fabrics to make more versions of the blouse and can't wait to share them here!

To help keep my sanity, I have set aside some time for sewing.  In celebration of National Sewing Month, I will be sharing a project that uses a technique that is new to me - appliqué.  I was inspired by the book Playful Patchwork by Suzuko Koseki.  The project pictured will be a sweet little bag which I will share on the blog later this month.

I hope you enjoy these last few days of summer.

xo
Charise

Sponsor News - National Sewing Month!

Becca at Sew Me a Song is having a sale this weekend

In Celebration of National Sewing Month! 

Take $10.00 off your purchase of $50 or more.  Enter coupon code :  SEWSEPT  at checkout. Offer good through September 8th.

I'm rather smitten with this I dream of Paris bundle : )

The Fat Quarter Shop is celebrating National Sewing Month with a free pattern.  The Color my Heart Quilt pattern is available HERE.  It uses a handful of charm squares and makes a 27" finished block.  I would be an adorable mini quilt or make a bunch for a larger quilt!

(Don't forget to use #colormyheart on social media when you create this quilt!)

They are also hosting a blog hop!  They have asked bloggers (me included!) to share a projects they have not made before ~ all month long!  Here is the list of bloggers!

Shruti of 13 Woodhouse Road 

Sherri of A Quilting Life

Amy of Amy's Creative Side

Alyce of Blossom Heart Blog

Charise of Charise Creates

Lucy of Charm About You

Erin of Dog Under My Desk

Amy of During Quiet Time

Rachel of Family Ever After

Anne Marie of Generation X Quilters

Marni of Haberdashery Fun

Melissa of Happy Quilting

Katy of I'm A Ginger Monkey

Elizabeth of In the Boon Docks

Jana of Jana Machado

Lynne of Lily's Quilts

Maureen of Made by Marzipan

Barb and Mary of Me and My Sister Designs

Melanie of I Heart Stitching

Kaye of Miss Print

Dana of Old Red Barn Co.

Natalia of Piece N' Quilt

Denise of Pieced Brain

Stephanie of Quarter Incher

Jane of Quilt Jane

Heather and Megan of Quilt Story

Cheryl of Quilter Chic

Michele of Quilting Gallery

Allison of Quilting Mumma

Teresa of Quilting Stitching & Sew On

Leslie of Seasoned Homemaker

Kelli of Seriously.. I Think It Needs Stitches

Liz of Sew4Home

Erin of Sew At Home Mummy

Sara of Sew Sweetness

Leanne of She Can Quilt

Vickie of Spun Sugar Quilts

Amy of Stitchery Dickory Dock

Tonya of The Crafty Mummy

Julie of The Crafty Quilter

Paula of The Sassy Quilter

Erin of Why Not Sew?


Happy Sewing!

xo

Charise

Summer Vintage Finds

Spring and Summer are usually spent with a fair amount of "estate sale" shopping.  This year I made it to only one estate sale and my favorite antique shop where I found this beautiful vintage toy sewing machine. 

The estate sale was a good one!  Most of the items were fabric - napkins, tablecloths and a bit of fabric.  I picked up a few of my absolute favorite items.

The fabric on the right is a vintage feed sack make into a tablecloth

This fabric on the left is an apron.  I love the teeny, tiny fruit : )

These are some lovely vintage fabric pieces.

I also picked up these cute vintage patterns! Gotta love the 60's!

I have been organizing and cleaning in preparation for school starting this Wednesday!

It is bittersweet - I will miss my rascally boys but it will also be nice to have more time for my design work!

xo

Charise