Inspiration From A Coffee Mug…

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Another one bites the dust… I get to cross this off the MAY To-Do List. But first let me tell you about it.

I found this cute mug at the Salvation Army Thrift Store last year. In fact, they had two exactly alike. I got them both. I knew I would make something just wasn’t sure what. On and off, I auditioned fabrics. Nothing quite matched perfectly.

I think I changed out the fabrics three different times. Never did find the exact shade of peach. I even took the mug with me to JoAnn’s.

So.. I decided matchy, matchy is OK for your wardrobe but not necessary for quilting. Can’t pigeonhole my quilting into Matchy Matchy. Stifles my creativity. Anything goes with quilting.

Here’s my Anything Goes. Two pincushions. (Only one was on my To-Do List.) A mug rug and a zippered pouch.

I still have one block left to decide what to make with it. And about a handful of scraps.

I am having a blast working with zippers. Each time the result “on the ends” is different. I keep experimenting, trying to get a polished look. I will get there. I will keep trying.

The pouch is long and wide enough for lots of sewing supplies. It has a pocket with a divider down the center, making two pockets.

More photos…

I have learned so much in 1 1/2 years of quilting. I am now using less thread due to discovering Leaders and Enders. When I first read about L and E, I thought what the heck are they talking about. So I did a Google search, read about it, and thought, hmmm, that’s a great idea. Now I try to have something ready to stitch up next to my sewing machine. No sense wasting thread if you don’t have to. Chain sewing.

Here I am working on two projects. L and E.

My red/white/blue quilt. Which BTW is now back to a table mat. A tablecloth. I can probably still use it as a picnic blanket if I want. The borders are sewn.

Next, I have to sandwich it and get it ready to quilt. And that baby is going to be coming off the MAY To-Do List soon!!

Wait until you see all the new quilt books I bought. Yummy!!

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Linking to…

http://www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2012/06/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-babies-are.html

http://sewhappygeek.co.uk/index.php/manic-monday/

Wish I Could Keep You… But You Have To Go Home

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Have you ever worked on a project that you enjoyed so much you hated to see it end? So, you purposely dragged it out. That happened to me with my Brown Bag Project. A project from my quilt group.

You are probably saying, “What’s a Brown Bag project?”

It’s a project where you send off a bag of scraps to your quilt partner and she makes something FOR YOU FROM YOUR SCRAPS. Not sure why it is called Brown Bag since any bag would work. Zip Lock even. But it just sounds more mysterious. Actually it could be called the Mystery Project because you have no idea what will be sent back. I will show you what I sent once I have my completed item back. So you can see the before and after.

But I can do a Show and Tell of what my quilt partner sent me and what I made for her.

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BEFORE

These are the scraps she sent per the guidelines. Nothing larger than a Fat Quarter or smaller than a 5″ square. A mix of purples and lavenders.

OH!! I forgot to tell you. I was allowed to use one fabric from my own stash and batting. This is what I used. A dark purple and lavender fabric.

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AFTER

First, I made a table mat. Would also be pretty as a wall hanging. It measures 18″ by 18″.

I used my Double Strip Ruler to cut the triangles and I have to tell you, the seams lined up perfectly. No stressing out. I will definitely use it again.

Still lots of scraps left so I made a table runner. It measures 28″ by 12″.

I just love the look of these two fabrics together. One is a Batik. And the other, a soft cotton print.

And then, with still some scraps left, I made two stuffed birds. Are you getting the picture? LOL. I don’t want this project to end.

And lastly… I had just enough fabric left to make the pincushion I showed you a few days ago.

Ha!! You thought I made that pincushion for myself, eh. I wish, but nope, it goes HOME too.

Everything gets shipped off today. I will be sad to see it go but all things must come to an end. Can’t wait for my quilt partner to see what I made from her scraps. I hope she likes. I know I do!!

Go here to read about the making of my pincushion.

http://thisyearsdozen.wordpress.com/2012/02/18/cathedral-window-pincushion/

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Have you ever done a Brown Bag Swap? What did you make?

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Bird pattern here.

http://www.spoolsewing.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/birdpattern1-1.pdf

Pincushion pattern here.

http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/cutting-corners/2012/02/17/cathedral-window-pincushion/

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Linking up to:

http://conniekresin.blogspot.com/2012/02/linky-party-tuesday_28.html

Thanks, Connie!!

Cathedral Window Pincushion

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This is one of the blocks I have been itching to try. I moved it to the top of my To-Make list after deciding to try something small.

I have been wanting to make a pincushion for months. But I wanted to make mine with crushed walnut shells inside and didn’t have any. So, off I went to Petsmart.

Rather than walk around searching for the shells, I asked for help right off the bat. The lady asked me what type pet I had. None. I quickly mentioned I wanted the shells for crafts. Specifically, pincushions. Must not have been the first time she heard that. She never blinked. Didn’t say “for real.” None of that. She walked me to a bag. The ONLY bag they had. 7 lbs. I will be making lots of pincushions!!

But first, let me show you the one I made yesterday. All from scraps in purple and lavender.

It looks ok. It will pass.

The button in the center is not just for decoration. It is for saving face. Covering my poor stitching.

I put the walnut shells in a little sack I made out of batting. Then inserted it into the opening in the back. (I ended up using this darker purple for the back instead of the glittered fabric.)

It fits perfectly inside one of my recycled wooden frames. Is this cool or what!! It measures 3 1/2″ square and 1 3/4″ high.

This is the tutorial I used. Go here if you would like to make one. It’s easy. Only one confusing part but I figured it out.

http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/cutting-corners/2012/02/17/cathedral-window-pincushion/

Have you tried making a cathedral window block? Do you like them?