First finishes of 2012

It is unlike me to post more than once a week, but since I took a week off work to rest (ha!) and sew this week, I find myself here reporting on my progress.  And much progress has been made!

I had on my list to make a new table topper for my round table.  I made the first one out of Countdown to Christmas by Sweetwater.  I liked it so much, that it became my new go to pattern for this table.  I used all charm squares for both.  This is made with Fairy Tale Friends, by American Jane.  I like this because there is no hemming (the edges are pinked) and no batting.  I set my coffee cup or water glass on here and didn't want the bulk to cause instability.  Bonus is it whips up in less than an hour, including picking the fabric charms to use.

This is my first attempt at paper piecing.  I think I grasp the concept now, but this little square took me 2 hours to finish.

And this is the mess it made in two hours!  Hopefully I will get better at this.

This wasn't on the 2012 list, and I posted this the other day, but it is a 2012 finish so I include it.

 Here is the biggie!  My Birdie Stitches Quilt is done!!!  Yay!  I quilted in the ditch only.  I didn't want to mess up the embroidery work.

 I used the same fabric for the border that I included in the blocks.  I love the way it looks.

 It was kind of windy when I took these, and here is the sun shining through the back of the quilt.  I think it looks cool!

 Can you see the little birds on the yellow print?  I saw it and knew it was for this quilt.

 Love the contrast with the stark tree branches and the Carolina Blue sky!  Now the best part!  This little guy has been watching the progress of this quilt since the beginning.  When I first started it he asked if it was going to be for him.  I said no, I was just making it for me, and he was disappointed.  As the blocks were done, he ooo'd and aaahh'd over each one, and helped me choose colors for the birds and some of the elements of the blocks.  When I began to put it together, I knew it had to have a new home.  I just felt it.  So I bound it in purple, his favorite color.  I took it to him and showed him the binding and said "I think this quilt needs to live at your house."  And this was my reward:

And that my friends, is why I do what I do. 

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

I needed something small to carry my phone and keys and ID.  Something for a quick run to pick up V after school without having to take my huge purse.  I thought about it and came up with an idea that I couldn't let go of until I figured it out.  What helped me get moving was the package of brightly colored zippers I received yesterday from Zipit.  I won them from Patty at A Stitch in Time blog.  Jennie from Zipit got them to me super fast.  Who knew zippers were so much fun?  Ready to see what I came up with?

 First I put a zipper in the strip that goes around the outside edge.  Step one was easy!

 Then I cut and quilted two pieces the same size as the phone plus a half inch for seams and a quarter inch just in case.

 Then I made the wrist strap by enclosing a piece of twill in fabric.

 Here is the inside pocket for my ID and my debit card.  I also found that my chapstick fits in here too.

 after basting the inside and outside together, and attaching the wrist strap to the side piece, I attached one side, and then the other.

 close up of the wrist strap.

 I also attached a long loop to the other end for my keys.  That's all I need to carry sometimes.

 Here is the finished inside of the wrist phone and key carrier.  Not a great name, I know.

 Another shot with the keys attached.  I took it for a spin today and I think I like it.  It wasn't too hard to make, but I think I need to work out a couple of things before I try again.

This might make a good gift.  Hmmm....how many weeks until Christmas?  Just kidding.  Talk to you soon.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Start your sewing machines!

I am going to start my new year off right!  I have cleaned my sewing room up, made a project list (it has 18 items on it...so far), bought fabric and started sewing!  And I have this whole week off from work to do some of that sewing.  Great vacation plan I think!

 First, I have to show you these great slippers I got from my Dear Husband.  I L-O-V-E them and have been wearing them a lot since Christmas.  I can even sew in them, unlike when I am wearing shoes.  I always have to take my shoes off, and then my feet get cold.

 I finally replaced my old Sunbeam iron that I have had for 20+ years with this.  I first saw this iron on Madame Samm's Stash Manicure blog during the Wantobe Quilters campaign.  I sent the link to I Have A Notion to my Dear Husband and it was under my Christmas tree too.  I am starting to get used to it.  I had no idea how not hot my old iron was starting to be!

 Also, saw this on Green Fairy Quilts and since Sweetwater is my all time favorite designer, I had to have it.  It was on sale and there was a free shipping thing going on.  I wasn't going to indulge, but after I talked to my DH, he told me to go ahead and order it.  I love that man.  He really understands me. :)

 New year's eve my oldest daughter, M brought this quilt to me to mend.  The applique was coming unstitched in several places.  This was a quilt I made for her in August 2004 for her wedding.  I don't think I ever got pictures of it.

 It was a pattern in a book by Georgia Bonesteel.  It is queen size, pieced and appliqued and all hand quilted by me.  She later confessed to me that she didn't really care much for purple, and the marriage didn't last.  I was convinced the quilt was a bit of a jinx.  Crazy, right?

 She is happily remarried now so maybe I'll try again...but not purple!

 This is the back of my Birdie Stitches quilt.  I found this fabric and thought it perfect for that.

 And here is the front of the Birdie Stitches Quilt, assembled and pin basted, ready to quilt.  I am most proud of this quilt.  It is my first BOM and I kept up for the whole year!

 These strips are leftovers from the 36 Patch QAL that I did with Crazy Mom Quilts.  Another project I kept up with.  These are going to be incorporated into the back of the quilt.  I already know how I want to quilt it and am excited to get it finished.

 My LQS has a New Year's Day anniversary sale every year from 1-5 pm.  I have never missed one.  We get 35% off any cut of a half yard or more.  I bought these cuties with the new grand baby in mind. We will find out soon if it's a boy or girl.  I am stocking up on pinks...just in case.  My stash doesn't have too many pinks.

 And I got these to add to a couple of works in progress.  I am going to make a queen size quilt for my sister this year.  We bought the fabrics when she was here in October, with no particular pattern in mind.  Now that we have one, I needed a bit more of a couple of the fabrics.  The sale was the best time to buy them.  The fabric at the bottom of the photo is just because it's cute.  The one at the top is for this next quilt.

 This is the beginning of the new quilt for my middle daughter.  I am making it from a box of scraps that I won from Moda Lissa awhile back.  I found that tan and wanted to get a bit to add to the scrap stash.

 In Cleaning I found this quilt that I started about 3-4 years ago.  I got it pieced and started hand quilting it and then it sat neglected for all this time. :(  So now I am determined to finish it.  I had forgotten that I do like to hand quilt sometimes.  I think I got caught up in the ease and quickness that is machine quilting.  And lastly, a bit of a surprise for me:

I found this lovely fabric was on the back of the aforementioned quilt.  I had forgotten it totally!  I do so love it too!  So, this was a bit long, but hopefully you enjoyed all the pictures of my projects.  I have lots to do now, so have a great week and I'll talk to you again soon.

More crafting!!

I know, hard to believe after not many posts due to the holidays, but here I am again!  I found this great little tutorial on Nanacompany blog and just had to make one.  That is unusual for me, but what the hey!

 It's a needle book!  I made it in just a couple of hours following the easy tutorial and picking out my fabrics.  I am always searching for needles and heaven knows I have enough of them, just keep losing them!

 The back of the book is a small patchwork.  I used some fabrics from my charm swap I did this summer with Ellison Lane Quilts.  I put my GrammieQ label on one end just for fun.  I thought that was better than trying to put my name on it.

 She suggested embellishing the felt pages.  I also scalloped the edges with my scallop rotary cutting blade.

 I love the fancy little touches in here.  In fact, I have since put some of my tapestry needles through the holes in the eyelet lace.  They fit perfectly.

The little tape measure thing is a piece of twill I got at the Purl.  I am really loving this little book.  Go visit Nanacompany and make one of your own.  Also it would make a great gift!

Post Christmas...now I can show you!

I know I showed these before, but they were a big hit.  Both the boys tried them out and pronounced them as cool.  Both we also admonised not to throw the bean bags for any other reason.

 The gift that I am the most prod of is new pillow covers for my middle daughter.  I made her 3 pillows about 8 years ago.  They live on her couch.  She had mentioned to me that she would like new pillows or covers for these.  Aha!  What a great gift idea.

 This was the first one.  I had a panel of Fairy tip toes by Tina Givens.  I loved the panel, but never could figure out what to do with it.  So I began deconstructing it.  This is what happened.

 Then I wanted to do some circles.  So I used a roll of masking tape and drew around some of the elements of the design.  I quilted the circles in a spiral and then added vertical lines for contrast.

 All had an envelope closure.  This is the back of the circles, another print from the same line.

 This one is my favorite.  I think I was really getting into the swing of it by now and was daring to try lots of things.  After I figured out the placement of the strips I cut, I began to think of how to embellish the white spaces with quilting.

 I did stipples, pebbles, swirls and then hearts.  I LOVE how this one turned out.  My daughter was so happy with them too.

 Don't they look great on her couch?  Best moment ever.  I want to make so many more pillows!

This is the set up for a couple of notebook covers I made for my girls.  I unfortunately do not seem to have a picture of the completed project, but it was the December Label Crew project from Sweetwater.  They have it on their Etsy sight.  Very easy and of course, made with Sweetwater's Sunkissed line.  I also made an apron, which I forgot to photograph.  So all in all a successful Christmas.  Hope yours was too. 
Have a great week.