by on

Soap making has been a(nother) hobby of mine for a few years.  Nothing serious, just some fun and yummy smelling cleaning bars in my shower (because, seriously?  I have enough space-taking-money-hogging-hobbies – amiright?), buuuuuuuuuut these challenges! So much fun and ohmygosh the mica colors you can use for these soaps!  #allthehearteyes

This is my entry for the “Fluid Acrylic Pour with a Straw” challenge. I used a recipe similar to the one Amy recommended, substituting Lard for the tallow:

33% Lard
33% Olive Oil
30% Coconut Oil
4% Castor Oil

I made my lye solution with ice water in an attempt to soap (FASTER!!!) at a cooler temp. I couldn’t find my laser thermometer, so I’m not sure exactly what temp everything was at, but the soap stayed fluid until the bitter end, so #winning!

I used Peppermint Essential Oil (2nd distillation) from Brambleberry for scent, added at light trace. I split the soap into 5 containers and created my colors; white (titanium dioxide), black (activated charcoal), neon green (radioactive), neon purple (grape ape) #allthehearteyes and teal (Tahitian teal mica). I got the micas from http://www.madmicas.com.  Check out their neon colors kit – I may or may not have that in my cart …. see previous money hogging statement.

I tried to pour the colors keeping the green and teal separated by the other colors because I thought they were too close in shade and I didn’t want them lost in each other. I was wrong.  They were fine.

I poured each color into a handsome puddle before blowing (using a single, wide mouth straw). I was really pleased with the method, it was quite a lot of fun. I didn’t have the same issues with the straw that others seemed to have (no lye chapstick for me!) – I’m attributing that to the fact that I am ambidextrous and was able to keep the straw in my left hand while pouring liquid hot magma, er, soap with my right.

I must admit I made a huge mess on my countertop, blowing soap here and there, this way and that O_o

All in all, I loved how this soap turned out. The colors stayed true and crisp and are amazing, IMHO and resulted in the name “The Joker”.  The soap. Not me.

 

 

#iloveneon #soapchallengeclub #diysoap #coldprocesssoap #fluidacrylicpour #livehandmade #handmadesoap

by on

This is my 2nd year as a quilter in the Humility group and I Just. Love. It.  Next month is my month to choose the block layout for our do. Good Stitches charity group and its been rough.  I’ve had zero inspiration and have been searching and waffling, waffling and searching as I tried to decide what direction I was going.  Then I found this, the Delectable Mountain Quilt by Old Red Barn Co.  This is perfect!  Something simple and colorful and full of cheer.  Like me 😂

For each block: 

  1. Choose bright fabrics with good contrast. Press and starch the crap out of those babies. 
  2. Cut (2) 12.5″ squares from each fabric  
  3. Cut your squares in half, corner to corner then match each half with a contrasting fabric. 
  4. Sew the 2 triangles together, forming a ginormous HST. Trim to 12″
  5. Layer 2 HSTs, right sides together (RST), nesting seams: 
  6. Cut each block into (4) 3″ strips. Slicing the blocks RST allows for the mountains to form in opposite directions. Make sure not to skip this step! 
  7. Arrange the strips in mountain order and stitch together (using a 1/4″ seam)  

These blocks are addicting. I’ve already made 10?!? If everyone could make 4 blocks that would be awesome. They’re a quick sew. Please use the quilt from Red Barn Co as inspiration for the color theme and have fun! 

  

by on

Oh I seriously looooooove the 80’s.  Neon, hair bands, Aquanet!  What’s not to love?  When I saw the #80s90sCraftSwap, I knew I had to participate.  I signed up, filled out my form and waited for my partner.  Partner info arrived and guess what?  SHE LOVED THE 80S TOO!  And The Tetris Mini was born:

19896810632_8401c88c11_o

I did a google search, found an image that spoke to me and built a pattern from that.  It’s an easy pattern, the tetris blocks themselves are built from as little as a charm square (5×5″) and 1/2 hard background fabric.  I fell in love.  I made two.

double-tetrisquilt-for-the-win-80s90scraftswap-which-quilting-do-you-prefer-partner_20170315619_o

I had to finish one, like now (um, it was due to be mailed July 31st … oops) so I bound it, added a label and just couldn’t help adding some hand quilting (sort of a fortuitous mistake, really – I’d added negative space “blocks” during the quilting but when it was done you couldn’t really see them aaand I couldn’t have that .. could I?) and shipped her off.  She is gone now, headed to her new home and partner I hope you luuuuurve her too!

   image3

image4

image2

image1

I know there are some of you out there that will love this like I do and want to make it.  Maybe you don’t want to figure out the math, could be you’re too busy (or lazy – hey, no judgement!  I’ve bought several patterns for the same reason!) or you’d just rather have it done for you?  Do not despair, I’ve done it!  Created my first (full) pattern!  And it was related to the 80’s … anyone surprised?  I doubt it.

Check it out here: JmzB – Tetris Mini

by on

4th of July weekend and headed to a camp trip and you know, I just NEEDED a new bag, so I purused the interwebs and found this one made by Ashley of Film in the Fridge: The Market Bag (by Anna Graham) and decided I had to have one.  Sad news for me – none of my local book stores had her book, Handmade Style in stock.  I wanted to make that bag NOW so I decided to eyeball it and attempt to figure it out.

This is what I came up with: 


Not a bad attempt, if I say so myself!  I used Pellon’s new flex foam for the “batting” (it quilted awesomely on the longarm, no issues at all!) and opted for nylon webbing handles (repurposed from my first Sewtopia SLC goodies bag) as I was fresh out of leather, but attached them the same way (on the outside with a box-X stitch).  I also opted not to line it, so there are raw edges on the inside, but I can live with that.

After looking at all the projects in her book, I had to order a copy.  It will be interesting to see where my (f)Market Bag differs from her pattern … now just to wait for it to arrive.

by on

This year is going by so quickly.  Seems like just yesterday I was tooting my #selfishsewing2015 horn and today I’m buried in swap sewing.  Yes, that’s right, I signed up for too many swaps.

“Hi, I’m Jaime (Hi Jaime!!) and I’m a recovering swap addict”

After claiming 2015 as my selfish sewing year, I signed up for 11 (oh yes, ELEVEN) swaps.  WTF was I thinking?  Not sure, they all seemed like great ideas at the time but I can tell you that I was buried this month and (I’m sad to say) mailing 2 weeks late on one of them.  Buuuuuut with 6 done (and delivered!), 4 in various end stages (ready to bind, mid-quilting) and one last, glorious swap to start, I’m nearing the end and just loving the swaps I received in return:

2015 Swaps!

Bitches Get Stitches – LOVE Meets F#$% Mini

F#$% Off  received from @traceyquilts

Sweet and Salty Easter

Alison Glass Pouch received from @saratyme26

https://instagram.com/p/086u-BpijT/?tagged=thecutechicks

Tula Pink Mini Quilt – La Passacaglia Tula

Tula Hexies received from @pinspots

Rainbow Mini Quilt – Rainbow’d Preppy

Rainbow Mini received from @marymoondesigns

Sewtopia Chicago Swap – Tula PS Tessa Basket

Amazing Hand Stitching Box Received

Spring Fling Mini Quilt

Alison Glass Feathers received from @sewtrudles

Nerds Craft it Better  – Shades of Beaker

Storm Trooper Mini received from @daral_the_girl

Sherlock Mini Quilt – ???? Mini

18427576769_54c685cd52_k

Surprisingly Okay received from @mischief_unmanaged

Gnome Swap – GNoel Mini

Untitled

SLMQG Mini Swap – Periwinkle Mini

Alison Glass Mini Quilt – Glass Tissue Box

Whew!  That was a lot of sewing time for others!  I decided from here on out I’m going to Faux-ticipate in all the swaps that catch my eye.  Play along but make something for myself – saves on postage, right?  😉

by on

Oh my, I’ve actually made some progress on my weekender bag!  I didn’t get it done in time for Vegas with the girls, but it WILL be done in time for our Oregon Coast trip!  I have to say that I think my new Juki has made ALL the difference in the ease of this process.  I do ❤ that machine!


Just about halfway there.  Just need to stitch the bag together and then the lining.  I’m getting excited and already planning Weekender #2!


by on

Woot! I got my sweets and pouch in the mail from Leigh (South Wales) and I love it!

 Simple and sweet indeed, she used my favorite — NEON — for the inside. 

And check out her sweet top stitching! This is one of my favorite parts of the pouch:

She filled it with UK sweets that I can’t wait to try. She even included Turkish Delight, which I’ve been dying to try since the first time I read The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. 

Thanks Leigh!  I’m excited to see what you think of yours ( hurry UP, USPS!). 

by on

What to post, oh what to post?  I don’t want to waste lucky #13 on something drab and boring, I want it to be spectacular, awesome, full of the amazing.  So much pressure…

I suppose I will introduce the most recent additions to my Happy Sewing Family and blather on and on about all their glory 😉

#1 – my birthday was last week and although not planned as a birthday gift, coincidentally I purchased my brand new Juki TL-2010q.  I was initially looking at a Juki due to my foray into the Amy Butler Weekender bag.  I was sure none of my current machines would handle that baby.  As I continued to research, I realized all the other great benefits of the workhorse that is the Juki.  
I think my 2 favorite features (I can’t choose just one!) are first that when you stop sewing (lift you foot off the presser foot) you actually stop sewing.  The machine stops on a dime.  I don’t get those extra stitches past where I thought I’d stopped that you sometimes (read: ALWAYS) see on the computerized machines.  

My 2nd fav feature is the knee lift.  Oh. Me. Gee.  I had never used one before but it is a seamless addition (for me) and bursting with the awesome.  Imagine stopping (on a dime, mind you) and being able to lift the presser foot (up to 12mm) while adjusting the fabric, with both hands, at the same time!  It’s magical.

#2 – labor day was also last week(end) and that means sales.  Lots and lots of sales.  It’s no secret that I’ve wanted a long arm machine FORever.  I blogged about it here, describing my LAQ class experience and lust for a machine.  Wellllllll, they were on SALE last weekend!  36 months with zero interest to be precise and I bought one!  Not the top of the line, like I wanted, but rather the middle of the road, with some room to grow.  

Say hello to my new Tin Lizzie 18, LAQ machine!




I’m so excited about this baby that I just might pee my pants!  I got her with the Phoenix frame, which is the sturdier IMO and has room to grow, should I decide I need more throat.  I don’t yet have possession of this beauty but am told she will be delivered some time next week.  I can’t wait  *Swoon*