June Begins

So now, it is June. I know that summer is not officially here until the 21st, but to me, it is summer. The kids are all getting done with school, and I am looking forward to summer visits from the Kids and grand kids.  At the end of summer, I will be going back to NC for my first visit since the move. For now, I am going to try and sew as much as possible. To that end, here are a few things I have been doing:

 I took some scraps from my pillow cover to make this pin cushion. I love the Charleston line so much I can't bear to part with even a scrap of it.

 I made it just like a small quilt, pieced, quilted and bound and then stuffed it with crushed walnut shells. I only quilted the front to some batting so I could stuff it.

         A larger scrap of pineapple fabric was perfect for the back of the pin cushion.

And here it is in my hand so you can get an idea of the scale of the pin cushion. A bit larger than I usually make, but it will get used, because I love it!

 Next, a project born out of necessity. Years ago I began making these cell phone wristlets from a pattern by Carolyn of Trillium. I wanted to get away from carrying a big purse full of junk. The small wristlet holds my cell, my id and credit cards and a few dollars. That's all. Sometimes I need a place to put my chapstick or I wish I had room for a pen. I still wanted small, though. I also wanted to be able to be hands free, like at the ball park, but I didn't want to set it down. So I enlarged the pattern by two inches. Perfect! I also put a long strap like a messenger bag for cross body wearing. I won't use it every day, but when I need this, I am now ready.

 And the inside will hold just what I need, but not be overly full. I will let you know how this works out as we are going to the ball game next weekend. I think it will be perfect.

 The third thing I worked on this week is a criss cross back jumper for miss N. I have long loved the simplicity of these and the fact you can wear them over a top or without, as a dress or a top. They are very versatile.

 And this one is reversible.  So it's like getting two dresses for the price of one. It is also a very quick sew and there are several free patterns on the internet for such a thing.

All it needs are buttons and buttonholes. I will do buttons on both sides so it is easily reversible. And that is what I have done this week. I have also cut out pieces for a couple more projects so that I can just sit and sew as time permits. I am still doing some painting here at the garden house and I took last week off from that. This week I hope to get most of the rest of the living room finished. Talk to you soon.

Another Wristlet

This was not the finish I thought to share today, but the other has to wait, for now. Remember last year when I was a wristlet making fool? I made 9 of these bad boys to give as gifts and one for myself.  The pattern is from Trillium Designs.

A friend wanted one when she saw the one I made for my sister. Her droid phone is larger than an iphone, so I had to enlarge the pattern a little bit.  The first picture is the new one, next to my old dirty one, for size comparison.

 I cut the pattern pieces an inch larger in width and length. I hope her phone will fit, but I think it will.

 She wanted butterflies on a black background for the outside and a pink plaid for the inside.  I had a pink zipper, so that was what I used and I think it works.

                         There is a magnetic snap closure on the top fold down flap.

      If you look carefully you will see there is even a butterfly in the zippered pocket.

 And a big butterfly on the back.  This is such pretty fabric.  I hope she loves it.

Through sheer dumb luck, it looks like this is a whole butterfly on the front where the pocket meets the front panel. I assure you, I am not that good.  This is a great pattern and next up I am going to make myself a new one...in a darker color that won't show the dirt.  Have a great weekend! Talk to you soon.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it Friday.

At Last...Christmas Crafting Reveal

I can finally show you all the Christmas crafting and sewing I did.  This will be a picture heavy post and long I'm afraid.  Hang in there.

Remember these little wooden houses?  I made them from scrap wood we had in a crate in our shed from many projects.  I loved painting them and I have them in my kitchen.  I decided I wanted more.

 But I was out of scraps of wood.  So I had my hubby buy me a 2 x 4 and I cut it into the pieces I needed.  Like this:

 And I glued the triangles on the top with wood glue and let it dry overnight.

 Then I painted them to look Christmas-y and put them under my tree.  I gave some to my daughter to paint for her house.

I love these little houses.  If you want to make your own, you need to prime them and let that dry for 24 hours.  Then, it's like a blank canvas.  Most of these are 6-8 inches tall.

Now, for the sewing...

 I know I showed some of these things before, but a brief recap here if I may.  These are the TV cushions I made for the two older grandsons.

                                  I found enough castle peeps in my stash to do this.

                       The quilt I made for my son-in-law for the back of his office door.

                         The quilt for V...Still needs quilting, but soon it will be done.

 My Cherry Christmas quilt.  I used a charm pack of Cherry Christmas to make this.  It's small, but I will quilt it up and use it for decoration next year.

 These were the biggest job for me.  I cut them all out and sewed them when I had time.  It only takes me 90 minutes or so to make one now, not including the cutting and fusing.  They are phone wristlets from a pattern by Trillium designs.

 I made 6 of these babies and now, with the ones I made last summer, I have made nine!!

                                                All different, and all done!!

 I love this fabric and so I made a pillow for my sister out of it.  She loves it, as I knew she would.

                          Another print in the collection makes a fine back to the pillow.

 Here is another small quilt made from charm packs.  This one is Countdown to Christmas.  I had two of these from last year that I never used and some yardage of the green and cream stripe for the sashing.  This will also be quilted and used for next year's decor.

 Lastly, this is the quilt top for J.  I just finished it today.  Sorry for the trees shadows.  It was getting late when I took these.  After the sailing quilt and map for V, I wanted something similar, yet different for J.  Airplanes!  I found this awesome bundle of fat quarters at Fabricworm I think.  I'm sorry I don't know that was where I got them.

 And they had planes and another cool map that fit so well.  I fussed around to figure out how to best use each fabric and I even bought another half yard of the airplanes to feature it better.

I will take better pictures once it's quilted, I promise.  This is one awesome quilt, even if I didn't get it done in time for Christmas.  Thanks for sticking with me to the end.
See you soon.

Staycation Sewing

I have been doing lots of sewing this week so far.  I have also gotten lots of housework  done.  And you know what?  I don't mind the housework taking me away from the sewing as much, when I know I have so much more time to do both since I am off all week.  This is great!  So here are some more pictures of my staycation:

 I made another wristlet from Trillium Design's pattern.  Seriously love this pattern people.

 My daughter has been coveting this purple fabric forever.  I had to make her something out of it so she would stay out of my stash.  The green dot fabric is Vintage Modern.  A perfect match.  The purple fabric I tried to find on line a couple of years back to buy more, but alas, it's gone.  So I will use the rest sparingly.

 This is a project I am just starting.   My daughter will recognize it.  It will be a bookshelf quilt.  These are a few of the test strips.  I found a partial jelly roll of an old Basic Grey line in my strip scrap been and it seems perfect for books, with a few others added in.

This quilt is basted and actually on my machine right now.  It is for a recipient in the Comfort Quilts Bee that I am in.  I am loving how it is turning out so far.  I will show more when it is done.

I also made a baby quilt for a friend, but since she sometimes reads my blog, I am going to have to wait to post pictures until I give it to her.

So far, on staycation, that's two wristlets, one quilt quilted and one being quilter and one new project started.  Pretty good progress so far.  I have two other quilts being pieced and one more waiting to be quilted, which I hope to at least start on before I go back to work.

Have a Great Wednesday.

Happy Monday...and a Winner!

Happy Monday everyone.  Day 2 of my staycation.  I have lots of sewing planned for this week, and if all goes well, I'll have lots to show you all week long.  First up, I finally finished my Daisychain ABC's sampler that I bought from Alicia Paulson.  I think I started this in February or March.  Glad to have it done!

I did enjoy doing it, a bit at a time.  This just needs a frame, and it is going to live in the home of my newest grandson.

Next, I made the first of what I know will be many of the Cell Phone Wristlet pattern.  I bought the pattern from Caroline at Trilliumdesign.  I fell in love with this pattern when I saw it on a blog hop to launch the pattern.  I just had to get it.  I could not believe the pattern was sooooo easy to assemble.  I did not expect that, having made many bags and pouches before.  I had all the fabric and fusibles and the zipper.  I just needed the hardware.  I will definitely be making more of these.

 This first one is for my daughter.  She loved the one made with the Ruby Star Rising typewriter fabric.  I tried my best to copy that one.  Not perfect, but pretty good.

Here is the back.  Sorry the picture is so yellow.  Inconsistent flash is probably to blame here.  I was not asked to promote this pattern, but I do love to share when I find something I think is terrific.

Last, but not least, the winner of my scrap giveaway: comment #7 Celtic Thistle!  And here is the bundle going out to her:

This is 2 pounds of scraps just for you Fiona.  Yes, I weighed it on my kitchen scale.  Fiona is in the SMQ Bee, so I already have her address.  I made my post office Monday run this morning so I posted this along with my bee blocks.  The postman said it should get there in 7-10 days.  Let me know, Fiona.

This is the first time I have ever posted anything for overseas.  It was a great learning experience for me and the postman was very patient and helpful.

That's all for now.  Have a great Monday.