Box arrived

A box arrived and it was filled with little dolls quilts from the HGTV Message Board gals.  Such treasures!
And there are so many creative ideas to be found in these little quilts made for the Get Your Mrs. Claus On project.  I want to share just a few of them.
   Karibbean Quilter made this cute little strip quilt---very simple and great color choices----and added a single butterfly applique in the corner.  So special and a great idea for later use.

Pinwheels and cows!  This is such a happy little quilt.  Now I know what to do with all the extra pinwheels I have from my last scrap quilt project! The cow fabric makes this one so much fun.  It is from the great state of Nebraska.

From New Mexico.....embroidered blocks of sun bonnet Sue and 9 patch blocks.  These blocks are machine embroidered in a beautiful blue.   A really cute combination.  This Mrs. Claus  used a decorative stitch for the quilting in the border.  Great idea!

  Did I say 9 patch and quilting?  This cheerful yellow 9 patch is hand quilted!  It is so beautiful.  It is from Mrs. Claus from Wyoming.  A little girl is going to love and treasure this one.








 

And the labels.....all labeled with the state that it represents.  Hand written, embroidered, computer printed, printed on ribbon, appliqued, sewn in.....great ideas in this variety of small  quilt labels.




There are a lot more ideas to uncover here.....so I will be sharing those along the way as I get extra  photos taken.  Thank you ladies for your caring sharing hearts and hands and all the creative inspiration you bring to the world of quilting.  Happy stitching.

Who's done the bag?

  I had lots of requests for the "trashcan bag".....don't you love that tag line?   My delight is to promote and feature a couple of gals who made quick work of this project.  Dim the lights.  Here are the results.
  This is Miriam's bag out of batiks, and her finishing touch of a large fold over closure and beautiful button.  Look close and you can see that she just sewed the short lengths together in places to get a long enough strip.  It looks so good, you would think she planned it that way!  Super neat bag, Miriam....I'm proud of you.

  And this is Mary's version....same pattern, again using batiks, but such a difference the fabric choice makes.  This is so beautiful and just feels like spring time.  Mary comments that  "Everyone who sees my bag just loves it!"  
  I told her to beware that someone might try to buy or beg it from her.
  But wait............there's more from her.

  Mary went to her stash of leftover floral strips from a watercolor project and put together another one!  There are some great floral fabrics here, and it turned out so pretty.   The colors are so vibrant and look like a flower show.   Super job, and thank you so much for letting me show your bag photos.  And thank you both for completing the project.....it makes the effort so worthwhile to see such wonderful finishes.
   Sir Old Man came down with the bad virus today....I have to go pick up his medicine.  No sewing today, just a little design time on a watercolor.  I get a lot of requests to do another watercolor.....aren't you tired of seeing them?  I do sometimes feel like a broken record as I talk about value and color  all the time.  
So have to check on the patient.  Happy stitching.  

Interruption in plans

    I worked hard yesterday afternoon to be caught up on laundry and stuff so I could sew all day.  NOT... without power I don't!    Early this morning the work crew clearing a lot down the street from us pulled out a dead tree and it flipped over into the power lines.  Ugh!  Do those guys know how annoying this interruption is? So instead I pulled out books, looked for inspiration, sorted fabrics for a water color, cooked burgers on the grill for lunch, and read a bit.
   Sweet relief...... 6 hours later and the power has returned.  This put me in the state of mind of how dependent I am on electricity---do I need a treadle machine?--- and take it so much for granted.   How much else do I take for granted?

Insight:  I like to think of myself as a giver, but selfish pride does lurk within me.  A great idea grows when you share it.  A great person is made greater though their giving.  


  I cranked up the computer---luckily  Sir Old Man has a good backup power supply for me, so no damage or problem---and read Leah's post today   about her ideas on copyright.   She kicked me a bit, but I agreed with what she said.  Read it if you dare.
  So my point to all this rambling is about the tutorial on the batting scrap bag I made last month.  I created a 2 part pdf for this bag for a class  at Learningfa yahoo group.  The class went out this weekend and has been completed by at least one, so I know it was detailed enough.  If you are a follower---I am not sending it to the world--- and would like the bag PDF, email me......not  just a comment....see the side bar contact.  I will send you the 2 part class, which includes lots of photos and instructions for sizing and completing this tote.  Once the basic is done you can add your own details--ideas included but not directions--- of extra pockets or zipper closure if you want.
  What do I want back?  Photos of your bag that I can post and share.
 Happy stitching! 

March ending

  March came in like a lamb and went  out with a roar......of hail storms last night.  Not just once, or twice, but three times the rain and hail came.  It cleared the air  at least, and no damage that we can see.
  We had a wonderful celebration day with our April Fool birthday girl and son in law.  We hit the book store, yarn shop, and lunch at the Brick Street Cafe, where the waiter crooned "Happy Birthday" to Deana.  She hated it but endured anyway.  

  Here's the rest of the kitchen towels and snack mats, and mug rugs I trimmed out for her.  Yep, she thought they were  perfect for her kitchen.  
This project turned out so cute that I'm thinking I need a few new towels myself.
  I am working on the pinwheels for the border of the scrap quilt.....finally!   For some reason I have gotten bored with this one and I am ready to be done with it.  So I don't think I will start a second one as planned.
   At this stage of life and such, I want to invest my time, effort and ability in projects that really spark me.  That means either they are quick and easy, or really have the design element I like.  Will have to see what calls out to me next.  So....happy birthday to our girl, happy April Fool's Day, and happy stitching.
  

I came up for air....

And found this waiting for me.
Sir Old Man did good.  No roses for this bride 37 years ago.   And I thought he did not remember.

Design wall time

  I got the blocks up on the design and realized in a very senior moment that I mis-counted.  I am 4 blocks short!   That's OK, I have lots more strips to work with.   So this is what I have so far.     The top and bottom will have a row of the extra pinwheels added to get the length I want for this one.
 

  Hand sewing is just not my thing any more.  So it took a couple of evenings to get the sleeves and labels on the wall hangings.  .
  I  also want to get a bed runner put together  for the  Free Motion Quilting Challenge.    I  wanted  a good  way to put a lot of different quilting motifs in one item.   And that means it needs to be fairly plain and simple for the stitching to show well.
  So off to the sewing room.....I may not come up for air till the 4 blocks are finished.
Happy stitching.  

Festival of Scrappiness

   You know that when you open your scrap box /bin to make a scrap quilt that those pesky scraps are going to multiply, don't you?  It is the gotcha factor, so you can't make just one!  This coin quilt is a prime example. As long as the strip was 6 inches long, in it went.     This quilt was donated to my guild for the Habitat for Humanity  project.  We donate a quilt for each family member when they move into their new home.  It's a win-win deal.....we use up lots of scraps and the families love their quilts.  

But wait....what about the strip pieces that are only 5 inches long?  Too much to throw away.....so a smaller version became a doll quilt.  And I used this one as a practice piece for the Free Motion Quilting Challenge...lots of heart shaped leaves.   The doll quilt is for the Get Your Mrs. Claus On for 2011.  The Greenville Woodworkers Guild  make toys for area children's charities and organizations.  Last year all the girl's toys---beds, cradle, and strollers---had a doll quilt included.  It was a huge success and donations are coming in for 2012.  

     What about squares?  I have lots and lots of 2" squares because I do a lot of watercolor quilts too.  This is the latest one....from the square scrap bins.  This is Awakening II.   Note the border fabric....the same as used in the coin quilt and doll quilt.  Three yard of this "scrap" fabric was gifted to me, and I am doing all I can to use it up.

 So, I am re-showing the coin quilt because I am joining in the Festival of Scrappiness at Stitched in Color .  Lots of very neat quilts to view, and I do hope you will jump over and check them out.
Happy stitching.