Artisania

Pinning out the pieces:

I found a tutorial on line which I kind of followed as it was only for an underbust corset, whereas I need full coverage..

Liam was my little helper this afternoon. This him painting the fish netting for the outside of the corset.

Hey look, it laces up and everything!

The back placket pieces are fused to the lining. I discovered that fusing web acts as a pretty sturdy interfacing and is easier to use. The holes were simply cut into the fused fabric, but I’ve found after trying it on, that the cording is still wearing through it’s way to the edge. Ah well, I just can’t see pounding two dozen grommets in before tomorrow.

I just need to dread my locks and finish off my shawl. Hehe, I can’t wait to show you the finished costume!

Aha! Just when you thought I would procrastinate and spend the whole of Thursday night sewing like a woman possessed, I went and made my petticoat.

One quick trip to Value Village later, I started with a lovely, $3.99 ruffled bed skirt with a kind of odd pinkish hue.

I sewed a nice, big, layered tiered skirt and went on to tea stain it. But, 4 tea bags and scalding hot bath water just wasn’t doing the trick.  So I added some ingredients from the kitchen.

Hey this looks better,

But after I wrung it out and hung it to dry, my rather sickly sweet, salty petticoat still wasn’t dirty looking enough. So it was on to plan B. We took it out to the pond, and then dragged it along the gravel path. It still needed more ick, so into the flower bed for some good old stompin.

Ahh, that’s better.

Since I have a movie date on the couch with my hubby tonight, (which means no sewing) I figured I would quickly show you a couple of my first quilts I ever made for my children.

This is the first toddler sized quilt I attempted, and belongs to my daughter.

It features some delicate vintage fabric sent to me by my Omi in Germany. It’s the very light pink squares with the pale white flowers. Maya’s name was ironed on, and it’s backed in soft white flannel. Even though it’s been washed a zillion times and is getting a little pilly on the fleece border, I still love it!

The inner salmon pink border used to be covered in a much lighter, pretty pink, sparkly stuff which has unfortunately all but washed away.  I ended up making 2 more nearly identical quilts for my 2 nieces in Calgary. I had originally intended to applique some butterflies and flowers in the centre panel, but sewing while pregnant and running after a 2 year old is next to impossible. So I decided to just finish the darn quilts. I think the 3 quilts took me about a year and a half to complete!

This is the second baby quilt I attempted and belongs to my son.

It features fabric sent from their grandma, some more vintage fabric from my Omi (their great grandmother) from Germany, and several of Maya’s old pjs. It’s backed in cuddly white flannel. The red and white leafy square in the corner, and the blue and white leafy binding/inner border must be over 60 years old.

Both of these quilts were made before I discovered the amazing qualities of the rotary cutter and long ruler. It’s completely shocking to me to see that so many of the seams lined up.

I wonder if it’s too late to label them?

First off I want to thank everyone for their sweet comments to my posts, and I’d like to shout a big thank-you to everyone who has posted links to Artisania! *HUGS*

Wow, I just think that’s so neat and I really do appreciate it!

One place that is now featuring my free patterns is Sew Hooked. I’m listed on the Guest Designer Page right at the bottom. You’ll find all sorts of free paper piecing patterns and other crafty tutorials and ideas here. And if your a Harry Potter fan, you’ve hit the jackpot! There is a huge collection of paper pieced Harry Potter themed patterns for you to play with.

And now the Wedding Dress…

Oh boy. Like I don’t have enough unfinished, time sensitive and long awaited projects looming about. (There’s even a lap quilt that’s been hiding in my cupboard for over a year now! Sorry Auntie Kyung-Ja!!)

My little brother and his girlfriend have finally announced their wedding plans for July of next year. And at my great Aunt’s birthday party, his girlfriend fiance asked me if I would make her wedding dress for her!

O.M.G. Of course I said yes, but a little while later the panic set in. I’ve never made a wedding dress before! What am I thinking?!?!

She wants a simple, strapless, tea length (falls a bit below the knee), poofed A line dress. She’s having a friend send her a bolt of gorgeous ivory Cambodian silk, and she plans to weave a waist sashing in a Native North American Indian style.

I did some digging around last night and found this, which I think might be something to emulate in the design:

I also like this:

What was making me the most nervous was the strapless part. The bride is @ 5′10″, slim, short waisted and quite well endowed so making sure she has proper support is cruicial! And then it dawned on me.

Get her to find a good over bust corset that gives her the coverage and support, and sew the dress onto the corset. PHEW! I tell you, I feel so much better. This I can do.

This is an over the bust corset that could work:

So long as she finds one that opens in the back we’re in business.

Now. Right, that baby quilt. I really should finish that before my husband has an aneurism. Oh, and maybe I should get onto my Halloween costume….

Isn’t she cute?

She’s the companion piece for the Fancy Mushroom from the Learning to Paper Piece Tutorial. I actually posted about her before, as she’s the pattern for the Sewing More Complex Paper Pieced Patterns Tutorial.

I thought you might like to check her out again, since Gnomlette’s pattern has been so popular!

You can download both the Fancy Mushroom and Gnomeling pattern here.

It’s so neat to see how popular my free patterns are! I’m very happy that you’re downloading them and I would LOVE to see your finished blocks! Please send me pictures so i can add them to my Flickr gallery and feature them here on Artisania!

My email is: Sonja dot Callaghan at gmail dot com

Ooh my aunt LOVED it! She was rendered completely speechless actually, and she just marveled over the quilt!

Here’s a full shot of the foot pocket on the back of the quilt. It’s to keep her toes nice and warm during the winter.

The label which I almost forgot! In the 10 minutes before I had to leave, I quickly designed the label, printed it out on some printable fabric, unstitched the corner of the foot pocket and carefully stitched the label in place.

The extra special detail, which she especially loved, was that I snuck the names of all the family members, her late husband, mother and sister,  and her closest friends within the quilting. So that every time she uses the quilt, she’s getting a collective hug from everyone who’s ever loved her!

Since it’s really hard to quilt names without it looking all juvenile and scribbly, I used a closely matching thread so the quilting really isn’t visible. It’s actually quite difficult to make it out along the ligher border, but she know’s they’re there and that’s what counts!

Here she is trying it out!

I’m just so pleased that I managed to make something so meaningful and useful for her. My aunt has really been a surrogate grandmother to my brothers and me, as our Omi (her sister) had always lived all the way in Germany so we never really had a close relationship with her.

My aunt is one of the most generous and gracious people you will ever meet. She always has a cup of tea and treats in the waiting, and something kind and encouraging to say. Even though she has been through many many hard times and has lost so many who are dear to her, she is so consistently positive in her outlook. She’s that person that will support you no matter what you’re doing. I’m so grateful to have her in my life and I wish her a very Happy Birthday, with many more to follow!

Hello again dear readers!

I know it’s been a few days, but I’ve been BUSY sewing!!

But before I get to that, I first have to send a big, hearty thank-you to Becky from The Golden Thimble Quilting Clubhouse, for choosing Artisania as the website of the week!

I logged in the other day and nearly fell off my chair to discover that the number of visits here literally quadrupled overnight! The Golden Thimble Clubhouse has readers from all over the world, and since you’re all apparently popping in for a peek,

Ciao! Como estas? Merci pour visiter, et Wilkommen! G’day, and top o’ the mornin’ to ya! Hope you like what you see. You’re always welcome here!

Ok, take a peek:

A nice pallette for an 83 year old’s sensibility?

And what do you think of my very first attempt at feather quilting ever? No pattern…oh no, no time for that!

And here’s a shot of the project tonight:

You see, it’s my Great Aunt’s 83′rd Birthday tomorrow, and while I was taking a much needed mental break at the fabric store last Sunday, I had a brainstorm. Yes, my aunt needs a lap quilt. Yup. A beautiful, yet simple one that could be done in a heartbeat. One with the softest minkee backing in existence, and one with a warm, quilted foot pocket. Perfect for cuddling up on the couch to watch her evening shows.

I started the project on Sunday evening, and finished it tonight. Tuesday…er…well I guess technically it’s Wednesday. But still 48ish hours none the less!

But I can’t show you any more pictures tonight. It’s 2:25am and oh man am I tired! I’ll snap some yummy details for you tomorrow. I promise!

Gute Nacht! (good night in German)

Oh look look! My friend Krom_mama from House of Krom made a free pieced version of Gnomlette!

Is this not completely charming or what? I LOVE IT! Krom_mama is an avid free piecer, meaning she uses patterns as a guideline and sews with differently sized pieces every time.  She makes the most adorable wonky houses using this method.

Gnomlette is the last pattern I give at the bottom of the Sewing More Complex Paper Pieced Patterns Tutorial.

If you like you can click here to download her pattern.

In other exciting news, I finally made my first sale at Etsy! Whoo hoo! Thanks so much to my first customer, and I hope you have fun sewing Mister Gnome!

Want to see more? Click here to get back to the home page.

Well what do you know, I quickly whipped this pattern up today just for you!

Click here to download your Jack-O-Lantern

Have fun!

Ok so we’re taking it easy with costumes this year and bought 3 of the four costumes. Even though I’m completely relieved that I only have one fairly elaborate costume to make (mine), I can’t help but feel like this is cheating, you know?

Anyway, here’s a little video Vince made of the kids trying on their costumes! Arrrgh, it’s a couple’a kid pirates!