A Very Productive Day!

Hello!  :)

Yesterday I was in the mood to sew! It's been a long time since I've wanted to just sit and sew. I actually managed to get quite a bit done. Every time I finished a project I picked up another one and worked on it. I made my first bag yesterday. Yes I've never made a bag before. Here it is . . .

Isn't it adorable?!!! It's made from all Ruby fabrics except for the inside which is just a red plaid I keep on hand. (You can never have too much red plaid laying around!) Here's the other side . . .

I finished them both the same so it doesn't matter which way it's facing.  :)  Here's a side view . . .

And the other side . . . 

Since I love red so much I quilted it with red thread.  :)  Did you notice? Here's a view of the inside . . . 

It's an awesome sturdy little bag. I love it! I got the tutorial from Sharon over at Daisy Cottage Quilting. You can find the tutorial for the bag at the following links:

• Part One . . . http://daisycottagequilting.com/2012/09/03/daisy-tutorial/
• Part Two . . . http://daisycottagequilting.com/2012/09/04/daisy-tutorial-part-2/
• Part Three . . . http://daisycottagequilting.com/2012/09/08/daisy-tutorial-part-3/
• Part Four . . . http://daisycottagequilting.com/2012/09/08/daisy-tutorial-finale/

I didn't follow the above tutorial for the handles. I used this tutorial she just posted the other day for them.  :)

The tutorial I followed showed a Halloween bag. It was funny . . . every time I showed my hunky dude the picture of the bag he kept asking why I was making a Halloween bag the day after Halloween. I kept showing him the fabrics I was using but he just didn't get it. In his defense he was tired.

The next project I worked on was the Fat Quarter Shops 2012 Designer Mystery Block of the Month. It started back in June. I have the supplies for the first 5 blocks already and the 6th one will be out soon. Since I'm so far behind I figured I'd better get working on them. I started with Block One.

It's not perfect but it's done. I'm really loving the Vintage Modern fabrics, which I knew I would. I can't wait to play with the leftover scraps from the blocks.  :)  Here's Block Two . . .

This one is off too. Oh well . . . at least it's done. I might go back and fix it as it does bother me. Here they are together . . .

Looking good!  :)  I wanted to work on more of them but I wanted to get another project done first so I moved on. I'll get back to the rest of the blocks another day.

The last project looks pretty simple but it's for someone I love very much . . .

My little Doobie!  :)  I always seems to kick his water dish and spill the water all over the floor. Then I wipe it up and put a towel under it. I decided he needed a doggy food mat so here it is . . .

I found the cute dog bone fabric at JoAnn's. The batik came from a traveling stash box. It reminds me of little paws (okay maybe bird feet . . . lol). Here's the back . . .

It's just a simple little mat to put his food and water bowls on. Maybe I won't kick the water now. Of course I need to mop the floor before he can use it. Nothing but the best for my boy!  ;)

That's it! For yesterday anyway. I got a lot done, huh?! It felt really good. There's still a big pile of things to catch up on so hopefully I'll be able to start again on Monday. If I can get some of this finished and off my mind I'll be able to start on the quilts I need to make before Christmas. I'm quickly running out of time. At least I'm enjoying it again.  :)

Have you heard about the . . .

Cheryl over at Gone Stitchin' has started another Friday night for us to all sew and craft together. It's a great idea with us being so close to the holidays. She has the blessing of Heidi and Bobbi from Friday Night Sew-In. This Friday Night With Friends will take place the 1st Friday of the month which happens to be today!  :)  I'll be participating! Will you? Be sure to go sign up and craft the night away! Later this afternoon I will be taking my new bag filled with cross stitch supplies to my friend Karen's (from Sew Much 2 Luv) house to stitch and spend Friday night with her. I'm really looking forward to it.  :)

Until next time . . .

Cutting & A Little Piecing FINALLY!

Hello!  :)

Do you remember way back in March when I shared this yummy Pam Kitty Morning fabric with you?

I purchased it to use in my "My Favorite Things" Quilt. I'm making the quilt as part of a quilt-a-long over at the site "Stitch-A-Long". Do you remember? Then I appliqued and stitched up all the blocks for the 5 rows. Here they are to refresh your memory. . .

Well that was as far as I got. I kept meaning to get back to it and work on it but of course I didn't. It's supposed to be finished by the end of October so I figured I'd better get back to working on it. I started by trimming all those blocks down to size.

While I was cutting them down to size I realized that my "sewing" block was missing something.

There was supposed to be 3 mini quilt blocks at the bottom of the block. So I got the fabrics out, cut and sewed them together. Now my "sewing" block is complete!  :)

Next I finally cut most of the fabric for the remainder of the quilt. Here are the strips and blocks . . . 

All those blocks are 2-1/2" or under! Here's another view of all those strips and blocks . . .

I'm hoping to start sewing them all together with those appliqued blocks above tonight during the Friday Night Sew-In.

If all goes as scheduled I'm hoping to get a lot done. Wish me luck!  :)

Until next time . . .

A Full February 1st for Me!

Hello!  :)

I didn't get any sewing done over the weekend like I had planned. The hunky dude, the boy and I did go bowling though. I hadn't been bowling in over 20 years. I was pretty darn rusty . . . skills and body . . . lol! I've been paying for it ever since. We did have fun though!  :)

I had joined a Valentine's apron swap over at Country Pleasures. I thought the due date was February 15th for some reason, which is pretty odd since Valentine's Day is the 14th. Anyway the mailing due date was actually February 1st. So I got busy picking out the pattern and getting the fabric. Then I managed to get the apron plus an extra one for me sewed up pretty quick. Of course I can't show them to you yet but I will soon. I mailed it out today so my partner, Gail of Faithfulness Farm, should receive it soon and then I'll share both of them with you!  :)

I had a pretty productive day today. I finally got the two Snowman Blocks I made for a January Block of the Month Swap mailed out to my two partners.

I also got the charm packs mailed out to the giveaway winners from Monday. So Jennifer and Gail they are on the way to you! Enjoy them!  :)

While I was at it, I got the I-SPY charms mailed out for the charm swap. I'm ahead on this one as they're not due until February 15th. I know I'm shocked too! I'm never early!  Lol!  ;)

That was the end of the mailings today. Whew! It was nice to get those items off on their way!  :) I did manage to make two mini blankets for Doobie today but forgot to take pictures of them. :(  I did take a picture of him earlier today all swaddled up in my blanket though (he was cold).  :)

He's so cute and sweet! Isn't he?!!! He looks like a puppy here but he's not. Do you see his new license? I finally went and got it so he's legal now!  :)

I was even able to make some more progress with the Birdies today!  :)  I managed to get all the sashings on. I decided to go ahead and add some cornerstones where the inner blocks meet using the border fabric. What do you think? How's it looking so far?

I'm loving how it's looking but it's a little too small for me. I know it's supposed to be a lap quilt but I think I want it a little bigger. So far there's only one border to add. Tomorrow I think I'll play around a little bit and maybe add two borders instead of just one. Next time you see it the top should be finished. I hope so! It's not that I'm trying to rush. It's just that I've been dying to see how this one turns out. It's for me! I'm so excited! :)

And if that isn't enough . . . Today the mailman brought some goodies to me!  :)

It's one of my Snowman Blocks for the swap! Isn't it cute?!!! My partner Toni also sent me 4 fat quarters of snowman fabric, some sewing machine needles and thread! I'm a lucky girl!  :)

Here's a close up of the block. She designed it herself! I love it!  :)  Thanks Toni! You did a great job!  :)

Until next time . . .

Made Some Progress!

Hello!  :)

My friend Karen, from Sew Much 2 Luv has been having an "After Christmas Sew Along" all month. I wanted to participate from the beginning but I just couldn't get my rear in gear. Now that I'm moving along I'm participating this week. Today, Friday, is the last day. Better late than never . . . right?  ;)

I've made some progress on putting the Birdie's quilt top together. I sewed the four rows together with the sashing in between the blocks. I only got a picture of part of the first row though . . .

It's the January and February blocks so it's appropriate, right?!  :)  I'm hoping to get more done on this tomorrow. The only problem is that the hunky dude is off work every Friday, Saturday and Sunday (he works 4/10's). I love this schedule but sometimes it's hard to get sewing done. He seems to want to run errands and spend time with me on his days off . . . crazy, huh? Just kidding! I love it!  :)  I just wish I could fit some sewing time in there too. It's my fault though as I get lazy after we run errands and just want to sit, watch tv and play on the computer. I'm a total computer addict! There I admitted it!  ;)

Remember this pile I showed you the other day . . .

Did you guess what I was making with it? I turned it into this . . .

I'm very happy with how it turned out.  :)  It's for a Block of the Month Swap I've been participating in through Mary Jane's Farmgirl Connection. January's block was to be a snowman. I think I got it right!  :)  Hopefully my two partners aren't reading this. I will be getting their blocks in the mail to them real soon. I also made a couple extra ones for myself. I'm considering using this design for a surprise project later this year. I just have to decide exactly what I want to do. For now I'll keep my idea a secret. I'll let you in on it when I know all the details, okay?!  :)

Hope you have an awesome weekend!  :)

Until next time . . .

All Cut & Ready to Go!

Hello!  :)

I'm still avoiding cleaning . . . but I'm going to get moving anyway!  :)  I cut all the sashing, borders and binding for my Birdie Stitches Quilt. I also cut some cornerstones but I'm not sure if I'm going to use them or not.  I'll lay it all out and then decide. It looks so pretty! Can't wait to see it all put together!  :)

I received the fabric I ordered for the I Spy Charm Swap at Midnight Maker last night. So I got it all cut and ready to send out. I really love the umbrellas and the duckies aren't too bad either!  :)

Last but not least, I cut all the pieces I need for a surprise project that's been on my to-do list. It will be nice to get this one behind me. I'm way late on it. Can't wait to see how it turns out either as it's all in my head. I'll share it with you when I can.  :)

That's it for now. I better get my behind over to my sewing area and dig that sewing machine out so I can get sewing!

Until next time . . .

It's That Time Again...

Hello!  :)

It's time for another FNSI (Friday Night Sew-In). This time Bobbi from Crafty Vegas Mom is hosting. Be sure to go to her site and sign up to join me and all the others tomorrow night!

Of  course I still haven't managed to clean up my sewing area and get back to sewing yet.

It just seems like such a big overwhelming job . . .

Okay . . . this isn't me or my mess but that's how I feel. I have big plans to get busy tomorrow morning cleaning and organizing so I can get back to it. I have so many projects I need to work on . . . some I want to work on . . . and LOTS of new ones I want to get started!  :)

Wish me luck!  :)  I'll let you know how it goes!

Until next time . . .