Sunflowers

I LOVE Sunflowers!

When the summer heat starts cranking up (like it is now), I bring out the sunflowers.  I like these big sunflowers and decorate with other sunflower themed items.  Bears and birdhouses to name a few.

My love for sunflowers is not new thing.  I have been collecting sunflower themed cuties for years.  Here are just a few.

I have also been collecting sunflower quilt projects in a zip lock bag. None of which have been finished.  Over the weekend I pulled out the bag because it is sunflower time.

Check out this October 2000 issue of  American Patchwork & Quilting by Better Homes and Gardens Issue 46 Vol 8 No 5.  Inside is this darling little hexagon sunflower quilt by Jill Reber.

I started this quilt sometime after 2000. It seems every summer about this time I bring out the sunflower project bag with this issue folded open to this page with the unfinished quilt top. I get warm fuzzys when I see this bag of unfinished sunflower projects. I look at this little mini quilt with love.  I make a few stitches. I press it. But I don't know why I have never finished it.  One year I trimmed the edges because I had decided I didn't want to make the full size.   

However, THIS is going to be the year of the finished sunflower mini quilt!

See I have it pin basted and I am ready to start hand quilting.  But when I was making this photograph of my actual quilt along with the magazine article, I notice that I still have to add the leaves.  I am going to get on that tonight.  Got to finish this one! 

Another year I started this applique sunflower mini quilt.  For several years I have worked on this one only to get side tracked by something else and it gets put back in the bag with the other one. Unfinished.  Yesterday, I added the black bird and the center circle.  I hand quilted around the background squares with a matching thread and did accent hand quilting with black on the sunflowers. I am determined to get this one finished as well.  

I am a little bit proud of this one.  It is my own design. I didn't have a pattern. I brought together ideas from other projects like using the pieced background of neutral scraps.  I took inspiration from vintage applique for the circular floral design.  I drew the bird freehand and placed him on a rather oddly long branch.  Sometime it takes years for a project to come together.  Quilters do have patience!   All that is left for this one is the binding.

Another year I started these little sunflower appliques.  Again  I worked on them for a little while and then they ended up back in the project bag with those other two quilts.  At the moment I don't know how I want this one to finish so it may go back in the project bag. I am giving myself permission to set this one aside until I receive the inspiration needed to complete it.   

I also have a stash of sunflower fabric. 

Here are a couple of zipper bags I made to sell in my Etsy store.  

Do you have a favorite flower like the sunflower that makes you really happy?

Stay cool!  It is getting really hot and dry in south Texas.

Thanks for stopping by!   

Note:  The big sunflowers are from Hobby Lobby! 

Red White and Blue

I've gotten into making little mini quilts.  I never really had a place to display minis but now that my mom has moved to a retirement apartment, she decorates her wall shelf by her door with different displays.  She likes flowers and she likes my quilts. So I am making more minis for her little decorating spot.

I made two of these little scrappy tumbler flags shortly before Memorial Day. One for me and one for her. She decorated for Memorial Day and she will be able to display hers again this week for July 4th.

She chose this vintage style flag with muted reds and beige tones. The button stars are vintage and random.  She has received many compliments from friends and guests.  A nice conversation starter. 

This is mine.

I used the brighter reds and white. I have a button box full of random buttons and found some whites and a heart for the center star. 

Both were backed in this cute little patriotic print.  I machine quilted wavy lines.  Simple, quick and happy to see and celebrate.

Hooray for the Red, White and Blue!  Happy Fourth of July!

Sew Together Bag

Yep! I MADE ONE TOO. 

Here is my version of the Sew Together Bag. I made mine with the Retro Morocco fabric line I blogged about here.   I am truly amazed at the genius of the pattern designer, SewDemented.  So very clever to combine all those zippers and pockets into this cute little bag. The pattern is the Sew Together Bag by Sew Demented.   

Dozens and dozens of these clever bags have been made and blogged about.  I really, really like to make pouches so I had to give this one a try. I know I will make more.

Credits:  It is the Sew Together Bag by Sew Demented.   The pattern is a little daunting but there is a helpful sew-a-long and there are several great tutorials and tips to assist with sewing like these:  The Quilt Barn Sew-A-Long and Crazy Mom Quilts. 

Thanks for stopping by!