Quilt Reveal

Am I used to blogging? Apparently not. The following was ready to roll, but I didn't pop back over here to Blogger Land and hit "publish" after I posted on Instagram.  @debi_threadwest

I wonder, though: Is it necessary to duplicate content? Or, is blogging better for other things? TBD.... Meanwhile, a few snaps of the promo process for my first quilt pattern, Homebody Blooms. Available as a PDF instant download in my shop: www.threadwest.com

Table tableau, with a "binding bun" rolled onto a vintage clothespin.

A table topper in progress, using the Homebody Blooms Option Two fabrics.

I've had the vintage cream pitcher for decades, and had forgotten about it;
shows I've loved little acorns for some time. 

Quilt flimsy (for the uninitiated, it's the quilt top before quilting).

 

Rebranding in progress

Many of us have had devastating blows during the pandemic--both directly and indirectly--and my family is no different. I won't go into details, but those blows have taken me away from home for long stretches at a time.

I still love designing handbags, and still love The West. (Hard to tell, as I've neglected both my shop and this blog since...everything.) I’m so much more than the western stuff, though. Recently, I followed a thread of an idea that led me to purchase software for quilt pattern design. What a fun and challenging journey it's been!

My first quilt pattern, called “Homebody Blooms,” will be ready for release soon. The recent fabric collection—Cozy Up, by Corey Yoder for Moda Fabrics—inspired the design. It's a fabulous group of fall-feel fabrics. And, if you've already stored your Team Autumn hat for the season, no worries! I love playing in EQ8 (Electric Quilt, for the uninitiated), and am doing mock-ups of my Homebody Blooms pattern in other fabrics to share with you for inspiration. (Think I'll start another one with a Christmas theme.)

The binding's ready (wrapped around the vintage clothespin in the photo), the flimsy's at the longarm quilter's, and the pattern is with testers now. A PDF download will be available soon in my etsy shop. Stay tuned for some sneak peeks! 

So. Time for this cowgirl to put those blows behind her, pull herself up by the bootstraps and drive this herd of ideas—both western and non-western--to market.

Think Spring

It took hours this weekend to figure out how to make a clipping mask template in my ancient Photoshop Elements program for grouping photos. I think I finally have it. It was snowing again and I needed something bright to remind me that spring will be here. Eventually.

What's what:

• Top photo is a sweet tote I made for my granddaughter out of a dress she'd outgrown. Such a fun madras plaid. See the cute pockets on the sides? Even though the dress was a child's size, it was gathered--too wide for a bag, unless I wanted to remove and re-stitch those pockets. Perfect time to incorporate Mexican pleating, a technique I discovered years ago. I seriously want to use it on more items!
• Middle left is interior of the tote, with a pocket and four pencil slips. So exciting to take a scrap of fabric to the store and find the perfect coordinate. If you're a seamstress, you know the feeling. Since it's a busy little print, I added a slice of lime to the pocket top so Miss Lydi could find it more easily.
• Middle right is a flower I made from organza and glitter netting using the singe technique. Have you tried those? Amazing fun. (BTW, netting doesn't singe. Trust me on this.) Love, love that vintage button I was auditioning in the center, but ended up using Swarovski crystals instead, because I wanted to see how they'd work on sheers. Gave the flower to my daughter, who loves green. Her neck of the woods is experiencing yet another blizzard today, so I'm thinkin' she--along with much of the country--needs this booster shot stat.
• Bottom left--another for granddaughter, who shares my love for ballcaps and bling. I made this a couple of years ago by combining two clipart images to create an iron-on sheet with Swarovski crystals. As I say in my Thread West shop: They wink at the cowboys so much better than imitations. ;-) Miss Lydi still wears the cap and totes the tote. I never thought about the colors in the bag and the bling matching till I put this photo collage together. Will ask the girl if she's worn them at the same time....
• Bottom right. In keeping with Spring and butterflies, a Mother's Day card I made for my daughter a few years ago. It got lost in the mail between MI and MO, finally arrived a month later. I'd like to know where those butterflies flitted to in between....

Stay safe and warm....

Thursday's Thread: Sliced Bread

The best thing since sliced bread. Truly. No more poking my fingers with pins. No more bunching and distortion of fabrics. Thank you, Clover, for Wonder Clips. They make me happy, happy, happy (a nod to patriarch Phil over at Duck Dynasty).

Red Hot

They say we're breaking temp records today, and I don't doubt it. Even with the central AC unit fighting for all its worth, my upstairs studio is red hot. In keeping, here's a look at some of the red hot fabrics I recently bought out West:

The one on the left has been seen in two other colorways in my shop, made into Card Corrals.
Those will be back soon.

This is just about the most gorgeous faux leather I've ever seen!
(Here's hoping my sewing machine can handle it.)

Paisley...I'm always drawn to it. I'm anxious to see what other fabrics in my stash go with that small red print.
Candy Moulton (dear friend and the new executive director for Western Writers of America) once told me that she loves bear fetishes. Ever since, they make me think of Candy.
I'm thinking of pairing this wonderful print with the brown tooled-leather cotton....

A fabulous Navajo print in four different colorways!

Third Time's a Charm

The Card Corral (my original card case design) in the Navajo blanket print from what I call the Santa Fe colorway is featured in another Etsy Treasury (top row, #3). Thanks, Tara!

Thursday's Thread: An Unlikely Thread

On Friday, I hopped over to Jennifer's Quilt Shop (an adorable and tempting place for a fabriholic such as myself) in Pinckney, MI, to pick up thread for one of my latest fabric acquisitions. At checkout, I noticed a fabulous card featuring the quilt shop, made by a very talented paper artist. I was told it was crafted by the owner of Polly's Paper Studio, the small town's scrapbook store. Scrapbook store? Clearly, I've been spending too much time holed up in my sewing cottage.

On my way out of town, I made a quick stop, which turned into roughly two hours. Owner Ginny--and the rest of "Polly's Peeps" who ducked in and out--were knowledgeable, welcoming, and most of all, friendly. Ginny mentioned her Etsy shop and, since meeting other Etsy shop owners doesn't happen to me, I struck up a conversation. (So. There's my excuse for the two hours plus....)

I left with:
1. goodies for my paper stash (yeah, I love to scrap, too, and Ginny has inspired me to get back with it)
2. gifts (a Halloween kit I purchased for granddaughter who also loves paper art can be found in Ginny's Etsy shop)
3. best of all, a few more friends

Thanks, ladies.

The Card Corral Scores Again!

My Card Corral, which was featured a few weeks ago in the Etsy Treasury, "Colors of the River Canyon," has been chosen again. This time, it's featured in the Treasury, "Under the Desert Sun." (Top row, last image.) Thank you, Iveth!

Wednesday's West--hunting down the goods

It's challenging, living in Michigan and locating fabrics with appealing western design. Granted, it's much easier with the Internet (except that I'm Connection Challenged here in the sticks). Although it's easier, ordering online also means that I'm not always sure what the exact color will be, or the scale of the pattern.... It took awhile to round up The Sierra Trail collection from Windham Fabrics, but it was worth it for these fabulous Navajo designs and wild horses. Here are a few items I've made from part of the collection. You can find them in my etsy shop:

 

Navajo Handbag with Spanish Cross concho and lots of details!

Two-Step (Wristlet/Clutch) with 6 Credit Card Slots

The Card Corral in Navajo blanket print and lined with clay pottery print

The Card Corral in Navajo blanket print and lined with horseshoe print

"Round Up Your Gear" in this large makeup (or gadget) pouch.

In Another Etsy Treasury!

 I'm excited to report that one of my new designs made it into a treasury (bottom row, three over). "The Card Corral" is in the etsy treasury, "Colors of the River Canyon." (Thank you, Beth Cristine!) I'm making these card cases in several fabric combos.

Threadbare...

My two favorite, favorite flannel shirts are pictured here. What's left of them, anyway. Both have become so threadbare that I've regretfully realized they must be retired.

This turquoise one started out as Mr. E.'s, and quickly became his go-to shirt for winter outings. Woolrich. 100% cotton. Made in the USA. Possibly the best piece of brushed flannel fabric I've ever encountered. I can't tell you how many years Mr. E. wore it before handing it down to me on one of those raw cold days at winter's start. It's practically been my uniform these past months, my work smock (over two other layers). Michigan winters can be brutal, and being wrapped up in a cozy flannel shirt has been my saving grace more than once. 

Truth be told, this khaki/navy/white plaid flannel one went into semi-retirement at the beginning of the season. I'm not sure whether you can tell from the photo, but the placket edge is completely worn through. The entire shirt is that way. Thin. Frayed. Threadbare. It was a gift from my daughter almost ten years ago, and it has served me very well.

Flannel. Not stylish, perhaps, but necessary, both for my physical and mental health. Is it because they're flannel that they've kept me so snug, or is it because they were wrapped around me by loved ones? Yes.

Stay warm these last few weeks of winter....

iPad Valentine's...

I've never held an iPad, but my four-year-old granddaughter received one for Christmas. (Is that a generational thing? I mean, four-year-old iPad owner?! Every time I mention it to a friend, I get, "My grandkids have 'em, too.")

Anyway. She's in Missouri, I'm in Michigan. She needed a sleeve for her new techno toy, and I fretted over getting the fit right--until it finally occurred to me to use a book. (As a writer, that should have dawned on me much sooner than it did. Just sayin'.) Rulers in hand, Mr. E. and I headed to our bookshelves. (He's sweet that way, which is one of many reasons he's my Valentine.)

I've made a Kindle3 envelope sleeve for a custom order, using western fabrics and my own saddlebag flap design. I'll be making more of those for my etsy shop. This iPad sleeve is a non-western version of that design.

Although I've heard a few complaints about the cost of sleeves for gadgets, I totally get it now. Designer quilt cottons, padding (two kinds for iPad), labor....  And, yeah, I put a bit more time in this one, because it was for my tie-dye lovin' gal who goes crazy over funky stitches and likes printing her name in all caps, except for the "i." Credit goes to my daughter--Lydia's mother--for suggesting the heart over the "i." Perfect for Valentine's Day, and for LYDiA.

Featured in Etsy Treasury!

How about that? My "Round Up Your Gear" zip pouch made from Buffalo Bill fabric was featured in an etsy treasury. Check it out:

'wild wild west' by kokodiablo

Pendleton? Or, Pendelton?

Here's one of my latest creations, and it's going in my etsy shop today. With its 3" gusset, I've named it Fat Bottom (think Fat Baby boots....)

Last year, while using this retro rodeo fabric--along with Pendleton wool and Swarovski crystals--to make a commissioned handbag for friend and fellow writer Ann Terry Hill (Pendleton Round-Up at 100: Oregon's Legendary Rodeo), I noticed that Pendleton was spelled differently on this designer fabric (Alexander Henry). Being a writer and former editor, I had to get to the bottom of it: Was it a mistake on the part of the fabric manufacturer, or an early spelling? I asked Terry, and she assured me that Pendleton had never been spelled with "el" instead of "le."

Next, I e-mailed the manufacturer directly, just in case they were making plans to re-issue this fabric. I received a response (doesn't always happen), and had a lovely exchange with an Australian woman. I mention this because she pointed out her problems with the spelling of color (American) vs. colour (Australian)--a word used often in the fabric industry.

And, so that you know, no current plans for a re-issue of this fabric. More items from this great rodeo  fabric will post soon--grab 'em while you can!

Thursday's Thread: The Right Tools

Who knew that something as simple as a good pincushion could make such a difference? After chasing a cheap, lightweight, contemporary version of the old tomato pincushions across my sewing table for the millionth time, I made this:

Now, I'm itching to make another one for my cutting table. It'll have to wait, though--three handbags to finish this week! More on that coming soon....

February 26: Buffalo Bill's Birthday

William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody (February 26, 1846 – January 10, 1917) was an American soldier, bison hunter and showman. He was one of the most colorful figures of the American Old West, and famous for Buffalo Bill's Wild West Congress, Rough Riders of the World.

Recently, Windham Fabrics collaborated with the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, to produce a line of designer-quality fabrics. (I'd like to add just for me, but I'm sure others have found and fallen in love with the gorgeous pieces!) If you ever get the chance to visit the BBHC, do not pass up the opportunity. It's first-rate. Here's a look at a few of those fabrics..... Love the words, lassos, and reproduction of Wild West show posters. I'm currently working on handbag designs to showcase these fabulous prints. Stay tuned!

I'm sick ('tis the season, right?), and truly feel for those who don't have someone to make a medicine run. Look at what else my wonderful husband brought home? Magazines for when one feels too lousy to do much else. Does he know me, or what? More soon....

The fun of it all...

I love sewing, but have been dealing with my own perfectionist tendencies while developing patterns+prototypes for handbags, cosmetic cases, and so on. Sunday was different, as I quickly tackled a Christmas project for my granddaughter: a fabric ABC book. What therapy! What freedom! It's made all the sewing more fun.

No snakes were harmed

Snakeskin? No, actually, it's fabric. Ideas popping.... {A note of reassurance for my son and daughter-in-law: No snakes were harmed in the making of this fabric.}