You can make this soft camera case in about an hour using left over bits of fabric, some batting, and a big button. You might be worried about putting your camera in something that was so easy to make, but don’t be! The case has double batting and French seams; your camera will be safe as houses. Attached are detailed instructions! Point and shoot camera case
My dining room table is weirdly sensitive to water. One droplet and the surface blanches like it’s seen a ghost. So for Thanksgiving, I needed something to keep my table happy. A quilted table mat was the perfect opportunity to try out a cross pattern, a simple nine-square. Easy, peasy–at least in theory. The fabrics are an irregular stripe from Leisl Gibson’s lovely City Weekend collection, and a tiny dot. I really love how these patterns work together.
Less happily, the stumpy crosses on the end were not intentional. I used my presser foot as a guide to sew my 3/8″ seams, which, it turns out, left them all a smidge too narrow. That smidge, compounded over several seams, left my center panel longer than the top and bottom sashes. Rather than ripping out the seams and adjusting (which actually wouldn’t have been that hard), I lopped off the long ends. Hence, it’s just a little wonky. On the bright side, I learned where to place the fabric for a perfect 3/8″ seam in the future, just peeking out from the presser foot on my machine.
And, I have something cheerful for my table. I made these place mats and napkins this summer, during a red and blue period. Not a very autumnal palette for my Thanksgiving table, but patriotic! And, in the spirit of being nontraditional, I am serving chocolate cake for dessert–yum!
I have to confess that I adore my daughter’s bunny rabbit. So when she asked me to make Bunny a new dress, I was only too happy to oblige. The dress is made with Mary Flanagan wool felt, which is more flexible and cozy than other felts. Bunny looked so cute in her new attire, who could blame me for suggesting that she might need a cardigan for the chilly days ahead? Pretty soon Bunny had a sweet little cardi made from koigu premium merino. Most of the supplies came from my favorite store–purl soho (www.purlsoho.com/purl). Oh, and Bunny is sitting on a doll’s quilt I made using a left over block from my very first quilt. 
I use origami paper (in solid colors) all the time, for cards and wrapping gifts, mostly. But, I recently came up with the idea of using origami paper to test out ideas for quilts, and it is immensely gratifying. All those late-night musings–what about a cross pattern? I wonder, instead of sleeping–I can now take for a quick test drive without touching my sewing machine. I try not to think or fuss too much when I put these sketches together–hoping for a happy inspiration. I haven’t found my perfect pattern yet, but here are some basic house top patterns with a cross in the center, for a little more interest, plus a fancy stripe. The crosses seem to make people think of disaster, but I still kind of like them.
I don’t think it’s an official astrological sign (although perhaps nicer to be born in the year of the quilt than, say, the rat), but it really is a lucky year. The American Museum of Folk Art in New York City is displaying highlights from its amazing collection of American quilts. Now until October 2011 you can see Masterworks, which indeed they are. If you ever wondered what makes Amish quilts so special–besides their bold graphic designs and rich palette–stand up close and marvel at the tiny(!) perfect stitches. To the amateur quilter (me) it might be worth remembering that these are museum pieces, lest you get disheartened, but there is much to inspire. Hands down, my favorite is the slashed star quilt. Its cranberry, gold, and teal stars on white are a geometric wonder, and the design is complex without being fussy. The site has a slide show of the quilts if you can’t get to NYC.
http://www.folkartmuseum.org/masterworkquilts
Slashed Star Quilt
Freedom Quilt
Map Quilt
homemadecity.com 
