Duffle Bag

I just dropped my friend off at the airport for her journey back to Portland. We shared a lot of laughs, sewing, talking about old times and lots of new ones. She came armed with a pattern of which I would have never attempted on my own. It is in the Urban Sacs book by Sue Spargo. It was a challenge but we got them done.

Duffel Bags 1/19/12

Can you guess which one is mine???

Duffel 1/19/12

Lynne holding both of our bags and 'working'.

We put 'leather' on the bottom so there are no worries what you set your duffel on.

Last but not least I had to add the bling. I do live in Las Vegas.

Glass beads left over from my beading days.

I almost forgot the lining. There are so many layers of batting in it and it's so soft and thick nothing will be harmed while being transported in this bag. Thank you Lynne for kneeling on the cool deck and pounding the grommets in on the concrete.

With all the sewing gigs I am attending I can fill this up with project materials, throw it over my shoulder and be hands free to pull my other supplies that are on wheels.

Now it's time to cut fabric for my weekend project for my in town retreat starting tomorrow!

Thanks Lynne for the fun week. Happy sewing.

Why Do I Do These Kind?

I have been sewing, but mostly I have been organizing my already started projects and cleaning up for my friends visit on Sunday. We have a really cool project to work on while she is here and I will reveal what it is after she arrives and we start sewing. 


I know you have seen this one before but now all I have to do is sew the rows together. 

Pick Up Sticks  Jan. 2012

A friend let me borrow her Accuquilt Studio over Christmas break. She is a teacher and they have two weeks off so she went home to Michigan. I cut strips and squares and had a wonderful time. It really is as easy as they say and you can cut an entire project in no time. I needed to return it so I made her a zipper pouch to use when she goes to the gym as a little thank you.

Zipper Pouch Jan. 2012

I needed a break from cleaning my room so yesterday after reading a new book, Create Your Own Free-form Quilts by Rayna Gillman I got my old 'not motivated but want to sew' box of sewn together strips and made this!

Zipper Pouch  Jan. 2012

It started out as a journal cover but it was too big so I turned it into a zipper pouch. It was lined so that's why I couldn't just cut some off to fit the journal. Some of those sewn together strips were years old. You do look at them different when you haven't seen them for awhile. It needs more curves.

Have a great weekend.

Yikes, Scraps Everywhere

While I was in the east visiting my sister we found a sale that included some older pattern Marimekko shower curtains. Marimekko fabric has been a favorite of mine since my mom used to wear clothes made out of that fabric in the 70's. Some of their fabric is heavy cotton canvas but what I found is regular 100% cotton quilting weight for a very good price. A friend loaned me her Accuquilt Studio cutter and these were some of the scraps that were left over.

Marimekko shower curtains 2012

It is about 24"x 24" and I am trying to figure out if I should border it in black or not. I also need to figure out what I am going to do with it. Pillow or ??? Ideas are welcome.

Happy days!

My Pillow

Here is the pillow I received from Jan last night at our meeting. She does not quilt so she does her infamous hand stitching. It is so beautiful and these photos don't do it justice but I did my best.

MQG pillow from Jan 2011

All the pillows were so inspiring. The difference in everyone's ideas and executions were amazing.

MQG  mt pillow from Jan detail

Thanks again Jan, I love it.


I was checking some of the blogs I follow and ran across this quilters poem. It is worth checking it out.


I'm finding that other quilt bloggers are reviewing their 2011 accomplishments. Well I'm not going to do that, maybe next year. I have to learn how to do the mosaic photos first. I call my projects finished when the top is done. It really isn't until it has been quilted but since Mike retired early I'm going to have to get a job to pay to have them quilted. Until then I just stack them up!


See you next year!

Modern Quilt Guild Meeting

What a fun meeting. I am finally able to post about what I have been sewing on. We had a pillow exchange for the holiday season. Everyone picked out a fat quarter and gave it to the person that picked their name. Any special instructions were noted on the paper like colors, size etc. Zany Quilter is who I drew and we enjoy each others work so she was easy for me. Here is the pillow I made for her based on one of the fabrics in the pillow.

MQG Pillow Exchange 2011 for Zany Quilter

She wanted one of those 'long' ones so after redesigning numerous times I came up with this. It was fun to make and I am pleased with how it turned out. I put a zipper in it so it can be taken on and off for washing.

Zany Quilter pillow detail

I was a little concerned about the quilting because after about 6 inches it seemed a bit stiff. By the time I quilted the whole pillow it wasn't and I was relieved. I am so insecure about quilting my projects. I am afraid I will ruin my quilt with the quilting if I decide I don't like it.


Tomorrow I will post about the wonderful pillow I received. I want daylight to take photos because it is very detailed and deserves close ups. 


May the new year be filled with lots of fabric therapy and fun projects.

East Coast Project

I am not MIA but you probably think so since my last post was in early November. During this time I went to visit my son and DIL in Fort Collins Colorado and I am now back from my 12 day trip to my sisters in Connecticut. 


We went to Great Barrington Massachusetts to see my nephew. In another road trip we went through Massachusetts and New Hampshire on our way to Kennebunkport Maine. The Kennebunkport Inn was great and the food at the One Dock restaurant was to die for. Also saw the Atlantic Ocean with a full moon shinning above. What a great adventure. The days we were at home we worked on a project that was new to me and exciting. An upcycling project to make a pillow.

Upcycled Pillow December 2011

I was in charge of the sewing while my sister did the cutting. Never did count the pieces.

Hours of sewing pieces together.

Sewing, sewing, sewing, sewing, sewing!

Almost finished!

I spent the entire day sewing and the end result was a really fun pillow. I think it ended up being about 24" x 24".  It is very, very soft as you can tell by the fuzz. 

Being so carefree for the past 2 weeks with no guilt about not doing my projects was much needed but it is now time to get down to business and work on my 'to do' list. 

The family will be together for Christmas which I am always thankful for. Hope all of you will have a great holiday season and until next time, happy sewing. 

MQG Block Party

I purchased this fabric long after it was popular and I have been waiting for the right quilt for it. After I take all the white background fabrics out and add the fat quarters I bought I think there is plenty of variety to do the project I have in mind. Now all I have to do is figure out the easiest way to do this block. The way I figure out how to do it is probably not the way the experienced ladies in our group would do it!

from little things by Sarah Fielke

I think I have figured out how to do my block exchange block. It is different than any of the patterns I have seen because there isn't just one fabric going up the middle with white on the sides. Mine has white on the sides but the seam in the middle 'marries' two completely different strips. More of a scrappy look. 

MQG Block Exchange

I asked Cola at Made by Cola if she knew of any directions for this quilt and she directed me to Elizabeth's tutorial at Don't Call Me Betsy. She shows books but it is the same idea. I will be able to get some directions together in case someone is not familiar with this block.

Going to Fort Collins to see my son and DIL. Keep the machines busy until I return.