Wednesday, February 27, 2013

QuiltCon Recap!

Amber and I just got back from sunny Austin, Texas for the first ever QuiltCon! QuiltCon was a convention open to the public put on by the Modern Quilt Guild. It was awesome! There were workshops, lectures, a marketplace, and of course, quilts! Amber and I took workshops almost the entire time. Here is the lowdown on QuiltCon 2013.

Handmade ribbons awarded to quilts at QuiltCon
My first class was a Patchwork Skirt class with Jay McCarroll! It was soo fun to spend a day sewing with Jay. He was super encouraging and even drafted us up a pattern when the class balked at the task. We patchworked fabric together during the first part of class and then assembled our skirts.

Jay McCarroll drafts a pattern
I made mine out of a crazy Japanese cat print mixed with some neutrals. I managed to finish the skirt just in time and totally impressed Jay!

Jaime and Jay with finished Patchwork Skirt
On day one Amber took Malka Dubrawsky's Color Your Cloth class, where she learned wax resist fabric dyeing techniques.

Malka used a potato masher fro this pattern!

Everything from veggies to cardboard to kitchen tools like potato mashers can be used to print pattern on fabrics!




On day two, Amber and I were lucky enough to take Improvisational Patchwork with Denyse Schmidt together. This class was so inspiring! We sewed as fast as we could and by the end we each had enough improv blocks for about half a queen quilt top - we're almost there!


Denyse was a fantastic teacher and took time to give everyone some critique and encouraging words. All the class put our blocks up onto boards to view and discuss after each round of quilting - it was a great way to spend a day sewing.


Denyse also had about a dozen of her quilts on display at the QuiltCon exhibit. It was so amazing to see all of these works in person.

Some close ups of Denyse Schmidt Quilts and a view of several of her quilts on display.

This is the quilt Denyse actually uses on her bed! ♥

There were tons of people at QuiltCon! Quilters, bloggers, designers, everyone! We ran into quite a few friendly faces while we were in Austin including Alexia Abegg of Green Bee Patterns and Design. I happened to be wearing my Amelia dress designed by Green Bee so of course we had to have a photo.

Jaime and Alexia Abegg of Green Bee Patterns and Design
On day three I took Textile Printing class with Lotta Jansdotter. I have always been a fan of Lotta's designs so it was great to meet her and learn from such a master. We learned both block printing as well as stenciling.
Jaime's practice block prints from Lotta Jansdotter's class
Ms. Jansdotter was the sweetest person and I couldn't resist having a photo with her while I was wearing my dress in her print!

Jaime and Lotta Jansdotter

Amber's day three class was Improv Round Robin with Sherri Lynn Wood. In this amazing fast-paced class, each person started a quilt top and then at a certain point everyone in class passed their quilt along for another person to work on.

Some of the quilts from the Improv Round Robin class. Amber started the top left quilt, but many hands made all of these!

By the end, nine folks had worked on each quilt, and it was so interesting to see how the quilt evolved as each person added to it.

And now for your viewing pleasure are some of our favorite quilts from QuiltCon!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe - Grand Prize Winning Quilt!

Thomas Knauer  |  Latifah Saafir

Ben Darby

Latifah Saafir

Carolyn Friedlander

We can't wait for next year, I hope you can all go!

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Craft Up a Trend: Neon Magic

We know... neon isn't a new trend, but the craft world is catching on! We are super excited that Michael Miller is now printing neon fabrics. We just got these bright beauties in and we are ready to inspire you to sew.


Neon has been hot in the fashion world for a while. Everything from jeans, to shoes, tops to nail polish looks great in neon.



Madelinetosh has this pattern for a great throw made in Madelinetosh light "Edison Bulb" and "Antler" - what an awesome way to add some neon to your home!

Photo courtesy of Madelinetosh
With this fabric, I can hardly wait to stitch up a Wiksten tank out of the neon yellow polka dot... so summery and yes, bright.


What will you make in neon?

Saturday, February 23, 2013

QuiltCon Sew-a-Thon: Miz Mozelle

Sadly, we will miss Tula Pink at QuiltCon. I cut this fabric almost a year ago from her Nightshade collection and our Quiltcon Sew-a-Thon finally gave me the push to finish my dress! I made the awesome Miz Mozelle dress by Jamie Christina. I love this pattern!


The first time I made it, it was a bit big, so this time I went down to a size 4 and it is perfect.




I opted to make a contrasting collar and made my own bias tape out of the same solid green. Pulling this olive-y green from the print makes it just a little weird, which I am into. I am on the lookout for a moon or star shaped button to replace this one....anyone?


Magical things are bound to happen when I'm wearing my new Nightshade dress!

Friday, February 22, 2013

QuiltCon Sew-a-Thon: Robe Belladone Dress

So, I'm not 100% sure I put this Robe Belladone dress together correctly--the instructions were in French--but it seems to have turned out quite alright!

(Don't hesitate to try these patterns yourself, we now have the adorable Deer and Doe patterns with English translation!)



I made this dress in Malka Dubrawsky's Simple Marks fabric, in anticipation of her Color Your Cloth class at QuiltCon.


The dress has an adorable keyhole back. Cute!


Perhaps I will make another cute dress from my new handprinted fabric from Malka's class...check back soon to find out!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

QuiltCon Sew-a-Thon: Sorbetto Dress

I can't wait to take a class with Jay McCarroll!! I'm going to make a patchwork skirt with him at QuiltCon and it's going to be epic. I was really nervous to make a dress to wear in front of such a fashionista. I totally copied Sadie Fox, our amazing sewing instructor, and made this Sorbetto dress just like the one she made for her class!


The Sorbetto top is a free pattern from Colette and I love it. This time I altered it in a few ways. I added sleeves thanks to this free online pattern. I did an inverted box pleat instead of the box pleat and I also lengthened it into a dress.


I used our Essex linen blend for the dress and used Jay McCarroll's Center City fabric for the bias binding at the neck and sleeves. The perfect hint of Jay! I'm going to Austin-it-up with some cowboy boots at QuiltCon. Funtimes.


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

QuiltCon Sew-a-Thon: Peony Dress

I feel like the luckiest lady because this Friday I get to take Denyse Schmidt's improvisational patchwork class at QuiltCon! Yippee!


In order to show my super-fandom, I whipped up the Colette Peony in Denyse's new Shelburne Falls fabric, in the Circle Square Willow print. I plan to woo Ms. Schmidt to be my new craft friend with my adorable new look.


This is the first time I've made the Peony and I absolutely love this dress! I made it sans cumberbund--since this was a craft crunch situation. I split the difference between short and 3/4 length sleeve options and settled on an elbow length sleeve.


I love the fit of this dress! The high neck with bateau neckline is modestly charming, and the tailored bodice is flattering without being constricting.


I'm already on the lookout for the perfect fabric for my next Peony!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

QuiltCon Sew-a-Thon: Amelia Dress

Amber and I are super lucky and get to go to QuiltCon tomorrow! This is the first one put on by the Modern Quilt Guild and we can hardly wait to check it out. We will get to take classes and hang out with lots of quilters, sewists and famous designers. We decided it would be a good idea to have a new handmade wardrobe to wear, so it has been a week-long Sew-a-thon! We will be showing you all of our new outfits over the next 5 days.


Not only did we make a new wardrobe, but we used fabrics from the instructors we will be taking classes from at Quilt Con. Nerd-alert! My first dress features an awesome mustard stripe from Lotta Jansdotter who will be teaching my Textile Printing class. I chose the Amelia pattern from Alexia Abegg.




I've been wanting to make this bias-cut dress for a while now and this stripe was perfect for bias-cut chevron stripe action! The stripes are slightly uneven so they didn't match up perfectly, but they look great. This pattern came together without any hiccups. I made a size small which fits great and true to size.


I really hope Lotta likes it and can't wait to print up my own fabric!!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Better Know A Crafter: Jay Louis DeRose of Tinman Provisions

We see Jay almost every morning at our old 1 S. Broadway space - Happy Coffee. Not only does he make the best lattes, but he is also the owner of Tinman Provisions - a label where he creates belts, aprons, and other manly accoutrements.


Jay Louis DeRose

Tell us about your crafty self.
I'm Italian and I'm from north Denver. I am a Coffee Professional, and a Gentleman. Sewing, woodworking, leather working, and metal working are just a few of my crafts. I make things for myself to use and enjoy, and if others like what I do, I will make things for them too.


Tell us about your aprons.
This project is a line of aprons for a local Barber Shop, Ollies. They consist of sewing and leather working. I created my own pattern and used a hemp/cotton ticking from Fancy Tiger Crafts.




How did you learn to sew?
I am a self taught crafter in the sewing and leather working department. The person who taught me is the coolest guy I know...hahaha


What is your favorite animal?
My favorite animal is Falcor - you know, from the Never Ending Story. My second favorite animal is a lynx


Interested in a handcrafted apron? Contact Jay at tinmanprovisions@gmail.com.
Thanks Jay! Happy crafting!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Stitch Markers and Crochet Hooks: Handmade in Colorado!

Omg, stitch markers and crochet hooks made by local designer Heather Rhoads are going to blow your mind!

Heather makes each of her bright clay stitch markers and crochet hooks by hand, sculpting and painting on the tiniest scale to make 1/2" tall matryoshkas, gnomes, Chewbaccas and more!

Rainbow of Matryoshkas


The crochet hooks come in various sizes and would be a special gift for your favorite crocheter!


Everyone loves a Star Wars inspired crafting tool!


Bunny slippers, Owl, Pink Elephant, Gnome
...and who can resist a Hot Dog with all the fixin's?

Flapjacks, Glow-in-the-dark Pickle, Hot Dog with all the Fixin's