Customer Appreciation

Ersi Marina, who recently reopened her shop on Etsy, made this gorgeous, handmade accordion book, including some fabric she purchased from my shop.

A Long Path with Pauses

I love the title of her book, Largo camino con paradas which means, "a long path with pauses".  Her artwork is lovely.  You can see more photos of the book and read about her work on her blog.

Thank you so much for sharing your art Ersi.

In appreciation,

52 Week Challenge - Week 39

My daughter and her husband are foster parents, as well as parents to three girls of their own. When one of the children stay longer than a few weeks, I try to make a quilt for them. This one is for Ella, a sweet little girl who is almost always smiley, and as cuddly as can be.

I used some fabrics that I purchased awhile ago, and edged the quilt with some binding I bought from SlightlyBiased on Etsy. I think it goes perfectly with the quilt, despite the fact that it is not made from any of the fabrics in the quilt.  The backing is a soft kona crush.  I think the baby will like the the texture of it.

What have you been up to this week? I would love to see any projects you've finished. You can add a link by clicking on the linky tool below.

Let's get busy, 

Treasured Tuesday

W.I.P.

Storm at Sea has long been a favorite quilt design of mine, so I am excited to be working on this one.  First I drew it up in EQ7, and added the actual Terrain and kona cotton fabrics I wanted to use (so cool that EQ lets you do this), then printed out the block patterns.

Storm at Sea

I was delighted to find that most of the blocks can be cut with my accuquilt cutter.  The diamonds are better done with foundation piecing, so I copied a bunch of the templates on legal size paper.  Since the blocks are quite large, they sew up easily.

The first version I made had white fabric for the solid pieces.  I did a number of blocks that way before deciding that I preferred lavender and blue solids.  This is one of two blocks I have done so far with the new combination.  Let's just consider the first blocks practice, shall we?

This is going to make a nice quilt for our guest room.

Happy Sewing ♥

Thankful Sunday

Recently, after spending five minutes quietly listening to me relate in detail something unkind that someone had done, my friend Linda said three words which totally changed my attitude, "why mention it."

Her simple words stopped me in my tracks.  Instead of dwelling on the unpleasantness, I was able to put the incident behind me, where it belonged.  Since her wise counsel, her words have come to my mind a number of times when confronted with a situation that offends me.  "Why mention it."

The Bible says that iron sharpens iron, and the good counsel of a friend rejoices the heart (Pr 27:9 and 17).  Today I am thankful for good friends who help me be a better person.

How has a good friend helped you lately?

Thankfully,

52 Week Challenge - Week 38

You may remember a few weeks back (week 33 to be exact) my weekly project was to put together an online scrapbook of our family's vacation from the year before. Well, this week's project was to do the same with this year's family vacation.

I ordered enough copies for each family to have their own.

This year, I included a lot more journaling in the album than in previous years. Part of that is due to it being fresher in my mind (since the vacation happened last month), and part of it is due to keeping a daily journal. At least I started out keeping a daily journal. Halfway through the week, I got caught up in busyness and forgot to take notes. Therefore, the first pages of the album have lots of writing, and the last pages have mostly headlines.   Hopefully next year, I will do better.

Still, I am happy with the way they turned out, plus, I beat my prior record by 47 weeks - that's a good thing.

What project have you finished this week?  I would love to see it.  You can add a link by clicking on the Linky Tool below.

If you would like to learn more about the 52 Week Challenge, click here.

Let's get busy,

Treasury Tuesday

Here are a few of my favorite treasuries. These are all clickable links, so shop away!

New Arrivals

New Batiks have arrived from Timeless Treasures. I have Tonga treats, two each of 20 different fabrics cut in 2 1/2 inch strips, as well as coordinating yardage.

Tonga treat 5" charms are on their way too.

Happy Sewing ♥ 

Thankful Sunday

Today I am thankful for clean windows.  Just in time to enjoy the colors of the soon changing leaves.

I like to wash the windows in the Spring, and again in the Fall before winter sets in.  Yesterday was the day.  I washed all the windows inside and out, without going outside, thanks to the tilt-in style windows we have.   We didn't always have this type of windows.  In fact the last place we lived was nearly impossible to clean the windows inside and out.  So I am very thankful for being able to clean them thoroughly.  

When my husband and I were first married, we washed windows as a second job for extra money.  We still have the tools from that time period (like squeegees and a long bucket), which definitely make the job easier.

Even though I don't always enjoy the task,  it always feels good after finishing something that makes my home cleaner or more orderly.  How about you, is there a project you been itching to get done around the house?

Grocery Bag Holder

To make this quick and easy grocery bag holder, you will need:

• Fat quarter of fabric of your choice
• 1/4" elastic - cut one piece 7," another piece 8"
• Twill tape, elastic, ribbon, or fabric for hanger.  The example above has twill tape.  The tutorial shows the hanger made with the same fabric as the holder.

18" x 22" fabric of your choice 

Fold edge of one 18" side 1/2" to inside, fold again 1." 

Repeat with second 18" side. Press, and then unfold. 

To make hanging loop, cut fabric 1 1/2" x 4."

Fold right sides together, stitch or serge long edge. Turn right sides out. 

Fold long sides of fabric right sides together.
Enclose loop in seam. Stitch or serge seam. 

Refold hems on both ends and stitch along edge of fold.
Leave openings for inserting elastic. 

Insert elastic in both ends, stitch ends together

and then stitch opening in hem closed. 

Voila!  You have a new grocery bag holder.

Happy Sewing ♥

52 Week Challenge - Week 37

This week, our main project has been catching up on yardwork, and getting the garden cleaned up for winter. I did manage to sew this little grocery bag holder however. We needed a new one because the elastic had worn out on both ends. This is a simple project that can be finished in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. These fast and easy kind of projects are fun to do now and then, don't you think?

I will share a tutorial for a similar bag holder later in the week. But for now, I would love to see what you have been working on. You can leave a link below.

Let's get busy, 

Treasury Tuesday

Thankful Sunday

Today, remembering 9/11 ten years ago, I am thankful for another day to be alive, to draw breath, to praise God.

Thankfully, 

National Sewing Machine Day

Today is National Sewing Machine Day. Aren't you glad they were invented!  I love hand sewing, but wouldn't want to take every stitch in a quilt by hand.

I designed this quilt in EQ7 to celebrate National Sewing Machine Day

The first sewing machines were developed during the industrial revolution.  In 1982, President Reagan declared September to be the National Sewing Month.

To celebrate, here are a few treasuries built around National Sewing Machine Day: 
Tell me about your sewing machine(s).

Happy Sewing ♥ 

Here's What I'm Working On

A tumbler baby quilt with fabrics purchased two years ago.  I love using fabrics from my stash.

I picked up some premade binding from this Etsy seller which should go perfectly.  I am on the quilting stage now, using a smallish all over stipple.  This tumbler block goes together so easily.  You may remember this one that I made last summer, and which inspired this quick tutorial .

Accuquilt also makes a small tumbler die, which I bought recently but haven't used yet.  So many projects to do ....

Happy Sewing ♥

52 Week Challenge - Week 36

This week I finished a custom place mat order for a customer.  Love this Camelot fabric.

If you would like to add a finished project of your own, click on the Linky tool below.

To read more about the 52 week challenge, click here.

Treasured Tuesdays

August Round Up

Summertime, and the living is easy. What a great summer it has been too. Here are the projects posted to the 52 week challenge this month:

FabricFascination

One Perfect Day

Memories for Life Scrapbooks

ChristineMarieFord, Jan Beane, SweetWaterStyle, Mommy Tyme Gifts, MegansBeadedDesigns

Today is Labor Day, how fitting to show the fruits of our labor.  Thanks to all who participated this month.  I love seeing your creations.  

If you would like to learn more about the 52 week challenge, click here.

Let's Get Busy,

Thankful Sunday

Today I am thankful for my husband. Because (even though he didn't get the lawn mowed before the rain came, and I told him it was going to rain), he is patient with me, gentle with young children, laughs at the same things I do, thinks clearly and soberly in situations when I am stressed out, is like-minded about our faith, and loves me just the way I am.

What are you thankful for today?

Chicken Salad

I have been eagerly awaiting this collection from Hoffman.  Rennie Rau Marquez's new screenprint fabrics featuring joyous folk-art pictorials is here! The focal print has large colorful roosters wandering in a lush green lettuce garden. There are also bold sunflowers, and blueberry circles.

Rennie has been drawing and painting since childhood, even selling pieces in her parents' art gallery when she was a teenager. She continued showing in galleries as an adult while she also put in 22 years at Walt Disney Imagineering as a senior concept designer. Since the 1990s, Rennie has been showing her work in earnest. Her work hangs in many private collections in the U.S., Mexico and abroad.

If you are like me, your head is spinning with ideas on what to make with this delicious fabric.

You can buy this coordinated set in my fabric shop by the yard, the half yard, or in fat quarters.