Finished piano runner & closet clean up

Juggling several sewing projects keeps me busy.

I finished this piano runner - Tulip Patch from the book Quilty Fun.

I used mostly batiks.

The quilting is vertical wavy lines.

I used facings instead of bindings to finish the runner.

Trying out fabrics for the border.

I'm sorry I don't have a 'before' photo of my quilting supply closet.

Now I can walk into the closet and find things.

I put an extra shelf unit behind the door.

It holds things I don't often use.

Here is grandson David.

When he got the bag I made him, he dressed up and told his mom,

"I'm ready for work!"

His imagination is always so busy.

I love making things for my grandkids.

 

SAHRR Round 2

This week's  round is anything 'Triangle'.

I used Bonnie Hunter's Essential Triangle ruler to cut triangles from 2.5 inch strips.

Two triangle blocks were possible, depending on how I sewed the triangles together.

I made 8 simple triangle blocks and 4 hourglass blocks.

I could make pinwheels from the simple triangle blocks.

I'm going to wait to sew them into the top I'm making.

The photos show some possibilities.

Linking up with the SAHRR bloggers.

Happy Sewing!

 

SAHRR First Round

I'm loving this SAHRR.

I chose a simple 12" block from those suggested by Kathleen.

I looked on quilterscache.com for a block that started with one of my initials 

but in the end decided I liked the simple King's Crown block.

In this block there is space for a large piece of my focus fabric.

If you look closely you can see crowns on the magenta fabric.

Above are my two blocks.

I haven't decided how to set the blocks and I may make another of today's block.

In other sewing, I made a heart block for a project my quilt guild is making.

Now I have time to start my March piano runner.

Happy Sewing!

 

This week in the sewing room

This week I made another version of the crossbody bag I made for myself.

Grandson David needed a treasure bag for his collection.

He asked for gray and royal blue. I told him about this constellation fabric.

His 3rd grade class is studying Outer Space, so he liked the constellation idea.

The lining fabric has a pirate theme. 

I hope this reminds him of the pirate movies we enjoyed watching together.

Below are the front, back, and flap showing the lining.

The left piece has a long pocket with a place for pencils and a small notebook.

I used magnets instead of hook and loop tape.

I made the strap out of fabric enclosing a stiff fusible interfacing.

I put the suggested front zip pocket and back slip pocket.

Instead of a zipper for the main body, I made a bound opening with an elastic loop and button.

I made the vinyl ID pocket as the original pattern used. 

I think my Made in TN label makes it look smart.

Inside view.

The elastic loop is really a ponytail elastic.

Some old coins from France, Canada, and Mexico 

plus some polished stones were included.

The bag was mailed Thursday with a copy of the Tales of Beadle the Bard.

I am working through The Quilter's Field Guide to Color with some members of Uncommon Threads.

Experiment #1 was to make a 'warm' purple block and a 'cool' purple block.

The blocks could be purple or green. I chose purple.

The warm block is on the left, cool block on the right.

Experiment #2 was to sort color swatches into seasons. 

The colors each of us chose were completely up to us.

Then we were to take one season and use 3-5 of our colors to make a block.

I chose my winter colors and made the block above.

White, royal blue, pineapple, and raspberry.

Experiment #3 was to think of three emotions and find 4 colors for each.

Make a block for one emotion with the colors.

I made 'jubilant' with chartreuse, goldfish, turquoise, and magenta.

I changed the flamingo for magenta and like it better.

Some of the colors do not show correctly in the photos.

Now I'm ready for the first round of the SAHRR tomorrow.

Happy Sewing!

 

SAHRR 2025 Center Block

In December I bought several new cat fabrics in anticipation of TMAS block swap.

There were so many that I liked but decided not to use.

I wanted to join the SAHRR again but didn't have any blocks to use for the center.

I looked at my cat fabrics and really wanted to use the Cats of Paris.

But it needed a block with a large middle piece to show off the fabric.

I looked on quilterscache.com for ideas.

This site is a great place to find quilt block instructions - all free.

I looked for easy 12 inch blocks and found Johnny Around the Corner.

Here it is.

Now I have a color palette to use for all the other rounds.

Looking forward to the next round.

Linking up with Gail at Quilting Gail.

Happy Sewing!

 

Tell Me a Story & Color Theory

When we were visiting family in NYC one of our outings was to the fashion district.

I bought fat quarters for Tell Me a Story - Raining Cats & Dogs block swap.

Above and below are my swap blocks. 

Above the fancy cats are wondering if they are fancy enough to wear a crown.

Below, the black cat family is visiting the beach. They have to watch out for the waves!

We started The Quilter's Field Guide to Color this past Saturday.

For the first experiment we have to choose warm and cool purple swatches.

My cool is on the left and warm on the right.

The book suggests a bear paw block for the test block.

Some of our group wanted other choices so I drew these easy blocks.

Here are my warm and cool green swatches.

Warm                  Cool

And we had snow in west Tennessee this week end.

Our son and his kids made this crazy snowman.

The snow in our neighborhood.

Great sewing weather.

Happy Sewing!

 

Denim Apron for Emily

Our daughter is an artist living in NYC.

This year she has a scholarship to attend classes at the Art Student League.

During our recent visit Emily asked if I could make a Japanese style apron

for her to wear while painting at the league.

Here is the completed apron.

I used denim that was in my stash.

I think it was from my mother's stash.

I didn't have a pattern but looked at photos of similar aprons online.

Most were made from linen,  listed for gardening or waiting tables.

There are 3 pockets on the front and one towel strap on the back.

Fedex should deliver it to her tomorrow.

Hope it works.

I finished one folded Christmas tree by Epiphany.

The other one is just lacking the red crocheted trim.

Should be finished before next Christmas.

This is the snow we had earlier this week.

Streets are clear.

Very good sewing weather.

Happy Sewing!

 

First Finishes in 2025

This little miss is interested in needle arts.

She was so pleased with her plastic canvas creation.

Bonus-she learned how to hold the needle so her thread didn't slip out of the eye.

Her embroidery has greatly improved.

She stitched all of the penguin except the beak and feet.

An original Ava design in felt.

She drew the swan and background, used the special felt scissors to cut the greenery,

and then let gran do the stitching.

Today I finished my February challenge blocks.

I chose cherries and a heart for my piano top runner.

Cherries are from Lori Holt and the heart is my own pattern.

Labeled is done.

Note: the piece does not have binding.

I carefully trimmed the top and turned the backing into faux binding on the front.

Above are eight napkins to coordinate with our new tablecloth.

They were my very first finish of 2025.

So many projects on the to-do list.

Happy Sewing!