Laundry 101

My young (well, compared to me) friend Allie is off to Loyola College in Maryland this fall. She's extremely excited. I decided to make something for her as a "Congratulations" present...a personalized laundry bag. We moms think of all the important things in life. :) I used some Amy Butler Midwest Modern fabric from my stash. Of course it didn't make a dent in the stash but it was nice using some of this very fun fabric. Anyway, here are a few pictures of Allie and the bag of course.




Wait, is that a dirty sock I see under that table?


Allie, good luck, have fun, work hard, call often and please get an A+ in Laundry 101!

Can a person have too many bags?

Apparently not, especially if you look at my collection. I do love bags! Here is a very cute bag I recently did for summer. I quilted the outer fabric and put a binding in one of my favorite Amy Butler fabrics. Actually, the whole bag is done in Amy Butler fabrics from her Midwest Modern collection.


Check out this little halter shirt I made for a young girl. Now tell me, what would a very cute top be without a matching bag?


On another note...a couple of friends and I attented the 3rd Annual Rhode Island Sheep and Wool festival. It's a great festival even if you don't knit, spin or weave. There is a kids craft tent where they can try all these things as well as a sit and knit area where you can park yourself and knit. Great way to meet new friends. And of course there is the shopping. My friend Lisa brought her camera and I'm sure she'll be posting soon. I'm a little worried since I let myself be photographed with a donkey. Anyway it's a great festival in a beautiful a setting.

It's been a while

I know it's been a while but you know how that goes. Anyway, I have a BOM update. The twelvth and final block arrived last week. I need to sew that one as well as redo 3, 4 and 5. Almost there. I hope to have the top pieced together by the end of June and at the machine quilters shortly after.
Block IX - Pinwheel Wonder by Deborah Schoof


Block X - Steppin' Up by Camille Roskelley


Block XI - Anka's Star by Heather Peterson

Spring Flowers

I'm not sure if non-sewers know who Karri Mecca is but she is one of my favorite children's clothes designers. Her designs are always gorgeous and beautifully embellished. She recently came out with a book called Sewing with Whimsy. There was a beautiful dress that I really wanted to make. However, I would have to make approximately 16 flowers from rick rack trim and attach them to a floating trellis hem detail. I could hear my friend Maria asking me what the heck I was thinking but what the heck...I like a sewing challenge. It took many hours to complete but was so worth it. Of course I'll never make another but it was a fun process. Here is the finished dress with a couple of close ups of the flowers. The pictures were taken by my friend Helen. Thanks Helen!

A Finished Machine Applique Project

I made a bag for my daughter with my first finished applique block.
Front:

Back:

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, this is very addicting. I wanted to do more so I made a block for a friend at work. She has 2 very cute Boxers. I made the block and sent it along with some leftover fabric that she really liked. I'll have to post a picture of whatever it is she comes up with.

The block is still wet...I couldn't wait to take the picture. Very fun.

A little embroidery and practicing my applique

I bought a book a while ago that had applique patterns of large breed dogs. I've been wanting to try machine applique for so long. I'm not sure why I always hesitate but I think that it's partly because it looked difficult to go around corners and get into small spaces. Anyway, I finally yanked out the book and traced a pattern for a simple embroidered dish towel.


Very nice and my daughter loved it. Now on to the machine applique. I prepared a piece for practice. I cut a crazy shape that would let me try different angles and curves. Once I figured out which presser foot I felt comfortable with and worked out all the other little issues I found that I really like doing and that it was pretty simple. Just takes a little practice. You really need to slow down on your sewing speed too. I have two completed projects to show next time I post...maybe more. I can't seem to stop. :)

Baby N models her new outfit

She looks ready for a day out on the town!