Three Kitchen Fairies

Hi there!!

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Quilty things are still happening around here. Couple of weeks ago, I mounted a big piece of flannel on my studio wall. I worked really hard organizing all the little peels (or leaves.) The next morning, the whole thing was on the floor; I wished I pinned one and each of the leaves to the flannel.

I picked it up and put it away. Last weekend I printed out the picture I took of the quilt while working on it with my phone, and I started putting it back together.

I love how it looks. Hopefully, I'll be able to work a bit more on it this week. I mean "hopefully" because this lovely press is getting most of my attention at the moment.

Harem pants tutorial

These are my favorite pants at the moment. I'd say that they really look like pants, or a skirt but they are amazingly comfy. I found mine in Argentina in a Pakistani bazaar. After studying them a bit I realized they are not that hard to make. I guess this tut is good for whomever loves to sew their own clothes or simply for those that don't have a middle east goods supplier around town.

Here we go...

Since these pants come in "one size fit all" kind of sizing, I used a 66" by 44" fabric. This is a Vlisco Wax Hollandais cut that I've been treasuring for years. Iron and trim the fabric from selvage to selvage. Spread it in a big enough space: table top or floor.

Fold your fabric in half like so... check that the "V" in the middle measures the same on both sides.

You'll end up with two flaps on the sides. Fold those in half and pin them to the rest of the fabric. 

Flip the pants, and do the same with the other side.

Sew the previously pinned legs. One seam is in the from, the other seam is in the back. If you have a baby lock thingy majiggy go for it, if not just run a zig zag in the edge of the fabric to avoid fraying.

For the waist line, put the pants on and measure how high do you want them to be, mark them and cut. 

The way you keep your pants in place is a personal matter. I cut some bias and made an elastic casing for the waist. For the ankles, I hemmed them and put some elastic tape through the hem.

Easy peasy!! This is me with my new pants posing for you. 

and me again... with my etching press...

Now, who's brave enough to go out wearing their freshly made pants?? I kind of look like a weirdo around here but that's OK with me. 

This is how it went...

Last weekend we Mexicans celebrated another Independence Day. While most of what I personally see on my Facebook page, social media, and the news is complains about the "system," the new taxes on dog food, and chewing gum amongst others, I got also to see a whole country that celebrates their independence day with love and pride.

From my window I was able to hear the "Viva Mexico!!" cheering by the children at school followed by mariachi music. I couldn't resist! I walked to school to check out the happenings. Most of the kids were dressed in the Mexican regalia, even the big high schoolers wore their charro costumes with big green, white, and red bow ties at their necks. The cutest of them all were the little boys and girls wearing Mexican hats ad big mustaches. On the way back I couldn't feel other but happy looking at all the Mexican decorations adorning the houses in the neighborhood.

I wish I took pictures of how the neighborhood looked but sometimes it's better to take it all in instead of stopping to look at it through the lense of a camera.

The next day we went for our usual walk in downtown. I was told that the "Concheros" were in town and that we may like to take a look at this tradition. So we went, and I'm so happy we did. It was amazing.

The concheros came from all over Mexico and some parts of the US as well. It was amazing to look at their dances in circular formations. I read that there are ranks in the groups, military style. They go through a ritual that goes from burning some sort of incense to a dancing trance. 

Every body dances: the parents, the grandparents, the children. Their vestments are amazingly colorful and evoke the deities they dedicate their dances to: the sun, the universe, the animals, and the elements.

This is the Mexico that inspires me, these are the colors I always choose to work with.

I wouldn't lie to you, I feel proud of my country (not my only country though...) I'm happy that people here is willing to celebrate with all their might their heritage, and who we are as a country. There's still a lot of work to make this a better place but in the meantime people doesn't forget their roots and their place in the universe. 

Isn't this awesome?!?!

* All pictures in this post were taking for my fairy #1. Being almost 13, she enjoyed this experience as well. I think she did pretty awesome. 

Lay out + cat.

I made more of these birds on the air blocks. I wanted to try different lay outs but this individual keeps getting in the way.

Yes mister, please move out of the way.

The blocks: birds in the air.

The block size: 8"

The fabrics: Timber and Leaf by Sarah Watts

The cat: Chilli Gordo

Singer sewing machine

 

Around 2009 a dear friend, the one that got me into quilting, gave me one of her two antique sewing machines, for me... to keep.

It has lived in storage for already four years. This time around we have enough space for it to be displayed. It turns out that base on the serial number, this treadle sewing machine is dated way back to 1919. It was made in Elizabeth, NJ in the first large Singer factory for mass production.

If this info is correct, that makes this sewing machine 94 years old. With such an old age, I can't helped but wonder about all the places this sewing machine has being to, and how many owners it already has belong to. For sure it has already being in three different countries with us!

Who did this sewing machine belong to? Was it a sewing machine for working or for leisure? How much did the first owner paid for it? I wonder if it ever was used for the making of quilts...

If this machine could talk, I'd be all ears.

There's a good chance we can put this baby to work again. The belt and the lid to the bobbin are missing.

I feel lucky and forever grateful for owning such a treasure.

More info about it here.

A note from a 3KF etsy hexie buyer...

A couple of weeks ago, I asked some of my etsy customers how far were they with their hexies projects. I got a lovely e-mail from SonJa who happens to be my very first hexagon paper templates customer. I found it so interesting to read what she's up to, and what she's making with her hexagons beside de fact that she also sent me a picture of the massive amount of hexagones she has so far!! I love how the look all together!!

I want to share some of the e-mail with you. Maybe you relate in some way to what SonJa has to say, or you can help her with some hand stitching tips. 

"Paloma,

Here are some pictures of my hexies.  As you can see, I'm quite addicted to making them!  I've only been at it about 2 months and am new to hand sewing anything!"

"I agree the Aurifil 50wt is great!  I don't like it for freemotion quilting, but for handsewing I do adore it!
Also, I'd like to add for your readers that I LOVE your papers!  I'll admit, I was a little disappointed when they first arrived as thin paper instead of cardstock, but, HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO REMOVE THAT CARDSTOCK?  It's nearly impossible! "

"I LOVE the papers you make, sweetly packaged and perfect on all sides.  I've received 12 packs from you and haven't gotten an odd cut yet...NOT EVEN ONE!
I use 2.5" squares for my hexies.  Not patient enough to cut hexie shapes of my fabric.  I turn my fabric to the back and put a lock stitch at each angle through just the fabric on the backside of the hexie....I see you are doing it different...it looks like you stitch thru the paper on the front side?  I'd love an explanation and walk thru of your way!
I'm hoping to gain some experience and some wisdom by following your blog and this nice idea you have to share your users projects.
Oh, and I agree that hexies are great for a large scale print!  Ive got a set going now with big Hawiian flowers...
I hope this is what you were looking for when you contacted me....
I think I may make a small zippered pouch for a first project?  Oh I'm just so nervous about sewing these things together by hand!
Thanks again for a great product!"

Thank you SonJa for sharing your hexie experience with my readers!! I love to hear what people is up to. Sometimes I wish we can seat together and sew and talk... 

If you're a 3KF etsy hexie buyer and you have a hexie idea you want to share with us,or you simply want to tut your own horn, just send me an e-mail at [email protected]

3KF hexagon paper templates are available at my etsy store!