Sweet Fabric [Search results for project] 

is something special.

I have co-ordinated 3 community based friendship quilts and loved so much the sense of belonging & the unity & the thought of many hands working together to make one "something".

I've been stewing on The Quilt Project for a good long time now. Everytime I look at my Great Grandmother's Redwork quilt I've thought about it more & more. I feel a connection with those women. Women who made time to stitch these intricate designs in only red just to share a piece of themselves with someone else. It gives me goosebumps. I'm the only person who really gets to enjoy my piece of redwork history & so I thought I'd like to have a go at organising a contemporary redwork piece that once complete will be published online so that everyone can enjoy it.

About 18 months ago I purchsed a huge stack of calico squares all overlocked in red. I've got 50 squares to post out & I'd love you to be a part of it.

I thought about sending personal invites, but you know...you never know where the gold might lie. I want participants to be as passionate & as excited about this project as I am. You don't have to restrict yourself to embroidery. There are some more ideas & information included with the PDF info sheet.

If you think that this is something you'd like to have a crack at then visit The Quilt Project page & download the PDF. See edit in red below.

To secure your place you need to return the 2nd page of the PDF to the email address provided on that page.

Places will be allocated in order of email receipt of completed sign up sheet.
Edit: We're over 50 - thank you to everyone who's signed up.

Thanks.

The Quilt Project is now complete & has it's own site here...

The Quilt Project

Last night The Quilt Project quilt was displayed at Abbotsford Convent. Lots of lovely folk came to have a look at our beautiful quilt. It really is something special. Our online community have worked together to make something really amazing.

I feel immensely proud of all of us. To quote the smalls...

"We did a big achievement".

On a personal note...

When the project began I felt confident that the community quilt we were creating was going to be something special and I thought it would be a bit of fun. Certainly, both those things are true but The Quilt Project has meant so much more to me than just a bit of fun.

As each block arrived I traced the designs with my fingers and imagined the maker hard at work. When each row was stitched together I stepped back and nodded and thought yes, yes that looks good. It wasn't until I sewed the last row onto the quilt, draped it over the couch and let it spill onto the floor that I was fully aware of the magic that is this project. It took my breath away. Each of these squares is a moment in time, a piece of each maker's life, a memory anchor.

I will be eternally grateful to all who participated for trusting me with these very precious squares, thank you.

The Quilt Project now has it's own space. I hope that it's a space that the contributors will be proud of and one that everyone interested in making can enjoy.

Two extra special thank you's to Bec for travelling to be there & to Nikki for being a fabulous support.

I'm a roller!

When I learnt to embroider from my highly skilled neighbour she was most emphatic...

"embroidery works in progress should always be rolled"

I'm all about the kit, I have kits for every craft project. So, before I could begin stitching up my quilt project design I had to make up a special quilt project kit.

I thought I'd share with you the step by step.

I think these would make a great (& almost free) gift for any stitchers in your life.

So no more scrunching or folding people...it's all about the roll.

PDF how to available here.

How To Fabric Covered BoxView more presentations from kootoyoo.

Tutorial: How to make these pillowcase craft project can be found in PDF form here.

Project Pillowcase:
5 speedy quick “present cupboard” craft projects made from one pillowcase for "A Week of Pillowcases" hosted at Meet Me at Mikes.

I try to use materials from Op Shops in my projects & I’ve been successful with this challenge. BUT…you shouldn’t feel restricted to using pillowcases. Remnants or lovely new fabrics will work just as effectively.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 of 5
The End Product:

1 eco-friendly shopping bag.

The How To:
Can be found here.
You need to use bias tape for this project. So visit here for the best tutorial ever.

The Verdict:
Super easy, super speedy & a AAA rating for the present cupboard. People on the nice list WILL be getting these for Christmas

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 of 5
The End Product:

2 Covered Suspension Files (per pillowcase).
The How To:
Can be found here.

The Verdict:
Super easy, super speedy & a AAA rating for the present cupboard. People on the nice list WILL be getting these for Christmas.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 of 5
The End Product:

1 Peg Apron.

The How To:
Can be found here.

The Verdict:
Super easy, super speedy & a AAA rating for the present cupboard. People on the nice list WILL be getting these for Christmas.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
4 of 5
The End Product:

1 Blog Roll

The How To:
Can be found here.

The Verdict:
Super easy, but not so super speedy (the embroidery takes a bit of time). This pressie is for super special people.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 of 5
The End Product:

4 Tealight holders (you will be able to make 8-10 from one pillowcase).

The How To:
Can be found here.

The Verdict:
Super easy, super speedy & a AAA rating for the present cupboard. People on the nice list WILL be getting these for Christmas.

The convent is located at 1 St Helliers Street Abbotsford in Melbourne.

More information about how to get there here.

What better venue to have our quilt stitched by (mainly)women displayed than at the convent?

If you've been following the project & you're available on the 23rd we'd love to see you.

Just RSVP by replying to my RSVP comment on this post or if you're shy you can email.

The Quilt Project site will be launched on this evening also & will be live on the 24th of October.

I'm very happily back to Melbourne drizzle. It was lovely & cool on the run this morning.

This is my most recent pair of Asics. I did actually head into Active Feet before I headed out of town & am now sporting a new pair of runners (toe not yet worn through). My shoes were stitched by hand which I thoroughly enjoyed. I used stem stitch, running stitch & chain stitch for the shoe. I chose to french knot the tongue & the ankle cushioning which was very time consuming but very satisfying.

Perhaps not the best time to take off ... I arrived home yesterday morning to a mountain of quilt project blocks. Each of them are wonderful & I am very much looking forward to sharing the completed "quilt" with you. I am horribly behind with the Flickr commenting but you might like to see some of the amazing pieces worked in red that have been sent in here.

If you've been following the project & if you think you might like to see the completed quilt in person ... you might want to mark 23 October in your diary. Details coming soon.

It feels good to be home, I'm looking forward to catching up on all your news & having a chat.

Made for Mikes make-along. OK so not technically felt but it is machine felted blanketing.

I was totally limited to what I had at home.

I used the clover needle felter & some wool that was floating around to make the flowers. So quick & easy! I'm a bit annoyed that I didn't think of it when I made the couched owl last year. That thing took forever to make.

I'm sure that there is a proper technique for needle felting with yarn & I may or may not have used it. I just positioned the yarn onto the felt & away I went. It does shrink a fair bit as you push the fibres through. BUT I think that this would be an excellent technique for features for softies.

I'm not going too well with my plan to focus more this year. Still leaping from project to project & finding lots of distractions....

Earlier in the year I said I wasn't going to leap frog around from project to project. It seems I just can't help myself.

I've been mucking around making a roly poly toy.

I had intended for it to be a flower pot but now I think a little character might be better.

"I get knocked down but I get up again...you're never going to keep me down". I like the message. In my opinion resilience is the very best weapon you can arm your kids with.

Image source - used with permission.

affects me in a way I cannot describe.

Two years ago I was lucky enough to have my hands painted with Henna by Somali women. I found the experience quite emotional - yet another powerful experience of women & community. I've been reading up a bit on Henna lately & then I came across Esti's blog (via girl ferment).

The images from Esti's hand project took my breath away. You can read the story of Esti's cousin whose hands these are here.

The universe served up another breathtaking Henna inspired project here (via design for mankind).

You might remember I purchased this quilt from the antique shop a couple of weeks ago.

I had a really good look at the construction & now I'm making my own squares. I won't say for sure they going to turn into a quilt because the big granny project is driving me nuts!

Anyway, I thought you might like to make your own. It's really easy, quick & fun.

I've made a really naff video as a how to. I warn you it's pretty bad - I won't get a gig on TV but I thought some of you might enjoy the "accent". You probably only need to watch the first 5 seconds & you'll get the idea.

The square I'm making in the video uses the scraps from the Rummage Obi & Skirt I made. The project & 25 others in Meet Me at Mikes book by Pip.

Happy weekend.

1/4 of an inch
3 red buttons
62 cherry
a little bird told me
air: work in progress
Allsorts
Anna-Lisa
Aprons & Hammers
Art with a Soul
August Street
Beaded Lady
Betty in the Kitchen
Big Cats Emporium
Boobook Sausage Dogs
Bowerbirdz
Bridget's Flame
Bug and Pop
Cassandra Allen
Celestina Carmen
Cloud Cakes
Collective Elements
Cooking my Life
Cool.According.To.Kylie
Crafty Doodads
crafty remix: djbebe
Creating Nunde
Curly Pops
Daily dose of inspiration
Daisy Chain
Daydream Lily
Dear Fii
Design for Mankind
details homegoods
domoshar
doobleh-vay
Dragonflies eat Mosquitoes
Earl & Cookie
Edward & Lilly
fancypicnic
florcita
flutterby patch
etc etc
Glorydaze
going green
Growing Together
G.R.Y.B at home
Handmaiden
Hanies
Hanna's Life is Cool
her heart my hands
Hokey
Honi Design
Hop Skip Jump
if only i had chocolate
iSew
janene renee
Jelly Baby Blog
Jogirl's Journey
Journalette
Judy's Notebook
kerri's provincial patch
Kiddio
Kimberly Michelle
Kittys Kaboodle
Knit Owl
konnykards
Last Stop Muse
Laugh Out Loud Dolls
Lauren Williams Handmade
Leni and Rose
Lilli Boo
little letters
Loobylu
Made by Molly
Mainichi Design
maya*made
Meet me at Mikes
Miss Muggins
mon petit lapin
monda loves
musings from the fish bowl
No life without wife
no pod
One Girl
One Red Robin
Owlet
Peapods
Pigeon Pair
pink licorice life
Pint's Palette
planet treasures
Pot aux roses
Precarious Tomato
Project Incomplete
puddle wonderful
Recuperation of Nathalie Brault
Roots and Leaves
September Bird
Sew What
Shabby Chicken
Silly Gilly
Slip cover Diva
Starashan
Strawberry Kisses
Strawberry Season
Studio Window
Super Monkey
Swirlyarts
Taccolina
Teacups on Treetops
Teddy Bears Wednesday
Textilosophy Oz
turtle club queen
The Crafty Librarian
The Essess
Twenty Cent Mixture
Two Cheese Please
The acorn collective
The Bird Bath
The Lark
The Monday Project
The Natchbox
Thimbly Things
Thousand Threads
Three Buttons
tis rhubarb
Tissue papers
TreeFall Design
truth be told
tsk tsk
unbecominglily
vanilla pixie
whosies
wide eyed wonderfuls
you SEW girl
your cover's blown

On my desk... is posted on a Wednesday. It's just a shot of your desk & maybe a bit of banter. Let us know what you're working on or what interesting bits & pieces have crossed your desk during the week.

There is a wonderful blog here - sharing the desks & creative spaces of really clever creative folk. I only found out about this blog after the Wednesday thing began...

Our Wednesday gig is just a bit of fun.

Comment on this post if you decide to play along & I'll add you to the link list.

This list will be updated frequently so feel free to join at any time.

There is no obligation at all - post when you feel like it. Just super casual & a bit of fun.

Button Code if you'd like it:

<a href=" http://kootoyoo.blogspot.com/"><img src="//farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2607211450_e50e1fc40b.jpg?v=0"/></a>

I mentioned it last week.

I've finished my contribution & I'm ready to mail it on for the next "random dispatch from the blogosphere".

If you would like to know more about the project visit here, or better yet just sign up! I had fun.

I love a challenge & it's probably what I value most about the whole craft/blog thing. I really enjoy watching other wonderful people challenge themselves & I'm seeing plenty of evidence of it around:

Jhoanna preparing for her solo show,
Angela's off on her first international adventure,
Pip's editing like a woman posessed,
Cam's opened her shop,
Lexi is forming a solid habit &
Claire's keyboard is red hot.

Girls to stick like glue to ... for sure.

with Allan Robison

So I know I've raved on about the new beginnings obsession about a million times before. I just love the "honeymoon faze" of a project. It's interesting...once mastered it loses its appeal.

The spark, discovery, thrill & ultimate satisfaction are what it's all about.

It's lucky I met the date when I did because with this current obsession he probably wouldn't have lasted & I can tell you he's a keeper!

I've had 5 new beginnings this week. Any craft project that involves a date with Allan Robison fabric is bound to be a winner.

for crafty pursuits lately. The image above is me faking it til I make it!

The lovely Ingrid has posted recently about being a craft fraud & I admit I feel the same way this week. I can't crochet or knit much either but it's just unfinished business I'm referring to.

I've been at work lots & being a mum lots & that hasn't left much spare time.

I've got a list a mile long of things I want to finish up:

my broomstick needle project.
my use what you have project.
something for this girl.

Plus a whole host of other stuff which is overdue.

I'm supposed to be cleaning the house tomorrow but I think I'll sack that plan & have a crack at finishing off a few projects that have been hanging around for far too long.

The date & I went to Maybe We Have Met Before at Kick on the weekend. Sean Morris's illustrations on wood were right up my alley. If you haven't been you should - it's good.

& yay hooray Brown Owls tonight. I've missed those crafty souls. See you tonight.

I teased you with this fabric a couple of weeks ago. It's Shannon Lamden "eggshells". I never buy new fabric but I've relaxed my op shop policy to support local artists.

My plan is to share more of the process of the makings. As this project is almost complete the project notes will be on high speed - you should get to see the finished product tomorrow.

& as an added bonus the fabric is totally reusable.

We're all about the new house at the moment. The kids are so excited about their new rooms.

The smallest needed a toy box to store her super favourite things & so we set about covering an old Australia Post box. This is a great project to tackle with kids as they can handle much of it alone & therefore really feel as if they've made it themselves. I thought you might enjoy a "how to" for a bit of rainy holiday fun.

Select your fabric & trim the box up. You need to keep the "lid" of the box as this will become the base.

Position your box so that the fabric folds up the sides & down the inside of the box (just reaching the base of the box on all sides). Cut to size.
Tip: we used a single doona/duvet cover & it was the perfect width for the standard Australia Post mailer, so we only needed to cut a bit off the length.

Spray both the fabric & the box with spray adhesive.

Smooth all the sides flat & secure with pegs. Once you've done that you can manipulate the corner fabric so that it gathers nicely. Once you're happy with the placement just masking tape the fabric down to secure.

Now just cover the base piece of the box (formerly the lid trimmed to fit) with a contrasting fabric & push it into the bottom of the box.

I say that this is temporary but I made one of these for the big girl 8 years ago & it's still going strong!

I love her treasure selections...owl by me, crochet granny square blanket by a family friend, peg bear by One Red Robin, knitted ballerina by Aunty Pat & the pink softie is Loobylu's project from Meet Me at Mikes The Book.

Spending time with circles, sketches & the sewing machine today.

I'm making a start on some more neck pieces & the beginnings of my quilt project square too.

Did you know that someone has already completed their quilt project block? Amazing!

Time for me to get my skates on.

The convent is located at 1 St Helliers Street Abbotsford in Melbourne.

More information about how to get there here.

What better venue to have our quilt stitched by (mainly)women displayed than at the convent?

If you've been following the project & you're available on the 23rd we'd love to see you.

Just RSVP by replying to my RSVP comment on this post or if you're shy you can email.

The Quilt Project site will be launched on this evening also & will be live on the 24th of October.

This is a little something I made for a giggle & for you.

I'm hoping that I'll give Pickering (mine's safe for work folks - I promise) a run for his money & grace the back of toilet doors globally...nationally...locally...ok at least at Claire, Christie & Shazza's places because they encouraged me to take on this project in the first place.

I've been tinkering away on this for a couple of months...since you first got a laugh out of my noticing & beret shots. All crafty "disguises" have been fashioned by me, some especially for the project & some were just loitering about the house in various states of completion.

I dragged the little guy in to check out my "folio". He watched in horror as I flicked through the images & then we had this conversation...

Little guy: "Mum, this is terrible. Nobody is going to want this."
Me: "It's free buddy."
Little guy: "Even then Mum. Only your friends will look at it, because they'll feel sorry for you."

I'm confident that anyone who reads here regularly will enjoy the calendar & take it in the spirit in which it's intended. For any new-to-me folk who are saying to themselves "This girl's got a touch of the Warren Beattys about her." - well, there's something in there for you too. x

Get your free 2011 calendar here.

A very happy weekend to you all.

PS: Thanks Jod for the scribd assistance.

Ambient light in 5 minutes flat!

The jar lights I made created quite a bit of interest.

The benefit of using LED lights over tealights is safety & if you're having an outdoor party you don't need to worry about weather as the light would of course be protected by the lid of the jar.

Edit: I used large jars which were purchased very cheaply from a homewares store but used kitchen jars would work too. If you want uniformity with the the lids then perhaps a coat of paint?

The LED battery operated lights that I used were purchased from Bunnings. They are OSRAM brand "Dot-it" lights. They are around the $10 mark but they do just go on & on & on. I've also seen them at lighting shops.

I'm seriously considering setting up something in the garden similar to this brilliant piece of garden art...

freshly installed
& 3 months later

which was inspired by Margie's project here.

Of course, you don't really need a how to...it's a speed demon type project. Forge ahead, have a crack & you can't really go wrong.
How to contain the light
View more presentations from kootoyoo.

& because I wanted to try out the embed feature through Google Docs...

you just need to click the little icon in the top right (open in new window) if you want to print the pdf.

If you liked this idea you might also like the wrapped tealights.