Sewing Saturday

Check out my new super-cute, pleated buttercup bag! This pattern is available for free (thanks Rae!) here. The instructions are really clear and it's a perfect evening or weekend project. And all you need is a fat quarter! Can't wait to use it!

Quilt Cat

Looks like someone else likes my new quilt just as much as I do...

The Anticraft Quilts!

When I saw the MaterialGirlShoppe listing for a fat quarter bundle of eight gorgeous Joel Dewberry Aviary prints, my first thought was "Why... that would make a lovely quilt", and my second thought was "um.... if I knew how to quilt". But in true Anticraft fashion, I bought them anyway. So yesterday, fat quarters, batting, and thread in hand, I headed up to Barrie to my friend Karen's house. She ever-so-patiently walked me through making my very first quilt. (Come to think of it, maybe I should have asked her more of life's baffling questions while I was there - such as how to fold a fitted sheet.) Anyway, I really really love the results. I used 10" squares (I was able to get 2 from each fat quarter), so that gave me a quilt that's about 40" square, minus the seam allowances, plus the binding. Most of it was relatively straight forward. The binding part, not so much. However, I feel pretty confident that I can get another one started up until the binding stage. I wouldn't change much except that to make this quilt suitable for a crib, I would probably use two more fat quarters and add four squares to one end for a rectangular quilt. It was intense doing it in a day (we worked from 10 - 7:30 with about a half an hour break for lunch), but really really satisfying. I learned so much, I just hope I can remember it all. Thanks for all your help Karen!

ps. I'm keeping this quilt for me. :P

More Sewing Projects!

My Saturday project was this shopping tote from Simplicity pattern 2806 (bag A). I made it with some retro fabric I had lying around in my fabric stash and lined it with white broadcloth. This was the first pattern I've made with no help, and after struggling for hours with my machine, I think it's actually ready for me to take shopping tomorrow! This was definitely an AntiCraft-friendly sewing pattern.

EFA Articles on tandtnews

The articles that my fellow efa-ers and I have written for tandtnews.com are up! Check out my article on easy eco-DIY Christmas gift ideas!

TheAnticraft Sews!

OK. I love the idea of sewing, but in true Anticraft style, my sewing projects often consist of epic battles with my sewing machine and serger, tears over ruined fabrics, whining over thread tension, and just general chaos. I've completed only two projects without the help of my mom: a duvet cover made from two queen flat sheets, and my latest project - placemats. I just couldn't resist the temptation of another sewing project as a gift for my friend's birthday. I followed these instructions and I think they turned out pretty well. I bought a sweet little fat quarter bundle of Joel Dewberry fabrics from my favourite Etsy fabric store Fabric By The Yard. You better believe I'll be making more of these for my apartment and as gifts in the coming winter months!

My First Etsy Sale

Right now I am so psyched to have made my first sale in my etsy store! A pair of my three little birds earrings is now making its way to Texas! Super exciting news for me. The sale of that item is going towards the adoption of Diablo the melanistic jaguar - a very beautiful, but cranky cat. That's ok... cranky kitties need love too!