Coasting into the weekend - free coaster tutorial!

I have been wanting to start working on a few tutorials for a long time. I just had to get my act together and make the samples, write the instructions, take the photos and write the post - no biggie. So, finally, here is my first tutorial! I would love to hear what you think - good or bad. I hope to do many more so your feedback would be very helpful!

Quilted Coasters:
Instructions and materials listed will create a set of 6 coasters

Materials Needed:
12 - 5" squares (this can all come from one fat quarter or you can mix it up using various scraps or a set of squares from your favorite charm pack)
6 - 5" squares of fleece interfacing (or quilt batting)
Ruler
Cutting board

Rotary Cutter

Thread (coordinating if you want it to blend in or contrasting if you want to add a punch of color, I used contrasting thread to show off the top stitching.)

Sewing Machine

1) If you haven't already, cut your fabric and fleece interfacing into 5" squares

2) Layer two 5" squares on top of each other right sides together
3) Layer one 5" square of fleece on top of one of your fabric squares

4) Sew around the edge of the square with a 1/4" seam allowance, leave a hole at least 1" wide for turning

5) Clip the corners to reduce bulk

6) Turn your fabric right side out and press
7) Tuck in the raw edges of your turning hole and start to top stitch around the outside edge of your coaster catching the hole in your first line
7) Continue top stitching in concentric squares until you reach the center (this can be as precise or messy as you want depending on the look you want from your coasters)
8) Repeat steps 2 - 7 for your additional coasters
9) Wrap these up as a great quick gift or invite your friends over, crack open a bottle of wine and show off your amazing sewing skills!

So there it is, my first tutorial - let me know what you think!

BLOCKED!

I'm having design block - like writer's block but with purses. I have girl's night out planned for this weekend and I wanted to come up with a small clutch or wristlet that I could bring out on the town with me but I can't get inspired. I've sketched a dozen designs, looked at thousands of photos, been through my entire fabric stash and nothing is jumping out at me. So frustrating!! I have two nights before I head out on the town so hopefully I can pull something together before I head out.

Does anyone have any tricks to get my brain working again?

What to do with vintage doilies?

I've had these vintage doilies for a few years, they were given to me and I've kept them in a closet ever since. I finally pulled them out and gave them a little bleach bath to clean them up. There are a few snags here and there but overall they are in great condition. I have a few thoughts on how to use them, perhaps on a laptop sleeve or a bag down the road. We'll see how they hold up and how easy they are to work with. Have you ever worked with something this delicate - any advice would be welcome!

Here are 2 of my favorites -

Collections on display - mini purses

I have a slight habit of starting off collections all the time, rather than keeping these collections stored away in a box somewhere I love to have them out on display. Today's subject is my collection of mini purses. It's not secret that I love purses - in all shapes and sizes. So over the years I have come across these little guys at garage sales and flea markets and picked them up to add to my little shelf in my studio.

Tutorial Tuesday!

Another fun tutorial for Tuesday! This one comes to us from a very fun blog Cluck Cluck Sew - full of great tips and fun tutorials. I love these pillows and the possibilities are truly endless since you just need a few scraps of fabric - and honestly who doesn't have boxes of fabric around their studio?

Click Here for the tutorials:

Need a dress?

I found these photos a few weeks ago on The design dish and had to share them. These dresses may not be the most practical that I've seen but the construction and vision behind them are amazing. After seeing these dresses I checked out the Viktor & Rolf website and WOW their runway shows are amazing. I can't say I've watched tons of runway shows but the one's I have seen are pretty straight forward, models walking down a straight runway and then back down again. I only watched a few but they are fantastic, worth watching. My favorites so far are "Show" and "Cutting Edge Couture." Both are pretty wonderful, I can't wait to watch the rest. After watching the first few episodes of Project Runway it all makes me want to get creative!

New Lonny issue and new online mags!

The new issue of Lonny magazine is up. It's full of great photos and design ideas - as usual! Take a peek.

I also recently discovered two more new online mags, I am loving this trend of online magazines. They will never replace the real one's but it is fun to have some inspiration to virtually flip through.

Check our Delish and Joie for some more inspiration.

Stores I want to visit

More and more shop owners are starting blogs to support their stores. Since I am slightly addicted to blogs (reading others that is, not so much posting to my own lately unfortunately) I come across tons of stores that I wish were just down the street. Usually they are in a far away land like Australia or London but I lust after walking through their doors each time I open up their blogs. Here are a few stores that I have found through their blogs that I have added to my traveling wish list.

Lark - Daylesford, Australia - The Lark BlogYummy Goods - West Barnstable, MA - Yummy Goods Blog

Curious Sofa - Kansas City - Curious Sofa Blog - I found this one in this months issue of Where Women Create - beautiful store!

These are just a few of the small shops I have discovered recently. I could go on and on about the places I want to shop around the world, my list is always growing. Are there any of your favorite shops you have found through a blog?

Tutorial Tuesday!

I found a new blog and I'm a huge fan - Ruffles and Stuff. It is not only the home of one or two great tutorials but she has tons of tutorials. And they are all fun and pretty simple and organized by category so they are easy to find and browse. Unfortunately I found out about this blog just a few months ago and she recently decided to stop blogging, but luckily for us she is keeping her archives online for everyone to enjoy!

It was next to impossible to pick just one tutorial to feature today but I landed on her LOFT inspired ruffled tank.

Very nice tank from Ann Taylor LOFT:

And the finished top made by Disney:

So cute! Click Here for the full instructions at Ruffles and Stuff.