Behind the scenes -- backyard view!

We love living in Oregon. My back yard is so peaceful and beautiful, even though I live in the middle of a suburb. Somehow, Oregon manages to make that suburb feeling go away -- each of us having our own bit of sanctuary. Even though it is green year around, summer green is intoxicating. 

Each house in the neighborhood is nestled by green!

 

 

 This view is over our back fence.

Out my studio window!

Okay, lousy picture! I took it out my upstairs studio window -- through the glass. I want you to know I work very hard -- but washing windows is not one of my frequent labors!! But look how lush it is! The fall colors are coming on and yum!

Hide Your Stuff!

Here's a few more pictures of our first epattern, Hide Your Stuff!

Uses one fabric!

Uses two fabrics!

Uses three fabrics!

Epatterns are here!

The time has come! We have finally gotten around to writing epatterns. We are getting more requests all the time and always knew the day would come. So we are finally starting. Yeah! We wanted to start with tons of downloads but in reality, it is not that easy! So we are going ahead and posting the first one and then we will go from there.

My epattern format is a little different than our paper versions. With epatterns, we can add color graphics, which really enhances each illustration. On our paper versions, that is not really practical. It will take some time to convert a paper version into an epattern version but I think it will be worth it!

Our first pattern is an epattern only and does not have a paper version. It is called "Hide Your Stuff ..... in the closet"! It is a clever little caddy you can hang in your closet and hide stuff like cash or jewelry. When you hang the bag amidst your clothes in the closet, the bag is almost undetectable. It is great for traveling and hiding stuff in hotel rooms! Makes a sweet gift, especially for friends who travel a lot!! Very easy to make, and in my opinion, very well written!!!!

The pattern will be available for download on our website www.VanillaHouseDesigns.com .

Red and green thing!

Okay, this red and green thing is not actually a Christmas item, but it would be a great gift for your favorite quilter!
 So this tool is mostly for quilters and though I am not a major quilter, I still love it. The whole Color Tool has three aspects to it. 1) numbered color swatches, 2) fabric preview windows, and 3) -- my favorite -- red and green value finders. Value finders help you determine contrast without the distraction of of color. They are amazing to work with to get your fabric colors to balance out in a project. Kind of have to use one to understand how they work -- so go get one  -- it will be worth it!

3-in-1 Color Tool by C&T Publishing (www.ctpub.com)

 

Pre-purchased black bias tape!

I haven't used this notion a lot but I did use it for an accent on the Tuxedo bib version of Dude Babies (P189) and it sure was fantastic to work with. I ought to come up with another project for this neat notion.
So just in time to make your holiday bib for Mr. Baby, get a load of Tuxedo Bib!

Quilt Bias Tape

Black trim around the edges! Just top stitched it in place!

The most popular gift!

A number years ago, meeting with a local quilt shop owner, was advised to make an oven mitt pattern. Wondering who in the world makes oven mitts, she informed me that the most popular pattern ever (at that time) was an oven mitt pattern. I had been making soft sculpture patterns for years, and my first thought was "I have been working too hard"!! So off to make my first oven mitt pattern. And hey, guess what? Tons of people love to make oven mitts. Who am I to judge!!
A very popular oven mitt pattern of late is Handsies for Pansies. I think it is the name! It's a great name!!
So just in time for Christmas, make your oven mitts. The foodie fabrics are FABULOUS for oven mitts!!

Handsies for Pansies - P193

 

Christmas is Coming!

Christmas is coming and it is time to start your Christmas sewing projects. Our stockings are clever with extra pockets on the outside for extra little gifts. The fabric possibilities are endless!

Pocket Long Stockings  - P196

Basting Tape!

There are some projects that can use basting tape, making things much easier than using pins or using regular basting seams. Pins get in the way, ruin needles if you accidentally sew over them, and poke your fingers! Regular basting seams stay the position unless you take them out and start over. But basting tape has a bit more flexibility.
You can move the two items you are sewing together easier AND no pins to sew over.

There are lots of brands -- they all seem fine!

I used basting tape on my first epattern called 'Hide Your Stuff.....in your closet!' The basting tape helps hold the zipper in the zipper window until and as you sew it in place. 

Basting tape holds the zipper in place until you get it sewn it!

Best Press - maybe my favorite notion of all times!

Okay, maybe Mary Ellen's Best Press Clear Starch Alternative is my favorite notion of this whole series. I use it every time I sew - 'cause I press every time I sew. It is very simple. The starch makes the pressing faster and more crisp. Especially those times when a cotton just doesn't want to press a crease. This does the job! And it smells fabulous -- at least 'Tea Rose Garden'. There are other scents but I don't know what they are since I love the rose scent so much, I haven't bought the others. But smelled them at the store and they smelled good too!

Mary Ellen's Best Press Clear Starch Alternative

The Edge Foot and All It's Glory!

The edge foot happens to be a great accessory for any sewing machine. It has a couple of ways to use it to your advantage. 
First, obviously, as an edge foot. This is great for things like top stitching along the edge of project. See the blade that comes down from the center bottom of the foot. Align the blade with the edge of the fabric. Then align your needle the distance from the edge that you want. And sew - - the seam maintaining a perfect distance from the edge. This really adds the "perfection" status to your project.

Second, the edge foot is great for "stitch-in-the-ditch". The ditch is the seam or junction of two fabrics. Stitching in the ditch means putting a seam right in that junction. When you do this, it seemingly hides the seam -- a great technique when you Don't  want the 'top stitch' look. So align the blade in the ditch. Then sew. The blade guides the seam to stay in the ditch. It's magical!

The Edge Foot!

Letter openers for Sewing???

Yes, I use letter openers for sewing projects. ? They are actually great for smoothing out the edges of projects that have been turned right side out (rso for those that have been around awhile). Things like soft sculpture, pillows, placemats, anything with corners, purses, on and on.........
Let's say you have made of fabric doll. You have sewn the body of the doll, turned the body right side out, then stick the letter opener inside and smooth out all the edges from the inside with the letter opener. And then it just seems like you start using the letter opener for everything!! I suppose anything that is flat, with a somewhat dull pointed end, will work fine.

The top letter opener was a souvenir from a Nauvoo, IL giftshop. The other two are from Dollar Tree. The bottom letter opener is my favorite.

Bonnie Christine on CreativeLive.

So I spent three days with Bonnie Christine talking about 'Surface Pattern Design' on CreativeLive. Bonnie did a great job and I love CreativeLive.
Bonnie is a fabric designer for Art Gallery, and her fabric is featured in our pattern 'Sew ImPressed' (P209). She obviously has a whole range of talents which are very impressive. Watch out Martha Stewart!

Bonnie Christine's online class for Surface Pattern Design

Hugo's Amazing Tape

This glueless, reusable, self-adhesive tape is great! I use it to wrap around spools of thread, especially metallic threads. I also use it to wrap around pieces of trim. Really keeps things organized. I wonder how many different things this could be good for -- it really is amazing! http://www.amazingtape.com/products/

Hugo's Amazing Tape

Rotary Cutting!

Rotary cutting is an accurate and efficient method for cutting pattern pieces with a length and width measurement. Our patterns use rotary cutting techniques when paper pattern templates are not provided because they are something other than a square or rectangle. Though it is possible to make our patterns without rotary cutting tools, using a grid mat, grid ruler, and rotary cutter is preferred. Note that rotary cutting tools are basic to any modern sewer's inventory of supplies.

Grid ruler and really cool tape for grid rulers!

If you were to have only one grid ruler, which size should you get?  The 5" by 24" would be my suggestion. But I have tons of sizes and use them ALL. I love my 4" by 36", my 1" by 12", my 12" by 12", and even my 20 1/2" by 20 1/2".

I also like the cool colored tape shown above. If you are cutting lots of edges, let's say at 1 1/4", the tape can be put on the ruler, helping the quick identification of the 1 1/4" mark.

Cutting up with scissors and rotary cutters!

The only scissors I will use are Elan 8" Dressmaker with Florine made by United Notions. They have a slight serrated edge, so they grip the fabric -- right up to the tip of the scissors. Since they have a serrated edge, they can't be sharpened but they do last a long time. After that, the price point should be under $20 so just go get another pair every few years.
I also use the smaller 28mm Olfa rotary cutters. I have tried tons of different rotary cutters, but I always come back to these simple and plain Olfa's. Why complicate things when they don't need to be?! I also use these cutters to rip out seams -- though I hesitate to say this because it takes great skill to not cut the fabric. Be careful if you do this!

Elan 8" Scissors by United Notions and Olfa 28mm Rotary Cutter