Design Wall Monday–March 31, 2014

This was on my design wall yesterday but is now packed and heading with me to a retreat with my friendship group.

It’s another very old UFO that needs to get finished.  Hopefully that will happen sometime over the next 4 days.

To see what others have on their design wall, head on over the Judy’s Patchwork Times blog.

Enjoy,

Iron Totes

I’m suppose to be getting all organized and packed for my friendship group’s retreat next week.  But as many of you know, I am easily distracted.  I’m planning on taking at least one large iron and a smaller travel iron.  It’s not like I don’t have anything to take them in, but as I mentioned I’m easily distracted so I decided to make a tote for each of the irons. 

I base them on a casserole carrier that a variety of people have written tutorials for and there are even some YouTube videos that show you how to make them.  The main difference is that I used 2 layers of Insul brite instead of batting.  I also put canvas on the inside of the small one so that I could use it as an ironing surface. 

Here’s the smaller travel size with the iron inside.

Here it is opened up so that you can see the ironing surface on the inside.

And here are both of them.  The large one holds my Rowenta nicely but I had water in it so I left it sitting along side for now. 

I still haven’t sorted and packed so back I go into my sewing room.  I wonder what will sidetrack me next. 

Enjoy,

Art Comes In Many Forms

For those of you that have been to my home you already know that the easiest way to find it is by our painted patio umbrella on our front patio.  We have had it for many, many years and it finally succumbed to the sun, rain and weather in general.  So what should we do?  How do we replace it?  Well we are fortunate to have a very talented granddaughter who is very artistic.  So we ordered a plain white umbrella, bought her some brushes, sponges and paint and turned her loose.  I forgot to take a picture of it before she started sponging the first layer but here it is after the she sponged the background and the painted the first flower. 

She has more to do but she has to go to back to work so it won’t get worked on again for a little while.  But isn’t it just wonderful?  I am so in love with it and of course my dear Natalia.  I love you Tali girl. 

Enjoy,

A Couple of Little Finishes

Yesterday I got a little sewing done.  First, my pillowcase was cutout and sewn together. 

And then I put the finishing touches on a bag started way back in September at a Riley Blake Fabric Fest.

It was finished quite some time ago but for some reason there were gaping holes near the beginning and end of the zipper.  It apparently was intended to be that way but I really disliked that opening.  I just made a couple of cute little decorative patches to cover the holes.  It’s been sitting there ready to go but it took me until yesterday to put red thread on the sewing machine and sew them in place.  Sigh!!!!

Here’s the cute inside. 

I have no idea what I’ll use it for but it’s another item to check off the UFO list and for that reason I’m happy. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–March 24, 2014

Although this is the “Year of the UFO” for me, sometimes a girl just has to break down and buy herself one itty bitty piece of fabric.  I went to the Glendale Quilt Show on Friday and saw this Moda fabric.  I’m not typically a “blue” person but I just fell in love.  So instead of just sticking it away in with all my stash, I’m going to make myself a pillowcase. 

Not much of a design wall this week but at least it’s something.  To see what others are up to, check out Judy’s Patchworks Times blog. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–March 17, 2014

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I already showed this but it’s still up on my design wall, waiting for the curves to sewn down and then layered and quilted.

To see what others are up to this Monday morning, check out Judy’s Patchworks Times Blog. 

Enjoy,

World Wide Quilting Day - 2014

Since today is World Wide Quilting Day, I decided to spend a portion of it in my sewing studio.  I recently showed you my version of a Mexican Stars Quilt I made with a white background.  Yesterday I decided to make another on with a very dark background.  I haven’t sewed the curves on this quilt down and neither one of them is quilted yet but so far I like them both. 

 

I’m sure the look of it will change even more once it’s quilted. 

I haven’t free motion quilted anything in ages so I pulled out a muslin sandwich and attempted a simple feather.  Simple it wasn’t, but not as bad as I thought it would be seeing as it’s been a very, very long time since I free-motioned anything.

Enjoy,

Cute Mug?

As I’ve mentioned before, my time recently has been spent cleaning, sorting, organizing, etc.  During the process it’s amazing what I uncover.   Tuesday I found a coffee mug that you insert your “something” inside.  Well since I have an overabundance of fabric and batting scraps, I made a mini quilt for my insert.  Isn’t it cute?  I had my morning coffee in it and I love it. 

I’m not getting a lot of sewing done but these little accomplishments made me feel good.

Enjoy,

The Year of the UFO–March 11, 2014

As I continue to clean, organize, toss and sort my sewing room, I’m continuing to look for ways to attack the many, many UFO’s I have.  Yesterday I unearthed this little gem.

It still has the extra fabric with it, so it’s going to get finished.  It needs a few borders to make it big enough to be a lap sized quilt but that shouldn’t be too difficult.  I have cut some borders and packed it all together to take it with me to my friendship group retreat at the end of the month.  With any luck at all I will have at least a completed top to show you by the first week in April. 

BTW, I’m not sure how old this is but probably close to 10 years old.  Shame on me. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–March 10, 2014

I haven’t really done much sewing this past week but I have been spending a lot of time in my sewing room.  I’ve been cleaning, tossing, donating and rearranging.   In the process, I found this.

What is it you ask?  It’s a small signature quilt from the first year that my sister and I attended a Mary Ellen Hopkins seminar in Las Vegas.  Little did we know back in July 1999 that not only would we continue to go back year after year but many of these wonderful women would become our life long friends.  We started out as the newbies, or virgins as Mary Ellen called us back then but eventually we came two of the teachers that would help fill in the gap when Mary Ellen was no longer able to continue with us. 

Here’s my center block, my sister Melinda’s block and Mary Ellen’s signature.

This brings back great memories but it’s also a little sad.

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

Now back to cleaning, sorting and organizing. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–March 3, 2014

This is a project that I have had on my to do list for many years.  Last week I took the pattern and fabrics with me to a retreat and managed to get the top cutout, sewn and assembled.  Now it’s time to quilt it.

The pattern is called Mexican Stars and it is by Southwind Designs. 

To see what others are working on, head on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times blog. 

Enjoy,