scrappy diamonds

After the craziness of the past few weeks, I needed a little nudge to get me back at sewing machine. Daisy Janie's Lancaster Diamond Quiltalong is just the thing! It's all about scrappy improvisational diamond shaped blocks...you can read more about Jan's inspiration she got when visiting The Lancaster PA Quilt and Textile Museum.

To get started, dig into your scrap pile, stitch a few fabrics together, then trim into a diamond shaped block! (My son's former 1st grade teacher would argue that this is a rhombus, but we'll just stick with diamond. Sounds prettier) Jan's got all of the details, but the main point is to have fun!

My desk is covered with scraps left over from my sample bag making. My first scrappy diamond: Tilly collection on organic cotton from Daisy Janie.

Next, Stitch Organic scraps from various projects, just waiting to be diamond-ified.

PURE organic solids from Robert Kaufman, leftover from my Hex Messenger Bag.

 And finally, some Alegria from Cloud 9 Fabrics. Yes, another organic scrappy diamond. I'm sensing a theme.

Will these 4 end up in a quilt together? Maybe! Who can say? Anything can happen with improv, right? And there's no reason to stick with individual print collections. Just kinda went that way for starters. I'm adding my scrappy diamonds to the Lancaster Diamond Flickr Group, and you can too, should you decide to quilt along with us.

peonies and pickets

Hello Sunshines! I'm home from my Quilt Market adventure in Kansas City. What a fun little town! I should have a camera full of photos for you, but I left that for the professionals. You can be sure to find many wonderful round ups in the coming days on blogs such as True Up, Jolly Jabber, and Pink Chalk Studios, and more, if you are so inclined.

Instead I have peonies for you, poking through our neighbor's picket fence. What could be more lovely?

My new patterns were very well received, I met new people and reconnected with old friends, and I walked my little legs off covering every inch of the convention center. Usually I return from this trip utterly worn out, but in fact I feel energized. I can't quite put my finger on it, though. Sure, there was plenty of eye candy, but I think the pure fact of getting out of the studio and talking to people in real life is was what did it for me.

And with that behind me, I am ready to charge ahead with new projects! I'm full of ideas for a new pattern collection, print concepts, book proposals, workshops and more. Keeping in mind that there are only THREE more weeks of school before I've got the summer vacay kids under foot, so I better get cracking!

Spring 2012 Pattern Release!

After months of prototyping, writing, testing, photographing and a thousand steps in between, I'm finally able to reveal what all the hard work has been about.

Introducing The Hex Messenger Bag and The Hexie Hipster! Yes, I've been cuckoo for hexagons for quite some time...I just had to work them into a few bag patterns.

First up, The Hex Messenger Bag:

The Hex Messenger has a cute hexie shape that's super fun to put together. You can create a bold graphic look with solid colors or mix it up with your favorite prints. The Hex Messenger Bag can be made almost entirely with pre-cut quilt strips ("jelly rolls") or a variety of fun fabric scraps from your stash. The bag is lightly quilted, lined and has a large interior pocket.

I made the cover sample with Robert Kaufman PURE organic cotton roll-ups. The colors are so clean an vibrant...and organic cotton to boot! I've rated the skill level of this pattern to be "Confident Beginner to Intermediate", because of the piecing. But rest assured, I labored over every detail of the pattern instructions and intricate diagrams to make my explanations as clear as possible. Did you notice the vintage button I used on the flap? It's entirely optional but should you have trouble matching the points of your triangles perfectly perfect, no one has to know. (wink wink)

Prism Style Hex Messenger, left, sewn in Stitch Organic, Lagoon color palette

For a simpler Beginner version of this bag, you might like to try the Prism Style, which uses full triangles instead of pieced strips. Easy peasy! Instructions included, natch.

Next up, The Hexie Hipster Bag:

Stitch seven hexagons together to create this unique quilted bag. The Hexie Hipster is perfect for using up scraps or "fussy cutting" your favorite prints. I love the construction of this bag. There are no side or bottom seams, just one hexagon sewn to the next. Beforeg you know it, you have a 3D bag!  I made the hipster shown on the cover with Daisy Janie's Tilly collection by Jan DiCintio printed on GOTS certified organic cotton. The pattern includes instructions for 2 sizes (small shown below). The Hexie Hipster has a magnetic snap/flap closure, one interior slip pocket and plenty of room for your everyday things.

Small Hexie Hipster sewn with a combination of organic fabrics from Stitch, Daisy Janie and Harmony Art

As much work as they are, I really had a great time developing these bags and finessing the details. My sketch book is brimming with a million other ideas. As much as I had wanted to get more than 2 styles complete this spring, I am thrilled that the 2 I did accomplish are making me so happy. I hope they make you happy too! Both patterns are now available in PDF form in my Craftsy Pattern Shop and will be in my etsy store early next week.

This week I'm bound for Kansas City for the International Quilt Market to peddle my patterns to Wholesalers and Distributors. (If you are a retail shop and would like to sell print copies of these or my other sewing patterns, please email be at info(at)betzwhite(dot)com!)

Have a great rest-of-the-week and I will see you after market!

Reinvention Blog Tour

Today I'm taking part in a blog tour for the book Reinvention by Maya Donenfeld, published by Wiley Books. (and in doing such, I was given my very own review copy...lucky me!)

Maya and I met a few years back teaching at Squam Art Workshops and we have been friends ever since, sharing a passion for sewing with repurposed materials. I'm so proud of Maya and her first book! It is pure *Maya* and true to her vision of practicality and clean design.

Her book is smartly laid out in chapters focused by material: linen, burlap, jersey, wool, denim, tyvek mailers and vintage. Each chapter has 4 projects using that material as well as a bit of history, tips, environmental impact and sourcing info.

One of the best parts about the book is that you'll have most of the materials needed for the projects already on hand. When I came across the Fold and Tie Case in the Vintage chapter, I knew just the tea towel to use! And when Maya says this project is super quick, she is not kidding. There is no cutting involved, just fold, press and stitch. L.O.V.E. (By the way, I made mine without the hanger loop at the top.)

The result is a handy little organizer full of pockets, which I plan to use for travel. I'm always in need a handy place to keep my ear buds, phone charger, important papers (my badge to get into Quilt Market!), sunglasses and baubles that don't fit in my jewelry roll. And since I leave this week for Kansas City, this project couldn't have come at a better time.

I hope you'll take a moment to check out Maya's book at your local bookstore! Her projects and inventive thinking will really get you inspired to look at everyday materials in a new way. You can follow along with the blog tour below, for interviews with Maya and other projects:

week one
5/1- sew liberated
5/2- Craft
5/3- Resurrection Fern
5/4- Apartment Therapy

week two
5/7 Whip Up
5/8 elsie marley
5/9 Poppytalk
5/10 Annekata
5/11 Pink Coyote

week three
5/14 Betz White (that's me!)
5/15 Etsy (tuesday tutorial)
5/16 Sew, Mama, Sew!
5/17 Made
5/18 Wiley Craft

As part of the tour, Maya and Wiley Books are generously offering a free copy to one of my lucky readers! (USA mailing addresses only, please) To be entered in the giveaway, please comment on this post telling me your favorite material or which material you're most excited to try out. One winner will be chosen randomly when the contest ends on Wednesday, May 16th at 5pm EST. Good Luck!
***Comments now closed! Thank you, the winner is being notified via email.***

short years

My favorite azalea bush in the neighborhood

May is anniversary month! My husband and I just shared our 17th wedding anniversary (see cute flashback photos here and here). And the 'ol bloggy blog is celebrating it's 6 year anniversary! My how time flies.

I've been meaning to put together a little survey for you. After six years, the blog has changed and evolved so much. At times I wonder, what is it that you come here for? What would you like to see more of? Time is so so fleeting for all of us, we'd like to make the best use of it, wouldn't we?

Instead of some fancy-schmancy survey tool (that would take time for me to set up) I'm just going to ask you 3 questions to answer in the comments. Answer all 3 to be entered into a give-away for your choice of one of my pdf sewing patterns. The contest will close Friday May 11th at 5PM EST **Update! Leaving comments open through the weekend, Sunday May 13th 5PM EST** 
when I will choose 3 winners! (please be sure to leave contact info if you win!) Contest is open to all countries, one entry per person.

Are you ready? Here are the questions, please give them some thought!

1) What kinds of posts do you enjoy reading on my blog? (aside from give-aways!)
2) What types of sewing patterns are you interested in (bags, toys, gifts, accessories, etc.)?
3) If you win this give-away, which pattern would you choose and why? (view them here)

Thank you so much for taking the time over the years to visit my blog, leave comments and share your support. Without you I'd be sitting here talking to myself. :)

***Thank you for your comments! Winners have been chosen and notified!***