HELLO

What happened to summer?  It's fall and I am at the same place I always am.  Things to make for Christmas ... which I actually thought about in July, but; you know .... time and days just get away from you.

I have been busy in my craft room. I finished two quilts from our Guild that were machine pieced by members, all I had to do was sandwich them with batting & backing ...I hand quilted and added the binding.  I actually got both of them done in a couple of weeks by working on them in the evenings while watching TV.  Both quilts will be donated to shelters.

This was an easy peasy quilt to hand quilt.  I quilted it with red thread ..... wanted to add a little punch for the binding ... so I found this great fabric ....  

I think this was my favorite .. I hand quilted different sizes of "bubbles" for the underwater theme.  It's kind of hard to see .... but it was really fun to do. Same fabric for the binding .. just makes it pop and fun.

I was busy working on the Cottage Romance quilt from McCall's Quilting series this year.  It is a 6 part series published for 2015.  I didn't make the whole quilt, I just made some changes so I could have a nice size wall hanging.

This will be an "after" the holidays project.  But it is the part I enjoy the most ... hand quilting it.

Oh, I just remembered ... I was requested to sew "part" of a Halloween costume.  Here, I thought I was done with all that.  You know, the last minute sewing .....  My 11 year old granddaughter, Gennevieve, who lives in Missouri needed a pinafore for her outfit.  So .. Gramma, that's me, picked up a really easy apron pattern to transform into a "pinafore" for her "creepy" doll costume.

Boy, it has been some time since I sewed a "pattern".  I had her mom measure her ... measure the dress from waist to hem ...  That seemed like a good plan.  Her measurements were almost to the Small size ... so I cut everything out for that size.  Boy ... that really looked big.  Not to mention .. I really didn't read the instructions ... I am a sewer, so who needs directions? ... I had pictures.  lol  Yeah, had the apron almost done ... pockets and all ... it was way to big.  DUH

I am anything but not resourceful ...hahaha ... that even makes me laugh.  Used that sewn part and re-cut everything for an x-tra large child's size.  I know how to sew, what is making this so difficult? Could it be that I need to read the construction directions?  It turns out that everything works so much better when you read directions.

All in all ... it turned out really cute ...  My husband, oldest daughter & her son, and I surprised the Missouri grandchildren with our arrival at their place for Halloween.  My oldest daughter did all the kids makeup and hair .... totally worth the 10 hour drive.

Oldest daughter (Sarah) the makeup artist.  She really is good.

Sarah and her son,Mario, in the red & blue.......  lol  The green thing is my youngest daughter, Monica!  She is part of that game .... Mario & Luigi .... but I can't remember it's name.  hahah

two cuties ... Genne w/her friend Lilly

The pinafore .... perfect fit!!!!

Andrew as Mr. Luigi..... lol

Izabela as Princess Peach

My brain is tired from all this ... so ... until we meet again.  Hoping sooner than later.

Sharon

M.I.A. AGAIN!

Yup, that's been me .... Missing In Action for the last couple of months, again.  I have been pleasantly busy off and on actually creating things. lol

I finished my flag quilt.  It turned out super cute.  I thought I would enter it in our county fair, but unfortunately things happen.  Like I got "glue" somehow on the back and front ... just enough so it wasn't predestine enough for the fair.  But, actually seeing things that placed at the fair .... I should have entered it.  I am making another one for my daughter, or daughters, and one of those will be hopefully perfect for next year's fair. lol

Moving on ..... We had a couple of sew-in-days in our Guild to work on Quilts of Valor.  Lots and lots of fabric is donated for these quilts.  There were 3 of us that had the same fabric, but all 3 totally different patterns.  The other 2 were just awesome, but of course no pictures to show.  So, I had to come up with something just as striking.

 It really is hard to see the fabric prints with the sun on it.  But ... truly it is a nice pattern.

My friend, Charlene, and I took a purse class.  It was a Professional Mini Tote Bag ..... It was a challenge at times, and often heard myself saying, I hate this bag, I truly hate this bag!!  But many hours of homework after two, three hour classes each ..... we finally finished them.  Here is my first purse - bag project.  Don't know if  I will ever tackle making this again!   We'll see.  But, I maybe will do a simple tote bag:-)

This was after 3 hours of sewing ..................................

TA DA!!!!

Inside has many pockets.  Oh Gee ... even a pocket 

for the I-Pad I am sure I am going to get one of these days:-)

Probably when H _ _ _ freezes over?

In between all that, I have been working on the Cottage Romance quilt.  I completed the inside with the pin-wheel stars and the log cabins.  I have to figure out the placement of these logs .... I just hung them on my wall.  I have 2 more large pin-wheel blocks that will be on the corners to complete.

It seems I just can't help but take blurry pictures!

Our quilt guild will be having their 2016 Quilt Show next fall.  So I have a few ideas running around in this head of mine to make.  Someone in guild suggested we have a section of only red & white quilts.  I am seriously thinking I will do one of these.  I have always loved the school house blocks, so, I am thinking that will be a must do.

I've just been summoned for dinner .... so have to end this here.  Please stop by again ... say hello.

Sharon

Quick Update

I have been busy sewing and haven't found that x-tra time to blog.  I have started a few projects, only one needs to be really completed soon.

Our guild wants as many of us to contribute something in our annual Fair..... so I thought why not ... I get more accomplished in life when I am under "the gun".  What to make?  Started pa-roozing the internet and Pinterest to get some ideas.  Since it was early June and everything was about making something patriotic .... that's where I started.

I finally decided on a flag ... a primitive Colonial Flag ....  First I wanted to do it as a tumbler block .. lots of quilts in our Small Quilt Talk Group on line were making them.  But I wanted something larger.  Playing with tumbler pattern blocks ... I couldn't get the right size I wanted.  So this is what I came up with:

  

I am really pleased how it turned out.  This is just the "flimsy", still have to "sandwich" it together.  I need it completed by end of July to have it ready for the fair.  It should be a pretty easy hand quilting project.

Also been working on this quilt that is being displayed in McCall's Quilting Magazine for 2015.  It is called Cottage Romance and has 6 parts.  

Part 1 of 6 is Pinwheel Galaxy Block ... which is the larger square below, and is the center of the quilt.

Part 2 is Jacob's Ladder Block .... I haven't decided if I am going to make this one.  The full quilt would measure 95.5 x 98.5 inches.  I just want a wall quilt .... so I need to figure that out.

Part 3 is Log Cabin Block .... Always one of my favorites ...  right now I am planning on placing them on the sides around the middle.

Part 4 is Pinwheel Star Block ...As show above ... I am going to place them above/beside the log cabins.  They will set on the 4 corners. This I am hoping to enter in our Guild's 2016 Quilt Show in the fall.  So, I have plenty of time to thing/sew on this.

Oh yes, can't forget my sewing on Loyal Union Sampler Blocks ... I think I finished 6 of them since my last blog.  They are kind of a fill ... maybe something I can finish in 1 or 2 days.  Also ... may show this in our guild quilt show also.  

I have a couple other things playing around in my mind to sew ... but right now that is where they are going to stay.  lol

Visit my other blog. to catch up on my Sampler Blocks.  Loyal Union Sampler ... my hyperlink won't display it, but you can find it in my blog list.

See you soon, I hope.  lol

EASY-PEASY TABLE TOPPER!

Rainy weekend makes for a day in the sewing room.  I pulled out some patriotic fabrics that I have had boxed away for many years, probably close to 10 years or so.  WOW, where does the time go?

I wanted something round, I don't have anything round for a table topper.  Pa-roused the internet and was looking at a lot of Dresden patterns.  I finally found a free pattern that had rounded edges instead of the "feather" type edges.

I divided the pattern for the  (I will refer to them as fans) fans into 3 different sizes.  These are the 3 fabrics for the table topper........

Sewing the pieces to each other to form a "fan".......

Laying out the pieces sewn to determine how many I need ...

Making everything nice and even, want everything to come out as perfect as possible ......

The best laid plans sometimes just needs to be tweaked .... I just laid a full "fan" underneath and marked it and added 1/4 inch to each side for seams ...................

This is the size of the "fan" that needs to fit to make it a circle ............

Did it, everything matches, which is a miracle in itself for me ......... A little circle to go in the middle!

Determining how much batting I need ...................

Batting on the bottom, the backing on top of the batting right side up with the fabric of the topper ..

Everything trimmed and ready to sew ...................

Almost there ........... need to turn it right sides out and attach the circle to the middle ..........

Finally .......... done!  From start to finish completed in a weekend.  Hand quilted ... always like the way hand quilted things turn out after washing and drying.

Back view ........ Now I have 2 different table toppers ........."THAT WAS EASY"

I have to make a list of holidays I can make some more for ...... you know you can get 2 for 1 when you do it this way.  lol

I finally posted an update to my other blog.  Stop on by and see what it is.
http://theloyalunionsampler.blogspot.com


Again, thanks for stopping ..........

Getting Caught Up!

It's taken me forever to get back to my blog and do some posting.  This winter sure did take a toll on my energy, brain energy that is.  Then when I did finally start accomplishing some things, I couldn't post any pictures or write about what I was doing.  Most of everything was to be a surprise for my granddaughter.  Two months of projects!!


Well, the Gnomes had to move their house to another garden.  It seems a band of Trolls moved in next to them, and they were a loud bunch.  So they traveled down into the valley hoping that they will have a nice long stay in this place.  lol

These dolls kept Gramma busy sewing for them for about 3/4 weeks.  

I was surprised how much fun these clothes were to make.  Ah, a few of them had me scratching my
head for a minute or two.  lol

The pink shrug was a head scratchier.  The blue wrap dress is one of my favorites.  I kind of customized it a little bit from the pattern.

Of course the stripe "mod outfit" made me think back to the 70's.  haha

 
The orange dress is a Peasant dress .... super easy after I re-read the instructions a few times.  lol
I was really surprised how these pj's went together.  I have to do another pair ... I think these are Izabela's most favorite outfit.

A craftier I am not.  But, I put together a makeshift closet and hangers for the dolls until Grampa has the time to make a better one.  This was just from a box covered in fabric.  But my granddaughter really loved it.

All the clothes patterns can be found in the pattern booklet by Annie's Sewing:  Love to Dress Up" for 18" dolls.  These were just a couple of the patterns in the booklet,  My Granddaughter may have to wait until her birthday in September to get the rest of them.

I also made two small quilts for the bunk bed Grampa is going to make!

I don't believe it, but I never got a complete "done picture" of the quilt I made for  my granddaughter as a gift for her First Communion.  I must have thought that I would get a picture of it after she opened it.  You know the saying, "Best Laid  Plans and all"

This shows a couple of blocks and  the turquoise flannel fabric for the back.  This quilt was the size for a double bed, and it was very warm and very heavy in my hoop to quilt.  But I was on a mission and got it hand quilted in  2 weeks.

I did get a picture of the completed top laying on my bed.

Look what I found on my camera,  a picture of my Granddaughter, Izabela, after she opened it.  

At this time I don't know where my next sewing project is going to take me.  I know I am way behind in my monthly Loyal Union blocks .... need to play catch up there.  Also, I have enough fabric to start the Cottage Romance Quilt published in the 2015 McCall's Quilting magazine. 

Well, it gives me something to think about as I lay down to sleep at night.  If I can't fall asleep right away, I usually have some quilting project playing in my brain.  lol  Before I know it ... I fall asleep.  Bad thing ... I never remember the great quilt I created in my head.  DUH!!

Thanks for stopping by, hope you will visit again.

.   

I'M STILL HERE .....

I'm still here .... sewing a lot during the last few months.  The only thing is, that I can't share
anything I have been making.  Most of the things I have been sewing are for two of my granddaughters, and I don't want to spoil the surprise for them or my daughter:-)  My 8 year old granddaughter is having her First Communion the weekend of Mother's Day weekend, and I made a special "something" for her.   This will be a road trip to Missouri.  After returning home and recuperating I will get my act together and post my accomplishments.  lol  

My poor Loyal Union Quilt Blog has been suffering also.  I have made a couple more blocks to share, but I have been to "b-u-s-y" to put them on the blog.  Not to mention, the winter has seemed extra long here on the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio, and motivation has been non-existent!    I am hoping actual spring weather will be coming and staying!!!!!!! and my mo-jo will return.  lol

Update you all later.  lol

Updated Photo's of Snowball Quilt of 2013

I recently received an e-mail asking how I quilted my exchange blocks from our Small Quilt Talk Group.  Because I cannot figure out how to attach photo's to an e-mail with my new computer .... I thought adding them to a post may be the quickest answer.

I hope this is a help.  I attached some other photo's of the quilt that I added and weren't very clear in my earlier post of March 12, 2014.

 

 

 

 







I wanted a fairly easy and quick way to finish this quilt, so I basically measured a 1/4 inch from the snow balls, corner to corner of the quilt edge. 

 

I added a detailed label with some of the quilters information to the back.  The name of our group that was involved in our exchange, states we were from, countries we were from .... and the name of the quilt.  This will always be one of my prize possessions.  I have it hanging over my desk, above my computer, and I get to enjoy it every day.

 





 

 

Stop by my other blog @: 

 





http://theloyalunionsampler.blogspot.com/  



 

 

 



Slow Sewing January!

You would think that it has been perfect "sewing weather".  Cold outside, warm inside to do fun sewing projects.   I don't know where the month has gone, but it has been slow sewing time in my craft room.

First of all, my sewing/craft room had to be "re-organized" after months of last minute sewing for Christmas.  Nothing current to sew, I was in the mood to do some crocheting.  My daughter asked if I could make something for the girls heads that would keep their hair from getting messed up under a hat for school.  Sure, I found a crocheted head band that might work. Made a practice one for my oldest granddaughter, which she liked, and I made it a few stitches smaller for my two younger grandchildren.

My daughter said that the girls opened theirs Christmas morning (I made them to match the winter coats we had gotten them for Christmas) and Izabela wore hers the whole day. LOL  I guess the headbands were a winner! Then, my daughter, Jennifer, liked the headbands also; so, yup, made another one. I look absolutely horrible in hats (that is what my children tell me anyway), so .... headbands do look better on people that can't wear hats.  At least I think so, so I made me one too. LOL ... LOL

Then, a request for a sweater for their dog, Ms. Betty Sue.  She is a French Bulldog, and has little to no hair.  She needed something to keep her warm when she went outside.  From there, my other daughter, which has 2 dogs; seemed it was only fair that Abby and Violet have sweaters also. Now I'm told that Ms. Betty Sue is getting very fat and will need a new sweater, soon!

My other two children have cats, and they mentioned sweaters .......... but that is not going to happen. LOL

From headbands to dog sweaters ......... I needed something more to work on in the evening while watching TV.  I didn't want to start a new needlepoint project .... so I told my husband he needed a new crocheted afghan.  My husband is over 6' 2"..... and he wanted x-tra length so he could tuck it under his feet.  This darn afghan is nearly 9 foot long.  Yes, 9 foot long ......... took me about 2 1/2 weeks to make it.  Son, who is taller than his dad wants one also.  I told him it will not be 9 foot long.  LOL

In the meantime, No. 1 daughter (meaning first born:) ... liked the design of the afghan that I made for her father, she bought yarn for me to make hers.  Now, she can crochet, but she doesn't have the time right now, and I wanted another evening project. LOL  I started it last week, and probably should have it done by this weekend.

Oh, I did do some sewing earlier in the month.  I wanted a winter table runner for my kitchen counter.  I originally thought this might be a Christmas present for daughter #1 (she loves snowmen) ... but too much work involved ... and I fell in love with it.  So I kept it. LOL

I am calling it "A Snowman's Welcome" 



 

 



 

Yesterday I decided I had better get busy and try and do our on line Small Quilt Talk challenge for January.  We had our choice of what to use a 4 patch disappearing  block in.  I need seasonal table runners ......... so a 4 patch disappearing Valentine's theme was for me.  Luckily I had the fabric on hand to accomplish it. 

 

I think I will name this one:  Candy Box .... doesn't it look like the top of a candy box?





 

This is all the time I have right now  ........ need to go and update my new blog, stop by ...........
 http://theloyalunionsampler.blogspot.com/ 

Here We Go Again!

WOW ... another New Year.  I am thinking Mother Nature likes to play pranks.  Well, maybe it isn't her, but I'm blaming her anyway. LOL  Another year, another "wrinkle"?  That's how I see it ... there in my bathroom mirror after my shower this morning,  new face wrinkles that weren't there yesterday!!!  I am going to stop wearing my glasses when I "put my face on" in the mornings.  This could be interesting to the people that I meet face to face.  LOL  Gotha love Mother Nature!!

So, here we are at the beginning of a new year .. oh what do I want to accomplish, what will my goals be?  I no longer do resolutions, it seems when we break our resolutions we give up on whatever we had set our tasks to be.  If we make goals, and some don't get done, we don't feel like we are a failure.  So, what are some goals I want to accomplish?

Top goal on my list, it started yesterday .......... get this craft room/office area cleaned up for once and for all.  I really did make a step in the right direction in 2014, got a lot of my crafts and tools organized.  The problem being ......... when I found what I needed .... not to good on putting them exactly back where they were suppose to go.

I actually do have sewing projects in their own neat little containers that I had started, for some reason or another, abandoned ...  There they set, "in their neat little containers", waiting for me in 2015 to get them done.  LOL

It's winter and my husband needs projects to do.  He is kind of getting squirrely setting around not being able to play outside in his flower and vegetable gardens, so he is making a list of things to update the house.  One of those being, my craft room.  I am very excited about that.  But, there is always a "but" ..........  I have to actually empty this place of lots of stuff.  In the end, It will either have a hard wood floor (that would be very nice), or another type of low pile rug.

I'll make sure to take pictures and post them of the "before and after" 

Last year my friend and I had decided we were going to do a sampler quilt.  Something like making a block a month .... thinking a process that will take us a couple of years to accomplish.  We fell in love with "The Loyal Union Sampler" quilt from Elm Creek Quilts by Jennifer Chiaverini.  We are definitely not making the "huge" quilt that is shown in the book.  But, we picked blocks that "spoke" to us individually.  Mostly, the blocks that spoke to me were not complicated and paper pieced. LOL  I eventually want to make the more difficult blocks ..... but they may end up being a one block pieced and hand quilted ... maybe hanging around my "new craft" room.  Probably by then, I won't even be living in this house!!!  LOL

So, here and there shopping around at our favorite quilt shops, and a couple road trips. we have been stocking up on our fabric.  The first thing we had to consider is what our basic background fabric would be. When that was chosen, we then set out to acquire our fabric for the blocks.  I like the roses and greens, sprinkle some medium blues in there, and of course some brown fabric. 

My next step will be to make a chart of the blocks I have chosen.  All my fabrics are going to play well with each other, but how to choose what fabric for what block.  Oh my .....

When I get settled into this new year, and I can drag my "friend" over to my house to play .... I am going to start another blog just for The Loyal Union Sampler Quilt".  I am hoping to do some tutorials of my block making process, and maybe get some hints from fellow Loyal Union Sampler quilters out there to chime in.  I would love to hear your stories of your blocks that you have chosen, how long the process was for you with making the quilt.  Or, have you just started making the quilt yourself .... or you want to and you don't know where to start.

 So to my fellow bloggers .... and to my fellow quilters ..... crafters .... readers .... whatever you do, I hope you find time in this new year just for you to do what inspires you.

Have a Happy ......... and Mother Nature .... you be good!!!!

Sharon

After playing for a few hours, and blogger not being co-operative .... finally uploaded my new blog.
http://theloyalunionsampler.blogspot.com/  Hope you can drop by!