Burp Cloth Pattern

I was asked about the pattern for the burp cloths. I can't find the email address for Eileen so I am answering you in a post. The pattern I use is a free pattern from New Conceptions Sewing Patterns. The pattern is a Baby Burping Cloth. I have used this many times and they have always been well received. You will really like it. Good luck!

Projects this week

I have completed 3 burp cloths this week. I love how they turn out. What I hate is dragging out the embrodiery machine. However, once it's out and chugging along, I love the finished project. These are being mailed to my sister for a new baby at their church.This is my newly started project this week. It is the beginnings of a rag quilt. I have all of the blocks cut and sewn. I am ready to start them into rows. I had to buy more fabric to make the pillowcase and to add a few squares. I didn't know how much I needed so I bought the rest of the fabric. I am not the only one buying that fabric this week and I was afraid that they would be out of it before I determined what I needed. Fortunately, I still had a coupon. I will start putting the rows together as soon as I get the borders on the Take 5 quilt (2 of them) that I promised a friend that I would finish by next weekend.

This week I have used 2 1/2 yds. I am not counting the fabric for the rag quilt until it is completely sewed. So YTD I have used 5.75 yards. I have purchased 6.125 yds for a net loss of .375 yards. I am going backwards toward using 100 yards of fabric this year. Good thing that it's still early!!!!

1st Christmas Gift for 2010

I have my first finish for a 2010 Christmas gift done!!!!! Most importantly I have used 3 yards of fabric from my stash! Actually, I bought this fabric on sale (cheap) several weeks ago and it was easier to make the pillowcases as opposed to find a place to put it in my sewing room where I could find it before next Christmas.

100 Yard Dash

I have decided to participate in the Stashbusters 100 yard dash. This is where you use 100 yards of fabric (what did you think that I was going to be running???!!). This is my first finish for 2010. It is 2 sets of snap bags along with 7 tissue covers. So far this year, I have used...hold on I have to get the calculator.....I love these fractions.... I have used 1.675 yards so far. Only 98.375 yards to go. I did buy 3.22 yards of fabric today so if I was netting out then I would be in a negative number but this if for my next rag quilt project that will be started later in the week. Look for lots of finished projects in 2010!!!!!

Fleece Cat

I have finally finished the fleece cat. I had some issues with skipped stitches. Fortunately I got some good advice from a quilting board - Backporch Friends and it worked. I also changed from the walking foot back to a regular foot and viola a finished quilt. I still have to cut the edges but I will get that done while watching tv. I have a new computer and am trying to learn to post pics so here it goes......

little project

I like to make tissue covers and there is a wedding that is coming that needs them for the bridesmaids luncheon. Green gingham check matches the men's ties. However, the fabric is flimsy and I am not able to do any special stitching on it. I would like to incorporate some eggplant on it but I tried stitching some purple hearts but the fabric pulled...what a mess!!!! I think that means that monogramming the back is out also. Sister, what do you think? Should I look for some different fabric and forget the gingham check. I want these to be sweet so I need some help.

Making Progress

The top is finished for the prayer quilt and will be at the LA'er by tomorrow. I am going to have it stitched in the ditch around the big blocks just for stability. Am requesting for her to write the words to Jesus Loves Me in the border. Then it will be ready for tying. The yellow thread on the blue strips really makes it pop. It is not perfect but perfect for Robin.

I am thrilled that I am learning to use the embroidery machine. I have had this Bernina Deco for over 4 years and this was the first time that I actually changed the bobbin. Maybe this machine will be more functional than I thought.

I have decided to make a pillowcase to go with this. This line of fabric is old but I knew that the LQS still had some. When I went to get it yesterday it was no longer there. How exciting it was to find it on the 50% off rack. Fortunately they had 1 yard left of the border fabric - just enough for the pillowcase. Just another blessing.....

Working on getting the back together before church this morning.

Happy Mother's Day to you all!!!!!

Prayer Quilt

I am attempting to make a prayer quilt. This is the top that I am finishing...made with April Cornell's sunshine jelly rolls. This is for a Christian friend that is in need of prayers due to her medical condition.
I am going to put inspirational scriptures in the dark blue areas of the quilt. I am finally learning to use my embroidery machine. I am amazed to find out tonight that I have numbers on the machine. Maybe this machine is not the waste of money that I have felt like it has been.

As I am praying for my friend, please pray for me that I am able to finish this project so that it may help my friend feel the peace and comfort that passes all understanding. God is good all of the time. All of the time God is good!!!!

It's been too long!!!

You know that it has been too long when you can't remember your password to your blog and you have to have it reset. I haven't been blogging because life has happened. I haven't been sewing much because I have been distracted. I had some medical issues and it has freaked me out. I pray that is all behind me. So it's time to get undistracted. I have finished a rag quilt and will post pictures soon. I am working on finishing a flimsy that is laying around. The plan is to get some things to the LA'er soon as I have been squirreling away a few nuts so that I can get some done. It's not as much fun to make tops unless you are getting them quilted also.

I could use some encouragement. So if you have any happy thoughts or words of wisdom, please send them my way!!!!!

Bees Are Swarming

I don't cross-stitch very often but when I do I remember how much I enjoy it. These are the eight bees that I have done for our Ladies Day at church. Seven flew away last Sunday for finishing. I don't know what they are going to do with them but they go with the theme for the day. I got signed up to do this while I was out on medical leave. Unfortunately, I didn't feel like doing much while I was off. You know how it goes, had a long list to do and got nothing done. Someone at work told me that I made a list like I was going on vacation as opposed to recovering. Anyway, these are done and I am going to look through my things and find another cross-stitch thing to do in between the sewing. I am working on some baby quilts that I hope to post pictures on later this week.

The List

Well it is time to check in with the list. I did not do everything (or anywhere close) on the list but it did keep me on target. One thing that I forgot to add to the list was another Halloween fabric basket. What I have accomplished: 6 Gator tissue holders, all borders on 4 scarecrow tablerunners and the top to a different style of a tablerunner. I don't have any pictures to show because the tissue holders and the basket have already been given away. The tablerunners are a work in progress so I will hold off until later in the week and I have more to show. I see some success in making a list so I will try this again!!!!

Labor Day Weekend List

I want to get alot accomplished this weekend. This is what needs to happen:

1. Make 5 Gator tissue holders.
2. Do borders on the Sunshine quilt (it would be nice to do binding also.
3. Get borders on 1 Halloween wallhanging.
4. Do the first border on scarecrows table runners.

I seem to see a pattern of borders here. I have been cleaning up in my sewing room. I can almost walk in there. Of course, in order to accomplish this I am having to take over another room in the house for fabric. But that is another story. I am going to be accountable to my list. I'll let you know on Monday night how it turned out (or learn how to delete posts on a blog LOL!!!!)!

Fabric Baskets

Someone mentioned on one of the Yahoo groups that I am (I believe it was Stashbusters) about a tutorial by the Pink Penguin http://ayumills.blogspot.com/2008/05/tutorial-fabric-basket.html. It was great! The top one was the first one. I am not a real sewer but I really learned some things from this that I can use. The 2nd one went much faster (about 5 hours for the 1st one and 3 hours for the 2nd) The fleece batting is much stiffer on the 2nd one. It was a learning experience. I have decided that the next one will not have as many different fabrics. I used 4 (the tutorial suggested 3) but I think that I will use 2. They are small squares so you don't see much contrast. These are cute little things to put Halloween candy in. It was great fun. Check out the tutorial and see what you think!

On a roll......

This is my finish for this week. It's a wall hanging. The pictures do not do the colors justice. The lime green, orange and purples are just so bright. I love it. This is the most I have done on small projects and I am feeling a great sense of accomplishment. I have another panel like this but can't decide what to do. I don't have anymore green with the purple spiders which I think just make the inside border. Anyway this was a fun project and I just love it!!!!! Now we'll see what member of the family stakes a claim on it!

Is it Fall yet?

I have not been blogging but I have been sewing. It's so hot down in sunny Florida and since I am ready for some fall weather, the only way I can get it is to make it "sew".

This is a pumpkin table runner that I had the top made but needed to sandwich and quilt it. These tablerunners are a maiden voyage in learning to do some machine quilting. Since I can't afford to send everything to a longarmer, I am just going to need to learn to do somethings myself. This one is probably going to Kentucky.

This table runner is the first of many. In other words, I have leftover fabric so I am going to do more of them to use it up. I have one pieced that is much larger than this one but should be a good size to go on top of a piano so I am going to start quilting that one soon. Hope everyone likes scarecrows!

Last but not least is a wallhanging that is done. This was mostly to use a cross-stitch piece that I have done with the cutest charms. The Halloween fabric is several years ago but has a real old-fashioned look. I am so pleased to have actually completed some projects. I will get back to blogging more regularly but now I have actually some things to show! So bring on the cooler weather (but no hurricanes)!!!!!!

Back to Quilting

It's not that I haven't had anything to post but it wasn't very quilty. I have finally finished school. Yes, I am a college graduate!!! YEAH!!!!! I now have extra time on my hands and I have great plans on what to do with it. Haven't started any of them yet ( not really) but hopefully soon. Mostly I have started catching up on my sleep. Don't know how I am going to make up for three years but my body is trying! I have some pictures to share.

This was the ring bearers pillow that I made for my niece's wedding. I was so pleased with how it turned out. I used more beads than I have ever used but it was beautiful. The wedding was incredible and we all had just the best time!

I have been wanting to make a bag since I have seen so many of them on other blogs. This is my first attempt. I gave it to my sister as a very small thank you for all that she did to help me through school. Whenever I make something I try to make one for her too. I am working on my bag next.

I read so many interesting blogs and I have decided that I need to sew more so that I have more to blog about. So I'm signing off and getting started on the first redwork project (that I am doing in blue) that I have ever tried. I'll post a pic soon!

A little knowledge....

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I have wanted for sometime to change the header of my blog. I want to come up with something but didn't have a clue where to start. In reading a blog there was a link to a vlog that gave instructions on how to do this. So off I went, totally unprepared because I didn't have a picture ready. I did have a picture of my baby Bea so I tried this. However, the picture is so big and I don't know how to fix that part. Some I guess that I am making progress but still have a ways to go. It's been a long time since I have posted but I will get pics up of what I have been doing. But now I have got to get back to my blocks!

Working on a Wedding

It's good to be back to blogging. It's the same old story of where I have been...work and school. This week finishes school - graduation is May 3rd. It is finally here! I have been doing some sewing but I am not ready to show that yet. However, with school winding down the next project is the wedding for my niece Kathleen. My sister Kay and I are giving the bridesmaids luncheon. It is going to be soooo fun! I'll share details as they finalize. I wanted to have some kind of party favor so that is what I have come up with

It's a tissue holder. The pattern is from the Ami Simms site. I have to send in my donation to Stl Lukes for the privilege of using it. We are going to put on the invitations to bring their favorite story of Kathleen and Lane and we'll provide the tissues! The fabric is valentines fabric that has been marked down since it is after the holiday. Can't get any better than that! Now I am off to work on the ring bearer's pillow.....

Fallen off the wagon

I have fallen off the stashbuster wagon. Glad that I am not officially no-buy because apparently I am a weak woman!!!! Stopped by Joann's yesterday to pick up some more border fabric and found the flannel on sale. Have I ever mentioned how much I love flannels and rag quilts? I bought most of it for $2.00 per yard. It took every bit of self control to only buy for 1 rag quilt. I really wanted more. Not that I needed that but I found some really cute pink and green flannel that I was able to find some coordinates. I will post a picture when I get it made up. I am still working on my Chinese coin quilt. It is taking forever! But I have discovered why....apparently my math skills weren't quite up to par when I was making the coins. I almost have the rows done and have figured out that I have enough for 2 quilts. Which is why I had to go to Joann's to get more border fabric. Sorry that I don't have pictures but I will as soon as I really have something to show. I have finals this week for school. I am down to only having to attend 16 more classes before graduation. Can't wait!!!!!!

Black & White

This is my latest UFO. I am working on a black and white Chinese coin quilt. Most of it is fabric from stash. I did buy a couple more just to have some more variety. The red that you see on the edge will be the the sashing between the strips and the border. Joann's has had their calicos for 40% off so I went and bought the musical fabrics for the back. I plan to take this to the LA'er as soon as this is completed. Hopefully that will be in the next couple of weeks.
I have started back to school. Just two more classes and I will be a graduate!!! This term is managment science and will be over in 5 more weeks. The last class will be an economics class. I only have to attend 24 more classes! Yes, I am counting them down. Graduation is May 3rd. YEAH!!!!