fabric.com review

 After snooping around for some time now on fabric.com,

I recently had opportunity to place an order with them.

I thought I'd post a little review about my experience for those

of you who were thinking about doing the same!

 Fabric.com offers free shipping on orders over $35.

I was curious to see how the fabric would be shipped --

I had some laminated cottons in the order, and they're

not supposed to be folded. I was quite happy to receive 

them all rolled up (as you can see here) on tubes, even

though they were only 1/2 yard lengths.

 The thing I love most about fabric.com is that they

carry coordinated fabrics. I can't tell you how many

times I've spent way-too-long at JoAnn Fabrics searching 

for a lining that perfectly complemented the exterior of a 

bag. The fabric designs are also often available in varying 

finishes, such as cotton, satin, corduroy, flannel, and/or 

laminated cotton. This makes coordinating multiple projects a snap!

 Here's a little grouping I chose from the Michael Miller collection.

The laminated cotton bicycle print (which was also available in a 

very tempting flannel) coordinates perfectly with the 2 cotton prints! Yay!

 ...And here's a perfectly matched selection from Amy Butler's line.

The web interface at fabric.com groups fabrics by designer,
whose collections often run by specific color palettes. 

However, once a fabric is selected, it also shows
suggestions for similar or coordinating fabrics. An

"add to design wall" button allows the user to post his own

fabric selections next to each other and see how they flow.

Finally, the search feature on the website retrieves

fabric designs based on a number of factors, such as

type of fabric, color, and image (i.e. "owls" or "polka dots").

So there you have it! If you've been wanting to order fabric

online but haven't given it a go yet, try fabric.com --

[from my single-sample study, I predict that]

you won't be disappointed!!

latest diaper clutches

 Here are the latest diaper clutches I've made -- 

gifts for friends with brand new (adorable!) baby boys.

I know the fabric's not boyish, but who's carrying 

the clutch anyway?

 This is the first I've made out of upholstery.

I don't know if I'll do that again. It was difficult to

get through all the layers at some points, and 

the fact of having to cut the curves makes the 

rounded edges more prone to fraying.

This one is made of cotton quilter's batik. 

for pleat's sake

 I recently stitched up this bag from Lisa Lam's free

tutorial (over here!). I love how the pleats turned out...

 and that the pleats are stitched both outside and in.

It came together quickly and easily. However, when (not if) I make it

again, I'll draw up a pattern on paper first so I can get all the pleats

to match up more precisely. I'll also preshrink my lining, which I didn't

do this time. I figured it would always be dry-cleaned, so why remove

the sizing? Unfortunately, the ironing required for pleat and interfacing

installation created a great deal of unwieldy shrinkage. Nothing a little

edge trimming wouldn't fix, since the measurements are flexible. 

Live and learn!

zippered lunch bags

These are the new lunch bags I sewed up for

my kiddos today. I used a modification of

this tutorial

as my guide and learned a few things along

the way (like how difficult it is to sew a zipper

into extra firm fusible interfacing), so maybe

I'll try my hand at it again someday soon.

In the meantime, my kids are pleased as punch

to be taking lunch to school in something 

other than a plastic grocery bag. Woot!

bright diaper clutch

 This diaper clutch was ordered up by a friend as a 

gift for someone whose baby room is decorated in

red, orange, and black. Fun, festive colors -- but 

hard to find together in a single fabric! This was 

the only piece I could find, but it sewed up beautifully

into a diaper clutch. My favorite element, however,

is the sparkly black button at the middle of the flower.

 Here's the inside front, with a peek of the lining fabric.

 And the front flap all lined up to match. Fun!!

bunny bag

I followed this tutorial on the Zakka Inspired blog

to make this adorable bunny bag as a gift for a 

little girl whose party Elliott attended this weekend.
It came together quick and easy and included just the right
amount of hand embroidery. I would like to have added
a ribbon flower at the top, but time ran out.
Instead, we filled it with a few girlie trinkets, and off we went!

diaper clutch for laura

I've enjoyed sewing up these diaper clutches as gifts lately --

this one is for my husband's sister-in-law, whose baby is due

soon. Congratulations, Laura and Wes!!

It's so fun to see the effect that different fabrics have.

My favorite bit on this rendition is how the fabric pattern 

on the flap lines up with the body of the bag underneath.

And here's a peak at the liner fabric. Isn't that just yummy?!