Another kit ready!

Spent some time today getting another kit ready for camp!

Now if I could find the fabric I need to finish an UFO!   Found everything bit the background fabric. Looks like I will be doing some cleaning tomorrow. 

What a treat I have for you today!!!!!!

Did you see the above page in the Fall 2013 Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine?  Did your eye go right to the center right picture and that ADORABLE basket of Diane Knott's?  Well mine did and I just HAD to have one.  I contacted Diane to see if she remembered where she found that basket.  And I got a lovely note back and she did know! 

So of course I had to order 2 for me and 2 for gifts!  And get this!  The maker's name is Dawn!  So we have been chatting and calling ourselves "The Other Dawn"!  (Dawn just isn't that common of a name)

I bought the Sewing Cabin Boy (back) and the Small Spindle Sewing Basket (front) in purple for me!  The small spindle basket I plan to use like Diane does in her picture.  But for now I just had some Fat Quarters handy and put them in for decoration!

Then I bought a blue and a maroon small spindle sewing basket for friends for surprise gifts!  One right away for a birthday and the other for Christmas (can you believe I just bought my first Christmas gift for this year!)

And in the background is my new old Singer 401A.  A friend at work mentioned he had this old sewing machine that his grandmother used when he was growing up and it has been collecting dust in their house.  He was throwing it out but knew I quilted, so asked if I wanted it!  Did I!  Yes I did!  So I told him I would be more than happy to take it off his hands.  I offered to pay for it and he kept declining!  What a find.  So the day I picked it up from him at work I had gotten a gift certificate for his family to go out to dinner at a nearby restaurant.  No way was I not thanking him for this baby!  She needs a bit of oiling and cleaning, but otherwise is in excellent shape!

So - if you want a basket like this - go visit Baskets by Dawn!  You can tell her "The Other Dawn" sent you! 

Getting ready for camp!

Camp may not be until September, but I'm busy cutting out things to work on!  Spent today cutting out pieces for 6 mixer blocks!   This quilt is just too cute (http://www.etsy.com/listing/152088626/mixing-it-up-quilt-beater-block-runner?ref=shop_home_active)!  Can't wait to make it. 

Woo hooo! I played today!

Thanks to Tonya from Lazy Girl Quilting and Lynn from Klein Meisje Quilts I started playing with my scraps today.  I have a pile of old fabric left over from quilts I've made in the past, but they are primitive, girly florals, brights, you name it!  So when I saw Tonya's Lego's quilt I liked the idea.  I let it stew in my head some.  What was stopping me was all the different lengths.  I waste way too much time stressing over them!

So when I saw Lynn's version it was just what I needed!  And the constant solid was just what I loved, for a bit of stability!  I also got a ruler to make pineapple blocks at the Chicago quilt show a few weeks ago and that ruler uses the same size strips! So I can start cutting away!

Here are my first few blocks. Of course they will be more scrappy once I get more fabric cut, but I just had to make a few!  Do you like?

Busy Day

Spent my holiday in the cooool basement finishing some projects!   I finally finished my Bull Run quilt!  And made 2 Christmas tree skirts!  A great completion day for me!

Bull Run is from clothesline quilts:  http://www.clotheslinequilts.com/civilWar.php

(Sorry can't link, I'm on my iPad)

Progress Made!

The surprise new block.....

What it looks like so far....

And a big surprise coming up!

And a little more.....

And a little more.....

A little sewing... A little progress...

Oklahoma Disaster

My oldest daughter called me today. She lives in Oklahoma and her home was missed by the tornado on Monday by just a few miles. I've always thought she had a wonderful talent for putting things into words, and the sadness of the recent tornado is no exception.  I usually keep this blog for quilting related eye candy - but how can I not share her emotional story about Monday, especially when her husband says to her - "tell your mom to share your post.  All those middle age women will want to help."   How could I not love him for considering me and my friends middle age; when I am probably far from middle age!  OK, maybe not far from, but old enough.  To visit her post click here.

So grab a few tissues and visit her post about the ending to our wonderful weekend in Des Moines to celebrate our middle daughters graduation - congrats Dr Jenna (doctor of pharmacy)!

Finally - I started a new project!

It's been awhile, but I finally started a new project!  I bought this fabric back in September for a small wall quilt!  I'll keep the pattern a surprise for now!  Otherwise you won't have anything to look forward to!

Only in Oklahoma!

Do you find a pig grill in the middle of a shopping mall!

A Quilt Finish!

I posted a picture of this quilt top back in January when I worked on it at retreat.  But now I can say it is completely done!  In fact it already is on its way to its new owner, I just haven't had time to post pictures! 

Isn't it gorgeous!  I love how my long armer quilted it - she is truly a wonder with my quilts!  I love her sooooo much!

A few more fun gifts

I came across a tutorial for these fun round earbud pouches.  I just had to make some for gifts!  At least with these small projects I can get some sewing in, and projects completed!  Plus it is fun to give them to friends!  You will find the tutorial here.

And since I was doing quick projects I also used her Lingerie Bag tutorial and made some of those!

Wet Swim Suit Bags

After I made all the fun beach stuff for my trip, someone suggested a wet swim suit bag.  I LOVED the idea.  Now normally they are called wet bikini bags, but well.... when you get to be a certain age, have 4 children and a desk job....  lets just say I made mine just wet swim suit bags.  Hope you can tell in the below picture I lined them with some vinyl so I can pack my wet swim suit in my suitcase on the way home.  I came across another fun pattern last night that hopefully I can share with you in a few days.\

5 Beach Sets all done!

I have all 5 sets of the beach things done and ready to go!  4 weeks and counting!

Quick Gift

I needed a quick gift for a special someone of my daughters who is graduating from law school in May.  While we are NOT Packers fans, he is and I found this quilt kit in a store.  It was so fast to make and is at the quilters as we speak.  Should be ready for graduation in May!  The pattern is "Take 5 Goes Crazy".

Lets go back to January

I wanted to go back to January and share something I made for a friend and I that I hadn't posted yet!  Yes, so I"m really late in sharing!  My friend wanted this sewing pouch for a small rotary mat and some tools to take with places.  She had seen this pattern and had been bugging me for months to sit down and help her make it.  Her birthday is in January - so I surprised her with one all made up!  Above is mine on the left and hers on the right!  Aren't they cute!

I loved this kitchen fabric and had no idea what to use it for - so I decided my travel case was just going to have to be kitchen themed!  My friend loves quilting fabrics.  Want a peek inside?  (Yes I bought her those notions to go inside as part of the surprise too).

My first try was horrid!  I had picked out all this cute valentines fabric that said I Love You along with some quilting fabric and fussy cut everything.  Not until it was done did I realize that the front pocket of the inside also shows on the outside!  I know - not hard to realize that, but I just didn't "think"!  Anyway, I gave this one to my friend for her to give her granddaughter who has started doing redwork.  So for her it was fun for grandma to give to her.  Just had to share another fun project I did this winter!