nanaCompany

Come sew with me! | Swapaholics

I'm writing a new pattern for this sewing "book" because I needed a fun project (basically, it's like my needle book, but on steroids).  Did I mention I'll be teaching at the Swapaholics Retreat coming up in September in North Carolina?  

It's a weekend for sewing, swapping, learning new tricks (haha!), relaxing, socializing.  I'm so excited to meet so many amazing, inspiring, and supportive women I've gotten to know on the internet ~ some of them going back for years from the days when I was only on Flickr!  It took me a while to figure out what to teach at the retreat, but I'm pretty much in love with this sewing book.  It's got handles and pages, a sturdy spine, and lots of pockets!

Since this is the first "book" I've made, I'll be improving it slightly before I write the pattern, but it won't be too different from this:

There is a divided inner front pocket, and I planned it precisely for the job of holding my favorite Gingher embroidery scissors.  The flap holds them in perfectly.  I also appliquéd a 1/2" hexie on the inside of the front cover ~ it hides the stitches that secure the button to the front of the book.  Totally unnecessary since the stitches didn't look bad, but a nice touch since my button stitches don't always look neat on the backside.

I've put only two "pages" in my book.  One is a felt page for pins and needles.  The other is a pleated pocket with a flap.  Because the pocket is pleated, it can hold thicker items easily.  A zipper or snap would also work great here but I wanted to explore options for the person who might not have extra hardware on hand.  Two buttons and a length of twine works great!

There is a back pocket and it holds my favorite Lecien cross stitch patterns, which I like to take on the road with me along with a ball of my six-strand embroidery floss "scraps" from previous projects.  (You never know when you'll have a few moments to cross stitch a little cutie that can later be incorporated into a project.)  

And ~ I don't know about you, but I'm thinking that there's a whole lot of blank space back here and I'll have to add in a few more pockets.  Cause pockets are way too much fun!

If you're interested in attending the Swapaholics retreat, I just found out today is the last day for sign ups and it definitely deserved a shout out.  Go to www.swapaholic.blogspot.com to sign up and I'll look forward to meeting you there!

xo amy

My Sweet Home | PDF pattern now in the shop!

I always come back to the same themes and I hope you're not bored, because this will always be a universal truth: there's no place like "Home Sweet Home"!

I made this piece for my mom ~ for Mother's Day ~ and put love in every stitch.  If you'd like to make one too, I've written up the pattern and you'll find it for sale (and at an amazing price) at my shop: nanaCompany on etsy.

It's a very simple make, measuring 16 1/2" x 16 1/2" when finished.  Simple patchwork, simple embroidery, and simple appliqué give it such a sweet homey look.  And if you want to know a secret: I went out of my way to add wonkyness to this piece.  I really think losing the desire for perfection in your sewing opens up the possibility for so much charm.   I hope you enjoy stitching it too!

xo amy

to Market, to Market...

Spring Market ~ that is!  International Quilt Market in Minneapolis is over now but at the point when I started writing this post, it hadn't yet started.  And though I didn't get to go, all my work from the past few months traveled there... so I thought I'd do a round-up.

Tiptop Quilt

Pattern | Designed by me, pattern not written

Quilting | Norma of Petit Design Co.

Fabric | Tiger Lily by Heather Ross for Windham Fabrics (due out in August) + Windham 1930's light pink solid and white

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Silly Old Bear Pillow

Pattern | in my book Sweetly Stitched Handmades

Fabric | Retro 30's Child Smile by Lecien (due out in May?) + linen

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Chicken & Stars & Unicorn Sparkle Quilt

Pattern | by Happy Zombie - Monica Solorio Snow

Fabric | L's Modern Basic + L's Modern Spring 2015 by Lecien (the Basic collection is available now and the Spring collection will be out shortly) + Lecien solid grey

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Gradient Light Quilt

Pattern | Designed by me, pattern not written

Fabric | L's Modern Spring 2015 + L's Modern Basic grey x's print and Lecien solid grey and white

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Wild Geese Mini Quilt

Pattern | Designed by me, made with the trimmings from my Chicken & Stars & Unicorn Sparkle quilt

Fabric | L's Modern Basic + L's Modern Spring 2015 text print

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Flower Sugar Hexagon Rosette Table Topper

Pattern | Designed by me, pattern not written

Fabric | Flower Sugar 2015 by Lecien

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Farmer's Market Tote

Pattern | Designed by me, pattern not written

Fabric | Vintage Market by Tasha Noel for Riley Blake Fabrics (due out in June)

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Little Joys Gift Wrapped Pillow

Pattern | Gift Wrapped pillow and block tutorial by Rachel of Wooden Spoon Quilts

Fabric | Little Joys by Elea Lutz for Penny Rose Fabrics

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I think that's it.  Such beautiful fabric to play with, I'm so in love with all the new lines coming out and I hope you will like them, too.  As for the patterns to these projects that have not been written ~ if there is one that you are particularly interested in, please leave me a comment so I'll know and maybe I can write it up.   

And now, the winner of the Modern Medallion Workbook giveaway...

Congratulations to Chiara, who wrote, "My favourite things about quilting are friendships i have made and choosing fabrics♡: )!!"  I hope you will enjoy the book, Chiara.

xo amy

Modern Medallion Workbook bloghop | Giveaway!

Two girls whose work I deeply admire, Janice Zeller Ryan and Beth Vassalo, have written a book about modern medallion quilts that is really a show stopper, full of inspiring quilts made by the most talented quilters out there (and me).  Yes, they asked me to be a part of it!

Throwing the word modern in front of the word medallion gave us designers a lot of latitude in dreaming up our visions and I (having really been enjoying cross-stitch at the time) decided to make my focal point a simple ABC cross stitch.  

As a mother of four, the inspiration from my kids and love of making things for them is an unending well spring.  So of course I created a simple and sweet wall hanging for my girls room that incorporated the cross stitch center, with triangle piecing, and raw edge appliqué.  

You'll find a whole range of quilting techniques and levels and styles and aesthetics in the Modern Medallion Workbook, with instruction on how to make each quilt, border by border, and with coloring charts and ideas on how to mix and match.  That's a whole lot in one book!  And that's the reason I love it so much.

This book is available now on Amazon and other online shops, as well as being stocked at quilt shops.  Also, C&T publishing has been generous enough to let me give away a copy of this book to one of you!  If you'd like a chance to win it, please leave a comment on this post (no emailed entries, please!) telling me your favorite thing about quilting!  Comments will close Tuesday, May 19th, 2015 at midnight and I'll announce the winner soon after.  Good luck!

For more inspiration and chances to win a copy of this book, here is a listing of all the stops along the Modern Medallion Workbook bloghop:

May 11th | Janice and Beth at C&T/Stash
May 12th | Melissa Richie- weshallsew.blogspot.com
May 13th | Amy Sinibaldi- nanaCompany.typepad.com
May 14th | Christina Lane- sometimescrafter.com/blog
May 18th | Erica Jackman- kitchentablequilting.com
May 19th | Becca Bryan- www.bryanhousequilts.com
May 20th | Karen Anderson-Abraham- bloomingpoppies.net/
May 21st | Latifah Saafir- www.latifahsaafirstudios.com
May 22nd | Kerry Green- verykerryberry.blogspot.co.uk
May 25th | Beth- www.plumandjune.blogspot.com   and 
                    Janice- www.betteroffthread.com

 

xo amy

Oakshott Scandinavia Blog Hop | House Pillow DIY

Welcome!  I'm sure you've heard of it, but have you seen Oakshott cotton in person yet?  I was so curious about it because the colors always looked so luxe and … dynamic… and it all makes sense to me now. 

{ an Oakshott image }

Oakshott cottons are special because they are dynamic.  When you look at a color (say Zug, from the Lakes collection) you're actually looking at two distinctly different colors (blue and green, in this instance) woven together.  You know, warp and weft stuff.  And the result is a solid that's got depth and is so beautiful it can totally be the star of the show.  No prints needed.

So, I signed up for this Oakshott Scandinavia Blog Hop.

Scandinavia is a line comprised of colors shot through with a soft milky white.  Knowing that, I requested several other bolder shot cottons to complement my project ~ but in the end I realized that Scandinavia could hold it's own.  I made a house.

There's no place like home.  A whimsical fun house.  A simple house.  Just how I like it.  Although, this is my first Oakshott house and usually my second of anything is a bit of an improvement.  For instance, now that I know where I like my door and window positioned, next time I might top-stitch the edges by machine with some nice dark thread for contrast. (These were sewn on after the pillow was assembled, by hand.)

But this house has got good bones (that's what they always say about a fixer upper, right?)  And like most of my projects, there's plenty of room for you to 'make it your own'… add extra flourishes or embroidery, if desired.  Next, you'll find the basic how-to.  (If you have any questions about any of the terms used, please 'google' for an instant answer.  Email me if you need further assistance.)

You'll need:

-One fat quarter bundle of Scandinavia by Oakshott

-Fusible fleece

-Polyfill stuffing

-One pom pom or 7/8" felted wool ball, if desired.

Use 1/4" seams.  Finished pillow will measure approximately 10" x 17" x 2 1/2" (although the amount of stuffing you use will vary the measurements.)

Let's begin!

1. Cut three pink strips and two white strips at 11" x 1 1/2" each.  Sew them together alternating, pink, white, pink, white, pink.  Press seams open.  Now trim, into a triangle using a quilting square.  Center the point at the top and trim so that each side measures approximately 8" and the long bottom edge of the triangle measures approximately 11".  Slight variations will make no difference.

2. Sew one dark grey strip measuring 11" x 1" to bottom of pink + white triangle patchwork.  Sew light green rectangle measuring 11" x 12 1/2" below the dark grey strip.

3. Adhere fusible fleece to the wrong side of your pillow front.

4. Applique window, shutters, and door to the front of the house using your preferred method (raw edge appliqué, needle turn, "dryer sheet" method).  I used the dryer sheet method though I did not use a dryer sheet, I used ultra sheer non-fusible interfacing.

5. Prepare back of pillow. Cut a rectangle measuring  11" x 19 1/2".  Cut in half somewhere in the middle and sew the two pieces, right sides together, leaving a 3" opening at the center for turning.  Pin backing and pillow-front right sides together.  Then trim backing to match the pillow-front, and sew around all edges using a 1/4" seam.

6. Trim 1 1/4" square notches from the two bottom corners of the house.  Fold to line up the new raw edges and stitch a 1/4" seam, backstitching to secure.  Turn house right side out through opening and stuff well.

7. Hand stitch the 3" opening closed using an invisible ladder stitch.  Optionally, attach pom pom or felted wool ball to top of house and bury the thread tails within the cushion.

The illustrations below are available as a downloadable PDF.  Click here.  

Finished!

I've got lots of ideas for the rest of my Scandinavia scraps and I plan to use up every precious tiny last piece.  For starters, I've already begun a very simple triangle patchwork for a future project:

Totally different look, right?  Same beautiful Scandinavia (with the exception of that one dark pink triangle: it's called Blueberry Crush).

Here is a full listing of the inspiring stops along the Oakshott Scandinavia Blog Hop.  I hope you enjoy everyone's makes and the free patterns!

 

4 May  |  Sarah Sharp 

5 May  |  Heather Scrimnscher 

6 May  |  Amy Sinibaldi 

7 May  |  Rossie Hutchinson

11 May |  Elaine Poplin

12 May |  Sarah Fielke

13 May |  Nicholas Ball

14 May  |  Lori Landerberger

 

Thank you Lynne and Oakshott!

xo amy