Window Zip Pouch: Guest post and tutorial!

Hello everyone! I'm excited to announce that I'm guest posting on the Benartex blog today with a sweet tutorial. Welcome everyone who's here for the first time! I'd love if you looked around, follow me if you like what you see! 

The Window Zip Pouch is a completely lined pouch using a bit of vinyl on the front so you can keep an eye on the stuff you have stashed away! 

I made this pouch with my sister in mind - she loves baking and I think it'd be great for stashing her recipes - she won't forget what she has in there! Alternatively it is the perfect size for a rotary cutter and scissors. 

Thanks to Benartex you all get a chance to win a FQ bundle of these fabrics (Baker's Delight) used in the tutorial! To enter do one or more of the following (3 chances per person).

1. Sign up to follow Benartex's blog, either via email or a blog reader program like Bloglovin' (both on the righthand sidebar of the blog). Leave a comment letting me know you did so. 

2. "Like" Benartex on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you did so. 

3. Follow Mommy's Nap Time and leave a comment letting me know you did so. 

Blogger's Quilt Festival

This week is the Blogger's Quilt Festival over at Amy's Creative Side -- it's a nice way for us bloggers to enjoy tons of beautiful quilts, without the hassle of organizing a giant quilt fest! (Also, a way for us to keep busy while the big shots live it up at Quilt Market!).

My entry for the quilt festival this fall is my Chicago MQG callender challenge quilt "Springtime Fun" This quilt will be one of the calender girls for our guild calender. 

This quilt started out as a pretty stack of fabrics that I'd pulled out based on one of my favorite Tula Pink prints, I took the one busy fabric, and pulled fabric in colors that were included in it. I really like this method of fabric choice. It feels free and easy, yet you end up with a pretty well balanced stack of fabrics! 

Next I started piecing. I didn't plan at all really, the only thing I knew was that I wanted a random bunch of HST's in there. (I didn't mark or trim those HST by the way - I just winged them). I love the freedom of this style piecing. Sewing a bit here and there, chopping bits as I go.

I had fun sewing... but then set the piece aside for a while because we were packing up to move. The deadline approached quickly for our challenge and the quilt I was planning on finishing didn't get done... so I picked up this one! I added the white border and scrappily added the rest. 

I'm really glad I made this quilt - it's a mini quilt just 14" x 18" (if I recall correctly). Mini quilts suit me so well - fun and free. 

This quilt can be seen on display at the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo starting Nov 14, 15, & 16 at the Tinley Park show!! If you're heading out to the Sewing & Quilt Expo sometime this year be sure to check it out!! 

Final stats
Size: 14" x 18"

Improvisationally pieced

Quilted by me on a domestic machine (my beloved Juki!)

Machine bound

Thanks for all the Blogger's Quilt Fest people for stopping by! Feel free to follow me to see more pretty quilts! :) 

Check out the other Blogger's Quilt Fest quilts here.

Purse Palooza!

Today's my stop on the Purse Palooza over on Sew Sweetness! Head on over and check out my review of the Pleated Tote by The Long Thread.

Head on over to Sara's page to see the review!

Modern Maples and Instagram

I'm not sure how many of you are on instagram, but the #ModernMaples has been a pretty big trend recently. I've been seeing pretty leaf quilts popping up all over and on a whim I decided I'd make one. 

#MiniModernMaples (this is before sewing it together!)

Do you think I could just make a standard 12" Modern Maples block? No way! I decided instead to make mine finish at 2 1/2" Yep. It's nothing to me if I'm not making 3/4" HST units! lol 

Anyway I made the block just for the sake of making one. Just as I would imagine, my 5 year old flipped over it! She LOVES FALL. Loves. She's been waiting for our annual fall trip to Door County WI - and has been watching for the leaves to turn colors (that's her signal that it's time for our trip!). Since Allie was so excited about the leaves in general I decided the tiny leaf had to become a little special toy pouch for her to take on our trip!

Modern Maples Pouch -- I love that yellow velvet ribbon!

I added a little improv leaf on the other side, fused it to some Fusible Fleece, and there it is. It's totally cute, totally fall, Allie was so excited!! 

It must seem like I'm only making small projects these days... just wait, I nearly finished a quilt this weekend so that's coming soon! :) 

Ghosties Mug Rug!

I have been going nuts making small fall themed projects the past couple weeks. When we moved last summer I came across the beloved "ghosties" pj pants from my late high school / college / early marriage years. Yes, my Ghosties were something of a lovey... I wore them in Rome! I wore them freshman year of college when painting my sister's living room! 

Ghosties Mug Rug

Naturally they were stashed away because they had worn so thin in the butt that they actually split down the back seam! Eeek! lol. They've been in a box for a few years now. I knew I'd want them someday.

The other day I decided to make a little something using the Ghosties - they're perfect! I paired it with one of the Juliana Horner prints (from Joann's), and some generic dark grey dots. 

The thing is, this mug rug was originally going to be a pouch - that's why it's quilted with Soft & Stable (actually it's the hardware store equivalent) on the inside. Once I had quilted it up, I couldn't bear for it to be anything other than a mug rug - the texture is TO DIE FOR! Really it is! It's so fabulous and flat and yet it gives such definition to the quilting! 

I'm for sure claiming this one for myself. I love it and it's perfect for my hot apple cider! I can't help but get dreamy about all the memories I made, and all the growing up I did while wearing those pj's. I wish I could have another pair of Ghosties. 

***

BTW - random fact here: my mom bought the WHOLE family pairs of these ghost pj's for Christmas one year -- they'd been $3 clearance at Old Navy. Everyone in the house had them. It was rather hilarious. :) 

Winner Winner!

Whew! That week flew by! Now it's time to share the winner from last week's giveaway! Jake / comment # 16 will be receiving the pdf pattern for Sewing Patterns By Mrs H's Bookbag Backpack! I sure hope you love it Jake - and show us tons of pics once you make one! :) 

Thanks again to Samantha / Sewing Patterns By Mrs H for sponsoring this giveaway! Don't forget to check out her shop for more bag making inspiration! 

Giveaway from Sewing Patterns By Mrs H

Have you seen the new Bookbag Backpack pattern? I just adore it! If I had the chance I would drop everything and sew one! Unfortunately for me I have to go to work tomorrow morning (I miss late night sewing!!). But on the positive side, it means that you have a chance to win the pattern!!

That's right, I'm having an,  "I wish I could sew this - but I can't" giveaway! Sponsored by the fabulous Samantha from Sewing Patterns by Mrs H!

What do you need to do to win this fab pattern? Leave a comment below - tell me what you're sewing (or if you're like me, tell me what you wish you had time to sew). Extra entries allowed as listed below.

1st entry - comment telling me what you're sewing!

2nd entry - stop by Sewing Patterns by Mrs H, then comment here saying you did! (seriously look at all those awesome patterns!) 

3rd entry - follow Mommy's Nap Time (I'm so close to 400 followers!)

4th entry - make me a Bookbag Backpack (and I'll be your best friend for sure!) Just kidding... (sort of). 

I'll draw a winner using Random.org next Sunday 10/13

Simple Sewing

For a dose of simple sewing it's best to take your husband with you to the fabric store (or your mom)! About a week ago Wally and I took the luxury of a day off of work (while the kid was at school!) - and we went to the local fabric shop, Quilter's Destination. Wally was so excited about this skeletal halloween fabric. So I bought a half yard and made him the quickest 18" pillow cover ever. 

Quilter's Destination!

I literally cut an 18" square, then cut the remaining portion in half - hemmed the two smaller pieces, stacked them all, and sewed around the edge! Wally doesn't mind that it took very little time -- he's been using the pillow nonstop ever since! That makes me smile!

Also, I stopped in at Quilter's Destination recently when my mom was in town - that trip managed to end with her picking out 4 fabrics -- and I made her two 18" pillow covers and a standard pillowcase! 

Sometimes the simple sewing is a lot of fun. If nothing else it's a sure way to let your family know you love them!!