Pen case for my Drawing Pens

I love to draw and fill my spare time with sketching and doodling.  I love the Micron Pens I have but keeping them with me is a bit tricky.  If you look in the first picture you will see the red biscuit box that I keep coloured pens in.  I love it.  And its easy to stash in a bag for travel in my house or car.

I used the 'quilt as you go' technique to quilt a 14 by 9 piece of fabric to work with. The end of the red container is 2 1/4" in diameter so I drew that size circle and added a generous 1/4" seam allowance...

Lots of thick seams later I added some silk lace I have been saving and sewed it all together.

Simple Spinner

These new blocks are sort of an experiment.  You know how you read instructions in a new magazine and wonder at the cleverness and then wonder if it works...

Sewing away from home

When we are away I still love to sew especially if there is a day with out company.  It keeps me busy and productive after the cookies and pies are done.

In steps this old Singer.  I had it serviced and the staff expressed their surprise that I would or maybe could use such a thing when it neither reverse stitches of zigzags.  Horrors!  It is wonderful thing and makes beautiful neat little stitches.  It also has the cleverest bobbin winder ever.  It doesn't like the giant spools of thread though so I put the spool in a jar behind and thread it through a big hole in a spare bobbin.  All good.

Baby Toques

Three new babies means knitting baby toques, right?

This one has a tiny pink and purple speck in the yarn.  Very cute and girly.  The purple one in the background was made for a bigger baby head although the patterns claimed they were both for newborns.  Luckily I gave the purple one to the baby that one the size prize.  But every baby is a blessing, right?

My Tidier Sewing Room (Pt 2 of My Messy Sewing Room)

Okay, here is where we started.  I moved the mess outside the door of my sewing room.  Then I sorted for a few days...

That was hard work especially for my brain and heart.  I did reacquaint myself with many older fabrics that I still love though, so it was not time wasted.

So Tada!

Yeah, just showing off my DH's work building my cabinets over the left over maple flooring...

You know it can't stay that tidy.  Why, if I have so much extra space why am I downsizing my stash in the first place (insert smiley face with a wink)?

Now this is real.  I really have plastic containers of thread, and a pressing board that needs a place to stand when I am not using it. Oh, and that wonderful bolt of handkerchief muslin I got from my sister.  This is real.

But to my eyes everything looks fresh and ready for action.  Yeah, me.

Spinning Wheels, my Aunt Maude Quilt

When my parents married, my Mom was sent a quilt top made by her Aunt Maude who lived in BC.  The top languished for a few years and then my Mom undertook to quilt it herself although she had never done such a thing.  Winters in Manitoba are long and cold. It seemed like a good idea.  I have always admired that quilt and was mesmerized by the pattern.

It has seen a lot of wear since the early 1950s.  Recently my Mom gifted it to me.  I am delighted to be the keeper of Aunt Maude's quilt.

But I had to go one better and try to make some of these blocks.  Well I found out why you don't see this block in quilting magazines.

It was a challenge just to get it drafted up.  But I think my effort was worth it.

When I finished nine blocks I called it a day.  Let me tell you though there are lots of mis-cut and wonky pieces in the bottom of the bin, sigh.

Sewing Clothing Sheer long top

I have found that I just can't find the right tops to go over my new leggings.  They generally are not long enough.  I did get one gently used but the colour wasn't quite me.  So... I made a pattern and...

I was pretty pleased with the result and weather here has been almost warm enough to wear this lovely thing - but not quite...
I am also working on another top using this pattern.