Gettin' busy...

I hear busy people get things done!  I've been busy...

Disappearing 9 Patch with "Sunkissed" fabric by Sweetwater

 Made a baby quilt for a sweet baby girl's soon arrival.  I can't wait to meet little Gwenyth!  This fabric makes me happy for spring and I had such a great time making it.  I LOVE quilting baby quilts...small and easy to manage on my machine.

Rag quilt,  fabric "Summersville" by Lucie Summers
for Moda

And my dear friend, Kristen, has designed this rag quilt, pattern available soon I hope at my favorite quilt shop, Stash.  I learned a valuable lesson with this quilt on not rushing the process.  My finger is still healing from the nice cut I gave myself while clipping it!


















And now on to more projects...have a happy spring day!

If I had a girl...

I'd be sewin' up a storm of these!

Tonight I took a sewing class from one of my favorite teachers.  I learned how to make this super cute little girl's dress that can easily become a shirt as they grow.  And the best part was learning how to do a french seam...will be using this and many more easy tricks very soon!

I don't have my own kiddos so I will be outfitting my family and friends with these this summer!  And I think I'm just going to have to make one or two or three for myself...pull out my favorite fabrics and put them to good use!

Starting a new quilt tomorrow...more sewing with friends.  I pulled a bunch of my favorite colors/patterns off the shelf...so hard to let it go and cut it all up...almost thought about putting it back on the shelf...maybe a bit of my fabric hoardiness (is that a word?!)...and knowing that some stuff I can't find ever again.  More posts tomorrow as I cut and cry!!

That's all folks...til another time!  Sweet dreams!

Sewing with friends...

My good friend, Tami, came to visit this weekend.  A few times a year we get together and sew all weekend long while watching chic flicks and other movies we've seen a million times!  (I'm finding I have to watch movies I've already seen or I don't get much sewing done!!)

I finished my "Big Bang" quilt...started this project last summer in a class I took at my local quilt shop.  I've had most of it completed for a while...just had to sew the 4 big pieces together!  Can't wait to get this one quilted!

Finished the embroidery and piecing on this pillow (Pattern and fabric by Aneela Hoey "Little Apples" by Moda).  I got this cute pattern and tiny square pieces at quilt market.  The pattern is adorable and goes together so easy!

 And here is the back...

 It was such a nice weekend...cool and crisp with fabulous sunshine (and a little rain!!).   The Shedders were quite happy to perch in the open windows, one of their favorite things to do.   And there is still more time left in this weekend...so I'm off to go do some more sewing.  Hoping to get a few more started projects finished! :)

Checkin' off the list...

A friend asked me to make her this grommet bag a year ago...I'm so happy I finally have it complete!!!

One more project checked off the list...how does the list get so long?!!! (There are so many fun things I want to make!) I'm so thankful for people who have inspired and encouraged me to sew - true gems!

Hip to Be Square complete!

It's always nice to finally finish a project - completely! I seem to have many started projects and several quilt tops ready for the quilting part...and this completed project is only my 2nd quilt completed.

I learned a lot about binding by machine. I know I need more practice but this was much easier than I thought...someday I'll try it by hand but this time I was on a deadline since I will be donating this to Girls' Council for an auction this weekend.

Here's the front:

And I pieced the backing with some leftovers...

I love this pattern. Might just have to make another sometime...it goes together pretty quickly!

Making napkins!

Napkins!! Another finished project...feels good to get things done.

Last week I had surgery on my hand so I have not been doing any cutting/sewing. It was nice to do something tonight and actually finish! :) These bright colors just make me cheery!

Mitered cornered edges made so easy! Thanks again to my favorite teacher, Eddie! :)

Paper and thread

I've been working on my free-motion quilting as I'm getting some projects finished. Today I decided to make this card with my sewing machine. It all started last Christmas when I told my brother I'd like to hand-make all my Christmas gifts...well, I ran out of time and didn't make anything! He made my gift...and ever since when we discuss exchanging gifts, he jokingly asks if we are going to hand-make them or not! So...

I decided to hand-make his b-day card!

I must say the stitching was easier with regular thread. I used some decorative threads on the outside and inside...they have much less give...but, I love how this card came out. I think I'd like to play more with threads and thread painting...I'm sure it would be a lot of fun!!!

This project was quite easy...feed dogs down, free motion foot on! Only thing that would have made it better are my gloves...I forgot to put them on...still worked out ok though!

Zippy Strippy Pouch!

I love working on easy projects that I finish quickly!

This pattern is great if you are looking for an easy pouch. The pattern comes in 3 sizes. This is the largest. What I love most about it: sewing directly onto the fleece lining. The inside fabric is fused onto the fleece and the rest sewn on top!

Zippers!!! Ooh...I'm so glad this was much easier than I thought it might be. I've only sewn zippers 2-3 times before. I see many more projects using zippers...

And this Hello Betty fabric...just love it! :)

Casserole Cover Complete!

Last Christmas my sister-in-law asked me if I could make a casserole cover for her. I'd never made one and had a difficult time finding a pattern I really liked. Time has been ticking so I thought I'd better get started and actually finish it! (in a timely manner of course!)

I cut out my pattern and pieces the other day, then spent some time today putting it all together. I must say I was quite disappointed in the actual pattern (one from a package of assorted kitchen accessories). The directions were very confusing and did not make any sense to me. So, I just made up my own way of putting it together - seemed to work quite well.

And here it is...

sporting Robert Kaufman's "Chopsticks Please"...

(with brown interior and handles made of basicgrey's "blush")

A Special Gift

I recently learned the technique of printing on fabric and I'm so very thankful I know how now...it's made some great ideas become possible.

I'm drawn to photography for so many reasons. Many of my friends take some amazing pictures and I'm continually inspired. One such friend took a photo with a flag that I especially love. I secretly snagged a copy of it and printed it onto fabric and then made this beauty for a birthday gift. Honestly it was hard to give away...but I think I was more excited to see what he would think when he opened it!

Back side...in the shade...

Turns out he LOVES it! :) so glad...

Ottoman complete...

Ahhh...I always love it when I get a project completed.

I've had an ottoman for many years now that no longer matches anything in my house. I bought a cover for it (the kind that's a "one size fits all") but it never looked very good.

I found a website with a really great pattern for a slipcover!!

So...took my old ottoman

...time and patience...

and 3 broken needles later....

another completed project...now I wish I still had more of this fabulous fabric!!!