Military Brat BOM~

Link in sidebar

Another block to join my other three! 

I am really loving how these blocks are turning out, and Chris does a really good job with the directions.  (It isn't too late to join the fun!) :-)   The next block instructions will be up tomorrow. 

Until next time~

Make happy stitches! ;-)

May Bag-of-the-Month

The May Bag of the Month pattern is a very sweet little bag by Betz White. 

 Its called the Seneca Creek Bag.

The strap is long enough for over the shoulder, cross body, or it can be changed to a waist strap for a hip pack... or fanny pack. (I'm not sure if bags are called that anymore ...our kids sure had fun with that name!) :-)  There is a nice size pocket under the front flap, and an inside zipper pocket.

I made this for a b-day gift and I sure hope the recipient likes it. ;-)

You can read more about the Bag of the Month club by clicking on the link in my sidebar.  It isn't too late to join in the fun!

Until next time~

Happy Stitchin'!

Retreat Follow-up...

I have wanted to do this post since I got home from retreat!  

Sorry it has taken me forever. :-/

I go to a wonderful retreat full of quilters every Spring.  This year they asked if I would teach the Mystery Class that is held at every retreat. :-) I jumped at the chance and this is what I taught~

a simple wallet pattern, called the 'Wherever You Go Wallet' by Fishsticks

It really is an easy pattern!  What made it difficult was presenting it as a mystery.  Well, that and by the time I got to retreat I had 50 people in my class!! :-o  And by the time it was class time, there was no where to accommodate 50 people for the class. (the retreat center gave one of our classrooms away to a youth group at the last minute) So I had a hallway.  Knowing that wouldn't work for teaching how to put in a zipper, I divided the class into small groups of 5 or 6 and spent a whole afternoon rotating everyone through.  It worked!  I got a lot of positive feedback and I really did enjoy the teaching.  There were 109 retreat participants, so I go to know half of the ladies there.  :-)

Did you notice the white cloth under the pattern in the first photo?  That is one of my pressing cloths.  We needed them for the class since we were using fusibles.  I went to Hobby Lobby and bought some 99 cent white bandanas~~ they worked great!!  Just the right weight, totally washable, 100% very light weight cotton.  Perfect when you need one and really inexpensive. ;-)

Another thing I always take along to retreat, but use here at home too, is my sewing machine mat.  It is actually a floor mat (and I have one underfoot at my cutting counter).  At retreat it works wonders for bouncing machines on long tables.. really absorbs the vibrations wonderfully.  I like it under my machine at home too because it cuts down on any vibrations when speed sewing. ;-)

I got mine at Ross.  They come in two sizes and lots of prints on the front. I chose the big rooster to remind me of a chicken-lovin' friend. :-) LOL

That's all for today~

Until next time~

Happy stitchin!!

Surprise Mail!

I very rarely find any surprises in my mailbox.  Just the usual ads and bills. :-o

So imagine my surprise to not only get one, but two surprises in my mail this week!!! :-)

First a Ziploc full of selvages. :-)  I have been saving them for a project, but it seems like such a slow process to save by yourself.  Well, I was in a swap and the swap leader enclosed the baggie full of selvages with my returned blocks! Surprise!! :-)

And then one of the ladies who took my mystery class at retreat sent me that darling star pincushion!

Surprise!!  She stuffed it with some walnut shells, a little sand and some lavender buds~~ it smells heavenly!! 

Neither of these ladies blog, but they both are excellent quilters and they just blew me away! :-)

I hope you had a great week too!

Until next time~

Happy Stitchin'!!

A Nine Bobbin Weekend!

Sorry I have been MIA~ I was at a 4 day retreat! :-)

I had plans to count my empty bobbins, but got so into my sewing that I forgot! :-o

My friend did and she used 9, so I think I might have been just a bit behind her because I taught an all day class one of the days.  More about that later! :-)

I am still unpacking and getting organized but I didn't want you to think I dropped off the face of the earth.

This is what the yard looked like when I got home~

 ...a blanket of pink petals. 

And my dogwood was blooming! 

This is one of 5, but they all bloom at different times. LOL

I hope you had a great weekend~ I will be back soon!!

Happy Stitchin'!

Spring Sewing....

A few weeks ago Brooke @ Silly Mama Quilts  asked if  I could proofread a pattern 

she was working on.  It was such a cute pattern that I had to make it! LOL

This is the Story Quilt. :-) 

I didn't have the fun house print that Brooke was using, so I went to my scraps.  

My mind just kept thinking, make a happy quilt! 

Bring some Spring inside (since it was still rather chilly outside).

This is my top before quilting. ~

And here it is all quilted up!

                                                                         The back~

 If you would like to see Brooke's adorable Story Quilt and find out about a fun giveaway~

go HERE.

Until next time~

Happy stitchin'!

A New Topper~

A few weeks ago I did a little pattern testing for Connie @ Freemotion By the River.

Her pattern featured some gorgeous orange/sunset looking fabrics and it is called 'Aruba Sunset'.  She said it reminded her of the sunsets they saw while on a vacation.

I was into my patriotic fabrics and decided a patriotic topper/wall hanging was just what I needed! LOL I love the center star!

You can't tell from my photos but the background is printed with swirls of light tan.  I quilted it with an all over swirly design and it is patiently waiting in the 'Q' for its binding.  (Two were ahead of it and I've nearly got the second one bound ;-) Since I only sew bindings at night, I think I'm doing pretty well. )  I've got the blue cut for binding.

 Thanks Connie for trusting me with your pattern!

Until next time~

Happy Stitchin'!