Wish Upon a Quilt Blog

The second challenge is a fun one. Take a moment to clear your sewing table of everything but your sewing machine. Think about what you really need at hand when you are sitting and sewing. (Usually it’s pins, needles, thread nips, pin cushion, and seam ripper.) Go gather those things from the far regions of your sewing area, or home, and bring them back to your sewing table. Find a fun pencil cup or glass and pincushion while you’re gathering. Set your collection of tools up in a pleasing manner with in arms reach of your sewing station.

If you can’t find thread nips or your seam ripper then consider restocking these sweet tools from Wish.

If your pin cushion or pencil cup is looking a bit too plain check out the fun Pin Cushion Caddy pattern in Seams to Me by Anna Maria Horner, Cupcakes by Lynne Koolish,  or Henrietta Turtle  and Effie and Ollie by Heather Bailey.

What did you find to keep your tools in reach? Let us know. We love hearing your ingenious ideas.

What to do with laminated fabrics? That was a question that kept floating around the store last Saturday every time someone noticed the new Amy Butler laminated fabrics.  They are gorgeous.

These are PUL fabrics, polyurethane laminated fabrics. They were developed for the medical industry but are receiving lots of attention in the sewing world as more and more people are looking for environmental conscious solutions to grocery bags, disposable diapers, sandwich baggies, etc. More information on the process can be found here. Be careful with PUL or laminated fabrics not ordered from a quilt shop. Some are actually knits instead of cotton that have been laminated. The fabrics produced by Westminster Fibers, and available at quilt shops, are 100% cotton woven laminated fabrics.  The fabric is much easier to work with, soft and has more drape than other laminated fabrics.

So what to do with these new and beautiful fabrics that have arrived from Amy Butler ? Cathy was excited about these new fabrics and made this Domestic Goddess Apron in just one evening! If you are local, come in the store and check it out!

Domestic Goddess Apron

This could be a great work apron. I was buying laminated table clothes at one point, before these cool fabrics came out, to make a dog washing apron. I wanted something that would repel the water so that I didn’t always have to change clothes after bathing my large dog.  A laminated fabric apron would be ideal when washing dishes, I’m always getting my middle wet! Then there are art smocks for your favorite artist (or mother of your favorite artist who might be at risk of getting splatted on the side lines).

Other members of our team are planning on making a Multi Tasker Tote out of them. An Abby’s Treasure Box made with PUL would be a cute cosmetic travel bag for your purse.

Go Green with these fabrics! You could make lovely reusable sandwich wraps and “brown bag” lunch bags. Craft Stylish has posted an article from Betz White’s book Sewing Green on how to make a reuseable sandwich wrap.

This fabric is basically a modern day oilcloth, to be used for any purpose where need a waterproof easily wiped clean fabric. Poncho’s, raincoats, splat mats, placemats, table clothes, fabric boxes,all fit in that category.

Anna Marie Horner’s Seams to Me book has a fun garment bag project that calls for oilcloth. It would look fabulous in the Amy Butler large prints. It would also be suitable for her Full Contact apron project as well that is also in the book.

The fabric would make great splat mats to go under art easels, playdough centers, or any other messy areas to help make cleanup easier.

Once you start considering the possiblities more come to mind. What do you think would be a fun project for this lovely fabric?

One of my favorite fabric designers is Anna Maria Horner. She is so amazingly talented and has 5 children with another due in May! In this past year, she has released fabric, a book and 3 new patterns. How does she get it all done? Read Anna Maria’s blog for inspiration! Her most recent collection, Good Folks , has been very popular. This quilt is called Folk Dance and the FREE Pattern is here.

I recently read Anna Maria’s new book Seams to Me, 24 New Reasons To Love Sewing, cover to cover in one sitting. I wish I would have had this book when I started sewing. The clear directions are great and  would have saved me lots of time unsewing!  The book includes 10 patterns with something for everyone. I am usually drawn to the quilt patterns in books. This book was different. Not only did I love the quilt pattern,  I found several ideas to organize my home (fabric cubes for storage), decorate my home (fabric is fine art) and stylize with clothing! Ok, I confess, I have not actually made these things yet,  but I was inpired enough to add them to my to do list.  If Anna Maria can find time, I can too! What is on your to-do list these days?