Happy Easter!

I show this every year but it holds fond memories so I never get tired of sharing it. 

This was made many years ago while visiting my niece Christina at her home in San Francisco.  My sister was there and the three of us made these cute Easter Egg table runners.  It’s fun to get it out each year and remember such a fun time.

Enjoy,

Stash Report–Week 13–March 31, 2013

Slowly but surely, I’m making progress.

Used this Week	3
Used year to Date	45.25
Added this Week	0
Added Year to Date	13.25
Net Used for 2013	-32

Enjoy,

Woo Is Me………

I am really ready to be done with this quilt.  On Wednesday, I posted about how frustrated I was trying to quilt this quilt on my ancient Handiquilter.  Well, today hasn’t gone much better. 

First of all I had to set my Brother PQ1500 up so that I could sit down and get this darn quilt, quilted and that took awhile.  I was finally all ready to start, got my glycerin on my hands (I use glycerin instead of gloves, thank you Frances), and I was set to start when I felt a lump, pretty much in the middle of the quilt.  So I’m now repining the quilt so that I can finally get it quilted. 

I can hardly wait to be finished so that I can donate it to a local charity.  I still have no idea where this pattern came from.  I think it was an on-line mystery but would welcome hearing if anyone recognizes it. 

Enjoy,

One Potato, Two Potato, Three Potato, Four

That’s right, this microwave potato bag is big enough to cook four potatoes at one time. 

It’s all finished and ready for my daughter Shelli. 

Enjoy,

Making a Microwave Baked Potato Bag

Many years ago my friend Pam share with our friendship group how to make Microwave Baked Potato Bags.  I made one for myself as well as one for my daughter, Shelli.  Shelli’s family has worn theirs out so it’s time to make them a new one.  I’m pretty sure the original one was made with Warm and Natural but I’ve heard that’s not the best thing for putting inside the microwave.  So, I headed over to JoAnn’s and found this. 

Looking at the packaging, I’d say this is what I should use.  BTW, it was on sale 50% off. 

So today I’m making them a new bag.  Here’s a picture of my bag (obviously I don’t use mine as much as they do).

It’s very cute fabric but unfortunately I don’t have any more of it so they’re going to have to settle for this.

It’s not anywhere near as cute but it certainly identifies it’s purpose in life. 

Enjoy,

Google Reader–I’ll Miss You

Follow my blog with Bloglovin' target=_blank>Follow my blog with Bloglovin' target=_blank><a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3409734/?claim=buqjr4fv2jv">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Supposedly I have to post that to claim my blog (whatever that means) in Bloglovin.  I’m also trying out Feedly but I’m still very confused and sad.  So far they both seem to work but what I really like about Google Reader is the ability to put “Next” on my tool bar.  That way you actually go to each blog post directly but it still marks it as read in Google Reader.  It doesn’t appear that either of these other blog readers have that ability.

I’d love to hear your experience.  I’ll continue to play with each but until Google Reader is really dead, I’ll use and love my “Next” button.

Enjoy,

A Frustrating Day

This was suppose to be a day of quilting.  NOT!!!!  I am so darn frustrated.  I set up my ancient (almost antique) Handiquilter in the garage.  Put my beloved Brother PQ 1500 on it and set about getting all set to quilt a really old UFO that I’m determined to finish in the near future.  I had huge skipped stitches, I mean huge.  I tried everything I could think of.  Changed the needle twice, changed the thread, changed the tension, put thread condition on the thread and whatever else I could think of.  Nothing worked.  I finally gave up.  Took it off the #@*#@ antique Handiquilter, layered it, pinned it and now I’m going to quilt it on my Brother but with out the frame.  What a big waste of time. 

Here’s the quilt (with zippers still attached) laying on the floor but ready to go back under the needle.

I think this is an old mystery I did years ago.  If you know what it is, please tell me. 

Enjoy,

My Name is Robin and I’m a Purseaholic

There I said it, and it’s not easy to admit but it’s true, unfortunately very true, I am definitely a purseaholic.  I guess we each have vices and mine is definitely an affinity for purses.  Not only do I design and make many purses and tote bags, I also can’t resist buying them.  So what did I do this time?

Well I saw an ad for the cutest Fossil purse I’ve ever seen and I couldn’t resist.  I thought about going to the Fossil store but decided why waste the gas when I knew I’d end up buying it anyway.  So here’s a few pictures.

And just in case you want to see it on the Fossil site, click here.   Now I’m going to go fill it up. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–March 25, 2013

Nothing new on my design wall but this is on my design table. 

New computer, new cover.  I used my tutorial which you can find here.  I couldn’t find the right color Velcro in my messy sewing room so I used a snap.  I wouldn’t recommend that for the faint of heart.  It was really hard to install and I’m not sure how well it will hold.  My recommendation, stick with the Velcro. 

To see what others have on the design walls, check out Judy’s Patchwork Times Blog. 

Enjoy,

Stash Report–Week 12–March 24, 2013

An up and down week.

Used this Week	3
Used year to Date	42.25
Added this Week	3.5
Added Year to Date	13.25
Net Used for 2013	-29

I’m determined to continue to reduce my stash. 

Since I think every post needs a picture, I decided to let Molly be the star.

Molly really does love everyone even if she doesn’t show it.  My sister calls her “Devil Cat” and that’s one of the nicer things people have said about her.  But she’s ours and we love her, even if she does lose her mind at times. 

Enjoy,

A New Laptop Sleeve–In Process

I recently got a new laptop and realized I don’t have a quilted laptop sleeve for when it travels with me.  So what’s a girl to do………..make one, of course. 

A few years ago I wrote a tutorial and posted it on my blog as well as on my website.  Even if I wrote the pattern I don’t ever remember exactly how I did it so I always follow along with the pattern, even if it is my own.   Why reinvent the wheel if you don’t have to? 

So here’s my original tutorial.  You can find the PDF here. 

I picked out the fabric for my new one.

Sewed them together.

It is now all layered, pinned with cute red polka-dot backing.

I probably won’t get it quilted tonight but hopefully I’ll finish it up tomorrow.

Enjoy,

Ukulele Music Binder

I may never be a great Ukulele player but by golly my music can live in a spiffy binder.

A big thanks to Vicki for giving me the fabric.  Here’s the front of the binder along side by beloved Kala Ukulele.

And here’s the back of the binder. 

Enjoy,

Ukulele Fabric

I’ve been looking for Ukulele fabric for a while now.  My friend Vicki felt sorry for me and gave me this.

It’s either going to become a tote bag or a cover for my ukulele music binder. 

Thank you Vicki.

Enjoy,

A Very Old UFO–Finished

I managed to get the binding completely finished on the very old UFO I showed you yesterday.  This one is for my Daughter. 

And here’s the faux piping binding.

I’m so happy to have it completed and that it has a new home.  Come and get it Shelli!!!

Enjoy,

A Very Old UFO

My daughter and son-in-law recently painted their bedroom and now need a new quilt.  She mentioned it to me the other day and I remembered this old, old UFO that I had that sounded like it was a perfect fit.  So, I dug it out and she liked it.  The only problem…………..it’s a UFO.  It’s almost finished, it’s been quilted but it never had binding sewn on.  I’m sure at some point there was extra fabric but it’s long gone now.  But, where there’s a will there’s a way.  I found these two fabrics that I think will work just fine for a faux piping binding. 

 

The dark brown will be the binding and the rust will be the piping.  I think it will be just fine.

I have my Ukulele lesson tonight (along with my granddaughter Emily) so the binding will have to wait until tomorrow.  Who knows someday I might even be able to play the Uke not just take lessons and attempt to blend in to the background, LOL!

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–March 18, 2013

Last week I took several projects with me on a mini retreat.  One of them was a bunch of 5” squares that I had left over from another project a couple of years ago.  Determined to figure out something to do with them it was suggested I turn them into Pick-up Sticks.  At the time I didn’t have a pattern (but it’s sew simple you really don’t need one).  However, I just did a Google search and found it in a Fons and Porter magazine.

I need more blocks but here it is so far up on my design wall. 

Nothing fancy, but it’s fun and is using up all those 5” squares. 

To see what others have on their design walls, head on over to Judy’s Patchworks Times blog. 

Enjoy,

Stash Report–Week 11–March 17, 2013

I had a great week hanging out with friends at a retreat and then heading to Santa Barbara to speak and teach a workshop with the Coastal Quilters Guild. 

So the stash report is so-so, a little in and a little out. 

Used this Week	4
Used year to Date	39.25
Added this Week	1
Added Year to Date	9.75
Net Used for 2013	-29.5

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

I saw this over on Bonnie Hunter’s blog, the music is perfect for today and all the quilt designs are terrific. 

Quilt by Gayle Thomas, National Film Board of Canada

Enjoy,

We Have A Winner

Thank you to all for all your great tips.  I received 122 of them, some were duplicated but that’s OK, other’s were ideas that I had never heard of.   Over the next several weeks, I will be sharing them with you. 

So……………without further ado………… the winner is:

And #101 is Nanbon44 of Milton, Florida.  Congratulations, I will send you an email so you can let me know which grommets you would like.  You can refer to the original post here to see your choices. 

Again, thank you to everyone for your wonderful participation.

Enjoy,

Quilters’ Blog Hop Party

I have a little delay.  Last week I posted a give-away for the Blog Hop Party here, unfortunately I forgot I was going to be out of town and didn’t plan on coming down with a little cold.  In any event, it will give you one more day to enter my give-away before I draw for the winner. 

I promise to do it tomorrow and post and email the winner.  Just as a reminder the winner will receive my “Easy Peasy Grommet Bag” Pattern along with the grommets to make the bag. 

Until tomorrow, Enjoy!

Coastal Quilters Guild

Thank you for a great evening at Coastal Quilters Guild.  What a great group of quilters. 

Great looking group.  Tomorrow I’m teaching a workshop so I’m sure it will be another fun day.

Enjoy,