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It's not always about sewing around here. In fact it's rarely about sewing lately.

A few weeks ago I was sick in bed all Friday. Not horrible sick, just sick enough that when I tried to do things, all I wanted was to go back to bed. I got the kids off to school and went back to sleep until 11, but after that I was pretty bored. Sitting still drives me nuts!

For some reason I decided to watch YouTube videos on making French Macarons. I have always wanted to try making these perfectly, beautiful cookies, but have been too nervous to give it a go. I knew they were tricky, but after four hours of the University of YouTube under my belt, I felt pretty confident to finally try. Then I tried again, and again and again. Just yesterday I made a pretty fantastic batch and love them! These are lemon, and they are my favorite so far. I have been using this recipe from the Joy of Baking and it has worked well for me. This recipe uses the French meringue method and comes together pretty quickly.

There are so many different tricks and tips out there. I try something a bit different each time I make them. I'm still attempting to reach perfection--perfect feet, no hallow shells, and beautiful smooth tops! No one around me complains too much at my desire to keep trying to make these beautiful little cookies. I've been spreading the love with all my cookie attempts!

For my third try, I used the Italian meringue method. It's more work, takes longer and didn't seem to make that much difference in the end. The cookies did turn out pretty well, but might not be worth the extra work when the French method worked well too. They bake up really pretty and had perfect ruffled feet (the base of the cookie)! I'm still torn between which method I'll stick with.

My second try was a bit over-mixed and flat. These ones didn't raise as well as I would have liked. The dark chocolate ganache was yummy, but I felt it overpowered these cookies just a bit too much. I favor the creamy and fruity flavors much more in macarons.

My first attempt was under-mixed because I was so afraid of messing up the batter, and I didn't mix them for quite as long as I should have. They have rough tops and didn't spread at all. The batter was simply too thick. The filling so amazing though. It's just cream cheese mixed with good quality raspberry jam to taste. Such a perfect filling for these cookies!

It's been fun seeing progress as I experiment and figure out this new adventure. I'll be making more this weekend to send to my sister. What are your favorite flavors?

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I ventured into using waxed canvas recently. I've seen various bags on Instagram made with waxed canvas and have been meaning to try it out. In fact I purchased a swatch kit about two years ago from an Etsy shop, and it's taken me this long to finally commit and try it out.

The main project that started all of this was a new camera bag. I wanted a purse-like camera bag that wasn't obviously a camera bag. I wanted it just big enough to hold my camera and perhaps one additional lens. I opted to buy an insert from Amazon that would be transferable between purses, but I also wanted one tailored more toward ease of carrying. A messenger bag is perfect.

I started with my old Messenger Bag Tutorial from a few years back. I changed it up quite a bit as I wanted a contrasting base and wanted to change up the exterior pockets. I was no longer in love with how I designed them initially.

I made them higher than in the original design. Rather than adding piping, I simply rolled the lining to lay slightly higher than the exterior fabric before top-stitching. It saved so much time, but still has the appearance and contrast detail of piping.

The more you work with the waxed canvas, the more distressed it looks. This was exactly what I was going for with this bag.

The one thing I regret with this bag was the pockets. Because I made this bag with the intent of using the camera insert, I skimped a bit on pockets. I also didn't include a zipper pocket. I changed that on the next two bags I've made using this same design.

Here it is with the camera insert. It slips in easily with a few extra inches on the side for my wallet and other necessities.

When I placed my fabric order for my first bag, I didn't plan well on how much fabric I needed and ordered too much. What's a girl to do with too much fabric...well, make another bag of course! This bag is essentially just a very large pouch with handles. I used similar dimensions to a Trader Joes bag, but with a zipper across the top. 

I also tried leather handles with rivets for the first time. I love, love, love the look of leather handles!

I opted not to put any pockets on this bag. It's meant to be a simple tote to keep in the car for library runs, or a small trip to the store.

Then I received a custom order and made another...

And then I received another custom order. I think this one is my favorite of the three!

Supply Sources:
Waxed Fabric: A.L. Frances Textiles
Rivets: Minkus Margo
Leather Handles: Local Tandy Leather

A new quilt on the wall

A few weeks ago I wanted to start something new. I pulled out piles of fabric, put my design wall back up and started experimenting. I came up with this block which is similar to a geometric design I saw elsewhere. I used the Quick Curve Ruler to design and cut these blocks. I'm undecided as to how big it will be or if I'll incorporate any additional colors . We'll see where it goes!

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This is a new Scraps Inc. book! It was just released this week!

I had the opportunity to contribute to the first volume, and was thrilled when I was again asked to contribute to the second volume. Lucky Spool Media does a great job on their books, and it is always an pleasure to see my work next to projects by so many other amazing quilters. Volume 2 is even better than Volume 1!

My quilt in this book is Confetti!

Photography by Nydia Kehnle

 My goal with this quilt was to put together a project that appeared random with an improv feel, but with the order of a reproducible pattern. As per my usual style, I stayed away from crazy scrappy and went with orderly scrappy. I love a scrappy project with a color palette. The color ideas for this quilt hit me one day while I was cleaning out my purse. I have a navy purse with tan straps and gold hardware, a bright pink wallet, mint green water bottle and pink lip gloss. They were all sitting there and together it was perfect! I adore the gold accents in this quilt. Luckily for me, the metallic fabric craze was really getting going about the time I made this quilt for the book. The selection of metallics is even better now. It adds such a fun twist to any quilt to incorporate these fabrics.

Photography by Nydia Kehnle

Photography by Nydia Kehnle

Photography by Nydia Kehnle

Through Tuesday, February 16 Scraps Inc. Vol 2 is 30% off (use code Scrap30)!

Giveaway!
I have one copy of the book to giveaway courtesy of Lucky Spool Media! Head on over to my Instagram account today and leave a comment to win! The winner will be announced Tuesday, February 16th!

If you haven't seen the other stops on the blog tour this week, check out the other contributors posts! You also have so many additional chances to win a copy of the book through their blogs as well! Feel free to enter each time. We all have a copy to give away!

• Monday, February 8 Amy Smart, Diary of a Quilter Nydia Kehnle, Nydia Kehnle Design + Photography 
• laddervnp安卓 Amy Friend, During Quiet Time Alexandra Ledgerwood, Teaginny Designs
• Wednesday, February 10 April Rosenthal, April Rosenthal - The {Studio} Blog Dorie Schwarz, Tumbling Blocks 
• Thursday, February 11 Erin Harris, House on Hill Road Janice Ryan, Better Off Thread 
• Friday, February 12 John Adams, ladderVNP安卓版 Kari Vojtechovsky, Craft Happy 
• laddervnp安卓 Katie Blakesley, Swim Bike Quilt Kati Spencer, From the Blue Chair
• Sunday, February 14 Melissa Lunden, Lunden Designs Allison Harris, Cluck Cluck Sew Sherri McConnell, laddervnp下载安卓版   

Katie Jump Rope-- My love affair with a fabric line

Is there one particular line of fabric that you have always adored? For me it was Katie Jump Rope. Unfortunately, it came out about a year before I started quilting. I was able to get my hands a few prints before it was entirely gone, but I have never been willing to pay the exorbitant mark ups. I would use the few pieces I have sparingly, scattered through various projects, but always horded them a bit.

When it was announced that there were be a Katie Jump Rope reprint, I was instantly on board. Although, when I actually had the chance to buy it I wasn't sure I was still in love with it. Do you ever have that experience--you desperately want something until you can have it, and then you aren't so sure? Considering I haven't been sewing nearly as much lately, I really thought this purchase through. Do I really want it? I asked myself this question so many times. I have tried to be much less frivolous with my fabric purchases--only buying something if I have a specific need for a project. 

When Pink Castle Fabrics had 20% everything the weekend after Thanksgiving, I decided to splurge. I've liked this line for eight years and have loved pretty much every project I've ever seen made with it. 

It arrived today! It's really pretty. I'm glad I splurged. 

The only thing I'm sad about is the fact that they took away some of the really great colored prints prints. I think the reprint is a bit too heavy on the brown. I intended to make a quilt with only the KJR prints, but I'll likely incorporate some other DS prints into the mix to add more color. I feel like it especially needs more red and orange. 

I still have about a FQ of this print from the original line which will certainly work it's way into my quilt. This was one of my absolute favorite red prints ever. I'm sad this one didn't make the cut for the reprint. 

I've missed sewing, and it's fun to be back with a project! I've decided to make this lovely stack of fabrics into a quilt using the Shimmer pattern by laddervnp安装包安卓. I think it will be the perfect compliment for these prints!

Precision

Every once in a while I crave the precision of paper piecing. It's fun to work on a project like this (at least for a little while). I felt this way a while back and started a new project. I had a bin full of scraps from a previous project that needed used.

I opted for a pattern that has been floating around Instagram a bit. This is a variation on Grandma's Surprise from laddervnp安装包安卓 by Joyce Giezler. This little guy is just 18" finished. I recently completed the quilting and am currently considering a binding. I'll likely go with navy to frame it. 

Mini quilts are a great way to try out a new technique or get something out of your system. I personally wouldn't ever want to paper piece an entire quilt, but I love it for small projects. It would never finish a whole paper-pieced quilt. This mini alone took me a couple months to actually complete. Now that I've done a little paper piecing, I'm ready to get back into a project that's more satisfying for me and a little less rigid.

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Just a few new pouches!

I made these framed clutches using Diane Stanley's (random thoughts...do or di) ladderVNP安卓版. I went a little light on the interfacing. Next time I'll certainly use something with more body.

These are both made with velveteen from Anna Maria Horner. It is perfect for these clutches.

I've been itching to use some of my selvages I've been saving for years. I finally pulled out some of my Cotton & Steel pieces and made this wide open pouch.

I sewed the selvages to cotton duck. The base is navy linen with some metallic accent stitching.

It goes perfectly with my new Super Tote!