Lots of Photos...

It is such a pleasure to have me Mum and sister Julie here. Wednesdays are my day to have Mum here at my place.  I rather enjoy those days...just being with me Mum.  Usually sitting and chatting...though she has been helping me out by sorting my scraps into similar color groupings.

On Saturdays, we've been getting together to play cards and have lunch...that is, we three sisters with Mum.  And, it's fun to drop in on them now and then...yesterday I dropped in to give them a loaf of Chocolate Chip Banana Bread I had baked (and that I certainly did not need to eat).  

I made a list of small projects that I really need to finish before I begin another large one.  I have a few pillow covers to make, dresses for the "Dressed for Joy" group on Facebook (click here), my niece's t-shirt quilt (only quilting and binding to do for a finish), and stuff like that.  

I have finished a few things since my last post.  In no particular order, here they are.

I made a pillow cover - yes, another one! - and this one matches the yellow and gray HST string quilt that I guess I never blogged about.  Well, here is the flimsy...

And, here is the pillow cover...

More napkins.  These are 13", which I consider luncheon/dessert size...and, yes.  One is smaller.  I either measured or cut incorrectly...but aren't they pretty?

Sister Julie wanted a tote bag for her gym visits...

I put 3 pockets inside for keys, phone and whatever else she wants, plus an elastic loop for her water bottle...

This Simple Zipper Bag was a free pattern from the Fat Quarter Shop and A Quilting Life.  Go here for the video tutorial...

I do not have an apron...can you believe that?  Actually, I made one using a pizza slices fabric, but then I gave it to my niece.  And, I never made another one...until now.  I used some linen I had no special plan for to make myself a bistro apron.  Nothing fancy, just a straight apron with a tie.  This is it, all folded up...

While getting the linen out for the apron, I spied two small pieces that were big enough for napkins.  Making napkins is pretty relaxing for me...and I wanted to try something new.  I used decorative stitches for the hems.  I need to figure out the corners better before I do any that I would give away, but I am happy with these for myself...

  
I have not forgotten about my hexagons.  I have been adding to one and I think I will need to attach it to something...

I made heart blocks using this tutorial to donate to the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild for their Quilts for Pulse Drive...

  

Just for something fun, I made myself a pincushion using the pattern and supplies from the Project Sweetwater Volume II box I received in April.  It was quick and fun and measures about 2x2x3 inches...

And, last but not least, I made a pillow cover for sister Julie.  She did the embroidery work and I added fabric strips to make this 18" pillow cover.  (I have another one to finish that is a mate to this one. Different colors, but same type of needlework.)  

That's what I have been up to...how about you?




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Getting It Done...

It's been a busy time getting me Mum and sister settled in their new place.  It's going as well as can be expected.  Some parts of unpacking are more fun than others.  I truly enjoy unpacking the kitchen. Filling the walls with pictures, etc. is also enjoyable. However, going through boxes and trying to decide what one has room for and what must stay packed or gotten rid of (in one manner or another) is not so much fun.  But, we're pushing through it.

In the meantime, I finished this table topper for Mum...

A few years ago, I finished a quilt for my friend, Loretta.  In return, she gifted me with a charm pack and some yardage of Nature's Basket by Blackbird Designs for Moda.  (Thanks, Loretta!)  This table topper is what I did with it.  Finally.  It is perfect for their small table, especially with the ceramic bowl that Julie gave Mum several years ago. 

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Here's a photo from Mother's Day...isn't me Mum beautiful?

Hope your weekend is good!



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Family and More...

It has been a busy week.  Me Mum and sister arrived in Canon City on Tuesday!  We are so excited!  Jill and I had found a very nice duplex for them and we had the truck unloaded when they arrived. It all worked out so well.  Less stress than it could have been, for sure.    

Not sure if you knew, but me Mum - who is 85 years old - has Parkinson's Disease. She does very well with it, but does require help and cannot live alone.  Julie has lived with Mum for almost 4 years...Jill and I are very happy that they live here so that we will be able to help with Mum.  

Tomorrow is Mother's Day!  It has been several years since Mum has had more than one or two (of the 4 of us) with her on that special day.  We are looking forward to celebrating together.  

I have not had much time with Naomi Janome, but I did manage to make what I had originally planned to be a mini quilt into a pillow cover.  Cuz, you know how much I love pillows!  It's the envelope pattern by Carolyn Friedlander.  I rather enjoy paper piecing, and need to do more of it.  The fabric is Doglandia by Peter Horjus.  I have made other pillow covers and cloth napkins with this fabric...seen here and here.

Speaking of paper-piecing.  I have not done anything with my wonderful little hexies.  Trying to decide what to do with them...several options are available.  

I have been slowly working on a t-shirt quilt for my niece, Jody. She is a very patient woman...I say that because this should have been done a year ago.  But, with the move and all...well, it just wasn't happening. BUT...I now have all of the t-shirts interfaced and cut to size and I am beginning to cut/sew the filler strips.  It's going to take concentration and planning...which I am not in huge supply of. However, my plan is to have it done in time for Jody when she comes for a visit in late July. 

In other news...I am still putting my apartment together.  I got some barn siding boards a few months ago.  I needed to sand them down somewhat, otherwise the paint would flake off and they would be difficult to dust.  So, I sanded them down and put 2 coats of sealer on them.  I found the perfect iron brackets and got the long shelves put up this past week.  

Here is what I have on the living room shelf thus far...it will primarily be for family photos.  The shelf is 6.5 ft. long...  

So far, the 4 ft. long dining area shelf looks like this...    

Well, I think that is about all that is going on with me.  

Have a great weekend.  






"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

In Love...

I have been working with my addiction.

Those hexies, you know.

I have made all that I am going to with

the Vintage Happy fabrics.

Am now putting them together to make little hexie flowers.

Like this...

5 done, 4 to go.

I have said it before...will say it again.  
I am in love.

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In 6 days, me Mum and Julie will arrive in Canon City.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

I Am An Addict...

In my last post, I showed you a completed sewing organizer that I made for my hexie-making project.  

Well.  I started making hexagons last night and I have to tell you...making them is not only simple and relaxing, but also very addictive!!  

Which is not necessarily a bad thing.  Right?

Don't you think these 1" hexies are cute?  

 
I will keep you posted on how this project is coming along...and on my addiction.




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Finished!!!

It's been a good week in the sewing room.  Naomi Janome and I have been keeping close company.

First up is the sewing organizer I finished last night.  The pattern is by my friend, Donna, and can be found on the Craftsy website here.  I had been planning to purchase it for some time...finally got around to it and knew I wanted to use my Kashmir III fabrics.  If you will recall, I used Kashmir III to make two quilts...here and here. 

Front.  I used selvages for the ties.  I made them long enough
to wrap all around the organizer, which was different than the pattern.

Back.

I changed the inside a bit to be more what I needed.
The twill measuring tape makes me smile.  

As usual, I am coming very late to the party, but I am going to start making some projects with hexagons.  This organizer was made with that in mind...the perfect portable project to work on when I am spending time with me Mum.

YES!  Only 12 days until me Mum arrives!  The time is coming quickly...soooo excited!  

And, I have been making napkins...

Set of 4.

Separates.

   

Set of 4.

It's such a good way to use up fabric pieces that I know I won't use for anything else. 

My LQS is sponsoring a program called Quilts 4 Paws...asking for donations of kennel quilt pallets. There are general specifications to follow in making them...and will go to the dogs and cats of the shelter here and others in the state.  I  think I am going to jump on that wagon...what a good cause, hey?  

Have a great day!



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Happy Mail Day!

Yesterday was a fun day at the mailbox.  I got my Project Sweetwater Volume II box!  "What is that", you ask?  Well, click here to see what the Sweetwater crew is doing...it is so fun!  They have offered 3 thus far...First Crush, Cookie Exchange and Volume II.  I got in on the last one.    

This is the one that they are offering right now...Sweetwater Solids.  


So.  Here is what came in my box...

6 patterns

1 charm pack

10 fat quarters

1 cup to cover

1 SEW charm

1 pouch with 2 mini Hershey bars

1 page of iron-on transfers

1 subway art print

1 zipper

1 twill tape on a clothespin

 plus heat-bond and a small piece of felt

Isn't that fun?  So excited!!!  Go here to see the projects to be made with these goodies.

Here's the thing...I decided that I really cannot make any more quilts.  At least, until I finish all the flimsies listed on my sidebar...YIKES!

In other news...it is only 18 more days until me Mum and sister Julie arrive and move into their place.  Jill and I found them a nice place to live.

Well, there is fabric waiting to be cut and in-progress things waiting to be sewn.  I best be off to get something done before I go off to play cards!

Happy Weekend to you all!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Not Too Much Goin' On Here...

Well, I see my plans to post more often didn't work out so well. Gosh.  I will try harder.  Promise.  

In 22 days, me Mum and sister will be here.  YAY!  We found them a very nice duplex to move into that's not too far away. Course, here in Canon City, nothing is too far away.  But, you know what I mean...not too close and not too far.  I will keep you updated on this exciting event!

I have not been real busy in the sewing room.  A lot of thinking and deciding and planning and reorganizing, but not much sewing.  I have been spending time reading and playing cards, though. 

In fact, I spent most of yesterday reading.  That's all I did.  Read. Well, I did make a few meals and do the dishes.  But, I gave myself permission to have a full day off.  No thinking or planning or making decisions of any kind.  It was a lovely day.  

I did finish a few things in these last few weeks...

A little zippy pouch with a lanyard (ya know, around the neck instead of a wrist strap) for Princess Kaylynn.  Her birthday is coming up (11 years old...ohmy!) and I am just sending her Christmas gift (the quilt I showed in a previous post).

And, three more earbud cases for sister Joyce to sell.

I worked on a small project, but got nowhere with it.  Loving this fabric, though.

Kind of exciting...a local bakery owner asked if I would make aprons for her little shop.  I made a few (sorry, no photos of them), but decided to not do more.  

So.  That's all I have to show you.  

How about you?  What have you been busy with?    




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

In My Next Life...

I am going to be a pillow (cover) maker.  

I love pillows.

I love looking at them.

I love using them.

I love stacking them.

the somewhat leaning tower of pillows

I love sewing them.

I love pillows.

I may be addicted.  

(I say that because I have made 16 pillow covers in the last 12 months...

most of them since I moved here to Colorado 6 months ago.)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

To Honor All the Chocolate Labs I Have Loved...

I received a gift in the mail today.

For me.  From me.

Commissioned by me.

A mug mat with a friendship star block.

And the head of a brown dog.

Made by Donna

(who was first mentioned here).

A machine embroidered headstudy 

of a Chocolate Labrador.

Not (just) Tag.

All of the brown dogs I have loved...

Dutch, Tucker, Jigs, and Tag.

The workmanship on this is excellent.

Superb, really.

Donna worked very hard to ensure

that everything was perfect.

She did an outstanding job.

I love this.

I love her.

I am blessed.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Show and Tell...

Today is all about catching you up on my projects.

Ready?  But first...

A beautiful sunrise.

Okay, so here we go...

a 

Two 10" lined cloth napkins for sister Jill.

Pink floral fabrics bunting for my dear Aunt Bev.

2Hearts small table runner for dear friend, Lindy.

Table topper made for Lindy,

Brenis came for a visit!!  We had a great time and actually started a project!

Brens quilted this for me...fabulous job!!

How fun is that quilting!!

closeup front

closeup back

square earbud cases

Yet another pillow cover...note the side ties.

Quilt top done...project begun with Brenis...she cut the strips and got me started.

And, that's basically it.  A few other projects have been started...will show you when they are completed.

Big news...me Mum and sister Julie are moving here.  I am very excited about this.  It will be great for me Mum to be in the same place as 3 of her daughters.  It has been more than 25 years since I moved away, and I am so looking forward to spending time with her.

I have been really lax at posting on my blog.  I considered discontinuing, but decided that I really wanted the documentation of my projects...and I know there are some of my readers who are not on Facebook (not that I post a lot on there, though, either).  So, I will continue...and will try to be more regular.

In the meantime, have a great week.



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11