Can't Stop Sewing: A Post With Many Photos

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Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.


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Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.


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Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.


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Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.


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Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.


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Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.


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Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.


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Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

Firstly, the Carlos Fund auction is now live. If you want to bid on my art quilt go here. If you want to see what else is available go here. This auction is to help out a young boy who was injured and lost his family in a car wreck. You can see a couple details of my quilt to the right.

Secondly, I've been sewing — a lot. I've finished these four skirts for myself and two for my sister. Still using our Sew What! Skirts self-drafted patterns. Mine now includes two darts on the rear for, ahem, roundness. I used three vintage fabrics and one new, and have been experimenting with different hem options. I think my favorite is the old fashioned seam binding sewn to the fabric edge, turned under, and hand stitched.

I also made two baby blankets: One (shown below) with Heather Bailey's Fresh Cut fabric; The other was tumbling sock monkeys in light blue with red binding. I missed getting a photo of that one because it was thought up and made the morning of the baby shower. I had a quick lesson in binding from our quilting friend who was visiting — thanks, Kathy! And, I was only 45 minutes late to the party. I do like a deadline, probably because of the adrenaline.

And, (insert heralding trumpets here) I made my first shirt! I was trying to make and finish it before Bethany's Chinese New Year dinner party and I succeeded. It took me two days. Luckily my mom entertained the kids for a whole day while I did most of the work. The second day I was on my own with the kids and barely got the arm facings and hem done. The fabric is Daisy Days by Erin Michael. The pattern is Simplicity 5197 "6 tunics made easy." Since it's a pullover I added darts to the back to make it less tent-like. The front still hangs pretty loose, but I was afraid to take it in any more without putting in a zipper. This way it still works with my nursing lifestyle. Speaking of breastfeeding, the cute little guy in the bottom photo is just starting to walk, which, along with my compulsive sewing, is keeping my posting time to a minimum.

Next up: How I'm a slacker swapper. And, how cool is Julie Knoblock.

Valentine Door

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Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

When I said, "Let's paint the windows for Valentine's Day," I didn't exactly mean the whole window. :) My mom had the idea of the heart cut outs.

For Carlos Fund Auction, Please Bid

For Carlos Fund Auction
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

Claire from Greenjewls is organizing a benefit auction for a young boy who lost his family in a fiery car wreck. Please visit her preview site in anticipation of the eBay auction, which will take place the last week of February. One of my mini quilts will be auctioned off, so I'll be posting reminders.

In addition to organizing the benefit, Claire has made at least two of her very special felted sweater blankies for the auction. I know they are very special because she made one for me right after our baby was born. She didn't even know me at the time. She was just a a person who read my blog. She's amazing! I rave about our blankie all the time because it's so great to use — big, soft, washable, colorful, full of love. So go bid on one of her blankets when the time comes, or find something else. I was just over there. I saw some letterpress notecards; vintage button and bead bracelets for grown ups and kids; and some nice art pieces.

Here's a blurb about the piece that I'm donating:
Dream — A mini quilt (approx: 8 by 16 inches) designed and hand-crafted by Michelle Russell of Green Kitchen using recycled and thrifted materials, including: vintage buttons, felted wool sweater, and a screen-printed napkin. A white cat sleeps amongst a button flower garden under a whimsical orange tree. The word *Dream* rests below.

Things Kids Say

Yesterday:
Grandma likes whiskey, I presume.

Awhile back:
Dada, you don't want people to see you naked. Nobody wants to see your balls.

Zip Zip Hurray!

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Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.


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Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

Sorry for the pun. Onto the post, shall we? Here is my beautiful sister modeling my very first skirt with a zipper, emphasis on the zipper. I bought the book Sew What! Skirts and it helped me get over my fear of the zipper foot. I always thought the button hole foot was the zipper foot. Those button hole feet still intimidate me, but the zipper one — no problem. They recommend gluing the zipper into place before sewing it. It works! I didn't have any sewing glue, so I used a regular glue stick, ironing it to set it quickly. Can you tell I have little patience? Or, maybe I just have little time, or both.

The book also teaches you how to draft your own patterns based on your measurements. This was really fun — it must fit my style of learning. Kristin was talking about this recently. I don't really know which category of learning style I fit in, but patterns are always a little intimidating to me. I'm a reference book kind of gal. That's what this is, all wrapped up in a contemporary and visually appealing format. After reading about what to do I would, then, ask my mom questions. If she tried explaining before I read it, I wasn't ready. So, thanks, mom and to all of you who have written about this book, because it was on your recommendation that I bought it. I already have one skirt finished and FIVE in the works. They're really fast. No wonder everyone sews!

Details about the skirt:
I drafted the "Tourist Trap" skirt, which is basically an A-line with no waistband. It has a side zipper and facing (because of the no-waistband). I didn't put on pockets, like in the pattern, or, do the double-fold hem. For the hem I used bias tape and wrapped it around the front for a decorative element. The fabric is a vintage sheet, much like this lovely stack.

Strawberries in the Sky — My Valentine to You

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Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

Love is in the air, or on the wall, perhaps? Ever since I got this vintage crochet afghan for Christmas I've been looking at the red squares and wondering what I could do with them, without taking the blanket apart. So, I scanned my favorite blocks from the blanket and this garland is what I came up with — inspired by the wonderful freebie from Jenny at Allsorts.

To make a garland: download file (see options below); print (use photo paper for better quality); cut out hearts (I left a little white around the outside); cut little slits on the widest part of the hearts(see photo); and thread some yarn through the slits (I used a tapestry needle). I hung my garland up in the window and the daytime back-lighting makes the images a little hard to see. My oldest said, "What are those strawberries in the sky?"

To download: you may, go to my Flickr, choose "All sizes," and pick the size of your choice. Or, download it directly from my server as a JPG (1.3 mb) or a PDF (4.4 mb). You will need to right click these to get them to download to your computer. These files are designed to fit on an 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of paper. There are two of each color, making a total of six hearts per sheet.

This heart garland download is for personal use only, please, no commercial usage. Copyright 2007 Michelle Russell