shop update :: tutorials :: quilting progress

I have been as busy as ever, and just uploaded several new items to my etsy shop. Take a look, if you dare! One of my favorites is this new patchwork tote made from Amy Butler fabrics and natural linen.
Yummy! I hope to continue to stock the shop in time for everyone to do some holiday shopping! Handmade is definitely "in" this year, and it's looking to be on the rise in the future, as well. You can't beat a lovely handmade gift, and in the time it would take you to go to the mall, you could purchase several one-of-a-kind gifts for your special recipients! A lot of time and love goes into every item I make and I'm sure I could say the same for many other crafters out there.

My children have been telling me I need to get in the Christmas spirit, so on that note, I have decided to "gift" anyone who would like a few tutorials by putting a link in my sidebar. The first of the tutorials is for these lovely quilted coasters.

They only take a few minutes, and look so pretty wrapped up in a bow as a hostess gift! Make them in holiday fabric, and they'll be even more festive.

And, last, but not least, here is a photo of my finished quilt top.

I couldn't get a great photo, but wanted you to see it hanging on the wall in my favorite quilt shop! Now, I can't wait to get my hands on it to quilt it!

fall camping!

We took our church youth group camping last weekend and had such an incredible time! The weather was perfect...not too cold at night, but cold enough to need a campfire, and absolutely gorgeous during the day.

There were s'mores, canoes, hot dogs, hot chocolate, the "amazing grace race", songs by the campfire, time for reflection, and just a whole lot of fun!

We have the best group of kids in our church and I love them all!

sweet kitty :: bad kitty

It is a good thing that I love my kitty so much, or she might have ended up at the pound today (just kidding)!

I am working on a sample quilt for my local quilt shop, Sew Bee It, and had laid all the blocks out on a blanket on the floor to get an idea of how I wanted it to look. Little Miss Georgia sure is a curious kitty! You can see her checking out the layout of the blocks. I took a photo and left the room for about 2 minutes. I came back to this!

I guess that I'll learn a lesson one day! She really is a great cat and adds so much to our family! She was a stray and we rescued her when she was only about 3-4 weeks old. She is now 2 years old and happy and healthy.

As for the quilt, I have about half of it pieced. It is made from 3 Michael Miller prints and 3 others that blend really well with it. I love the dark brown and leaf green along with the turquoise. The quilt pattern is from a book called "Floragraphix" by Jason Yenter. This guy is really talented and his fabrics are awesome! I hope to have a finished quilt, soon! That is, if Georgia doesn't get a hold of it!

i've been a busy bee

Lately I've been wanting to try some ideas I've had for a little bit of patchwork, and since I needed to come up with a project for my next show, I decided to do a "back-to-school" type project.

We all are familiar with the typical composition notebook, and my children have always been required in elementary school to have these for journaling. They are the perfect journal size, inexpensive, and no messy bits of paper as with the spiral bound notebooks. As a matter of fact, I love using them to make lists, notes, etc. I was inspired by several other bloggers who have made similar notebook covers, so I got out my scraps, my rotary cutter, ruler and mat, and went to work.

My first prototypes were done using patchwork made from scraps in my scrap basket mixed with the always appropriate linen. I love them, and my girls do, too (translated: I want one, Mom)!





The next version was made using fabrics from my local quilt shop, Sew Bee It, and I think it is perfect for back to school! I will be demonstrating this one on my next show, so I will unveil the final product after I've completed taping. For now, here is a sneak peek!



I have also listed several new checkbook covers in the shop for your buying pleasure! As always, if you have a custom request, just send me an email, and I'll be happy to accommodate your request!

linen + patchwork = zipper pouch

This zipper pouch is so cute!

It is the perfect size for cell phone, cash, and keys. I used a natural color linen and a patchwork made of Kaffe Fasset scraps for the outside and lined it with a pretty aqua and white gingham fabric. I also added a linen fabric loop to the side so a strap can be attached to make it a wristlet. It is available in my shop, so take a look if you're interested!

vintage patchwork wristlet

vintage patchwork wristlet, originally uploaded by sushikat.

Another sweet vintage fabric...this time paired with a cute pink and white polka dot and quilted into a wristlet! This one will also be for sale in my shop later this afternoon!

vintagey goodness bag

vintagey goodness bag, originally uploaded by sushikat.

I was recently gifted several amazing pieces of vintage fabric, this being one of them. I knew the moment I laid eyes on it, it was to become a pretty, slouchy handbag. I used a pink linen dress for the top part of the bag, incorporating the buttons and pintucks as part of my design. I then added the ivory pom-poms just for fun! I love the way it turned out!

I will be listing it in my shop this afternoon, if anyone is interested!

funky patchwork messenger bag

funky patchwork messenger bag, originally uploaded by sushikat.

I just cannot believe it has been almost 3 months since I posted! I have just been crazy busy this summer and have had hardly any time to write. Three of our kids are swimming on the swim team, and have morning and evening practices. Between running back and forth to the pool and trying to get a little work done, I'm exhausted! Maybe I'll get a nap when school starts back in a week!

I was able to get this cute bag made yesterday and have listed it in my shop, here! I absolutely love it and love that it was created by fabrics from my scrap basket! I feel inspiration for several more scrappy projects to come in the near future!

Gotta run...need sleep...big day tomorrow for the swim team...the championship meet!

pebbles sews a skirt

pebbles sews a skirt, originally uploaded by sushikat.

My kitty is so smart! She is now learning how to sew, since she wants to be like her mommy when she grows up!

I found her sitting here this morning after I left the room for a few minutes. She seemed to be studying what I was doing and I had to snap this photo!

I love wearing skirts when the weather turns warm, and I have several new pieces of fabric just waiting to be sewn up. I found the perfect motivation to get started, too. Sew Mama Sew has declared May 2007 as Skirt Month, so I've decided to join in! I'm using a new pattern, so I just used one of my vintage sheets from Goodwill to make my skirt. Can't wait to see how it turns out! I'll post a finished skirt photo later.

Gotta run...lots of sewing to do!

susie's country garden :: handmade soap

susie's country garden :: handmade soap, originally uploaded by sushikat.

I am excited to announce that I made the decision to close my website and list my products in my etsy shop. You can still buy the same great products as before, just in a different way. And, of course, you can always call me to order. Nothing else has changed. I am happy to get all my ventures together in one shop. Now you can see everything else I have to offer!

Happy shopping!

crocheted ripple blanket

crocheted ripple blanket, originally uploaded by sushikat.

I suppose you could say I jumped on the bandwagon that is being driven around blogland these days and started one of these awesome crocheted blankets with the pretty soft waves. I love it! This one is for my oldest daughter who is away at college. Lauren, if you read this just still act surprised when you get it!

I used the random stripe generator to make my stripe pattern. It's so cool! I can't wait to see the finished blanket. I am just using caron soft brites in mango and watermelon to make it and even though this is an all acrylic yarn, I love it! This yarn is so soft and feels so good next to your skin. If Lauren doesn't like it, I may have to keep it! Ha! This is really a very easy pattern to crochet. If you can double crochet, you can make it.

Come on, you know you want to!

cherry blossoms

cherry blossoms :: front, originally uploaded by sushikat.

I am so looking forward to spring! This little birdie and cherry blossom pendant is a tribute to the season to come. It is also for sale in my etsy shop.

I love creating new things and have fallen in love with my soldering iron! In addition to the pendants with fabric snippets, I am also offering custom photo pendants. These are perfect for gifts for Mother's Day! So, get your order in to get one of your very own! They would also be perfect with a pet photo.

Just email me for details, or place your order on etsy!

Happy Spring (hopeful thinking here)!

snow day!

Today was the first snow that stuck around for more than an hour in about five years. At least that's what my 9 year old son told me this morning. After waking up to the snow on the ground, we noticed it was raining, so we went out and got the sled out of the shed and played for as long as we could before the snow melted...for two hours...even before eating breakfast!


It's been nice to have a day without any demands for being someplace. Soccer practice has been cancelled, play rehearsal has been cancelled, and school has been cancelled! What more could you ask for? I'm gonna enjoy it while I can, because it will be back to usual tomorrow!

See you later dude!

it's cozy in here

it's cozy in here
Originally uploaded by sushikat.

I've been wanting to make a tea cozy for some time and since I painted my kitchen and made new window treatments from black & white toile, I whipped up this cutie this morning! It was so easy to do and really does keep my tea warm for a long time. I also used some cute white & black print for a little hot mat to place under the tea pot.

A couple of good friends recently returned from a trip to India, and she copied down the recipe for masala chai that she learned to make while she was there. It is so good! The glass jars on the counter are spice jars I got at World Market for 99 cents each and the little mortar and pestle came from there, too. The green cardamom pods and cloves are first ground together before added to the water for the tea. If you've never smelled green cardamom, you don't know what you're missing! I learned from a lady at a middle eastern grocery that you can also add them to your coffee grounds as you brew your coffee for a different kind of treat!

On a cold Winter afternoon, this is my kind of cozy!

finally...a new bag!

finally...a new bag!
Originally uploaded by sushikat.

You'd think this bag is for her, but it's actually for sale in my etsy shop! I finally finished this up and took photos today. I also have a matching credit card wallet and checkbook cover for sale.

As a matter of fact, I have updated the shop with a bunch of new card holders and a couple of new bags and checkbook covers. I plan on adding more as the week goes on.

I am loving this zebra print fabric! It also looks great paired up with hot pink or lime green!

Thanks to my beautiful daughter for modeling for me!