Divided Basket

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE the Divided Basket by Noodlehead.  I think this basket is the perfect gift for many occasions.  

Having a baby?  You need this basket

Holds diapers, burp cloths, bath supplies perfectly.

Have special fabric you want to highlight?

A gift for someone special?  This one was for my sister in law, she picked the fabrics and is using it to hold tissues and wash cloths in her bathroom.

I love the happy spring colors in this one.  Could be an Easter basket!

The measurements of this basket are approximately 13" length 8" tall 8" deep.  I use 3 layers of interfacing to keep the bag sturdy and standing tall.  I use either quilting cottons or japanese cotton/ linen blends.  

If you would like a custom basket, email me fairlymerry@gmail.com 

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Mary

For Brandy

When Brandy bunny came to live with me, I wanted to make her a special pad, for her to lay on in her cage.  I used some of my precious Japanese fabric charms I had from a swap.  Brandy is worthy of my Japanese stash.

I used 2 layers of batting and Japanese fabric on the back.  I like the thicker Japanese fabrics for something that I want to be sturdier than just quilting fabric.

I think she likes it.

Bunny approval

One of the things I did to organize my sewing room was go through my scraps

I had them all in a large bag and spilling out on the floor around the bag.  

I have 4 scrap buckets now, sorted by colors and one for solids.  Makes it a lot easier to find a small piece, rather than sorting through the whole pile.

What does this have to do with Brandy?  She likes to use them as a step to see out the window.

She will also jump up on my chair and get on the sewing table to see what I'm working on.

Everything warrants bunny approval

Keep Calm and Quilt On

Mary

Got Rabbits?

You may know from my Instagram feed (Fairlymerry), and from here, that we have a few bunnies for pets.  They live in our home, they have their very own room, they are quite a spoiled bunch.

We had these 4 for a long time, and sadly, Pepper the black Netherland Dwarf passed after a long illness.  That was Dec 2011, she was 8.

These two are rescues, Velveteen and Peanut

After having old buns for awhile we decided to go crazy and get babies.

This is Stitch & Patch, born Dec 2012

So we had 5, and the young ones provided much entertainment

In Sept 2013 our special Bandit passed, she was 11, she was part of our family since she was 8 weeks old.  We still miss her

Early this year, we decided to foster some bunnies from a rescue place we visit.  That is where we picked up Peanut in 2008.  We picked up these two babies to 'foster' and have since neutered 'Rocky' - the castor colored male.  The mother was abandoned at a vets office and she had a litter of six satin kits.  We still are finding the right name for the girl.  I'm pretty sure that fostering for us means, they won't be leaving us.

 Because I am highly allergic to rabbits, I thought it would be a good idea to bring home this 'foster' who hasn't left either.  Everyone should embrace their allergies the way I do.  I named her Brandy, as the name she had was dumb and obviously she is a Brandy.

Because the other bunnies didn't really like Brandy (I think they are jealous of her fabulous color) she lives in my sewing studio.  Naturally, that's what you do when you have a big time allergy, you get the biggest one available and move her into the space you are in the most.  

Brandy is a flemish giant and weighs about 15 lbs (which is actually a small flemish giant)

She likes hanging out while I sew

Keep Calm and Quilt On

Mary

Studio Reorganizing

Well, there comes a time when you can no longer find the path you made through all the projects, new fabric, supplies, shipping boxes, and bunny supplies that are scattered about on the floor, counter, cutting table, and sewing table.  

Naturally, first thing is to organize your sewing machine presser feet.  Right?  Actually, first is to locate all the presser feet.

I had some in drawers.

Some in the Bernina Accessories case, which I call the Bernina dollhouse.

Some in fishing tackle boxes

When all collected I filled two dollhouses

And then I found more

I have feet that I don't know how to use, I have triple of some feet, I have feet I have no idea why I purchased, I have feet that I probably will never use.  In my defense, I do have two different size Bernina machines which have the same numbered foot, but a different stitch width opening.  

I also have a fun app on my tablet which will help me keep track of these feet, and tells me what each foot is for on the sewing machine.  Also, to keep me from buying anymore duplicates and triplicates.

Bernina Accessories Mobile App

Keep Calm and Quilt On

Mary

A Totally Tote

This was the tote I made for my Sew Sew Modern 4 partner

The back side

I'm working on a tutorial for this tote which will be up shortly, so please come back and look for it.

I used Joel Dewberry for the exterior prints, and a Kona solid, Kaffe Fassett plaid is in the interior.

More photos with the tutorial.

The tutorial won't have this pattern on the front, this is a free paper piece pattern from Sew What Sherlock and I used it specifically for this project for the swap; but you can certainly make it for your tote!  

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Mary

Minky blankets

I so love the look of baby Minky blankets, the softness the cuddliness.  I so dislike sewing with minky.  It's a mess.  Don't wear black.  Plan on wiping everything off with a swiffer when you are done.  

Minky has several names:  Minky, Shannon Cuddle, Soft and Comfy.  Those are just the names from the different manufacturers.  I have used different brands, and they seem to behave the same.

This is my go to baby blanket at the moment.  

Using flannel for one side and minky for the other.

I use a light fusing material for the baby's name and stitch on to the minky before sewing the blanket together.

I stretch and tape the piece of minky onto the floor and then lay the flannel on top (right sides together), then pin around all the edges to hold it together.  A few pins in the center, but since I won't be quilting this it doesn't need many in the center, but a lot around the edges.  I have never spray basted these, so I don't know how that would work.  

This one was a long name and it took what seemed like hours to get the letters on, and make sure I was spelling it correct.  Next time I'll go with initials for these 9 letter first names.

I used some Cloud9 flannel on the back of this one!

With right sides together I sew around the perimeter using my #1 foot, the walking foot doesn't seem to work as well, even though I keep wanting it too.  I use a 1/2" seam allowance and leave a 5" opening for turning.  The minky likes to stretch while you sew, I just work with it, sometimes there is a little extra over hang after sewing and I trim that off.  I think the sewing goes best with the minky on the bottom, hitting the feed dogs.  After turning I go around the perimeter twice for reinforcement.  

These were all done in February.  I have, I don't know, a dozen more to go.  Seems everyone is having babies these days.  

Keep Calm, and Quilt On!

Mary