January and February Projects

Hello again everyone! 

With all of the cold weather we have had around the Texas Gulf Coast in January, I did not need to feel guilty about staying inside and sewing for hours. I was able to sew and be productive. Projects for fun, some for friends, some for the Etsy shop, and some custom orders.

A new little guy arrived in January named Thomas.  His Dad is a sports guy.

Not sure if I really appreciate the mustache craze, but I did like this fabric and especially when I added the black dot trim to the burp cloth.

I have held on to this cat quilt pattern from a bee of which I was a member back in the 1990's. I made two quilts, one pastel and one dark plaid. I call them Plaid Cats. I have been building a stash of plaids and these cats seemed like a good place to use them.  

This darker Plaid Cats quilt turned out rather long so I had to hang it sideways on my fence. 

 I have been collecting several of these cute puppy print fabrics since last year.  I made pillow cases for the grandsons out of some for last year's Valentine's gifts.  In January, I made these two quilts using two color ways. The first one is red, black and tan.  Each block has a different border.  I really like the black and tan stripe and checks.  

And this red and gray puppy print quilt.  I cannot pick a favorite because I like them both.

I made a few more pouches to restock my Etsy store.  I had two custom requests in January and my first International order.  This request was for an all orange pouch.  I did get to make the pocket linings in three different tiny orange prints.  I really like how it turned out in a solid color.  Orange is one of my favorite colors too.   

These Texas A & M pouches have been popular with my crowd.

               

  

   I picked up some flannels on sale and made a couple of raggedy edge quilts.  They are quick and fun to make.  Pink Hello Kitty and the Green Aqua with a little sweet pea print that I thought appropriate for a new baby.  

 

I wanted to try my hand at making seasonal cards.  I sold some and gave some as gifts.

We have a wonderful library system where I live. I have always been a reader. And a multitasker. I want to SEW and LISTEN to stories.  I tend to get more done when I have a good book to keep me in my sewing room.  Here are some of my picks for January sewing.

These two titles fascinated me.  The Twentieth Wife and The Splendor of Silence.  The Mughal Indian culture of the 1500's was splendid, brutal and the women were strong and courageous.  

 I have been to Edinburgh, Scotland and seen the castle where poor Mary lived out her life.  She, too, was a strong woman.  Anything historical and British, I like.  And I was so moved by this book, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.  You cheer, you cry, you are amazed at how life unfolds for Harold.   

Everything was not all fun and sew.  I spent several hours rip, rip, ripping out all this thread because the tension was off.  It was fine on top but hanging loose on the back.  I don't like it when that happens. Machine tension is one of my biggest irritations on my mid arm machine. I always use the same brand of thread and thread weight. After seven or so years, I have learned to manage my machine so much more than in the beginning when it seemed to manage me. Sometimes I just have to have a conversation with my machine and tell her how she needs to behave.

Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy your day!  

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!

It is Thanksgiving Eve here in Texas.  This past week, we have had really cold temps (for us) and lots of rain but the weather folks are predicting the big day will be cold with sunny skies, so I must clear off the dining room table and move our dinner inside this year.  Last year we ate outside on our deck and it was so nice. This year will be nice too, just another temperature.  I have the turkey thawing. And some special sweet potatoes that have come from the Sweet Potato Capitol of the World located in Vardaman, MS.  I have made three pans of cornbread that will make up into dressing, one regular and one vegetarian style. DILs will make the best mac and cheese ever and a delish Cranberry Pie. Pecan Pie is a must. I do like this meal. 

I have been sewing.  I  have had several custom orders on Etsy and some random sewing for a special baby.

This Tumbler pattern is loaded with cowboy themed fabrics.  It was purchased by a sweet mom to be who asked me to make a crib skirt and curtains to help decorate her nursery.  It turned out so cute and she is over the moon with excitement as she prepares for her baby    

This warm and cozy rag quilt found a new home. 

 Lots of custom orders for bibs and burps this month.  Each one is special and such fun for me to design.   

  

Don't you just love the names!

Dylan's mom and dad are avid bike riders. 

And I helped decorate a pink and aqua nursery for a really special grand baby.   She is our Princess who happens to be named Kate.  She had to have a British pillow with her name on it.  Just because!

Thanks for stopping by.  Everyone have a safe Thanksgiving holiday.  Give your family hugs and tell them you love them. Friends and families are the best.  We have so much for which to be thankful.  God bless.   

More Pouches

I LOVE making these Triple Zip Pouches. I don't really know why I like to make them. I am counting 68 made as of today.

Top 10 Reasons I like making Pouches.

1. They use fabric from my VERY large stash of fabric.  It has allowed me to cut into fabric I have been saving for special projects.  But I still keep buying more fabric. :o(  I have collected so much fabric.






And that is bad.  But that is also good. :o)  Nothing is more fun than buying a 1/2 yard cut of a fun fabric.








2.  It's like painting with fabric.  I choose many colors, textures, and creative design themes.  I am a textile artist!  A quilter is a textile artist.  The floral fabric was purchased on a trip I made to Lancaster, England.

3.  I like the bright, cheery fabric colors.

4.  They make people smile.  Like these Yoga frogs.

5.  They are useful.  (Makeup bag, IPod bag, credit card storage, electronic chargers, etc. )

I usually have several to choose from in my basket and it is fun to see which bag is selected by different people.

6.  I like to make something unique and specific for each person geared to their personality.  Pets, makeup, type of flower, citrus, beach theme.   I always ask what type of hobby or interest one has and try to match the pouch to their interest.





7.  I like matching the fun zippers and colors.  But I also like to stir things up a bit and put in a zipper color that changes the whole color scheme in a completely different direction.  







8.  I can spend hours, happily stitching pouches and listening to a good recorded book.

9.  No matter how many I make, people always want more.  Can you make one bigger for my IPad.  Can you make one for my Kindle.  My grandson, "Can you make me one with tractors on it?  And can you make it today?"    

10.  And I get to spend the day with my faithful buddies who seem to like fabric as much as I do!
Sandy and Little Brown Bear!







Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!