Happy Little Sewing Project - Thimbleanna's Purse Thingy

I enjoy small projects because I've figured out I'm an instant gratification kind of gal. Big quilts call my name -- I've made a few and have several planned -- but give me a tiny sewing project that is ready to use or gift in a few hours and I am sooooo happy. And they're great for using up scraps of fabric.

Now let me tell you what happened at Hobby Lobby yesterday. I always make a quick run past their little fabric clearance section because I can do so much with those just-under-a-yard pieces that they mark down. A woman (and I'm guessing her daughter) approach me. The woman looks extremely serious and says, "Can I ask you something?"

Now I'm wondering if she thinks she knows me but I don't recognize her and we're back in the corner of the store with no one else around. Let's be honest here. Most people who sew and quilt and craft are the nicest people you'll ever meet but you know there has to be a few nutjobs in the mix and Murphy's Law says this might be my moment to meet one.

So I say, "Sure," and brace myself. She gestures to the small bundle in my hand and asks, "What are these little things of left over fabric called?"

Still confused, I look down at my hand and back up at her and say, "Remnants?"

And she hollers, "REMNANTS!" And throws her hands up in the air as she turns to her companion. "That's it ... remnants!"

I had to laugh and said, "I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't remember things like that!" I'm still giggling about it.

So if you like quick little scrap busting projects, too, let me tell you, you'll want to make this adorable Purse Thingy by Thimbleanna.


She provides a wonderful tutorial. The back piece that cushions your cell phone is quilted before assembly (I used a layer of flannel inside). I just stitched around and around in a square from the outside in.


In Thimbelanna's original version, she includes a see through vinyl ID window, which I omitted, just keeping the front solid fabric.



I still put the little pocket inside as a divider.



Here is the back with my cell phone tucked into the pocket.


This is a graduation gift and we included a Visa gift card. Is this sweet or what?

Thanks to Thimbleanna for the fabulous free pattern/tutorial!



So many projects, never enough time ...

B is for Baby Boy, Blanket, Bib and Burp Cloth

Rough year so far. We had a family funeral out of state the second week of March and bid farewell to my beloved mother-in-law. Missed a week of work. Then our youngest daughter was married in our back yard the last week of March. So much fun celebrating with a small group of family and friends but it was at our home so lots and lots of sprucing up and organizing and decorating and cleaning. Missed a week of work. Two weeks later, I'm at work feeling flu-ish. Ended up with lots of lovely symptoms that led to walking pneumonia/bronchitis/viral infection. I had more medical tests than I can count, several dozen doctor appointments, spent a night in the emergency room. Missed four weeks of work. Spring 2014 will be remembered as one of my not-so-favorite seasons, even though the wedding was beautiful and amazing.

So the last thing I posted was the cute little pre-quilted alphabet blanket that needed a simple binding. Much later ...

Also with the green gingham-checked fabric, made a burp cloth lined with flannel and backed with a cute navy blue print with white stars. And a bib with my first attempt at appliqué (the baby's name starts with a Z). Both are reversible.

One of my smile.amazon.com** purchases made during the delirium phase of the illness (if Hubby knew I was ordering stuff online while out of my mind, he'd have taken away all my devices) was a KAM Snap Setter. I've fought with the metal snaps pliers forever and I like the idea of the plastic snaps. Ruined a few snaps and took a little bit to understand how much pressure you have to put on these pliers to flatten the prong, but once the snap is in correctly, it is terrific! Love it!

Glad to be on my feet again, back to work and looking forward to quality time in the craft studio.

So many projects, never enough time.

** I order occasionally from Amazon and have found out that they have a philanthropic site (smile.amazon.com) that allows you to choose your charity of choice. Then when you order using the smile.amazon.com site, a percentage of your purchase benefits your chosen charity. 

Mine is SOS Rescue Baton Rouge, an amazing animal rescue group in Louisiana run by wonderful people! 

Easy as A-B-C Alphabet Baby Blanket

We interrupt all regularly scheduled sewing/quilting/crafting projects for a quick little Alphabet Baby Blanket.

I was going to make a couple of flannel receiving blankets for a family friend who is due soon, but couldn't find anything that appealed to me for a baby boy. I ended up buying something I've never worked with before ... a pre-quilted printed panel. The front is an adorable alphabet print and the back is the border fabric shown on the front. Inside is a light-weight polyester batting, perfect for Phoenix.

Also purchased a yard of light/dark green gingham checked fabric to make my own binding and some dark olive thread. I'm deciding whether I want to round the corners and make the binding on the diagonal or just leave it straight. Either way, this is so cute and so simple. More to come after binding ...

So many projects, never enough time ...

New Beginnings - A Wedding and a Signature Quilt

Our baby girl married her sweetheart recently in a beautiful ceremony in our back yard. It was an intimate gathering of 38, including the bride and groom. 

They had a mid-morning ceremony with a brunch reception that included some lovely personal touches provided by family and friends. It was a wonderful day with continuous celebrations in the days before and after.

Rather than have a traditional guest book, we had each guest sign a quilt block that will be made into a signature quilt to commemorate the day. The quilt will be in their wedding colors of ivory and green. I'm planning a king size quilt with a simple layout created in the Quilt Studio app on my iPad. It will be made of 8-1/2" blocks in three fabrics that will resemble a large plaid quilt top.

The medium and dark green fabrics …

The lightest fabric is a solid ivory that each guest signed with a black Pigma Micron 05 pen. I pre-washed the fabric to remove the sizing and help ensure that the signatures are permanent.

We set up a spot on the dining room table where guests could sit and sign. I did write up a set of instructions and included a piece of 8-1/2" card stock to place the fabric block on as well as a piece of card stock with a window cut out to lay over the top. This was to ensure that no one wrote in the seam allowances. Extra fabric squares were provided just in case and a practice square so they could get a feel for the pen. There was also a large piece of cardboard underneath it all to protect the table top.

Here are a few of the personalized blocks …

and one from the youngest attendee …

As I write this, the green fabrics are being pre-washed. I am looking forward to completing this quilt and presenting it to the newlyweds -- eventually -- ready to snuggle under.

A couple more photos taken by my photographer sister …

The Momma and the Baby Girl

The Daddy with the Newlyweds

Love … Love … Love!

So many projects, never enough time ...

Gadgets & Tools I Love: Toastabags

Whether in the craft room or kitchen, I Love-Love-Love any gadget or tool that makes life easier, a.k.a., more fun!

Working at Sur La Table, I'm fortunate to learn about many great kitchen products and I've heard customers rave about these Toastabags too many times not to try them.

Here is a Ham and Swiss plated fresh out of the Toastabag, all melty and toasted ... 

Awesome!

You can adjust the setting on your toaster for level of brownness. This one was done all the way on high.

Best part is the bags are washable and reusable up to 50 times. A package of 3 runs $8.95 so $3 per bag. 

No grill pan or skillet to clean and they can even go in the dishwasher. I just hand-wash and prop 'em open on the drying mat to drain ... easy-peasy. If your kid can use a toaster, they become Chef Grilled Cheese! And have you ever toasted a PBJ? Good stuff!

Please know that I am not being compensated for this product, but I do like to share products I love and this one is definitely a keeper in our house!

Dani Bag

Finally made it into my craft room yesterday after months of neglect. Of course, it became the "hide the crap" room during the holidays and I am working retail now so was just extra busy and low on sewing time and energy. But, thankfully, all is back in order. My sweet Hubby even surprised me in December by having my beautiful old 1969 Bernina serviced. What a difference ... I was flying on that thing!

'

So I made a beautiful little tote bag as a gift. It turned out great and I used a method for the top edge and handles that I had seen on a recent episode of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting. Best part: No Binding!

I like to personalize with my embroidery machine so put a tab on the side where sunglasses or keys can be hung.

This was so easy to make. I'm planning to write out the pattern soon and make more!

So many projects, never enough time ...

Glitter Me Happy

With the Christmas tree up, it was time to decorate our double front doors but I just couldn't make myself put up the old wreaths that I had made when we moved into this house 15 years ago.

Those darling, fluffy tulle wreaths are the cutest so I headed for Hobby Lobby where all the Christmas goodies were 50% off. Ashley and I had decided on traditional red and green Christmas colors and once I saw the glitter tulle, it was on. Sometimes you just have to sparkle. 

I decided to go with wire wreath frames rather than styrofoam because they're more durable and, surprisingly, less expensive. I used a 12-1/2" quilting ruler to quickly wrap and cut strips of tulle (just like cutting fringe), doing an entire spool at a time and making each strip 12-1/2" long. I knotted on two strips of green, then two strips of red. Each wire wreath has five sections and putting eight strips in each section was just right.

Front ...

Back …

When I got to the last section. I knotted a 25" strip of tulle on the outer ring for a hanger and a little ornament on the inner ring to dangle in the center of the wreath. Then finished up by knotting on the final strips and fluffed the tulle to the front of the wreath.

This is an extremely fast project. I had both wreaths cut, assembled and hung on the doors in just an hour-and-a-half. I think it took me longer to vacuum up the mess because, frankly, it looked like a glitter factory had exploded in my kitchen. Thought I had it conquered, too, until hubby walked in and pointed out that my face, shirt, pants and shoes were still sparkling. (Note to self: If glitter tulle is involved, do the prep work outside.)

With the tulle and ornaments half off and using a 40% off coupon for one of the wire wreath forms, both wreaths totaled less than $20. I only needed 3 each of the 12 yard spools of tulle and still had a little of those left when finished. It's a great way to get your sparkle on and celebrate!

So many projects, never enough time ...