Sew Fun

I have been having lots of fun lately. I am working a lot and I'm really enjoying it. Quilters are very fun people. 

Valeri Wells Little Wallet and iPhone Wallet patterns are so easy to make. I forgot to take a photo of the back pocket for your iPhone but it's there! 

iPhone Wallet

It is large enough for my friends phone with a large OtterBox case on it. Now that's a proper iPhone wallet. 

iPhone Wallet inside.

Lots of room for cash, credit card and ID.

Well...

I know, I have been busy and the time is just flying by. Working, sewing, sewing, sewing I hardly have time to take pictures, type, edit and such. I know you want to know what I'm up to. I promise I will try to do better.

I think I started this in 2010. I have a long way to go to finish but maybe 2014 will be the finish what you started year.

Paper piece - started 2010

This is about all the decorating I've done so far this year.

Mikes computer tree

Here is the tree I gave Mike last year but he put it somewhere and can't find it.

French Roses 2012

Here is another finish it up project for this year.

Sparky  2012

I was looking through the photos I transferred off my SD card and came across this one of my shadow. Sparky always thinks I want to photograph him. He has such tiny feet!

From Larry, Hawaii  October 2013

This is a lei given to me by a dear friend from Kauai while I was in Hawaii in October. It was so unusual I had to get a photo. I also thought it could be inspiration for a quilt design. I'll think about that.

Red dragon fruit. Hawaii October 2013

Last but not least this is something my son served us at breakfast one morning in Hawaii along with the usual fresh pineapple and papaya. He said it had a wonderful taste and texture. He was right! I have no description except it was sweet and juicy. If you ever have the opportunity to eat dragon fruit, give it a try as there is nothing quite the same.

Lovin' the cold!

After Hawaii

I know I haven't done a post forever but life has been busy. Hawaii for two weeks, came home sick and our local Shop Hop was held this past weekend. I now work Sundays and Monday mornings. Our sew and dine is still on Tuesdays and maybe on Fridays. Life is good! 

Hexie quilt

Getting help from my son on how to place my flower and leaf sections. Planning your quilt edges can be a challenge if you aren't doing a traditional layout.

Quilt edges???

Too much green. I do like the green around the flowers though. I have more flowers done now so I will re-evaluate how to complete the edges. These are so addicting!

Hawaii beach house 2013

My daughter-in-law and me sitting in our usual spots on the porch. She read numerous books and I made flower sections.

Beach house 2013

My work area on the porch with an unbelievable view. Oh so productive!

Sitting on the porch, doing my hexies, watching the waves has got to be the most relaxing vacation ever. Those little dots out there are surfers.

The gang in Hawaii 2013

Having the family all together was great. They were coming and going just like when they were kids but with cars, surfboards and paddle boards. 

Hawaii 2013

Our last day there it rained and we saw a double rainbow. I have never seen one before so that was a bitter sweet departure for me even though I was sick and ready to be home. 

Fly Away

I'm off again, Hawaii here we come! This trip includes all the kids, which we haven't done in years. I'm so excited. One week at the Ko'Olina time share from my ever so generous brother-in-law and one week at the beach house on the North Shore. Check out this beautiful spot that has been in my extended family since the 1930's. We are only checking one suitcase between the two of us so lucky we have laundry facilities at both places! I'm taking my hexies and will put together a kit I can put in my carry on. Using one of my new project bags will be fun.I know what my priorities are!

Part of Hawaii sewing kit.  October 2013

I can already picture sitting on the porch at the beach house doing my hand work listening to the waves and catching glances of the turtles coming close to shore to eat the algae off the reef. Enough dreaming, I better get packed. Tomorrow morning will come before I know it. I will return with tons of pictures from my latest Hawaii adventure.

I will be selling the remainder of my Mini duffle bags on eBay after I return, so stay tuned.

Until next time Happy Quilting! 

I'm Back...

I returned yesterday after a two week cat sitting/sewing retreat at my Dad's house in California while he went to see his friend in Florida. Carolyn went with me so I wouldn't get lonely. There is just no easy way to say this... but we had a BLAST! Sammy, the cat was friendly after a few days and loved us by the end. The adventures of an indoor cat is a story in itself. Our adventures were even more fun. Sewing all day every day for two weeks, it's amazing what you can accomplish.

Night Project  September 2013

Lucky for me we don't have cable TV. I became addicted to the show ID on the Oxygen channel. True murder stories. They were kind of scary but interesting. Lots of hexies were made during those hours.

Dad's - September 2013

Just one of my piles of projects. I did a lot of binding at night in front of the TV. Cut and sew on the machine in the day time hours, hand sewing at night.

Carolyn"s quilt  - September 2013

This is Carolyn's Christmas quilt she worked on.

Carolyn's Christmas wall hanging.  September 2013

Carolyn had part of this done before we arrived. She did the blanket stitching, all the gingerbread men squares and the tree with ornaments. It still needs the borders added.

Mouse Blankets

Another of Carolyn's projects. Miniature wall hangings by Mouse Blankets. The buttons are included with the pattern. All you have to have is the fabrics. So cute.

Leftovers  September 2013

Here are the projects using the leftovers cut off the quilt that I made while in California. I will post the quilt later. Did you notice the hexies are made out of the same fabrics as these?

Project Bags  September 2013

Some of these bags were made but needed the binding. Two of them were made of new fabric obtained from nearby quilt stores! 

Busy Bee Quilt Shop

Speaking of quilt stores. When I travel I have to check out any close and not so close quilt stores. This is one of the two we went to. We could have gone to one a day for the entire 14 days if we wanted to hit them all.

Zipper Bags  September 2013

Carolyn made two cool bags on our trip. She requested matching zipper bags. Here are the two I made out of the scraps from each one. We were both pleased with the results.

Zipper bag back

The back is even cool!

Carolyn's bag  September 2013

This bag of Carolyn's has 3 zippers and at least a dozen pockets. I think it is called a Professional Bag.The pattern is not the easiest to understand so that is where the saying, "two heads are better then one" comes in. Carolyn has it down to a science now.

Sammy - September 2013

We could find Sammy sleeping on the guest bed during the day while we were there. She is about 13 pounds and her hair is usually longer but she was shaved some time back to help with the fur balls on her back. She is a Turkish Van so she's not a lap cat that loves to be groomed. Too bad, as her fur is beautiful. She does love the water though.

Sammy 

Her nightly routine in her own master bath sink.

Sammy - September 2013

This is Sammy's nightly routine to wash her face and get a cool drink of water. She loves the water on her head, face and legs! She doesn't seem to worry about the other end!

Sammy

This post is long enough! Thanks to Carolyn for making the trip with me. It was much more fun than being there with just Sammy. 

Happy Sewing!

Tuesday with the Girls

It has been some time since I posted, but it doesn't mean I have not been busy sewing. Life takes time. I had a birthday in there too! I hit a milestone this year and I'm very glad I did. The alternative doesn't sound like any fun. Haven't I heard somewhere 60 is the new 40? It will be a great year, so won't you tag along and celebrate it with me?

I have been to numerous Tuesday with the Girls and one 3 day sew-in. Here is some of what has been produced in the past 20 days.

Vinyl bags August 2012

Joyce had no idea what she started when she gave me a vinyl bag she made! Here are some of the ones I have finished. The small ones on the right are 12" squares and others are 15" square. I love them! Carolyn commissioned a 20" one so that is made and gone. They can be used for projects, cosmetics, kids cars, doll clothes and the list goes on. I have some in progress for the many short people in my life. I could go on about these forever because they are so fun to make but I must move on.

Credit card size purse. August 2012

This is a Valori Wells pattern called Little Wallet that I was shown how to do on Sunday. It is so small and so cute. Credit cards fit in the sections to give you an idea of just how small it is. A true instant gratification project.

Valori Wells Little Wallet pattern.

There are three sections to this little purse. You would never know it because the circles match up so well, but that really is two different fabrics. It was an accident, trust me! Great pattern and fun to make.

My project bag!

Now lets talk about what I accomplished yesterday. Here is the only thing I worked on for 10 hours. I didn't finish up any of the vinyl bags I took in, or start any new ones with the fabrics I took in. I always want to be ready in case I want to change what project I'm working on. Hauling all those bags into the store and out again keeps me strong! Back to the 10 hours...

Two for One  August 2013

For lack of a better name I will call this Two for One. I started the on point quilt out of the off set large squares and will use the pieces I cut off from underneath for a zigzag mini quilt. Cutting and trimming every piece took the whole day and you feel like you haven't made any progress. It's no where near ready to sew together. This will be one of those ongoing projects that will get put down and picked up again and again. 

I get such a thrill out of the bags I make because I can finish them in what feels like record time compared to the work for ten hours and take home only a hand full of ready to sew pieces. Not complaining mind you, but I think I will start something with BIG pieces! 

I will be off to California to babysit my dads cat Sammy for awhile with no way to do a post. I will have lots to show when I return because guess what I will be doing while away, you've got it! 

Until next time, have a happy...

Tuesday With the Girls

I worked for the last three days but today I had fun sewing with the Tuesday Girls, plus one! Yes, my niece is back with me as her cousin has to work. I finished and delivered a play mat to a friend for her grand babies. I quilted it myself on my Juki with red thread and lots of lines. She loves it.

Play Mat August 2013

Back of play mat

My niece wanted to make a boxy bag for herself and a friend. Hers are the ones on the left and mine is the turquoise one. Surprised? The tiny one is there just to show size. That one is mine too!

Boxy Bags  August 2013

We arrived at the store this morning later than usual because we had a hard time getting ourselves going, the car loaded, drinks together etc. I found this wonderful project bag laying on my table with my thread inside. I absolutely LOVE it! All I did was loan a friend some thread. The colors are me and I heard Vic had something to do with the fabric choice. You are such a good fabric picker outer! Thank you Joyce. What a treasure. Is there anything else you want to borrow?!!!

Project bag from Joyce

What a fun day... until next time, have a happy! 

Niece Visit

I have a guest on my blog today that is very special to me. She has been coming to visit me every year for four years. She made a quilt out of fabrics from my stash when she was 12. I cut the blocks for her, given her age, she organized them where she wanted them and proceeded to sew them in rows herself. After she picked the border I put it on, quilted and bound it in time for her to take it home. This girl's got talent!

Ella's 1st quilt  2009

The next year she learned to make yo-yo's which have never been brought up again! The last two years she has come alone without her mom. Boy, do we have fun!

Ella and her journal  2012

Ella 2013

Hi! I am excited to be a "guest blogger" for my aunt today! My name is Ella and I visit my aunt and other family in Las Vegas every summer from San Diego. Every year when I come to visit, my aunt helps me with a project that I work on during my stay. My first project was my quilt (as seen above), I thoroughly enjoyed seeing it come together in about one week! I still get lots of use from that quilt. This year I have already finished 11 earbud cases for my friends and I also plan on making two boxy bags before I leave! 

Earbud cases  July 2013

Hope you're having a great week, I am!

Picture Frames

This was fun to make. I finished it last week and I will be quilting it soon, I hope. My niece from the San Diego area will be at my house during the week and her cousins house on weekends for the next two weeks. She will go to work with me and be able to sew in the classroom if she wants. I work Sunday, Monday and Friday this week so we have to figure out a project tomorrow! 

Picture Frames  July 2013

Sparky is always at my feet and today was no exception. He's my darling and he knows it!

Check out my quilt that Zany Quilter quilted this week. Scroll down to find mine. She is pretty busy these days. I can't wait to see it on Tuesday. I have some binding to do on a number of quilts so new photos of completely finished projects coming soon. That's new for me! 

Have a happy!

More bags... and Yo-Yo's!

These zippy bags aren't really instant gratification, so I don't know what my deal is! They do give me a feeling of accomplishment though. The yo yo's are definitely instant gratification. Making these for a friend that needs them to go on a Christmas quilt. Continuing to make knit dishcloths too. Last night I spent a lot of time ripping out the quilting I did on my Reading with Rover donation quilt. The top looked great but the bottom had eyelashes and bird nests everywhere! I will never quilt three quarters of a quilt without looking at the underside again. So instead of finishing with the ripping I finished some more bags!

detail - Zippy bags

Zippy bags & yo yo's  July 2013

more Zippy bags  July 2013

Zippy bag with Sparky walking by

I was looking for these photos and came across my Mini duffle bag pictures. You know I do have some Mini fabric left. I will see what I can come up with.

Until next time... have happy days!