RJR Cotton Supreme Solids Blog Hop + Giveaway

I have discovered a new fabric-line love.  Well, obsession, really.  When some of my favorite fabric designers joined forces to create Cotton + Steel, a division of RJR Fabrics, I knew it was going to be fabulous.  I may have underestimated just how fabulous...my sewing studio is now overflowing with gorgeous prints that I have been using in just about every project lately.  When RJR Fabrics saw some of my work on Instagram and asked if I'd like to participate in their What Shade Are You Cotton Supreme Solids Blog Hop, I immediately agreed.  And then realized that I don't often create with solids.  In fact, I usually only use them as zip pouch linings.  Uh oh.

When I got the Cotton Supreme Solids color card in the mail, I may have done a little dance.  I was hoping to create a wallet using one of my new favorite Cotton + Steel prints (Memory in Aqua from Playful by Melody Miller) and coordinating solids.  But I had NO idea how many gorgeous solids there are in the collection, or that they go so beautifully with my favorite prints.  As I stitched up my wallet, I realized that I had to show off these colors more.  So I made a second project.

Inspired by the hexies in the Cotton + Steel print and the English paper piecing project I have been working on, I decided on a mini quilt to showcase the amazing colors of the Cotton Supreme Solids.  Using the English paper piecing glue basting method from Katja Marek's The New Hexagon, and the hexie quilt gluing method from Modern Handcraft, I was able to put this together rather quickly.  I think it may be my favorite project.  Ever.

These fabrics quilted up amazingly well.  I used Aurafil 50wt, and it was like sewing through butter. The background is Cotton Supreme Solid in Moonlight.  I also used Toyboat, Hot Pink, Kelly Green, Redwork, and my new (surprising!) fav, Goldilocks.

The back (in Goldilocks) came out just as awesome as the front.  Did I mention that I love math and geometrics?! Binding is Arrows in mint by Rashida Coleman-Hale for Cotton + Steel.

So now I have a fab new wallet and matching mini.  This baby will be going on the wall in my studio.    This project has inspired me to look at solids in a whole new way.

Inspired to make your own?  RJR is giving away a fat quarter bundle of the solids that I used in my projects.

Just enter below.  Open to residents of the US and Canada.  Winner will be announced here on Monday!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hexies and Target Dollar Finds

First up, some photos of this week's Zakka Style Sew-Along project!  It was a cute zip pouch, but the real stars are the hexagons appliqued onto it.  I have been wanting to try making hexies since I saw Rachael over at imagine gnats make some awhile back, but I had no idea how.  This project got me started, and now I can't seem to stop.  I usually despise hand sewing, but these are so much fun, and can be done while riding in the car or watching TV.  I may have even ordered some charm packs of cute fabric just so I can make more...and I'm not quite sure what they will become!

Linen blend body with cotton hexagons.  Outfoxed, Fly a Kite, and something else from my stash...

I do love a good contrasting zipper.

Lining is some cute hedgehogs from Outfoxed.

I wasn't sure if I was going to keep or sell the pouch...and then I realized it is perfect for keeping my hexie-making supplies together!

I was in the "big city" last week and went to Target.  Those bins of dollar items at the entry always suck my kids in...and they got me this time, too.  I found these cute little containers that I am using to further organize my sewing space.  Great for scraps, thread, trash, or transporting my hand-sewing supplies between desk and couch.

Slipped on my sewing desk drawer as a trash collector

Corralling my thread

Project transportation