Upcycle/Recycle – Sofia10

Posted on by Tisha

Today I am showcasing Sofia from Sofia10 shop on Etsy.  She has been recycling items for many years, it was part of the way she was raised.

She came to the United States in 1979 with two suitcases and $150 in her pocket.  The Soviet Union did not allow people to take anymore money out of the country with them.  That is scary and brave all at the same time.

Since life in the USSR was hard, everyone recycled.  Nothing was allowed to go to waste.

She loves to take something pretty, but unusable and make something nice.  For example, she would take a single earring and make it into a ring.

One of her favorites.

Sofia finds inspiration all around in nature, spring flowers, etc.

Please visit Sofia’s shop and check out her wonderful creations and vintage items.  Just don’t take my favorite.

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Upcycle/Recycle Month – April 2012

Posted on by Tisha

For the month of April I want to focus on items that are upcycled, recycled, and/or repurposed to Celebrate Earth Day later in the month.  Here are some of the things I am working on to showcase my own works and those of other artists with some of the same ideas.

Quilt restoration

Upcycling of clothing

Reuse of items for you and your home

I hope you enjoy the series during April.

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Scrappy Circles Quilt

Posted on by Tisha

In December I received an email from someone who had one of my custom quilts given to her.  She loved it and wanted to do the same for friends that were having babies in 2012.  She wants 6 quilts this year and each one is different.

The backstory on this quilt is a joke between friends.  For the shower the mom received a onsie that said looked something like this, I imagine.

So a quilt was designed based off a request to do something similar.  This was a rough sketch that I came up with while traveling to NY in December.

I knew for the circles I wanted them to be scrappy.  After searching the internet for a tutorial, the decision was made to just make my own.  Look for the tutorial to come out next month.  Thanks to my Indy Modern ladies Lindsay and Rachael for letting me raid their red scrap stash.  Amazingly, my scraps did not include many reds.

Here is the finished quilt.

Hand embroidered

 

I love adding tags to quilts with the name of the baby that will be snuggling with it.

This quilt will be leaving soon and heading to it’s new home.

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Ah, Memories

Posted on by Tisha

Many months ago I was asked to create a quilt using a friend’s college memories.  Her school, activities, and all the different places she lived.  I was around for a few crazy nights.  Challenge:  her alma mater doesn’t have printed fabric.  Time to create something.

The info she wanted on the quilt was added with some hand stitching on black and white polka dots.

front

I love the way it turned out.  It’s big enough to wrap up under on a chilly night.  Too bad it’s March and it’s 70 degrees now.  Great timing on my behalf.

back

For the backing I wanted to be one piece.  I found this print while picking up supplies at Jo-Ann’s a few weeks back.

It’s off to it’s new owner later this week.  Can’t wait for her reaction.

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Indy Modern Quilt Guild Retreat 2012

Posted on by Tisha

First I have to say THANK YOU to Lindsay from Lindsaysews.com for all of her hard work putting this retreat together.  It was a blast and I walked away refreshed with projects almost complete.

We played a game with three fat quarters with tiles L,C,R for left, center and right.  The game was great because you couldn’t really cheat and it really was luck.  Jennie was our first lucky winner.

fat quarter winner

Open sew started the machines were zooming all night.  It was wonderful to sew, talk, learn, and get to know everyone better.

I worked on a couple of different projects that have been on my list for a bit.  Hopefully over the next few weeks they will go on the design wall, then machine and be ready for a new home

one of my projects

Each of us walked away with great giveaways as well.  We really had some wonderful sponsors.  Can’t wait to use my goodies.

spoonflower gift certificate
thread

Can’t wait to see everyone next week at our meeting.

 

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Finally Finished

Posted on by Tisha

This quilt top has been with me for SOME time, pretty sure it’s been 2 years or more.  Why didn’t I finish it?  No clue.  The backing fabric has been there.  It wasn’t buried in my sewing room.

I was inspired one afternoon to just finish it.  I love the larger size and how soft the fabrics are.  These were prewashed before sewing with them.  Actually, these were some of the first fabrics I went to Jo-Anns to buy specifically for a quilt.  I do remember vividly picking out the fabrics and putting them together.

 

The back is just pieced with some the fabrics I had for the project.

The quilt is available in my Etsy store here.

Can’t wait for it to brighten up a little girl’s room.

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