Quilted Patchwork Purse Gift

I get to have help sewing from Christina one evening a week and I have found out that she LOVES bicycle fabric, so I thought this Munki Munki fabric would be a great basis for a project. I decided to do a patchwork purse, so I pulled from my stash (l-r): more Heather Ross flowers, Lizzy House' Foliage and Pearl Bracelets from Outfoxed, Anna Maria Horner's Maybe from Innocent Crush, Wildfield from Valori Wells Wrenly & Loulouthi Hugs & Kisses. I lined it with Hugs & Kisses and inside pockets (not pictured) in Maybe. For the back I took a smaller portion of the stripwork and made a pocket. I enjoyed hand quilting a heart around the 'bicycles i've loved' words as well as down some of the strips. I used a rust colored embroidery thread from Anna Maria's thread collection. Hope she loves it!

Hexagons

Hexagons intimidate me on so many levels! I have always loved Grandma's Flower Garden pattern, but felt it wasn't something I could do. Hand sewing, crazy seams, the block laying flat, hand sewing (I know I said that already, but its my least fav part of sewing! ) Many people say they can't sew because they don't have enough patience. I'd say I'm in the middle on the patience level & this really pushes my patience~ all that hand sewing and hand cutting takes FOREVER! I think what helps is that this is a 'side project' with no end date. I tend to put end dates on everything. If I'm leaving on a trip, if my mind decides I need to leave at 9am & if I go past that time~ even if there is no reason why I can't leave at 9:15, I get stressed. So, in order to enjoy this project~ because I will really love the end result~ I force myself to not put an end date on it. To be honest with you, I'm really not planning a whole quilt with hexagons. Probably just some instant gratification projects~ pillows, etc. I adore finding the perfect flower to capture inside the hexagon shape. I'm using 1" hexagons in a paper piecing package I bought at http://sewdeerlyloved.etsy.com because cutting out all those hexagons would just set me over the edge with boredom!

Mermaid Quilt

I get so many fun opportunities doing custom work! I have worked with Amy several times before and she asked if I could cut up her daughter's mermaid duvet and make it into a quilt. She said finding coordinates wouldn't be a problem~ and she was right! I had so much fun pulling out my stash (as well as adding to it!) to make this twin size quilt. Practically every designer is featured here~ Jennifer Paganelli, Patty Young, Tanya Whelan, Amy Butler, Michael Miller, Robert Kaufman & Heather Ross. The back is Ta Dot in lime and the binding is from Lots of Dots & Stripes from Robert Kaufman. I chose to quilt 1/4" in for each square and then on each mermaid block, I chose a different part to quilt & highlight. Sometimes I outlined the whole mermaid & sometimes it was her hair or flower or a starfish. I loved that the Heather Ross Seahorses matched the theme & colors!