Elegance Christening ensemble #2

The Elegance Christening Ensemble comes in three color choices for the class and kits. I only have the pink and white one made up

so I have to make another one in the ivory and white combination. The other one is all white. It's a good time to go over the instructions, get more photos and generally tidy everything up in preparation of teaching the class at Sewing at the Beach 2018.

I've been busy ordering supplies.

Preparing and drafting the 6-9 month size in for printing the pattern.

And finally starting construction of the ivory and white christening gown.

There is so much to do preparing a class but it's all fun, creative and challenging. I love that!

Credit Card Holder

It's been a while since I've posted. But I've been busy making clothing for the grand daughters that have been mailed off for one all-important birthday! What does that have to do with a credit card holder, you say?? Well, now it's time to do a quick project just for me. One that's been in my head and VERY necessary today. I really dislike people who make their "living" skimming off of other, honest, hard working people. Skimming is the technical word for credit card theft using a device that's put illegally on ATMs, gas pumps, and the best of all, into computers. Computers.... like when you're waiting for a plane in the Atlanta Airport and someone walks by with that loaded computer, or sits next to you, and basically gets your credit card information without lifting a finger...or maybe one or two on his keyboard while he innocently walks slowly past while you're having a quick bite to eat. As you can tell, it happened to me on Terminal B coming back from teaching a workshop. Bummer.

So after doing some research I learned about RFID blocking fabric. It's impregnated with silver copper and who knows what else, but it stops those skimmers from getting your information. It's not washable, but that really doesn't matter to me. Do a search and you can find it at several fabric and notions websites. I've been temporarily using an "Altoids" tin for my cards, but that really doesn't have enough style or creativity, right?

So I tried a Vogue purse pattern with lots of options, including a credit card holder. Made it up, but it didn't work: the card tops were visible and I just felt it wasn't safe enough. I kept thinking about something simple, easy, quick and stylish. Then I thought about a project bag like the one in this post about Sewing at the Beach 2018.

I used a basic 6" square to start for the back, and one 3" x 6" rectangle for the front top, and a 3 1/2" x 6" rectangle for the front bottom. One-half inch seams included in the measurements. The outside fabric is the wrong side of a velvet upholstery fabric (right side is under the holder in the photos). The interlining is the RFID fabric, and the lining is some leftover turquoise polished cotton.

I rounded the corners because the fabrics were pretty thick...easier to turn right side out and press to get that pretty rounded corner. Here's the result and I love it!

Of course I couldn't just leave the zipper plain. Hand to make a "Dingle Dangle" from leftover beads. The card holder is just big enough to put some cash in, maybe a lipstick. Perfect!

Sewing at the Beach 2018 Raffle Basket

It's all done. I'm so glad to be ahead of schedule, to complete my contribution to Sewing at the Beach 2018. The combination of fabrics, buttons, beads and satin cord came together beautifully.

The Notions Nécessaire has big beads (silver and aqua) on the ends of the ties. All of the fabrics were used inside on the pockets, needle book, scissor case, spool keeper, pincushion and emery. The project bag is made from all four fabrics with the quilted fabric inside for extra padding. The Sewing Machine Necessary (it sits under your sewing machine with the convenient pockets hanging down in front) has bias binding in the aqua fabric, the pockets are bound in the pink and the hanging tab at the top is the gray. It's under everything in the photo.

The pincushion is a cutie, and sits inside the Necessaire surrounded by the Spool Keeper. I "fussy cut" the pincushion fabric top to center the pink circle.

The strawberry sitting on top of it is filled with Berryhill Heirlooms Authentic Emery. And look how the ribbon rose just glows with the ombre ribbon. I just know someone will be delighted to win this raffle prize at Sewing at the Beach 2018!

Notions Nécessaire Raffle Basket

Every year I try to make something special for Sewing at the Beach 2018 as a fund raiser since I'm fortunate enough to be on the faculty again this year. Don't always get a raffle basket done, and if not, I supply some goodies for a gift basket. This year I'm ahead of schedule. I had four really cute fabrics that I bought from Chadwick Heirlooms just for this purpose. It's so easy to select great quilting fabrics from their quilt department!

I'm making up my own pattern of the Notions Necessarie, a sewing notions "purse". It's mostly machine sewing and only a little hand work so it works up fairly quickly. Here's a photo of the fabrics. The white quilting fabric on the left is for the project bag and the Sewing Machine Necessary pattern, a mat with pockets that sits under your sewing machine.

Usually I do some machine embroidery on the front but I decided to do something different this time. Something unusual with ribbon work. I had all of the supplies on hand: wired ribbons, stamens, buckram.

And resource books. I thought the idea of the rose would echo the "circles" in the aqua fabric and the stamens would echo the white sprays coming out of the circles on the aqua fabric. I experimented with different types of leaves.

I made a couple more things for the raffle basket with the same fabrics. Like a zipper pull for the project bag. And a matching scissor fob. So much fun to make!