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

Purse

While back in Kansas, Elizabeth and I went to one of our favorite fabric shops, Zoelee's. Zoelee's is located in a beautiful, private, home at the end of a lovely cul-de-sac. Elizabeth and I have never been able to get out of there without purchasing something new that Zoelee has recently made. When we saw her new purse patterns, we about flipped! Of course we just HAD to purchase them and started making the purses practically the moment we got home. Below are some pictures of mine. The fabric looks and feels exactly like real leather... but it's not. If you have a Jo-Ann's near you, they have this same pleather fabric in their home dec area and it is currently on sale for 50% off, a steal. With the added extra 10-15% off the total price at check out, it really brings your cost down. The normal price runs about $20.00 a yard and I was quite tempted to purchase the distressed black that they had at the Jo-Ann's near me due to the sale... but I controlled myself. The black that Jo-Ann's has is exactly like this distressed brown color that I have pictured below. Take a look at the Jo-Ann's near you and see what is available...even if you only want to touch it. I think this fabric is gorgeous and it makes a fun purse for next to nothing. Enjoy...... Elizabeth's purse: The pattern: Until next time.. Debbie

Turkeys......

I have been in Kansas for the past few weeks, spending time with my kids and grandkids who live there. I enjoy my time there very much and leaving is incredibly difficult as I know that I will be missing them terribly by the time I reach my seat on the plane. The grandkids seem to be growing up without me and I miss being able to watch it all first hand. Now that I am home, it is time to get back to sewing and I will share with you all the cute patterns and fabric that I purchased while in Kansas. But until then... I just had to share these pictures of a mother turkey and her little ones that showed up in my front yard this morning. I have lived here for thirty years and have never seen a wild turkey in my yard..... ever. We have hawks, vultures, owls,...in fact birds of every variety it seems.. but never turkeys. Snakes, lizards, squirrels, and rabbits abound all over our property, along with coyotes, but again this little family is a first for us. So I just had to share. I'm thinking they are coming for the blackberries that my son-in-law planted up on the side of the yard.... at least that's where the mom and her little ones hung out for some time. So much for fresh berries on my oatmeal.... sigh.. and I was looking so forward to that.

Two More.......

I am leaving for two weeks to visit my daughters and my grandchildren who live in Kansas City. I do not get to see them very often so I am really looking forward to my trip. Before I leave however, I wanted to share with you, two more finished blocks. It will be nice to finally have them all finished and ready to quilt. Until I get back.... blessings, Debbie