Tea anyone?

Several months ago I made an apron and had fabric left over.  Fabric scraps + a need for new coasters = a quick Sunday project!  Now to get outside and enjoy a beautiful evening!

Finished the "house pouch"

Ok... just one more Zakka project to show!  This is the completion of the House Pouch.

Open the zipper...

Put in the "food"...  Will it all fit?

Yes, indeed!

Zip it up, and here it is -- a house full of "food" just waiting in the toy box for little visitors!

The LAST Zakka Sew-along entry!

Has it really been 24 weeks of Zakka sewing?  I'm actually amazed that I've made every project -- well...the first one in the book is just about finished.  The sew-along project was to make a project from the book a week.  I managed to make twenty-two of them within the weekly deadline for entering at LRStitched; one of them was completed several weeks late (the zig-zag bag), and the very first project in the book is just about finished!  It has been great fun!

Now -- for the last project -- a set of nesting fabric boxes.  I waited until the last minute to get started on mine, and then today woke up sick.  Therefore... my nesting boxes are at this point A BOX.  I love how it turned out, so will likely finish off the two larger ones when I'm feeling better.  I decided to go with the blue fabrics again to keep that nautical look going.

I did not add the quilting embellishments suggested in the book, but decided to ...

keep it simple!

The bottom is hand-sewn onto the side pieces.  I enjoy hand sewing and enjoyed the process.

For the inside I used a pre-quilted fabric.  This, along with the suggested batting really helps the box sides to keep their shape.

Perfect for holding a few other Zakka projects!

  Here is the ALMOST finished project #1 -- the house clutch.  All I need to do is add the lining and zipper.

Happy Garland Message Board

This week's Zakka project -- the next to last one -- was the quickest one to make, and quite fun.  Last evening, while supper was baking in the oven, I was in my sewing nook (right next to the kitchen) cutting triangles and stitching them down.  The results?  A very cute message board.

As I planned this project, I thought I would make something that would fit in my sewing nook area.  How useful this will be as a message board I'm not sure, but I decided it would be a nice way to remember the past 6 months of Zakka sewing!  My sewing nook has yellow walls with blue and white features, so after looking through my fabric stash, decided to go with some leftover blue linen as the background. The yellow-painted hoop adds a bit of pizzaz to the project.  The tiny clothes pins are so cute -- maybe I will post notes after all!   I'm posting this project at LRStitched.

If you look really close you will notice some stitching that just did not stop!  Literally!! My machine is having an wiring problem (??) -- it keeps sewing even after lifting my foot off of the foot pedal!  Yikes...  I'm hoping to make it through the last project before taking it in for service.

 I actually did a bit of non-Zakka sewing this week as well.  I found a pattern on pinterest for a tote by I Am Momma, Hear Me Roar.  It was a fairly quick sew, and I love how it turned out.  This one went to a friend at school who had also admired it on Pinterest.  I will definitely be using this pattern again, using a blue and white fabric from my stash.  Yep!  Blue and white seems to be a favorite right now.

Zakka Pleated Coin Purse

After 22 weeks of Zakka-style sewing projects, the end is in sight.  I say that with a bit of regret because this sew-along has been fun, challenging, and a great motivation to keep me sewing!  This week's project, the Pleated Coin Purse, is something I have wanted to try for a long time.  The frame I bought was a different size and shape than the one shown in the book, so I needed to adjust my pattern to make it fit.  I'm pretty pleased for my first attempt -- enough to want to make more, though perhaps using a different pattern.  The fabric I used for the outside was from the Robert Kaufman La Femme line.  It's from the collection I won several months ago.  For the inside I used some scraps of Amy Butler fabric I had on hand.  The color scheme was very similar.  I will be linking my project to http://lrstitched.com/. I ordered my frame and glue from a great source.  

This coin purse was fairly simple and I was able to finish it much earlier than I anticipated.  That is always a nice bonus!

Zakka Picture Frame

When I first looked through the Zakka Style Sewing book, I was not particularly drawn to this project.  I was tempted not to make it, but as I've kept up with all the others, I just couldn't let it pass without giving it a try.  And, as it turns out -- I kind of like it!

The Zakka frame uses linen on the side pieces and the backing.

The book instructions for the frame suggested piecing different fabrics to make a patchwork strip.  I preferred something a bit different this time.  This frame will hold a family picture of some kind, but for here I've put in a picture of the beautiful mountains!

No, I will not be putting a picture in the wreath on the door! :)  But I do like the way the berries frame the frame!

This was the first week with students back at school, so I'm glad the Zakka project was a quick and easy one.  For my Zakka friends -- I did put this together the "easy" way by using spray glue, rather than doing the ladder stitch on the back to secure the fabric.  I think the adhesive gave it a smoother look, which I am pleased with.  I'm posting at LRStitched and would love to be drawn for the prize this week (as I'm sure about 25 or 30 others would!)  It's a $75 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop!  Sounds like a fun give-away.

Little Pocket Pillowcase

Zakka project #19 is such a cute little pillowcase.  I'm sure a young child would be delighted to sleep with a fuzzy bear right by their side!  Here is my version of the project -- step by step.

No eyes on mine -- just a colorful tummy!

The most time consuming part of this project was the diamond pieced pocket.  I took the advice of another blogger/zakka participant and cut my diamonds the quick way!  I sewed 4 strips of fabric lengthwise, ...

...cut each strip on a 45 degree angle, ...

... and sewed the strips together using a 1/4 inch seam.  At this step you need to fold down the seam allowance first to make sure your points will match.  I was a bit off on some of mine. When I did not measure and match, though, I was WAY off.

The piece on the left was my first attempt at piecing this by sewing each individual diamond.  I was not liking how it was turning out.  Then I tried the strip method and was so very pleased.  It is so much quicker!

Here's my little cutie bear all tucked in his pillow!  

Rather than stuffing the ears and hands as the book suggested, I used a double layer of felt and sewed it into the bear sandwiched between the two right sides.  After turning right side out and stuffing, little bear looks quite plump. This little guy is made with some left over faux fur I had used for another project.  

As always, I am posting the Little Pocket Pillowcase at Lindsey's LRStitched.  I'm already beginning to wonder what project I'll work on when this sew-along is finished.  I may set a goal to make each of the projects I've pinned on Pinterest!  ...or maybe I'll piece a quilt to get in the frame for winter stitching ... or maybe...both!