quarantine creations

Amidst all of the lock downs and quarantine, crafty folk have been keeping busy. 

there have been a few things that I ran out of, but my local quilt shop did curbside pick up and delivery so no worries. 

Thankfully I was able to work throughout the shut down but with no where else to go, projects were accomplished! 

I went into this thinking "I can get some of these WIPS, PHDs and UFOs finished"  

but, as usual, new projects took precedence. Though, a few of them have been on the to do list and fabric was already purchase, so one could argue for UFO status.  I did get my studio in better shape -which came in handy when finding fabric for mask orders. 

So here is an overview of my projects so far:

zipper bags, curtain for my living room! Wreaths, a St Patrick's Day vest (for the cancelled party)

a bag for me- planned this one years ago!

a wall hanging for my living room

"so many of my smiles begin with you" gallery. I found the signs at big lots and had just finished a graduation album for Abby's High School Graduation. I realized I had way too many pictures on the computer instead of my walls!

masks masks and more masks

these are my inspiration pix (from pinterest) for a Golden Birthday Quilt 

Stanley has been helping me with it!

That's what I've been working on- and more. Took my parents to the Ark Encounter in Kentucky (and if course there were some projects for the gift reveal) and detoured to the new quilt shop

In Champaign.

This week I've been working on a birthday gift- but it hasn't been gifted yet so pictures will be forthcoming!

TTFN

Travel Fun

Vacation Time!

My sister (Lou) and her crew have been on vacation this week! When they were in the planning stages, Lou mentioned that she thought a backpack would be easier to handle instead of a regular purse. My ears perked up and I, of course, said "No problem, I can make you a simple drawstring one." As I pondered the idea, I was afraid that  the drawstrings wouldn't be enough cushion for her, so I went to Pinterest and found convertible bags! These are super cool, however, not exactly what I wanted or had the supplies for. So I did a bit of pattern squishing and made a trial bag. the straps pull up so it can be either a backpack or a shoulder bag. Abby loved hers, but Lou requested a couple changes- such as a water bottle pocket and a tab for the inside pocket (which fit her phone perfectly - rather amazing since I didn't measure it at all.)

                             When I brought Abby's bag over to the house AC was teasing that he needed one too, so Aunt Bobbie decided  to oblige. I ended up making one for each of the boys. 

Lou texted me the first day and said
it works great

Then Lou mentioned that she could use a travel pillow as well. I found this  dog bone one on Pinterest - it was very simple to make. I stuffed it with fluff and poly pellets (that I picked up at a garage sale for 25 cents a bag.) 

Whilst looking for the dog bone pillow I came across these seatbelt pillows.  Their vacation is a Road Trip so each of the kidlets needed one! I used fabric on hand except for Miah's- but I had a coupon for 70 cent fat quarters at JoAnn's so I only spent $1.40 on it. I aslo made the two little boys snap coin purses from Sew Can She or as we call them "Grandpa coin purses"  but I seem to have forgotten to take pictures.

Well that was dumb!
I stitched the entire pillow
right side to wrong side
My seam Ripper got a work out

Elijah's pillow even has a "DogDog"pocket

I got a wee bit carried away with the travel sewing and made a toiletry bag for Lou- the one she had was given to her like 20 years ago and had seen better days. I used this tutorial which is not in English Thanks to Google translate I was able to figure it out. I used a Priority Mail Tyvek envelope for the

I also made a small zipper bag to match

top and bottom interfacing and the cover from a coloring book for the sides. I was able to scavenge the hardware and strap from the original bag. I should really record Lou's reactions- they are always the best, she makes gift giving fun!

Show and Tell

I just got a notice
 that I had new followers- and much to my chagrin I haven't posted in ForEVER! However, I have been sewing like a fiend ( how exactly do fiends sew? - They prolly don't have time in between being fiendish. ? ?)  So I decided to just do a quick show & tell today and save all the fun extras and whys and wherefores for later

 Get ready for picture overload!

Seatbelt pillows

Elijah's has a pocket for Dog Dog

Drawstring Backpacks

Splendid Sampler 2

Bags 

 UFO from 2015  that is now gifted!

Professional Tote Bag (my version) 

Can you guess what profession :)

Garment Bag! 

 There you have it! Actually I know there are quite a few projects missing from this show, I will have to search out the pictures and possibly have the gifted photographed- I'll try to post all the fun stuff soon!
Have a great day-
 back to sewing- Sherman and I have 2 more pillows and one more bag to make this week!

Hello sun!

UFO in progress!
I'm in the midst of a 2012 UFO from April Mae Designs. Since it has been hovering around that long, I've managed to misplace most of the instructions and of course I need it finished by Monday.....  Thankfully, I had the main instructions and a picture of a finished project. I did tweak a few things- I've discovered that I can not draw a baby deer- so I've turned December's deer into a puppy. Miah has a pet so September's apple is now a turtle, October means Stronghold Castle around here but my Castle was not working so October's spider became a fox - because we see Foxen and friends at the Castle. I also added a birthday hat to  November's owl because it's Miah's birthday.
We will see how far I get before Monday- I believe I have everything needed to complete this ...

Nuts about bloghop

Nuts about.....
OH so many things!  When I thought what and who I'm most crazy about, one of the first people that came to mind was my sweet Jesus -💕 God's only Son loves me so much that He gave His life for me when I didn't even care. Totally undeserving of His love and He loved me anyway. And because I accepted that gift of salvation, I now have not only a home in heaven, but sweet, sweet friendship with him now.  How could I not be nuts about Him?
💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
I'm also pretty much nuts about:
💕my Kidlets. I get to be Aunt Bobbie not only to my nieces and nephews but all the kids in church too. 
💕my residents at the nursing home.
💕 Aurifil thread - I've become a thread snob
💕Quilting
💕 Tea and Coffee - even my cats names reflect that!
💕My Cats - Earl Stanley Grey and Espresso. 
I'm also going completely nuts because I'm in the middle of packing to move!   And it's become obvious that I'm also nuts about 💕reading - I'm on box #17 of books and I still have 2 bookshelves left to pack! I did manage to get rid of some books, maybe like... Ten or so...  I know... "she's nuts"  just wait until I count the💕 fabric totes!
Since I'm moving and it was kinda unexpected,  my project... Isn't started yet and is now 5:37pm. I'm going to make something...
💕It's now 7:58 pm After some deliberation I decided to use a Wordless book quilt block (which uses color to share how to get to heaven) that I found while packing and some of my favorite valentine fabric to make a tote bag.  Nothing real fancy but fun to make!  I cut the block into a heart and stitched it to the pocket with black Aurifil 50wt.
Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment and stop at Seams to be Sew to enter the giveaways!  We have some awesome sponsors!  Check out what these other ladies are Nuts about too! 💕

February 10, 2016

MeadowBrook
Sew Many Yarns
From This To That
Seams To Be Sew

Aurifil Designer Block of the Month

Another finish! 
I was able to complete the block of the month!  I couldn't find the right blues for a traditional "blue and white"  since Heather calls her block Swirls and was thinking ocean waves,  I used ocean blues and greens - I've been collecting these since my trip to San Diego in 2011... I also found some white backing fabric in my stash!  I may be able to do the whole quilt without buying fabric - except possibly for the backing.  Yay!  (that's my pocketbook cheering,  not the fabric lover)
I simply love this block - in fact I wasn't going to participate in this BOM, but then I saw this block. 
It's a good thing I love this block too... I stitched the center all wrong and had to start it over, then I think I ripped out the new center at least 3x,  then I sewed the corner triangles the wrong direction, I had to trim the last round of white ... Yep it's a good thing I love this block - it almost wasn't a Finish!  But now it is and though it's not perfect, I am pleased with it! And I might just make another one! 
For more about this block,  the tutorial and an interview with block designer Heather Valentine click here!

Stay tuned for more progress and finishes

Progress =Finish

In my last post I shared the whys and wherefores of my Word16 words.  Here is my Finished mini to remind me to make Progress!  I also Finished a quilt for a  Warrior Princess!  I made Progress on another project, and it would be finished except for technical difficulties  :/ I will hopefully fix that problem after a cup of tea.  I am linking to Elm Street Quilts Word16 - you can click and maybe get some inspiration for your own word of the year! 

Word16

I was challenged to come up with a word of the year for 2016. I  saw lots of words - I love words and have been known to take forever looking up a word in the dictionary because other words sidetrack me.  Pause reflect create discover learn.... I was struggling to find just the right one....  I finally decided on Progress - Mr Webster says it means : noun [Latin progressus, progedior; pro and gradior, to step or go. See Grade and Degree.]

1. A moving or going forward; a proceeding onward. A man makes a slow progress or a rapid progress on a journey; a ship makes slow progress against the tide. He watched the progress of the army on its march, or the progress of a star or comet.

2. A moving forward in growth; increase; as the progress of a plant or animal.

3. Advance in business of any kind; as the progress of a negotiation; the progress of arts.

4. Advance in knowledge; intellectual or moral improvement; proficiency. The student is commended for this progress in learning; the christian for his progress in virtue and piety.
V.  proceed; to continue onward in course.

2. To advance; to make improvement.
In so many areas I tend to get bogged down and stuck, UFO's pile up,  my list gets longer and I'm making zero progress.
Then I saw an article here and the word Finish just stayed with me.  So I decided to have two words this year. They go together - if I am making Progress , I will eventually Finish.  Mr Webster says : FIN'ISH, verb transitive [Latin finio, from finis, an end.]

1. To arrive at the end of, in performance; to complete; as, to finish a house; to finish a journey.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished. Genesis 2:1.

2. To make perfect.

Episodes, taken separately, finish nothing.

3. To bring to an end; to end; to put an end to.

Seventy weeks are determined on thy people, and on thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and make an end of sins.

Daniel 9:24.

4. To perfect; to accomplish; to polish to the degree of excellence intended. In this sense it is frequently used in the participle of the perfect tense as an adjective. It is a finished performance. He is a finished scholar.
Patty over at Elm Street Quilts is hosting a linky party and we're supposed to make a quilt with our word on it. When I think of progress I think of the slow moving color bars on the Computer (they are like a watched pot and go so very slow when you're watching) and the first thing that came to mind for finish was a finish line. So abandoning progress on anything else yesterday, I made my mini quilt. And then spent waaay to long trying to find the picture of the girl in a dress that I wanted to use at my finish line - all the key words were too common: girl, lady, dress,  3d....I found lots of other cool projects but not the one I was looking for.  I've pinned, saved, posted it Somewhere.  So I made my own and *now* will find her everywhere.  Since I spent so much time searching, I didn't get a Finish,  but I did make Progress.  Later today I will add the picture of the Finish!

Happy new year 2016