A Couple More Christmas Gifts

Christmas Gifts 2011, a set on Flickr.

I made another overnight bag for a Christmas Gift.... Here it is. I used a couple of charm packs of a Moda Fabric - Curio by Basic Grey. This is Simplicity 2274 (again). I pieced the body of the bag with the charm squares, and used yardage for the pockets, handle trim, and ends of the bag. I was pretty happy with the way it turned out.  If you click on each of the photos, you can get a much better view!

I also made a couple of ruffled dish towels. I started with some dish towels I got at Ikea....... I think I paid 79 cents each. Something really inexpensive anyhow. I added 3 rows of ruffles....I cut strips of fabric 2 inches wide, hemmed the bottom and both sides, and then ran a gathering stitch along the top. I sewed them to the towel, and topped it off with rick rack..... They turned out really cute, and I wish I made more! I'll have to start a little earlier next year!

Not the kind of day I was planning on...

I have one Christmas gift that I was hoping I could get sewn today, and a few small things that I would like to finish up before Tuesday.  Hmmm....... it looks like that might not happen.  My sewing machine started acting funny this morning when I was quilting with the walking foot.  I turned it off and back on again, and things were going along fine.  This afternoon, I was using a zig zag stitch around the edges, and I had some trouble again.  I thought maybe the needle was bent, and decided to change it.  The needle I was using fell down into the sewing machine.  I can't get it out, and I don't know if the problem is entirely because of the needle that fell inside, or if there was a problem from before. 

So, I will have Mr. Small Town look at it tonight.  But really, I doubt it's anything he/we can fix.  I think I need to take it in to the shop.  So, I might be borrowing a machine to finish up the Christmas things.......... dang!  I hate it when that happens!

A little something to go with the overnight bag

I decided to make a couple of bags to coordinate with the overnight bag.  I made the drawstring bag on the right using Jeni's tutorial found here. 

I made the bag on the left with a tutorial I found here.

The drawstring bag is super easy to make, and goes together really quickly.  The cosmetic pouch on the left was pretty easy too, just took a little more time.

Overnight Bag finished

I finished the overnight bag I was making for my daughter-in-law's birthday.  I think I am safe posting it here, as I am pretty sure she doesn't read my blog..... :)  (in fact, she might not even know that I have a blog...)  It's made from Simplicity 2274.  I made one back in October and if you look back through some of my older posts, you can read about it and see the photos.

This one is made in Kate Spain's Fandango.  I made one change to the pattern.  I used contrasting fabric for both the pockets and the handles.  The original pattern has you using the same fabric for both the bag itself and the pockets.  I see now that I probably should have centered the flowers on the handle... oh well, maybe next time!

I also found if you use a loftier polyester batting, the bag will stand up better. 

Since I still have quite a bit of this fabric, I might make a coordinating make-up bag to go with it.   

Thrift store find and 1 towel finished

I found this fabric last week at the thrift store.  I thought it was really cool.  I'm not sure exactly what I'll do with it, but it would make something cute for the kitchen.  It's kind of a border print - I can't say as though I've ever seen any fabric quite like this - half of it is the yellow print, and the other is the cream print.

 And here's the original price tag - 4 yards for $1.00.  That was what they were charging at the thrift store as well.  :) 

 I followed the tutorial found here for the towel.  I like her fabric much better than mine!  I was in a hurry to get one done, so I did not embellish this one.  I will be appliquing trees on some of mine, and might go for some with yo-yo's as well.  I had a hard time finding charm packs of Christmas fabric in my local quilt shops.  I bought some fat quarters and half yard cuts, and combined them with some Christmas (and non-Christmas) fabric from my stash.

T shirt quilt and pillows

I got the t shirt quilt back from the quilters earlier this week, and got the binding sewn on.  I was planning to bind it in purple, but I didn't have enough.  I had a different orange that I hadn't used in the quilt, so I used that for binding.

Here's the back.  The colors are off a little, but you get the idea.

I had one extra t shirt, and a few sleeves that I hadn't used.  I decided to make 2 pillows to go with the quilt.  The pillow are 16 inches square.  Here's the front of them...

and here's the backs. 

The quilt and pillows are for my daughter-in-law's sister.  I hope she's happy with the way they turned out! 

Yellow and Black Pinwheels

Back in July, I blogged about these blocks.  If I knew how to put a link here to take you back to that post, I would!  It was a really hot and humid day, and the camera lens got fogged over - I called them my hazy pinwheel blocks.  Anyhow, these blocks have just been sitting on my sewing table.  I trimmed them down so they are all the same size (9 1/2 inches square) and sewed them together.  I decided I wanted the quilt to be a little larger, so I added the black & white polka dot border. 

I had started sewing inch and a half strips together after I had pieced those blocks.  It was sort of an experiment that really didn't work out, as it was really wonky.  I cut that down for my outer border.  It still needs pressing, and also needs to be sewn onto the quilt, but I think I'll go for it. 

2 Quilt tops

Pink and purple log cabins, a photo by hammskaren on Flickr.

I finished piecing the tops for the pink and purple log cabin baby quilts. I think this is the first time I did a log cabin block, and I am really happy with the way they turned out.

Pink & Purple Blocks

I finished the pink and purple log cabin blocks today.  I made 32 of them - the plan was to lay them out 5 x 6, with a couple of extras, just in case.  I never did the math to figure out how big they would be.  It turns out they are approximately 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches square.  Laying them out 5x6 will be kind of large for a baby quilt.  Maybe I need to make 8 more, and have enough for 2 baby quilts?? I wasn't planning to add a border, but if that's the case, I might want to.  What do you think??  Maybe a  skinny orange border, and then a wider border of either pink or purple?

Small Blocks

Here's one of the lovely plants I got from my co-workers following my surgery last week. 

And here's what I've been working on - pink and purple log cabin blocks.  They still need a few rows added. 

Duffle Bag

  It's been awhile since I've blogged, but I have been busy.  This is my most recent project.  I also made 2 Halloween table runners, and several little treat bags, but I didn't get any pictures of them.  Sorry!

The duffle bag is made from a Simplicity pattern.  Off the top of my head, I think it's  #2274.  Of course right at the moment, I can't remember where I put the pattern to actually go and check.   

Mine definitely didn't turn out perfect, but I'm liking it.  A lot.  The fabric is from Hobby Lobby.  It's been many years since I've sewn something with a zipper.  It went pretty smooth, I must say.  I did measure each pattern piece, and used my rotary cutter.  I will most definitely make one of these again.  I have enough jute webbing to make one more....

What I'm working on now...

T shirt quilt, before borders, a photo by hammskaren on Flickr.

Tee shirt quilt, before borders. Rows sewn together... and yes, NOW I see that I have 2 of the same tee shirts next to each other. It's going to have to stay that way!

This will be a quilt for John

John's quilt, a photo by hammskaren on Flickr.

I pieced scraps of fabric to dryer sheets, and then sewed them into strips. Each block made with a dryer sheet is seperated by a black strip. The block finished at 5 inches by 9 inches. Sashing is 41/2 inches wide. Now I need to come up with something for the back. I'll have to piece it because all I have for yardage is either pink or yellow!

I finished a "rag" quilt

Rag Quilt 9/07/11, a photo by hammskaren on Flickr.

Another baby quilt..... this one for a girl... I wasn't so sure about this one as I was putting it together, but I am happy with the results!

Charisma

Charisma Back, a photo by hammskaren on Flickr.

here's the back...

Charisma

Charisma #3, a photo by hammskaren on Flickr.

The "Charisma" quilt is finished.... here's the front

Prince Charming

Prince Charming 3, a photo by hammskaren on Flickr.

The pictures I took today turned out a little better than the ones I took yesterday. I still had trouble with the light. This picture has been fine tuned with flickr....It's the best one I have.

"Dream On" is finished!

I finally finished the "Dream On" quilt.  I bought the fabric last fall, at the quilt show in Des Moines.  I actually bought it from the Quilted Forest booth.  The Quilted Forest is a quilt shop in Forest City, Iowa.  I only live about 20 miles from Forest City.  Basically I drove all the way to Des Moines (about 150 miles) to buy the fabric I could have bought from the same people, and would have only driven 20 miles.  Oh well...... the quilt show was a lot of fun... :)  I am looking forward to going again this year..... it happens to fall on my wedding anniversary this year! 

Quilting was done by a long-arm quilter at the Quilted Forest.

Back of "Dream On".  If you wait long enough, the fabric goes on clearance........ that's what I did!

Every time I look at this quilt, I hear Steven Tyler singing (more like wailing, I guess!)"Dream on, dream on, dream on, dream until your dreams........"

Part 2 of our travels...

After returning from our trip to Tennessee, we were home for a day and a half, and then left for a wedding out in the Black Hills - Spearfish Canyon, SD.  Here is a picture of a field of sunflowers on along the Interstate.

A little more driving, and the Badlands came into view....

We attended a beautiful outdoor wedding......we were served a delicious Prime Rib dinner, and we spent about 10 hours on the road the next day driving home...... :)

It's been a busy week!

 We've had kind of a crazy week around here.  We left a week ago yesterday to move the middle son to Tennessee.  He goes to school here....

That's Middle Tennessee State University, if you are wondering. 

We rented a UHaul trailer, as you can see, and this is his new home!

We did take time out for a little fun while we were there, and toured the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. 

We got home late Tuesday, just enough time to get caught up on laundry and pack up again for the next trip.

I'll save those pictures for the next post! 

Stars & Strips baby quilt

Stars & Strips baby quilt, a photo by hammskaren on Flickr.

I finished this quilt earlier this week. I will be sending it home with my sister when she comes out to visit next week. It's for her first grandson. He will be arriving in September. :)

Stars & Strips

Stars & Strips, a photo by hammskaren on Flickr.

Here's a close up of the Stars & Strips baby quilt.

Back of Stars & Strips

Back of Stars & Strips, a photo by hammskaren on Flickr.

Here is the back of "Stars & Strips". It's a pale green fabric with cream colored dots. Kind of hard to tell in this picture!

What I'm working on now...

I have been saving up old sheets, I should say "vintage" sheets for awhile. I used my Accuquilt to cut 4 1/2 inch squares. I figure if I sew 25 of them together every day, in no time I'll have enough sewn together for a quilt top. I think I need to cut a few more....

Working on a quilt for a baby due in September. His room will be done in browns, tans, sage green, etc. Kind of a star theme going... as I have seen the bedding, etc. this needs borders yet, but you get the idea...

My friend Julie over at joetulips made this cute postcard. It was so much fun to get in the mail! I am amazed at what she does with stuff in her recycling bin. I think she should sell her creations!

The postcard makes a good bookmark.... it will eventually hang on the wall in my sewing area, but I needed something to make my place.... I love these books by Joanne Fluke....... they include recipes...

Black and White quilt

The black and white "snapshot" quilt is finished. The backing is black with white polka dots. Nothing fancy. It was machine quilted (not by me)! I finished hand sewing the binding last night, then I washed and dried it. It will be a wedding gift for a special couple. It is approximately 68" square....... give or take a little....