Art Folder for my Grandson

I came up with this idea for a Christmas present for my drawing/writing grandson.
I had some Moleskin small blank books I got on a great sale so I thought I could just measure and sew up a useful way to carry the book and a few pens or pencils.

I also like to draw in small books so I tried to be careful not to add bulk or unnecessary seams on the covering of the book itself. 

Finished 100 Modern Blocks

I am pretty pumped!  I finished the last of my 100 Modern Quilt Blocks from the book by Tula Pink.

I precut the individual blocks and laid them out on my handy graph paper pad and scribbled on numbers so as not to get them confused. ;)

Then laid them out carefully - ok, I will admit there was some ripping out going on.  Hey, the blocks just look better when the fabric is in the right order....

And so it went.  I now have a lovely pile of 100 blocks - now for figuring out the quilt layout.

100 Modern Quilt Blocks

I have been bitten by the follow along bug and am working hard on the Modern Blocks by Tula Pink.  They are quite fun and addictive.

Wanna see how far I am...

Did I mention that there are a few blocks from the Splendid Sampler QAL?

I like the book and how the blocks are illustrated.  Easy to work with.

Zippered Pouch for Pens

I made my darling DIL this bag for her artist's colouring pens.  She picked the fabric...

Then I reorganized the zipper by which I mean, I cut off the stops so the slider came off then I pulled apart the two sides (with teeth).  I discarded one of the sides and made the remaining side into a loop and put the slider back on.  I love how the zipper finishes when its like this.

Missouri Star Quilt Co Hunter Star Block

I have been working on this Missouri Star Quilt Co pattern called Hunter Star pretty much all summer.  It seemed scary because there were lots of bias edges but it worked stunningly well.

A bit bright but I was using up my stash :)

Mad Hatter Hat

We have a cute little car 'with no roof' as the grandkids say and for someone like me with shoulder length hair that is a problem.  Any speed over 60km/hr requires a hat.  The sun can also be a problem as I don't have prescription sunnies.  Here is my latest solution...

Red fabric + stiffish interfacing

                                     Equals =

I didn't take a picture of it on but believe me, it looks a bit like the Mad Hatter...

Alphabet, done

Here is a bit of a peek at the alphabet quilt I was inspired to design.  It is finally done.  I quilted it with wavey lines horizontally and am happy with the result.  I didn't want to take away from the alphabet-y ness.

and Buggy Stars is done too.

It is surprising how much can get down when you just sit down and start the process.

Lots of hemming and hawing about the borders and the quilting itself so I just did straight lines - mainly stitch in the ditch.

Wheel Around Quilt Finish

So lots of determination to reduce the pile of quilt tops waiting for the quilting process resulted in this.

Wall Hanging Foxglove at Night

Ta Da!

A Summer Dress

This time I tried a Butterick dress pattern 6351.  This one I cut out on a 12/14 size according to my measurements.

 It was pretty tricky as the back of the bodice overlaps...

But all is well that ends well...

The Regia Socks

So the socks are done.  It has been a while since I made ones with such a long cuff. I imagine I will wear them turned down...

Needlecase or Pincushion

I made this book type needlecase - at least I think that is what these are called - and I thought it would be cool if I added a more traditional little pincushion in an inside pocket....

Sewing Clothing: a Summer Top

I follow some sewing blogs like Sew Anemone and these ladies have inspired me to dig out and dust off my own clothing sewing skills.

As a result I bought the Burda 6632 top pattern and cut it out on a size 12. (even though my measurements suggested a size or two bigger....

After a bit of modification ( I used the front band as a facing instead to shrink it a couple more inches) I am really happy with it.

Star Pincushion

As usual, I spend more time looking at what others are up to, and I sometimes wonder when I will have time to sew myself.  The couch is comfy and the coffee soothing...

Anyhow, I saw this clever pincushion made from 15 equal sized squares sewn together.  First I cut the squares 1 1/4" on a side.  Then I sewed y-seams to join 5 squares into a star shape.  Then I made another star shape and the last five squares became the vertical edges joining the two 'star' pieces...

Isn't that cute?  Above I laid the pincushion on my latest drawing...and below I laid it on my latest library book...which is super interesting by the way.

Here it is posing with my driving top down hat....that I made a while ago to fit my extra large noggin... LOL

Another Sock...

I found out that Regia makes a sock yarn (Pairfect) that guarantees the striping works out the same on both socks.  They strand in yellow yarn at the beginning of the ball which gets you started perfectly from the middle of the ball, Yeah!

Then when the stripes stop you start the heel and foot which will be all one colour.  Then you pull out yarn until you find the yellow stuff again and it will start all over with the stripes for the other foot.  Too smart.  And all in one ball.

Update of the Lord's Prayer embroidery

Coming along....this is my go to for travelling and when I am away.  It fits in here...

I am making progress slowly on this but it is very satisfying.

Book Binding a new/old craft

Remember how we used to use thread or string to make little booklets of our own poems and pictures when we were kids?  Weaving the string carefully back and forth and tying a neat knot and bow in the middle of the 'spine'.  It is not so far from what you can do with paper today and adding a cover makes it even better.

You begin by folding the pages into signatures which are just 3-4 folded sheets nested together.  Mark and pierce the folds with an awl.  I used foam board that I had in my sewing room for the covers.  Then after the buttonhole thread sewing is done I covered the spine with a piece of fabric.  Viola!

Then after the buttonhole thread sewing is done I covered the spine with a piece of fabric.  Viola!

Look at this cute Baskety Thing

So while looking at other quilt blogs I saw this Pixie Cup made by Fabric Mutt and was inspired to make one like Heidi's.  Super cute.

There was an issue with a typo in the measurements of the exterior piece but easily solved by following her pictures.  It should be 4 1/2 by 12 1/2 by my calculation.

New Pencil Case

I love pink!

I love it already.  It is just the size to hold my random selection of Derwent Inktense Pencil Crayons.  I smile when I see it.

Napkins

I also made some napkins to go in the kitchen with the orange placemats.


I made them with lots of pressing and I even trimmed the corners.  First I used the Jinny Beyer perfect piecer tool and fold and press the mitres.

After trimming the corner to reduce bulk, and more pressing

The mitres were perfect if I do say so...

Star Placemats

I have been trying to keep my studio tidy and have been moving around these star blocks I made with the Delightful Stars QAL.  There were 9 - 12 inch star blocks so no problem coming up with 8 placemats.

Pretty pleasing.

Dining Room Chairs

My DH finished six dining room chairs for us.  They are wonderful.  He used some poplar (aspen) wood that had been harvested by my sis-in-law's father in the 1950s. So well tempered...

The wood has such gorgeous grain that he just put a clear finish on them.

Some of the knots he left with a rustic look.  Oh, yes and I made the cushion covers from some fabric I had in my stash.