It's Been a Long Time

Now 6 months since my last post.  My mother started declining at that time, and I was spending a bit of time helping her, and helping my sister help her.  She passed away in January, followed by her dear sister 7 weeks later.  I also had my daughter get married earlier this month, so life has been a journey.  There is still much to do to finish up taking care of Mom's home and belongings, but it will come together.

So, have I been sewing?  Yes!  It is my sanity and passion to sew, quilt and create.  So, I have found a few things to share with you.

I made this small lap quilt out of scraps.

I put minky on the back.  I use it in church to keep my legs warm (since I wear a skirt, and my legs get cold).

I also made this Baby Star quilt.  I saw the design probably 8 years ago, and finally got to make it.  It's a baby quilt...even though I don't have one to wrap in it, I'm sure I will someday.

I'm pretty sure I've made other things, I just don't know if I took a picture, and where the picture might be.  I'll try before my next update to get something fun.

I hope you are still sewing, too!

Another Fun Bag

This month, I finished a new bag.  The fabric is "Little Black Dress" by basicgrey, for Moda.  As soon as it came into the store, it spoke to me to make a bag for my mother-in-law.  I made a bright one in June for her, so she needed one for winter, a little more subdued.  She received it yesterday in the mail, and was thrilled!

I had a little trouble with the lining, as I turned it the wrong way when adding pockets.  So, I unpicked again and did it right.  It seems my seam ripper and I are getting to be better friends every day (grin)!  I hope it isn't a permanent friendship (hee hee).

I am slowly working through some other projects, but as they are not completed, yet, I will wait to show them.

Keep Sewing!

A Quilt Finished

I finally finished this quilt as a store sample.  I loved the way the little pink and brown squares create the diagonal lines.  I also love the little squares that each have something about Christmas in them.

I was working on this quilt at our little retreat in August.  I got the blocks pieced soon after that.

I started quilting it last month, but had several difficulties and decided to leave it alone for a week or so.  Then, last week when I got down to quilting it again, things went smoothly, and I got the binding finished this weekend.  So, it is off to the store to help sell the kits.  I think it is a darling quilt, and look forward to hanging it at home down the road sometime.

There isn't much time for sewing right now, but I am trying to grab every minute I can.  I worked last night on a bag for my mother-in-law.  I got it all together, then realized the lining was not right.  So, I think I'll be unpicking and doing the lining all over again.  That will be about all I can work on this week.

Keep Sewing! (When you can!!!)

September Catching Up

I have been finishing a few things over the last bit.  I've wanted to share, but life happens.

Here is a denim quilt I started about 4 years ago, maybe even longer.  I made the top at a Quilt Guild Retreat.  The pattern is wonderful, because there are not any seams with all four pieces being denim fabric.  I remember it took me a bit of time to cut all the pieces.  Then, I put it away in a box.  Then, a nephew got married this summer, and I thought this would be a great wedding gift.  So, I took it to the store, used the long-arm machine to quilt it, and got it finished in time for the wedding in August.  I was tickled with how it turned out, and felt pretty good about my quilting on the long-arm.

I was especially glad to find a plaid flannel for the back with the blue and yellow.

Next, I found this "Blah, blah, blah" fabric on the shop hop in May.  I knew I just had to make a bag out of it to put my crocheting in.  I carry it with me so I can crochet during meetings that seem to go long.  You know, people just saying "blah, blah, blah" and not expecting any response.  Of course, I am still ready to participate when needed, because my concentration isn't really needed when crocheting hot pads.  So, I made this bag.  The pink trim was a fun touch, and is also the lining of the bag.

Then, I wanted to make a kit for the store to use some of our more modern and bright fabrics.  So, I wrote up the instructions for this runner, and we cut 5" squares of the bright fabric and put them into kits, including backing.  I think it is bright and fun, and easy to sew.  None have sold yet, but I am hopeful they will.

I have been working on a store sample that has given me a lot of trouble.  I hope to get it finished soon, but life is happening and we'll see how much quilting I can get done in the next few weeks.

I made a skirt this week, and a slip.  The skirt is extra long, so I am looking forward to wearing it for fall and winter.  I've really been wanting a longer skirt, and the fabric really spoke to me when it first arrived.  It is long enough that I couldn't hang it from a doorknob without it dragging, so I hung it from the chandelier.

And here is a close-up of the Whimsicals fabric.  I think I'd even like a second piece from the same line to make another skirt.  I love making skirts, they're fast, easy and comfortable to wear!

Keep Sewing!

Sewing Day with Friends

Several years ago (probably about 8), we started a sewing group.  We meet regularly, nearly every Tuesday, and we work on projects.  Usually individual projects, but we have been known to work on a project together.  We used to have 6 in the group.  One moved 2 1/2 hours away, another chooses not to be with us.  We still get together with the one who moved, about once a year.  This year we went to her house.

Here we are with our "Snap Happy" bags.  We each made one, with our choice of fabrics.

Then, I had to pose them on the piano, so we can really enjoy seeing the bags.

Then, we all worked on our own projects.  Tina was putting binding on a sunflower quilt she had just quilted.  She won these blocks in a blockjack at guild.

Thanks for the smile, Tina!

Pam was working on embroidery.  She was lucky enough to work on it in the car, too, so she got a lot done.

Sorry we can't read it, Pam!

Kristi was putting borders on a couple of small quilts. Very pretty, Kristi!

 I pressed blocks forever, and got to sew the pieces on either side of one set of blocks.  An amazing number of blocks.  This is a store sample in the works.  More on it later.

We also had lunch (taco salad - yummy!), went to a local quilt shop, and drove home again.  A fun, long day. It was well worth the trip to see Tina again, and explore her home.  Her children are absolutely darling and Hannah made great zucchini brownies.   Thanks, Hannah!

I am sew grateful for good friends I can sew with, talk with and be encouraged and inspired by.  Days like these just don't come around often enough.

Until next time,

Keep Sewing!