Embroidery Tote

Happy Friday!  My how this week flew by!  Recently I was part of a swap and I want to share with you the bag I made by This -N- That.  It was so much fun and is the second one I have made.  For this one I used my precious feedsack fabrics as well as part of a vintage tablecloth for the inside pocket.  The vinyl pocket is not hard to make and you just need to sew slowly and don't nick it with your iron or it will melt.  Yes, I did!  I filled the bag with all kinds of embroidery goodies and two tea towels to work on.  I've also been slowly adding items to my Maileg toy collection.  The most recent purchase was this little ironing board and iron, be still my heart!  Have a great weekend!

Spring Projects

It seems as if the days are flying by and of course they are.  I'll post a Sunday scripture and the next thing I know, three weeks will go by in the blink of an eye.  I've been busy sewing for market, getting caught up on other quilting and I managed to squeeze in a trip to Georgia to see my brother and his family with my niece and great nephew.  I can't stay focused right now and I'm blaming the weather which can't seem to stay focused either.  I sew awhile, then knit awhile, then read, then stitch. I'm constantly bouncing around but somehow I manage to get things done.  My latest antiquing discovery was this little button box with the sweetest colors.  So much to do, but I'm itching for an adventure, how about you?

Birthday Pretties

Yesterday was my birthday.  Another year older and hopefully wiser!  I treated myself to some Maileg toys and books from a new favorite children's author.  My husband is traveling and sent the most beautiful flowers.  I can dream of spring when I look at them, though with snow gently falling outside spring is not in the foreseeable future.  I finished up the most adorable doll for a sweet little girl who loves Pinnochio.  The pattern is from the book, "Tilda's Fairytale Wonderland" by Tone Finnanger.  I love making her toys, they each have so much personality.  From the looks of Pinnochio, I think he may have something to get off his chest! I hope you are having a creative and fun day!

Patriot Flower Sugar

Recently I became part of Lecien Corporations new Flower Sugar World Ambassador program.  I have joined a group of designers, around the globe, who get to sew with the new Flower Sugar fabric before it's released to the public.  The first collection is Flower Sugar Fall 2015 which will be unveiled next week at the International Quilt Market in Houston, Texas and will be in stores in May 2016.

I have long wanted to make a patriot shabby chic quilt to go with my style and decor in my home. The red, white and blues from Flower Sugar fit that description perfectly.  The pattern I used for the quilt is "Just Pruned" by Brenda Ratliff, owner of Pink Castle Fabrics. The pattern first debuted in Issue 7 of Quilt Now magazine.  The pillow was made using the pattern, "Patriotic Pillow" from the Summer 2015 issue of Easy Quilts magazine.

I enjoyed every minute of sewing with this gorgeous fabric and I have more projects to show from the remainder of the line.  I have been hoarding collecting all the Flower Sugar fabrics from previous lines and I must say, they compliment each other wonderfully.

Have a great start to your week!

Tiny Box Zippy Nightmare

Can you believe that awesome paper pieced project bag that Gina made me?  Oh my word, when she gave it to me at a recent sewing retreat I about fainted.  That girl has some mad paper piecing skills. She also is one of the nicest people I know.  Gina is one of those people that when you meet her, you feel like you have known her forever.  At this same retreat, I tried to tackle my fear of zippers. Michael Ann gave a wonderful class on her Tiny Box Zippy.  Don't let this little pouch fool you, it was tough as nails for me to make.  I sewed the zipper in wrong and had to rip it out.  I sewed that back yellow panel to the side and had to rip it out.  When I got it all done I saw that I had sewed the pocket on the inside of the lid, upside down.  So, in my frustration I cut it out with scissors.  The rotary cutter is covering up a blood stain from where I pricked my finger, unknowingly, and bled on the fabric.  I'm keeping this pouch, blood stain and all, because in the end the zipper is installed correctly!

The First Four Farmers Wife Blocks

I am back today with the first four blocks in the Farmer's Wife 1930s Sampler Quilt Along. Please see yesterday's post for details.  I have been traveling and had to play a bit of catch up.  Here are some tips I found helpful in making these blocks:

1.  Don't be in a hurry.  Make sure when printing the templates from the CD that you click actual size and not print to scale.  Take the time to measure the one inch guide to be sure you are cutting the right size.  Yes, I messed up my first two blocks and had to redo them.

2.  I'm pressing all my seams open.  This gives me a bit of extra wiggle room so that I can trim the blocks to 6.5"  I did not prewash my fabrics, but if you do, starch the life out of them so there is no stretching of fabric.  Bias stretching is not your friend in making these blocks.  Yes, I repeat, I messed up my first two blocks and had to redo them.

3.  There are lots of quilters who want to help make this a pleasant experience for you.  Be sure to go to the FB page for helpful tips and also be sure to visit the scheduled bloggers to see their tutorials as well.

4.  Most of all, have fun!  Be sure to read the letters that accompany the blocks.  It is such a fascinating peek into the lives of the women and how they were feeling during the depression.  We all have family who lived during that time and it allows you to perhaps walk in their footsteps for a moment.

Zip Top Tote

Happy Monday!  I have been traveling and away from my blog for awhile.  I attended a sewing retreat in North Carolina and will be sharing more about that in the next few days. Today I want to share with you my latest project.  The "Zip Top Tote" pattern from Handmade Style by Anna Graham of Noodlehead.  I've been shying away from zippers for years and this bag not only has a top zipper but also a zippered inside pocket.  One of the things I learned at the retreat was how to install zippers. I still need more practice but am quite pleased with how this turned out.  The nautical print is by Cosmo Textiles and was purchased at Pink Castle Fabrics.  It's a fun and roomy tote, currently holding a quilt I'm working on, a magazine and a book.  I hope you are having a great day!

Easter Decorations

My daughter brought me a bunch of daffodils over the weekend.  It was the push I needed to get the Easter decorations out.  It is cold and grey today which makes it hard to believe it's spring.  This is the time of year when you hope that all the snow is gone.  We Michiganders know anything is possible.  No matter what is going on outside, it's spring inside!  Sweet Amy sent me some fabric with an order and it was the perfect combination for the Easter bolster for my church pew.  This is an area in my entryway that is a constant work in progress.  Greg mentioned that I need a quilt on the pew and he's right!  It's a bit too bare for my liking.  Any excuse to make a quilt is a good one!  I hope you have a blessed Monday and that spring has sprung in your corner of the world.

Happenings

It has been an interesting six weeks and I've missed being here.  My daughter had surgery right before Christmas and then landed back at the hospital with complications.  Once she was back at school I came down with Shingles.  In the middle of all that I had another birthday, my first great nephew was born and my friend closed her darling cafe of which I have been a big part of.  I'm reminded all the time that the one certainty in life is change, some good, some we see as bad but in reality is part of life.  I'm thankful once again that the Lord is in control of it all, ready and waiting to see us through if we let Him.  I started playing with fabrics and hand quilted a small quilt.  I loved the entire process, mostly because I hadn't planned on making it at all.  I finished a house block for the sewing bee I'm in and finally blocked my scarf.  The picture does not give it justice.  It is the most pretty combination of blues and reminds me of foam on the waves when I look at it.   Praying you have a wonderful week!

In the Pink

I don't know how it could be possible, but I don't own a pink top!  Pink is one of my favorite colors.  I can get pretty picky about the shade of pink though so that could be my problem.  I need a pink top for a breast cancer fundraiser this week so I sat down today to make one, because when you need one the stores don't have any.  This pattern was very straight forward and came together in a couple of hours.  I bought the knit material at Joann's and when all is said and done, it's not great fabric.  It's thin and too see through so I'll have to wear a cami but for what I need it for, it's fine.  The knit has sparkles all over that don't show in the picture.  I would like to try the pattern again with a nice quality cotton knit.

I found the best cookbook at World Market.  I love everything about it!  I made the cheese crackers yesterday and they were great!  I didn't want plain old squares like cheese nips so I used a little bumble bee cutter I had.  As always, if your'e going to make the effort, make it pretty!

Blessings,