LizzyHouse

school girl crush.

I've got a crush. I don't really like to talk about this kind of stuff on my blog, because my feelings change so quickly (roving eyed gemini here)... but I just have to tell you about this...

I'm pretty much head over heels for Hello Pilgrim. 

I think my knees get a little weak, and I definitely get butterflies. I just can't help it, it really does something to me... more than any other collection to date. 

I'm looking at you Outfoxed. 

I'm so all about it that I decided to make my friend, Kenneth, a tie. And because I was making this tie, I decided that we should probably match. I believe it was a smashing success all around. We wore our Hello Pilgrim outfits to church, and I couldn't help but giggle all day. 

What are you making with Hello Pilgrim?

the actualization of The Colorist.

The Colorist gets here on Monday. I have all the pre-order envelopes addressed, and I'm turning them around as soon as they get in the door. Same with any new orders. 

Monday is also my last shipping day before I leave for the holidays. So time is of the essence. 

The pattern is beautiful. And BIG! it also has one of my favorite quotes in it:

Only those who love color are admitted to its beauty and immanent presence. It affords utility to all, but unveils its deeper mysteries only to its devotees.
—Johannes Itten

aside from that it has fully colored/illustrated/photographed instructions, and a gigantic pattern piece to cut out and use. This pattern was quite the production, but I think it will all be worth it. I designed it a year ago, figured out the wheel in March, how to do the background in July, made the real one in September, finished the pattern in early November, and now it is ready for action. 

I can't wait to see the variations you come up with. I've already got a few different ones planned, along with the other 2 colorist tops I already have made waiting in line to be quilted! 

some holiday cheer.

I didn't say WITCH holiday!

I'm pretty excited. Amanda was going on and on about Halloween, and so I said, Hey, I'll try my hand at Halloween. 

I wanted to do something different. Something that looked like me, but wasn't so typical Halloween. All Halloween means to me anyway is Charlie Brown. There is no green, the purple is really gray, not shocking. The ghosts are emoting. The pearl bracelets are present... the eyes are just googly enough. The candy corn was made special so you could have as many as you want without a tooth ache/nap. The jack-o-lanterns are doing their thing. Nothing too frightening. 

My biggest deal, as we have been discussing as of late, was the color. Think more It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, than Nightmare before Christmas. You know I love a good peach. Also, I don't know if you can tell from this picture, but our little ghosts are doing the neutral thing, so I can see using them well outside of this holiday. 

So, I hope you like Guising (to go disguised). Tell your favorite shops to talk to their Andover reps! I think it will ship late spring/ early summer. 

Moral of the story. If I like you enough, and you talk about something enough, the odds of it turning into a line of fabric are high. 

I'm building you a rainbow.

I have always known that color was important to me, but it wasn't until relatively recently that I realized that it was such a sticking point about my work... not to me, because it always has been, but to other people. I've had several conversations with random guys who don't say anything about the designs, all they see is to color. Which in and of itself is interesting to think about, but that my color is the discriminating thing about my work to them, and that has me thinking that it's not just me who's into my color work. 

Did you know if I went and worked for some one it would probably be in H. Wood, and it would probably be as a colorist for a cartoon? or an animation company? true story. And then they would hear how silly my voice is and my life long dream of doing voice work would come true. Also, true story. 

Since last week I had been working on the fabric bundles. We'll just say that it was quite the task. But interestingly enough it gave me a really personal overview of my little canon of work. It pointed out to me that I really like orange, peach and barbie pink. It also pointed out that I am missing some greens, and it showed me that I need to work on adding some neutrals. 

I then I realized that a lot of the missing pieces to this spectrum are present in Hello Pilgrim. Minty greens, Magentas, more deep blues, and lots of neutrals! AND pinks that aren't necessarily barbie pink. I then remembered that that was how I designed it, and what I designed it for, to fill in some of these spaces. 

I don't know how everyone designs, or how they choose their colors, but for me it is continuous. I want to to keep filling and wedging new color into this brilliant little rainbow. I don't know if you are collecting my fabric, or keeping some pieces of it, or just looking at it... you can really do whatever you'd like with it, but just know that every piece I add to my personal catalog is to stretch this color bridge a little farther.

I love color. I love using color. I love talking about color, and I love sharing color. etc etc etc. 

fabric bundles, FYI

OK! I am letting everyone know RIGHT NOW.

Tonight at 8:00 PM Mountain Standard time! I am listing 24 fabric bundles. These are not the scrap boxes, so I'm not employing the waiting list, because this is a different product.

The bundle is 50 fat 1/8's (a fat 1/8 is 9x20-22 depending on the WOF). The fabric is Castle Peeps, 1001 Peeps, and Outfoxed. It is the most beautiful rainbow of color in the world. In my opinion. With this bundle, you could easily make at least 3 The Colorist.

The cost is $65, and I will ship international this time, so it's opened up to all my peeps domestic and abroad.

Ok! I'm off to prep the bundles!

Outfox the Fox

I'm feeling like showing you stuff. I haven't really posted any pics of Outfoxed, and I will, but how about a pattern cover?

I'm not great at waiting to reveal stuff... maybe that's bad... But I thought you might enjoy this, especially you fans of this little thing, here.

And can I just say, I am obsessed with this quilt. The more I look at it, the more I love it. AND the way it goes together, I don't know if I have ever had more fun assembling a quilt. It's a joy, and I don't know if that is super common.

Also, notice the new Outfoxed version of my logo? I'm loving it. There is more stuff... like a full reveal of The Colorist, but that might have to wait a little bit, because I might do the whole fan fare thing. You know?

I hope you all have a great week!

So... I've been sewing pretty with Hello Kitty...

Since January 2007 there has been a Sewing Pretty with Hello Kitty Janome Sewing machine in our family. Melissa bought it, I think because it was very cute, and she could afford it.

Understandable.

I have often wondered at great length, what this machine was really intended for, and how long it was intended to run? I feel strongly that the individuals in my family who have used this machine have each personally exceeded the manufacturers expectations. Or do we not take it seriously enough, because it is so cute?

Melissa sewed three dresses that I can think of, one jacket, and lots of aprons... then I borrowed the machine in October of 2007 to make my first quilt (a City Scapes). Because I was designing fabric and I needed to get serious about quilting, and I didn't have a machine at school... The machine at that point stayed with me till almost April. I sewed various things. Then Melissa took the machine back, and sewed crazy amounts of things. She used the machine almost everyday until 2010 when she bought her Bernina. I might be wrong, but I think the machine ended up in Utah with Ashlee when Melissa moved east to go to Johns Hopkins. So then the machine sat for a little while, until I moved to Utah in November of 2010. My machine was broken so I started Sewing Pretty with Hello Kitty.

I have:

sewn and quilted 20 Peep Boots

recovered a lamp shade.

sewn through a bunch of paper

made strands of garland

created several sewing patterns

Pieced all of the quilts in my 1001 Peeps: five magical projects

created the cushion for the crewel embroidery project in the book

Bound 5 quilts

Sewn several new quilts to be released in the next few months

quilted several projects (it's hard to fit large items through the 9 inch throat.)

And most all of this happened from December to May.

During the months of March, April, and May, there was not a day that this machine was not on and running for at least 6 hours. (540 hours roughly)

During my market prep, I didn't have the time, energy, or money to get a new machine, so I just prayed and prayed that Hello Kitty would keep working. And it did.

We had a few fights. At one point the machine completely seized up, so I did minor surgery, disassembled it, cut some lodged thread, reassembled it, dabbed some oil on a few spots, and brought it back. It got to the point where I was sewing with a screw driver in my lap.

The long and short is that it is a miracle, a literal miracle, that this machine has operated the way that it has. It is a fantastic little machine, and has run for 1000's of hours. I would recommend it, but with some wisdom:

When you first start out in anything, whether it be painting, or running, or cooking, or clothing construction, or whatever... it is important to use good ingredients. You never want to make the task more difficult than it needs to be by using tools or ingredients that add to the frustration of learning. This machine, from the beginning has run with a few hiccups. But the price and size make it super appealing to beginners. So I recommend it to new sewers with a little apprehension, just learn how to take care of it, read the manual...as much as it looks like a toy, it isn't so much

but know that I don't hold the machine accountable for any troubles past year 2...

I think this machine is ideal for traveling. If you need to bring a machine with you for workshops, or a class, or even just because, this machine is ace! It only weighs 12lbs. You can put it in your carry on luggage! And as I've mentioned, it can pretty much sew anything. Plus it will, without a doubt, be cuter than anyone else's machine in the class.

Needless to say, I am looking to upgrade. I am interested in the Janome HD3000. I've heard good things and the price point is fantastic. But what I am really interested in, is a machine that would work well for both quilting and clothing sewing, works fast (I mean FAST), and has the charm of the Hello Kitty Machine. I've sewn on dozens of machines in my life, and nothing has been nearly as sweet or pleasant as sewing on an aqua machine. I want color and I want it to be more than a decal!

It seems like all the machines that have color are made with plastic parts. I am a serious sewer, I want a real machine with metal parts, and color. I think a lot of us do. And I don't think it's too much to ask. If you are paying more than $500 does it have to be white/silver? I can buy a stand mixer in almost any color, why can I not buy a work horse sewing machine in the same fashion? And I am not talking the occasional red machine that companies put out as a novelty. I am talking color.

So, here's to another at least 2 months of me and Hello Kitty. We make a cute team.

how do you feel? Do you want Sewing Machine manufacturers to start taking our color wants seriously?

What did I tell you???

Probably early August, there will be a pattern out featuring Castle Peeps and 1001 Peeps.

When I said they would work together, I really mean that they REALLY work together.

But I will have you know that I have taken into account that some Castle Peeps are not still available. I know that the Green Armory is gone, and possibly the blue. I will find out for sure, and edit the pattern so that you aren't searching for something that doesn't exist anymore. But as before, I would recommend holding on to your CP or tracking a little bit down.

*this just in! If you are searching for any of the Castle Peeps Gallant Green Armory print Suppose, has some.

also, I have to say that I am really loving the green-blue green-blue section of my little Peeps rainbow.

Castle Peeps Strike Offs

I'm so excited! So I have a little preview for you. Castle Peeps will be available this Spring in three color ways: Gallant Green, Royal Blue, and Cardinal Red. If you haven't already ordered it for your shop, contact Andover, or your Andover rep.

And don't forget about the Free Castle Peeps quilt pattern I designed. All you have to do is download it, and decide who you are going to make it for, and wait like a patient little Castle Peep until the release date.

in and out... Quilt Market all parts.

so I just got home from Market, and I am SOO tired. Unfortunately I am having to alot my energy as I am in the last leg of finishing my BFA so, sorry peeps this is going to be brief.

Market always feels like a reunion. I like that about it. You get to see your blog friends, and fabric peeps in real life. It's a fun thing, and something I have really come to look forward to. Also, in light of being really tired, I didn't take too many pictures... here are the ones that I did take though.

always good to see Laura and Heather! Laura's fabric is being released in the Spring! So exciting!

I was super excited to meet Jay McCarroll who is designing for FreeSpirit, and so happy to see my dear peep Melissa of Yummy Goods. I'm working on moving to a place where we can be friends all year long. Who knows!?

I just love Elizabeth and Pam SO MUCH! 

darling Mark Lipinski.

dream Kim Kight, of True Up. I was really happy to finally meet her!

It was so nice meeting and chatting with Patty Young!

I loved meeting Jessica Jones of How About Orange. She is someone that I could also see trying to make a friend on a more regular basis. Unfortunately there are no pictures of us though, as all were taken way too late, and were... unfortunate.

I met so many great people. I wish I had gotten to spend more time with Patricia of A Little Hut, Jenean of PoshPattern, and Michelle of Cicada Daydreams to name a few. Also, too fun Myrinda, of Fabric Hound. So many fun people. Forgive me for leaving anyone out. I don't know what exactly I am running on at this point

This keeps on not being short...

One of my very favorite people that I met was easily Caroline Devoy (and Robin). Fabric 2.0 was super fun, and she had an incredible award winning booth. It's great to find like minded people in a giant convention center full of "like minded" people.

OH! Lizzy Dish is doing well. It should start popping up in stores near ye. OH and I recorded a podcast with Annie Smith of SimpleArts, and Quilters Stash the first podcast for quilters. I'll link to that when it goes up, if you are interested in hearing me talk about stuff... I sure missed Kirsten! Too much fun, everything. Ok i'm done. For real.

Ok one more thing. It was super fun to be there with my sister Ashlee, and my Mom. Lots of success for Cherry House Quilts!

OK! i'm going to try and graduate now. Wish me luck.