I'm a sewing bag nut!

So you noticed I didn't really have a lot of pin cushions - BUT you should see my sewing bags! I'm a sewing bag nut! I love them all for different reasons. Course I do have my faithful old standby's that I keep going back to. The picture above are my all time favorite standbyes. They zip shut so nothing falls out, and they seem to be just the right size for scissors, a needle book, thread, thimble, etc. If I'm working on small applique block/piece that fits in there as well. These are the ones that sit on my end tables in my family room that I use every day. But I'll pick them up and take them "on the go" as well!

The next picture is a thread organizer. You can see where you string the thread through the ultra suede so you don't have to take the spool out. It keeps everything nice and neat! Now these 2 I made for gift last spring. But I still haven't gotten mine made. But that is this weekends project! So hopefully sometime in the next week or so I'll have my very own! I"ve wanted this for so long, but just never took the time to make one for me. One of these went to Linda and she said she is loving hers!

The next one is made out of pet screen. I've made a TON of these! I use the one below for all my sewing tools when I go on retreat. Seam Ripper, Rotary cutter, Needles, Stiletto, Chalk Wheels, bobbins, thread, and on and on. I have a smaller size one I used when I went to Paducah to put all my receipts in - that kept them all together and handy for me - not that I wanted to know how much I spent! Linda and Laura both have one of these, and I showed them how to make them at quilt camp this month. You know I think I may have sent one to Finn and Tonya also! Can you tell they are easy and fun to make!

The next one was one of my early cases I made. I made it kind of oval like a placemat and then sewed ziplock baggies to it and covered the bottoms with a ribbon. I also made a pocket on both sides and made a pin-cushion (heart) on one side. This one usually goes to work with me for applique projects. If I made one again I would make the handle shorter. And the buttom closure tighter.

This one is like an envelope. I made it for fun - what else - to put all my stuff in when I took a class from Karen Kay Buckley on applique at the Chicago quilt show. Of course I had plenty to use, but I needed a NEW one! This one is REALLY easy to make. So what I keep in this one right now is my applique project from that class. Yes I've been bad and haven't worked on it a whole lot, even though I love it.

Then I have a book like zippered case. This case holds my stuff for my Rose Sampler Supreme applique I"m working on. I was doing so good, I have about 7 of 12 blocks done and I've just kind of fizzled out on it. I got really sick of pink and green! I guess I should get it out and at least take a picture of what I have done so far for you to see! Maybe that would inspire me to get back at it! This one is nice because it zips up and I put a pocket in it for the block to go in. I used this one a lot - it was my very first one. But I"m really out of the blue and yellow phase, so I wish I had a different color! Plus my quilting really stunk on this one! But it works well!

And last but not least is a little round cylinder huswife like case. My friend Lynn made this one for me. It fits small scissors, needle book, thread, etc in it also! It also has a needle spot on the inside cover. This one gets used when I just need to take my stuff but don't need a lot else.

So I think you have the idea - I"m a sewing bag nut! But come on - aren't they just so cool and fun!

Look at what came in the mail today!

Well I went out to get the mail today - dreading even more bills (with 2 in college it seems they come every day for tuition! :)) and what did I find! A package from Quilt Pixie! She sent a package to thank me for the Gees Bend Stamps. That was sooo nice of you Donna! Thank You!

The above "box" was in the package. I"m guessing she made it. It is soooo cool! Now I"m tempted to try them. I opened the box and found a bunch of charms and some gorgeous earth tone batiks - Oh my gosh - MY COLORS!

Thank you so much! That was way too nice!

Last pictures from Camp....

Yes, when the week comes lately I'm so busy I don't have time to play on blogger! But I did take some time tonight to share a bunch more pictures from camp. There are some awesome quilts and I had to share them with you.

The above quilt one of the ladies worked on during the camp - isn't it fun! The below quilt was Linda's. She made it all from parts and then put the blocks (parts) together with fillers! Exactly how it is explained in Gwen Marston's new book!

My favorite I think was this scrap star quilt! I just love the centers of the stars and I loved the border fabric! I think Linda made this one also. See what happens now when I waited too long to post this! Oh and the red and blue one below it is also Linda's! I thought it was really fun.

This one was a quilt I think Garnet was working on - I LOVE the colors. And the blocks are fairly small, maybe only 4". I really loved it! Oh ok, so I was loving everything.

There was also this really awesome wool matt. I never did figure out who made it. I think it came already done and they just hung it up for decoration.

Mel made this scrap quilt with some FQ's she had bought and saved. The colors were so rich on this one. My picture doesn't capture the gorgeous brown in the background.

And how about these fun string baskets! Linda made these also (I think). I just loved how the strings on them looked. And the handles are so perfectly shaped!

And last but not least was "THE BARN" quilt. Mary and her daughter-in-law Tonya (not our Tonya of wacky letter fame) had made all these barn blocks for Mary's daughter. They spent all weekend sewing blut and white patches and trying to get them all set together. What you don't see here was when they thought they had it all together it was really long and skinny. It just didn't look right. So Laura came to the rescue and figured out how to rip out parts and piece it back together to make it a better bed shape! I say give Laura a hand - Isn't this going to be a treasure. Do I need to say that Mary's daughter loves barns! :)

Why is my scrap bag of strings growing?

OK, so WHY - may I ask, is my scrap bag of string growing larger if I'm using up strings on quilts? I started these all at quilt camp with Laura and Linda, but just about finished them all this weekend. And if you ask, are some of them different shades of black - yes they are. I was trying to use up all kinds of fabric on these! They will go to the local hospital for children/babies when I"m finally done. The one below with the 2 friendship stars needs 2 more stars yet. And the 2 others below are more baby size.



And because everyone is sharing their fun pincushions I thought I would share mine with you - not that I have that big of a collection! I have a few, but the ones I have I LOVE! The big black chicken one I made and put on a candlestick holder! I love that one! The tiny crow one holding the back was made for me by a friend. It is really cute but tips easy so I don't use it too much. I also got the heart one from a friend. I love the colors on that one and it is light and easy to carry around. But what I mostly use is the pincushion on the bag. I have 2 upstairs for hand sewing and one by my machine. They are so nice since I have a bag for strings and the heavy pincusion to hold it off the edge of the table.

Fabric Canister Tutorial

Several of you wanted to know how to make a fabric canister, and I thought, what a great idea - I bet a lot of you would like to make one for Christmas decorations or gifts. You can put cookies in a zip-lock bag and put that inside it for a gift, or fill it with candy - or whatever!

So here is the first step to get you started. I thought I would post this part first to give you time to dig up your fabrics and scrap batting! I made the one above by cutting out a part of a preprinted Xmas stocking, but the one I'm making now I'm just doing with novelty fabric.

Cut:

1) 8" x 18-1/2" outside fabric. (If you are piecing the outside just make the finished pieced piece 8" x 18-1/2".
1) 9 x 18-1/2" lining fabric.
1) circle 6-1/4" in diameter (across) from outside fabric.
1) circle 6-1/2" in diameter from lining fabric.
1) 8 x 18-1/2" batting.
1) 9 x 18-1/2" batting.
2) circles from batting.

Quilt:

Quilt fabric onto corresponding piece of batting. You don't need to put a backing underneath the batting. I do very minimal and simple quilting on the lining piece and bottoms. I do a bit more on the outside fabric. I"ll have a picture of my quilting later today, but if you want to be adventurous go ahead and start your quilting!

And as you can see you can adjust the size of the canister. Make the lining piece about 1" taller than the outside fabric and adjust the circle size depending on the width of the canister.

Here are what my pieces look like after they are quilted. Once you have this much done you actually have all the hard parts done!

Someone wanted to know what to use for a circle template. Your going to have to be creative on that one. I have circle templates for quilting, so I have a ton of sizes available, just find one that is about the right size. If nothing else draw a circle on paper with a pencil and string. The string should be just a tad over 3" from the pencil to where you hold it on the paper.

Once the 4 pieces are quilted, sew the 2 canister pieces into tubes as shown above. I use a generous 1/4" seam.

Then fold all 4 pieces in half and mark the ends with pins. Fold in half the other way and mark again with pins to get the quarter spot on each piece.

Now pin the bottoms onto the tubes matching the quarter spots first and then fill in as needed.

Sew bottoms onto tubes with generous 1/4" seam. I find the walking foot at this point really helps. Waaa-Laaa - you now have 2 tubes with bottoms!

So here you are - the end to the canister instructions!

Next take the inside lining piece and turn it right side out. Then place the lining piece inside the outside piece (which is still inside out). Sew top edges together with about a 1/2" seam leaving about 4" open.
Turn canister right side out through opening, and shape bottom. Smooth up outside and lining pieces up. Lining will stick above the outside.

Flip down the lining piece to cover unstitched opening and top stitch around canister to hold the fold in place.

And there you have it - a cute fabric canister!

The Canisters get finished! Step 3

So here you are - the end to the canister instructions! I can't wait to see what you all make!

Next take the inside lining piece and turn it right side out. Then place the lining piece inside the outside piece (which is still inside out). Sew top edges together with about a 1/2" seam leaving about 4" open.
Turn canister right side out through opening, and shape bottom. Smooth up outside and lining pieces up. Lining will stick above the outside.

Flip down the lining piece to cover unstitched opening and top stitch around canister to hold the fold in place.

And there you have it - a cute fabric canister!

Canister - Step 2

So I've finally found time to do step 2 for the Canisters!

Once the 4 pieces are quilted, sew the 2 canister pieces into tubes as shown above. I use a generous 1/4" seam.

Then fold all 4 pieces in half and mark the ends with pins. Fold in half the other way and mark again with pins to get the quarter spot on each piece.

Now pin the bottoms onto the tubes matching the quarter spots first and then fill in as needed.

Sew bottoms onto tubes with generous 1/4" seam. I find the walking foot at this point really helps. Waaa-Laaa - you now have 2 tubes with bottoms!

More tomorrow......

My new Home

I always tease Nancy that I"m going to live in her cabin! She says it is fine as long as I don't want heat, water or plumbing!

Sometimes I just tell my family I'm going to buy me a Tumbleweed Tiny House and live in our backyard by myself! Check these out - aren't they adorable! Course a more scenic remote location would be nicer than my backyard!