Oink :)

Oink :), originally uploaded by rkkilmer.

Look at my new bag! I am so proud. I actually created this bag with no pattern. I have a leather purse some what like it and wondered if I couldn't recreate it in a fabric version? I knew I would need something with good drape. Echino's linen cotton blend with a lining of taupe linen proved to be just the thing. I found the D rings at Lowes. It's actually got several inside pockets. I can't wait to use it tomorrow. Oh, and yes- there are pigs on the fabric. And yes- I bought the fabric and made the purse because of him. I can't help it. I collect pigs:)

Big Muffin Pillow

Big Muffin Pillow, originally uploaded by rkkilmer.

So, yesterday I was able to swing by The Sewing Party in Laguna Hills with my friend Robin. I love this quilt shop! It is filled with the types of fabrics and projects that completely inspire me and make me want to rush home and just sew in to the wee hours of the morning. I purchased an original pillow pattern designed by the shops owner. It is a 18" little pillow with a really interesting shape. It can be made with just 2 fat quarters and a spare 15 minutes. The pillow pictured here is 36" and I quilted the top piece, although I don't think you can see that detail in the photo. There is supposed to be a button centered on each side. I made the buttons, but when I tried to attach them I lost the doll needle in the stuffing!!! It's already 1:00 in the morning, so I am going to have to fix it in the morning. I can't wait for Charlotte to see it. She wanted a Hello Kitty pillow and I think she is going to love this one.

My New Apron

My New Apron, originally uploaded by rkkilmer.

Now that I am finally settled in my new home, I have created a make shift sewing space and have resumed crafting! My space definitely needs more work, but for now- at least I am able to function. Yesterday's creation was this pretty little pleated apron. I found a tutorial here : http://www.themotherhuddle.com/tutorial-pleated-apron-with-built-in-hot-pads/
The author of this pattern actually put hot pads down in to the corners of the apron, so that you were never without them. Also, her apron used one yard of fabric and was not lined. I chose to nix the hot pads and use 2 coordinating fabrics so that I my apron would be finished and reversible. It worked beautifully. I wanted to French seam the waistband, but am unsure if this will make the apron lay funny. I am gonna give it a try though, because it's not reversible if I don't.
I am pleased with the finished look. I actually went to bed last night imagining 4 more aprons and how I can adapt the pattern with my own personal embellishments. I am contemplating one where I hand embroider the phrase "I Hate Housework" very fancily across the bottom.

Malabrigo Cowl

Malabrigo Cowl, originally uploaded by rkkilmer.

Well, hello all :) Sorry to have been so silent lately. Life has been rough. Since I last posted, I moved. My sewing room is still packed up so I have been knitting. I love the yarn by Malabrigo. I recently completed this cozy neckwarmer with a skein of happy green that I had laying around.
I am determined to organize my space tomorrow and sew something. Even if it's just a single block!
Stay tuned. I'll post whatever I accomplish tomorrow.

Thanksgiving Day Pillow

Thanksgiving Day Pillow, originally uploaded by rkkilmer.

I am hoping to write a pattern for this pillow sham and then teach it in a class. I am also going to do up a Christmas sample tomorrow. Or rather, seeing as how I am writing this post at 1:42 AM, later today :)

My Halloween Bolster Pillow

My Halloween Bolster Pillow, originally uploaded by rkkilmer.

So, I was in Sacramento recently and I was fortunate enough to visit several very nice shops in the area. In one such shop, I found a Halloween quilt pattern that I had to have. It consisted of various nine patches arranged in the center on point. Surrounding the middle patchwork was an elaborate pieced border of solid cream fabric. Embroidered onto each piece of cream fabric was some portion of the "Haunted Village". I have been scouring fabric stores in search of just the right fabrics to use. Of course, this search has lead me to purchase quite a few Halloween themed fabrics that I have no intention of using for my quilt, but still could not bear to leave in the store. So, at about 11 PM last night, as I was busy "petting" the newest members of my stash - I was also reviewing some of the blogs I follow on a regular basis. One in particular is www.quiltdad.com There is a button on his blog that is for a pillow swap that he is a part of. I find myself reviewing the flickr photos of these finished beauties and before I know it, my Halloween bolster pillow was born. Mind you, it was now 2 in the morning. That happened befire I knew it too. My friend Robin has ablg that I follow as well. You can see her over there on the right hand side of my page, "Robin's Quilts" Every Monday she posts whats she's got on her design wall. SInce I completed this in the wee morning hours of Monday, I am calling this my contribution to Design Wall Monday :)

Halloween softie 2

Halloween softie 2, originally uploaded by rkkilmer.

Behold my new fascination! Does this ever happen to you? I was in my local Hancock Fabrics for sewing needles. That was all I needed. I had actually finished a quilt this past weekend, so I felt like I was on a roll. I had never machine quilted before. So, after the success of my last project I thought I would tackle an even bigger quilt. However, a funny thing happened to me while I was shopping for needles. The store had a display of all of their Halloween fabric right smack in the middle of the shop. Someone had taken a McCalls sewing pattern for "wacky creatures" and had a dozen little Halloween softies on display. I was hooked! I had to have them for my babies. I went home and made 4 by the end of that night. I ran out of stuffing, or I probably would have made more. The pattern was great. It came with 2 different body styles, 6 different arm shapes, 5 different ear choices, and 6 different leg choices. It was formatted in a mix and match sort of way. I simply chose what I wanted and I used my handy dandy pattern ease to create my little one of a kind creatures to use over and over again. I plan to embellish the next ones, but just went with a simple bow on this one. I knew my daughter was going to immeditely take it to sleep with her, which she did. Didnt want any buttons or what not coming off.