Good afternoon!  My week is all mixed up with my kids home on Spring Break, but last night after they all went to bed, I made a little sewing time for myself.  For the last few years I’ve been using a yogurt container to keep all the binding necessities in one spot.  Boring…I think it happened when I was writing/binding quilts for my first book, I just needed something quick! And I never took the time to make something new.

This is my new binding bag!  I used Anna’s tutorial, and added a few of my own details.  Like a double zipper, meeting in the center, quilting to the exterior with a layer of batting, and a divider in the lining to keep my binding clips separate from the scissors and thread.

Now … Read More »

Hi friends - My older two girls, 8 & 12, have been doing their own laundry, they decided doing their own, was better than helping to sort for all for kids. So to keep things organized they needed their own laundry bags. I found a few full yard pieces in my stash and let them choose which they wanted. Then I took an hour to make these fun drawstring laundry bags!

On the left is It’s a Hoot by Momo, for Moda, mostly out of print at this point, for Emmalie. On the right is Delighted, by The Quilted Fish, for Riley Blake, for Ella.
I had fun with a fast finish, and the girls immediately picked up all their laundry to half fill their bags. That’s a win – win situation!
Any fast finishes at your place today?
Amy

Last week, in the midst of all the Bloggers’ Quilt Festival emails, I finished this tote up for myself on my birthday! I had been working on the panels here and there while other projects came and went the few weeks prior.

BTW – Today is the last day to vote here and here! There’s been a good turn out for voting – Thanks for taking the time!

I was inspired by Penny and her tote, but of course had to make it my own.

That’s the beauty of this type of work, each piece is as different as the scraps in your bin.

I’ve been using the bag for a week now, of course it’s full of receipts, and coupons, but the pocket is one of my favorite parts!

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Ella will be 12 in less than two weeks – I have a hard time wraping my head around that number still!

Anyway, she has a violin concert at school this week, and requested a purple skirt.

Nothing too busy, she said, and was immediately drawn to my Kona stash.

45 minutes later we had a skirt, and a compromise – I had to add a little print.

She’s happy, and it was a fast project!

Both make me a happy mom.

- Amy

Fabrics: Kona, Thistle, Amy Butler Lark, Floral Couture

I stayed up a little bit later than I should have last night, but I really wanted to get this pillow finished up!  I’ve had a busy week of computer work, and sometimes sewing late into the night is the perfect way to wake up my creativity.  Pretty sure some of you can relate to that!

For this pillow, I had a charm pack of Cosmic Burst, and something small seemed like the best way to let them shine together.  Most of the charms where marked, and yielded 8 HST units – yep, they are tiny!  1 1/2″ across, I’ll have to share my method in another post soon.

As much as I typically love things orderly, I had fun laying out the HST units randomly, and watching different patterns emerge.   … Read More »

I’m excited to be participating in this blog tour celebrating Nancy Zieman’s most recent Trace ‘N Create templates.  All month long you will see lots of creativity on the participating blogs, as each blogger shares their personal Tablet Keeper.

One of my sewing projects last week was my own Tablet Keeper!

Nancy’s new template set is perfect for your e-reader or iPad, but if you prefer paper there’s options for a  paper pad as well!  The best part is there’s no paper pattern pieces to keep track of, all the measurements, and markings for three sizes, are on one template.

I made the medium size to fit my iPad.  Once I cut my pieces and added interfacing the project went smooth and quick!

The instructions are on precise, and easy to follow.  Also the … Read More »

Over the weekend I put a new die to use!  I’ve slowly added to my die collection, and most recently ordered the diamond die.  Looking for a fast finish, and a different way to use the diamonds, I settled on this table runner!

For the picture I hung it on the kitchen wall, since table pictures are never that great.  (Please ignore the drawing on the walls!)

I assembled it in four long rows, and used random straight lines to quilt it, pretty densely too, so it stays flat on the table.  I have to say, a runner has saved more than one spill on our table, from running to everyone, and it always returns from the wash, good as new!

Anyway, with each die that I add, I’m so glad … Read More »

Here’s what I had fun working on over the weekend -

Did I mention that fall is nearly over here in the mountains?  The trees are looking bear, and there is a definite chill in the air; as in I have already scraped my windshield a few times!

The fabrics include a wide variety of designer cottons, that I’ve been collecting.  The colors also happened to fall in my partners wish list for her pillow.  I quilted the pillow cover with straight lines, in a variegated yellow from Aurifil – I didn’t want to overdo in the quilting, since there’s plenty of pattern in the fabrics and piecing.  

And it looks great in our living room too!  Explaining a swap to Owen (4yo) is a little  tricky; he really wanted to snuggle … Read More »

Owen was treated to a pile of Pirate fabrics, which clearly he loved, just not enough to smile for a stranger for – haha!  He spotted the pirate ships, and skulls in the bolts at Riley Blake, and claimed the floor space just in front of them while I chatted about Sewing Summit with Jina and Cindy.  I’m told these rambunctious fabrics, are nearly sold out – if you want some, better hunt now!

Owen enjoyed pulling out all the fat quarters and finding the matches.  Then selecting the fabrics for his new scooter bag!

He likes to carry his matchbox cars outside and take them for a ride, and the left over birthday goodie bag he had been using was shredded.  A new bag seemed like the perfect solution, especially with skull fabric!

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