Denise Clason Studios~Sewing & Quilting author

Hi Everyone,

Katherine Greaves, see her link in “the associates” made a “Nikki Bag” from my Quilted Bags and Totes book using Selvages from fabric yardage! So cute, Katherine! check it out!

Here is my version, click on the above link to see Katherine’s!

If you are interested in purchasing this book, you can buy a personalized copy on my website, www.DeniseClason.com

have a creative Day!

Denise

Hi everyone,

I’ve been busy working on my vintage apron book and it is turning out to be a very fun and CUTE book! Here are more little snippits to tempt you!

One of these is a placemat and the other is the waist band of the matching apron. There is also an oven mitt that matches this set. I think this is one of my favorites so far!

Although, I also really like the apron, below….I can only show a little bit…but, there is also another part of this apron in a previous post! can you figure it out???  Here is another peek:

You’ll not want to miss out on this book, if you want to put your name on the waiting list please make a comment and I’ll keep a list there! The one who comments first will get a free e-pattern! better hurry!

have a great day sewing/quilting! I will!

Denise

Hi everyone,

For some reason I’ve been in the cleaning mode, organizing computer files and pictures, cleaning out papers (and I mean I have a lot of papers), etc. I have design journals where I keep all of my sketches and pictures that inspire me to design. BUT–all of these sketches and pictures don’t always make it into my journal! I have stacks of these papers around the house…usually the stacks are next to stacks of magazines! so, today was the day that they became organized. It didn’t take long…and I felt so much better getting it done…one less thought in my head and less clutter. I design and create better when I have a clean area to work in.

Now, I have a lot of these design journals which “house” all of my ideas, etc. They date way back~ 25 years. I’ve noticed an interesting pattern over the years, depending on the era and the trends. I’ve found similar looks and ideas that are repeated…which means I must REALLY like it and that discovery tells me that I need to do something about it….. So, I create!

Try using artist sketch book or journals for yourself! Instead of keeping the whole magazine or a stack of sketches, organize them into an artist journal book. You may decide you want a book for each subject. I have a journal/book on just stained glass ideas!! But, I find it is fun to mix it up a little.  When I go through these book/journals of ideas, I get so INSPIRED to do creative things! some of the older sketches can inspire a whole new idea that caters to a newer trend for today.

I thought I would share a picture of “some” of my journals (these are about 1/3 of them):

What is really interesting is that as I look through my idea journals, I will find enough ideas to create a book! That is how I started writing/designing vintage aprons for my “Sewing Vintage Aprons” book, which will be released next year, March 2011!

Here is a sampling of the last apron I made:

I’ll show the “cover” when I can to get you excited to buy the book!

have a great day~ and be inspired to SEW!

Denise

(I am not affiliated with Dick Blick and do not get compensation for mentioning their website or name)

Hi everyone!

I am so bad…I haven’t written for months! I’ve been very busy with stuff! I have been working on BOM’s on my yahoo group. If you are interested in joining in, we are piecing “mystery” blocks this year. They are blocks without names…and YOU guess the name, if you are right, you may win a prize!!! It is so much fun! Here are a few of the blocks:

Can you guess what the names are??

I’m also working on a book, the title most likely will be “Sewing Vintage Aprons.”  This will be a book dedicated to sewing 10-12 or more vintage aprons from the past. I have a collection as well as many photos of vintage aprons, so I’ll be taking my collection, my mother’s, and  my  grandmother’s collections and creating my own version of the vintage apron. They will look a lot like the originals, but will be sewn with upbeat prints and embellishments from today. Some of the prints may be reproductions, but they will still be fresh and new!

I’m having so much fun picking out prints and putting them together with the perfect apron pattern! The picking of prints for a particular pattern can be challenging for some, but in my book, you’ll see how easy it is to do!

Here are some sneak peaks of my progress, so far!

Remember…these are only some or part of the aprons to get you excited to buy the finished apron book. The book will be released in March 2011!!!

I’ll keep you posted on the progress and upload more photos soon! Happy piecing!

Denise

Hi everyone!

I have two more magazine articles coming out. The first project is a cute little quilt adhered to a rusty tin. You can find it in the June 2010 Crafts’n Things magazine.

The finished size is approximately 12″ x 5″. So fun and cute. The little quilt can be adhered to any surface you can imagine! If you like this project, you may like some of my other designs found on my website “free patterns” area.

The next project is one of my favorites, it is a Gallery Glass by Plaid project. If you haven’t worked with gallery glass before, you are in for a treat. It is one of the easiest craft products to work with. Get the look of stained glass in a bottle! so much fun! You can find this project in the June 2010 issue of Create & Decorate Magazine.

This project is approximately 7″ tall x 12″ wide. If you want you can enlarge the pattern to fit into a different frame. I purchase most of my frames at discount department stores.

I have several frames waiting to be made up. Look for another one of my Gallery Glass framed project in the Today’s Creative Home Arts magazine, soon.

If you enjoy Block of the Months, please join my yahoo group. We are doing a !2″ finished-Mystery Block of the Month! We started in February, but, you can still join in and have a blast! Here is a sample of the first block…Can you guess the name!?

Happy Quilting!

Denise

Note: Plaid provides me with product to work and design with.

Hi Everyone!

I thought I would share with you some of my designs that have been in the latest magazines and newsletters:

1. Create & Decorate, “Garden Applique” in their April 2010 issue! This wallhanging is made from a repurposed linen shirt and some of my stash! The buttons are some of my antique collectables! Just love the quote, too!

2. Crafts’n Things Newsletter, “Patchwork Frame” March Newsletter. This is a FREE online pattern! This design was made for a Michaels’ demonstration, so all of the supplies can be found at your local Michaels stores! Fun and Easy!!!

3. Crafts’n Things Newsletter, “Victorian Boot Pin Cushion” March Newsletter, This is another FREE pattern! I wanted to let you know that the turquoise pin cushion was one of my grandmothers, who passed away at age 93, just last year. I loved it so much that I wanted to remake it into more current prints. You will love this fun and easy pattern. It is approximately 13″ tall and makes a great gift! It lies down or can be hung up for use!

4. Creative Home Arts Magazine, “Quilted Wall Pocket” FREE Online Pattern, This is one of my most favorite patterns/designs! I bought the tin and had it in my closet waiting to be used. It was originally pink! I painted it and destressed it for a softer yellow look to go with the prints I used. The green check is a repurposed shirt as well as the buttons! Please enjoy!

Please enjoy! They are all fun projects to make, great for home of  gifts!

Denise

Update—My tote sold for a winning bid of $101.00! Congratualtions to the winner!

The 4 weeks of tote tuesdays made a whopping total of $15,649.00!!! Great work Virginia! Check out the final information on her site, Virginia Spiegel.

Today is Tote Tuesday and MY custom, one-of-a-kind Amber Tote is up for bid (a design from my Quilted Bags and Totes book), as well as one of my Quilted Bags and Totes books! AND….that’s not all–there is also 9 Fat Quarters, designed by BJ Lantz, AND…that’s not all, there is a bag full of my Stitchin’ Up the Pieces buttons up for sale!!! The tote is approximately 13″ . 17″ x 4″.

The bidding starts at 11:00am EST! Make a bid and watch the excitement as the day unfolds…Will we reach the $10,000.00 goal to earn money for The American Cancer Society???

Here are pictures of what I put up for bid:

Hi Everyone,

It’s time to do the Block of the Month for 2010! 2009 was a lot of fun and this years will be even more fun! This year we will be doing a MYSTERY! We will be making 12″ blocks, without knowing the name of the block! At the end of the year, we’ll learn how all of the names relate to each other, like a puzzle! Each month you’ll learn the name of the previous block! So, Here is the FIRST mystery block!

Denise Clason's Mystery Block of the Month #1

If you want to join us, for FREE, click on my link: Denise Clason’s Yahoo Group Join us and have a blast seeing what others are doing with the same block! It is amazing how one block can be made to look so different because of the different prints!

This year we’ll be using up all of our favorite scraps…those pieces we just HATE to throw away…! you know how quilter’s are! Each piece has a place in a quilt!

Hope you join us!

Denise

Hi everyone! I’ve decided to help earn money for The American Cancer Society, by donating a custom made tote bag, called, The Amber Tote, a design from my book, Quilted Bags and Totes! I will also be donating 9 fat quarters from BJ Lantz’s “SoHo” collection AND one of my BOOKS and to make it more sweet—some of my Stitchin’ Up the Pieces buttons!

Check the Tote Tuesday Blog, tomorrow and the next 2 weeks for other totes to bid on, plus MORE items! Tote Tuesday ends March 2nd, 2010! Click on the image, below, and BID. My tote, book, buttons and fabric will be auctioned off on February 16th! Be sure to check it out!

You may have the opportunity to win a Quilted Bags and Totes book as well as the 9 Fat Quarters from BJ Lantz's SoHo Collection!

Custom made bag by Denise Clason, lined with pockets! There is a hard base for support, too!

To make things even sweeter! I’ve also included a bag of my Stitchin’ Up the Pieces Buttons! Valued at over $60.00! Here is a picture:

You may have the opportunity to win the above totebag as well as the book and 9 fat quarters! good luck!

Let me know how you like the auction!

have a great day!

Denise

www.deniseclason.com

www.twitter.com/deniseclason

www.facebook.com/deniseclason

I made aprons for our son and son-in-law.

Matt and his apron, he picked the fabric! It's fun to have him home, because he wants to cook things he has learned at school. Time time we had his omelets!

Our SIL loves to sail, as well as cook, so this apron was perfect. Each colorful square is a flag, which depicts a certain message while sailing!

Make-up bags for our daughter and her sisters-in-law (her husband had 3 siblings visit this year and it was fun to have more children/adults around).

Chicken Pin Cushion (doreen speckman’s pattern) for our daughter. I wrapped it up sitting on a nest…only appropriate…don’t you think? haha

Erin's Chicken Pin Cushion

I also made a large baby quilt for our grandson! I also made this quilt earlier in the year…just had to tie it. (I’m not wonder woman!!!  I have to spread things out or I’d never get them done. haha)

Ryan's Quilt, our grandson

As well as a twin sized quilt for our college son!

Matt's Log-Cabin Quilt, Luckily, I had already made the top a couple of months before December, so I just had to "tie" it.

I made a few little beaded key chains, too. We had a fun year…and come to think of it…I had all of the supplies at home already!!! I only had to purchase the yarn for the turquoise and brown quilt! The quilts were a little more fluffy from tieing them, than if I were to machine quilt them. So, they are really cushy and cozy! (as my daughter says!)

I would love to hear your comments on what you made for Christmas! Have a happy NEW year!

Join my Yahoo list! We are doing a “mystery Block of the Month” this year! http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/deniseclasonstudios-quiltinggroup

Denise