Secret Sewing Reveal-Fabric Bins

Lately, I have been doing secret sewing and I can finally reveal one of the gifts. I made these three nesting baskets for my mother-in-law for her birthday. I embroidered the front panels with perle cotton and used some Bonnie and Camille Scrumptious fabric for the outside and a green and white stripe from the Marmalade line for the inside. I used this free tutorial for the patterns http://birchfabrics.blogspot.com/2013/08/tutorial-fabric-bins-featuring-fort.html

I made all three sizes. I nested them inside one another and filled with goodies-chocolate, lotion, shower gel, lip balm, socks, mints, and a Kindle pouch. She liked the gift, but wants ideas of how to use the baskets. So blog world I would appreciate any ideas I can share for what to use the baskets for. I was thinking bathroom/closet/jewelry organization...What are your ideas?

Memorial Day Weekend?

It is cloudy and gray here in Western Colorado. It rained 3/4 of an inch last night which is pretty unheard of.  It does not feel like Memorial Day weekend at all weather wise. I am in jeans and a sweatshirt even! I have been very productive in my sewing room with my secret sewing projects and watching the coverage of the terrible mass murder at my alma mater, UCSB. 21 years ago, I was one of those cute sorority girls that nut job was targeting. It is so senseless!

Most of what I am working on is secret, but I am finally hand quilting my Let It Snow BOM. The cold weather is perfect for this! I better enjoy it while it lasts...

Summer Break

Look what arrived in the mail today! This lovely tote bag from Terry, my partner for Super Swaps on Flickr. She used my favorite Scrumptious fabric from Bonnie and Camille. She included a mini charm pack of it and lined the bag with the beautiful aqua paisley.

The tote is a good size and has two outer pockets for my cell phone and keys. It looks perfect for my summer tote bag!

My summer break officially began yesterday (I am a teacher, so when it is summer I sew like mad woman)! Of course, I started a new quilting project, but it is some secret sewing, so I can't share any pictures. I have a couple of birthdays I am sewing for. I went up to a fabric store a couple of towns away and got some $5 a yard flat folds for my secret sewing yesterday. I hit my local quilt shop today and they hassled me that I had not been in sooner! I also went to Joann's and stocked up on batting.  I usually buy a 40 yard roll of Warm and Natural, but I decided to try a Pellon cotton batting that was $2 a yard cheaper. I only bought 18 yards and hope I like it. Any advice about this kind of batting?

Today I made these sweet houses for a quilt along I have been participating in over at http://kimsbigquiltingadventure.blogspot.com/

Paulette over at http://sweetp-paulette.blogspot.com/2014/05/bloggers-quilt-festival-2014.html has entered her version of the quilt as part of the Bloggers Quilt Festival. Seeing her completed quilt has really inspired me. It is fun digging into my brushed cottons stash and designing these house. I think it is the border that makes this quilt.

I will spend this Memorial Day weekend sewing up a storm, since it will be stormy and gray outside...Perfect quilting weather!

Super Stitching Weekend

This is my completed charity quilt for Hands 2 Help Charity Quilt Challenge 2014. These were flannel blocks I made probably 5 years ago as part of a BOM for a quilt shop a few towns away. It has since closed, too bad she had a great selection and awesome sales! It was really windy today, but my patient hubby tried to keep it straight with his legs and feet.

I quilted it using my mom's long arm machine and just did all over loops. I had some trouble with skipping stitches and a little puckering. She thinks her machine needs to be serviced, but it was probably me and all that thick flannel!

I like the woodland theme and figured that they probably don't get that many manly quilts donated. The flannels make it pretty luscious and cuddly, but the fabrics are male.

I did put a label on and called it "Warm Woodland Wishes," I am donating it to Happy Chemo.

These little owls are a mug rug where my partner requested woodland theme. I might make up another one with a deer and tree on it, I have until May 30th, so I might experiment some more. I think the owls are adorable, but my partner's tastes don't seem this whimsical.

This is a zippered pouch I made with a mini charm pack of Happy Go Lucky by Bonnie and Camille.

Here is some embroidery I just worked on for an upcoming gift. I have a couple of more to make.

This is my first "Journey of a Quilter" block all pieced, traced and ready to embroider. I have so many UFO's and other projects I want to work on. It is a good thing my summer vacation starts on Thursday!

FNSI Deja Vu

You might recognize this bag...I made a similar one a couple of weeks ago for a swap. It was stolen off of my partner's porch! I felt so bad, I had to make another.

I spent Friday finishing it up. I also long arm quilted a charity quilt I am making to donate to Happy Chemo as part of the Hands 2 Help Charity Quilt Challenge 2014. I need help taking pictures of it, but hopefully I will get those taken and posted tomorrow. 

Mother's Day Part 2

 I can reveal my presents for my mother. I made these two zip pouches and put kits of matching fabrics to make mini quilts designed by Camille Roskelley. I used a mini charm pack to make each zippered pouch.

 My mom likes to make mini quilts and they are preparing to go on a motor home trip until the end of July, so these small kits will be travel friendly. We spent the day together quilting of course.

I put together my last two Let It Snow blocks and pieced the whole quilt. Now, I have to get the back ready and pin it for hand quilting. We have had rainy, cold weather which makes me want to hand quilt!

 I mentioned to my teenager a couple of months ago that I needed some eye shadow, so she totally spoiled me with this gorgeous palette.

I had a great Mother's Day and I hope you did too!

Mother's Day Part 1

Yay! I can reveal some of my secret sewing. I made these three zipper pouches for my mother-in-law for Mother's Day. She received them in the mail today, so I can share.

 I cut up a Scrumptious charm pack into 2.5 inch squares and made one big enough for her iPad. I also double layered the batting for extra padding.  The medium pouch is a little tight for a Kindle, but it held plenty of chocolate and an Amazon gift card. The small pouch is so adorable!

My mother-in-law travels a lot, so I know she will put these pouches to good use. I still have some squares left, so I will have to come up with some more ways to use them. I will post more Mother's Day gifts after my mom gets hers on Sunday...

Christmas?

So lately it has felt like Christmas! First this book arrived via UPS the other day. Elin Hilderbrand is one of my favorite authors, so when I saw the contest on Goodreads a few weeks ago of course I entered. And I WON!!! Now I need to finish it by 5/19, so my mom can take it with her on their upcoming motor home trip. Oh darn, I will just have to spend some time outside enjoying the weather and reading it.

 My basket from one of the Flickr swaps I am participating in arrived in the mail yesterday. My partner, Cindy, absolutely nailed my color preferences.

 The basket is too cute and spacious.

 She made me this long pin cushion too.

 

 She included one of my favorites, Reese's peanut butter cups, a great aqua perle cotton, scraps, buttons, lace, and a Scrumptious charm pack. I totally scored!

Then last night, I ran down to the grocery store for the second time in one day. I ran out of oil to make fried chicken. Of course I had to dash by the magazine rack and look what they had!

The Quilt Sampler magazine is my favorite...I savor it and only read about one shop each day to make it last! I love the quilt on the cover. I have been locking for a quilt to make for our bed and this might be just what I need to make. I can use up some scraps and not make it too feminine to appease my hubby.

Also in the mail were a dozen copies of this book that my book club won! I love Amy Hatvany and am looking forward to reading this after I am done with The Matchmaker. See what I mean about Christmas!

I am also celebrating that Fort Worth Fabric Studio is featuring my plus tote bag on their blog. What an honor!

 

Furthermore, it feels like Christmas because I have been making gifts for Mother's Day and for the swaps I am in. I can't share my Mother's Day creations yet, but I will share the swap projects I finished yesterday.

 My partner likes aquas and strawberry fabrics. I finally came up with an idea yesterday morning. I used wool felt and perle cotton embroidery for the strawberry block.

 Here is the interior.

I made another wool felt and embroidery block and made it into a pouch. It is 7 inches square and matches the basket. She embroiders, so I put some embroidery goodies in it. I also picked up strawberry fabric fat quarters at my LQS for $1.25 each, so I am filling it with those and some other trinkets. I just love swaps!

 

Today, I am cleaning my sewing room and working on my mother-in-law's gifts and embroidering my Let It Snow blocks as part of Slow Sunday Stitching. Plus, I need to sneak outside and read some of that book! I am loving our spring weather!

Let It Snow BOM

This week I was able to put together three more blocks for the Let It Snow quilt I have been working on.

 It had been an April goal to get this quilt top done so I could start hand quilting it, but I still need to finish 3 more embroideries. There was good progress despite not completing the top. I am just worried that my hand quilting window is narrowing because of summer coming. It is really difficult for me to hand quilt when it is hot during the summer. I hope to work on the last 3 blocks as part of Slow Sunday Stitching tomorrow.

Our local quilt shop recently moved locations and to celebrate they were offering a sale. I scored on the drawing and received a 25% discount on my purchase yesterday.

 I bought the new Lori Holt book because I so want to make some granny square quilts. I also bought some more Scrumptious yardage as I am so in love with it! 25% off  made it hard to pass on.

I also bought a white fabric to get started on this fire truck quilt. One of my colleagues just found out she is having a little boy and her husband is a fireman for the Department of Forestry. I have had this pattern for several years and have not made it, this seems like the perfect opportunity. I think I can make it mostly from my stash...

 

I have been making other things, but I cannot share them until after Mother's Day! I can assure you I spent my Friday Night With Friends sewing up a storm, but don't want to ruin my surprises.

 

 We only have 2.5 weeks of school left and then I can really focus on my quilting! I have so many projects to complete and new things I want to make!