I had a GREAT trip, and I’m really excited to have launched loads of new stuff. It’s always fun seeing (and making) friends in the industry, scoping out what everyone has been working on, and just generally plugging in a little bit. Now as I take it all in and continue to think about my next few steps, I’m feeling quiet and reflective and really just wanting to sew.

Here’s to a long weekend of that.

More to come soon.

The first was a camera strap for my sister and her brand new camera.

made from the camera strap pattern in this booklet.

(fabric credits : stamped, dear stella, and some architextures)

…

Then there was a Super Tote.

Except I added cording to the entire front. (Would have added to the back too but ran out…)

Pleated gusset is a sweet lil detail.

Loving the elast-i-fied inside pockets. They will hold a TON.

Great pattern.

(fabric credits : stamped, Yoshiko Jinzinji, Robert Kaufman linen, and some architextures)

…

And finally some wiksten tanks that I’d been dying to make. These suckers go together nice and fast–I whipped out 2 in one day.

First with tsuru.

Then with some architextures.

I’m going to be living in these this summer.

…

Here’s a sneak preview.

I’ve been steadily working on a brand new pattern group. This is a group that I’ve been very excited about, and I hope others will be too! I’ve used it as an opportunity to do some different things, including reaching out to and working with a couple other designers who I really admire. I’ve solicited the talents of a mighty fine illustrator as well as another highly skilled pattern designer. It’s been so much fun.

In other–and very recent–news, I just had a minor incident in the sewing room that is turning this afternoon into “computer” time rather than the “sewing” time that was planned. I’m OK, but my left index finger needs to take it easy after taking a direct blow from my machine needle. It happens. I’m just glad that I’ll get by without a trip to the ER, and I didn’t get any blood on what I was working on. Awesome and awesome. Careful with those sewing machines.

And I just got the most lovely treats in the mail from the super talented Jessica Pollak. (a familiar face over at The Printed Bolt)

I’d been lusting after both of these for some time now. What a treat! Both are available in her etsy shop.

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Happy Thursday!

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]]> http://carolynfriedlander.com/a-little-peek/feed/ 8 http://carolynfriedlander.com/and-the-modern-baby-winner-is/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=and-the-modern-baby-winner-is http://carolynfriedlander.com/and-the-modern-baby-winner-is/#comments Wed, 01 May 2013 20:04:23 +0000 carolynfriedlander http://carolynfriedlander.com/?p=4538 …Brigit who said, ”I agree about baby quilts! My “baby” is ten, but I still love making baby quilts. Something about the size lends itself to creative design and fun palettes.”

I’ll be emailing you soon about your  prize.

Sincere thanks to everyone who left comments. I thoroughly enjoyed reading through each and every one of them!

My contribution was this one.

Tiny, textured trees.

Some of my quilts start out in one place, go through some pretty serious evolution, and end up as something totally different. Then there are other quilts–like this one–that stay true to the original sketch. I’m always surprised either way.

Here’s my original sketch.

The colors in the scan come across a little (/a lot) on the yellow side, but all along I really liked the idea of a soft, minty green + lime palette.

Like all of my other current patterns, it’s a paper piecing project. I just love being able to dive into a project without too much prep work.

I also had fun incorporating a variety of substrates, most all of which are of the Robert Kaufman variety–corduroy, linen, essex, and radiance. The sashing is all corduroy and so soft.

In using a solid on the back, the design got carried over. I love those 2-fers.

Even though I have no babies, I do like to make a baby quilt. The size isn’t intimidating, and I don’t feel the need to go gender specific or pastel.

Some of my friends are just starting to have babies, and lately I’ve been on a bit of a baby shower circuit. What I’ve noticed are more and more handmade goodies at the showers, which is thrilling. It’s always the handmade stuff that to gets held up the longest and passed around the most. There’s just something special about handmade.

Win yourself an e-copy of this great new book! Just leave a comment in this post about anything you deem relevant by May 1st. I’ll pick a name at random for the prize. Make sure to stop by all the other tour stops to increase your odds of winning. Everyone will be giving one away, so you’ve got several chances to win.

April 18, Thursday       Jenny, StitchThis! http://blog.shopmartingale.com/

April 19, Friday            Shea Henderson, http://emptybobbinsewing.com

April 22, Monday          Jake Finch, http://generationqmagazine.com/

April 23, Tuesday        Audrie Bidwell, http://blueisbleu.blogspot.com/

April 24, Wed              Carolyn Friedlander, http://carolynfriedlander.com/blog/

April 25, Thursday       Melissa Corry, http://happyquiltingmelissa.blogspot.com/

April 26, Friday            Jen Eskridge, http://reannalilydesigns.com/blog/

April 29, Monday          Sarah Flynn, http://fairyfacedesigns.blogspot.com/

April 30, Tuesday        Dana Bolyard, http://oldredbarnco.blogspot.com/

May 1, Wednesday     Amy Smart, http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/

May 2, Thursday         Carrie Bloomston, http://suchitysuch.blogspot.com/

May 3, Fri                    Victoria Findlay Wolfe, http://www.bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/

May 6, Monday            Lindsey Rhodes, http://lrstitched.com/

May 7, Tuesday           Pippa Eccles Armbrester, http://www.pippapatchwork.com/blog/

I picked up a mini iron this week for a project I’m working on, and I’m surprised how much I like it already–she is surprisingly effective!

I splurged on the upgraded model with the safety guard, which was a good call. I can be a klutz and so any risk reduction in that area is probably worthwhile, especially since I still managed to singe myself on the hot holder on day 1. Watch out for that too.

Here’s a quick tutorial for double fold bias tape since I was just cranking some out. To be honest, I wouldn’t have thought this iron would give me such a great crease on something like this, but it turns out that it does just the trick. I’m a convert.

…

To make 1″ double fold tape, start with 1-7/8″ strips cut on the bias. Join with diagonal seam and press open.

Feed the tape through a bias tape maker (#25 for this particular size) WRONG side UP and press folds in place as she comes out.

To make it double fold, bring one side up so that folded edges are about 1/8″ apart. Press in place.

Ta-dah. Jazz something up with your own custom binding. I’m always a fan of that.

And I’m apparently a real sucker for this ledger print in that bias-trim-scenario, see here and here.

But seriously. I am really excited about the new stuff I’ve been working on. And I am excited to travel all the way over to Portland in May. I’ve never been there, and I hear she’s quite the hip lil place.

In addition to Quilt Market, I’m so happy to have a couple of workshops and trunk show lined up at Portland’s Modern Domestic. It’ll be fun to hang around after the show and meet more of the locals. On the agenda we’ve got some beginner-friendly stuff in an Aerial workshop (similar to this one), then some slightly trickier stuff in an Olive class, and finally a little socializing, chatting, and quilt-gazing in the evening during an open house/trunk show kind of thing.

I just recently shipped off the goodies for that.

I’ve also been rummaging through my trash can for scraps to turn into notecards as I seem to have depleted my stash.

These also kind of show some of my recent swatches and what I’m working with.

Marathon quilting on some new stuff…

Dreaming about making a wiksten tank with some tsuru.

And I’m massively impressed with Ken Kaufman’s “Matzotextures.” You’ve gotta check that out.

This here is my lone local or local-let, as I like to think of her. She’s a leftover from my planning period that I recently polished off with some borders and all the usual finishings.

Kona mango on the back with ideas for quilting.

Then we’ve got some yellow with House no. 3.

And plum.

I am massively into the plum and gold fabric in the house on the left. Glorious I tell you.

Deep in fabric-selection thought.

Got one done!

Nice having a neighbor to borrow some green (kona kiwi) from.

Excellent job all!

Other expo sightings included :

A cool jacket.

Akonye Kena

Rad sketchbooks at Some Art Fabric.

The House That Kaffe Built (great name!) by Kathryn Patterson and Rebecca Segura.

I’m a big fan of the creative feather application.

A special Victoria Findlay Wolfe collection from her book. This one was quilted by Angela Walters.

Vintage buttons. Always a fan.

Lots of architextures goodies at Fabric Warehouse. (Thanks guys!)

Holly and Melody from Fabric Warehouse looking so cute.

And two of the Inspire girls.

With their impressive signage. Nice one, Lisa!

And I did come home with a pretty hardcore rotating cutting mat.

It’s got ball bearings.

I’ll probably be grunting while rotating later today.

So fun to see everyone!

#goodtimes

deep breath.

There are two other colorways to this gang.

Meet Mr. Cool.

And Mr. Grayscale.

Together, they are a group of samples for my workshop (this Thursday!) at the Original Sewing Expo in Lakeland, Florida. (I’m not sure, but there might be a couple spots left.) We’re going to be putting together my Aerial pattern with some architextures.

Everything’s all kitted up and ready to go.

I found myself really enjoying getting these guys together. I’d designed the pattern long before I had my own fabric to sew with, and it was a fun treat to see how it all played out.