Zakka Bread Basket - #18

This week's Zakka project is a bread basket.  I loved the designer fabric choices in the Zakka Style Sewing book, and even had very similar fabrics on hand.  An unusual vintage fabric I had found some time ago, though, kept coming to mind.  It didn't really "call out" to me as bread basket fabric, but I decided to go with it.  Here it is...  with several other than bread options!

The front and back are Essex white linen.  I fussy cut the mailbox motif from the vintage fabric, placed it on top of a mustard linen piece, and sewed them both onto the front.  

The sides/handles are cut from the vintage fabric.

Use #1 -- Breadstick Basket!  Yummmm...

Use #2 -- Flower vase holder! -- Why not?

Use #3 -- Specialty Tea bag.

And, Em, this is for you --  A Windshield Wiper holder!! :)  I couldn't resist!

I'm linking at LRStitched today.

Zakka #17 Delightful Linen Bag

With 16 Zakka projects "under my belt" and 7 more to go -- I'm beginning to wonder what other sew-along I may want to join!  This week's project -- Delightful Linen Bag -- was created by Mette Robl from http://mette-erleperle.blogspot.com/.

Laying out the fabric -- trying to get a feel for what to use.

On several recent projects I have enjoyed using pieces of dresser doilies as accents.

I changed my fabric choices a little as I went along.  The designer of the project sewed bits of fabric and trim to the front of her bag.  On mine, I decided to make a little pocket using a pink linen and accented with this piece of doily.

Ideas for use?  I'm thinking it would make a lovely gift bag -- with a spot for a gift card in the pocket.

I am posting my project at LRStitched.

Peach Cake

Mmmm, mmmm, good!  There are some seasonal foods that are just so good because you only make them at certain times.  Peach Cake is one of those treats for me. Peach cake really is not cake, but more like -- sweet bread with a peach on top!  It's not overly sweet -- it's not fancy -- it's just "Peach Cake."

Make a basic sweet dough recipe.  I cut mine in half as I only wanted to make 1 cake. Put the dough in a buttered pie plate.

Cover with a towel and let it rise a bit (30 minutes or so).

Meanwhile, cut peaches in half, remove pit, and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Leave the skins on.

Press peach halves into dough.  Sprinkle with MORE cinnamon and sugar.  Let rise a bit longer.

Bake in 375 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Cool just a bit, and enjoy!

Zakka Patchwork Ribbon

Yep! It's true -- Zakka style ribbon!  This little project is a great way to use up fabric scraps, AND have some interesting ribbon to use.

 I forgot to take pictures along the way, but to make this I sewed together a small patchwork using 12 squares.  After cutting 2 1/2 inch strips on a bias, I sewed them together into a long strip.  Then as the instructions in the book suggested, I folded the strip wrong sides together and stitched along the edges.  How simple can it get?  Others in the sew along have added great creativity to theirs.  For mine, I just decided to keep it simple and quick.  As always, I am posting at LRStitched.  By the way, if you click on this link, you will see my little elephant bookmark was one of the featured projects! That is just too fun!!

Don't Forget to Read!

Read lots of books this summer!  Those were my parting words as students left summer school ready to begin a few weeks of vacation.  This week's Zakka project is an elephant bookmark!  I read through some of the other Zakka sewer blogs about this little project, and liked the adjustment to the instructions this blogger made.  Rather than sew a seam and turn this tiny elephant right side out, she stitched wrong sides together and cut close to the stitching.  No turning necessary -- and more importantly -- a nice flat bookmark!  This is how I chose to make mine as well.

I used bits and pieces of my Amy Butler fabric scraps for the body and ear.

I added a medium weight interfacing to the wrong side of one piece of fabric before sewing around to add a bit more stiffness.  

This was by far he quickest Zakka project yet!

Pin It!

By "pin it", I mean real pins -- not a posting to Pinterest!  When sewing with stretchy jersey fabric ... and sewing curves ... one can never use too many pins!

Using lots of pins, and sewing with a stretch stitch on your machine, ...

helps to ensure nice smooth seams.  It takes a bit of time, but it sure pays off!

:)  Happy pinning!

The mystery project

The mystery project is completed ... and delivered. It has a little story behind it, so in the short form, here it is.  Not long ago my sister called me with a suggestion.  At her last visit to our mom's house she had found a vintage dress which had belonged to our great-grandmother.  She thought it would be great if I would make a Cindy Apron for our niece who is getting married.   I usually go with bright fabrics, so when I saw the brown, dark colors in this dress I sure had to think about how to make this work!

The great-grandmother dress!

I took my basic Cindy Apron pattern, made a few changes in design, and... here it is!

Cindy Apron #3.  I made box pleats for this one rather than a ruffle.  

The pockets are also box pleated, and embellished with an old embroidered linen.  

Straight line stitching of red thread helps to tie in the red trip at other places.  This and the use of off-white linen type fabric was also my way of "sneaking" in a bit of zakka style!

This piece was cut from the buttonhole section of the dress.  I backed this piece with red fabric, and used it for the neck strap.  I also added an elastic loop and button to make it adjustable.  

Thanks to this tutorial for the inspiration for the apron bib and boxed pockets.

Zakka Water Bottle Holder

This week's Zakka project was a water bottle holder.  I really was not sure it was something I would use, but after making it I do think it will be quite handy to throw across the shoulder when taking a walk ... must keep that water close by on these hot, hot days!  Or... perhaps it would be perfect for walking along the beach and holding all those little shells?!  I decided to use the same fabrics that I used for the Zakka tote bag -- with a beach theme.  Here is my take on it...

Lots of pinning to get that circle sewn on!

Simple running stitch at seam and top edge.

Yep!  I can see the bottom!

Interesting lighting on these next two pictures -- taken in the evening of a hot, hot day!

Shown with the short handle option.

Also... for my other project this week -- the mystery project is finished but not quite ready to reveal.  Here are the mystery pictures for today.

Mystery project is taking shape

Just a few shots today of the "mystery" project.  Things are taking a different shape than I first thought they would.

Lots of pinning!

Opps!  Is that a red thread I see??

Just have to add a bit of zakka!

Stay tuned for more!

A mystery project

It's a mystery project, so, of course, I can't tell what it will be yet.  It all starts with ...

...a vintage dress and fabric scraps.  Hmmm... even I'm not sure exactly how this will turn out yet.  But here goes!