a gift guide for quilters (and a few tool recommendations)

The holidays are fast approaching, and gift guides are popping up all over the place. I've loved the gift guides for quilters that Amy from Diary of a Quilter has published over the past few years, so I wanted to put together my own list of go-to sewing tools and favorite quilting-themed gifts. I'd also love to know what tools and gifts are on your holiday list this year, so be sure to share them in the comments below. 

The Kwik Klip is a basting tool that helps you easily close safety pins when pin basting your quilting projects. This tool has definitely sped up my basting process, and reduced the soreness in my fingers caused by closing hundreds of safety pins in an afternoon!

I use my hera marker all the time to mark quilting lines in my quilt tops. I've had mixed results with marking chalk and pens washing out of my projects, so I enjoy having the peace of mind knowing that this tool will only leave a temporary crease in my quilt top, and not a colored line.

Pincushions are a must, and my favorite are the beautiful crocheted linen ones by Namolio.

I've been using a felt-backed vinyl tablecloth as a design wall for the past few years and I love it. I simply tack it to the wall with flat-head thumbtacks, and it holds my WIPs without a problem. It's also super easy to take down whenever we move.

Patchwork key fobs, with tiny flying geese, are perfect for both quilters and non-quilters alike!

A quilt block rubber stamp is just too cute to pass up.

The classic Olfa 45 mm straight-handle rotary cutter works for both left-handed and right-handed quilters (and ambidextrous folks like myself!), which makes it so useful.

Wonder Clips are handy for so many things, including binding quilts and holding together projects layers that are too thick for pins.

I've loved having a quilt block letterpress calendar by Lineville Letterpress on my desk this past year, and this year's colorful version is equally stunning.

Cotton thread from Connecting Threads is my favorite to work with, and the large spools are a great price.

A sewing machine is a definitely at the higher end of the gift-giving spectrum, but I have two recommendations in case you're feeling extra generous: the Janome Jem Gold (perfect for first-time sewers and those looking for a lightweight back-up/travel machine) and the Juki TL-2010Q (an investment for sure, but a workhorse of a machine).

Happy shopping!

alphabet embroidery + weekend reading

For the past few months, I've been stitching my way through the alphabet, using the pretty patterns I receive every week as a member of Polka and Bloom's Alphabet Motif Club. I started in September (my first two letters are above) and I'm currently working on K. The letters up through U have been released though, so this weekend I'm hoping to set aside some time to stitch and get caught up. In the meantime, here are a few links to take you into the weekend:

Apartment Therapy did a nice round-up showing quilts in modern interiors.

Target has teamed up with Faribault Woolen Mills in MN to produce a line of products featuring their US-woven wools.

A quilt made from wetsuits.

Rennes makes my favorite leather bags, and I love this honest interview Rennes' owner Julia Okun did on the real costs of producing and selling domestically produced, high-quality goods.

This vintage quilt pin is the perfect way to incorporate a bit of patchwork into your wardrobe, and is going onto my Christmas wish list.

I just discovered Griswold Textile Print, a mill in Rhode Island that produces hand screen-printed fabrics for lots of great makers, including a new favorite, Fayce Textiles.

This Joy embroidery pattern I designed is easy to stitch and a perfect last-minute holiday gift.

There are so many exciting events and workshops coming up in 2015 that I want to attend, travel budget permitting: The Makers Summit in Greenville, SC; a sewing weekend with Anna Graham in Burlington, VT; and Improv Patchwork with Denyse Schmidt in Bridgeport, CT. Will you be at any of them?

Happy weekend, friends!

christmas wish list

In case you were wondering (you were, right?), here's what's topping my Christmas wish list this year:

 

Many Mountains Stitchable Tote Bag by Sublime Stitching

Made in France: Cross-Stitch and Embroidery in Red, White, and Blue

Zipper Purse by Made by Hank

fabrics on my wish list

 Coloring Garden by Anna Maria Horner 

Cabo by Leah Duncan

 Ele-fete by Cloud9 Fabrics

Castle Town by Lizzie House

christmas loot: tote bag

A handy-dandy tote bag by doe-c-doe. (Thanks, Husband!)

love: b. poetic

I've completely fallen in love with the ruffly and romantic fabric flowers of B. Poetic. I would have loved to have worn a B. Poetic ribbon belt or pair of shoe clips at my August wedding--and would have, had I known about them sooner!

Silk Shoe Clips in Dark Mint Green

Shoe Clip Bouquet

Ruffle Belt

The B. Poetic Etsy shop, with lots of pretty products, can be found here.

cross-stitch love: chez-sucre-chez

(This is the fourth cross-stitch love post. Check out the other posts here, here, and here.)

A few months ago, I discovered chez-sucre-chez's Etsy shop and quickly added it to my favorites. Kimberly, the designer behind chez-sucre-chez, makes darling embroidered tea towels and cross-stitch kits (excellent gift idea!), and her cross-stitch work is simple and gorgeous. Here are a few of my favorite designs:

Smiths, Please Please Please Cross-Stitch 

My Bunny Valentine (so cute!)

Pieces of Coral
 

Keep Calm and Carry On Cross-Stitch

For more information and pretty pictures, visit chez-sucre-chez's web site.

crafty books

In a recent blog post on BookPros[e], I listed a few of the crafty books on my need-to-read list. Here are a few others I'd like to add to my bookshelf or check out from the library:

While honeymooning in Toronto, I picked up a copy of Meg Mateo Ilasco's Craft Inc. (I really enjoyed it and found it very informative), and I would love to own a copy of the accompanying Craft Inc. Business Planner.

I love the aesthetic of the projects found in I Love Patchwork: 25 Irresistible Zakka Projects to Sew, and I would love to learn more about how to sew with linen.

The author of Subversive Cross Stitch, Julie Jackson, is a Texan (yay local crafters!), and her cross-stitch designs are hilarious, inappropriate, and totally unexpected.

I flipped through a copy of A Rainbow of Stitches while at the bookstore during lunch a few weeks ago, and realized I'd found what I'd been looking for: a reference book of modern cross-stitch designs that I'd actually like to stitch.

tote bag love: doe-c-doe

Dear Husband, 

Pretty please?

I Heart Cross-Stitch Tote Bag by doe-c-doe

Love,

Caitlin

cross-stitch jewelry

Not only have I fallen in love with cross-stitch work for the wall (more cross-stitch love posts to come!), I'm also smitten with wearable cross-stitch.

On my Christmas wish list, earrings by The Pin Pals, a duo based in Montreal:

White on Green Cross-Stitch Heart Earrings

The Pin Pals also make really excellent buttons:

 

Three Little Lady Buns Cross-Stitch Buttons

Little Puffy Clouds Cross-Stitch Buttons

Heist Jewelry makes sweet needlepoint pendants (thanks for the link, Jaime Jo!):

 (my initials!)

Needlepoint Initial Charms

And chicadecanela makes amazing cross-stitch earrings, rings, and necklaces:

Cross-Stitch Earrings: Paris

Cross-Stitch Ring: Rose 

 

Cross-Stitch Necklaces

For more eye candy, check out each designers' Flickr pool: The Pin Pals, Heist Jewelry, and chicadecanela.

cross-stitch love: tinymodernist

(This is the second cross-stitch love post. Check out the first post here.)

After my involvement with the traveling exhibition Birth of Cool: California Art, Design, and Culture at Midcentury (I gave a gallery talk on midcentury pottery and ceramics), I've developed an appreciation for midcentury modern furniture; hence, my attraction to the amazing cross-stitch patterns of the tinymodernist that feature modern chairs, including these:

Set of Four Modern Chairs

Eames Shell Chairs

Eames Lounge Chair

I also love these phone patterns (my family had a beige rotary phone, similar to the red one below, up through my high school years):

Set of Four Retro Phones

For more cross-stitch patterns (and super cute baby clothes featuring midcentury furniture silhouettes) check out the tinymodernist Etsy shop here and the tinymodernist blog here.

All images used with the permission of tinymodernist.

cross-stitch love: andwabisabi

Since I started cross-stitching again a few months ago, I've found a lot of excellent cross-stitchers doing fun and unique work. Over the next few weeks, I'll share some of my favorites. 

First up are designs from andwabisabi. Grace is the gal behind andwabisabi and her Etsy shop features a variety of cute and quirky patterns (like glass beakers, hamburgers, and soy sauce bottles). What I especially love are Grace's simple text and heart designs...

i heart u.

 

M is for Mom 

...and her use of colored fabrics for backgrounds.

Lowercase "w"

I'm also completely smitten with these covered button magnets:

 

Spell out your love.

I love the idea of cross-stitching on small and unexpected surfaces. These designs would also be adorable on pin-back buttons.

All images used with the permission of andwabisabi.

napkin rings by raedunn

I've been coveting these handmade napkin rings by raedunn for awhile. 

 

I think they'd make an excellent, personalized wedding gift, especially when paired with a set of handmade napkins.