The monkey troop

 The Sock Monkey troop is already to be gifted to their new homes.

A Sock Monkey with a quilt and book will hopefully be a keepsake for each of my grandkids.  The two boys received theirs on Christmas and they seemed to be a hit. The boys each hugged their monkeys. These little guys are already for lots of adventures and hugs with their new owners.

This coming weekend my granddaughter will receive hers.  She loves to dance and sing so  I decided to make a special tutu for her little monkey.   They can dance and sing together.

In May she will be a big sister.  I wanted to make her a baby sock monkey to go with her monkey so they could practice taking care of a little one.  I only bought extra large rockford socks which was too hard to make the baby.  I've ordered some smaller socks so I'll give my granddaughter the baby sock monkey for her birthday in February.

I think I've gone bananas over these little guys.  Being a little more time consuming than I anticipated, but fun as they started to develop a personality.  Searching through the internet I see there are many different animals to make from socks.  Hmmmmm.  I'd like to tackle a couple different sock animals in the future.  I'll add this to my future to-do-list.

The Cycles of Life

A couple years ago I made a quilt for a little guy that I've babysat occasionally since he was born while his mother worked.  My husband and I have become very fond of him - like he's part of our family.  The quilt had fabric from Maywood Studios called "Cycles of Life".   I choose this fabric because of the bicycle patterns on the all coordinating fabrics.  You see we bought him two of his first bikes and he also learned to ride them at our house.  We also bought him fun things like horns and lights to jazz his bike up.  It's been fun watching him grow.  He loved that quilt and would take it to bed every night.

A few days before this past Thanksgiving there was a fire at his house.  Their dryer caught on fire.  That quilt was in the dryer and caught on fire.  the quilt was burnt and damaged.  Cutting off the worst part and soaking and washing what was left couldn't save the quilt.

Looking through my stash fabric I found leftover fabric from this original quilt and went to work to replicate this quilt the best I could.   Well, yesterday I finished his replacement quilt and it looks pretty closed to the original, same size, same colors and some of the same fabric.

I headed over to his house to give him his new quilt.  The temperatures have been in the teens and having this quilt can help keep him warm on these cold wintery days and nights.  He was excited to see me and had a big smile on his face when I showed him his new quilt.  The colors were a lot brighten this new quilt  than his previous quilt which had been wash numerous times and well used.  I showed him a picture of his first quilt when he got it in February 2021 to assure him it was almost the same.  (There is a post on my blog with this first quilt dated February 24, 2021 ).

I asked him if I should make him a pillow or a teddy bear from some of the better parts of the burnt quilt or just throw it away.  He asked if I could make him a teddy bear.  So now I have a new project to work on.  

I know he will enjoy his new quilt and when he wraps up in it to stay warm I hope he remembers that he is loved.  I'm sending  hugs.

Monkey business

Back a couple years ago I went on a shop hop in Northern Michigan.  I came across Sock Monkey fabric.  It was one of those moments "what was I thinking?"   A bought fabric assortment of the Sock Monkey group.  No idea what I was going to do with it.

Going through my stash I came across this Sock Monkey fabric and decided I would make my oldest grandson (he's 3) a sock monkey and a matching quilt.  This whole idea morphed into making all three of my grandchildren (ages 1, 2 1/2, and 3) a sock monkey and matching quilt.  

I made all three quilts the same size, 60 by 72, and same layout, but used the fabrics a little different.  

They look fun.  With the quilts finished it's time to tackle the sock monkeys.  Back to my studio to finish these Christmas gifts.  I have more monkeying around to do.

Is it spring???

 Our weather has been crazy.  We go from temperatures in the 20s then to 60s.  It's November, but really seems like spring.  Did we miss winter?  I think not.  

My friend who was inspired to make a quilt like my tulip quilt I had hanging on my from porch last spring had me quilt her finished tulip quilt. Yep, tulips.  With the temperatures teasing us and now quilting this brightly colored tulip quilt I am wishing we were heading into spring.

She did a wonderful job.  She made it for her bed.  What a wonderful site to wake up to each morning.

I have it ready to mail tomorrow to her in Florida.  Can't wait for her to receive it.

I've been staying focused on catching up on my projects.  I seem to be making great headway.  I will be back in the next day or two with a couple more finished projects.  

Cotton Daisies

Last year I found a pattern for a quilt called Cotton Daisies by Laugh Yourself Into Stitches.  I decided that I would make the throw size 45" by 63" to use on my hammock in my backyard. 

I included it as part of my AuSable Quilt Guild UFO list 2022/23.  It was my numbered 5 which was picked for June.  During the month of June I did piece it together which was all that was required to be considered complete, but with the weather keeping me outside it was piled up with a couple other quilts to get quilted.  Today it is not an UFO anymore.

Part of the appeal of this quilt was the quilting design that was on the pattern photo.  So I quilted it similar to that photo.  I'm very pleased with the finished quilt.  Although it won't be on my hammock until next summer today was a nice sunny day for a photo.

With this quilt I also made some throw pillows with fabric with bees and beehives print.  I'm envisioning a beautiful sunny day reading a book/magazine on my hammock with my new  creations.  Could possibly a great little nap.

As much as I love summer, these cooler temps are just great for tackling projects I love to do.  I loaded another quilt on my frame this afternoon.  Tomorrows mission is to quilt it.  Hope to see you soon with another completed project.

UFO Challenge catch-up

Catching up on my UFOs from this past years challenges from the AuSable Quilt Guild.

 I am finally working to get catch up on quilting my UFO challenge quilt tops that I pieced during the challenge months.  UFO number six was a pink baby string quilt. I had no one in mind when I decided to make this quilt a couple years ago.  I'm trying to use my stash and these fabrics were extra from previous quilts. I joined a string quilt group a few years back, but the group fell apart after a couple months.  This baby quilt was one of the string quilt projects I was working on.  

Hooray, I finally quilted it this week.  Plus, as always,  I made a matching tote.  I found an orange fox stuffed animal that matches the little fox in the fabric so a little gift basket is starting to fill up.

The main fabric has woodland animals with flowers and leaves so I quilted a leaf design.  This quilt will be stashed away for a future gift.

On that note -  I found out this past couple weeks that we have a new grandchild on the way this May.  And to top that off, my niece just found out that she is expecting a little one this June.  Our little family is growing.  And how fun that our babies are all within a few years old of each other.  I can see fun times ahead.

My Husqvarna Sapphire sewing machine was having power issues and was due for its yearly cleaning and update.  So for the past couple weeks while its been in for repairs I've resorted to using my older Husqvarna/Viking sewing machine.  I forgot what a champ it is.  It sews through things like butter.  I don't recall exactly how long I've owned it.  I bought it used in the early 90s.  I paid $100 for it back then which I thought was a little pricey, but it was a lot more affordable than a new sewing machine and had features I liked.  

I searched online to see if I could find the date of this machine and I found that people were selling the same model for $150 now.  There were also a few that were being sold with missing parts.  My machine has all its original parts and hums happily along.  It's not computerized and has metal parts.  Out of curiosity when I pick up my Sapphire sewing machine I asked if they can tell me the year of my this older sewing machine.  The repair man told me that it's dated to the mid 70s.  Using it this past couple weeks reminds me to never let it go.  I love this sewing machine.

In the meantime, I have another UFO challenge quilt on my quilt frame ready for its debut, hopefully I'll be back tomorrow.

Conjuring up some goodies

Trick or treat.  Smell my feet.  Give me something good to eat.  

As a kid this was a favorite little saying I loved to recite as I begged for candy on Halloween.  With that saying in mind I whipped up a couple Halloween aprons to wear as I prepared some special goodies.  We made chocolate whoopie pies with marshmallow filling and crazy eyes.  It was a hit with the kids.

My intention was to wear my apron and witch hat for trick or treaters on Halloween, but I forgot all about wearing it until the evening was done.  Darn.  It will be ready for next year.  

I always seem to get into a holiday spirit a couple weeks before the holiday and not so many months ahead like the stores.  I refuse to deal with holidays six months ahead.  Unfortunately, this doesn't leave me a lot of extra time to sew anything special for that holiday.  Right now I have a autumn leaf table topper I'd like to sew.  We'll see if it fits into my agenda before the snow flies.  Ha ha

Be back real soon.  I'm getting caught up on project that have been on the back burners.

Woodland animals

I'm invited to a baby shower and the mom to be picked the theme of woodland animals.  This theme works perfect for my stash busting mission.  

I have pieces leftover from the fabric panel Thicket by Gingiber that I've made other baby quilt gifts from.  This panel has been pretty popular for baby quilts.  It's supposed to be a boy so I added touches of green throughout.  

And of course I made the fabric tote to coordinate and put the quilt in.  It's filled with baby gifts besides the quilt.  One extra touch I added was a painted wooden owl I found at Walmart for under $1.  I drilled a hole in the top, inserted a ribbon and tied it to the handle of the tote.  This will be my gift card.

I was able to use my stash for everything in this project except the backing of the quilt.  So have I put a dent in my stash?   Possibly.  It's hard to tell.  I still have lots of fabric waiting for its debut into something special, including one more panel from Thicket by Gingiber.  And I have plenty of ideas swirling in my head.

Although I haven't posted on this blog for a while, I have been busy and have a few quilts to share with you.  They are stacked up waiting to be quilted.  Now that the weather has cooled my studio will be my retreat for the next couple months.  I'll get caught up in no time!  Ha ha ha.  So be on the lookout for more postings real soon.

Cats, cats and more cats

 MEOW.   I'm a cat lover.  Cats have such a unique personality and always into whatever I'm doing.  Love them.  So when I came across this cat patterned duck canvas fabric I couldn't resist, so I bought 4 yards.  That was over 8 years ago.  What was my plan - I had none.

Going through my stash and staying focused on using my stash and UFOs I decided it was time to commit on a project - or two or three, using my cat print (lots of fabric to use up).  Art Gallery Fabrics has an excellent website with Lookbooks to inspire all sewing enthusiasts. If you haven't discovered their Lookbooks yet, check it out.  Warning - it's addicting.  I have a folder on my laptop for patterns from their Lookbooks for future projects.  You could say it's my UFO idea projects folder and oh my there are many.  One of their free patterns was for a cute purse called the Sand Bag.  The graphic design on my cat fabric was a perfect match for this bag.

It's  cutie.  The bag measures 16 1/2 inches wide by 12 inches high.  And in my construction process I did put on my own twist from the pattern.  Instead of using clothesline for the handles I used nylon marine poly rope that was wider and sturdier.  In fact it was very easy to sew over to attach the handles.  I added a large button to the center and made two different sized pom poms to dangle in the front.  Can't wait to flash my new purse around town.

But wait - there is still lots of yardage.  Before it ends up back in my stash I want to stay on a roll and create another bag.

My little granddaughter loves cats and loves books.  Her mom and dad take her regularly to the library.  So I made her a book tote to carry her books from this cat  fabric.  It measures 10 inches high by 14" wide.  The bottom is boxed to help hold a couple books.  I used foam for the handles so they wouldn't bunch up from the weight of carrying the books.

Well, there is still more fabric.  Next I made myself a shopping tote.  One of my favorite totes is one I bought at Trader Joes.  It's canvas - easy to wash and comfortable to carry.  This cat fabric will be fun to tote around the stores with all my goodies.  I avoid plastic bags all costs.  

Measuring the Trader Joes tote and using it as a pattern I constructed a tote.  

You might say these projects are the cat's meow.

Although I don't sew a lot in the summer - these quick projects are rewarding, quick and fun.  I only bought the marine rope to complete my purse, everything else was from my stash.  Yeah.  

Our nights are getting cooler and the days are starting to get shorter, which is a sign that summer is winding down.  It's sad to let these summer days pass, but I'm recharged to tackle those UFOs.

Flashing around with Charley Harper cardinals

 I was excited to find a Charley Harper print fabric and knew I had to make something special with it.  Charley Harper is one of my all time favorite graphic artists.  I love his minimal interpretation of wildlife.  I found his cardinal print which is very recognizable and pretty popular.  And double the love, I think cardinals are awesome with their flash of red soaring through the sky.  Every once in a while I will get cardinals visiting my bird feeder, but unfortunately they don't seem to stick around long. 

With this fabric I made an Aunties Little Poppins Bag.  This bag measures 12" tall by 13" wide.  The top has two bended stays that pops the top down.  I'm very happy with the final bag.  It is special and I can't wait to flash around with it.

I haven't had much experience in bag making until this past year, but I think I'm getting the hang of some awesome techniques. Summer has been a good time to tackle bags since I only sew a few hours a week.   With my confidence growing I have a couple other bags ready to be conquered.  

I've continued working on my UFO challenge quilts and have stayed on task each month.  Unfortunately, I have four quilts sitting on my longarm frame waiting to be quilted.  As the weather starts to cool down and the days get shorter I will spend less time outside and get caught.  I can't wait to share them on my blog.

This Wednesday will be the AuSable Quilt Guild meeting.  There are two more UFO challenge months left.  I've been clipping along at a good pace finishing the piecing of each quilt each month and will hopefully get the last two quilts pieced - they are more complex and larger than my last couple quilts. I've also stayed focused at busting through my stash.  

Its been a win, win summer.

Ready for the beach

Today was a rainy day.  Sort of a bummer - I love hot, sunny summer days.  But I didn't let the weather make me blue.  Instead I tackled one of my UFOs - a beach bag called the Hampton Tote in bright blue fabrics.

Last month  I posted a quilt called Out There.  I decided it would make a great throw at the beach.  With the leftover fabric from that quilt I now tackled a beach bag to carry my quilt and all the other goodies I take to the beach.

The pattern is free on the Windham Fabrics website.  Directions were easy to follow and not too complicated.  I enjoyed using some different techniques to construct this bag, such as working with fusible foam and inserting snaps.  I did quilt the outside of the bag before assembling to lining which was not part of the instructions.

Here is my tote with the matching quilt draped behind it.  The finished size is 15" high by 14 1/2" by 14 1/2".

The tote has snaps at the ends which make it more condensed - it squares up the bag.  Now that is a clever idea.  Also, a local quilt shop, O O O La La, is a great resource for not just quilting supplies but bag making supplies and ideas.  The owner, Nancy, is a true bag lady (meant in all the great ways).

Loaded with the coordinated beach throw quilt I'm ready for hot sunny days.

Hoping for sunshine tomorrow, but if the rain continues I'll tackle another UFO.  I have three finished quilt tops that need quilting.  So despite this beautiful summer weather I have managed to get some sewing time in.  Will be back soon with another post. 

A birthday with a bang

Happy Birthday America!  The 4th of July is a fun holiday - summer weather, family get-togethers, picnics, cookouts, swimming, and of course the day ends with the bang of fire crackers and fireworks.  Our weather today is reaching the 90s and the swimming pool is waiting.  It doesn't get too much better.

Now that I have grandchildren I'm more mindful of making holidays even more special.  With that in mind I realized that I didn't have much in 4th of July decorations.  So last minute I decided I would whip together a table runner.  I finished it this morning.  Perfect for my picnic table.

I just laid the runner out on my picnic table - my family will be here soon.  Ribs are in the oven slowly roasting.  Potato salad, beans, watermelon and an Oreo dessert will top off our celebration.  

Enjoy your holiday with family and friends.  Happy 4th of July!

Spreading good will

It's that time of the year to refresh my gardens.  Part of that includes replacing my worn prayer flags.  I've always loved the practice of the monks in Tibet writing prayers on fabric flags and hanging them in the mountains of the Himalayas to carry their prayers throughout the world by the wind horse Lung Ta.  Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength and wisdom.  As the words disappear and the flag becomes worn out the prayers travel through the wind.  And when the flags are worn and torn instead of throwing them in the trash they are burned and the smoke will spread the rest of the message.

What a wonderful thought.   My messages are simple, but I do wish them to spread goodwill.

The flags flap in the wind around my veggie garden.  As I was stringing my flags around my garden a couple butterflies and a bee landed on my hand.  In fact, the butterflies followed me around the garden fencing as I was hanging my flags. I felt so touched, it gave me goosebumps.  Lung Ta travel with my messages.  LOVE and PEACE

A tisket a tasket a trio of baskets

Catching up on UFO projects and blogs is a priority this month.  So this trio of baskets will be checked off my list.  It was a beautiful sunny day and perfect for sitting on my deck and weaving a trio of baskets.

First I needed a new veggie basket for under my sink.  In the past I had a plastic container that I purchased in the mid-seventies.  It was well used and finally broke into unusable pieces.  I decided I would weave a new basket out of splints and reeds.  It came out better than I imagined.  After a few measurements I got busy weaving.  I think it looks too pretty to be hiding under my sink, but its purpose is to hold onions and potatoes under my sink.  It is stained with a natural stain made of black walnuts.

Next on my list was to weave a small birds nest in the shape of a bees hive.  I had one hanging in my outside flower garden, but after a few years of enduring the weather it crumbled apart.   My small birds nest is a cute little basket measuring about 6 inches tall.  In fact, it came out so cute I made a second one to give to my little granddaughter.  She can hang hers outside and possibly a bird might find it as a home. She'll have fun watching to see if the birds like it.   A few years ago I made a large bird basket that hangs in my family room window with my plants - it's over 12 inches tall.  I love bringing nature inside.

The next basket on my list was a reed bowl shaped basket for my Amazon palm hanging basket I made a couple months ago when I was on my Amazon trip.  Using two palm leaves that I wove together made a great plant hanger.  It seemed that a woven reed basket would be the perfect vessel to place a plant in.  Now I just need to find the right plant.

Both the bird basket and the Amazon plant hanger with the reed basket hangs in my studio with my other plants.  I can't wait to find a plant that will grow up the palm weaving.

Back to working on my next UFO.

Out There

I saw this quilt called Out There in a fabric catalog and fell in love with it.  When I get an impulse to buy a pattern or fabric I try to hold off for a couple days to see if I really love it or was it just a whim.

Looking through my stash I had several navy and white prints.  I also found a couple larger prints that had navy, royal blue and a lighter blue.  This quilt was coming together from my stash.  

The Out There quilt in the catalog was sampled in Windham Fabrics fabric.  Lori Hein designed this quilt and was offered free from the fabric company.  How could this get any better?  It was meant to be.  I'm glad I took a few days to decide if I should order the pattern or the kit.  Everything was already in my hands.

As always I put my own little spin on patterns and changed the outside border.  My finished quilt size is 66" by 81"

Staying with the nature look of the fabric print I quilted a large leaf design.  I especially liked this design in the solid white fabric areas - it took the edge off of the stark white.

I want to use this as a picnic and beach throw.  But wait, on the same catalog page there is a nice beach tote that coordinates.  And again it is a free pattern.  I have lots of left over fabric to tackle this project so it is now next on my to do list.

So much for my UFOs,  I manage to create a few new projects in between.  But hey, I'm using my stash, although it doesn't seem like I've put much of a dent in it.  It's summertime and the weather has been nice and hot.  If I'm going to use this throw and bag this summer I'd better get sewing.  It's too nice to sew during the day so it will have to be an early morning or evening project.  Hopefully I'll be back to share my finished bag in a few days.  Time to sew.

Cafe Open

This was a quickie project - and who doesn't like a quickie? 

I'm not big on fabric panels.  I always like the panel quilts my friends make, but I don't tackle them very often.  I found this panel in with my stash fabrics.  I don't recall purchasing it, so I possibly acquired it from someone.  I liked this panel and debated for a couple months if I should make a table runner from it or pass on to someone else.  As you can see I decided to keep it.  And staying true to my new year's commitment I was able to use my stash fabric to complete it.

I think it's cute and it fits great on my kitchen bar counter top.  

I did minimal quilting by straight stitching along a few of the squares from the print.  I added the black and white checked border on the top and bottom and chose to bind the runner with yellow gold.  The finished size is 15" by 41 1/2".  All in all, I probably spent about two hours constructing.  But it did take me several months to decide what I wanted to do.  What a nice break to complete a project so quickly.

I will enjoy many cups of coffee by my new table runner.

It's a Puzzle

This next quilt named "It's a Puzzle" is exactly as challenging as the name indicates.  Making the squares were pretty simple, but assembling it became the puzzle.  Of course, I didn't follow the layout instructions on the pattern so it was hard to find where the blocks began and ended.  

In 2020 my quilting friends and I went on the Quilt Blossom Trail shop hop which shops from the Traverse City and surrounding areas participated.  Shop hopping is fun, but dangerous.  I alway end up with more projects by the end of the hop.  Each shop offered a free pattern made of batiks and batik bundles were offered at a discounted price to make their quilt.  I chose this quilt pattern which was the design from Renee's Quilt Shop in Williamsburg.  Their quilt was done in various colors of batiks.  Staying on my goal to use up my stash, I had a stash of blue batiks so I made mine with my in blues.  I guess my way of justifying starting another project.

Completed, my It's a Puzzle quilt measures 84" by 68 1/2".  I finished piecing and quilting it about a month ago, but I had a hard time deciding on the color of binding.  First I cut out and pinned a black binding, but didn't like how it pulled my black squares out.  Next, I tried a white - too white and it stuck out.  I then bought a batik that had the colors of a light cream, grey, light green and light blues.  This choice ended up too busy.  Boy, I think I'm too picky.  After another journey through a quilt shop I found a light batik that had a small print that was basically the same colors.  Bingo - I liked this choice.  In the process of trying to find the perfect binding I've now added a few more yards of fabric to my stash.  Dang!  One step forward two steps back.  Regardless, here is my version of It's a Puzzle:

While deciding on the binding for this quilt, I've pieced two other quilts.  One is on my longarm the other is waiting for backing material.  My goal is to complete quilting and binding my next quilt and post it on my blog in the next day or two.  But today is a wonderful sunny day and I'm heading outdoors.  See you soon.

Equilateral Triangles

Finally spring is trying to take hold.  The sun is up - the sky is blue - and the temperature can hit as high as 80, but then turn around and snow.  A couple weeks ago, before I went outdoors in the 80 degree weather to work on my gardens, I finished quilting my wallhanging - Equilateral Triangles.  

Back in the fall I was at a Holiday Inn.  In their lobby there was a wallhanging made of equilateral triangular ceramic tiles.  It was striking.  I've never made equilateral triangles from fabric before and decided this could be a fun challenge.  And challenge it was.  Triangles have a tendency to stretch because they are cut on a bias.  Using a photo I took of the mosaic as a guide I was able to get the same look.  I love it.

My final wallhanging is made of all two inch triangles and measures 52 by 36 inches, which is approximately the size of the mosaic I took the picture of.  Lately I've been leaning towards more contemporary style quilts.  It now hangs in my studio.

This wallhanging was my #4 UFO with the AuSable Quilt Gild UFO challenge for February.  This UFO was pieced by the March meeting and quilted a couple weeks ago.  Despite being gone for a few weeks in March, to the Amazon in South America, I was able to stay on track.   March's UFO is finished - waiting for the backing fabric so it can get quilted.  April's UFO is in the works and will be ready for the May 3rd meeting.  Wow, another challenge completed.  

In the Thicket of spring

 I've been on vacation to the Amazon Jungle.  Yes you read this correct - the Amazon Jungle.  What a wonderful trip.  It's the hardest thing I've ever done, but the rewards were awesome. Visiting different tribal communities we explored the jungle and harvested plants and trees to dye and weave bags. hats, dolls, mats, head dresses and carve a wooden figurine and a blow dart.

While I was away spring officially started.  In Grayling, Michigan you wouldn't know it was spring - we just got another eight to ten inches of snow.  Luckily, today the temps are in the 40 and the snow is slowly melting away.  Also, the time sprung forward making daylight lasting until after 8 pm.  Whoopee.  Time to pack those snowman decorations away. It does seem like spring is trying to be here.  

With my vacation over it's time to get back in the studio.  One of the AuSable Quilt Guild challenges which is due in April is a panel project.  I have made baby quilts from the Thicket panel pattern by Gingiber in the past and with a few panels left from previous quilts I decided to use the fox panel.  Spring brings in the woodland babies so this was a good choice to make for the challenge and welcome in spring.  And what a coincidence that I choose the fox panel - I saw a fox running through our backyard this morning.

Using a contemporary scheme I made this quilt in squares of cream and black with mustard yellow accents.  Thicket has a pen and ink look so I found fabrics that used line designs to construct the blocks.  I quilted it with random continuous squares.  The finished size is 56 1/2 inches by 44 1/2 inches.

I have a few extra blocks leftover to make a matching tote.  With no babies in mind I'll save this for a future special gift.

Back to the studio tomorrow - I have another quilt guild challenge to complete for April.  

Springing into projects

Spring is just around the corner and I'm looking forward to seeing the new baby animals.  Speaking of babies -  I'm invited to a baby shower next weekend and they announced it's a girl.  I got busy shopping through my stash and came up with a cute little quilt.

Staying true to my mission to use my stash no extra fabric or supplies were purchased to complete this quilt.  In fact, most of the blocks in the nine-patch were already cut and left over from another quilt I made some years ago.  The finished quilt measures 46" by 40".  To use up the rest of the already made smaller blocks I assembled a fabric tote, again using left over fabrics.  This tote will be used as the gift holder.  I'll purchase a book and a few other items to fill it up.

As I was taking this photo quality control was busy checking it out.  I think it passed inspection.  After circling the tote a few times our cat Simba seemed pleased.  He probably would have liked to jump in but there wasn't enough room with the quilt in it.

February has been a busy month.  I've stayed pretty focused in completing projects and UFOs.  Trying very hard not to create any new UFOs.  With that said - one of my quilting friends came up with a rotary cutter coat.  Cute as heck.  I had to have one.  Digging through my stash here is a coat for my rotary cutter.  Hey there are still more weeks of winter bliss.

This is a free pattern on the internet, however I made a change in the way the bottom is sewn together.  And look at those cute buttons.  How fun. Now when I'm carrying my cutter to guild meetings and retreats it will be safe and protected.   I do have a smaller rotary cutter that I guess will need a coat too.  It will fit in the same size coat.

As you look through pictures of quilts I've made in the past you can see some of the same fabrics used over and over, but still it doesn't seem like I've made a dent.   When I shop my stash I find fabrics that I just forgot about.  Let's see how long I can go without purchasing more fabric.

With just a day and a half left in February I have a couple almost done projects.  The AuSable River Quilt Guild meeting is Wednesday, March 1st, and I would like to quilt my #4 UFO challenge project.  It is all pieced and waiting for the finishing touch.  There will be a new UFO number picked Wednesday so the challenge continues and I don't want to get behind.  Chat again tomorrow.

Seeing double

Double Wedding Ring that is.  I have always admired double wedding ring quilts. 

As a teenager I remember that best friend's mother had a beautiful double wedding ring quilt on her bed.  That was the first time I saw a double wedding ring quilt.  My friend's mother was very talented and she told me she sewed it.  Wow - it looks so intricate.  Back in the late 60s there weren't rotary cutters and acrylic templates like we use today.  She used paper patterns to cut each piece to sew together.  She machine sewed the pieces together, but hand quilted it.  When I told her I loved her quilt she asked me if I like her to make me one.  I was sort of embarrassed and told her she didn't have to do that.  Boy if I could go back in time I would jump at the offer now.  She passed a few years ago, but she'll always be in my memory and her beautiful double wedding ring quilt.

As the years have gone by and I've developed in quilting skills I just had to make my own double wedding ring quilt.  Back some years ago a local quilt shop owner made a wall hanging with just a single double ring.  She made it as a wedding gift and embroidered the names and date of the newly married couple in the middle.  But what hooked me was the fabric she used.  Although she used an orange fabric she also had the same fabric in blues (my colors).  The fabric by Marcus Fabrics called Definitions Strip-it by Faye Burgos came with 2 1/2" wide coordinated strip prints that was sold by the yard.  No trying to figure what fabric to use or how much to buy - it was already coordinated. And I loved the colors.  All I had to do is take my acrylic template and cut the sections for the rings.

Well that was the easy part.  Over the next couple years I worked on this queen size quilt off and on. Once piecing was completed it needed to be quilted.  At that time I didn't own a long arm quilter so it got folded up for me to someday tackle on my regular sewing machine. A few months ago when I was cleaning through my stash I came across this quilt with the backing and cut binding all folded together.  It was one of many UFOs.  I'm delighted to say this UFOs is completed.  

I appreciate the work that goes into making a double wedding ring even more now that I've tackled it.  This quilt has a double meaning for me - my friend's mother and the love of this quilt pattern.

Since I was successful in January completing my UFOs as I challenged myself I treated myself to a massage.  All that sewing and my shoulders were a little stiff.  With my shoulders relaxed and halfway through the month of February I'm still on a roll.  I have a couple more UFO quilts in the works.  Hopefully I'll be posting about them in the next few days before the month is over.

A confetti celebration

The word confetti brings to mind a celebration, but have you thought of making fabric confetti to create a landscape picture?  

Our quilting group tackled confetti landscape collages last weekend.  After viewing these landscape arts at quilt shops and on blogs we decided to give it a try.  Before beginning everyone researched different websites and tutorials to plan their landscape and gather supplies.  Sharing the information we gathered and using slightly different approaches everyone worked on their confetti landscape.  

My confetti landscape was inspired by an acrylic painting I saw in a hotel room.  I snapped a photo and used it as my guide.  When I finished my landscape it looked like the road at my son's house in Grayling.  He  has a beautiful stand of birch trees and possibly that was what I liked about the painting. My finished size is 16" by 16".  I framed my with a glass covered frame to help keep dust off of it.

Here are the other ladies creations. Some used more confetti, some used different shaped confetti and some even added pictures of their pets.  The possibilities are endless.

As you can see they are absolutely stunning.

This was a great way to use up stash and scraps and it didn't take much fabric.  I can see more confetti landscape art on the horizon.  I know I have a couple more I that I will do.

It was a weekend celebration of success and beauty.  Everyone completed their landscape.  No UFOs this time. Just being together with my friends is a celebration in itself.

Quickies

I think everyone likes a quickie.  Well, I finished off January with two quick projects.  

First, I stumbled across a U-Tube where a woman was quickly sewing a drawstring fabric bag.  I was fascinated at how she simplified the process and was hooked to try it myself.  I grabbed a few of my fabric scraps and tried a couple sizes.  With just a couple measurements, a little sewing and Voila - a quickie bag.  These bags will make great little gift bags and can be put together in just  a couple minutes.

At the AuSable Quilt Guild meeting last week we were challenged to teach another member something quick.  I decided to demonstrate this quickie bag.  The lady that I was matched up with was excited that I shared this with her.  She has six granddaughters and will make each of them this fabric gift bag to fill with candy for Valentine's Day.  And then my friend sitting next to me became interested in this gift bag so I taught her too.  She will be making fabric gift bags to give out for Valentine's Day too. Share the LOVE.

My second quickie was a Minky Childs blanket.  The fabric is 60" wide so I bought enough to square it up to a 60" by 60" blanket.  After squaring up the fabric I measured an inch hem all around.  My grandson that I made it for is two and the ABCs fabric pattern matches his crafting apron I made him for Christmas.  Hopefully soon he will have fun recognizing the letters.

Last is no a quickie, but I'm loading a UFO quilt top, that I came across during my cleaning/reorganizing of my stash, onto my Longarm quilter.  My goal is to have it completed by the end of this week.  Can't wait to report back.

2023 - Year of the Rabbit

January 22 rang in the 2023 Chinese Lunar New Year.  The Chinese Lunar New Year begins with the second moon after the winter solstice.  With each lunar new year an animal represents that year.  These animals rotate in a 12 year cycle.  2023 is the Year of the Rabbit (which represents the moon).  

You may ask what does this have to do with my creativity?  Well, according to my horoscope sign month and year - during the year of the rabbit I am the wooden horse.  It should bring welfare, luck, health, happiness, prosperity and peace.  Let my gypsy heart run free.  As 2023 rolled in I've felt renewed and refreshed.  Setting my yearly goals has got me on the run and enjoying my new year challenges.

I've recently completed two more of my UFOs.  And I only used my stash fabrics.  Win - Win.  Unfortunately, it hasn't made a dent in my stash, but hey I got 11 more months to go.

The first completed UFO is a set of four bowl cozies for my sister.  Her decorator is farmhouse modern in colors of red, grey and black - so these bowls will match great with her kitchen/dishes.  Enjoy Michelle.

The next UFO completed is a great tote for carrying my sewing supplies to any sewing location.  One of my friends from the AuSable Quilt Guild has been busy sewing this tote called the Tidy Tote designed from a lady who lives in Australia.  It caught my eye and I was hooked.  I needed this Tidy Tote.  My friend shared the info for purchasing the pattern and the next thing I knew there were five of us wanting to tackle this tote.  

One great feature of this tote is a plastic container with four drawers that fits at the bottom of the tote.  Instead of dumping my sewing supplies into the bottom of a tote, now I will have drawers to keep better organized.  I can even keep these supplies in the tote and easily access them at home too.  No more forgetting to pack the essentials. 

Back in October us ladies started gathering our supplies with our goal to start sewing this tote together this January.  When January came around we were ready and met to help each other successfully sew our totes.  Not only did we support each other sewing, but we certainly had some great fun and laughs. The instructions, being from Australia, had a few hiccups, with the zipper being biggest obstacle.  After a few trial and errors and some help from the lady who introduced us to the tote - our zippers were correctly installed.  After that we gave ourselves the name "The Down Under Zipper Club".   I feel I've gotten to know a couple ladies better and feel blessed for this friendship that will last.  Can't wait to tackle another project with you gals :)

So may I introduce to you my "Tidy Tote" - 

 

In this photo the tote is opened with the front detachable zippers.  There is the four drawer plastic container with a matching fabric basket on top.  I inserted gripping shelf liner in the drawers to keep my tools from tumbling around while carrying.  The front flap falls down to expose three elastic mesh bags for storage.  

This is the tote zipped up and ready to carry.  The two sides and back of the outside of the bag also has elastic mesh bags.  The top back is open for my 24" long ruler to be stored.  There are plenty of handy storage areas to use.

The final size of this Tidy Tote is 17" high, by 12" wide, and 14" deep.  A perfect size to carry and it doesn't drag on the ground.  As you can see it's already packed and ready to go. 

All of us gals finished our totes, so at the next AuSable Guild meeting we plan on having a fashion show and parade our totes during show 'n tell to share with the rest of the guild.  This truly was so fun to conquer with friends.

I've completed three UFOs from my list this month with still a couple more days to work on another project.  Rather I can finish another project is questionable, but with the rabbits inspiration this wooden horse is galloping at a steady pace.

It's a Winter Wonderland

Winter is my least favorite season.  Sure there are many fun holidays during the winter months, but living in northern Michigan winter comes too soon and seems to never want to go away.  But, I do have to admit that there is nothing more beautiful than a good hard snow storm.  The trees are covered in a blanket of snow with large snowflakes blowing in every direction.  It is a Winter Wonderland.  In fact, our state has a motto Winter Wonderland.  The flip side of that is it's a pain to dig ourselves out from a heavy snow.

This next project is inspired by that beautiful snow storm.  I named this wallhanging, of course, "Winter Wonderland".  It is constructed with two inch blocks.  The tree limbs are pieced randomly in a light tan to resemble being snow covered.  

The wallhanging is quilted with swirls in all directions and French knots follow around the quilting to help emphasize the large blowing snowflakes and wind.  I left a lot of background with the white blocks to show the blowing snow.  

A small red cardinal sits on a branch to add a pop of color.

Finished size is 60" wide by 50" long.  

Winter Wonderland is another UFO checked off my list.  So far my checked UFOs have been close to finished projects.  My next UFO will take more focus to finish.  I'm on a mission, see you soon.