i heart linen

Countryside Softies Blog Tour!

I'm absolutely thrilled to be today's stop on the Countyside Softies Blog Tour!  A brilliantly, charming book lovingly created by the super talented blogger Amy Adams of LucyKate Crafts.  Congratulations Amy! ^_^

There's nothing I love love more than sweet woodland creatures and Amy's book really captures this theme in a wonderful way.  The lovelies that Amy creates in this book are made with a very organic feel, with felted wool, a recycled printed fabrics from old clothing, simple but beautiful embroidery stitching, and wonderful variety of buttons for added detail.

I found the instructions very, very easy to follow with a lot of little practical and useful tricks for making your softies just right. The book has a 'Basic Instructions' section but it really should have been the 'Everything you need to know about awesome softie making' section.  There's info on whiskers, feet, tails, claws, wings, embroidery.....I really think this is a wonderful book to learn the basics, but you could easily take what you've learned and design your own softies!

I'm really and truly amazed at the detail in this book and it's evident that Amy put a lot of time and effort in putting together a comprehensive softie book you won't want to put down.  

Amy even included an updated version of her popular Toadstool tutorial in the book.  (Pssst.....you can download a free pattern of a dragonfly from the book! --------> Here!

I couldn't help but make a couple of these cuties with some of new fabric  and was pleased to find they sew up super quickly and easily! 

I even added some crochet lace underneath for the mushroom ring!  

Countryside Softies is a must have and I can't wait to create more from this crafty gem for my littles (and myself :P)!

What's your favorite woodland creature? Tell me here to win a copy of Amy Adams' new book! 

Check out the rest of the tour for more chances to win a copy of Countryside Softies:

18th april - whip up  
19th april - bari j  
20th april - blue nickel studios  
21st april - fat quarterly 
22nd april - ric-rac  
23rd april - syko  
24th april - lucykate crafts 
25th april - treefall design  
26th april - i heart linen  
27th april - sometimes crafter  
28th april - plush you  
29th april - allsorts  

 

Running Along

Happy Friday!

So the Spring Runner Sew Along at Stumbles and Stitches has come to a close and I finally got mine finished!  Thank you Angel and Jenny for inviting me to play along!

I've been busy working on my projects for Quilt Market next month, so this was a little last minute.  I really tried to sew this quickly and admittedly it's not my best work.  I'm not very happy with the quilting, I'm not sure what I was thinking when I did it! Booo. :P  I think something much simpler would have worked better, I think it takes away from the triangles. I'll will try again with this desing for sure though. I really do LOVE how the triangles came out and the colors as well. I used my Squiggles fabric for the backing, which is one of my favorites from my new collection.

As I mentioned in my previous post I was inspired by this fabulous print by Design des Troy.

Now that I've got the pattern figured out I'd really like to do this again, but on a MUCH grander scale.  I think the pattern would be great on a quilt for my bed perhaps.  Nice big happy triangles. ^_^

There are some really lovely runners in the Flickr Group from the talented participants and the voting has started for the contest winner!  I've already cast my vote! Run over (no pun intended) and have a look! 

 

Hey there!

Hello! 

Hope all is well with you!  So I've been busy, Spring cleaning, gearing up for Market, and finishing up some projects that I've been meaning to get to.  One in particular is my table runner for the Spring Runner Sew Along over at Stumbles and Stitches.

I've finally settled on my colors and it was sort of difficult for me.  I wanted to get away from my favorite blues and yellows, but then I figured.....screw it! I LIKE those colors darnnit! :P   I'm always checking out Color Collective because there is just so much inspiration there.  Not only are the color palettes amazing, but the photos Lauren posts are to die for.  If you have been to her blog, do run over and scroll for hours.  If you're stumped for colors this is the place to go.

I found this post and new it was perfect for my runner!  I threw in some more aquas and now I think I'm happy with it.  I love all of these prints, but my favorite by far would be the dark one with the teeny flowers which I found from ....*gasp*....Joann's!  I know! Right?   They've really had some great prints there lately, but they still feel a little too crunchy for my taste.  

The design that I'm thinking of doing is inspired by this print from Design des Troy.  I'm LOVING triangles right now, and knew that I wanted to create something that incorporates this oh so popular shape. 

I'm still playing around with the layout and figuring how to cut, etc.  Little ambitious for a lady who's got a gabillion and a half things to sew by next month.  But hey, you only live once, right? Hopefully I can get it together in time for the big reveal next week!  Wish me luck!  

I can't wait to see all of the completed runners!  The Flickr group is starting to fill up with some really nice work. Yay!

In other news my copy of 101 Patchwork Projects and Quilts arrived from Interweave this week and my, oh MY......the projects....*faints*  You need this magazine....well you dont NEED it, but I'm just sayin'....GO GET A COPY! :P 

 

My kitchen towels are featured........(the MAIN reason you should buy this issue. :P I kid, I kid.)

 

This sweet futon for your four legged pals.............

 

This pencil case....I think I'd like to make several of these.......

 

These pretty notebook covers........

And TONS more projects, from gifts, to household items, to kids and baby.  There really are 101 projects and I want to make EVERYTHING.  Not sure that's gonna happen, but a girl can dream, right? ^_^