A Question?

Hi! Are you out there?

Am I just not getting comments, or doesn't it work?  Please let me know! ;-)

Do you press your bindings when adding them to your quilt?

I confess I normally don't, except when I am adding the faux piping-type binding.

Then I press. 

First from back to front~

 

 And then I press the front down so I get decent corners. 

Ok, they don't always turn out as pressed, but they are pretty good.

It seems like there is always one that wants to be different. ;)

Does that happen to you too?

I can't show you what I made...yet. But it is finished and ready for Spring!! 

Which is tomorrow!!! :-)  I am so ready!! LOL

I made a little pouch for a gift this weekend~ I love how it turned out. :-)

I hope the recipient does too! This is the Bellevue Pouch from Season one of the Minikins Bundle by Sara of Sew Sweetness. 

Until next time~

Happy Stitchin'!!

Do You Love to Read?

I absolutely love to read!

I kept a log of books I read last year and along the way forgot to write a few down, but the total was 75 books! Not audio books, not counting magazines or quilt books. Just novels, primarily fiction, either historical fiction or a good James Patterson. ;-)

I am past a dozen this year, and I know I forgot to write down the ones I returned to the library a few weeks ago. Oops.

Anyway, did you know Sara @ Sew Sweetness has a Book Club this year?   And she has designed an accompanying project to go with each book.... and it is a free pattern! :-)

The first book was 'The Sewing Machine' by Natalie Fergie

It was a quick read and a really good story!

The accompanying project was the Clydebank Tote.

Here is mine...

 The pattern comes in two sizes. It has a top closing zipper, and two inside zipper pockets.

I made the largest size and it is going to make a perfect 

'Mary Poppins' bag when I visit grandkiddoes! :-) 

I did change mine up slightly; adding the faux leather to the sides and bottom, and adding purse feet to the bottom.  The fabrics are all quilters cottons and the great shape comes from the foam interfacing.

I hope you will join me in reading the next book and doing the project. If you do, please let me know in the comments. ;-)  The book is 'The Last Runaway' by Tracy Chevalier

I checked it out of the library and could hardly put it down last night!

Until next time~

Happy Stitchin'!!

Where Did February Go?!

..or for that matter the first 10 days of March!?!  

Time is just flying at my house! How about yours?

We have had a week of snow and ice, another of cold temps and today I looked out and my neighbors crocus are blooming!!  My daffodils are about 6 inches out of the ground~ yes! Spring is coming!!

My sewing machine has been working like crazy, but I have very little I can show for all the time logged. Eventually, just not today. ;-)

I can show you the quilt I am working on in-between pattern tests and other things.  :-)

This is the beginning of the Olivia Quilt from Kitchen Table Quilting. I did not pattern test this one, but when I saw it I knew it was perfect for the charm squares I had!  I am making this for my grandson, so rescue vehicles seemed like fun. :-) He is at the age where he loves to line up his cars and play. 

I joined a St Patrick's Day postcard swap and mine are made and sent~

I also made a couple notebook covers on my embroidery machine for gifts~

funny, but I only managed to get a photo of one of them. :o

And finally, I made a diaper bag backpack. This was a pattern test for Sallie Tomato and you can find the pattern HERE

 

It is called the Tripper.  Great for day trips too! ;-)

It is really roomy and I am sure my DS and DDIL will find it very handy when my newest grandbaby arrives.  

 

I am headed back to my sewing machine and hopefully you will see more of me soon!

Until next time~

Happy stitchin'!! :-)

Yes, I Do make Quilts Too

I know it seems like I show you bags a lot of the time, but I do make quilts too!

This quilt is a generous twin size and is called

the Rachel Quilt by Kitchen Table Quilting. 

I pattern tested this quilt for Erica & finished it while at retreat.

It uses layer cakes and I cut into my batik stash of turtle prints to cut out my layer cake~ my DD was here when I was choosing fabrics and she  has already 'dibs-ed' this one. LOL

As soon as the weather warms up, you will find me out in the cottage quilting it. :-)

Be sure to check out Erica's blog for all the tester versions. :-)

I promised you a peek at my postcards in my last post~

I ended up making a dozen and remembered to take the pic when I had these 5 left to stick in envelopes. :o Oops.  They were fun to make on my embroidery machine. The patterns are from Embroidery Library.

Until next time~ 

Happy stitchin'!

 

A New Tote Too!

While I was at the second retreat I made myself a new tote too. :-)

This is the Tudor Bag from Sew Sweetness.   

I made it just for me!  

I used my favorite polka dots in the lining. LOL What is a fun bag without polka dots!?

 It has loads of inside pockets!

And I added feet to the bottom~

The fabric is a decorator weight remnant I had in my stash and the grey is a soft faux leather.

Inside is all quilters cotton.  I wish I could remember where I picked up the faux leather because my machine loved it! It sewed just like a cotton fabric.

I still have to take a few more pix for you. I have been busy making Valentine's Day postcards and would you believe I got them all mailed and then thought about the photo?!!  I did manage to snag a photo of the last 5 or 6 and will show you those next time.

Until then~

Happy stitchin'!!

Home Again! Home Again!

Ok, so when I committed to back to back retreats, I thought I had a week between them.

I did not. Gulp! :-o

So a quick dump of suitcases and laundry and repacking and I was off again!  I am so glad I prep, cut and plan projects ahead of time because I could grab and go this time. ;-)

My friend and I have been wanting to do some 'By Annie' patterns and this was the retreat for that! We had a lot of room to spread out and get our pieces all labeled and lined up~ and then the power sewing began! :-)

First we made the 'Running with Scissors' tool case. 

And it went together really well for both of us!

The fabric is red tomato pincushions! :-)

So next, we made the 'Take A Stand' stand up tote, a companion to the 'Running with Scissors' pattern.  I made the larger size.  Another fun sew!

We couldn't believe we finished both projects and still had another day and a half of retreat time!! :-)

Luckily I pack like I am going to be gone for months! LOL

So next post I will show a few more things I completed.

Until then~

Happy Stitchin'!!

Sewing Fun!

Hi everyone! 

I spent the weekend at a small retreat with some friends and managed to get some sewing for me finished! :) Yay!

I have been wanting to color coordinate my retreat bags and project bags for taking to retreat in my favorite black, white, grey and red combos. I finished two different project bags. :-) The patterns are some my friend wrote to teach at another retreat, so I tested for her while making for me. LOL I love them!!

They both have vinyl 'windows' so you can see the project inside.  I usually pack my small red suitcase with my projects in bags. :o This will be so much better! ;-)

Another friend wanted to try her hand at bag making, so I helped her through a Bow Tucks Tote bag.  We each made one, so I could show her the steps, rather than just talk about them.  I think I will use mine for retreat also. LOL

I have made this bag many times for gifts, so finally, one of my own. The really nice thing about this pattern is that there are no zippers, no hardware etc. I just need to get a button for the top loop closure.  (note: I am not an affiliate for this pattern and the views expressed are my own)

 I think I have convinced my friend that bag making is fun. The next time we get together, she wants to try her hand at a zipper pouch. :-) Yay!!

I also worked on a quilt top, but it isn't quite together yet.  Next time. ;-)

Until then, stay warm and

Happy Sewing!!!