purse#1

I made my first purse..I used the pattern for "Satchel it" screen play IV....I did not use the pet screen or vinyl coated polyester mesh, I used all upholstery fabric except a little trim that I did not realize was needed and one outside pocket lining that I used blue cotton fabric... I haven't decided if I'm going to make a flap / button closure or use Velcro..

news....

not so good news....my husband lost his job this week. He really liked that job, too...
keep your fingers crossed that he'll find something else soon....

purse fabric?

I've never made a purse.. I have a fabric sling or hobo style purse that I love....but the lining is so thin that it has holes worn in it... I've decided to try to fix it, and to attempt to make one myself...I purchased upholstery fabric to make the new one, thinking that it might be more durable... what do you think....will the heavier fabric work, or not?? These are the remnants that were on sale:

new gadget

During the Christmas holiday, my nephew's wife (niece in-law??) was making the cutest baby toboggans with a knitting hoop....I'd never seen one used, and I've tried to learn knitting with disappointing results. Never could get the hang of using two needles.. I have done a little crochet with good results, but knitting, I could just never grasp.... I came across a set of knitting hoops or looms, I guess you'd call them, on sale, so I am going to give it a try... I also had a Hobby Lobby40% off coupon, so I put it to good use and bought a book that teaches different stitches on those looms..

flannel quilt

ok...don't be too harsh.... I finished quilting the flannel quilt. I think I need a better place to lay it out and pin the layers together because there is some distortion and a few folds in the fabric here and there, but, I think it will still be well used and warm in the winter...


It was a learning experience, and I will probably try it again, but next time I think I'll draw the design on the quilt first, instead of winging it...

Weekend update

Saturday I took the raffle quilt to my mom (she loved it). She asked that I bring my sewing machine to hem a few pants she'd been wearing, legs rolled up, or trampling on them... she'd bought herself a machine, but could not get it to work...this is the machine she bought..
Now, my ex-army, brother-in-law has one of these, and he set it up for her, and tested it out on a small piece of fabric. Mom could not get it to work after he left. Well, I did not see this machine until after I'd already sewn the hems of 5 pair of pants and cinched in the waists of 2 skirts.... I pulled that thing out of the box, and read the instructions. I believe the reason she could not get it to work was because she had the lock pushed in. I took the scraps cut from the pants legs and tested it out myself...... man, was I impressed with the skill that my brother-in-law sewed his little sample... I don't know how anyone uses one of these things.... it was quite cumbersome... I could not manage feeding the fabric through it straight...and the fear of running my finger under the needle.... sheesh....
Sunday, I started quilting on my cheapo flannel quilt. It's been sitting around pinned together for a couple of months... lets just say this is going to be a utility quilt all the way.. I've decided that it will be for learning, and just doodling, trying to figure out how to maneuver all that fabric around. I will hopefully be able to see an improvement by the time I get to the last row...I didn't draw a design. The blocks are a roman stripe pattern, so I am just free-hand stitching lines across the perpendicular blocks, and up and down the horizontal blocks, with a few spirals here and there just because I wanted to try it...

few other quilts

winter lily....

Richard's quilt...

Checkers on the raffle quilt..... I tried to put it with the earlier post, but could not get it to load. Everytime I lay a quilt or fabric out, all the animals appear....

Completed raffle quilt..

This is the finished raffle quilt...what should I name it?? or should I let the quilting ladies name it? The back will be of the small floral fabric.

first quilt

This is the very first quilt made. It is from the pattern "yellow brick road"

QUILTS

Here are some of the quilts I've sewn (long arm quilted by Sam :) The pink/green one I did not make. It was gifted to me by my dear friend Sam, just before she helped me find a machine and gave me my first cutting and sewing lesson (I'll post a pic of the 1st quilt soon) starting my journey into the quilting world...... thank you, Sam... you're my hero!

Snow dogs...

Look at this great picture of Lucy(dog that was not pictured in earlier post of pet pics):

of course, I have to post one of Bree, too...They loved catching snowballs! and each other....

Put your sunglasses on...

I've finished the top and back of the quilt made from my co-worker's scraps... it's bright & colorful...

And, I've sewn the rows together for the raffle quilt. It's sunshine bright..