I can not find anything

Really. I can't. In my last post I told you about the painting that was in progress. Somehow that spiraled into a kitchen reno as well. Right now my stove is in the dining room. My fridge is in the middle of the kitchen floor.(at least it is functional) I have a kitchen sink but it isn't connected to a drain or water so dishes are being done in the bath tub. My kitchen 'stuff' is all over the living and dining rooms.
On the lower level, my sewing room is half in the family room and half in the laundry room. So sewing is a bit of a challenge right now. (I know where my camera is, but I can not get at it right now, so I can't show you the mess). My garage is, well lets just say you couldn't park a matchbook car in there right now.

Just to add to the general chaos, the painter couldn't come all week because his children were on spring break and he needed to be home when his wife went to work. The tile guy couldn't come because he had another job. So no progress this week at all.

Just to round out the week, my hubby got let go at work last night.

Thanks, just needed to vent a bit. I am done now.
Hope your week was better.
happy stitching

The rest of the charm projects

I am so slow at getting things posted lately. The DH decided that we need the house painted. So he got a painter. Of course I did not want to do it right now, but it is in progress. DH does not think anything needs to be moved for the painter so I have moved all the breakables and the "stuff". As well as the furniture. Between all the shifting of stuff around the house and work I feel like I am not getting anything done.
Before the presentation and demo of the charm projects I usually show a couple of shop samples or quilts I have made that are not really part of the demo. I was telling the boss about this wall hanging and she ordered the pattern . What I like about it is that it needs only one charm pack, minimal cutting, easy piecing, AND there are other applique patterns included so you can do the hearts, a star, or a flower for different seasons.

Does anyone else have those plastic bags hanging on a door knob somewhere in their house? I do. In my kitchen. Not pretty. When I saw this cute dispenser on the Moda Bake Shop, I had to make it. 16 charms, a bit of fabric for the top and bottom and some elastic. Bam....pretty bag holder.

One charm pack will make two of these coupon clutches. They are so easy to do and great for organizing those coupons. Or you could use it for your electronics that you can't leave at home. Or an on the go sewing bag with your thread, needles, etc.

I think this might be my favorite of this set of projects. The French memo board. Mine is in a frame, but I  think you could do it without the frame too. You use a foam core board and cork squares glued together. Piece your fabric, fuse two layers of fusible fleece on the back of the fabric. The ribbon just lay over the seams and sew a button where the ribbons intersect. You have a french memo board and a cork board in one.

This quilt is the same as the one I made for DD's friend's baby. A simple four patch with plain alternate square. This one has minkee on the back. Super soft and cuddly.

Hope everyone had a happy National Quilting Day. I actually got to get some sewing done.
Happy Stitching

I'm baaaack

Not sure where I was. Not sure where the last couple of months went. I think I worked on things, but I don't think I got much finished. Must be that winter blahhh.

Without further rambling, here are some things that I did finish. I saw this adorable set in a magazine when I went to Portland for the wedding last fall. I just had to make them for my DD's friend's baby boy. It is a Panda bear hat and mittens. I had a little ooops with the hat. I knit the hat. Knit the ears. Put the ears on the hat. Crooked and in the wrong place. Snipped them off carefully. Put one ear back on and looked at hat. I didn't like the placement so I started to snip the ears off again. Cut right through the hat.
Being frustrated and not sure how to fix a hole that big, I tossed it and started again.  I am happy with it now.

Last week the pre-cuts club started again. This 3 month session I am doing charm squares.
I started small, coasters, plain and appliqued.

I found these ornaments on Moda Bake shop and I had to try them.  I did Halloween, Christmas , and Valentine's day. This is an easy, fun project to do with kids, or even with quilt buddies. It is a bit messy so be prepared.  Just use Mod- Podge to put fabric on Styrofoam balls then put another coat of Mod- Podge. Let them dry over night. Coat with a clear coat. Some wire for a hanger....done.

This is a casserole carrier also from the Moda Bake Shop. It was fun to do. I think I might be making more of these for those Pot Luck lunches the guild does.  Just some charm squares and a bit of fabric.
Wouldn't it be a cute shower gift with a couple of potholders?

I made this little table runner from the book Country Threads Goes to Charm School. I love that book. I love charm packs. LOL These are half hexies. There were just a few left over charms from this pack and it was enough for this little runner.

The rest of the charm projects in the next post.
Happy stitching

APQ block swap top

Between Christmas and New Year I worked on hand blanket stitching the applique on my top. My pieced borders are on. The final border is on. It is a top!!! Now I need to figure out how to quilt it. I have to say that it was so much fun to look at all the blocks again and see every one's names. It felt like a big hug . I really have to get it done so I can snuggle under it.

I also finished this baby sweater and hat. The yarn was hanging out in that closet way too long. The picture is not good, but hopefully you get the idea. It has been really bad picture taking weather.

You saw this quilt a long time ago when I put these panels together:

Now I am working on the last section of this quilt top. The reason I am so slow working on this is these:

I have to hand piece them because I just couldn't get them right on the machine. I normally like to do hand work, but I guess this much fussiness isn't my thing cause I am still trying to get it done. I just have to piece 5 tumbling blocks together and then the rest of this panel can go together. and it can be added to panel #4. Then two of those panels get a section that is done added to the bottom of them. Then I can add the whole mess section to the rest and have the top done!

Current status

Wish me luck. I really have a goal for this to be a top by the end of the month.
Happy stitching

I can't believe I forgot

I was trying to get purses done for my DDs for Christmas. One was finished because I presented it at the Precut club at the shop. The other one just wasn't coming together.First I couldn't find the canvas I had when I made the same bag for DD#1. Then I decided the fabric I had just didn't work for this bag.
I managed to get more fabric. (Surprise) And to another store for more canvas. Then I just ran out of time.

I decided to finish the bag between Christmas and New Year and surprise both of them for New Years. I got the bag done. I put them in my sewing room closet where I couldn't possibly miss them. I missed them. DD#2 is back in L.A. and both bags are still in the closet. Maybe I should just save them for Valentine's day. What do you think?

The first bag I saw when a customer came in to the shop with one that she had made. The boss talked about looking for the pattern, but with all that was happening in the shop that did not happen. I saw the pattern on a shop hop and bought it. It is The Trixie Bag by purse strings. I took it in and it was ordered for the shop. At the same time we got in our first shipment of Kaffe fabrics. PERFECT. Here is the bag I made.

The second bag I made for DD#1 last year. This year DD#2 asked me if I could make her one like it.
It is an Amy Butler pattern, favorite clutch. It was published in American Patchwork and Quilting December 2005. I went over to see if it on the APQ site as a free pattern, but it isn't there.
Anyway, here it is, my version, minus the pin or button to embellish the flap.

Happy stitching.

UFO weekend

Over the weekend I participated in a UFO week end on Pat Sloan's forum. There was a lot of  sewing going on. I decided to work on binding a stack of quilts that have been waiting to have the bindings hand sewn for quite a while. Some of them languished as tops for quite a while too.
I am hoping to get some of those tops quilted this year. I am also hoping to work on some of the many kits, collections, and bundles that I have stashed in one of my bulging closets. Notice I said hope, cause I always have good intentions, but there are sew many distractions. What's a girl to do???
At least I started the year with some finishes. And here they are with bindings done. I think most of them will be gifted. I am running out of room. First up Santa, a Thimbleberries pattern.

Amish buggy mini

Thimbleberries wreath

Charm square table topper

Charm square tabletopper



BOM from Handcock



Red Hats started for my friend

Another charm square table topper

Baby quilt started over a year ago.

My week end finishes. My fingers are tired. Think I will do something else today. ;)
Happy stitching

Happy 2012

Saying good-bye to 2011 made me remember all that happened during the year. Some happy and some sad. Through all of it I felt like I had some wonderful friends here in blogland. I am grateful for the support and encouragement. Thank you everyone.

That said I wish you all a Happy, Healthy, New Year filled with family, friends, and quilty fun.
Cheers ;)