Blessed Handwork.......

I so enjoy handwork, don't you?  Right now I am working on a pattern by the Crab-apple bunch and I am getting so excited as I see my project coming to an end.  I wanted to share with you where I am right now with my project.  Behind it is the different fabrics that I am 'auditioning' to make this design complete.  I think I will make a pillow using both fabrics, but I know this pattern would also make a cute purse... or maybe sewn into a blouse or jacket... or who knows.  Anyway, here it is...

Below is a pillow that I made up to go along with the quilt I had made and shared in a previous post.  I know that you are familiar with the quilt as I shared so many pictures of it with you.  I had so much fun working on each of these projects and I hope you are sewing right there with me.  Don't forget the beauty of working with 12 wt. thread.  That is my thread of choice and what I have used on each project.  Love it, love it!

Blessings friends.  Until next time.....

The Lovely Art Of Machine Quilting

I wanted to share the latest quilt that I had quilted by my dear friend Sharon, who is an incredible long arm  quilter.  I have never had her quilt on any of my quilts using minkie as a backing before.  I have been too chicken as I have seen the disastrous results of many long arm quilters out there who have ruined many a quilt because they had no idea how to handle this lovely fabric.  Minkie is quite soft, much softer and nicer than flannel, yet very stretchy. Because of that, quilters often struggle with the correct way to place it on their racks before it is quilted.  When I called Sharon to ask her about using minkie on the back of my quilt, she encouraged me to bring it on over.  I will admit to all of you... I was skeptical of how this baby quilt was going to turn out.  Silly me!!  Check out the results below.  Isn't it absolutely beautiful???  As always, click on any picture for a closer look....

Many of you may remember this little diaper dock below, (from previous posts)  that I made out of the coordinating fabric.  Once opened, it is ready to change that little babe of yours on, closed, it easily carries a diaper or two along with the wipes.  I think this is such great pattern.  Some quilters use this same pattern for carrying their irons along with a small can of starch or water to their many classes.  Instead of the vinyl that I put over the fabric, they purchase that grey, heat resistant fabric so that they can iron right their next to their machines.  Fabulous idea don't you think?

I just had to throw in this picture of one of my grandsons at Easter.  He thought that he looked pretty hot in these egg glasses that I had purchased.  My daughter had to eventually hide them from him as he wanted to wear them all of the time.  Pretty cute I think!

Keep up your sewing... and share with me what you are doing.  Blessings!  Debbie

Vintage Patterns

Having as many grandchildren as I do, I am often trying to come up with something different to make for them, besides just quilts or pillowcases.  As you can see from my previous posts, I adore making children's clothing for my little munchkins. So, of course, I am on the lookout for great and unusual patterns.  I don't really like using the standard, more well known patterns  found at  your local fabric stores......no... I have to come up with something different all together, something unique, something that the normal person (aka. smart person) couldn't easily find. In my search this time I came upon a book that was filled with vintage style clothing patterns for kids. Aha.. this is just perfect I thought!!  It had a CD located at the back of the book, where you could run off each pattern  into various sections.  Once the printing is done, you then paste the pattern sections together.  (Now that took a lot more time than I thought it would!)  Once  taped, it's then time to cut out your project. Since I had chosen a vintage style pattern, it only made sense to find vintage style fabric to go along with it.  I found a pretty cute cowboy fabric that I thought Mr. Logan would like.  (My goodness, if I would simply stick to the norm, these projects wouldn't take me nearly as long as they do!!)  Well... below you will find a picture of the finished, "Boy's Short-Sleeved Shirt"  It is not made exactly like the directions suggest, but it's close enough.  I am forever making  changes to any pattern that I make.... and one of the many changes in this one was the pocket.  I felt it needed to have at least one and one that matched up perfectly with the fabric behind it....  (I take it back, I don't need to wonder why these little projects take me longer than I had planned....)  However,   I did like the shirt once I completed it. It was fun and I knew my little guy would enjoy wearing it.   I especially like the tucks in the back as well as the overall design of the shirt.  My grandson, from what I hear,  lives in it.  And THAT my dear readers makes it all worth it.  As long as those sweet peas are happy with what I do, I'll keep doing what I am doing.  Hopefully you're  busy making those around you delighted too.

Happy sewing!  Debbie

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Panels

Panels come into the shop all the time. Many women do not know what to do with them... which is too bad. They definitely challenge those creative genes from flowing because no one wants to cut them up. Here are a few ideas. The first picture is a panel that came in that no one had even taken a cut from. I thought the panel was very pretty, so I made the first cut from the bolt, then decided to add a couple of borders to make it into either a table runner or a wallhanging. Talk about a quick Christmas gift.. this was definitely it! Once I brought the panel back completed, we sold out of the panel.

   

The next panel that came into the shop I absolutely fell in love with! It was a panel of vintage postcards... which I brought home and cut up. Once I added borders around each postcard, I sewed them together to make a quilt. Moda fabrics shared the idea and I ran with it.

   

Because the backing fabric was a collection of the postcards, I decided to make a label that also looked like a postcard... don't you just love machine embroidery?

   

The next panel had two stocking designs on it. I decided to cut them all apart...purchase a matching fabric for the inside lining and quilt them both. I used a 12 weight thread on one of the stockings and a regular thread on the other. Can you tell the difference? I did use the 12 weight for both heel applications as I wanted them to stand out.

   

I know that you remember this last quilt that I made.. this also was a panel that I cut up and hand embroidered with the 12 weight thread.

  

Last, but certainly not least, is a new little dress that I made... maybe one of my daughters will have a girl..no pressure.   ;-)

  

Until next time....

Have a Glorious New Year!!

Wow... it has been forever since I have taken the time to write a post for my blog. I have been sewing and have not been sharing with you! I will make this short and sweet so that you will know that I'm at least still alive. ;-) I will share a couple of pictures with more to come later. Please tell me that you can remember the days when you could purchase a kit that had all of the cardboard pieces in it to make a box. Do you remember? Well... the girls at the shop came across a large box in the back that had those old cardboard kits in it. I took three of the kits home, and made three different covered boxes. I am only sharing two as someone else has the third box. The first box I made I covered in a beautiful Christmas fabric that we had. It took slightly more fabric as I wanted to fussy cut the fabric. I also decided to machine embroider on the inside cover of the box. The second box was covered with Anne Sutton's fabric from Bunny Hill Designs. Her fabric is so sweet and I thought it would be perfect for my granddaughter. The last picture that I'm sharing with you today is a picture of a tote that I made for Robert Kaufman. This fabric company has been so generous in sharing their selvages with us, (for our new book) that Daniela wanted a tote made for them to take to market. Many thanks to the Robert Kaufman crew. And here is a picture of the new book. I had the wonderful privildge of testing a couple of the projects in the book and I am sure that you will enjoy making them for yourself and others. It makes you look at selvages in a totally new light! What is really great is that some of the fabric companies out there are making their selvages a lot more appealing.. check it out. Have fun sewing this year. Until we meet again... Debbie

Finished Quilt

I finally finished one of the quilts that I have been working on this past year. You will probably recognize this quilt right away as I have been sharing each hand embroidered block with you as I have completed it. This quilt may have taken me a little longer than usual to complete, but I love the finished result. My good friend, Sharon Mominee, machine quilted this quilt for me and I am more than pleased with her artistic work on it. Thanks so much Sharon! (Isn't it lovely?) Here is the finished quilt: And here are a couple of close ups of two of the blocks. Again.. I used the Sulky Blendable 12 wt. thread to embroider with. Try some handwork yourself... it is very relaxing. Happy sewing! Fondly, Debbie

New Hat For Keira

The kids always go beach camping each summer so I decided to make a hat for Keira out of some scraps left over from another project... you may recognize the fabric! ;-) The pattern is quite easy and the hat goes together rather quickly so this makes it a plus in my book. (The hat somewhat reminds me of those fedora hats that are so popular right now.) The pattern provides 4 different sizes so I can use this pattern for my other little munchkins that need some coverage from the summer heat. You'll really love being able to use up some of those larger pieces of fabric that are laying around in your stash bins.. I mean resource center! P. S. I have finally finished one of the quilts that I have been sharing the blocks with you on this blog site. Guess which one. You'll see it next time. Until then..... Debbie