Fun Zippered Pouches from Sew Bee Mine

I took a class at The Quilt Block a couple of weeks ago to learn how to put a zipper into a pouch. It was easy in the class because we just used one piece of fabric so there was no right side or wrong side when putting the zipper in....

The first attempt at home included patchwork on the outside vintage cotton on the inside. It was way more complicated and first off resulted in zipper on the inside when done, so had to throw it away. Then came the next one, had to do the zipper over TWICE, sewed the bee on upside down, topstitching on zipper was off......kept having to fix it, cut out the zippers. The pouch got smaller and smaller. LOL! 

Final product looks pretty good. Next one hopefully will go a lot more smoothly. Need more zippers!

Front

Back

Inside

Sew Bee Mine at Pottstown FARM on Thursday August 9th

I'm enjoying being a vendor Pottstown FARM market. Right now it's a cozy little market on High and Charlotte in Pottstown, part of the revitalization efforts of the town. Each week getting to know more people there, customers and vendors. 

Come on out next Thursday August 9th. We are there from 5 to 7:30.

Christmas in July at Pottstown FARM July 26th

OK, so everyone keeps asking why there's a snowman in my back seat. Couldn't resist the little fellow, only five bucks at Goodwill! He will be part of the decor for Sew Bee Mine booth from now through the winter. He needs a little apron!



First stop will be this coming Thursday July 26th at Pottstown FARM, for Christmas in July. Until then he enjoys riding around in the blistering heat, cool as a cucumber, looking out the window.







Last year holiday aprons were a big hit and didn't have enough for people who wanted them, and just not gonna let that happen again.
Here is the first apron of the holiday season.......This one has quite a bit going on......keep in mind that the mannequin is naked so everything you see here is all apron. Such as embroidered bib, sheer organza/linen overlay with poinsettia pocket, tropical green and red cotton/rayon underskirt with beaded embellishments, and bottomed off with a leopard ruffle. The neck and straps are made with pine cone print. This is clearly and without a doubt a one of a kind wearable art apron. Fa la la la la la la la la! Ta Da!

Also made a batch of quilted potholders.......

Because IT'S CHRISTMAS IN JULY AT POTTSTOWN FARM! 
Sew Bee Mine is right underneath the main sign for the market. 

Hope to see you there. 

Another Fun Class at The Quilt Block In Exton

I love taking these quick little classes at The Quilt Block. 

This one was to make a business card holder. 

Ta Da! 

Sew Bee Mine at Hayloft Barn Sale July 21 and 22

I love Kelly Morgan and her Hayloft Barn Sales. There is truly something for everyone at these unique, monthly events. There are around 20 vendors each time. I've been to three of the sales, and scored some beautiful handmade flowers that are in my living room right now and forever, 3 mid century modern folding chairs, vintage linens a very cool and unique hanger that went into my kitchen to hang aprons on and more. Have also purchased beautiful multi colored eggs from the little farmer's market onsite.

This weekend some of my wearable art aprons will be at the barn sale, butterfly potholders, plus some dollies with birdies on their heads, birdie sachets, a patchwork boy angel doll,

one little star bear, one mermaid doll, a couple of embroidered bird purses, two big big love totes and some stitched birds with bead embellishments in frames.

I dropped all of it off on Wednesday. The barn was chock full of this that and more, piles of goodies and lots of furniture all over the place. Kelly will be moving it all around and staging it for the sale. It is truly amazing how she does it!

Hayloft Barn Sale 

Sat and Sunday July 21st and 22nd

 690 Upper Pine Creek Road, Chester Springs, PA

Shopping Hours are 9:00 to 4:00

Summer Class at The Quilt Block in Exton

I spent yesterday morning at The Quilt Block in Exton, learning how to make a zippered purse with Jan, one of the owners, and a few other students.

The shop is at 95 East Welsch Pool Road in Exton tucked off of 113 kind of near Rt 100.  Located in a turn of the century home, the shop's vibe is classic, with a modern flair. They have an assortment of thoughtfully chosen designer fabrics, patterns, notions and quirky sewing gadgets that you never knew how much you needed until you get one, use it and it changes your sewing life forever. There are many spectacular finished quilts and other items throughout the store to drool over, and to be inspired by. 

I am not a quilter, because measuring and I don't fit into the same sentence. This shop IS for real quilters, beginners through advanced, but they also provide some great classes for good old fashioned sewing. The class I took was part of the summer Sew Days Series. 

Cynthia and Jan are the owners, and have taught me a thing or two about quilting, embroidery and more over the years. Such as how to make a patchwork cover for my ironing board, embroidery stitches and tips, and yesterday how to put a zipper into a pouch.

They also taught don't tear your fabric, although that still occurs on a daily basis over here to make apron straps.  You are supposed to cut with a clear ruler on a cutting grid with a rotary cutter. (they sell those too) I bought all three and do use them from time to time.

They introduced me to a super handy little pair of scissors that are extremely sharp and easy to use. I keep them right next to my sewing machine at all times for cutting threads right to the quick as I go along. Well not always, recently moved them to somewhere else and lost them. When I say they could be anywhere I mean it. 

An attempt was made on my own to put one of these zippers in, following some directions (apparently not) found online but the part where the zipper pull is wound up bulky and weird so threw it in the trash. Being shown something is the best way to learn, and I don't mean a YouTube video. Tried that too and "hated it". There is no substitute for a live human being who knows what she is doing.

Jan made everything so simple. We, there were a few of us in the class, were tucked into a cozy classroom upstairs. We had written and illustrated instructions but it was much easier to follow her fabulous instructions. Step by step we all came out with a done deal. I sew really fast,  was done first and left to go shop and hob knob with the other owner Cynthia. I should have stayed longer and gotten a group photo! 

I left The Quilt Block yesterday so happy with a new pouch, and knowing now how to put the zipper in perfectly. It was so easy, once you have a good teacher showing and telling. Also picked up a new pair of those little scissors, and some needles for my machine since they break on a regular basis riding over pins bent from shoving them into the card stock and paper bag patterns I make.

Which reminds me, say hello to these nifty pattern weights. Very easy to make! Pattern and instructions here. These are stuffed with lentils so if we have a famine they can be torn open. LOL