Good morning.  Care for a cup of coffee?

Are you familiar with Polka Dot Cottage?  Lisa makes incredible buttons and jewelry out of polymer clay.  When I say incredible, I mean incredible.  I am amazed at what she does.   Awhile back, Lisa asked me if I would take part in her big button challenge.  Sure, why not?  So she sent me a button and I was to make something using the button.  The result:  french press cozy.

Honestly, I was planning on making a tufted pillow, but Sarah beat me to the punch.  Have you seen hers?  It's stunning!  I thought about making a coffee cup cozy.  When I was telling Emily my reservations about making yet another coffee cozy (not much of a challenge in my mind), she suggested a french press cozy.  Perfect!  I whipped it up the next day.

I followed my own coffee cozy directions except that the french press cozy is just a long rectangle.  I measured the circumference of the pot with a string  - high tech, I know - and cut a linen rectangle and a piece of insulated batting 1.25 inches longer and 1 inch higher than the measurements.  For the outside fabric, I used a Japanese cheater print that I bought from Leslie and a small piece of linen so the button would pop.  I really like how it turned out.

I'm just about ready to pour my third cup this morning.  I am completely exhausted from our weekend in New York.  I feel like I am suffering from some kind of sensory overload.  My mind is overflowing with inspiration and ideas and I am seeing quilt squares when I close my eyes.  I'm going to take a day or two to settle back in to our routine and to get some rest.  See you in a couple of days.

Wow.

Really, that is about all I can say.  Well, that and thank you to all of those who supported my shop.  I am completely flabbergasted, humbled and just plain excited all at the same time.  For those of you who have emailed asking if there will be more camera straps for sale, the answer is YES!  I am not sure exactly when - at least a month, maybe two.  I will keep you all posted via the blog.  Again, thanks.  You guys made my day!

I should be in bed seeing that I need to be up in about 5 hours to catch a flight.  I'm still packing, too.  Ahem.

I threw together some quilt blocks last night.  I'm feeling so-so about at least 1/2, maybe 3/4 of them.  If all things go as planned, I'll come back Monday with a better plan.

That's right.  I'm going back.  Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Camera straps are in the shop!

This makes me extremely nervous.  I hope it all goes well.  But if anyone encounters problems, let me know via email - hillroad (at) bellsouth (dot) net.

Hi.  How have you all been?

Life is busy at the moment.  Really busy.  There is so much going on that I don't even know where to start.  Kid stuff, shop stuff, craft stuff, house stuff  and on and on.  I don't know what I was thinking when I chose this week to open the shop.  Actually, I don't think I was thinking.  Doesn't matter - the camera straps are all made.   And tomorrow is still the day.  I'll post here and on flickr as soon as the shop opens its virtual doors.

Yeah - I'm a total tease.

I promise that I'll have some different, meaning not camera strap related, and exciting things to share next week.  Well, exciting if you like quilts and patchwork and stuff like that.

I'm also thinking about putting in some raised garden beds.  If I can't build them until the 20th or so, is that too late?  What do you gardening ladies think?

OK - back at it.  I've still got work to do.  Shop work and maybe a blog spruce up if there is time.  Busy busy busy.

I finally made up my mind.  The shop will open on Wednesday.

There will be 30 camera straps for sale - five different colorways, six of each colorway.  No two straps in each colorway are *exactly* alike.  They include the same fabrics, but different widths of each one, and in some cases, they are sewn together in a different order.  I will show a photo of a finished strap in each colorway, but the one you may receive may be slightly different than the one pictured.  They are all the same length and constructed the same way.

Does this make sense?

I am not going to commit to a specific time.  Not having done this before, I am unsure how long it is going to take to get it all set up.  When everything is up and running, I will post the opening here and on my flickr page.

All right.  It's a big weekend here.  I'm off to the races!  See you next week.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

217

Timestamp: 2009-04-30 17:06:04 UTC

So, according to the random number generator, the winner of Sewing Green by Betz White is Mandy!

so fun! i'd love to win!

Posted by:mandy |April 30, 2009 at 12:16 PM

Congrats!  Email me your address, Mandy, and the book will be on its way.

. . . . .

All right, then.  I hope to be back tomorrow with some shop news.  Until then.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of speaking to Betz White, author of Sewing Green, 25 Projects Made with Repurposed and Organic Materials.  If you don't already have a copy of this book, I think you are missing out.  Betz has filled it with fantastic projects, aimed at the advanced beginner to intermediate sewer.  There is everything from a reversible skirt and produce bags to a car sunshade and log shaped draft buster.  We talked about two of the baby projects.

. . . . .

Erin:       Hi, Betz. Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to me about your new book,Sewing Green.  I received my copy a fewweeks ago and really have enjoyed looking through it.  It’s so inspiring!  There are many projects that I want tomake.  I chose to start with the babyquilt because a dear friend of mine just had her first baby and I wanted tomake her something special. 

 

Puttingthis quilt together was fun and easy! You did a great job on the project design and instructions.  I love that you call for organic materialsfor this quilt.  Why do you think usingorganics for babies is so important?

Betz:Thank you so much, I’m glad you enjoyed making it. It’s very sweet! Organiccotton fabrics are such a natural choice for babies. Everything from the cultivationof the fiber to the production of the fabric is done without the use of toxicchemicals. (Inversely, the production of conventional cotton uses 25% of theworld’s pesticides!) We do so much to protect our babies and their sensitivesystems from the time we are pregnant to their earliest days and on throughtheir youth. We feed them healthy and organic foods, wash their clothing inmild detergent, etc. Wrapping them in organic cotton is just one more way to begentle to their bodies.

Erin:       When my girls were born seven and nineyears ago, there weren’t many organic fabrics on the market.  The few options that were available were allvery similar, as well – mostly unbleached and undyed cottons.  There are so many more choices now!  Both the darling aqua print on the front ofthe quilt and the snuggly sherpa on the back are organic cottons.  Have you also noticed that organic fabricsare easier to find?  Why do you thinkthat is?

Betz:I agree! My boys are the same ages as your girls and the market has definitelystarted to change since they were babies. However, there is still a long way togo. I encourage everyone to consider organics when buying new fabrics. You’llbe doing right by the environment and yourself. Money talks and we can increasedemand for these sustainable practices by choosing organics. (Shown here: Aquaprint by Harmony Art Organics. Organic sherpa backing from NearSea Naturals)Look for more organic fabric options hitting the market soon, including(fingers crossed) a line from yours truly!

Erin:   Really?  That's exciting!  Thebatting you sent me for the quilt is made out of corn!  So cool! It was wonderful to use and it’s better for the planet than atraditional cotton batting.  Why is usingeco-friendly materials a better choice?

Betz:Crazy that your quilt is made with corn, huh? The fiber is referred to as PLA,a polymer made from lactic acid found in corn. It’s manmade but 100% naturebased, breathable, washable and biodegradable. Other batting made frompoylester is not biodegradable, but there are some made with recycledpolyester. Sometimes the most “eco-friendly” option isn’t clear, so it’s up tous to educates ourselves and be aware of false “eco” claims, otherwise known as“green-washing”.

E:       The stuffed dog is such a sweet toy!  I really enjoyed making it.  It’s made with a felted cashmeresweater.  I love taking something thatwas meant for one use and giving it a second life as something else.  I know you do a lot of that, too.  Can you recommend other items that can berepurposed for children and babies?

Betz:A washed cashmere sweater has got to be my number one favorite repurposedmaterial for babies. Dad’s soft sweats or flannel shirt are also nice materialsfor baby pants or tops.

Erin:       I think you did a fabulous job with thisbook.  After reading it, I find myselfthinking twice before running out to the fabric store.  Instead I’m looking around me and seeing howI can use what I have.  Thanks for theinspiration and for taking time to chat with me.

Betz:Thanks for hosting me on the tour!

. . . . .

There's more!  Betz and STC Craft are generously giving away a copy of her book, Sewing Green.  To be eligible for the drawing, leave a comment on this post before Thursday, April 30th at 1:00 p.m. EST.  I'll announce the winner tomorrow.

As a side note:  I followed Betz's directions exactly on the quilt and the dog.  Everything in these two patterns - amounts of materials needed, directions, etc. - was completely accurate.

I'll be back tomorrow.

Some Sewing Green,

stitching up camera straps,

and a small, on-the-go knitting project have been keeping me busy this week.  It's been fun to sew by hand, with the machine and knit all in the same week.  I haven't done that much multi-crafting in a long while!

I hoe you have a fantastic weekend.  I am off to Chicago to reconnect with my high school friends at our 20th reunion.  I'll be back next week with some shop news and to welcome Betz White when she stops by on Wednesday.  See you then!