sew what's new?

Yes I am still sewing away. I am getting closer to my goal. To day I finished seven pillowcases!  The doggie pillowcases are for the three girls getting the doll clothes.   The blue and white ones are for my grandson who goes to University of Kentucky, that is his school colors.  And last but not least are the two roses and hearts pillowcases for his girlfriend that we will be meeting. I finished the three wool signs also.  Instead of useing batting in between the layers, I used Bosal interfacing double sided fusible. It is stiffer and gives more body to the small wall hangings! I only have two hangers at the moment but will try and remedy that tomorrow or Monday. Now I will give you a looksey....  After all this I think I might have time for the girls to have one more dress.  Maybe a wrap dress! Chit chat later,Martha.

I finished my little peasant dresses!  Maybe it is wicked of me but I am useing all the fat quarters that I truely wonder why I purchased them.  At least it gets them out of my stash.   I have heard there may be a blizzard next week.  I am hoping the weather is not that bad for our trip to Illinois. Wanting to see the kids for the holidays.  Both the old ones and the young ones!! Chit chat more later,Martha.

Started working from this book now... This is an excellent book well worth the investment. The only draw back that I see is if you don't want to cut up your book you must copy pattern pieces. Not that big of a deal. I keep them in a plastic ziploc bag inside my book, when I store them. There is a great deal of variety that can be made from this book. The directions are excellent and are time saving.  Three cute little sundresses with pockets and bows in front.  Next on my list are three little peasant dresses. Chatter later, Martha

I used this pattern today and made 3 little dresses.  I really like the pattern  It is very well written and quite fast to put together. First came this one .... With orange ric rac... then came this one.... This one has a peachy pink ric rac. Last but not least is this one.... This had red ric rac.  I mention the ric rac because a friend of mine gave me a bunch of different ric rac colors because she just loves to challenge me to use it.  All that is needed on this dresses are buttons on the front as decoration.  I have started on three more from a book which I will show you tomorrow.  Chit chat later, Martha.

What I should be doing and what I am now doing are two different things. Right now I should be wrapping the presents I have already made or boughten.  I should also be on high road and doing my American doll clothes. But no, what am I doing, procrastinating!!! I should be picking out small bright prints for those cuties. I should be cutting the patterns out by now!  This is what I have been doing,although cute. This is one of three little quilt signs with wool , to hang on the wall. They all have a Santa hat on them and I was looking for something to make them more 3D .  I was looking through my stash and found 2 yards of this trim which I probably have been saving for twenty years. I think it will do the trick.  Kim Diehl also gave a free little pattern out and I have that ready to sew also. Did not do the appliques out of cotton, did them in wool too! A little embroidery will go on here too!  I think my    expectations are a little to high

Contrary Wife from Pam Buda is finished !  I did decide to put the acorns on the four corners. So I am sharing a few pictures with you. Now to start all those American girl doll clothes!  I have three grand daughters and they all have them! On the bright side , they are not barbies. My eyes could not take that. So I am off to the sewing room, chatter at you later, Martha.

Last night my world changed into a winter wonderland for Christmas. I took pics from my back and front doors , so that you without snow may enjoy also! front door view back door view I finished construction on "Contrary Wife" quilt.  The first pic is with just the small inner border that finishes off the small stars. The next pic is of the larger outside border that finishes off the quilt. close up of fabrics I found a quilting pattern of an acorn in a magazine.  I always save them even though I don't do much quilting myself. They can be used as embroidery patterns or wool patterns. I am thinking of putting  an acorn on each corner. Enjoy your day, chit chat later,Martha.

Kaaren Johnston  from   http://thepaintedquilt.blogspot.com  has given blogland one of the prettiest Christmas presents that I have seen lately.  If you go to her blog she has a small quilt pattern for you called "Twas The Night before Christmas" .  You will love it, If you love redwork and Christmas!! Scurry on over!   I am still working on my hexies as you can see here.... I am presently adding row four. Got the last of my Christmas shopping done! Doing the happy dance today! Martha

I haven't got to the Christmas sewing yet.  Even though I do have some American girl doll clothes to get ready for Santa. I did finish an origami bag for carrying hexie components, scissors and thread in. It is a pattern by Pam Buda. By the way she is starting a new sew-a-long on Friday , January 4th and going for six weeks.  In the inside there are two fold-like  pockets. The hexies sew on the front was an embellishment that I choose to do.  The purse itself is made with two fat quarters and some ribbon for the closure.  Cool , huh! I still have two borders to finish on the quilt that I am working on. One small 2 1/2 " border to finish out the sashing stars and one larger border. I thought I would show you a picture anyway. Been doing some Christmas shopping. I made some fudge the other day, first time in about 20 years.  I am looking forward to visiting my kids for the holidays, and my friends. I have a friend that wants me to do a tutorial on hexes for her.

There was leftover wool from a quilt I recently made; so I decided to use some of it in a pincushion design. As I have another beginning wool class coming up, I needed to get going on it.  The golden yellow seemed to lend itself to a flower to me .So that is what I designed. Hope you like it. I learned something new with this post, that all my pics (as they are put on my blog) are saved in a special place and the space eventually fills and must be deleted to create more storage.  I thought they were just taken from my sd disk.  I am no computer geek, but I am learning more.  Martha

Sorry about the mix up the blog hop for wool and handwork starts off with Tara Darr today not Lisa Bongean. She can be found at www.sewuniquecreations.blogspot.com  . It is a cute penny rug with a snowman.  Martha

Just a few notes for your calendar. www.temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com is starting a new quilt-a-long in January of the new year.  They always have some cute patterns for us! www.bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com is having a blog hop for her new book. It runs from Nov. 26 thru Dec.10th.  So many interesting  quilters that it is sure to be fun!! For the hand sewing and wool lovers , there will be a blog hop with Lisa bongean starting it off tomorrow! It is every monday, wednesday , and friday until December 21st. Will talk more a little bit later,Martha

I am progressing on the quilt from my last post. From just this one done. To about 1/2 blocks needed. It spells winter with a snowflake on the end. Still working on the "y" and frosty. I put these rings on the back to help hang them.  They are both from this book. If you get a chance go to www.henryglassfabrics.blogspot.com  and visit yesterday's post  with Kim Diehl. She gives two patterns free! One is called "Candydish " and the other has a cute snowman in the center. Also if you get a chance to go to moosebaymuses.blogspot.com   look up the November 15th entry and see her hand applique quilt, which she calls the courting quilt. It is also one of the twelve finalists of Morton masterpiece contest and can be found here  www.mortonmasterpiece.com  .  Please go and look at all the quilts and give a vote to the one you choose.  I will chit chat a little later, Martha

I have started a new quilt and have at the moment only one block finished with its sashing squares. More to come on this one. I do have the pieces cut though, which sometimes is the most tedious part of it.  The center red star fabric has a fall feel to it, as it has brown leaves it in.  I am contemplating putting black wool crows on border or perhaps acorns and oak leaves in two of the outside corners.  That is a long way off so we will see later. I am getting a little bored with these hexes although I am almost finished making them; I still have to put them all together.  I need a hand project that I can switch off to. So I started on today and got it already for tonight. It has been layered with backing and batting and has been quilted down. Wool is attached and waiting to be sewn down tonight.  This is the first time a pattern had me do the layering and quilting first. And then attach wool. Usually the other way around.  Have been doing a little Christmas shopping late

It is a previledge to be able to vote.  As women , we were not born with that right, cherish it , exercise it. Make sure you get out today and vote.  A little finish here to show you. The reels are made of gold wool.  The quilt finishes a little smaller than a yard square. Chit chat with ya later, Martha

The projects I am working on now are for Christmas and  next year.  As many of you do also , to try to  keep ahead of the game.   I have now filled two of my three containers with hexies. WAA HOO!! Next pic is of a Christmas project from a magazine. However in the magazine the center was a baby's picture. I choose to use some clipart off the computer for my center. I then choose to use Christmas fabrics for the dresden plate backround. I believe the magazine was "  Quilts and More " , the last one published.   As you can see I did a little Big stitch quilting around the plate. I also put some ric rac around center circle. I enjoyed  putting stripey binding around it. I also finished my four wool blocks and now I can do the sashing stars and borders today, I hope.   Tonight while I watch "Boardwalk Empire"  I can work on hexies again.  I am thankful we were not in the path of Hurricane Sandi, but we must remember to include those who wer