Pillowcase Factory Closed!

This week I was determined to get a few more UFO's off my shelves. When I make pillowcases, they are super simple, but I have to set up the serger so I like to make several at a time. This week I made 7! These two I needed the brown flange, so I picked it up at the shop today at lunch so I could get them finished. They match the Pop Parade/Boxed Blessings Quilt I made.


I also picked up a fat quarter of the Chez Moi flowers below to make the top of this pillowcase. I had bought the end of the bolt, so had to settle for a fat quarter, but it worked great and no waste. This will be the "gift wrap" for the snapshots quilt. I now need to get the gift all wrapped up for my friend. I'm getting so excited to give it to her.

The pillowcase factory is closed, well at least for this week! I put the serger away and started cutting out a new quilt I hope to finish this weekend. It's called the 5 & Dime quilt, so we'll see...

"Snapshots of Friends" Happy Hour finished!

"Snapshots of Friends" Happy Hour quilt is finished! I finished the binding yesterday at work and tonight I put the label on. I think my friend is truly going to love it and be totally shocked when I give it to her. When I was writing out the label I decide to call it "Snapshots of Friends" since that's part of the name of the quilt pattern. Everyone who knows this quilt though, calls it Happy Hour, from the book the pattern comes from. I ended up using a pink inner border and the red binding. The pink is on the back. It's a throw size, so the perfect quilt for curling up on the couch. I used the Chez Moi line and it has really grown on me as I made the purses and quilt. I have a pillowcase cut out and I'll try to get it finished to wrap the quilt in it. I don't know when I'll get a chance to give this to her, but I know she reads my blog, so whenever it is, I can't wait to hear if she likes it. Which wonderful friend receives this quilt?? Stay tuned... she hasn't received a friendship quilt from me yet.

Peaches and Dreams

Crazy 1I and Jen talked me in to doing a scrappy Peaches and Dreams quilt with them. It didn't take much convincing since the pattern is pretty simple. I just needed time to get to it! I have all these other UFO's I'm seriously trying to get done before Labor Day. This week I made a huge dent in my UFO pile, so now I don't feel so bad starting a new quilt. Last night I went through a stack of batik's and pulled blues, greens, reds, oranges, tans, and yellows to make the quilt. I think I've got enough contrast, I just need to figure out how to cut it out so I get the look I'm going for. I pressed and cut last night, but only got a few fabrics cut out. Here is my fabric selection. Not sure how much of each I'll use, but it will be interesting.



Tonight while I sew with the girls I'm working on a new bag... so we'll see if I get it done so I can show it tomorrow. Depends on how much laughing we do.

Baby Burp Clothes

Tonight I finished up a couple burp clothes I had started a while ago. They match two baby quilts I made, so they will be gifts to go with the quilts.

My Carpenter Pillowcase

Tonight I made myself another pillowcase. It's hard to see, but the white is the cuff and it's actually a glow in the dark fabric, which I thought would be cool for a pillowcase. It matches the PJ pants and makeup bag I've already made.

Paul's Pillowcase

Tonight I took out the pillowcase kit I had bought for Paul in MN when I was on vacation. Since he's a carpenter it fits him. I have the same fabric for a baby boy quilt, but I still haven't made it.

Leslie's Pillowcases

After I made curtains for Leslie's room, I had enough fabric to make pillowcases to match her quilt. I finished cutting out 4 other pillowcase sets, but those will have to wait for another night to be finished. I'm so glad I finished two UFO's that have been hanging over my head for the past year!

Leslie's Curtains

Earlier this year my MIL and I made her a queen size quilt. We had gotten fabric for curtains and pillowcases too, but I didn't know what I was going to do. Since grommets are so easy, I decided to use them. The curtains are black, but didn't photograph well with the light shining in. I whipped these up in less than 2 hours.

Happy Hour Quilted!

Today I got so much accomplished, I wonder how much more I could have gotten done, had I not had to work. I worked with Cindy today and we had a great, fast day. We have such a good time and work so well together. After work I picked up the bobbin thread I needed at Hancock's since they had it. I wanted grommets but no such luck. I picked up 4 new pots and soil and repotted all my plants tonight. I have several from when my grandparents died and I try to keep them all alive, but I don't have a very good green thumb. The ivy from the wedding is doing the best of any of my plants. They are all repotted now.
After supper I finished the last two rows of quilting on the Happy Hour quilt. I quilted it with loops.

Then I had to decide what I wanted for binding. I had planned to do red, but when I went to get it on Tues. night, we were out at the shop. I had enough pink, so planned to do that. Today when I was working, I found the red! I got enough to do the binding, so I had to choose. I sent a pictures to my mom and friends, asked Paul, and they all agreed on the red. The red is in the picture below, the pink is the first border.

This is with the pink on the left as a binding.

I got the red binding on and now I can take it to work tomorrow and work on it at lunch. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. The quilt looks really wrinkly, but that's where I had it wrapped on the roller when quilting and once I wash it, it will relax. This UFO should be finished by the end of the week.

Machine Quilting

This week I've been extremely busy. I taught two nights this week and the rest of the week I've been quilting this quilt for a co-worker. It's a No Fat quilt she made out of western fabric. I used a rust/brown/black verigated on the top and a brown bottomline in the bobbin. I did loops on it and they turned out really well. I got to the last row and thought I might run out of the top thread, but I didn't... which is good since I bought the thread 2 years ago or so. It was the perfect thread for the top.


Here's a close up of the loops.

Today I had the day off which was awesome. We enjoyed the Art in the Park in Spearfish, went shopping, and took a long nap. It was so relaxing. Tonight I put the Chez Moi Happy Hour quilt on the frame. I have 2 rows of quilting thread left and ran out of bobbin thread! The store I bought it at is closed, so will have to try another one and see if I can get it. If I can't, I'll wait till Monday and instead work on my signature quilt from retreat or the Peaches and Cream quilt a long I'm doing. There's always more to do!

I Won!

A couple weeks ago I entered a giveaway on Kelly's I Have A Notion blog during her vacation and I won! I received a fun box of gifts, fabric, pins, ruler, key chain, thread, hoop tape, nail file, and a bag. Thanks so much Kelly for the fun box of surprises!

July Bag Ladies!

Tonight was the monthly meeting of the Bag Ladies club at the shop. We made sewing totes/cosmetic bags. Each person made a unique size and shape, but they were all able to make at least two from a two fat quarters. The bags are a great way to use up random fat quarters and practice quilting. There were 6 in the class and I got pictures of at least one of the bags that each person made.
Becky made 4 super cute sewing bags.

Leticia had a bit of Hawaiian flair to hers:

Jo made a great, small 30's print bag.

Linda made two bags to match a large tote she is making.

Carol made the next two, the blue first and then the fun cosmetic bag below. The yellow one has flannel on the inside. Carol is the queen of flannel quilts.

Laurie made a couple small bags. This one was a floral print.

I think everyone learned how to put in the zipper easily and drop the feed dogs to close it off. We always have a good time and learn lots during our monthly meetings. Next month is a scrap bag for the sewing machine.

Beginning Machine Quilting & Chez Moi Happy Hour

Monday night was the second of a two night machine quilting class. Since I wanted to show how to lay out a large size quilt and pin baste it, I worked really hard on Sunday night to get this quilt top together. I did tell them to use safety pins Jenn! I got it all pieced, but wasn't sure about borders, so I took it to the store and I think I'm going to do a pink inner and then the floral that is about top center as the outer border. The backing is pink and I think the binding will be as well. This is a little darker picture:

Then I took one with florescent lighting off and so the bottom is brighter. I think the true color is more like the bottom. I also showed them how to mark a quilt, hence the white chalk marks. I'll steam them out before I quilt it.

This was one of my UFO goals for July and I'd really like to get it done and be able to give it to a friend of mine. I'm sure she will love it and has no idea I'm making it for her, so it will be a huge surprise. I got my first machine quilting job tonight, so that will come first.

Wonder Wallet and Checkbook Cover

Tonight when I got home tonight I made a wonder wallet and a checkbook cover to match my new purse. They went together quickly and now all my accessories match.

Another Grommet Purse

I showed the grommet purse I made to my coworkers and they loved it. They wanted it for a sample at the store. I refused to let it go, but since I had the pieces already cut out for another one, I made it up Sat. night. Two hours flat and it was done. I really like this pattern and have another one cut out for a friend.

Scrap Bag

Last night a couple of my coworkers, mom, and I got together and made scrap bags for our sewing machines. Mom had picked up the fabric when we were on vacation and we had fun sewing them together. It has a lanyard for scissors and a pocket for scissors or a seam ripper. We used crushed walnut litter for the pin cushion part which seemed to work really well. Mom and I talked about doing these for bag ladies as I think they would be fun.



In addition, while everyone was getting set up, I sewed on my Happy Hour blocks. I got the centers all done, so two more pieces and my blocks will be done. I've been putting it off for far too long. I'd like to get the blocks done tonight and be able to quilt it this weekend.

Grommet Purse

At the quilt show last month I picked up the Grommet & Wallets pattern. I've wanted to make it out of this fabric ever since. I have a quilt cut out for a friend made out of the fabric and I just love the fabric. I went to make this last week and lost the pattern. I cleaned our bedroom and my sewing room looking for it. I found it at work, as it had slipped out of my bag. I started it Fri night, but was gone all weekend so didn't get it done. Last night I taught beginning machine quilting, so now sewing for me. I finished it upt tonight and I love it! It's the perfect size and it's so unlike any other purse I've made. I already have it filled to use tomorrow. I'll have to make accessories for it now!

Cosmetic Bags

Last night the girls at the shop got together and sewed. I worked on samples for the Bag Ladies class in a couple weeks.
First I made a long one out of thread fabric.

Then I made a short one.

Here they are together. The girls were claiming which ones they each wanted.

I had planned to make a grommet bag, but have lost the pattern. So I worked on a cosmetic bag for myself. Doesn't this construction worker just make you want to smile? I'm sure enjoying my new bag and I just used scraps.