A Change In The Weather - Queen Size Quilt

 

June started out with such beautiful weather.  BUT, the last part of June is turning cold.  How cold?  Was down to low 40s last night.  I turned on the furnace.

Seems appropriate to call this quilt "A Change In The Weather".  Found some dandy music, too.  I love to dance.  I tried twerking one time . . . Jon laughed and laughed.

Fabric Journal Cover tutorial

 

 Welcome to my Sewing Studio.

More Scrappy Delights--Little Purses

A couple more padded, zippered cross-body purses made this week.  Finished size 8" x 12"

Usually I harvest legs from pairs of blue jeans, but this time I received a nice piece of duck cloth with a multi-denim print from a friend.  Not much difference in the weight of the cotton duck fabric vs. cotton denim blue jeans.  A good experiment.

From another pair of jeans I harvested a back pocket.  Lined the pocket, then framed with fabric strips.  The body of the purse is 3 layers, duck cloth exterior/batting padded/cotton print lining.  

Padding gives the purse shape, and an appreciated weight.  It is durable, and won't stretch out of shape.  Made to look good and last a long time.

I machine stitched decorative diamonds in a vibrant orange on the front pocket.  And, added a hand-painted wooden heart.  

The colorful fabric band (located above the pocket) was secured with machined blanket stitching--each spaced stitch bite has a hand-sewn 6/0 glass bead.   I like using stacked fabrics to make a durable yet flexible carrying strap.  I did all the decorations before add the zipper and sewing up the side seam.  

The handmade polymer clay beads were baked in the oven, and later glazed using a liquid sealer (dipping method), and hung to dry. 

My signature zipper pull:  It is easy to string the beads on 20 lb. hemp cord and attach to the zipper pull.  It is fun to zip a handful of beads.  

Another purse . . . 

My bead glazing method is quite simple . . . 

Glazing Beads for my Purses:

Clear Pledge Revive It Floor Cleaner is a perfect glaze.  Nice satin finish.  I use a double strand of No. 10 crochet thread to string on the polymer clay beads with "smaller" plastic bead spacers.  The spacer bead keeps the polymer clay beads from sticking together.  

After dipping into the glaze, I put a pin through the loop I made on the crochet thread and hang to drip dry on my thrift shop lamp shade.  A plastic bag catches the drips.  

Thank you for visiting me today.  

 

Singer Logo - Denim Pouch

 

  

I found the flash drive for my Babylock Elegante embroidery machine in the utility drawer.  I hadn't used the embroidery machine in such a long time.  

On the flash drive was a design file for a Singer sewing machine badge--a design I've never used.  I don't remember when/where I bought it.  But it seemed like a good idea to try it out now.

I deconstructed a pair of blue jeans--material to make the body and strap.  The pouch is lined with red/blue accent fabric, padded with leftover batting trimmings from quilts I make. 

I cut (2) 2" wide denim strips--folded edges to the center and zig-zag stitched to make 1" wide carrying strap, 46" length.

Decorated body and strap with the red/dark blue cotton fabric.  I hand rolled polymer clay (Premo) to make beads for the beaded zipper pull.  Baked the beads in the oven at 265 degrees F for 30 minutes.  Strung beads on 20# hemp cord.  

And there you have it, a delightful Little Purse.  I will have lots of fun/free video tutorials for you to review on my new website Linda Lu Sewing--to be launched in April 2021.  Stay tuned for more details.