WIP Wednesday

These pieces are about the oddest thing I have sewn together!

No pattern here~just winging it.

In a few days we will *know* if *it* worked!

Stash Report Week #26

Pushed some buttons and added a bolt of backing fabric for future quilts. :)

Fabric added this week: +15 yards
Fabric added this year: + 142 yards

Fabric used this week: - 9 yards
Fabric used this year: - 224 yards

Net fabric for the year: - 82 yards

What I accomplished this week:

• completed messenger bag
• quilted and bound Texas T*Shirt

Goals for next week:

• pick a project from the Summer 2010 *To Sew* List

Texas T*Shirt

The Texas T*Shirt quilt.

I wish that I would have arranged the t*shirts a little differently but overall, I like it.

It seems when the motif is a heavier plastic-y type design then I get more of a *push* with the fabric while quilting. So some of the t*shirts appear bunch-y while others are laying somewhat flat. I originally thought the effect was due to the lightweight interfacing I used and the fact that some of the motifs have been fused for about 4 years but some of the motifs I just fused behaved the same way. I suppose one way to avoid this is to have a quilting pattern with no *back track*.


Pattern source: Linda J's Sorta T*Shirt Tutorial
(I used her math method to figure out the vertical spacing of the motifs)

Panto source: Inkblot from Willow Leaf Studio

WIP Wednesday

I worked on finishing up the Messenger Bag. The outside with the flap closed.

The inside with the flap open. It seems a little flimsy to me but I did use the fusible fleece as the directions called for. I had some trouble sewing the turns and my lining seems a bit too big~not exactly sure what I would change to make a better fit of the lining but for a first attempt~I'm happy!


Hope it fits my niece's laptop!

Pattern source: Messenger Bag by http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/

Summer 2010 *To Sew* List

I did pretty well as I accomplished all but one goal on my Spring 2010*To Sew List and I am carrying that one (ummm....meesenger bag) over.

I have these quilting goals in no particular order but have them separated into two categories: personal and donation.










Summer 2010 *To Sew* List

Personal

• messenger bag
• baked potato/tortilla steamer bag
• wedding gift: wedding is September 5, 2010
• FAB Fall Challenge: mail date: September 15, 2010
• Milwaukee Admirals backpack
• Milwaukee Admirals quilt

Donation

• QOV A
• QOV B
• pillowcases for QOV's
• Cancer Recovery Totes
• Boy A
• Boy B

I'm looking to use some more of that *dinosaur* fabric for the boy themed donation quilts that has been hanging around the sewing room a looooong time.

Backing Fabric

My backing fabric arrived today from Fabricshack.com!

All 15 yards...do you think I'll get tired of backing quits before I run out?!

At $2.95/yard~I don't think so!

:)

Design Wall Monday

Ummm...not very exciting but this is the beginning of the Messenger Bag that I have been putting off.

The pattern is from All People Quilt (you will need to click on 'download this project' and follow the prompts).

DD's Fleece Headband

DD liked my headband so much, she requested that I make one for her.
Puppy paw print fleece was her choice!

Stash Report Week #25

I had a few small finishes but I definitely went shoping this week!

Fabric added this week: + 13 yards (here, blue and green here and here)
Fabric aded this year: +127 yards

Fabric used this week: -2.5 yards
Fabric used this year: -215 yards

Net fabric for the year: -88 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

• Americana table toppers
• Americanan pillowcase
• pieced Texas T*Shirt to a flimsy

Goals for next week:

• work on messanger bag
• quilt Texas T*Shirt~waiting for backing fabric to arrive
• work up a Summer 2010 *To Sew* List

Another +6 Yards

Enough said...I am weak...

Texas T*Shirt a Flimsy

I finished sewing the sashings and the outer border today on the Texas T*Shirt top. I kept it relatively simple by sashing between the blocks and adding the outer border same as the sashing fabric.

I wish I would have arranged the blocks differently but, it is what it is and I like it. This one is about as square as I get...66 x 71. I've decided to wait on some bandanna fabric I have on order for the backing and yes, save the bluebonnet fabrics for another quilt. :)

The Next T*Shirt Quilt

I framed out the next set of T*Shirts. All with a Texas theme.

My Fleece Headband

Do you realize how difficult it is to get a picture of one's own head?!

In any event, I saw a couple kids at the rink with these fleece headband-type headgear. I thought they were cool, as in my ears would stay warm yet let the heat escape out the top of my head. So this is my attempt at making one. I couldn't find a tutorial online~so I just *sorta winged it*. :)

I gave it a test skate the other day and it seemed to work pretty good. The real test will be on Thursday at the skate lesson. :)

A Few Americana Finishes

The three table toppers.

Pattern source: Genni Lehmann's
Quick and Easy Table Topper and Runner

A pillowcase for the family room couch. I decided to make the middle section one piece instead of piecing strips together.

Pattern source: JoAnn Fabric Striped Pillow Sham

Shhh...

...don't tell!

3 yards Americana fabric found on sale!

Ben
Franklin...

shhhh...

Design Wall Monday

Three American Table Toppers and backing fabric are on the design wall today.







Head on over to JudyL's Patchwork Times to *see* other bloggers' Design Wall Monday.


Pattern source: Genni Lehmann's Quick and Easy Table Topper and Runner

Stash Report Week #24

I had two finishes this week! and I did add some fabric, too.

Fabric added this week: +1.5 yards
Fabric added this year: +114 yards

Fabric used this week: -19 yards
Fabric used this year: -212.5 yards

Net fabric for the year: -98.5 yards (used!)

What I accomplished this week:

• pieced U of Michigan tote
• quilted and bound Michigan State T*Shirt quilt

Goals for next week:

• start on next T*Shirt quilt
• piece table topper
• piece pillowcase
• work on Messenger Bag

Let's see if I will be able to accomplish some of my goals but with DD and her summer schedule starting~time in the sewing room will be reduced! :)

Guess I better think about my Summer 2010 *To Sew* List pretty soon :)

A Little More Fabric

I purchased a little more fabric this week. 2/3 of a yard of fleece for a hat for the ice rink and 1.5 yards of Americana. You know me! I can't have too much rwb!

I also made a few 'Thank You' cards to send out.


That's it...I'm heading to the rink to practice then out to dinner with DS and GF...

Hopefully tomorrow I will spend some time actually sewing in the craft room :)

Michigan State T*Shirt Quilt

I finished the binding in the weee hours of the morning! :)

I sewed quite a bit of the binding back while watching Game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals on the NHL Channel. The NHL Channel is a bit of an extravagance for us~but I have really enjoyed watching the hockey games this past season and now they are broadcasting the end of the AHL season. Oh how I wish my Milwaukee Admirals were in the finals~it would be so cool to *see* them on national tv. :)

This quilt is a rather large and fills up the family room. ummm...try to ignore the *stuff* that hangs out in my family room.

A close-up of two of the blocks.











pattern source: LindaJ's Sorta T*Shirt Tutorial
panto source: Inkblot from Willow Leaf Studio

Just Because...

...Thanks Pam!

...Just Because....

What a wonderful surprise arrived in my snail mail today!



A Wonder Wallet from my friend Pam!

Thanks Pam and the note read, "Just Because..."

Isn't Pam the sweetest! You truly brighten my day! Hugs!

Blogger friends are soooo Great! :)

A New Tote Bag

After my friend, Norma shared this tote bag pattern, I knew that I wanted to make one.

Today after I sewed the smiles of binding onto the Michigan State T*Shirt quilt, I tried my hand at the tote bag.

Being an equal opportunity sewer, I used some of my leftover University of Michigan fabric. (Michigan State and U of Michigan are arch rivals in the state of Michigan~fyi~)

While I like the pockets on the outside of the tote, my ice skates seem to take up all the available room...hum...

Jury still out as to whether or not this will be my skate tote. I'll take it to class on Thursday night and *see* how it goes. :)

WIP Wednesday

smiles and smiles of binding~
approximately 420 inches worth!

A Little Quilting

I finally started quilting the Michigan State T*Shirt quilt!

Yes Lori....I am just quilting through everything with a large meander. One problem though, I used a very lightweight interfacing and with all the pressing I did, I think that the glue has melted away. There are parts of the t*shirts that aren't fixed to the interfacing and I have some bunching of the t*shirt material happening. Good thing this one is for me~as I am learning on it! :)


Pattern source: LindaJ's Sorta T*Shirt Tutorial
Panto source: Inkblot from Willow Leaf Studio

Teacher Gift~Just Add Label!

Remember this Double Hour Glass quilt? I blogged about it here, here and here. Well after DH decided that he couldn't use it I put it into the closet.

I dug it out the other day, took off the old label today~which came off really easy~slapped on a purple label and ta da! End of the School Year gift for the Teacher who loves purple. (That is why there is a purple label :))

I didn't forget Mr. Irv and Miss Judy (DD's bus drivers). We put together our favorite gift bag. A jar full of candy and gift card, in this case Starbucks. I usually like to give a BP Gas card (get it?! gas to the bus drivers~I'm sick~I know!) but with all that is going on in the Gulf of Mexico I decided to switch to a Starbucks Gift card this year.


pattern source: Cluck Cluck Sew Double Hour Glass Tutorial

Stash Report Week #23

No finishes and I did go shopping this week.

Fabric added this week: +2 yards
Fabric added this year: +112.5 yards

Fabric used this week: 0 yards
Fabric used this year: -193.5 yards

Net fabric for the year: -81 yards

What I accomplished this week:

• prepped MSU T*shirt quilt for quilting (on the frame and as a flimsie (you will need to scroll down to find it))

Goals for next week:

• quilt the MSU T*shirt

School officially is finished for DD at 12:00 noon on Thursday!

Hello Summer! and sleeping late, eating lunch at Taco Bell and spending time with DD! :)

Friday Happenings

Friday I went to lunch at Panera Bread with Karen from Karen Chronicles. Thanks Karen for making time in your busy schedule to catch up! If you ever get a chance to meet an *online blogger friend*~do it! You will not be disappointed!

Blogger friends are the greatest :)

Since I was halfway to JAF, I decided to check out their blue section. I am on the hunt for Carolina Blue~one to *go with* my Milwaukee Admiral shirts. No luck finding the Carolina blue but I did come away with a darker blue with little flecks of green that I thought would work in my *Memories of Texas* T*shirt quilt I want to make.

That's it. No quilting today as I promised DD we would shop for *things* needed for her Washington DC trip and....ice skate! We had our first lesson Thursday night and she is excited to practice *marching, gliding, swizzling and stopping*. me, too...maybe. :)