July 2014 | Go-Go Kim

sewing + social media + so much more

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Liberty Lifestyle~How to make a Cathedral Window Sewing Journal Cover { tutorial linked in post}

Last summer I made a beautiful quilt for the Liberty Lifestyle blog.  I was really very honored and a little overwhelmed  since it was the first quilt tutorial they were featuring ( no pressure).  The Lovetag  Quilt is still in my home being loved all the time.

A couple months back, I was contacted again ( boy are they nice) and asked if I would consider another project...LOL...SERIOUSLY!?!  I said yes and then pitched an idea.  I wanted to use the scraps I already had left from the last project to make something lovely.   Cathedral windows are lovely and I love to make and use them whenever I can!  I put them on pincushions and pillows and purses...and now a planner.  So apparently I put them on anything that starts with a P ;o)

My first attempt was an EPIC FAIL!  I did not let that stop me and moved on to my next idea that was not much better but the third time was a charm but at the last minute...I cut it 1/2in TOO SHORT!  I did not have enough scraps to make another from the start so I did what all good sewers do...IMPROVISE!  I decided to do something a little different.

I finally ended up with this beautiful planner that will hopefully bring you inspiration whenever you take it out!

Please visit The Liberty Craft Blog to see the FREE tutorial for The Cathedral Window Sewing Journal Cover.


The quilting was so perfect and straight and I love the way the 40wt shows off just a little bit more than the 50wt :o) !  And that was the other reason I could not start over, the quilting was amazing and that never happens for me!


An inside pocket holds all your goods right where you need them and the zipper is a breeze!  No reason to be afraid with this one at all! I used all Pellon interfacing and batting, I used SF-101, my favorite WONDER UNDER and Craft Fuse.  Love my Magic in the Middle :o)


I used resin snaps but you can use velcro for your closure.



I hope you like this project as much as I do!
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Saturday, July 26, 2014

SEWjo Saturday Birthday sewing!

I finally made it!  I made it to the ripe young age of 48 and I have now sewn my very first apron!!!!  I also had to renew my license which is why this post is up late.  Morning at the DMV...FUN!  Not really fun but I am legal again :o)

For the apron I wanted retro cool so I dove into my collection of Katie Jump Rope by Denyse Schmidt.  I really wish this would be reprinted.  It is, by far, my most favorite Denyse Schmidt line.  This is an apron I will wear all the time!




I used this Vogue pattern and chose A as my base.





 I made a couple of changes to the original to make it my own.


I added the floral pop of fun!

and the edge on the pocket.


I honestly could not figure out the instruction for the straps in the back.  I am neither a garment sewer nor a pattern reader.  Thank goodness I had a surprise visit from Heather from The Sewing Loft for my birthday!  She brought me gifts and knowledge!!!!!  Thank you Heather!  She has a SWEET quilt in the new book by Martingale  Fun Sized Quilts!



This made me laugh so much!




The incentive giveaway this week is two mini charms  of Valori Wells fabric for Robert Kaufman!!!!!


Let's get our SEWjo (sewing mojo) going!  This link up will be open the WHOLE WEEKEND to give you LOTS of time in case you need to do silly other stuff like make dinner or driving your kids somewhere and then there is always making sure you have good lighting. The things we all have to go through...sigh ;o)

To participate in the party please... 
1. Share a project from this past  THREE weeks ( I want to get all caught up) or TODAY!!! 
Link it up from your blog, your Flickr photos, and now your Instagram by using your Instagram URL as the link.  Please hashtag #SEWjoSaturday and @gogokim :o)   

2. Share a link back to SEWjo Saturday somewhere in your post. I would be over the moon if you grabbed the button and shared that too ;o)

3. Share some love with some of the other posters!!!!  Visit some of the linked up photos and get inspired by other quilty friends' work. And please leave some sunshine in their comments! Let's support each other!  




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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Aprons?

Aprons...do you have them, wear them, love them, hate them, make them?  I have three aprons and when I remember to throw one on, I LOVE them!  They protect my clothes and give me an instant dry spot for my hands or for drying off dishes from the dishwasher that have left over drips.

I asked my friends on  Instagram for patterns they liked or loved and was given a couple of suggestions.
( Adam was kind enough to take a photo for me :o) I love that boy!)

This one was highly recommended from Marie-Madeline Studio


Indygo Junction has an incredible selection of patterns!  I really am drawn to the Uptown Apron!


For an AMAZING tutorial for a half apron the FABULOUS Bari J has a free apron tutorial on her blog for this beautiful  (THANK YOU BARI J...I LOVE YOU!)
(image from Bari J blog)

And  A Fabric Lovers Apron Tutorial from Maureen Cracknell Handmade

( image from Maureen Cracknell Handmade)


Do you have a favorite apron pattern?
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Saturday, July 19, 2014

SEWjo Saturday with Incentive Aurifil and an linking up from Instagram! ( winner announced)

It has been too long...much too long and I apologize!

SEWjo Saturday is back!  I hope everyone is having a productive summer and some good times with family and friends!

This week I was able to sew a new ironing board cover that was desperately needed.  I had to give up my all time favorite, now out of print, Alexander Henry Paloma Birds cover ( CRYING ) but replaced it with this fun cathedral windows Patty Young fabric I found at Joann's a few months ago.  One of those, "I love it and had better buy yardage now" purchases.  So happy I did since I cannot imagine an unhappy looking ironing board. And I cleaned up my space some too!  It was so needed!


The before and after shots. It was time for sure!


The other thing I worked on was The Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilt.  This one had me paralyzed! I have never done a traveling quilt and when I sew improv for others I kinda freak out.  It is hard to know what someone else likes and dislikes. My goal for this was beauty.  The decision was made to make it modern and colorful!



I hope she loves it!



The incentive this week will be an Aurifil Sample set.  This set contains each of the thread weights available and a wooden spool of Aurifloss!  The color of the set I am sending will be a very light gray :o)


Let's get our SEWjo (sewing mojo) going!  This link up will be open the WHOLE WEEKEND to give you LOTS of time in case you need to do silly other stuff like make dinner or driving your kids somewhere and then there is always making sure you have good lighting. The things we all have to go through...sigh ;o)

To participate in the party please... 
1. Share a project from this past  THREE weeks ( I want to get all caught up) or TODAY!!! 
Link it up from your blog, your Flickr photos, and now your Instagram by using your Instagram URL as the link.  Please hashtag #SEWjoSaturday and @gogokim :o)   

2. Share a link back to SEWjo Saturday somewhere in your post. I would be over the moon if you grabbed the button and shared that too ;o)

3. Share some love with some of the other posters!!!!  Visit some of the linked up photos and get inspired by other quilty friends' work. And please leave some sunshine in their comments! Let's support each other!  



All of you had SUPER productive weeks while I was away!!! Great job!

The winner this week is...




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Thursday, July 17, 2014

Throwback Thursday #tbt Quilt



Throwback Thursday #tbt is really a fun way to see people's photos from many years ago when they had BIG hair or braces, those shoulders and sweet baby faces.  If you are on Instagram or twitter use#tbt and be prepared for fun photos!  I like looking back through all the old photos, since 99% of mine are from the olden days of film cameras. 


I thought it might be fun to share some of the old projects.  This quilt was for my grandson in 2011.  It was my first time making wonky stars.  I used the tutorial from The Silly BoDilly and the fun Funky Monkey fabrics from Erin Michaels for Moda fabrics.







Adam was a good helper for the action shots!


This was also my first time trying free motion quilting.


I really fell in love with the pieced back on this quilt.

I love seeing the old projects and what I have learned over the years.  Best of all, knowing that this is out there being loved!


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Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Who needs a pattern?

Me!  At least usually I do.  I am not a garment sewer.  I am a wanna be, sparkle in my eye every time I see a vintage Vogue pattern kinda girl.  I like fitted clothing that defines a woman's shape.  Women...all women have beautiful bodies.   Those types of garments require patterns.

I was having sewing issues a couple of weeks ago and decided to sew something "just because".  Island Batik had send me some rayon batiks to test with different thread weights to see which worked the best.  Katy is a DIE HARD batik fan.  She saw the fabrics and squealed in delight.  "Can you make me a dress?"  was the first question.  Since I had been cutting everything 1/2 in short in two of my previous projects my instant response was "NO!"

I asked her to look to her oracle of everything that one could ever need...Pinterest...to find a few ideas that she liked in a skirt.  I had made a skirt before.  This concept was not completely foreign to me, so I had a semi-comfort level with doing this for her.  And there was enough fabric that if I totally failed, I could make another!  She choose quite a few and I asked her what she liked about each of them.  I turned into a semi sewing lesson for her and she was interested ( there may have been angels singing).

I took this madness one step further and decided to do it PATTERN FREE...SAY WHAT...

Yes, I wanted to push my sewing limits and see if I could do this to sweep out the cobwebs or dust bunnies or whatever else had accumulated in my brain to muck up my sewing process!  And this is the result...



The photos are not the best but she did not want to take any!  I will happily live with this compromise.

The skirt is gathered  with a zippered back and a tie that wraps to the front.  One of my versions had a tie going to the back and I think we are making that one next.  She absolutely love everything about this skirt.  That makes me one happy mama.

It was really nice to sew "just because", to push the sewing brain out of it's funk, to create something that will be loved for someone I love.  I need to do this more.

And the thread weight I decided upon was Aurifil 40wt :)

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Saturday, July 12, 2014

A quilt in John Q. Adams book Beyond Neutral!

John Q. Adams is on of the nicest people you will ever meet.  My first meeting with him was brief and a am sure super confusing to him.  It was Quilt Market in Kansas City and I had been his secret swap partner for a pillow.  I made a New York Beauty with his favorite Tula Pink fabrics.  I brought the pillow with me to surprise him.  I spotted him and just walked right up and said something silly like, " Hi, I am Kim, here is your pillow!"  What a goober I am!  He looked at me and was like okay, LOL!

After that, we were friends on Facebook and I really very adore this guy so much that I have nicknamed him Grizzly.  A big bear of a softie, he is passionate about his children, his life and his quilting.  What is not to LOVE?

I was asked if I would be interested in testing a pattern for his book Beyond Neutral published by Martingale. and I said "ABSOLUTELY YES!"


This book is so lovely... the photos are taken in settings that are serene.  Natured based and broken down into sections like " Wind and Sky" and "Earth" every quilt in this book has a connection to the elements.

All instructions are supported by excellent graphics to make sure you can see every step clearly. This book is for every level of quilter.   I was able to assemble Glimmerglass in about a week with Spring Break interruptions from the kids ;o)

Here is the quilt that Katy and I lovingly nicknamed Ladybug Lanterns.  It is all Tula Pink prints that included a BUNCH of ladybugs and the background is shot cotton.  Katy's nickname is ladybug so we are pretty crazy about this one!



And it was so amazing to see my name on the same page as Angela Walters...I may faint!



I think I will be making "Cayucos" next but with so many fantastic options it is hard to decide.


Glacier Bay
I hope you will be adding this book to your quilting library soon

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Friday, July 11, 2014

I blinked

Have you ever blinked and then it was two weeks later...or possibly three!

I blinked and did not realize how much time had passed.  I meant to blog and then someone would ask me for something or I honestly may have just fallen asleep.  So many things have been going on and so here are just a few that I have been meaning to share.


I have been working on this lovely Liberty of London project and it would have been even MORE amazing if I had not trimmed it two inches too short.  I am doing a quick redesign to make it work.  I am not sure how it happened but it did and so I need to remember the "Measure twice, cut once" rule. Have you ever really messed something up and wanted to cry?



This may be my favorite photo of the past few weeks...my girls...


And the other reason for my absence.  This guy was so much fun and OMG!  He is on constant GO!  It was difficult to keep up with him :) I think I have a new hashtag #gogoson

We even took out fun show out in the local Target



I also had the great pleasure of visiting my FAVORITE local quilt shop Kelly Ann's Quilting for a special Aurifil event


Kelly is the hostess with the mostest!


The fun event at her shop was for Alex.  He is making a grand tour this summer of many Mid Atlantic local quilt shops to give lectures about the production, uses and care of Aurifil thread.


This event also had these two local celebrities!  Pat Sloan and Kimberly Einmo!  The DC area has so much talent!


And Pat Sloan made one of my life dreams come true!  A treadle Singer!!!!  I have to clean her up some more before I get good photos!!!!!  THANK YOU PAT and GREGG for brining this beautiful gift to me!!!


The boy and the grand fur baby are gone, life is adjusting back to a summer mode of normal, and I hope you are all having a fabulous summer so far!
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