Done!

Finally! My two little quilts are done and it's nice outside to take pictures of them. First off is my Candy Hearts Quilt.

I just love this quilt! So cute and fun and just amazing to look at. Amazing to me because I made it and it's so cute!

This is what the backing looks like.

Fun and colorful! And here's a close-up of the hearts. After you finish the quilt you wash it and the unfinished edges of the hearts fray.

I'm so in love with this quilt. Can't stop looking at it. I did some machine quilting on it and I tied it in other parts.

The Schnibbles quilt is also done. So colorful!

I love colorful backs on quilts. Couldn't resist buying this fabric for the backing.

Haven't decided on my next quilt yet. But my brain never stops thinking, planning, looking for that next quilt pattern, fabric, charm squares, thread. It never ends.

I'm actually going to make a skirt. I haven't sewed any garments for myself besides jammies in ages. I'm looking forward to this. I have the pattern. I have some fabrics. I can't decide which ones to use, can't decide whether to make the long or the short skirt first. I need to buy more fabrics to supplement either one.

Decisions, decisions. Maybe I'll get enough fabric for both. I hate when I can't decide, but I better decide soon before the fabric isn't on sale any more.

Wild windy day

A wild windy Saturday today. Wow! Windy, cold, rainy, and did I say windy? A good day to stay inside and work on crafts, and pray the power doesn't go out.

The totebag I was making for my mom for Mothers Day is done. I love it!

Have to guard this totebag so my sister doesn't steal it, lol!

Here's a closeup of the prairie points and covered buttons.

I will definitely make this again. It was a very fun project, and I learned some new things. I found the pattern in the current issue of Quilts & More, my favorite magazine.

Had craft night at my house last night. Always a very fun night! I made a scissors fob for my aunt. She's always sending me little gifts and notes and cards, so I wanted to make her something. She loves cupcakes.

And look what I bought! A cross stitch kit.

I used to cross stitch all the time but it got pushed aside when I learned to knit. I found this kit not too long ago and just had to have it. Purses in a purse! It's so me. I love bags. This will be a good summer project. Sometimes I don't want to knit in the summer, yarn just feels too hot to touch when it's hot outside.

I'm off to do some crafting. Have a great weekend!

One can never have enough calico

It's Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along Block time again. I got the most recent one done today.

I thought I'd screw this up and have to rip some out, but I didn't. It all went together as it's supposed to. That's five blocks done now.

Yesterday I worked on something I haven't done in ages. I made some covered buttons! I forgot how sore my fingers get when doing that, but they turned out really cute.

They are going to be sewed onto that totebag I'm making my mom. They are just decorational (is that a word?), not functional. I'm glad there were only three of them. More than that and I may not have had any fingertips left.

Friday, finally!

TGIF! Let the weekend begin!

Been busy sewing some more and finally took more pictures. First off this little bag. I got the pattern from Lazy Girl designs. Such cute stuff they have. It was free too!

All folded up, nice and neat. And it unfolds into this:

A fun little project. Didn't take long at all. And I'm so in love with that pansy fabric. Bought it on vacation last year.

I made another notebook cover. This time for my daughter.

This one turned out much better.

And yes, I do still knit. It just takes so long to finish a project so you don't see much knitting on here. I'm still working on that lacy shawl. It's in timeout because I keep making mistakes and have to rip back to the lifelines. I did start a sock and did a picot edge on it.

That was my first time doing a picot edge and it turned out! I love it.

I've made so many bags in the last few months. They are really stacking up, didn't know where to put them. I found these bird hooks at Joann's, on clearance for $2.97 each and hung them on the wall.

I love them! Now my bags can hang neatly on the hooks instead of on doorknobs.

Next up is the little quilt from Moda Bakeshop. I have it all cut out and hope to start sewing it this weekend.

More sewing

I'm still having a blast with my sewing machine! I just can't stop. I did get the Downy Quilts for Kids quilt done. It's so cute. I hope it gives comfort to a sick child.

Might have to make another one in the future. It was a fun project.

I found the cutest pattern for making notebook covers! I made one over the weekend. I don't really like how the patchwork turned out but I love the cover. I have another one cut out. I've learned from my mistakes and the patchwork should be much better on the next one.

It even has an inside pocket for pencils and things!

That was also a fun project.

The new block pattern came out this week for the Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along. I got mine done.

That's four blocks so far.

And I'm itching to start a new quilt. I found a really cute pattern at the Moda Bakeshop. The charm square pack I ordered from an etsy seller to make it with came in the mail today.

Isn't that fabric cute! I can't wait to get started. It's for a quilt called Candy Hearts Quilt. I'm going to cut the hearts out tonight.

A little sewing, a little knitting

I finally got my Schnibble quilt pinned together and quilted on the sewing machine.

It's a manageable size that I could quilt it on the machine. Took some maneuvering at times, but I got it done. What a busy looking sewing area. Does yours get as messy as mine when you sew? I love having a window by my machine. It lets a lot of light in.

And the quilting is now done and the binding is on. Yay! All I have to do is sew down the binding and it will be done. I will be using it as a wall hanging.

Ooops, looks like I missed trimming some small thread ends. That will get done as I go along.

I've also been working on the watermelon house socks and they are done. What a fun knit this was! Love the colors.

Can't wait to give them to my daughter. Hope she likes them and they fit.

And look at the cute little tin I bought at Joann's! I just love this owl!

I'm using it to store my quilting safety pins. Only $1 at Joann's. Go get one! My sister has one too. We love our owl tins. My daughter is also getting one but she doesn't know it yet.

And that's how I spent my weekend.

So much fabric . . .

Just moving right along on my little Schnibble quilt. Next step is to add the borders. It is going to be so colorful.

It's been such a fun little project. But there has been a lot of ripping and re-sewing. Gotta get those seam allowances just right or the whole thing is off. I finally figured out the 1/4 seam mark on my sewing machine and things should hopefully go a lot smoother now when I make a quilt. I still need to get the backing fabric for this and the binding. Can't decide on a color.

Had a grand time this past weekend shopping with my daughter. We met up halfway between where we each live and shopped in a whole new area. Found a quilt shop in our travels and just HAD to go in!

Love those charm packs! So addicting. And also found a pattern for journal covers. Something different! Can't wait to make some of those.

I have plenty to keep me busy. I need more hours in the day. But I better get to work so I can earn more money to buy more stuff . . .

I have a fiber addiction

Such a dreary gray rainy weekend. I just want to stay inside and sew. And I will. Later.

I got the St. Patty's Day totebag done for my Aunt. It's on the way to her in the mail. I hope she likes it.

It was hard to part with. I like how it turned out. Instead of using fabric for the handles I used grosgrain ribbon. And I added some lace trim to the pocket. It was fun to make as I love making bags. I'm addicting to making bags. I can't stop.

I've also been working on my Schnibbles quilt. The blockss are sewed together and done.

Next step is to sew the rows together. Then I can add the borders. That will keep me busy today.

I also started the house socks I'm making for my daughter. I'm using Plymouth Encore worsted weight yarn. These will knit up a lot quicker than socks using sock yarn.

I love the colors! I've dubbed them "watermelon socks".

Time to go do a few chores and errands then the rest of the day I'm hoping to sew. And sew and sew and sew. Have a great Sunday!

Sew Till You Drop

I've been busy at the sewing machine again. Completing one project, immediately starting another. It's been fun!

I got the can caddy completed. A lot of stuff can fit in there. Scissors, rulers, rotary cutter, etc. And of course the one thing I use a lot: a seam ripper.

Just may have to make more of these. It would be a cute gift.

Also finished is the fifties housewives apron. Love the fabric! It just cracks me up.

I'll add it to my pile of aprons. I love making aprons. Little pieces of creativity for not a lot of money.

Today I worked on my little Schnibbles quilt. For hours and hours. It's amazing how time flies when I'm sewing. Here are the blocks before I sewed them into rows.

So colorful! This is going to be a very colorful little quilt. And why yes, I did eat quite a few of those jelly beans. Very addicting.

Green Things

Spring is in the air. I'm sure it won't last, but it's nice while it's here. The snow is melting and I can see grass. And the temp is in the 50s! But this is Michigan and that could change in a day. I noticed that the days are getting longer now too.

I finished the Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along block. That was fun working with a jelly roll.

The next block pattern doesn't get released until next week, so I have plenty of time to play with other fabrics.

My Aunt was born on St. Patrick's Day. This is a milestone year for her, so I'm making her a gift. These are the fabrics.

Green. Shamrocks. I'm making her a totebag. Can't wait to give it to her!

And look! I bought yarn! Haven't done that in ages. I'm going to make my daughter some house socks with this yarn. So bright and colorful! Super wash. Easy for a college student to take care of.

I'm hoping to have them done by Easter so I can put them in her Easter basket. Yes, I still make her an Easter basket.

Coming attractions

I just can't stop sewing. I'm just about done with the 50s apron. No pictures yet.

What do you think this is? A big empty coffee can, a pattern and fabric? Why, a can caddy. Of course you knew that!

I can keep all my sewing notions and tools that I need by the machine in this thing. I keep having to pull out more and more little sewing tools when I'm sewing. Now I'll have a big pretty caddy to keep them in right by the sewing machine. I could probably use a bushel basket for all the tools I have, but a can will do for now.

I keep coming across the term "Schnibbles" lately. So I just HAD to find out what that meant and then jump on the bandwagon and order a pattern. It arrived safely in my mailbox! I can't wait to start this. I've got my charm squares and background fabric all set to go.

I'll probably be working on it this weekend. I always need to keep busy when someone I love is traveling. It passes the time until they arrive safely. And it will give me something to work on while I impatiently wait for my jelly roll to get here for the Jelly Roll Quilt Along.

Charming

Charm squares. My new addiction. I can't get enough of them. And I love bags. I love making bags. From start to finish. Here are some charm squares all sewed together ready to be quilted for a totebag.

Here they are now quilted. Nice and soft and with a little bit of body to them now. I love taking pictures in the morning light.

Once all the quilting was done, by machine of course, it was time to assemble the totebag. Everything went together so easily. A very well written pattern.

And nice colorful pockets on the inside! Of course, made with more charm squares.

Done! And now I have a new totebag.

Here is where it all happens. The sewing area. I had this all straightened up and organized the other day. That didn't last long.

I just can't say away from my sewing machine lately.

Next up, another apron. I love making those too. Love the fabric I'll be using for this. Retro looking fifties housewives! I'll be making the one on the top left of the pattern envelope.

I'll be back at the sewing machine today. Impatiently waiting for the mailman to bring me some goodies I ordered.

Something Different

I finally got around to a project today that's been sitting patiently waiting for me to work on it. I altered a sweatshirt. It was way more work than I thought it would be, but now that it's done . . . I love it!

It's so warm and comfy. And it has CATS! Here's a close up of the pockets.

That's how I spent my Sunday: Having lots of fun with my sewing machine!

Cough, cough

Cough, cough, hack, hack. Bronchitis. I've never had bronchitis before, but I have it now. Not fun. It just sucks the life right out of you. All my plans for a marathon sewing weekend with my sister went down the drain. So I didn't get much done this weekend. A lot of naps tho! And a lot of sitting on the couch. I finally got some knitting done. I made a pair of mittens for my grandson. I can't believe how fast these knit up. I've never made child size mittens before. Fun! I'll definitely have to make him some more.

That was some Vanna yarn I had in my stash, color is denim. I worked on them while watching the Olympics, which I'm enjoying. So at least there was something good on TV to watch. My heart goes out to the family of the young man killed on the luge track, what a terrible tragedy.

I did make a couple of pairs of jammie pants. These are for my daughter. Got the fabric at a quilt shop when I went out of town.

I love that fabric! Cotton flannel, very cozy.

And I made these for me with some fabric I had in my stash. Tiny ice cream cones and popsicles. Cute. A girl loves new jammies when she's sick.

Some ice cream would be nice about now too.