Tell Me Tuesday

Beautiful Oz bag by Rayetta Nathe

Today I'd like to introduce you all to a new customer and friend of Crafty Girls Workshop who makes some really beautiful bags! Her name is Rayetta Nathe and she recently purchased some fabric from our shop. I've begun asking new customers (and hopefully soon to be new friends) how they found our shop, out of curiousity and an undying desire to figure out how people are getting to us. Turns out we had the fabric she needed for a custom order and the best price. So I surfed over to her website to see the bags she makes and I thought they were very pretty and fun and when I read about her I wanted to introduce her to all of you! I hope that this will be something I can do on a regular basis, sort of give a shout out to the talented people who find us and buy the fabrics we have in order to turn them into something awesome! I just LOVE the way she used the Oz fabric in the bag pictured above! I asked Rayetta how she started sewing and her business and here is her reply.

Raised in a home with all boys, I reluctantly learned to sew in junior high, back when all of the girls were “forced” to take Home Economics. Most of us saw it as a punishment, pining to play volleyball, or take wood shop instead. Our first project was a multi-pocketed apron, which was confusing and frustrating. I didn’t touch a sewing machine again until many years later. I’d just had our first child, and decided to make baby clothes to save money. I ran to Sears and bought a Kenmore sewing machine, never straying beyond the easy patterns.

In 1992, I wanted to make a quilt for baby #2. I purchased a copy of Singer’s book Machine Quilting, followed the instructions, and made my first quilt. I quickly discovered how much I love quilts -- the spectrum of colors, interesting patterns, fluffy battings, and soft, rich cotton fabrics.

In 2008, I began to consider the looming cost of having both of our girls in college. I decided to attend H & R Block School, hoping to eventually land a part-time job to earn some extra income. Meanwhile, I was receiving very positive feedback from fabric bags that I had made for family and friends. My little brother said something to me that caused me to change course: “Rayetta, you’re an artist, not a number cruncher. The bags are more an expression of who you are.” It wasn’t long before I ditched H & R Block, and began designing and selling rayetta’s button bags.

I’m blessed to be able to do what I love. I am so grateful to my supportive husband Jeff, sweet girls Rachel and Becca, and very patient Home Ec teachers.

Thank you, Crafty Girls Workshop, for your gorgeous fabrics and inspirational ideas!

You can find her beautiful bags and some quilts on her website.

Here's another cute bag made from fabric by Chez Moi, their Posh line. We don't have this exact fabric (of course you can always buy Rayetta's bag) but we have something very similar in our bolts of Boutique.

Thanks Rayetta for letting me feature you today! You are very talented and I look forward to working with you more in the future!

If there is anyone else out there who has purchased fabrics, patterns, kits, or anything from our shop and would like to be featured in my Tell Me Tuesday series, please e-mail me and we can discuss the details!

Happy Stitches everyone,
Anna

June Special All OZ fabrics 10% off!

Go Shopping!

All of our really cute fabrics from the OZ line, including our 1 yard and 1/2 yard precut bundles are on sale for the entire month of June! If you purchase a bundle and would like to add one of our great quilting magazines for the below wholesale price of just $3 you can do so without any additional shipping charge! Remember, these are 100% cotton, high quality quilting fabrics from Moda, one of the leading fabric manufacturers in the country! We're happy to cut as little as one fat quarter up to as much yardage as you prefer! There is no limit to the amount of fabric you can purchase at this discounted price! We have 9 bolts and we'd love to empty them all this month! Remember this post from Monday about the charm quilts? Both of those that my new Crafty Friends are making use OZ for the sashing! We still have several Boutique and Tweet Tweet charm packs available for you to make into quilts as well! Need more inspiration, check out the pictures I found on Flickr of stuff people have made with OZ!

1. Jelly Roll Quilt Along Block 1, 2. Table runner, 3. Baby Quilt In Progress,

4. toddler quilt top, 5. Funky Oz Framed Patchwork, 6. Baby quilt coming soon,

7. borders waiting to be put on, 8. out of the dryer, 9. 2 Diaper Bags

Pretty cool, huh? Oh and don't forget we have TONS of patterns so you can make lots of cool stuff and post it on OUR flickr page too! Just add a pattern in with your order and we'll make sure you don't have to pay the shipping cost (or that it's refunded). I hope you'll have fun shopping, saving, and be sure to come back and comment on yesterday's post to be entered in the drawing for a charm pack and 1 yard of fabric!

Happy Stitches,
Anna

Yeah for Monday!

I can honestly say this is the first time in about three weeks that I've been happy it's Monday! That is because due to the Memorial Day holiday, I have today off!! I do have a little quilting I plan to do, specifically a very cute and fast quilt I've gotten all ready to quilt. I call it the Love U Charm quilt but this pattern could be used with any charm pack and about 1 yard of fabric. I'm probably going to take better pictures of the process for the next one I make and then write it into a tutorial. I use this pattern/design at my last Crafty Girls Workshop meet up at my house as a quick pattern for the participants to make for charity quilts. I had two lovely ladies decide to make the quilts and they picked the absolutely cutest charm packs! First, Ms. M chose the Tweet Tweet charms which have the cutest birdies printed on them and would work for either a little boy or girl! She also chose a yard of the green brick road stripe from the Oz collection as the sashing, which is a wild choice but really ended up coordinating really well! And Ms. P chose a Boutique charm pack and the green dots from the Oz collection for the sashing. I think they are very cute together, what do you think?

Well, I'd better get my lunch finished up so I can get to quilting! I hope to get it finished so I can post the final picture tomorrow! Since tomorrow is the first day of June, I'm going to have a special post too. Something that I need help with from all you fabulous crafty peeps out there! Stay tuned!

Happy Stitches,

Anna

Pillowcase Tutorial!!

Yes, it's finally time. The pictures are all ready and the instructions are written. Here is the LOOOONG awaited pillowcase tutorial, created by Regina (the rather silent Crafty Girl). At the end of this post I'll include a link to open a PDF of this tutorial so you can save and print it and keep it close to your sewing machine (mine is in a different room from my computer.) That way you'll always have a quick go-to project for fast gifts. By the way, the fabric used in the pictures is Oz by Sanae! We have a lot of it in our shop in various colors for many tastes. We also have a KIT available, just tell us your fabric choices (anything from our shop) and we'll cut it and ship it to you right away!

Easy Peasy Pillowcase Tutorial

Materials Needed:

3/4 yd for case

1/4 yd for band

1/8 yd for accent band

1-1/4 yd lace (optional)

Fold the pillowcase fabric in half and straighten the edges. Remove the selvage from the edges of all the fabrics. The selvage is the tightly woven edge that is either white with the name of the fabric or may be the same color as the fabric but has very small holes along the length of it.

Step 1: Fold the fabric for the 2 bands in half lengthwise (wrong sides together) and press.

Step 2a: If you are using lace, draw a line 1/4" away from the raw edge of the accent band (lengthwise).

Step 2b: Pin your lace directly below this line. The header of the lace should be touching the line. Sew in place.

Step 3: Line up the raw edges of the accent band (with lace) and outer band, pin, and sew the accent band to the outer band using 1/2" seam allowance. (picture below)

Step 4: Lay pillowcase fabric out flat, right side up. Line up the raw edges of the band piece and the pillowcase body. Accent band and optional lace will be sandwiched between. Sew together with a 1/2" seam allowance. If you have a walking foot, this is a good time to use it. Trim the seam allowance to about 1/4" and finish the edge with a zigzag stitch over the edge of the fabric (this prevents fraying).

Step 5: Fold the entire unit in half lengthwise and pin together. Take special care to match-up the seams on the band section. Sew together using a 1/2" seam allowance.

Step 6: Trim the seam and zigzag stitch over the raw edge. Turn right side out and push out the corners. Press.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You now have a pretty pillowcase for your bed!

Note: If this tutorial is unclear or you have any questions, PLEASE feel free to ask either here in the comments or by e-mail. We'd also LOVE to see if you make any of these how they turn out!

PDF Version Here

Happy Stitches!

Anna

OZ-some New Fabrics!

Yes, it's a cheesy pun, I know, but sometimes cheesy is fun too. We've just gotten 10, yes, count them, 10 new bolts of fabric from the newest line by Sanae, called OZ. I hope you can read the names above the pictures because I tried to include those so you'd know which ones you just HAVE to come by and order! And can you tell how incredibly CUTE this fabric would be made up into any number of our FABULOUS new patterns? How about this adorable group of children's tops?
The Beverly Bell Top

The Faith Double Layer Dress Top

Little Sassy Skirts by Cindy Taylor Oates

Or if your little one prefers something a little more "girly" check out our new fabric from Sandi Henderson, called Meadowsweet. We have 8 bolts of that available!

All of these new fabrics and patterns are available RIGHT NOW in the shop! Remember that patterns ALWAYS ship free with fabric purchase!

Also, don't forget about the GIVEAWAY I'm hosting if you visit Becky at Babes in Hairland and post a comment to her Coins for Comments post. To see the details, go back to my other post. You have to do a little fancy click work, go visit her, leave a comment, then come back here and comment to say you did! Then I'll enter you to WIN FREE FABRIC! The coins for comments will be donated to help a family who is adopting children from HAITI.

One more thing WELCOME to all the NEW followers we have gained from the Whimsy Couture Giveaway and from Friday Followers! We're happy to have you along for the ride! Don't forget that if you want to get special e-mails about updates to the shop and occasional promotional coupons, sign up for the newsletter in the sign up box on the right sidebar. Thanks for stopping by!!

Happy Stitches to You,

Anna