Garment Sewing.

I stink at sewing garments.

But I've decided that I want to tackle this.  I really want to sew something I'd actually wear in public that is not a halloween costume (and if you've been a reader for a while, you know that sewing those has been a challenge!  Click here or here.

But I need some serious help.  Can you recommend something to try?  Maybe a blouse or a dress?
I like working with knits, but I'm cool with non-stretch too.   Please please leave me a link to a pattern you have tried that worked for you, or a blog post about a pattern, or any sort of suggestion you can offer.

I realize that most of you have never seen me in person.  Here's a post that actually includes a picture of me.  This might help in making suggestions for what I should sew to wear.

And I promise to chronicle it here so you all can enjoy my follies.

And I promise to wear whatever I make.  In public.  With pictures. {yikes}

My new sewing friend

We've added a second dog to our home.

Like our first one, he's a rescue dog.  He's yorkie-ish, and I was drawn to him because of his sweet personality with my kids and other dog.

But when we got him home, he appears to have a Great Love of Quilts.  He picked this one out immediately. One of the girls left him a unicorn on a stick to play with in case he got bored....

He also loves to chew on empty spools of thread.

Perfect dog for me, right?

Congrats to.....

Allison and Sallie on winning the fat quarters of DSQuilts dots.  Can't wait to see what you ladies come up with to use them!

And thanks to everyone who has participated in my giveaway.  And to everyone who is kind enough to follow my crazy antics!

300 followers!

I had intended to hand out some door prizes when I reached 300 followers... 

and then things got busy, and today we're at 317! 

I never dreamed anyone but my mom would read what I had to say on here, and I value you all very much!

{Hi Mom.}

So... leave a comment.  Tell me what you're working on, what you're doing this week, whatever you want to.  I have 2 fat quarters of this print from the DSQuilts collection to share with you.  

If you are a no-reply blogger, please leave an e-mail address so I can contact you.  I'll leave it open until Friday night.

Thanks for following!  

Confession...

 I hate trimming blocks.  It's my least favorite quilting activity.

But I do find the pile of tiny shards of blocks rather captivating!

And I love the progress I'm making on my polka dot quilt.

Posting at Moda Bake Shop

Hi friends! 

Last week I posted a tidbit of stuff to come, 

and I'm glad to tell you that my pattern is posting today at Moda Bake Shop!

Click on over and check it out!  And while you are there, will you please (PLEASE!) leave a comment?  Thanks ever so much.

If you wanted to make the same quilt larger, you could make it from 30 squares.
To do this, you'd need 2 3/4 yards sashing and 1/2 yard of binding.
Finished size would be approximately 65" x 73".
Make 5 columns of 6 blocks each.

And I wanted to show you what I made with the leftover layer cake squares as well.  You know, I can't just leave unused squares alone.... I had to create something.

a cute mom-around-town bag....

with a green zebra lining!

Keep watching, there's a (FREE) pattern on the way!

Patterns for sale!

I have a few patterns for sale on etsy.... please take a look!

This pattern is very easy.  It goes together quickly and makes an excellent gift for a baby or child.
Click to go to the etsy listing.

I so enjoyed creating this paper-pieced pattern!  Finished size is 43" x 50", and it makes a great small quilt or wall hanging.  All templates are included in the pattern.  Click here to go to the etsy listing.

Until the end of the week, receive 10% off any pattern purchase with the code MODABAKE.

update in the Wendy City...

I realized I haven't posted in a while.....

you see, the things I've been working on I can't share just yet!

But here's a sneak peek of one project..... coming soon.

Also, I've been working on a pattern to sell.  2, actually.  well... no... 3.

Anyway...

And one's almost finished, just needs some tweaking.  (it's a child's garment pattern)

one I need to photograph the cover piece.  (it's a quilt pattern)

one needs some additional research. (an adult garment pattern)

But those aren't ready for show either!

And I finished up my dot swap, thank goodness!  Can't wait to show you what I'm doing with my charm squares, and I am looking forward to seeing what everyone does with theirs as well.

And there was family reunion and family vacation and spending the summer with my sweet babies... you know, the important stuff.

Happy Summer to all!

wee folk by Ingrid

So I almost never buy fabric just for me.  To make something for myself.

But this week I bought this!

I'm so excited.  

Maybe I live under a rock, but I haven't seen much of this collection around blogland, but I think it's utterly fabulous and can't wait to start sewing on it.  

just have to finish up some other projects first.....

Some days I still sew!

Wow, summer is fun.  

So I've been spending most of my days at picnics

and at the pool

and running through bouncy houses

and occasionally I'm sewing...

but I rarely have time to write about it, it seems!

I hope you are doing well and having a lovely summer as well!

I did want to show you some blocks I finished up this week for a bee

Because I LOVED them SO MUCH!

They used this tutorial by Oh Fransson!

and it was a lot of fun.  They are on their way to Kristin today.. 

can't wait to see what she makes out of them.

A few spots left in the Dotty For Dots Swap!

I have a few spots left in the Dotty for Dots swap, and I am anxious to fill them quickly!

Details below:

You will mail in to me:

20 5” squares from each of 4 polka-dot fabrics (for a total of 80 charm squares)

          So that means you buy ½ yard of 4 polka-dot fabrics and cut 20 5” squares of each of them.

And then you will receive in the mail:

80 5” charm squares of 80 different polka dot fabrics.

The details:

·       Comment on this post to claim your place in the swap.  Make sure I have a way to contact you.  If I reply to the comment and your e-mail comes up as "no-reply" then I'll have to remove you from the list.

·        Purchase ½ yard of 4 different polka dot fabrics.  All fabrics should be 100% cotton and quilt-store quality.

·        Use a rotary cutter to carefully cut 20 5” charm squares from each fabric.  

·        Mail in your charm squares to arrive to me no later than June 20. Please put your squares into a gallon-size Ziploc bag with your name, phone number and address written on the bag.   

In the bag, include $5 for return postage via Priority Mail flat-rate envelope.

Because this is a swap with a very quick turnaround, I'm limiting the participants to people in the continental United States.  But next time I'll be sure to include International participants.

To sign up, please leave a comment on this post or send me an e-mail to wendyleep at gmail dot com.

If you leave a comment, be sure that I have a way to contact you.

Destash (Very Nearly) Giveaway!

Friends, as fabric fell on my head when I opened the closet this morning, an idea hit me (literally).
I need to get rid of the fabric I'm not going to use.

So here's the deal.  I've packed up 3 of the postal service shoeboxes today.  If you will pay for shipping, I'll send the box to you.  Easy peasy!  I need to get these out quickly, so I'm limiting to US so that I can ship from my home.

BOX 1:

Box 1 contains non cotton fabrics.  I don't know the fabric content on these.  They are NOT quilting cottons.  The plaid and bears are a seersucker texture.  This box weighs  4.75 pounds.   It will be about $14 to ship it.

BOX 2:

Box 2 contains minkee-esque fabrics.  Some are larger than others. The pink on the left has some areas where the dots are not as pronounced as others.  I think all of these were purchased at either JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby.  This box weighs 3.5 pounds.  It will be around $12.50 to ship this box.  BOX 2 IS CLAIMED!

BOX 3:

Box 3 contains more minkee.  There is quite a bit of the green on the left.  This box weighs 2.75 pounds.  It will be around $10 to ship box 3.

Leave me a comment if you want one of these and we can work out the actual shipping cost and the details.  Make sure that I have a way to contact you.  First come, first serve... so let me know quickly if you want them.