BACK TO SEWING, AT LAST!

A few days ago I finally fired up the ole sewing machine and got down to making totes. The first uses charm squares from MODA - these are called Rural Jardin by French General. I love the classic French floral designs in these great colors. I lined the tote with a cream tone on tone print. I'm thinking of listing this one on Etsy so, if you're interested, keep an eye out.



The second tote is made using charm squares from the Glory collection by Kathy Schmitz LLC for MODA. I combined the patriotic print squares with squares of recycled denim for real down-home American style. The lining is a deep red tone-on-tone tiny floral print. This is the third tote I've made from this collection and I think I'm gonna have to make one for me! It's perfect for all those casual outfits. Although this particular tote is already spoken for, if you want one, let me know.


I have one more set of charm squares ready to sew up into a tote. They are from the Kashmir IV collection by Sentimental Studios for MODA. If you are familiar with the Kashmir collections, you know that they are lovely paisley prints and this particular one is in pale pinks, blues and greens. The tote will have a pale green lining and pale pink straps. I should have a pic posted in the next couple of days.

Along with sewing I've been taking advantage of the great weather we've been having to do some yardwork. There is something very theraputic about pulling weeds and trimming shrubs, don'tcha' think?

PICS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL

A couple of weeks ago I went to the International Quilt Festival held here in Houston. It's been going on here for years and this was the first year I actually got my butt in gear and went down there. My oh my it was an experience. There were what seemed like millions of vendors of everything and anything to do with sewing, embroidery and quilting. And the quilts on display were as diverse as any exhibition I had ever seen. By the time I was done looking at everything I was suffering from a severe case of sensory overload!! lol

I did take some pictures of some of the quilts on display that caught my eye and my imagination and I've posted them below. The first two are vintage quilts ca 1845 or so. The rest are contemporary. Enjoy.

CAT LOVERS SEWING GIVEAWAY

You must go check out Sew Meow's blog today about her birthday giveaway. Today she's adding the cutest cat fabric. Check it out and see how to enter MANY LOUD MEOWS heard round the WORLD!

DREARY THURSDAY

It's another dreary day that threatens rain, but doesn't follow through. It's been cloudy and cool for the past few days and we did get about a quarter inch of rain last night. We could sure use more. At least the weather is an incentive to stay inside and sew.

I'm currently working on a cute sewing tote made from two Debbie Mumm fabrics. The base color is a lovely milk chocolate brown with touches of citrusy yellows, greens and oranges. The pockets are trimmed with a yellow-gold crackle print. It will be the perfect tote to transport all of your quilting goodies to a class or quilting bee. There will be plenty of room for scissors, rotary cutters, thread, needles, pins, rulers, templates and, of course, fabric. I should have it finished today, but the weather will play a role in when I can get good pictures. Watch this space for this great tote.

BACK TO SEWING

Now that my company has come and gone, I've started sewing again. I'm working on a beautiful charm quilt made with two charm sets by MODA from the "Peace on Earth" collection. Contrary to the name, the colors are not reds and greens, but wonderful muted browns, blues, greens, golds and rusts. The patterns are reminicent of the "old country", very old European. My favorites are the antique map prints. And the beautiful florals. I have it almost finished. I needed to do the sewing around the edge, but just pooped out. Tomorrow I'll get that done and start clipping so you should be seeing pictures by Thursday, if not sooner.

I did have one sort of mishap with the quilt. I started out with 100 squares, but when it came time to start putting the strips together I could only come up with 99! I looked all around the sewing area and even in the living room where I assembled the "sandwiches". No luck. I made the adjustment in the layout and put the quilt together. About an hour ago I went in my bedroom and found the missing square up in the kitty condo! I don't know how it got there with all three, unsewn, layers intact. I guess that's one mystery that will never be solved!! My guess is that is turned into a cat toy somehow. Either that or it sprouted legs and moved itself!! LOL At least I found it, right?