An Update on Summer Sewing (and Not-Sewing)

Hello friends! How is your summer treating you?? (Assuming you're in the northern hemisphere - and if you're not, how's winter going down under?) We're in the middle of a busy few weeks of holidays, family reunions, youth camps, hosting out-of-town-guests and a little bit of local travel. I'm tired but I'm enjoying it. I've had a little bit of sewing time in between events + some hand-sewing for taking on the road, some projects from the past, and some brand-new projects. Plus some of the reasons I haven't been sewing or on my computer:

Sewing Projects from the Past

I've pulled out the good old Orange Peel Applique Blocks. (Which were last featured almost 2 years ago. Um, how has it been that long?) Speaking of long, these little applique blocks have been my summer hand-sewing project for 10 years!

The good news is I'm still not sick of them. And I keep finding more great fabric I want to add to the mix. That said, I hereby declare right now that THIS IS the summer where I will put these blocks together.

And finally write a tutorial for how I make them. (After experimenting with lots of applique methods, I found the one that works best for me and I'll show you how I do it.)

Speaking of new, great fabric, after sewing the Firework quilt with the new red, white, and blue Liberty of London Carnaby Collection* I definitely wanted  some of these prints for the orange peel blocks.

Brand new Sewing Projects (aka "squirrels") + one disaster

And speaking of Liberty of London, I watched the recent Disney movie, Cruella. Sure it was a little bit dark and campy (maybe not for littles) but I loved the mod London (and Liberty) vibes and music. Made me want to visit London ASAP.

And speaking of London - I'm working on a new Union Jack quilt. (How many Union Jack quilts does a girl living in Utah need?? Well, I guess I'm about to find out, because this is at least my 4th that I've made for me, not including the ones I've given away . . .)

Last winter Laurie Simpson reached out to me about using my Regent Street Union Jack quilt pattern with her upcoming red, white, and blue fabric collection. I've been a fan of Minick and Simpson forever and was totally honored she would ask if she could use my method and blow-up the Union Jack quilt block to a SUPER SIZE version. (You can see Laurie's quilt here.)

Here's the scale of the super-size version compared to a pillow made using the block in my Regent Street pattern.

Well after watching Cruella, I knew I needed to make some giant Union Jack quilt blocks using the Carnaby Collection. Ooooo, they are fab - a match made in heaven. Here's a sneak peek. The blocks come together really quick - I'm planning to get this one finished and off to the quilter's asap. 

As soon as it's back, I'll have more info to share about the super-size pattern variation. The super-size Union Jack pattern will be available as an insert companion instructions to go with the original Regent Street instructions. If you already have the original pattern I will have a the insert companion sheet available separately. Stay tuned. 

And speaking of London some more . . . I'll share with you an epic sewing fail. My sisters were in town from out of state with their families. I decided to make all of them a London zipper pouch since the artwork in the London Notting Hill print was painted my one of them and it would be a fun collab. 

Well, here's the example of haste makes waste... I was trying to frantically finish one of them so I could give it to the sister that was heading home first . . . and just as was thinking I was barely going to make it and still get a shower before we needed to get in the car to make it to the family party . . . I pulled the zipper pouch right sides out and was horrified to discover I'd boxed the wrong corners!! Which means the zipper ran perpendicular to the pouch base, instead of horizontal.  *Major face palm* 

(Bag on the left for reference of the shape it's supposed to be . . .)

So here it sits, waiting for me to salvage somehow... Or just start over all together.

Reasons I haven't been Sewing

It's a state holiday in Utah today: Pioneer Day. Quilts made by the women of the westward migration of the 19th century are some of my all-time favorites. I shared the story of a Pioneer Quilt with sentimental family ties - that was cut in half here.

Those hearty pioneers are also on my mind today as I got to spend a few days earlier this week camping in the Idaho mountains with a group of awesome teenagers and their adult leaders, experiencing a reenactment of what it was like for pioneers of the western US migration. The experience was designed to give these kids the opportunity to get away from electronic distractions, do something that pushed them out of their comfort zone a little, and give them an appreciation for sacrifices made for them by forbearers.

And wow, those kids rose to the occasion. My favorite part of the experience was seeing a crowd of kids (and adults) laughing, interacting with other people without a single cell phone in sight!

Here's another spot where I spent some time enjoying NOT sewing or on a computer for a few days (aka Bear Lake, Utah). It felt so good to just sit and visit with my extended family. After the bizarro summer of last year, I no longer take gathering with friends and family for granted. Sewing (and blogging/social media) have been very much on the back burner this month, and I've enjoyed that. And I'm grateful for a job that lets me be flexible.

The final "And speaking of"(I know this is getting obnoxious, I promise this is the last one!)

Speaking of Liberty (but not the 'of London' kind): the Fat Quarter Shop released a fun 4th-of-July-themed Liberty box that includes: a Stars and Stripes quilt kit (including pattern, a custom 12-piece 10" stacker and coordinating Land of Liberty fabric), a set of 12 woven Made in the USA labels, a painted, patriotic wooden tray and a 5-piece Aurifil Thread set.) The contents retail at $77 but they are selling for only $47.98 while supplies last. 

I'm so excited to use these Aurifil threads for my orange peel applique!

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