Final Results of Sewing Class - Scrap-bags™ Braided Bucket Bag - purse pattern.

Saturday, I taught a class for my Braided Bucket Bag pattern. Below are the results and comments from the students. I thought they did an awesome job! Great results.  We started at 10:30 am and were finished by 4:00 p.m. with a 45 minute lunch break.

This is Roxanne's Bag

Here's what Roxanne said: "I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to participate in one of Jamie's classes or try her patterns, to do so.  This was not my first time sewing one of her bags, but even more fun than the last one. We had a great time and the day just flew by. I left with a completed project, which doesn't happen too often for me.  My daughter Katie even stopped in for a while to meet Jamie, she was just as inspired as I was, and almost took my bag back to college with her, but I had to promise her we would do a larger version for her to use at school for her books and lap top. Keep up the good work Jamie, you are an inspiration to all of us!  P.S. LOVE all the pockets, as I am somewhat of a gadget girl, I will fill them all."

Left - Sarah, Facing- Annette, Right - Sue, Roxanne has her back to the camera.

Scrap-bags™ Knotty But Nice Bag made the Top 10 List of Handmade Bags and Purses!!!

Thanks to all of you that voted! There were over 70,000 votes cast in total for this category. My Knotty But Nice bag came in at #10 on the Top 10 List!



"Let my patterns be the canvas for your creativity!" "Create something unexpected . . ." Jamie Kalvestran

Handmade Top 10 Bags and Purses

I am very excited because two Scrap-bags purses are in the running for the Handmade Top 10 Bags and Purses List!

YOU should VOTE because there are some lovely bags there AND because you might just be inspired!!!

Here are the two bags of mine that are in the running. Here's the link to vote: Handmade Top 10

There's only two days left. You can vote as many times as you like! Have fun. I hope you're inspired.

Scrap-bags Knotty But Nice - Listed in the Top Ten under TextileAlchemist

Scrap-bags Hexagon Block bag - Listed in the Top Ten under TextileAlchemist

"Let my patterns be the canvas for your creativity!" "Create something unexpected . . ." Jamie Kalvestran

Scrap-bags Snow Dyed Fabric Giveaway Results

The Scrap-bags giveaway drew to a close yesterday so that means that today you get to find out who the winner is. So without further ado, the winner is -

lexacd said...
My favorite item is:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/69399438/promise-of-spring-textile-button-brooch

Thankd for the giveaway!

alexandra_digiorgio at comcast dot net

 Thanks to everyone who commented! Thank you very much for joining in.



"Let my patterns be the canvas for your creativity!" "Create something unexpected . . ." Jamie Kalvestran

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree!

Do you remember last month I introduced you to a young quilter named Brittany Anderson? Here's the post in case you missed it.    Well, this month at quilt club she and her Mom Lorie brought a mother-daughter show and tell.

I asked Lorie how it was that they both made the same quilt. Here is her reply, "Funny story. Last summer at the august cottage retreat we visited the Hazelhurst [WI] quilt store, after walking through the Minocqua quilt show. I bought the pattern because I liked the pink with the brown and also picked up some civil war prints to make the quilt. I took it home and set it aside after washing the fabrics and then not wanting to cut them, they went into the stash.

Months later Brittany went up north to see Sam and stopped in at the Hazelhurst Quilt store. I guess after making Sam a quilt for Christmas, and her bird quilt during winter break, she needed another project. She bought the SAME Pattern, and one fat quarter to make it, knowing she could pick out more fabrics at home.

She was so excited to show me what she had purchased it was funny when I showed her the same pattern in my stash. She wanted to start it right away. So we took all the civil war prints out we could find and each picked out fabric to make our own. I wanted mine to look like the pattern with pinks and browns and to be colonial period looking so I used muslin for the backing and hand quilted.  Brittany used civil war prints in the blues and gray and browns with machine quilting with a larger stitch to appear hand quilted vintage. Both are very different looking. We appliquéd the birds and stars with hand dyed Valdani threads.

I think we had fun creating our own little quilts. I am in the process of making the doll."

Lorie and Brittany, thanks again for sharing your work with us. You are both an inspiration!

Jamie Kalvestran

What's that? Down at their feet? No, it's not flooring tile. It's a project that our quilt club group is doing together. I will have a post all about it in the future . . . so stay tuned!



PS. Below is the pattern they used!

Baby Farm Animal Tote Bag Pattern joins the A+ Patterns at Scrap-bags!

New downloadable pattern, includes the downloadable artwork for printing on fabric!

Great Idea for a handmade shower gift!

Handmade Portraits: YOKOO

A handmade life. Wisdom.
A wonderful piece by a textile artist who lives her truth. Be inspired. You'll ♥ Yokoo!


Handmade Portraits: YOKOO from Etsy on Vimeo.

Here's her Shop Link - YOKOO


"Let my patterns be the canvas for your creativity!" "Create something unexpected . . ." Jamie Kalvestran

Intergalactic quilter.

I recently introduced you to a blind quilter via video. Today, I'd like to introduce you to an intergalactic quilter. Sometimes we encounter the most surprising individuals.


Handmade Portraits: StellarQuilts from Etsy on Vimeo.

"Let my patterns be the canvas for your creativity!" "Create something unexpected . . ." Jamie Kalvestran

Be Happy

"Let my patterns be the canvas for your creativity!" "Create something unexpected . . ." Jamie Kalvestran

This is a Remarkable Story . . .

I hope you'll take a moment to watch this . . .

It's Snowing Again and I've Got the Blues . . . Batik Blues!

Here's the results of my 'Blues Days' in the studio. Enjoy!

To see the entire 'Blues' collection please visit the Textile Alchemist.

GIVEAWAY - 5 Fat Eighths of Snow Dyed Cotton Fabrics

If you read this blog, you know I have been snow dyeing like crazy! I have selected five pieces of the fabrics I have dyed in the last few weeks and I am giving them away. Scroll down to see each piece then read the rules at the bottom of this post. (Don't worry it's easy!) All you have to do is go window shopping and tell me your favorite item. (see more below)

Each piece is: 11" x 18" (aka a fat eighth). The fabric is high quality Kona Cotton.

This hand dyed 100% cotton quilting weight fabric is great for sewing and crafting. If you don't sew you can always wrap a gift in it!

Rules for Giveaway

#1 - Contest ends in 10 days (March 16th, 2011) Mark your calendar to check the blog on the 17th to see if you won. You will have 10 days to contact me via email with your mailing info if you are the winner. (Until March 26, 2011) If prize isn't claimed by then the fabrics will be offered in another giveaway at a later date. SO mark your calendar if you enter and check this blog on March 17th!

#2 - Visit the TEXTILE ALCHEMIST and find your favorite item there. Copy the URL - LINK* to that favorite item, come back to this post and paste it into the comments along with a few words telling me why this item is your favorite.

THAT'S IT! SIMPLE! 

BTW, feel free to ❤ your favorite item while you are there! Thanks. Enjoy the window shopping.

Jamie



FYI - *URL-Link is at the top of the page, it starts with, http://www.etsy.com/listing/. . .  and then has numbers and other info. Highlight the whole thing, copy and then paste here in the comments section.

A Dark Day in the Studio

Yes, it was a dark day in the studio. I over dyed some of my hand dyes using black dye and a soy batik method.  OMGosh! I wish I had yards and yards of some of these. Lush, rich and textural I am delighted with the results. I have another batch sitting overnight using dark navy on blue. I can't wait to get up tomorrow morning and rinse those out. 

BTW, (by the way) I am working on a bag project to give you some ideas on what to do with all these hand dyes. So I hope you will stay tuned! 

Once again you can find these and other hand dyes at the Textile Alchemist.

Snow Dyeing

I just have to share this new batch of snow dyeing. You never know what you are going to get. All seven pieces shown were done in the same batch with the same dyes. Would you believe that these pieces were done with only two dyes, black and dark brown. Isn't it amazing how the colors separate? I just find this whole process fascinating and beautiful!

Fabrics available at the Textile Alchemist.