I know it has been almost three years since I posted, but life got in the way, big time. Some good, some not so good. Move out, divorce, buy a new house, move again, My dad gets sick, Dad passes and we are to the present.

The dining room of my new house is set up for about 7 sewers at a time. Sharon's Sweatshop Group meets every Saturday and we sew late into the night. I am finding lots of unfinished projects that I'm finishing to make room for organization of my new house.

Tula Pink and me on a quilting cruise 2015

I saw an ad about a cruise with Tula Pink as an instructor so I signed up! Never been on a cruise before and I was doing all kinds of firsts, so why not a cruise! That was super fun. The quilt I attempted in her class was ugly but I started cutting it up and sewing it back together and it was much better. I have not run into that project yet, yes I am still unpacking, yes I know it has been almost a year but...

French Roses in a Kate Spain line.

This is a start on blogging again, I have lots more to show but getting my pictures from phone to computer, making a wall to photograph finished projects is my challenge right now along with taxes and escrow papers on Dad's property. Life does not stop because you want to sew!

Happy Quilting!

MQG Journal Swap

It was journal swap night at the MQG meeting. I received a really, really cool one. We supplied an 'inspiration' fabric and they added however much of whatever fabric they wanted. I love it!

Journal Swap MQG May 2012

The fabric I gave her was the top one. I love what she did with it.

Here is the front of the one I gave. My design was inspired last month when the big meteor dropped from outer space and landed somewhere in the world with a big boom. 

MQG Journal Swap  May 2012

I used raw edge circles and King Tut variegated quilting cotton to make my circles look like they are exploding! 

Journal detail

This was a really fun project and the journals that were products of this swap were amazing. Will send a link as soon as our guild gets their photos up. 

The orange challenge, hmmm....

Bags, Bags and More Bags

I have been working hard for the past month making duffle bags out of Mini Cooper fabric to sell at the yearly gathering. Supporting a daily sewing habit can be expensive with the price of fabric going up like everything else. The event is June 14 so maybe I will be able to move on to something different after that.

Finished bags May 2012

Three finished. Not counting the ones that are already in to their new homes.

Bags needing grommets May 2012

There are about 10 more in progress that aren't yet to the grommet stage. Two of these sold after I took the picture! They are all one of a kind as I will not use the same accent fabric twice. Last night I gathered about 8 more fabrics for additional bags. 


I'm so lucky to have a dear friend helping me as I would not be this far in my adventure. We meet at one of our local shops so we can spread out on to the classroom tables. The distractions at home (the cats and my good book that I'm reading) lead to not getting as much done in the same time period. 

Duffle ties yet to be installed. May 2012

As you can see I have my days work cut out for me. Better get started.

My orange challenge is still waiting for my attention. I've had lots of time to figure out what to do with all that orange!

I'm Back

...and so are the bags! I have always liked the boxy little bags people were making but I never found a pattern that had enough pictures (those of you that know me know the problems I have with patterns!) until today. I did alter it a little, the way I installed the zipper and adding some zigzag around the edges before I turned it inside out but that was all. Here is where I found the pattern.


Here is the second one I made. The one with the red zipper.

Boxy Bag  Feb.2012

The first one I made was the one with the white zipper. I was so excited, as I was turning it inside out, that the ends came out square and when I tried to zip it up I found I had put the zipper in upside down!!! That's about as far as I could zip it up from the outside.

First Boxy Bags  Feb. 2012

Won't make the zipper mistake again. Well not on this project anyway. I really like the size of the small one. Too bad it doesn't close.

Happy days full of aloha spirit ahead. Don't forget your fabric therapy!

LOVE Block

Our MQG group does a block party where we trade blocks with everyone who wants to and everyone ends up with enough blocks to put together a quilt made by others in the group. We start with an inspiration block so participants get the idea of what to do. 

Block Party block for Zany Quilter   Jan. 2012

As you can tell I had some issues. I did that 'E' over 3 times! I have never done letters before so it was certainly a learning experience. She said I could do something a little different so there you have it. Hope she likes it.

Oh No, Granny Squares!

I went to my Farmers Wife group last night but I did not work on my Farmers Wife blocks. I was naughty and started a new project that I had cut with my friends Accuquilt Studio over the Christmas holidays. Lots of women in our group have finished or are working on this and I caught the bug.

Granny Square       Jan. 2012

Yes, it's the granny square! Not your typical granny square though. I made two last night so this will be an ongoing project. The second one took me about 2 hours. I hope to finish 30. The background is the black and white so it should be fun. My fabric therapy is coming along very well. 


It is amazing when you cut the fabric but don't start the project until a month later. It seems like the cutting (which is my least favorite part) was done by someone else! The Accuquilt cutting system really cuts down on cutting time.


Happy sewing!

On the Road Again

I am so glad to be in my sewing room for long stretches of time instead of just a few minutes here and there. I'm not getting near as many books read, but that's a good thing. I feel great!
  
I signed up to do the Bloggers BOM organized by Jackie at Canton Village Quilt Works. I had it on my calendar that the first block would be available yesterday so I was excited to get started. If you don't know about this quilt along, go check it out here. You have a whole month to get the first block finished. This morning I picked out my fabric and I just finished the block. I have to say I was very pleased with the results.

Bloggers BOM September 

I am also doing another project that has taken a lot of my time that I vowed NOT to do. I saw a lot of my blogger friends were doing it and I told myself I was not going to start it. Well, guess who started the Farmers Wife? I am doing it in my brights so they will be different than most. A few friends and I get together twice a month to do Farmers Wife. I have found that if I get the fabrics picked out at home and put them in the sleeve all I have to do when we meet is cut, sew, visit and eat, of course.

Farmers Wife 9/2011

With my blue bag in hand along with my sewing machine I am ready.I only have about 5 blocks finished so after tonight I should have plenty for a post. Stay tuned for Farmers wife, Thangles, and itty bitty half square triangles.

Until next time, happy sewing.