How do they do it?

I'm very impressed how bloggers are able to post a few times a week. Although I'm sewing, and taking pictures, I just can't seem to get them from the camera, to the computer, to the internet.

Anyhow, I've been making these adorable purses! See the tutorial here.

The purple and pink was my practice one. I took this to a fund raiser I attended recently and LOVED it! I didn't have to worry about a big, bulky purse bumping everyone, nor did I have to leave it at the table and worry about someone pilfering through it. It is the perfect size for a checkbook, credit card, some cash, my keys, and lip balm. I need to make one less flashy, but I think I will get a lot of use out of it-perfect for shopping.

I made this one for a niece that turned 19 recently. I also made a little coin purse to go with it. A great gift, especially with a little cash tucked inside!

This one went to a niece for her 16th birthday-also with a bit of cash. How cute is that?

These don't use much fabric 2-6X17" pieces of fabric with the same amount of batting. It's also a great way for those of us new to machine quilting to get some practice in.

If you have a serger, I'd serge the edges together. Also, the little purse didn't really seem to match the quilted, bigger purse. So the first one I used quilted pieces. That was too bulky so I just "quilted" the next ones, minus the batting. I think it looks much better that way.

I have 4 more in progress for some little gals that have birthdays coming up.

Lucky Me!!!!!!

About 3 1/2 years ago I won these 12-12X12 squares.

I forgot to take a picture before I added the borders.

I was at a quilt retreat and we each received a little pile of fabric-already cut- and instructions on how to assemble our square. There were 24 in all, and they had 2 drawings for 12 squares each. The other was fall colors (I think). And I won these! I purchased some awesome fabric for the sashing, but once I had it home, I decided it was a bit too much (dh agreed). I then used blue and black fabric from my stash to border each square, and the fabric I purchased for sashing (thank goodness I purchased extra!) I will use for the back. I'll post pictures of the finished product (hopefully in the near future).

I am going to walk a half marathon in July, I will be collecting donations for a local youth home. I am going to sell chances on this quilt! I sandwiched it tonight. I'm not sure just how I'm going to quilt it yet. Since I'm a beginner I don't want to get too extragavent, but I'd like to (obviously) make it nice. It measures 54X72.

I think I love it!

Yes, that is Minnie's (once again) behind in the bottom left corner!

Colt is such a BRAT!

We purchased a gentle lead halter for Minnie a few weeks ago, and it works so great at keeping her from pulling we decided to get Colt one as well. On my way to our walk today I stopped and picked one up for him ($15) and I decided to put it on him in the parking lot of the store rather than do it at the dog walk place in case I had to make adjustments. It fit perfectly so I left it on him and drove the ~5 minutes to the trail.

When I opened the back of the truck and went to put the leash on him the halter was dangling around his mid-section! WTF???????????? Oh I see, he CHEWED it off his neck! in 5 minutes!



JERK!

I love him dearly (he's truly the funniest dog I've ever had) but I thought he was over this chewing thing. I told him I'm adding $15 to his tab. Hopefully I'll be able to somehow sew this back together.

Doll Quilt and Pillow

I made this adorable doll quilt and matching pillow/pillow case for a special little girl.

Here's the back.

Here is the quilt with matching pillow/pillowcase.

I think my 4 yo GREAT niece will love this for her dolls.

I made this totally from scraps. The fabric is flannel, I used it originally for a ragtime quilt (is that what those were called?) for another niece several years ago. I stippled this-WOOOOEEEE. Very difficult when using flannel (just an FYI). I don't think I'd ever try to machine quilt a large quilt made of flannel. I used 3.5" squares (3" finished) and it went together really quickly. Basically it's just making one square and binding it. I used a "scrappy" binding of the different fabrics in the quilt.

It measures about 12X18. The tutorial is here.
Amanda Jean used 2.5" squares, I wasn't that motivated-I used 3.5.

Yes, I know I link to her often-I love her tutorials and ideas!

A Real Quilt!

I finally finished my first "real" quilt in a very long time. Actually, it's only a lapsize so perhaps it doesn't even qualify! I used Amanda Jean's Stacked Coin tutorial-found here.

My local quilt shop only had 2 different charm packs to choose from and neither of them really worked for what I wanted - I wanted all black and white- so I cut my own rectangles. I did include some grey in there too. I wanted a lap size quilt so I used 6 strips and made them 25 long. I wish I had made it a bit longer, but I think it turned out very nice.

Here's the back. I stole Amanda Jean's idea of putting the strip on the back. I didn't do a stacked coin strip, but I used a strip of the sashing. I like it, she's correct that it does make the back much nicer.

This is the first time I've ever truly machine quilted a quilt (other than stitch in the ditch). It's supposed to be stippling, but I told my sis (the recipient) that it's more like "Tracey's Wanderings".

I was shocked how physically tiring it can be. You have to have some upper body strength! I can't imagine what it will take to do a full size quilt.

I'm anxious to get started on the next one!

Good Grief, I'm an Idiot!

The needle was in backward! ARGH! Of course I couldn't find the manual so I had to go online to find one (I love the internet!). I kind of thought it was the needle, but I couldn't seem to put the needle in the other way-obviously I didn't try hard enough.

Anyhow, problem solved, project finished, and another project finished. I sewed more in March than I have in a long time-no pictures to show for it-but soon! (they're in my camera).

ARGH!

Why does the &$%$%!!@ needle break within ten minutes of being done with a project? Then, all the other needles you have, for some reason, keep breaking the thread! ARGH! I love to sew, but honestly between tension issues and crap like this, I wonder why??????????

Ok, I'm just putting it away and buying new needles tomorrow and I'm sure I will be happy as can be.

I have actually gotten a fair amount done this month, just no pictures-yet!

Off to have pizza and beer with DH!