What are you working on?

One of my friends posed just that question on her blog last week.  She posts her What are you working on projects on Wednesday, but I already try to post Whip it Up Wednesdays or Wordless Wednesday, I just don't need another Wednesday.  So I thought it would be nice to share what I'm working on before the weekend starts, then next week I can share what I accomplished over the weekend.  It seems to work in my head anyway, we will see how it works here. 

So for this week I've been busy.  Last weekend my husband and I went out antiquing.  I was looking for some fun items to make into pin cushions.  I found several vintage perfume decanters, with the cutest little bobble lids.  And some white vases. Immediately I had the perfect idea.  So I've been working on these.  Totally re purposed, and so much fun!  I'll show you Monday. 

 

Next, is my sewing machine cover.  I pieced this then did most of the hand sewn binding while driving to West Virginia.  I just have one little piece to finish.  But I've been using it.  Really does help to keep the dust off my machine.  I need to make another now for my serger. 

 

 

 I also completed these card kit swaps for a Christmas in July card kit swap over at Split Coast Stampers.  I had so much fun putting together both traditional and non traditional colored kits. I can't wait to see the cards with the lavender and Christmas tree.  I'm thinking they will be stunning. 

 

 

 And lastly I participated in the virtual quilt retreat on the Quilting Board forum.  Carolyn did a fabulous job putting together the directions for a braided table runner.  I took a little break to travel with Ashlyn this week so I'll be working on this today. The center block is my first Dresden. It took me a bit to figure it out, but now that I know how to do them it will go so much smoother.  It really does give you a new perspective as to how they used to hand sew everything.  I will cherish every hand made quilt I own! I truly know the labor of love that went into them.

 

 

I just love the bright colors, I can't wait to see how it turns out. 

 Hopefully I'll be able to finish this this week as well. 

 

I also wanted to invite you to join the Pincushion and Pin Book swap on QuiltingBoard.com.  You can make either or both and you will get the same in return.  They also do Secret Pal swaps, I just joined my first one HERE. 

I just love getting swap packages in the mail, hope you consider joining. 

Would love to see what you make :)

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend!

 

My first quilt!

I know it's been a while since I've posted, 25 days to be exact. My friend Pam called to tell me to get  blogging, so here I am!   Life just sometimes gets in the way, and honestly I need to get taking more pics so I can post more.  I know that there are projects here just waiting for some attention.  What have we been doing, it sure seems like a lot.... my husband has started a new job and I have been able to do some traveling with him while he trains for his new position. it's been nice getting some pre- summer swims in in the hotel pools. And we found 2 awesome Mexican restaurants during our travels. Weekends we spend getting caught up around the house, we mulched, planed a new tree, blueberry bushes and of course mow the dandelions twice a week already!
I did manage to stay creative during our adventures and was able to finish my first quilt. I have to thank the Rose of Sharin Quilt shop in Danville PA for being such a wonderful shop to spend a few nights learning the fine art of quilting, I took a 2 night class and it was so helpful to learn the basics of rotary cutting as well as the very useful unsewing technique. (doesn't that sound so much nicer then seam ripping) I chose a very pretty fabric from The Buggy Barn for the quilt, the star pillow is a Basic Grey pattern and the big pillow is just one I made up with the scraps.  It's huge!  I had to make my own pillow form because I couldn't find one big enough. I was also lucky enough to get a new quilting sewing machine, it is heavenly to sew with!  It's a Janome QC 4800. It does all kinds of fancy stuff.  I just have to learn how to use it all! 

I'm looking forward to my next quilting project. 

Thanks for stopping by:) 

Moda Mini Tote with fabric flower

Yesterday I received some happy mail! Woohoo! I love trying new crafts. I picked up some Nastalgia fabric squares by Moda on ebay and thought I would recreate a small tote I saw on Michelle Woodersons blog. http://michellewooderson.blogspot.com/ I'm really new to sewing so I turned to the internet for help.....Oh what yummy goodies you can find on the net. Here is what I came up with today and thought I would take you along on my journey.

Click on photos for larger picture.

First I sewed 4 5" squares together for the base fabric. (Isn't it pretty!)I pressed my seams so they lay nicely. (this is the most I've used my iron in a long time!)


*if you want a sturdier bag you can apply fusable backing. I've never tried it but I see alot of sights recomending it for totes.

Sew around the sides and bottom of your fabric square, right sides together.

Square corners and mark 1.5" squares on both sides of the bottom of your fabric.

Square corners and sew across pencil line.


Cut away remaining corner fabric. (it's so easy and makes for a very nice bottom of your bag)


I chose a slightly sturdier lining in a matching color. Cut your lining on the seam fold with the fold being the bottom of your bag.

Sew the sides of your lining and press.

Mark corners with a 1.5" square, square, sew and cut away remaining fabric as above.

Here is where you decide if you want your handles to be attached to the inside or the outside of your bag. If you want them sewn in the liner position and pin on the wrong side of lining.

Place the liner seams together in the front of bag. Seams together. Pin in place and sew around the top leaving a 1.5" hole to turn.

Turn fabric out and you have the base of your bag.

Handles~ I used the same fabric as I did for the lining and cut 1.5" X 20" strips. Place wrong sides together and sew around the long sides and one end. Turn straps and finish end. I use a dow to help turn my handles. This is the hardest part of the tote.

Sew handles on the bag if you did not sew them in the seam earlier.

I finished my bag with a fabric flowers made with 5 3" squares of fabric.

Press wrong sides together for form 5 triangles.

Then stitch (you can use a machine but I like how the hand stitches looked) around the open sides of triangles, pull to bunch fabric and then attach the next triangle until you have all 5 together.

I hand stitched my flower to my tote and added a vintage button. PTI vintage buttons can be found here http://www.papertreyink.com/pm_buttons.html

This is my finished tote.