Sew In Results & A Winner

Last night was the Friday Night Sew In.  I like to curl up in my recliner, put on some TV and hand stitch in the evenings.  So this is what I worked on last night. 

I pulled out an old project that I had started years ago at a class in Hershey PA with Lisa Schiller.  This project is from the book Baskets and Blossoms published by Indygo Junction.  I started mine years ago, but decided to make some changes to it. 

These layered roses were what we had learned to do in class, and I had them already finished.

So now I've finished the basket edge, and I'm going to applique a star medallion on the front of the basket.

 Then last night I finished a couple of these little baskets that are going in the quilt...someday.

And I used some different thread than I usually do ~ usually I use 60 wt Mettler or YLI Silk thread for hand applique...

But my longarmer friend Sheri gave me some left over bobbin threads from Superior Threads.  These are called SuperBobs that are prewound, and well less than full bobbins are not fun for longarmers to work with, so she gave me some of her extras for hand applique.  The colors are great and the thread is really fine and easy to applique with ~ Thanks Sheri!

To do some blog hopping and see some of the other Friday Night Sew In results just go to Heidi's blog.  Plan on spending some time hopping around, there were lots of participants!

And I've drawn the name of the winner from my little Christmas in July drawing from Thursday's post ~ and the winner is SoSarahSew!  I'm emailing you Sarah to get your address :) 

Keep posted ~ later this week I'll be having a really fun GiveAway of a neat new item that I've been reviewing :)   In the meantime...

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

It's a Friday Night Sew In!

Join me tonight for the Friday Night Sew In! Check out Heidi's blog for all the details, and come have some fun!

Also, don't forget to leave a comment on my post from yesterday for a chance to win these two Prairie Schooler Santa Cross Stitch Patterns!

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

My Controlled Chaos is Your Gain

Tuesday, I took a little time out from cutting fabric and went on a Creative Excursion with Heather.  She's participating in a mystery project at our most local cross stitch shop, The Stitching Post in Catonsville, MD.  This is a lovely shop, and it's right next door to Seminole Sampler Quilt Shop, which is right next door to Cloverhill Yarn Shop ~ It's kind of the little strip mall from Heaven :) 

So of course I had to bring some goodies home.  I didn't partake in any yarn this time, and I was good and only bought one 2 yard cut of fabric that I needed.  But I did buy some cross stitch items.  Do I have time to be cross stitching right now you might ask...no, I really don't ~ but that didn't stop me!

Even though I'm not actively cross stitching right now, I'm thoroughly enjoying this copy of Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly that I picked up.  This is a new magazine to me, and I LOVE IT!

And I'm salivating over this leaflet from Blackbird Designs.  I follow their blog, and I think I love everything they do!

And I picked up two more of the Prairie Schooler Santas patterns.  This is my current collection (they come out with one of them every year).  If you look closely at the first picture, you'll see that the ones I just purchased were 2005 & 2006...and yes, I already had them in my collection.  (Remember those pictures of my stash the other day...the same kind of "controlled chaos" applies to my books and patterns too). 

So, my "controlled chaos" is your gain ~ and I decided that I'd have a quick Christmas In July Give Away:  Just leave a comment on this post if you want a chance to win these two counted cross stitch patterns! I'll draw one random name on Saturday. 

Also, if anyone has any Prairie Schooler Santa Patterns dated prior to 1998, or the 1999 Santa that they no longer want...I'd be interested in taking them off your hands :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

True Confessions of a Stashaholic

Yes, I have a fabric stash...and sometimes it seems like my fabric stash has me!  It's actually stashed in several closets, among several rooms of my house.  (Stash is kind of a misnomer, because my fabrics are not just stashed away for some later date, I do use my stash on a daily basis).  Some of it is more organized than other parts...some of the closets are fairly easy to access.

 Some of my stash is sorted and organized in some sort of controllable order.  

 Then there are the days that it's just kind of taking over.  (By the way, this post is definitely NOT part of the Where Bloggers Create Blog Hop!)

 Sometimes it seems to be slowly invading like some sort of pest that needs to be eradicated.

But the very favorite parts of my stash are the small scraps that I have collected and overflowing in various baskets all over.  I think because these fabrics have all been used in some prior project that I made ~ so I must have liked them, right?

I love to root through my baskets looking for just the right little chunk.  I plan on cutting some of these into squares using my Accuquilt Go! to make them easy to sew up some scrap quilts while working on other projects. 

Well the good news is, if you have a stash of any size, Accuquilt is having a "Bust My Stash" Photo Challenge, and you can win these great prizes!  Have you stared at your fabric stash and wished that you had the time and energy to cut up your fabric for future projects?  AccuQuilt has the answer!  Click here to participate, or go to AccuQuilt’s Facebook page and click “Like”.  Then go to the ‘Bust My Stash’ tab under their profile picture and upload a picture of your fabric stash.  Submit your photo by Friday, July 22^nd and you’ll be eligible to win a GO! Mix & Match 12” Starter Set.  The photo with the most votes by July 31^st wins!  Photos will be voted on by viewers and fans of the AccuQuilt Facebook page using the following criteria: relevance, creativity, and originality.  Share with your friends during the voting period to increase your odds of winning!  Good Luck!

This old picture of Elsie illustrates why my scrap baskets are the favorite part of my stash ~ I think just for fun I'm going to enter this one :)

Enjoy the day!

~ Dawn

Is That Duck Tape?

Well it's not "quilty", but it is crafty, and I do love tote bags!  Have you ever seen a Duck Tape purse?

They make Duck Tape in all kinds of fun colors now (you can find them at Joann's, Michaels, Walmart, and other crafty stores).  And it's so easy to work with.  While Aunt Rita and Uncle Gabe were visiting last week, they showed us how to make these Duck Tape creations, and us girls had a blast making them ~ Lisa was a natural at it :)

Uncle Gabe laid out the tape on the cutting mat and cut 24 inch strips.

Aunt Rita guided us through the making of the totes.  Here Lisa is sticking the strips together overlapping by a tiny bit ~ maybe about an eighth of an inch.  The solid color strip is an accent stripe on the bag.

Here the front of the bag is complete, and can be lifted off of the counter all in one piece.

The bag lining is made up of solid strips stuck to the back side of the front bag unit, again overlapping the strips a tiny bit.

Here Rita is showing us how to fold the body of the bag so that the "seam" is centered on the back.  You can't see it, but before folding they added a bag bottom that was made up of a strip of poster board (roughly 1 inch wide, and 10 inches long) covered with the solid colored Duck Tape and taped to the bottom. And the top edge had a half strip of solid colored duck tape folded over the edge (much like binding along the top of a quilted tote bag). 

The seam on the back is connected together with a piece of Duck Tape of course.

Then to make the handles, Lisa laid a full 24 inch piece of Duck Tape sticky side up.  Then centered a same length piece cut in half long-ways (sticky sides together) on the full handle piece, and then she folded the edges over to eliminate any raw edges.

 Little fasteners were poked through to attach the handles to the bag.

We used the kind that you poke through and then bend the tabs outward.  (A little square of Duck Tape can be added to cover up the bent tabs).  Decorative grommets could also be used, just make sure that any fasteners used can hold whatever weight will be carried in the tote bag.

Lisa then used my AccuQuilt Go! to cut some star shapes to accent the bag with solid colored stars.  (We placed the glossy side of Freezer Paper to the sticky side of the Duck Tape to run it through the cutter, and then carefully pealed off the Freezer Paper like a sticker).

They also made this smaller tote for Elsie using the same method but cutting the strips smaller (18 inches in this case), and making the body of the bag one layered strip shorter.  These bags are completely waterproof and I thought this one would make a cute lunch tote :)

For more Duck Tape fun, check out the Duck Tape website for many project ideas from clothes, accessories, and household projects.  Some of these would make great Summertime crafts for the kiddos who are out of school, and if you used those 40% off coupons, they are pretty economical too :)
 
Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Finally a Little Time in the Sewing Room

Elsie is visiting here at Grandma's house while attending Vacation Bible School at our church each evening this week, and today we had a little free time so we decided to make some little fleece owls, one for Elsie and one to take home for little sister Abby. 

First we needed to make a pattern.  Elsie was very diligent at designing prototype patterns for Grandma to work from. 

Then of course she had to "design" some more on the pattern that we decided on.  (It's actually an enlarged copy of the applique owl template from my Abby's Owl Quilt Pattern). 

While Elsie designed, I fused and cut out some shapes for the owls eyes, beaks and bellies.  (...and of course I cut out owl bodies from fleece material for front and back for each owl, I just didn't get a picture of that ~ my little helper was keeping me kind of busy).

Then there was the fun of deciding where all the shapes should go.   We fused them in place, and I blanket stitched around the appliqued shapes.  (If using fleece for the bodies, just be sure to not set the iron too hot, and keep it moving slightly so as not to melt/scorch the fleece material).

After sewing around the edges of the owl body shapes right sides together, and leaving an opening at the bottom for turning right side out...we stuffed them :)

...And played a little too... 

After all, at this point with a hole in the bottom for stuffing, they made great puppets!  After much owl puppet dialog, we finally did get them finished and the bottoms whip stitched shut.  Elsie goes home tomorrow, and Grandma gets back to some real work after that, but today was about fun, and it felt really good to get back in my sewing room, even if it was just to play :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

I've been away from Blogland for a few weeks.  It's been a time of hospitals, hospice, funeral homes, and saying farewell to my Dad.  He's at rest now, and I spent this last weekend spending precious time with family and sharing fond memories. 

A little time off has been in order.  I'm also indulging in the distraction of my girls visiting this week so Elsie can attend Vacation Bible School at our church. She's been enjoying the new Big Girl swing that Uncle Bobby and Grandpa hung in our front tree for her.

I am getting itchy to get back into my sewing room and I'm starting to read blogs again and soak up the wonderful inspiration that I receive from all of my internet friends. 

I'll be back into the swing of things soon, and have some new blog posts, please bear with me.  And thank you from the bottom of my heart by the way for your wonderful blogs that are sustaining me and giving me my "Quilty fix" during this time :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn