Sewing Goals for 2016

I have a couple quilts I would like to finish up this year.  (Actually all of them - but lets face it, that's not going to happen!  hahaha)

Goal #1

Angela's Quilt. 

This has been on my list for years. I mean YEARS.

It went from this.

To this during this last year. 

I just need one more border and then to quilt it.

Goal #2

Erik's Quilt

I need to cut this up and put it into a nice design 
This should be an easy lap quilt.

Goal #3

Midnight Mystery Quilt.

Once all the clues are up, I want to quilt it and give it to Daughter #3

Goal #4

Rosanna's Quilt.

I have no plans for this - YET. But I hope to design it, sew it and quilt it. (An unlikely goal - but I'm going to give it a good try!)

And you?  What are your goals?

Happy Sewing,
Linda

Clear Zip Up Pouch

                                                 

Check this out - 

I decided that I would make some emergency pouches for my girls.

The front of the pouch is clear.  How handy is that?

I found the pattern somewhere on the internet - probably through Pinterest.

I had so much fun making them.

The first one didn't come out that great. (not pictured) I took it apart and redid the fabrics and re-sized the binding. And sewed it up much straighter.

I put in just some little stuff  - like a nail file, hair tie, allergy medication, headache medication etc.

I'm pretty happy with the results. 

Now it's off to make Christmas cookies to give away.

I want to wish everyone a 

Linda

One Potholder - One for Dinner

I  really don't know what happened to all my potholders.  I guess I slowly threw each one away.  

I was down to NONE.  I've using my dishtowels. 

How sad is that?

So I came up with a great idea.  Tell me what you think.  I was thinking of asking each family that comes to my house for Christmas dinner to bring me a potholder.  Sort of like an Christmas Dinner admission fee.  Well, that doesn't sound quite right - you can't have a "fee" for something that has to do with Christmas.

So we, my husband, daughter and I were at a craft fair.  I was explaining my idea.  My husband ran straight over - bought me the above potholder and announced "I'm Eating Dinner!"

We laughed so hard.  I explained to lady selling the potholders my idea -and invited her too - for the price of a potholder!

Actually, this is the BEST potholder I've ever had.  I wished I had her number and could buy more or I knew how to make them.

Merry Christmas if I don't see you before,

Linda

BIG Blocks - Working on Midnight Mystery

I've been working on the Midnight Mystery quit.  A little here and a little there in between decorating 

 and baking cookies.  

That's me with our Christmas tree.  It's hard to get a good picture with a white tree.

Cheryl at Meadow Mist had us make these HUGE courthouse blocks 

and I was wondering how in the world was this quilt going to look?

Then she had us slice and dice it into 4 pieces to make the corners of a star block.  Wow - what fun!  We have no idea what we are doing!  hahaha

Check out this Star Block for the Midnight Mystery.  Hmmm....I think I'm beginning to understand why the name of the quilt is Midnight Mystery!  Since we see "Stars" at "Midnight".  

I was very concerned about that center "one-way" fabric in the courthouse steps, which is now surrounding the gold star.  Would it work in the quilt?   At first I thought it was a bit over powering for the star block - but after stepping back, I'm thinking it works.

This is a 24" block - Gotta love those Big Blocks!

So there you have it - that's what I've been doing.

Now I better get to Christmas shopping,

Happy Stitching,

Linda

  

FnwF Update

Working on some HST units. 

The Midnight Mystery instructions are very easy to follow. Even at night after working all day!  

Maybe that's enough for tonight. 😌

Happy Sewing,

Linda 

FNWF (Working on Meadow Mist Mystery)

I took a picture of my Meadow Mist's Midnight Mystery Mess this morning.

(Wow - try saying that 5 times!)

Tonight is FNWF and I'm going to catch up on this Mystery tonight.

I'm really looking forward to sewing with everyone. 

If you have time to join us, head on over to Gone Stitchin' and link up.

Happy Sewing,

Linda

December at Last!

I love December!  

Remember when I used to make a list of all the projects I wanted to do for the month?  That really worked so well.  

This December my goal is to stay warm!  It's in 60s here in the daytime.  Not at all cold for some people. Right?  

My first goal was to clean up that corner in my dinning room.

And after I cleaned it:

Things were out of hand in that corner!

So I may or may not work on quilting this month.  I like to devote the month to Christmas;  decorating, cooking, shopping and spending time with the family.

I would really like to help my grandkids make these Christmas Dishtowels for their mother and other grandmother. Aren't they so cute!

Found at Flamingo Toes with Tutorial!

We did decide to start having Family Game Night. We used to do that when the kids were all in the house.  Now that we all have our own homes - we will share hosting it.   

Happy Stitching,

Linda

Happy Thanksgiving!

I would like to wish all you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Linda

Love a Good Sale! (Craftsy Black Friday Sale)

I'm so excited about this - I ordered the Black Batting for Angela's Quilt!

(See I am making progress with this quilt!)

I looked online and found some sales - and then for some reason I decided to look at Craftsy.  I've never purchased from them before.

They have the most AMAZING SALE! 

This queen size batting is only $16.89!  

And then I just had to get another Purple Thang. For only $2.10!  

I love mine and want to have one next to the sewing machine and one next to the couch.  Or maybe one to have and one to lose?

I knew I would have to order batting for Angela's quilt.  I have never seen black batting in town.  I couldn't find any Warm and Natural - so I'm hoping that I this Hobbs okay. 

Happy Stitching & Shopping,

Linda

Chain of Squares is ON!

Okay - don't all fall off your chairs in shock.

I finished the chain of squares border.

This border is interesting because the corners are sewn on last.

I finished the sides about 10 at night - but I had to stay up late and finish up those corners!!

I'm thinking "Happiness"!

Now to figure out the next border!

Happy Stitching!

Linda

Linking up with Freshly Pieced 
& Needle and Thread Network
& Lets Bee Social

Chain of Squares Border

I've been working on my quilt - just not in a way that you can see.

First I went looking for a border.

I have Judy Martin's book Pieced Borders

She has TONS of them in this book.

So many different combinations and all the sizes you need for any size block. 

I bought this book years ago - this is my first time using it.

Right now I'm thinking just a simple chain of squares.

Here are some of my border ponderings.

I considered using a black on black print - or maybe another little border.

So...I took paper - I didn't want to use fabric just yet.

I sewed up a one -  I was a little confused by the instructions.  

I'm not going to blame her - I read the instructions and then two weeks later decide on which border and forgot how to sew it up.

I sewed it up as a square in a square - 

 huh - that didn't work. Not with Judy's triangle measurements.

Reread the instructions and saw that they are sewed up like this.

Oh now that makes more sense.

Okay so that is my goal for the weekend - sew up those puppies!

Okay - first I have to cut the fabrics - then sew them up.

Happy Weekend Stitching,

Linda

Friday Night with Friends

Yes!!  I sewed that border on again (this is the third time) and it is much better.   It is not perfect but I can work with this.

That's it for me tonight. Tomorrow I'll start the next border. It's been fun sewing with friends. 

Gone Stitchin'

Happy Friday Night Stitching,

Linda

Third Time is the Charm

That's what they say: The Third Time is the Charm.

But whether it is or not, this is the LAST time, I'm taking this border off this quilt!

I even took out the sashing thinking that was the problem.  Now I don't think so.  I think this block is the culprit. 

It's a pretty block - but I think it's a bit small - causing the border to crinkle (wavy) around it. 

So I'll work on this tonight.

Now - on a lighter note, kids are so silly - and here's Lily be a Silly. 

Let's see what happens when I put a truck on my head.

YES!!  It's on!  And look it stays!!

 Check me out - 

I can make it stay on my head as I turn it - 

as long as my eyes stay in the same place!!

Happy Stitching,

Linda

A Little Trip & a Little Pouch Planned

What's new with me.

I'm taking off this weekend to San Francisco to visit my Little Sis. 

I thought it would be nice to make her a little something.

Homemade items are so nice to receive.

So...I thought a little pouch would be nice. 

But a little pouch with clear vinyl would be better!

And little pouch with clear vinyl with a zipper even better!

Off to Pinterest  I went. And found:

Negligent Stylee

Thread Shuffle

Or maybe I'll make this one:

Haberdashery Fun

Wish me luck getting it made tonight. (Actually wish me luck finding my zippers! Where, oh where did I put those?)  I'm leaving early (4 am) in the morning. 

I'll also be traveling with Lily (and her Mommy) - how fun is that?    

A coffee place will be the first stop - and none for Lily!

Happy Stitching,

Linda 

WIP, Vanilla Creamer & Lily

Look I did it!- added the next black border - but it's wavy. 

That has NEVER happened before. So it's off with the border and fixing will happen.

Are we done talking about quilts?

Well, for this post we are.

Instead let's talk about Vanilla Creamer and Lily.

My husband and I love vanilla coffee creamer.  If a restaurant doesn't have it, we either don't go or I bring my own. (Sad isn't?)

Okay so Little Lily sees us and wants to be just like us.

 There's a couple drops of creamer in the container and a bit of water in the mug.

"Ahhh" says Lily - "Good to the last drop!"

Happy Stitching and Sipping,
Linda

Linking to:Freshly Pieced