Spring Kaleidoscope Pillow

I hope you will join me over at Sew Mama Sew for my Spring Kaleidoscope quilted pillow tutorial.  The quilt pattern and the pretty Liberty Tana Lawn Fabrics from Jones and Vandermeer reminded me of spring, thus the name : )

Jones and Vandermeer has an incredible selection of Liberty fabrics and some wonderful Yuwa Japanese prints that are new to me!  They also have a wonderful stock of buttons, findings and trims.

The pillow is made by paper piecing each individual square unit but you can also print out the templates and make it that way.

I hope you enjoy this little slice of Spring : )

xo
Charise

Sunday Stash

[From top left, clockwise: Yuwa perfume labels, Lakehouse Pam Kitty Picnic Floral, Lakehouse Pam Kitty Picnic Pink Cherries, Lakehouse Pam Kitty Picnic Check in Pink, Lakehouse Pam Kitty Picnic Yellow Cherries, Patchwork in Red from QH Textiles, Yuwa Clover Stripe D, Yuwa Clover Stripe F]

This week has been an incredible mail week.  I received this wonderful package from Sew Me a Song.  I cannot wait to cut into these beauties! They all play so well together! 

The fox and deer fabric are knit fabrics from Girl Charlee fabrics.  I recently saw the fox fabric on pinterest and immediately added it to my "fabric" board.  

I pre washed both fabrics this afternoon and they came out of the dryer so soft!

These prints will be dresses and hopefully patterns someday in the not so distant future (After I finish the Anna Blouse : )

I love to wear knits and dresses especially.  They are so comfortable to wear and easy to sew!

Have a lovely Sunday evening!

xo

Charise

Chevron Handbag - Finished!

There is nothing like a deadline to help light a fire under my "you know what" : )

I received a F8 bundle of Riley Blake fabric for a quilt challenge sponsored by the Modern Quilt Guild.   I was having a hard time coming up with an idea, but then, one week before it's due date I sketched up a handbag.

I love the way it turned out!  I added leather handles and a self fabric covered button with the cute telephone motif and a self fabric loop closure!  The telephone fabric is Riley Blake Doohikey designs which came from my stash.  It works so well with the Riley Blake Challenge bundle and  is such a fun fabric - perfect for fussy cutting!

The other side is a different color chevron - yellow and turquoise- since I ran out of the orange and grey fabric.  I think it is fun that each side has its own personality!

Have a lovely day!

xo

Charise

Hexagon Obsession

 

I'm not exactly sure when it happened, but I am obsessed with hexagons : )

I designed this modern Hexagon Handbag for Stitch Spring 2014.  It is a big bag, perfect for sewing projects or just if you like big handbags like I do!

The fabric with the "lady" and "vintage household items" are from Melody Miller.  I love her fabric and have been a fan for quite some time.  

Her fabrics have the most wonderful motifs and are perfect for fussy cutting.  

Sew me a Song has some of her fabrics here!

My first hexagons were hand stitched, like the ones used for my hexagon pouch.

I then found these fabulous vintage potholders on Ebay 

which inspired my modern version - a Mother's Day gift for my mom.

I recently took a wonderful class for machine stitching hexagons from Katie Pederson, Quilting Modern author,  which inspired my machine stitched hexagon projects including the Hexagon Handbag and machine stitched hexagon placemats, pictured above. 

I think the next project in my hexagon future is a quilt - I will keep you posted ; )

Happy Valentine's Day!  I am sneaking this pic in of my hubby and me circa 2000.  I met this wonderful man on Valentine's day exactly 15 years ago!!

I am so lucky to spend each and every day with him!

xo

Charise

Work in Progress Wednesday - Riley Blake Challenge at the MQG and a little Downton Abbey

I love a design challenge - they push me creatively and take me out of my comfort zone!  

When I received the fabric for the Riley Blake Challenge hosted by the Modern Quilt Guild, I was definitely taken out of my comfort zone.  

If you read my blog you know I am attracted to 1930's feedback fabric and Japanese Zakka design.  My favorite colors are yellow, red, aqua and pink -very fun and sweet colors.

The fabric for this challenge is modern, bold, and contains a color I rarely work with - Orange!

I thought and thought about a project but the fabric was not speaking to me - until - a week before the project challenge due date!  

I decided to design a purse using the fabric to make a chevron pattern.  I ran out of the orange fabric so I subbed the yellow dot for the other side of the purse.   Much to my surprise, the orange fabric was my favorite.  It adds such energy to the blues and grays!  

I added the Riley Blake telephone fabric from my stash which can be found at Sew Me a Song. 

I'm also working on a project for Stitch Magazine's "The Unofficial Downton Abbey Sews".  Today's focus is on pattern making and finishing : )

Head on over to Freshly Pieced and share your Work in Progress : )

Wishing you a lovely day!

xo

Charise

More Sunday Stash - What is in my Cart at Sew Me a Song!

I was doing a little online shopping and thought I would share what is in My Cart this Sunday evening.

One of my favorite things to do when I need a little break is to peruse my favorite online shops!

Sew Me a Song has some adorable new fabrics! 

Love these Retro Kitchen Prints from NewCastle Fabrics!

 The perfume label print from Yuwa and the clover stripe from Yuwa which look so great together!

Have a lovely Sunday Eve.  

Looking forward to a little Downton this evening : )

xo

Charise

Sunday Stash with the RJR Cotton Supreme Solids Blog Hop!

Happy Sunday everyone.  It snowed in Seattle which is a small miracle!!!!  It is such a beautiful sight, one we don't often witness up here!

RJR is promoting their beautiful range of Cotton Supreme Solids with a blog hop!  RJR will be giving away a Fat Quarter bundle of the colors used each week.  

If you don't win the drawing, head on over to Pink Castle Fabrics where you can find the fabrics for sale!

 I'm excited to be included with this talented group. 

 Head on over to Kati Spencer's blog, "From the Blue Chair", and check out her beautiful quilt!

Here is the schedule:

2/7/2014	Kati Spencer	From the Blue Chair	http://www.fromthebluechair.com/
2/14/2014	Laura Jane Taylor	Needles Pins and Baking Tins	http://www.needlespinsandbakingtins.com/
2/21/2014	Jennifer Mathis	Ellison Lane	http://ellisonlane.com/
2/28/2014	Elizabeth Dackson	Don't Call Me Betsy	http://www.dontcallmebetsy.com/
3/7/2014	Audrie Bidwell	Blue is Bleu	http://blueisbleu.blogspot.com/
3/14/2014	AnneMarie Chany	Gen X Quilters	http://www.genxquilters.com/
3/21/2014	Katie Blakesley	Swim Bike Quilt	http://swimbikequilt.com/
3/28/2014	Jacey Lucas	Jacey Craft	http://jaceycraft.blogspot.com/
4/4/2014	Amanda Jean Nyberg	Crazy Mom Quilts	http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/
4/11/2014	Terri Harlan	Sew Fantastic	http://sew-fantastic.blogspot.com/
4/18/2014	Holly DeGroot	Bijou Lovely	http://www.bijoulovelydesigns.com/
4/25/2014	Amy Smart	Diary of a Quilter	http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/
5/2/2014	Deborah Moebes	Whipstitch	http://whip-stitch.com/
5/9/2014	Rita Hodge	Red Pepper Quilts	http://redpepperquilts.com
5/16/2014	Katy Jones	I'm a Ginger Monkey	http://imagingermonkey.blogspot.com/
5/23/2014	Maureen Cracknell	Maureen Cracknell Handmade	http://maureencracknellhandmade.blogspot.com/
5/30/2014	Debbie Grifka	Esch House Quilts	http://www.eschhousequilts.com/
6/6/2014	Charise Randell	Charise Creates	http://charisecreates.blogspot.com/
6/13/2014	Amy Newbold	Sukie, Don't Ya Know	http://sukiedontyaknow.com/
6/20/2014	Rossie Hutchinson	Fresh Modern Quilts	http://r0ssie.blogspot.com/

On the Cloud 9 Blog!

Cloud 9 has a nice recap of all the blouses sewn for the Palos Verdes Blouse Challenge.

Head over and see all the wonderful designs and links to each ladies blog.

Today I am working on another project using Palos Verdes.  A nightgown for Stitch Magazine's  "Unofficial Downton Abbey Sews" which is coming out in June!  I will keep you posted!

Happy Sewing

xo

Charise

Work in Progress Wednesday

Thought I would share a few things I am working on this cold (28 degrees!) sunny day in Seattle.

I've been working on a new paper piecing pattern for my shop.  I hope to sneak in a little bit of time to finish it today.

RJR fabrics is sponsoring a mini quilt challenge for their Cotton Supreme Solids line which will be hosted by Pink Castle Fabrics.  I had a lot of fun designing this quilt for the hop.  

The hop starts on Feb 7th and runs through June 20th and I'll be sure to post links once the blog hop starts! 

If you have some WIP, share them over at Freshly Pieced!

Happy Sewing!

xo

Charise

Dreaming of Spring!

I just received my copy of Stitch Spring 2014!  The projects are Springy indeed and just what I need to get me out of my winter funk!

I designed the daisy purse which is inspired by the Vintage Block Quilt Along Block "Daisy Pinwheel" which you can find here.

The indigo fabric is yarn dye Essex Linen, the pinwheels are Liberty Lifestyle Stile fabrics and the center is a prized Kerchief Girls japanese print. 

You can find the Liberty prints at  My Modern Quilt Shop,  Fabricworm, and Fabric.dot.com.

The inside has a magnetic closure and a cute gathered pocket as well as larger pockets on the opposite of the lining.  

The strap is adjustable so the purse can be worn cross body.

I am hoping this post gets you in the mood for Spring Sewing.

Happy Creating : )

 xo Charise

Vintage Block Quilt Along ~ Spring Blossom #10 - Find me at Sew Mama Sew!

  Happy Wednesday!  I have finished block #10 in the Vintage Block Quilt Along - Spring Blossom.  You can find the pattern and the tutorial at the Sew Mama Sew Blog!

This block has been referred to as Jig Saw Puzzle, Nonesuch and Love Ring in various vintage quilting publications.   

I have revised the block to have solid corner squares so 

that the center Flower is the star of the show.  

The block is made from 12 identical pieced squares with the addition of 4 corner squares..

Each individual square is 3 ½”.   Curved piecing is involved in the construction of this block, but it is not difficult if you follow the tutorial!  

These are all the blocks so far.  If you'd like to quilt along, you can find links to all the patterns and tutorials here.

Happy Sewing!

xo

Charise

*** 2013 - Quite a year! Thank you!!! ***

I would like to say "Thank You" to all my readers.  You have made this past year absolutely amazing.  Reading your comments is always a joy and inspires me to keep sewing.
Thank you for all your wonderful and kind words!

It was a busy year filled with lots of makes and my first contribution to a sewing book.

"Playful Little Paper Pieced Projects" is a wonderful book full of sweet designs.  I'm so excited to be a part of the book and looking forward to making projects from the book.

Plus a small appearance of my free tulip pattern in "Quilt Essentials" by Erin Harris.

I designed some new paper piecing patterns.  

Created paper piecing blocks for Cocorico and Ringo Pie Paper Piecing bees.
The guitar pattern is from Paper Panache and the snowflake is from Rumi at 3 patch. 

I contributed many projects to Stitch Magazine.
I love the publication and am very proud to have been a contributor!

I also contributed to Sew News

 designed and made a quilt for Quiltmaker...........

and designed this ruffle clutch for the Liberty Craft Blog!
This is definitely a highlight of the year.  I adore Liberty fabrics.  

I created two non quilting patterns for my shops.

Though nine were slated for 2013, I created six new blocks for the "Vintage Block Quilt Along".
Stay tuned for the last three coming soon!

I entered a sewing contest last summer.  I was honored to be chosen as a participant in the Super Online Sewing Match hosted by Sew Mama Sew and made it all the way to the last round.  I'm so happy I participated as it renewed my love for making clothes which is how I started sewing many years ago!

I joined one online swap this year and it was a fun one!  The Strawberry Pincushion Swap hosted by Erin at Why Not Sew.  I made the strawberries from this pattern, the basket is from Anna at Noodlehead and the pouch is my design from Stitch Gifts 2012.

I made some clothes this year.  It was very gratifying and I hope to do lots more this year!

*2014*

My list is long for 2014.  

Here is hoping that putting my list of "to dos" down in writing will help me achieve my goals : )
Last Monday was spent organizing my projects and I now feel ready to tackle my "to do's" for 2014!

These are some purse designs that I would like to make patterns for in 2014.

I plan on completing the Color Burst Quilt pattern for my shop.

Some more home decor and accessory patterns.

The Anna Blouse is a must create pattern for this year!

and definitely more paper piecing patterns for 2014..

Look for my designs in a few books for 2014.  

One is pictured above (cover girl!) and the other is still under wraps : ) 

All in all, it was a good year filled with incredible memories both professionally and with my wonderful family.  I am blessed indeed!
xo
Charise