Luggage Tags and Flowers

Just a quick shot of the petals and leaves for the garden quilt!

Then some experimenting with luggage tags. I read an online tutorial that used the packaging that sheets and bedding come in, and I happen to keep those. I'm not complete sure how I feel about them. I think a string through a grommet might look better then a sewn in strap. Surprisingly the plastic is easy to sew through. I wonder if it will tear easily though, because it kind of looks 'perforated' if you know what I mean!

 And I'm picking up the Japanese quilt again. I bought some backing in Grande Prairie last month in this lovely orange color, and I'm thinking this multicolored orange thread will look great against the black.

 Close up of thread

 And here is our pups, sleeping in the sunshine. It's since snowed again. Go away snow!

Garden Path Quilt (continued)

I made some adjustments to the corner pieces. Originally they were supposed to be a pink check, which look s great with the quilt as a whole, but right next to the roosters? It looked horrible! So I substituted the blue 'comb' fabric - I'm sure this might not be the only one I make...

I used my GO quilt cutter to cut a lot of the strips needed, which worked great. I still made a lot of mistakes cutting though! But nothing that's not fixable, even if I have to patch a few strips together!

And here is what we are supposed to do before the next meeting in it's final form!

There are flowers and leaves that will be appliqued in the centre, so it won't look as bare as it does right now. I chose the brown and pink check for the flowers, I hope it works out! There were 84, count 'em, 84 of each to cut out! I purchased some traceable vinyl to use to make the pattern for the flowers, much easier to trace and cut out then using cardboard.

You can see the pink check in the corner block - it would really have clashed with the roosters!

Dollar Store Closet Re-Vamp

Well the closet is a wee bit closer to being finished. I started adding back baskets I had bought previously for the closet, and then bought a few more. Then I realized that I need some small baskets to sort things a bit more (ie. first aid stuff is all thrown together)

 I added some dollar store lights, just to help out a bit. Dollar Store Couture!

 I need to get some new towels, I'm leaning towards grey and charcoal (hides dirt well!) and I'm contemplating blue or maybe even orange in the bathroom! Maybe grey bathroom and orange towels? 

They should all blend together, right?

 I had bought these little label holders from the dollar store a long time ago, and while they look super cute, they'll have to be replaced. The stick out to much and I *know* they will be pulled off when I pull out a basket! I'll have to figure something out, because the labels look very cute!

I also want to create an emergency kit to store in the closet. Something that can be picked up and carried easily. Perhaps a backpack? <off to do some research into what goes in an emergency pack>

Linen Closet Revamped

So. Linen closets. We have one. It's special, lined not with dry wall but cheap boarding of some sort. The shelves are all scraps and bending. Not impressed. It's fugly.

And I found a bonus after prying the shelves out. It's dated 1982! I was .. um.. 8 years old? I'm (fairly) sure this is a photo of a guy so the locket is kind of odd.

So this board needs to be primed before painting.. even the primer didn't coat it very well.. but the actual paint color (blue) coated very well. I was a bit meh on the color, but it's hard for me to get back to the hardware store so I was using it. The problem is it's a bit dark for a closet with no light, so I may need to add a light in here somehow.

I planned out my boards and drew it up on CAD - one of the cool things about being an architectural technician - I draw up all kinds of things on the computer, including patterns for sewing! Then I asked for some helping cutting them out. I don't like big saws!
I then sanded the shelves and painted them to match the closet. With a bit more help the supports were all put in place and the shelves are up! I've touched up a few spots and I'm waiting for them to dry as we speak.

 I've got some painter's tape up around the door frame as it needs to be painted, as does the door. I may take the door off first as there is an mdf panel that will be attached. I am not sure what I will attach to the door, either some small shelves, baskets, perhaps a strip of magnet to hold tweezers and nail clippers?

Odd how the closet doesn't look that dark in the photos, but it's just the flash, trust me, it's dark!
Here you can see how some of the different styles of shelves. I wanted the u-shaped ones for smaller items and it uses the space better. I also show one of the baskets I purchased from the dollar store for holding items. So, I'm getting closet to being finished!

Sleep Masks

I decided I needed a few smaller projects. I think it's important when you are working on long term projects to have some smaller things to work, to keep you inspired.
I love sleeping with complete blackness - ironic because I was scared of the dark my whole childhood, and even as a teenager. I'm sure this had something to do with having a vivid imagination and watching to many horror movies!

I decided to whip up some sleep masks. I had a bunch of felt to use as liners and lots of small pieces of fabrics, including some super soft flannel type fabric (nice against the face!)

I've also been playing with the settings on my camera, as I (and my sister haha) were unhappy with the lighting. So without further ado, here is the photo with normal settings and no flash...

 Here it is with the flash and the incandescent setting on (I forgot the flash was on)

 And here it is with no flash and incandescent setting on.. winner winner chicken dinner!!

 and here are the sleep masks in all their glory! maybe I'll sell some or give some away as gifts.. I love how these don't use to much fabric, a good way to use up some smaller pieces.