A New Purse for Me!

 I started thinking about this purse when Anna Maria Horner released her Loulouthi line and I saw her fabulous pillow she embellished with hand quilting using the Summer Totem print. (I tried to find it in my favs on flickr, but it was too slow and I became impatient!) I was thinking it would be fun to use that print as a flap on a purse and hand quilt/embroider some details on it. I did that on the flap, sides and then just did a running stitch through the squares on the front and back. I am not a good hand quilter, and this was my first attempt at embroidery, but I love the results despite the imperfections. It is my own design using 4.5" squares, 4.5" sides. It will hold quite a bit for my summer travels. I decided against using a closure on the flap as I don't really like pulling the flap off each time. It's long enough to where things aren't going to fall out. I used the grapefruit color of the Summer Totem as I love the hint of pink and the colors Anna Maria chose to go with that light pink. I knew this would be a summer purse, so I focused on pulling out the lighter colors. I'm so glad to get this UFO off my list! :)

Stitches in Progress

I'm enjoying stitching around the motifs in Summer Totem in grapefruit. I was inspired by Anna Maria's blog where she showed how she did the same for a pillow. I've always loved quilting around a flower in a print. I sometimes feel like I'm scribbling over someone's artwork when I do free motion all over. Its just a very time consuming process that I only do for myself. In the shop I like to keep it simple or no one's order would ever get done! :) This piece will eventually be a flap for a purse for me. I'm doing the front and back pieces in color coordinated patchwork and fussy cut some of the Summer Totem for the sides. They will all be hand quilted whilst I watch tv with my family. It will be a beautiful purse when its done!

How To Use Spray Baster

I really love the 505 Spray & Fix and use it for basting my quilts. So much easier to quilt with & less time consuming than pin basting. I'm not looking back on that one! :) Someone asked about the process, so I thought I'd post the process with my newest quilt order using mostly Patty Young fabrics. It will be 50X70 finished size. I had my daughter take pics while I sprayed it. Basically all you do is lay your quilt backing wrong side up on your surface. I tape the ends so that it doesn't move but not as much if I was pin basting. I then layer my quilt~ batting next, then the top. Next I place old towels around half of the quilt. Fold half of the top over & half of the batting over. Spray in a sweeping motion over the exposed quilt back. Lay the half of the batting you folded over onto the sprayed back. Smooth, reposition if necessary. Spray the exposed batting the same as the back. Smooth, reposition if necessary the quilt top. Repeat with the other side. It is a dream to quilt as it stays together nicely keeping the bunching to next to nothing. Its very freeing to quilt with no pins in the way! Also, I would keep it flat until you are ready to quilt otherwise you will need to resmooth before you quilt. If you have any questions, I will answer them here. Thanks for reading! Have fun with your quilting!!

Yay, Spray Baster!!

I am really loving the spray baster, 505 Spray & Fix which temporarily holds the quilt layers together. I just put towels around the quilt to catch the overspray & reuse the towels a few times before throwing them in the wash. It doesn't gum up the needle & keeps the layers smooth & intact. I can't wait to quilt this one with fabrics from Jennifer Paganelli & Tanya Whelan!

Finally Done!

I have finally finished my bedroom quilted duvet. Yes, it was lots of work especially since it was hand quilted almost every night for the last few months. It really is one great memory. I enjoyed the relaxing time by the fire while my family and I watched old tv shows like "Combat" & "Get Smart". Sometimes Holly and I got to sneak in a decorating show here and there. Mostly, it was family time. I stitched everyone's initial on their own square, so they love to look for their letter. It turned out better than I thought and it gave me directions for my curtains. I don't know how many fabrics I used, but I know it was LOTS. I love scrappy quilts, I love combining fabrics, it was a labor of love. Hopefully, other people in my family will remember me by this. If not, my husband and I will stay warm and cozy under it for hopefully many years to come. He even likes it! Bonus!

Happy New Year

I am excited that 2009 has started. I have many sewing projects in the works. I am still hand quilting my duvet, although I would like to get it into my room as it is finally painted and I have picked out the drapery fabric. It is a Laura Ashley print called Suzette in the Gilt colorway. I am also going to be teaching sewing and am looking forward to that new chapter in my life. If I can pass on my love of sewing to someone else, it will give me great satisfaction. I feel like sewing is a dying art in some ways. With the internet, I can find so many wonderful sewers, but in my life and area, they seem to be few and far between. I hope my daughter loves to sew as I do. She is moving right along in her skills and recently completed a rag quilt with her cousins and the family friend who taught me to sew, Pam.