Reviving a quilter

My mom turned 91 this last Wednesday. She has wanted to make baby quilts for her two great-grands but couldn't seem to work any of her four sewing machines. (Don't know if it's the machine or the quilter.) 

Anyway, I took the fabric home and organized it again. My SIL, Doreen, had originally helped her get started. Then I took my little portable machine to mom's house. It is very basic and easy to use. Success! 

Here are some pictures of the quilt in progress. Sailboats attached to sails.

Sails and sky.

My dependable little Molly.

Mom is excited to be sewing quilts again. Yea!

Now to get on with some of my own.

Sewing again

Maybe my sewing slump is over. I finished Orange POPS and got these pics between the rain storms.

Still not sure how much to charge for it. There is no batting-only pieced front and minky back.

This morning I put these cute little tissue holders together as a thank you for some helpers at work.

It just took two fat quarters to make 8 tissue holders. 

What are you finishing this week?

Orange POPS!

A rainy storm front is moving through with flash flooding. I'm glad our house is on a little hill. You can see the water rushing across the back yard. Perfect sewing weather.

Yesterday I took my new sewing machine to mom's and got her started on two baby quilts she wants to make for great-grands # 2 & 3. She is having trouble with her sewing machines. I hope mine works for her.

Monday I put this top together. I used a layer cake of blue fabrics from Connecting Threads. I think it is Denim but not sure. I added some orange prints from Good Neighbors. I wanted a pop of color and really like the orange with blue. I have pin basted gray minky dots to the back. The binding will be navy with white dots. I have never sold one of my quilts but a friend saw my post and wants to buy it when finished. I have no idea what to charge. It is 37" X 55". Any suggestions?

Beach Blankie Bingo

I'm having trouble getting motivated to sew. 

Along comes a baby shower at work and what to do?

I looked for boyish fabric and found a recently purchased fat quarter with beach toys and another of fishies. I added an orange and white dot for this giant nine patch.

I wanted a flannel back and this zigzag seemed wave like.

Here is the finished blankie. Not much quilting and no binding. 

Shower is tomorrow. I found a baby board book with a fish on the cover.

Ready to go.

My sewing machine went to the spa a few weeks ago. Spring break is next week. Look for new finishes soon.

Surprise from Sew Hot UK

What a surprise came in the mail yesterday. I won the Norway Mini Quilt kit from Sew Hot UK by linking up with the Ho Ho Ho and on we sew linky party. I didn't know it was coming from the UK.

Love the fabric and the pattern! Can't wait to sew it and share it with you.

Busy week end with a read-a-thon at the children's museum tomorrow and 3 year old visiting tomorrow afternoon. Hope to start this mini quilt after that.

It is great to have a surprise project to work on in this chilly winter weather. Really cold for middle Mississippi- 25 degrees F with wind chill. I plan to stay inside.

Thanks to the ladies at Sew Hot!

Two weeks into a new year

Two weeks into the new year and I can't seem to get motivated to work on quilty things.

I made another kimono jacket-super fast. It took about 3 hours including ironing the fabric, cutting out the pattern, and sewing. This is the longer version in a cotton lawn. I made a few changes to the pattern like a side slit for easier movement.

Here is what I started working on-my row by row quilt from the summer. I have done all the rows that are simple piecing and now have blocks with lots of applique'. You know how I feel about that.

This tugboat was the easy part. Now I have to add the barges, doors, windows, and cargo. Can't seem to get motivated.

I should make a 2016 To-Do list, so here goes.

Bind the king quilt-Jamestown meets Ramblin' Rose

Finish the row-by-row

Make an Around the World quilt from a jelly roll I bought last June

We'll see how that works out.

How is your new year quilt list progressing?

one last post for 2015

I bought this panel Monday afternoon, cut fabric Tuesday, and sewed up a play mat Wednesday.

The panel and yellow/black diagonal fabric are Tonka toys designs.

The backing is pea pod green from Kona Solids? I think.

The drawstring idea came from conversations on Christmas about keeping up with all the little toys some little boy loves to play with.

I am very pleased with how the drawstring and loops turned out. I think it looks like road hazard signs. When the string is pulled the play mat turns into a bag to contain those little cars, legos, and people until needed.

The kimono jacket was finished over the weekend. I bought the black and white prints years ago for another more structured jacket but never got past the lining. This kimono was super fast and easy to make and I know I will make some more. I think lovely daughter would like one, too.

I made three rice bags and flannel covers to give the office ladies at school. They are always cold. Maybe these will help them warm up.

Sweet son made this bubbling fountain for our new backyard landscape. 

Finally, I am enjoying the birds every morning as I eat breakfast. The cardinals come between 7:30 and 9:00 am. Usually I am at work when they drop by. They are my favorite winter visitors.

I think this is a wrap for 2015. Looking forward to new sewing projects in 2016.