Monday, January 30, 2012

I survived Food Poisoning! Oh Happy Monday!

I hope you all had a much better weekend than me :) Unfortunately I got food poisoning late Thursday evening and pretty much wanted to die until Sunday morning, yuck! Nursing a baby, while at the vengeful mercy of some disgusting food borne bacteria is horrid. But alas I am 90% recovered, just wishin' for my energy levels to snap back.

Anywho I found this subway art on Pinterest this weekend and felt like I had to share:

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(image credit: Typeverything.com)

Love the arrangement! Although I must say I don't put all my stock in Luck. For me Luck=Blessed.

See you back in a day or two to introduce a fantastic new Quilt Designer who's work is going to blow your mind! Let's just say she's worked really, really, really, hard to get all her blessings!

May you all have a blessed week!


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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Fabric Envy Giveaway on Quilt Story!

Okay I've got a treat for you! If you're bummed that you didn't win the Paris Apartment half yard bundle, you've got another chance to enter to win some uber cute fabric! Today through Monday Quilt Story is hosting a giveaway for me for this great prize package!

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6"x6" Prince Charming Charm Pack by Tula Pink
Basic Grey Polished Blossom in Buttercup
2 yards Riley Blake Ruffle Elastic in Teal

To enter go to www.quiltstory.blogspot.com and leave a comment--simple!

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Check out this adorable quilt I found over on the Stitchin' Post Blog made using the Prince Charming Charm Pack. Too stinkin' cute!

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Good Luck!


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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

How To: Free Fabric Flower and Headband Tutorial from Fabric Envy

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I love making fabric flowers! There are so many ways to use them: from clothing, to hair or bag accessories, to home decor, and the list go on. I love using this particular design to make my little girls hair flowers. I usually sew them to an alligator clip for my 2 and 6 year old. For my little six month old I’ve attached the flower to a piece of Riley Blake Ruffle Elastic in Hot Pink and then made it into a headband, and oh boy (or should a say girl) is it cute!

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You could easily use scraps to make these flowers, but because I had very specific color schemes in mind I used these Fat Quarter bundles: Lark by Amy Butler, Secret Garden by Sandi Henderson, and Grand Bazaar by Patty Young. Because it uses so little fabric I’ve got lots of material left over to make little wallets, a clutch, or whatever else I can dream up!

This tutorial will show you how to make the flower. You can use the template to make three different sizes: Small-2 inch, Medium- 2 ½ inch, and Large-3 inch. Photobucket

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Supply List:

  1. Print and cut out the template (you can download the full size template here, or by clicking on the picture) for your desired flower size on heavy cardstock that can easily be used for tracing.
  2. Scissors
  3. Fabric scraps, for the large flower they need to be at least 3 ¼” x 3 ¼”
  4. A set of cover buttons: Size 30 (large flower), 24 (medium flower), and 20 (small flower). If you do not know how to cover a button you can check out my video tutorial for making cover button earrings here.
  5. Sewing needle and thread

**Cutting the Fabric**

  1. A Fat Quarter is approximately 18”x22”. I began by folding it in half (short side to short side) and placed it on my cutting mat. Because I wanted to pin and cut out all three flower sizes at once with as little fabric waste as possible I then cut my material at 6 ½ inches and then in a half again at 3 ¼ inches. Now I have two pieces of fabric measuring 3 ¼” x 22”. I’ve kept the fabric folded in half the entire time so that what I see is a 3 ¼ x 11 inch piece that will hold all three of my flowers perfectly with very little waste.

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  1. Keep your fabric folded and pin all three flower templates into place ( the picture shows all three different sizes, you can easily print out extra templates and cut them all the same size during this step). This will allow you to cut out two of each size at once. You’ll end up with a total of six petals. Be sure to save pieces of your scraps to make the cover buttons!
  2. Do this with the rest of your fabric assortment until you have at least 12 petals to complete one flower. I cut out 36 flower petals because I wanted to make all three sizes at once. Just cut out 12 of the same sized template if you want to make one flower.

**Putting the Flower Together**

  1. Get out your needle, and thread it with a long piece of coordinating thread.
  2. Take a moment to decide how you want the colors to look. Once you’ve chosen how to blend your fabrics you’ll begin to layer the flower.
  3. Stack up 4 petals for the base of the flower
  4. Take 4 petals and fold into a heart shape (in half 2 times)

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  1. Now take your needle and thread and grab one of your heart shaped petals and match it up to the petal shape underneath. Tack it down with a simple stitch.
  2. Next take another petal and place on the opposite side from the first petal and tack it down.
  3. Now add the third petal, and then the fourth to the opposite side of the third and tack down. I used a simple “X” stitch
  4. Do this one more time for a double-layered flower. The thickness makes it super cute!
  5. Now that the petals are all sewn together set aside and make your cover button. If you never covered a button you can check out my video tutorial here. (www.fabricenvy.blogspot.com, and click on tutorials)

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  1. Now it’s time to add the button to your petals and make the flowers center. Sew the button on by coming up through the bottom of the flower first with your needle and thread and insert it through the shank. Continue to sew until the button is firmly in place.
  2. Phew, now you have a beautiful flower! If you cut out more petals to make the medium and small flowers, then hop to it!

**To Make this flower**

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  1. You’ll need the same amount of petals for this one: 12
  2. Stack up 4 petals for the base of the flower
  3. Fold a few of your petals into heart shapes
  4. This time instead of tacking them down on opposite sides you’ll layer them on top of each other so that each petal is showing only half of the heart-shape.

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  1. Tack down petals a few at a time and finish the 8th petal by tucking it under the first until it all matches up. Because the flower uses all 8 petals in one layer there’s no need to do a second set.
  2. Now add your cover button and you’re done!

**Bonus Make Flower Headband**

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  1. Now that you’ve got a totally gorgeous flower on hand, you need to decide what the heck you’re going to do with it. I couldn’t help myself and made yet another headband for my daughters to wear. I used Ruffled elastic by Riley Blake in Hot Pink for the band. You can pick it up in my shop, here for only $1.00 a yard!
  2. Here’s a little guide to help you know what size to cut your elastic:

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  1. I cut my elastic at 17.5” to fit my two year old, then brought the two ends together and let it overlap by a ¼ of an inch to give me room to stitch it together.

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  1. Once the band is made you can sew your flower on. To finish it off I’ve hot glued on a very small piece of felt on the underside to cover my stitching/work and make it soft on my daughter’s head.

Now sit back and admire your creation you crafty chic!

Happy Sewing!

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Monday, January 23, 2012

Organic Pick a Bunch by Nancy Mims + Enter to Win a Purse!

Hey all I hope you had a fabulous weekend! Mine was filled with lots of house cleaning (not so much fun, but satisfying) a little sewing (which is always a big plus) and some much needed family time. We hit up Five Guys Burgers and Fries on Saturday and then went next door to Menchies for desert. The kiddos went crazy! Both place are completely delicious and Menchies provides an awesome atmosphere for families.

Anywho....Have you checked out Pick-a-Bunch by Nancy Mims yet? It's 100% organic, whimsical, and has a great color scheme. The "purpley-pinks" (ha, totally not a word but you know what i mean:) and reds are fantastic together. I'm carrying this fun organic quilt kit in the shop and I have lots of yardage, and Fat Quarter Bundles too!

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Two weeks ago I posted a tutorial by Designs by Dawn Nicole for an adorable Fat Quarter dress from Joel Dewberry's Heirloom. This week Dawn is hosting a giveaway on her blog for a darling Tote bag she made using Pick-a-Bunch. Head on over to enter the giveaway.



Come back to Fabric Envy tomorrow for my latest Fabric Flower tutorial.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Paris Apartment Giveaway Winner Plus a New Flower Tutorial From Fabric Envy!

Oh I had so much fun posting this giveaway! Thanks to everyone who participated. Our Lucky winner is..........

JenniferJan 16, 2012 08:59 PM
I'm a follower of your blog! Love all the incredible sewing and fabric inspiration!

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I'm a firm believer in a consolation prize so here's a 15% off code for all my readers, enter customer 15 at checkout for 15% off your entire purchase! Don't forget Paris Apartment is also on sale in the shop!

Here's a sneak peek at my next Free Tutorial, Fabric Flowers, coming on Tuesday. Be sure to come back and check it out!
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Happy Sewing and thanks for playing!

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Sunday, January 15, 2012

Welcome to Paris + a Giveaway from Fabric Envy

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*******Comments Closed*******

Paris has always been such a fascinating place to me. The Louvre', the Palace of Versailles, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Eiffel tower, and the list goes on. But more than these incredible landmarks Paris is host to a very rich and intriguing cultural history, and for me I can't help but think of all things romantic and fashionable :)

Have I ever been there? No, so perhaps I don't really know what I'm talking about lol, but a girl can dream right?

That's part of the reason I fell head-over-heels for the scrumptious Paris Apartment collections by Bari J. The colors, the vintage floral prints, the stripes--oo la la tres jolie! Ha my junior high school French teacher would be proud!

I had a chance to meet Bari J. at Quilt Market this last spring and she is wonderful. What a talented lady. You should check out her blog here.

Now here's were this post get good, It's giveaway time!


I'll be giving away a half yard bundle of 5 great prints from the collection.

To enter:

1. Leave a comment telling me what your favorite product is in the shop.

For extra entries:
1.
Become a Follower of the blog (leave an additional comment)
2. Like us on Facebook (leave an additional comment)
3. Sign up for our Newsletter, here. (leave an additional comment)
4. Follow me on Pinterest (leave an additional comment)

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The giveaway will close Thursday evening. I will announce the winner Friday at 12:00pm PST on the blog. If you're not the lucky winner don't fret, Paris Apartment is on sale in the shop. I've also got cute sewing patterns by Bari J. too that you'll want to be sure to look at. While you're there don't forget to check out these popular collections on sale now!

Sale Sale Sale!


Our SALE section is growing. We've just added these hot collections:
Prince Charming by Tula Pink
Alphbet Soup by Zoe Pearn
LouLouthi by Anna Maria Horner
Soul Blossoms by Amy Butler
Hyperreal Garden by Pat Bravo
Little Apples by Aneela Hoey

Good Luck, and Happy Sewing!

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Thursday, January 12, 2012

Like Fabric Envy on Facebook and get coupon codes!



Did you know I have a facebook fan page? Did you know I post special coupon codes for my fans from time to time? Now's your chance! Like Fabric Envy on facebook today and for the next 24 hours, until 1:45 pm PST. you can snag a great coupon code. Share the love and ask your friends to become fans too!

Thanks!

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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Lark by Amy Butler and other great New Arrivals at Fabric Envy

I just received all of these great collections this week. I cannot wait to see what you make with them!
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I can't get over the gorgeous color saturation in Lark by Amy Butler.

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Look at the darling Asian inspired print on Kaori Kokeshi from Alexander Henry.

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David Walker's Get Together from Robert Kaufman is destined to find it's way into my own personal stash! The Greenhouse Flannels by Erin McMorris and the Loulouthi Flannels by Anna Maria Horner are so soft and screamin' to be used in a project for my six month old!



Enjoy this fun little video highlighting the Lark collection. Amy's husband David Butler put this together for her. He's also coming out with an amazing new collection called Curious Nature. Rest assured I will be stocking lots of Curious Nature, it's due to release in February. The collection is to die for! What a talented guy.