This is by far the best tutorial:

http://www.tilependant.com/diy.html

I am thinking of trying to use resin – I find that the Diamond Glaze and similar products never get truly hard. you can always dent them and they can’t be in the heat.

I buy the digital artwork online – I’ve found several places that sell “inchies”.  The problem I have is that they are all bigger than the 7/8  inch by 7/8 inch needed for a scrabble tile and despite the fact that I have Photoshop and am very computer literate, I can’t figure out an easy way to reduce the entire sheet to the right size.  it is extremely frustrating.  Even when the ad says it is for scrabble tiles, they are always still too big and I have to shrink them – usually by trial and error – by making them smaller and printing them out to see if I made them the right size. I feel like I am missing something and there is a much easier way that is just eluding me.

I primarily buy my inchies on etsy.com

I have some 20 inch pillows that need new covers.  I found  a great article on how to make a pillow case with an opening in the back to slide the pillow in and out so it can be washed.

http://cottagemagpie.com/sewing/projects/pillows/how-to-sew-pillow-cover/

It is a cool website too

[slideshow id=2]

I enjoyed making this tote bag.  The pattern, B5267 Butterick (Waverly), was not as clear as I would have liked it regarding the handles, but I figured it out.

The pattern calls for cardboard between the lining and the outside of the bag to make a flat bottom.  The bag is already “boxed” so it is kind of flat -but I did not want to use cardboard – what if it got wet?  However, only after I finished did I think about inserting a Fast 2 Fuse bottom that could lie on top of the lining – so it would be removable.  Fast 2 Fuse is better than Timex because it is fusible – so I could cover it with matching or contrasting fabric.

I used canvas fabric, so I put interfacing on only the outer pieces and the handles (the instructions for the handles were weird – it took me a little while to figure it out).  The pattern calls for interfacing on the lining and on the outer pieces – but that seemed like overkill since I was using fabric.  I did use a heavy interfacing for the handles.

What is nice about this tote bag is the handles are just long enough to put over your shoulder – so it fits comfortably over your shoulder – it is easy to get your arm in and out.

Piecing quarter and half square triangles can be frustrating.  However, I found a product that makes it easier – and you can print it out yourself called “Triangulations“.  I don’t use triangles much in my quilting anymore – but this is a great way to make them if you do.

I’ve been thinking of making a tote bag.  I want one strong enough to carry files to and from work.

Maybe this one?  The pattern is free and there are nice color photo instructions from jcaroline creative!

Sometimes I look at all my “supplies” and I can’t figure out what I want to make.  And I end up on my computer, checking Facebook, and searching for patterns online, even though I have hundreds of patterns.  The thing about buying patterns is that art is always changing and growing and what I thought was cool a year ago, is kind of out of style.  So patterns online can be fresh and motivating.

I have a friend who really likes dress forms – you know the ones made out of wire.  She is also a sewer.  I wanted to make her something that  had a dress form on it.  It is hard to search for a dress form pattern without finding patterns for actual dress forms.

But I did find this cool dress form pattern, that is a dress form pin cushion.

So then I got sidetracked and found these cool videos on how to make pin cushions out of old wool sweaters into little coffee cups.

And well that little video landed me on Ebay where I searched for and purchased some old wool sweaters.  And saw that some people sell used socks on Ebay.  For real.

But now I think I am going to make these cute little square pin cushions.  Because I don’t have a dowel for the dress form pin cushion . . . yet.

Ok box-edged square pin cushions? Yeah, not so easy to make.  I did find a tutorial here that seems to explain it better than the link above.

box edged pillow

It is really hard to put the second side on (green part).  This is about 6×6 inches, but I tried to make one smaller – 3×3 – and got really frustrated and gave up.  It might be easier to hand stitch it – but who has time for that?