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| Modern Mermaids Thread Catcher Set |
Modern Mermaids is a thank you gift I made for Heidi of Red Letter Quilts. Heidi is a swimming coach by profession and loves the water, so that was my inspiration for her thread catcher. The bag turned out a bit bigger than I intended. I loved the Heather Ross "Calypso Mermaids" Munki Munki fabric so much that I wanted to show it off.
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| Modern Mermaids thread catcher bag closeup |
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| Modern Mermaids pincushion - I like to stuff a pincushion with sawdust, packed in tight, so that it is firm and nicely weighted. |
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| Modern Mermaids Thread Catcher Set - assembled |
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| Modern Mermaids Thread Catcher Set - hanging off the edge of the desk |
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| Modern Mermaids Thread Catcher - weighted hanger thingy, along with starfish stick pin |
To weight the hanger thingy, I used three metal pieces known as tie plates (structural straps for lumber), I wrapped them in batting and put them in a sleeve with a strip of velcro on the side that hangs off the desk. The bag is then detachable.
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| 3 1/8" x 7" tie plate |
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Publishing News on my Book!
This morning, in my inbox, there was a wonderful note from Christina Cameli of A Few Scraps. She and I do QSI (Quilt Scene Investigation) for each other, LOL.
Well wow wee did she have a big surprise for me! My book is now listed on the AQS website! I knew it was going to be worked on by the editorial team soon, but they got a lot further than I realized.
Thank you for alerting me Christina! You are a total sweetheart!
So I know the title now: "Crafted Appliqué: New Possibilities" You can go and take a peek at it if you like, by clicking on the link. They did a really nice cover with my picnic cooler project "Hello Mr. Ranger, Sir!" I hope they keep this cover, but it might change by the time the book comes out on April 12, 2016.
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| Crafted Appliqué: New Possibilities |
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Americana and Midnight Mystery QAL Progress
I've completed this month's blocks for Deana's Americana quilt along, row three. I'm not sure what size I want to make the quilt, so have not sashed and sewn the blocks together or appliqued the cute birds on yet.
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| Americana - My Country Tweet, Tweet, Tweet, row 3 |
I also completed step one in the sewing for Cheryl's Midnight Mystery quilt along. If you are interested in joining in, you could catch up with this one for sure!
I never did show what fabrics I chose, because of a fabric buying oops when I mistakenly ordered the home decor weight.
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| Parson Gray fabrics: A - Vagabond Street Fair in night B - Curious Nature in sand C - Katagami Star Crossed in steel D - Curious Nature Starcomb in silver |
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| Midnight Mystery Flying Geese |
Thanks for visiting, because...
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This week I'm joining the party at:
Ida's Perfectly Pleasing Pincushion Parade
Lara, I didn't know you have a book in the works! That is so exciting! I love the cover. A really good friend and her husband just bought a camper... that would be perfect for them. I will be looking for your book in April. Your fabrics for the mystery quilt are gorgeous. And I love your thread catcher and pin cushion. Great fabric for a swimmer!! Wonderful gifts, too.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your book and the lovely thread catcher. I knew you were writing a book but didn't realize it was so far along. Hooray for you!
ReplyDeleteSquee! So excited for your book!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the book!!
ReplyDeleteWow, congratulations on the book, it's really there and for sale! You must be floating about now :)
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! Go Mom! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a full post! I don't even know where to start. Love your thread catcher set - such cute material. HURRAH! and CONGRATS! on your book. What a gorgeous cover. Also love your row along bird houses and QAL blocks. Now go out and celebrate that book!
ReplyDeleteSo excited for you and your new book! I'll bet you were almost jumping out of your boots as you found out it was already listed at the AQS website! Gorgeous cover...I hope they keep it too.
ReplyDelete*Hanger thingy"...hahahaha...love it!
Congrats on the coming book Lara! I am so happy for you and that little vintage trailer is so cute! What a beautiful thread catcher too!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you. I think the book looks super cute, and I'm excited to learn more as we get closer to the availability date. Your pincushion turned out super cute as well. What a thoughtful gift.
ReplyDeleteYay, exciting news! Congrats! Nice cover.
ReplyDeleteWonderful projects!!! Your book looks AWESOME already! I can't wait to peek inside it - the cover is adorable!!! Your pincushion is just perfection, to go along with the sweet thread catcher. I've never used sawdust before as a filler. Do you have to make your husband do some woodworking for you, when you want to make a new pinnie? I'm so curious today --- are those fabrics you show the home dec ones, or did you order more fabrics for your mystery quilt? It looks great so far.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your book! You sure have been busy. Your thread catcher looks great.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your book! That is just awesome, the cover looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteSimply Love your thread catcher and pincushion set ! It is perfectly themed for Heidi ! And I am thrilled for the book coming to life!! Your creativity is amazing!! Yippee!!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could have joined in with these Sew Alongs ( just not enough time). I'll enjoy them through yours!!
Susie
Congratulations on your book, Lara!! That is quite an accomplishment, I can't wait for your book to come out. :-))
ReplyDeleteThe little swimmers appliqués on the thread catcher are so adorable! I use crushed walnut shell as filler, I would have never thought of using sawdust as filler for pincushions. I have a tiny pincushion that I really like and it's been hitching me to open it to see what's inside ... :-))
So excited to have news on your book! I was thinking about that just the other day. And it looks so fun!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd anything with Heather Ross is fantastic. Your projects are no exception. ;)
OMGosh Lara, that camper picture is me right now, camping in Alaska! Except I am shivering on tundra, so the trees are only about 8ft tall, haha! No swimming going on here,lol. I LOVE my mermaid catch-all & can hardly wait to get home & start filling it up! You do such beautiful work! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteOMG that threadcatcher is totally all kinds of AHH-mazing, Lara! Your appliqué of the swimmers is exquisite, both in the detail and in the execution. You have the coolest ideas for using non-sewing stuff in sewing! Like the tie plates! That Heather Ross fabric is great, never have seen it. I also love your runner for your machine, not sure whether it is Blanche, or Rose? Maybe Rose because of the runner! YOUR BOOK! Cue the choir!!! and the AWWWWW YEEAAAAAHHHHHH! Love that cover, as I told you. :-) Such a great fabric for the birdhouses' doors! I'll be watching to see you appliqué your birds...and woo hoo on the geese, got mine done last week too!
ReplyDeleteWow a date has come, how wonderful is that. Looks like you have been busy creating, and they all look great. You do such a wonderful job. Great idea for the weight on the thread catcher and to make it dettachable! You go girl!
ReplyDeleteMust say I fell in love with that swimming fabric when I saw it at the LQS!
ReplyDeleteHurray for you! The cover looks amazing and I can't wait to get a copy of my own.
ReplyDelete...and the thread catcher is adorable. Nice job.
I didn't even know there was such a thing as a threadcatcher - what a brilliant idea. I love the fabric you chose too.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the book coming out! Oh I do hope they keep the cover, Though I have not seen anything else in the book, it is just so fun! your thread catcher is adorable!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations of your new book. I just found your blog and can't wait to look around!
ReplyDeletecongrats on the book and that cover is so cute. Makes me want to buy it! LeeAnna
ReplyDeletewhat a gorgeous gift, and many congratulations on the book - how exciting!
ReplyDeleteWow! Your appliqués are amazing! They look so much like the girls on the fabric that at first I thought it was a panel. And the colors are similar too. Amazing. Your curved quilting place the mermaids at the bottom of an ocean, swimming leisurely. All of which make a gorgeous thread catcher. With its size, and the size of the pincushion, the lady will be ready for intense work. lol A pincushion of this size surely allow one to insert a pin rapidly, without having to stop the machine. I myself dumb them rapidly beside my sewing machine... Maybe I need such a big pincushion... Do you have measurements? On second thought, a thread catcher would be useful too. (And more beautiful than the old plastic bowl I use, in an effort to give them a second life.)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to read your news about your book! The cover promises fun activities. I'm really looking forward to seeing the inside. :-)
Your birdhouses are quite lovely, with their american colors and their stained-glass front wall. I also love your flying geese. What a pairing of fabric you've made! It's very, very interesting. Very mysterious, too!
Wow....congratulations on the book. I'll look forward to seeing it....love the cover!
ReplyDeleteI really like the mermaid set too. The birdhouses are so cute. You have really been busy.
What a beautiful set you made! I love all of your projects..
ReplyDeleteIncredible Lara, I am so impressed! I love your mermaids and congratulations on your book that looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThe thread catcher set is adorable! Congratulations on the book update, how exciting!
ReplyDeleteYay that looks fantastic - I love Christina's books and am learning some great quilting motifs from her on Craftsy! Really looking forward to your book - must be brilliant to see the cover!
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!! AQS will provide lots more exposure for you to showcase your obvious talent!
ReplyDeleteI love that swimming fabric you used! That is so exiting about your book...can't wait to read it! I love the cover design!
ReplyDeleteSuch great news about the book, I'm so excited for you! And what a great cover,
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thanks for sharing how you weight and fill your pincushions. Your friend will love the personalized thread catcher set.
ReplyDeleteLovely pincushion and threadcatcher - after all the really fancy ones something straightforward and simple is so refreshing! Good luck with the book. xx
ReplyDeleteThe threadcatcher is so perfect for a swim instructor. Something I've intended to make, but I'm still using brown bags. Cheers on the book. The cover is quite attractive. claire aka knitnkwilt
ReplyDeleteI have just found your blog and beautiful work. The threadcatcher and pincushion are delightful and so useful. Congrats on your book.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your book. Love the little camper. Love the fabric combo in all those flying geese.
ReplyDeletecongrats on the book. I hope they keep that cover too because it's adorable. And what an awesome gift! Heidi will love it! I made myself something similar and my daily sewing wouldn't be the same w/o it!
ReplyDeleteI love your thread catcher set and congrats on the book! :)
ReplyDeleteWow Lara what a cute applique on the cover of your book. I hope you have a lot of sales! I love applique, especially raw edge.
ReplyDeleteYour thread catcher is darling too. I have one of those Singer 301's in tan. Great little machines for straight stitching.
I love your thread catcher set. It is lovely and your vintage sewing machine is gorgeous (now I have swing machine envy, lol). Congratulations on your book!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely thread catcher with the swimmers on the front, Lara. Congrats on the upcoming book!
ReplyDeleteYour thread catcher set is so cute! Well, I was excited for you before, but now it's really exciting! That cover is adorable and I can't wait to see the book in person, congrats again!! :)
ReplyDelete