Rick Rack Ruby

Merry Christmas to all...

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 05:16:00 +0000

...and to all a good night.

Kaitlin and I made this wreath today from vintage ornaments!

Where's Laura K?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:04:00 +0000

Here is a "cast photo" from the 2009 SBC Christmas program. Can you locate yours truly? (Click to enlarge.)

Here is the 2007 photo.

Here is 2006.

What happened to 2008????? I guess I didn't receive a photo last year!

Feather Fairy Fest

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:47:00 +0000

I hosted my first feather fest today! We made feathered fairies for Christmas.

Kaitlin, Amanda, Lindsey, Sunny and Ryan are seated and Bobbi and Sarah and standing behind them. Check out these magnificent creations:

Click any photo to enlarge for full gloriousity.

Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:34:00 +0000

Christmas brunch with the gang. I took the photo, so I'm not in the photo - oh well...

Mary, Melanie, Karen, Gail, Star, Linda, Mary and Denise across the back. Cristine, Shelly, Margi, Laura, Kathy and Debbie in the lime turtleneck. Love you all!

Click here to see the same group in 2005!

Thanksgiving 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:37:00 +0000

Kaitlin, James, Daniel, William and Matt - back in San Diego for Thanksgiving.

We ran in the morning, enjoyed the hotel buffet, visited with some new friends, and went to the movies in the evening.

On Friday we shopped and some of us did a Segway Tour of San Diego. It was a great trip.

Click here for our 2008 photo.

For Fall...

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:30:00 +0000

A new schoolbag fashioned from vintage barkcloth and assorted trims, buttons and pins. It's hard to tell but I cut motifs from a second barkcloth print and appliqued them into the design. You can see the leaves overlapping the little doggie embroidery in the corner. The lining is in the second print as well. Here is the back of the bag.

Hope you like it. Happy Fall!

James and Sarah go to Homecoming

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:24:00 +0000

Yes, it's fall and that means Homecoming! James took his sweetheart, Sarah to the dance. Aren't they adorable?

Art Unraveled 09 Shopping Extravaganza

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 02:56:00 +0000

Saturday was the "Shopping Extravaganza" at Art Unraveled in Phoenix. Somehow, I never get registered to take any actual workshops at the event (next year...) but I always get to the shopping!

Here is lovely Ruth Rae. I purchased one of her DVDs. She has a new book coming out soon called "Layered, Tattered and Stitched."

This is Leighanna Light. She is as charming as her name.

Here is author and quilter, Jane LaFazio.

This is Lorri Scott of L.A.S. Fibers.

I purchased a fabulous old ledger from Flatwoods Folk Art....

and lots of goodies from Hannah Grey....

I wanted to purchase an angel by Julie Haymaker, but my budget was a little strained at this point.

It was really fun. Thanks to all of the vendors and organizers of this event.

Tue-Torial Bag #2 From Anthropologie Dishtowel

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Thanks for you comments on last week's tutorial. I have another bag this week - slightly different. Please give this a try :)

I started with this "Bambi" towel.

Cut off all four edges, then cut off one side just to the left of the last deer. I use my big "Quilter's Rule" to measure and mark the lines.

Make additional cuts as shown. The two strips will become the tab and the handle. The third deer will be appliqued to the back of the bag. The front and back are tapered like this. (Sorry, I didn't take as many photos of this process!)

Refer to previous tutorial and cut a tab pattern from an index card. Cut two tabs from heavyweight stabilizer. Cut two tabs from the bottoms of the two strips. Stitch stabilizer pieces to the wrong sides of the tabs. Install the "male" half of a magnet to one of the tab pieces. Sew tabs together, right sides facing, around the sides and rounded bottom, leaving the top straight edge open. Turn to right side, press and topstitch.

Sew the strips together, right sides facing at the short ends. Press seam allowances open. Fold the long strip in half wrong sides facing and press. Unfold and fold long edges in to the center and press. Pin and topstitch both long edges to form one long handle.

Apply heavyweight stabilizer to the wrong sides of the tapered front and back pieces. Use these pieces as patterns to cut front and back lining pieces from contrasting fabric. Also use an index card to cut two pocket pieces from lining fabric.

Stitch the sides and bottom of the bag right sides together. Also stitch across the bottom corners "Paper Bag" style.

Turn bag to right side and add tab and handle. Install "female" half of magnet to the front of bag.

Stitch up pocket and apply to one lining piece.

Sew front and back lining together at sides and bottom leaving a 5-inch opening in the bottom. Also stitch across the bottom corners.

Place the bag inside the lining and sew right sides together around the top edge. Turn bag right side out through the opening in the bottom of the lining.

Stitch the opening closed and fold the lining down into the bag. Topstitch around the top edge. All done!

Here is the back!

Please let me know if you have any questions and please send me a photo if you try this project. Thanks for reading my blog.

Tutorial: How to make a Bag from an Anthropologie Dishtowel

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:46:00 +0000

It's been a long time since I posted any sort of tutorial - this one is way overdue. The kitchen towels from Anthropologie are so cute that it's a shame to wipe your dirty hands on them. Also, after a few cycles through the washer and dryer, they become a little droopy - so I selected a couple of favorites from the sale table at my local store and made them into summer handbags. This is a fun and easy project - please give it a try!

Here is the towel that I started with.

Cut off all four edges. It's a shame to waste the lace, I know. You can save it for something else.

Cut a 3.25-inch strip from each side for handles.

Use an index card to make a pattern for the tab. Cut two of these from heavyweight stabilizer. Cut one from one end of the 3/25-inch strip. Cut the second from lining fabric and install the "male" half of a magnetic closure.

I trimmed the top of tab with rick rack, a small blue doily and a yellow button. Use whatever you have on hand.

Stitch the tab pieces right sides together, turn, press and top stitch around the edge. Cut the second handle piece to the same length as the first piece. Discard extra fabric. Fold the handle strips in half lengthwise and press. Open up and fold the long edges in to the center and press. Pin and topstitch down each long edge. Center rick rack on handles and stitch through the center.

Cut the remaining large towel piece in half. Now you should have a front, a back, a tab with a magnet and two straps.

Mark 3/4 of an inch in from the top edge of the front and draw a line from this point tapering to the bottom corners as shown. Cut these sections off. Repeat for the back.

Pin the front and back pieces to heavyweight stabilizer. Stitch around the edge and trim.

Trace the front and back to your lining fabric and cut out a front and back lining. Also cut out two pocket pieces using an index card for a pattern. Stitch your pocket pieces right sides together leaving an opening for turning in the bottom. Turn, press, topstitch across the top edge and then pin and stitch pocket to the right side of the inside back lining.

Stitch lining pieces right sides together along the sides and bottom leaving about a 5-inch opening in the bottom for turning. (Sorry the opening doesn't show in the photo!) Sew across the bottom sides of the lining "paper-bag" style about 1-inch in from each edge.

Sew the bag front and back together along the sides and bottom. Again, "paper-bag" the bottom edges to give a little dimension to the bag. Sew the tab to the back (right sides together) and the straps to the front and back as shown. Turn the bag right side out. Fold the tab over to determine the placement for the "female" half of the magnet. Mark and install the magnet on the outside front of the bag. Leave the lining inside out.

Place the bag inside the lining and pin around the top edge keeping the tab and the handles between the layers. Stitch around the top. Turn the bag right side out through the opening in the bottom of the lining. Stitch the opening closed.

Turn the lining to the inside and topstitch around the top edge. All done!

Please let me know if you have any questions and if you try this project I'd love to see a photo.

Project Runway on Lifetime August 20th!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:52:00 +0000

Happy Birthday Dan!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:25:00 +0000

Dan turned 21 yesterday and we celebrated with dinner at Cowboy Ciao. Dan's sweetheart Katelyn joined us. Happy Birthday Dan!

Dan Turns 21 on Monday...

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:42:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who voted! Dan claims that at 2:00 AM he was both "Sick as a dog" AND "In his own bed." This was confirmed by his sweetheart, Katelyn.

No bail was required.

Kaitlin is the Scottsdale Republic's "Teacher of the Week!"

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:35:00 +0000

Thank you Mrs. Brophy!

I'm Gleeful!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:04:00 +0000

Loved the Pilot for "Glee" last night after Idol. I hope this show survives!

Saturday With Tim Gunn

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:09:00 +0000

Please read my new interview with Tim Gunn here.

Happy Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Mon, 11 May 2009 03:04:00 +0000

This is my mom's high school graduation photo.
I miss her every day.
Give your mom a hug if you can.

James Goes to the Prom

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Sun, 10 May 2009 19:24:00 +0000

James turned 17 yesterday and also went to the prom. (He is a junior.) Doesn't he look fabulous in his "classic black tuxedo?" Happy Birthday James!

Patchwork Journal Covers

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Sun, 10 May 2009 02:39:00 +0000

These fit standard composition books.

The patches are almost all vintage fabrics, trims, lace, napkins, quilt blocks, etc. It was fun trying to use up my scraps.

Hope you like them!

Happy Birthday Kaitlin!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:08:00 +0000

It's hard to believe that our precious daughter is 24 years old today. Tonight we will have dinner with family and friends at Digestif. Happy Birthday Katiegirl!

Apparently, I am a Vintage Pin Collector

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:05:00 +0000

In my never-ending pursuit of a clean, organized, and functional sewing studio I began placing all of my pins and brooches into one box. I have been uncovering them here and there and tossing them into the box watching as the collection grows. Suddenly I realize that I must have over a hundred. How did this happen?

The enamel flowers are my favorites. I have lots of rhinestones too, and somehow, bugs and butterflies.

I love the robin's-egg blue pottery. This collection is intentional.

Happy Spring!

Woven Necktie Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:29:00 +0000

My girlfriend Barb over at The Purse Project introduces and hosts various purse-making challenges and I enjoy seeing what everyone creates. The current challenge is to make a bag from neckties....

I thought I was finished with the neckties, but how could I resist - especially when Barb considers me an "inspiration!?"

So, for something new, I tried weaving neckties for this basket-shaped bag. It was not entirely successful and if I ever made another one I would do it a little differently, but it was fun to get the ties out again.

Thanks Barb!

I Heart Susan Boyle!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:44:00 +0000

Brothers

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:45:00 +0000

James is 16 and Dan is 20. They still haven't grown out of the "Hey, let's punch each other" stage.

Congratulations to Scott MacIntyre!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura K) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:47:00 +0000

Scott has made it into the top twelve on American Idol! UPDATE: Now top ten! Click here for an in-depth profile from the Arizona Republic.