My newest pattern Laundry and Cosmetic Bags

This video shows the bags. The links to purchase the pattern are here on Craftsy and on Etsy.  I put a full month into tweaking this to really make it the best it can be. From the materials themselves to the how-to put them together, this is a pattern that I am proud to say will get you professional results you will not find elsewhere. I teach a couple of brand new techniques in this pattern that you don't want to miss. I believe this pattern is going to up your bag making game.

Plastic Auto Welt

My supplier is going to stop carrying this auto welt. I am not sure how long I will be able to continue to supply it. I wanted to let you know in case you planned to make some cinch packs. I expanded the color choices to try to make up for the lack of quantity. Order here.  Happy sewing!

Preview of the Zip Around Gym Duffle

You can get the pattern here on Craftsy
and here on Etsy
I love my bag. If you are going to quilt market in Houston, you will see the black one in the Wesminster booth - it's Kaffe Fasset fabrics.
I think you will love making these too. I hope you make a bunch of them.

New Pattern Zip Around Duffle and Adjustable Strap Video

NOTE: When you purchase this pattern, you get links to the videos. You have to copy paste those links to a browser page - enter the link on the URL line. If you try to enter the link when you are already in YouTube, it doesn't work. I do not know why they made it that way. The links work, you have to paste them directly to the URL space - that is the place on the computer screen that tells you where you are online.

The zip around duffle pattern has been brewing in the back of my mind for a few years. It came together beautifully, and I am so glad I took the time to write it the way I did. There are 16 little videos that accompany this pattern. You have seen a few of them if you watch my facebook page. Look inside the bag. Here are the inside pockets you have been wanting.

As you can see, it opens up completely with a zip around. The pattern begins with a video tour of the bag that walks you through the steps we take to make it. That is something I want to do for all of my patterns moving forward. I think sometimes reading a whole pattern before you begin can be overwhelming, but a video walk thru is more approachable.

Here is the video for the padded, adjustable strap to use with this bag (or any bag)

The attachment for the strap is very important and can be problematic for those of us sewing on home sewing machines and wanting our bags to be durable. In this pattern, I have developed an attachment method that distributes the weight of the bag, allowing you to use the long strap without any noticeable pull on the fabric.

As you can see, it is a big bag. Customers frequently ask me for even bigger bags, but this is the max I think it is reasonable to carry. I am amazed that airlines allow this size as a carry-on. It is 20 inches wide by 14 inches tall by 9 inches deep. I am using a smaller version as my yoga bag at the moment and I love it. I will be putting that one out too.

3 QuickTips for perfectly white backgrounds

1. The backdrop:  My favorite material for white backdrops is white marine vinyl. It is heavy, durable, washable, and as you can see, it photographs well. I have about 4 yards of white marine vinyl from JoAnn's. I can hang it or lay it out as needed.

2.  The lighting: The best lighting is outside on an overcast day. Sometimes you need to recreate that. On blustery days, I have been able to set up in the sun and wait for intermittent cloud cover. Shooting in full sun is no good because the shadows are too harsh. Sometimes I have to settle for the shade. Having a truly white backdrop comes in handy when you have to use shade or even indoor lighting - see the next tip.

3. Post production: GIMP is a free program that works a lot like photoshop. In GIMP, click on color, then levels. In levels, I choose the white dropper which is on the right, then click a spot on the white background to tell it what is white. (Shooting in the shade, the white area may photograph grey. Shooting inside, white may appear yellowish.) This will smooth out the white background and make it pop. You can play with clicking different spots on the photo to get it how you want it.

I never thought to photograph animals this way. Strawberry wandered into the weed photoshoot. I will set up again and get some more shots of cats on white.  Everything looks so fresh on a white background.

Yoga Journey 1,000 hours in a hot room

Here is what I wrote after my first hot yoga class, September 6th, 2011: I cried a little bit. I think I should have let myself cry more, but I rolled over onto my back and just let myself breathe for a minute before rejoining the class. Yes, it is that hard.  Day one, my body felt like a sponge full of toxins getting wrung out. Glad to get it out. Let's see what a month does...
This is the chronical of my first week of hot yoga:
Day one - It was hard and scary. Heart pounding, hard to breathe scary.
Day two - I thought I knew what it would be like, but it was still a very new experience. Not as scary, but still very hard and heart pounding. Felt pretty drained afterward.
Day three - Fear of it is gone, but it still requires a lot of effort. I am wondering if this is for me. Wiped out and going to bed early with a headache. My appetite is greatly changed and diminished. I want more veges and more water. Less sweets and meat.
Day four - I talked to the instructor before class. I commented that I didn't have a favorite part yet. It was all like some form of torture. She said that she focuses on how strong she is and tells herself how well she is doing. I did that throughout class and I did feel strong and proud of myself for sticking with it. Still tired early in the evening. I am more aware of my skin and it feels good.
Day 5 - I asked before class about getting any kind of added energy benefit from the practice and was told that everyone is different. I will find what there is in it for myself. I went into class ready to tell myself how strong I was again. I did that a lot, but I also felt as though I was going to spontaneously combust. It was very difficult to stay with it for 90 minutes, but I did. My heart rate was not as uncomfortable and breathing was easier. I was just extremely hot.
Day 6 - Major breakthrough. I found the joy. After the initial breathing exercise and during the first series of asanas (I think that is what they are called - I don't want to say "poses" because I don't think of them like that) the instructor, Justice, said "squeeze your biceps with your ears." That cracked me up and I laughed all through the first series. I cannot even describe the feeling of laughter mixed with the physical practise of this yoga. It was like a magical combination. Instead of my sweat feeling like a gross toxic bath, it felt like a beautiful cooling shower. I felt a love and acceptance for myself. I was able to deepen some of the moves. I felt glowing and beautiful and I was hooked. I felt pleased and happy afterward and not tired like the previous 5 evenings.
Day 7 - I went into class prepared to focus on feeling strong and joyful. I was able to do more than before. Toward the end of class I felt like some new pathways opened up. Like the inside of my body was having a party. All of my cells are bubbly and sparkling inside. A new energy source is revealed inside of me.
Day 8 - For the first time, I felt that this practice - even in the heat and the demands of 90 continuous minutes - can be relaxing. My breathing was easy, my heart rate steady. I feel a kind of heat and energy inside my body now and a cool, clean sensation on my skin. I see how people want to do this every day. I feel like this is one of the best things I have ever done for myself.
I did do 30 classes, one every day in that first 30 days. Since then, I have backed off to about 4 days a week.
About a thousand hours later:
The photo above was taken after class today. I remember this being one of the asanas that I thought impossible when I looked at Bikram's Beginning Yoga book. Now it is one of my favorites. I think of my feet and ankles like a Barbie's feet, moulded and plastic, perfectly capable of holding my whole body on pointe. Now you know my trick. The room is still hot. I still sweat my brains out. But I don't get headaches from it. I recommend hot yoga, even if it scares you at first. You could come to love it like I do.

Sweet Slipcovers Video Number 1

I love this no fuss, easy care slipcover. You need to know just a few tricks to make it. Enjoy!

For those of you who would like a diagram to go with the video, here it is. The measurements shown are what I used for mine. Yours will likely be different. Ways to make the marks shown on the diagram: chalk, temporary pens, fold and press creases into the fabric, or use pins to mark.

My Shortest Video Ever

Maybe I am getting the hang of this? How I do circle applique. Let me know if you have questions. So the perfection of this does come from making a perfect circle out of the interfacing to begin. If you have access to a die cutter, use it to cut your interfacing. The fabric does not have to be perfect. Peltex is the stiffest and will give you a bit of texture too. You can also use batting or any interfacing you like. No die cutter? No problem, just draw and cut the best circle you can.

One Minute Video Encasing Zipper Ends

Better Sewing in 2016 Part 2

Sew clothing for yourself. Not only is this a great way to improve your sewing, it will hone other valuable skills.

Sewing has given me a deeper appreciation for what works for me. If I am spending the time to make something it better look great. There is a gal I found on Facebook who does workshops that really help to find your own personal style. I just did the free version of dressing your truth and discovered a lot about myself and why I feel better in certain fabrics, colors and patterns. I recommend you get very clear about your own style before spending money on fabric and patterns.

Once you know what to make, there is lots of help to be had at my favorite educational website, Craftsy, where I am an affiliate.  For the moto jacket I am wearing above, you need this class. It comes with the pattern. Janet Pray walks you though making a gorgeous lined jacket. I felt like I was in an in person class one-on-one with her. I am going to do her jeans jacket class too. She makes the cutest jackets! There are classes for just about everything you can think to sew. The dress I am wearing above is a hacked version of a Vogue vintage pattern 8728. I did a very short blog post about it with a couple more photos. If you want to know the details of the pattern hack, I can share that on my pattern hackers facebook page. 

If you have been out of the loop for a while and you want to start sewing again with something quick and easy, check this out. Craftsy has kits. You get the fabric and the pattern. Right now the prices are amazing. You won't believe it. I love the fabric quality, and there are lots of styles to choose from. Check it out.

Better Sewing in 2016 Part 1

To get better at anything, you have to do it more, you have to practice. If one of your resolutions is to learn to sew or to improve your sewing skills this year, there are a couple of things I would recommend. First, quilting.  I am talking about cutting fabric apart and putting it back together: measuring, cutting, and sewing - you need to get good at these things if you want to make great things of any kind with your sewing machine. The skills you will improve by piecing quilts are accurate measuring, accurate cutting, sewing with accurate seam allowances, pressing, and overall attention to detail.  After the quilt top is pieced, you get to quilt it. The skills you will gain by quilting the quilt yourself are the ability to handle layers of fabrics and batting, planning, and patience. Please feel free to chime in if you feel I have left out one of the skills you have gained through quilting. I cannot recommend quilting highly enough as a way to get back into sewing if you have been out of it. I even asked the affiliate folks at Craftsy to create a link for me to promote their quilting kits. There are some amazing deals to get you back in the swing of things without having to go to the fabric store. I am talking under $30 to make a quilt! Check them out. http://www.craftsy.com/ext/CherieKillilea_quiltkits And if you have fabrics already but need a class to help you improve those skills, here is a great one to get you going:
Easy Piecing - Amazing Design. I have a pieced quilt top that I haven't quilted yet, so I will be pouring over the many machine quilting classes to inspire me for that project. Here is one I am excited about, featuring 5 of the top quilting instructors in the country: Top Techniques for Big Quilts.
Keep in touch. I would love to see a picture of you, happily lounging on a quilt you made.