Almost time for Spooky things!

We still have some time yet but Halloween is coming. A week or so ago, I remembered that my mother got me this pattern and the fabric to make it. I've never made a row quilt but they always look like fun. So... I better get started! Last weekend I knocked out the first row. I had forgotton how fun log cabin blocks can be. I really like Halloween fabrics. Maybe it's the colors or that it reminds me of my favorite time of year. I really like this one with the words on it. How funny are those little eyeballs?

Today I worked on two of the applique rows. I need to sew them down and make some eyes for the bats.

I think I just might get this done in time. I don't really like being in between projects. There are so many patterns and quilts and techniques that I want to try, I just can't decide what to do next. It's a little like finishing a book. I love to read but it's always hard to choose the next book.

We had some nice weather today. It has been so hot and humid. I do NOT like humidity. It makes my hair frizzy and unruly and there's no way I'm going to turn on the A/C this late in the season. Today, however was just a tad cooler but breezy, yay! Just right to leaving the windows open all day. And awesome for sleeping. Ahhhh, who doesn't love this time of year?

P U

What is with all the stink bugs? They are everywhere outside and all over all of my screens. Some of my friends have them getting inside, eeeuw! My house is a mess right now, if I get stink bugs coming inside, I just might lose my mind!

Very happy to get to this weekend!

Feeling Fussy!!
I have been fussy cutting. Boy is it time consuming! Tile quilts have a lot of appeal for me. I decided to try one with raw edges. I am not using fusible and I'm not turning under the edges either, so I think I better use some tiny, tiny stitching.

I will probable do a fair amount of quilting to help out.

It's been fun poking through my scrap basket and other fabrics looking for designs to fussy cut. So far, I just have all the tiles pinned on. These blocks are 12 and a half inches square and I have no idea how big this quilt will end up. I'm really just playing around. I do think I should start stitching though because it may turn out to be a bit of a chore.

Feel free to give me any tips on how you would machine stitch these down.

I can't decide if I will use a skinny sashing or just piece the blocks together to look like a giant batch of tiles. What do you think?

On another note:

I work in the operating room at Johns Hopkins Hospital. If you saw the news on Thursday, you may have seen the story about the shooting in the hospital. Although it was an unnerving day, it was also a day to admire my employer and my co-workers. The level of professionalism was fantastic. We were on 'lockdown' for 2 and a half hours which meant we had to stay in place with the doors closed. I was in an operating room and we had just finished a case. The shooting occurred one floor above us but at no time did we feel in danger. The victim of the shooting was one of our own and was brought to the OR room next to mine. As soon as the lockdown was lifted, we went right back to work taking care of patients. The next day, there were several debriefings offered. At this time, we learned of the incredible job our security and administrative staff performed. After the Virginia Tech shootings, the security department made clear and detailed plans and procedures for just such an emergency. This Thursday, they put these plans into action and with the support of the Baltimore City police department, they smoothly and safely got everyone through a devastating event. I can't put into words the awe and pride I feel in knowing how efficiently and safely the incident was handled. I am proud to be a Hopkins nurse. Please keep the victim and the staff and patients of the floor that was directly involved in your positive thoughts and well wishes. Thank you and have a great weekend.

Ta dah!!

After searching high and low for a 30 inch zipper to make my Amy Butler Weekender Bag, I ended up ordering one online from Nancy's Notions. And even then, I had to order the 'make a zipper' kit. It's a 3 yard roll of zipper with about 8 or 9 zipper pulls. Just cut it to the size you need. I was so excited Saturday to get my delivery days early! Yahoo!! I got right down to business. Look what happened when I took a quick break for a late lunch. Daisy hopped right into the half-made bag. And.........done!! I finished it up Sunday evening. I filled it with towels and had my Mister take a picture of me so you could see it's size. It's great, definitely the right size to be called 'Weekender'. The zipper worked well too.

The inside lining is the pink polka dot fabric. There are front and back pockets (lined in the pink) under the piping. Also two very roomy side pockets.

See? I told ya. No pockets inside. I guess you could make some on the lining but I'm fine without. The bag is made with a fair amount of Timtex so it's very sturdy and firm. It could be used for a laptop and other stuff, although it's big for just a laptop.

I'm sorry for the terrible picture. I tried so hard to get a clear picture of this. After almost a year of thinking about it, I finally ordered some labels for my handmades.
I just got 30 of these labels from Jennifer's Jewels for a very reasonable price. They came fast fast fast too! The picture is so blurry, let me help you out. It says, 'Sewn with Love by Lisa' and has a little stick figure girl on the side. The font for the lettering is rustic and childlike, sooooo cute! Thanks Jennifer!

I procrasinated so long on labels because I really want to have my own logo. I need to pin my daughter down and have her design one. Until then, this will do nicely.

I feel really good about this bag. It was easier than I expected and definitely went together quicker than I expected. And yay for JoAnn's for having the home dec fabrics 50% off, woo hoo!

Don't be shy now, leave me a little comment. How was your weekend?

Remembering.

I remember when JFK was shot and Martin Luther King. As I grew up, there have been times when the conversations turned to those days. "I remember just where I was when I heard." is a common statement of my generation and my parents' and grandparents'.
Times are different now, we SEE and practically experience the events that will change us. There is almost nothing that isn't captured on video, live video, anymore.

9-11

Those numbers are burned into our memory along with the images of that day. I remember where I was, what I was doing, and even what I was thinking as I watched the terrible events unfold. I was at work in the pediatric oncology outpatient clinic. I had one patient so far, a five year old girl who came with her dad. I drew her bloodwork and sent it to the lab. As I returned to her bedside, her dad said, "My wife just called and said to turn on CNN, a plane crashed in New York." We both turned to look at the TV, and there were the towers, one with terrible black smoke billowing. We froze, and listened to the commentary about the plane crash, but still we didn't know the truth. Then, as we watched, the second plane hit. That is the moment, the instant, that I will truly never forget. The knowing, the realization, the TRUTH. The dad and I locked eyes, and we knew. We knew what everybody in America, and the world, was knowing......it was NOT an accident. Maybe we were silent, maybe we gasped, maybe we said, "oh my god,". That I don't remember. I do remember the little girl, looking at the screen, saying, "somebody should tell those planes to watch where they're going." Such a comic statement but really it was just so sad to me. I wished it were that simple. If only.

Wanna see some goodies?

Well, I decided to just spill the beans. This isn't finished but check it out, it's going to be Amy Butler's Weekender bag. Next month, my hubs and I are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary, woo hoo!!, and we're going to New York for a weekend. I have had this pattern for a while and it seems like a good time to make it. The lining will be pink with dots too. I just have to wait for the zipper to be delivered. I bought material to make one for my daughter too. I'll show it to you soon. When she comes home for the weekend she seems to travel with everything in a plastic grocery sac. Like a little homeless girl. Maybe, just maybe, she'll actually use a real bag. I'll keep you posted, lol.

Get ready for some purty fabrics from the Hoppin Bobbin grand opening. I couldn't resist this red. I love polka dots, and the bubbles are so cheery. I saw these fabrics at the last moment. I think they are so cool. Subtle, but interesting. They have extra colors in them that are very subtle. I have never heard of STOF but I think I'll keep my eye on them.

The blue and green are beautiful, with hints of a purpley brown.

And this taupe also have some sort of purple and maroon in it. I think it will make a great background.

Now, do you want to hear what a dork I am? After I told you all about my little crush on the 'half bots' yesterday, I found out that they are actually 'half hops'. My mother checked out the Hoppin Bobbin today. She has a better memory than me, lol. I was showing off my treasures and she pointed out that they were 'half hops.' Oooooh yeah! That sound right. Yup, I'm a dork!

So! Aren't they cute? Short little baby bolts. I couldn't resist the stripes. Perfect for binding. And I'm getting to be a sucker for anything pink or with dots. Pink AND dots are irresistible!

My mom got me a little stack of Christmas fat quarters. I've been thinking about simple blocks, like bowties, flying geese, or just half-square triangles. Maybe a simple little xmas quilt.

I sure hope my zippers get here soon. And I sure hope the weekender bag works out. Have a great night people! Good night!

There's a new quilt shop in town!!

I made this little quilty for a friend at work who just had her first baby, a boy. Guess what his name is, ha ha! Well, today she finally came back to work and I gave it to her. I don't know about you guys but I get a little shy when a crowd of people ooh and aah over my quilts. So, I gave it to her in the boss's office. And what did she do? Went right out to shift report and showed everybody! Thanks Reyna. She was very excited and I'm glad this quilt is going to be appreciated. Within the hour, another work friend asked if I could make him a queen size quilt. Yikes! I really don't do that. Sorry. What do you say when people ask you to make a quilt? I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings but quilting is my hobby, my passion, not my business.
In more exciting news----
The local quilt shop near me was sold months ago. My friends and I were quite worried and have been anxiously waiting for the grand opening of the new shop. Today was the day and I went straight from work, credit card in hand, hoping and hoping that they would have 'my' kind of fabrics. The 'Hoppin Bobbin' did not disappoint! It was not bad, not bad at all! Walls had been knocked down and the place looks spacious and new. And I found more than a few fabrics that I liked. They sell the cutest little fabric cuts called 'half bots'. They are 2 yards or less wound around a half size bolt. I am pretty sure that they are half bots not half bolts. I think. Well, anyway, they are too cute and when I bought two of them, I asked if I could have the cardboard inserts too. I don't know why, I guess I just like things in miniature, plus I think they will store well on a shelf. The new owner, Kelly, said yes. She's very nice and personable. I hope the shop does well for her. I plan to do my part, lol. So, I found some great fabrics, they rang me up........and the total was........$162.00. Ouch!! Tonight at dinner, I told my pal, Mr. 9patch, that I had a confession to make. When I told him how I hightailed it straight to the new shop, and how much I spent, he didn't blink. Good man, huh? Then he asked what I got. I started to tell him, then I stopped, started again and stopped. Hmmm? I got 7 yards of fabric plus a pattern and 2 half bots which were 25% off. A hunnert and sixty-two dollars? No way! I pulled out my receipt and guess what!? I bought a 2 yard cut of a fabric and they accidentally charged me for 8 yards. Yippee!! I'll call tomorrow and straighten it out. Why am I happy? Yes, I'll get some money back, BUT, now I know I can go back. If I thought I couldn't get out of there without spending $162, I would NOT want to go very often. Looks like the coast is clear for a return visit. Ooohh yeah! Tomorrow I'll take some pics of the fabrics and those cutie patootie half bots, and show them to you.
And I got started on a new project this weekend. Maybe I'll show you a sneak peek. I can't finish until I get some needed supplies that I had to order online. I'll tease you a little by saying this, it isn't something I've ever tried before but I'm still very excited. And I think I'll make one for my daughter too. Ok, that's enough chatter. I'll fill you in tomorrow after I get home from work.

Bye! See ya! Sayonara! Adios! Ah-ree-ver-dare-chee!!

Where did my week go?

I don't know what happened this week. I did zero sewing. And, in case you didn't notice, there was no blogging either. I did work some overtime this week. Guess what that means! I can set aside some cash for FABRIC! Yay, and no guilt either. I worked a torturous 16 hours shift that ended up being 17 hours of almost non-stop hustle. I'm still tired thinking about it.

Anyway, here are the promised pictures of last weekends quilting. I haven't made a move towards binding but I have been thinking about it.

I am in love with this thread that my friend let me use. It's a YLI variegated and looks fantabulous!

I know that I copped out on the quilting. I really, really wanted to do some straight line quilting and then some kind of pattern on the solid panels. I took a poll at the Wild Thread marathon and the vote was unanimous for curved line quilting. So I succumbed to peer pressure and then just quilted the whole thing with the same pattern. Quick and easy!

This is the backing fabric that I used. I have had it for years and every time I pull it out and suggest it for a project, someone says, "eeuw no!". I really like it and I think it was really waiting for this quilt.

See what I mean? Perrrrrfect!

And here is my other quick quilting job from last weekend. There is nothing easier than corner to corner quilting. And this minimal quilting makes for a very soft and cuddly quilt. I planned this quilt to be unisex but I kinda flubbed with the backing.

It's kinda girly dontcha think? Oh well.

And I'm still pondering the binding fabric for this one too.

I made this too. I used some of the corduroy that my friend, Annette, gave me. This tote is a nice size for a knitting or handwork project. Or maybe a trip to the library. I used my Bernina gathering foot for the ruffle. I am really looking for ruffle projects. I don't buy Vera Bradley products because I always think I should make it myself, but I saw some cute VB items with ruffles when I was at the beach. Maybe I'll make a tote or little cosmetic bag with 3 or 4 rows of ruffles. That might be cute.

I also made this tote with ruffles on the sides of a pocket. I didn't use any interfacing or batting so this one is floppy. I'm not crazy about it and I don't know what to do with it. I think it's hard to give away something I don't like. If I don't like it, then I don't think anyone else will. Do you ever have something like that? What do you do with it. Should I donate it to my guild's Quilt show silent auction? What if no one bids on it? Oh good grief.

Let's hope I am more productive in the sewing room this week. I did get lots of little chores done around the house this week. The weather has been lovely. I love autumn and it motivates me. I am really tempted to make some big changes around here. I am still struggling with the layout in my sewing room and I'm tempted to move it to a completely different room. More on this soon. I think I'll need some input.

Hope you had a good weekend. I think I'll have some carry-out Indian food for dinner tonight, mmmm mmmmm! Bye!

Sewing with the Wild Threads!

Sorry there is no picture today. Yesterday I spent the whole day with my quilting buds, the Wild Threads. We had a sewing marathon at the local church. It's a wonderful big sunny room and everyone works on whatever they want. I had a slow start because I was tired but a little coffee perked me up and I got a lot done.
I took my quilt with the woodsy critter squares which was already sandwiched and basted and I got it quilted. Just simple straight lines diagonally. I also took the quilt I made from the fabric I dyed. Not only did I sandwich and pin baste it but I also got it quilted. I promise a picture this week. My friend, Kathy, had some YLI variegated thread that she said would be perfect and she loaned it to me. So I cranked it out. Lots of loops and swirls! I know that I committed to some special quilting in the solid setting fabric....but......I didn't. I really wanted to be able to get the thread back to Kathy and I was SO excited to be getting the quilt done. I haven't decided what fabric to use for binding. I don't think I have enough of the rust left, I'll have to see.
I also finished a little tote bag I had started out of corduroy and started another. Last week I got a Bernina gathering foot so I was itching to put ruffles on something. Both totes have some.
Marathons are great fun but what a chore to put the sewing room back together. I enjoy binding so that will make for some nice handwork this week.
I have a very sore elbow. I call it 'rotary elbow'. The Accuquilt Go company has been giving away the Go's all over blogland. I keep entering but have yet to win one. The latest giveaway is at Canton Village Quiltworks. Check it out and enter if you must. But I hope you also wish me luck, ha ha. It looks like a cool product and I really really want to make a few quilts with the tumbler blocks. I saw some really cute colorful kids' quilts with them on someone's blog and have been itching to make one ever since. When I went to Quilt Odyssey a few weeks ago, I looked all over for a tumbler block template. I saw zillions of different templates but NO tumblers. Phooey!
Give me a couple days and I will give you LOTS of pictures. Okey dokey?
Toodles!

Since I have something to send to my niece, Lucy, I should make something for her younger brother, Buddy. I actually cut into my new stash of Lizzy House Castle Peeps fabric and made a little blankie for his toys. I thought the border needed something after I had it done, so I inserted this little piece with the towers. I was glad it worked or I was gonna end up with a tiny border.

The back is a super soft lightweight polar fleece and I didn't use batting because I wanted it to be soft and flexible.

E.T. tried it out and he liked it (a lot!).

Monkey saw E.T. and wanted to snuggle. They're good friends.

But Monkey is just a baby and he needed a nap.

It's a sweet little blankie and I hope Buddy has fun with it. It's on it's way to a big adventure in the San Francisco Bay area with the Panty Pinwheels.

Wait until you see all of the fabric that a friend just gave me. Yards and yards and yards of corduroy AND velvet. I think I'm going to try my hand at making some large shopping bag type totes. I will definitely make a top out of some corduroy. Maybe some more playtime with simple squares and add in some half square triangles.

Au revoir mes amis!

Just piddling around!

While working up to getting the woodsy critter squares quilt quilted, I decided to play around. Call me crazy but I made these out of underwear. Yup! I mistakenly bought 'granny panty' style underwear. I liked the colors and patterns but picked up the wrong package and didn't realize my mistake until it was open at home. So I just set them aside. That is, until Inspiration knocked on the door!!!! It is cotton knit and I just fused a print on one side and solid on the other, cut out squares and - voila! - pinwheels.
Can you tell what they are? Pony tail holders!! Cutie cute, huh? I think I'll send them to my niece in California. (Hannah, you don't have to tell Lucy that they were underwear!)

Anyway, I also played around making some more scrap blocks and asterix blocks, and finally put a label on my friend's baby quilt. Maybe I'll do some quilting today. The Wild Threads are having a marathon (all day sewing together) next weekend so I need to decide what I want to work on. Maybe I'll start something new!

Now go look at your panties in a whole new light people! See ya!

How exciting!!

After my last post, I got a comment offering me some more red, white, and blue squares. Yaaaay!! I can make the quilt bigger. Thank you JoAnne! Can you email me please? I don't have any way to contact you and I would love to take you up on your offer.

And, boo hoo, I was told to fix the two identical blue squares, :( It's so true, though. Because the squares are larger, 5 inches, there aren't that many of them and it's so noticeable and baffling. Totally random doesn't always work. Oh well, seam ripping is a good excuse to sit in front of the TV.

I got something so cute in the mail today. When I was at Quilt Odyssey I saw a pattern that is so completely cute and funny that it was sold out. I bought it and have been waiting impatiently, and now it's here!! I'll try to take a decent picture of it and post it tomorrow.

Good night!

Sunday charms!

I said I wanted to play with squares so I did. First I pulled out my Heather Ross fabric, including a bunch of HR charm squares I got on eBay a while back. I couldn't make up my mind what to do so I set them aside. Instead I pulled out these fun woodsy fabrics and some solids and started cutting them into 5 inch charm squares. Ta dah!! This is 32 by 36 inches. Kinda small. I'm deciding between making it bigger using more squares or putting on a border. Ideas??
I had all of these red/white/blue charms from an online swap so I pulled them out and randomly put them together. Honestly, how pathetic that two identical squares are next to each other. I'm not positive but it also might be the only fabric that is repeated. Again, it's kinda small. I don't have any more of these charms so I definitely need to put borders on it. And that's how I spent my Sunday folks. Now it's dinner time and I still need to go to the grocery store and fill my car with gas and put some laundry away and straighten up.............. It was worth it though.
I had a nice sewing weekend. How about you?

Finished!

I got it done. I gotta tell ya though, I think the border was more work than the middle. I don't mind paper piecing but I do find it tedious. I probably could have made those blocks without paper piecing but I didn't put the thought into it. I did make up the corners though. They are a little different. I have a bit more paper to tear off. I really like this quilt, especially because I dyed the fabric myself.

I have a backing picked out, it's a folk art looking floral that I've had for a while. I don't have any ideas for quilting yet though.

For a hot minute I thought about putting some applique on the three solid strips, then I changed my mind. I am going to force myself to do some awesome quilting on them. Oohhhh lordy! Did I just put that in writing?

I guess I'll have to follow through on that bold announcement. Not yet though. I want (need) to make a quilt from ALL squares. Just simple squares. Every time I see a quilt like that, I just love the look. Plus, it really showcases the fabrics. I think it's time to cut into my Heather Ross stash. More crazy talk!! And I'm not even drinking. Enjoy your weekend!

Play, play, play!

Man oh man! I could only look at these for so long before I just had to cut them up! So the playing began. I took some cues from Liberated Quilting and just started chopping and sewing. I tried not to have too many straight lines, I wanted angles. I had no plans for where this was going but once I had a bunch of wonky strips, decisions had to be made.

I have always wanted to make a Chinese coins quilt so I borrowed that general idea and came up with this. It's not very big and definitely needs more work. I have a history of getting lazy when I get to this point. I'm not always crazy about making borders. BUT, I now have Judy Laquidara's book, Weekend Quilts. I've mentioned this book before. It's my new 'go to' source for border ideas. Judy makes awesome borders.
Ta-dah!! This top border is what I came up with. And yay! My math worked out. I'm foundation piecing these blocks so it's a little time consuming. It will be a while before I get them all the way around but I really like the look so far.

It all started with a few minutes of playing around and now I'm headed for my new favorite quilt. Sadly, I have to go back to work tomorrow after a week long staycation. Boo hoo!

Have a great week peeps!