WIP Wednesday-- Just One Thing

It was a horrifically busy week this past week.  Sadly I only worked on sewing just one day.  That wouldn't have even happened if I hadn't thought to take my yo-yo's with me as I ran the church rummage sale.

So, here you go, my progress on one valance.

I must stay busy on these, and I mean daily, even if it's only adding 2 or 3 on the super busy days.

Sit n' sew is Friday at the quilt shop, so God willing I will make it there to get more work done on the Arkansas Crossroads quilt top.
My friend gave me a bit of black and white fabric so that will be a help to finish that quilt.  I need to buy just one more fat quarter and that should be all I need.

I'm looking forward to checking out the soscrappy blog to see what this month's color is.

I link up with the following blogs:


Jo's Country Junction:  http://www.joscountryjunction.com/

The Hand-Stitched Surface : Slow stitching and mixed-media techniques for fabric and paper

The Hand-Stitched Surface is written by Lynn Krawczyk and 15 keep-sake quality projects that are perfect for those who want to step away from technology and embrace a quiet, meditative approach to handwork and creating art.

It offers techniques and beautiful  richly layered mixed media surfaces of both paper and fabric.
The book starts with an overview of tools and supplies.  This is followed by a section of stitching essentials which covers a range of basic stitches and how they can be modified.  You will learn the effects of mixing thread weights, unique ways to create patterns, how to explore color and tips and tricks on improvisational stitching.

Right away I see 2 projects that I look forward to doing----the Deconstructed Needle Book and the Doodle Love Lap Quilt.

In the Paper Projects section I found 2 things that my middle daughter will enjoy making-- the Paper Succulent Garden and the Origami Candy Catcher.

The back of the book includes templates for the projects that need those.  It's a comprehensive book with lots of illustrations for each step.  Whether you are a beginner crafter/sewer or an experienced one, there are projects for everyone.  Any of the projects would make great gifts as well.







Disclosure:   I rec'd a copy of the book for the purpose of this review.  I was not compensated in any other way and any opinions are my own.  Post contains affiliate links.

WIP Wednesday --Something New

I actually worked on something else other than the rug and yo-yo's this past week, believe it or not.
Actually, I didn't do anymore work on the rug other than adding more selvage strips to my bag.

I am still keeping up with my 365 of making 3 yo-yo's each day.  My pile of fabric still doesn't seem to be going down, and I'm getting more anxious to start putting them together.

Sit n' Sew at the quilt shop was a go and I actually got some work in on my paper-pieced stars for my guild challenge.  Not much, and I sure hope to find time soon to get my sewing machine out at home to work on them some more.  If I don't, this project will not be done by the end of April!

Yesterday was sewing day at church.  This project is not part of my 17 in 2017, but something I can work on for awhile at church.  Someone donated a box of these polyester squares.  Some were already made into 9 patches, and hand sewn.  I'm going to attempt to finish them off into a top by continuing the hand sewing.

And here are a couple of pictures from our community service work day at quilt guild that I wanted to share.  We finished over 30 quilts that day in addition to a large number of items that were already completed and given to First Call for Help.  With so many quilts we decided to send some of them to other agencies as well.
I wish we could have more days like this.

I link up with the following blogs:



Jo's Country Junction:  http://www.joscountryjunction.com/

WIP Wednesday-- No More Bags.....at least for awhile

You may have noticed that I've not done a WIP Wednesday post now for the last 2 or 3 weeks.  It's because I was working on nothing except the drawstring backpacks!!

I ended up making a total of 38.  Two of those went to charity.  26 of them went for Christmas gifts.  I kept one for myself.  And, I have 9 that will be listed in my etsy shop.

This picture shows 33 of them:

I have started on my next long term project, and I do mean long term.
I have a special order to make 2 valances and a table runner with Christmas and other fabrics.  Yes, I have until next Christmas to get these done, and it will take me that long too!

I do have one more project that must be worked on, which is the challenge project for quilt guild.  I will need to go back and forth working on that until it's done.  It's due in April.

It's the end of the year, so I am including my list of finishes along with my current WIP's.

UFO's:

Rectangle quilt
challenge wall hanging
Hexagon quilt
Emerald Island Fusique table runner
Five and Dime quilt
Brown half square triangle table runner
2 sets of doll blanket, pillows, bed and rug
Wall hanging for quilt guild
yo-yo's that need to be made into projects
black and white rail fence quilt
Arkansas Crossroads scrap quilt
T-shirt latchhook rug
Charming Stars quilt
Special crocheted prayer shawl
Fall Squares table topper
Crazy colored quilt with the five and dime blocks
Rainbow colored string quilt
St. Patricks yo-yo table topper/runner
Lexington quilt

2016 Finishes:
Smaller pink 4 patch quilt for charity
Pink 4 patch quilt for charity
Hexagon flower table runner
T-shirt toothbrush rug
7 sets of coasters
52 microwave hotpads
4 sets of doll blanket, pillows, bed and rug
Blue and Brown yo-yo table runner
Rainbow colored locker hook rug
Christmas yo-yo table topper/runner
38 drawstring backpacks for gifts, for sale, and for charity

I link up with the following blogs:

WIP Wednesday 5/20/15

All week I wanted to get my sewing machine out.  It didn't happen until last night!
I got to work on my fractured pineapple quilt again, which needs to be completed in time for the quilt show in July.   I will be working on trimming in my Needlers group today.  I will have a better picture next week.

I spent most of the week working on this rug.  It's just about finished so don't know why I didn't actually finish it!

Otherwise I got out my storage box for hexagons and yo-yo's and added in what I had made plus some from other bags.  I actually just ran across another bag of them in my sewing room so still have more completed to add to my box.  I'm anxious to actually start putting the misc. hexagons in to a larger quilt top.  Plus I'm wanting to start another yo-yo table topper.  Oh so many projects that I want to work on all at once!

I just looked today at the soscrappy blog to see what this month's scrappy color is. It's green.  I plan this evening to work on green 4 patches.


UFO's:

Rectangle quilt
challenge wall hanging
GoodNight Irene quilt/wall hanging
Emerald Island Fusique table runner
Five and Dime quilt
Fractured Pineapple quilt
Charming Stars quilt
Brown half square triangle quilt
5 sets of doll blanket, pillows and rug
Hexagon flower table runner
Wall hanging for quilt guild
Challenge quilt for quilt guild


2015 Finishes:

Locker Hook Rug
re-do binding on blue and peach patchwork
9 lined fabric bags
yellow crazy quilt lined bag
Pink hexagon table topper
Blue hexagon table topper
Yo-Yo Table runner

I am linking up with the following blogs:

WIP Wednesday 5/13/15

Last week we were on vacation.  The only sewing I did was in the car while hubby drove us to Branson, and while he drove us back home later in the week.
I'm sure glad I didn't forget to take something along!  I did, however, forget to put a needle in my box.  We found the first store along the highway and stopped to buy me some.


I made7 more yo-yo's.  All of these needed to be added to my yo-yo/hexagon storage box:

And, I sewed up a total of 48 hexagons!  These too will be added to the storage box.

I have yet to check what this month's color is with the soscrappy blog, but will do that today.   I will try to get some things made for the color, but I also MUST get my fractured pineapple quilt worked on.   I will make that my goal to have those 2 things to show you next week.

UFO's:

Rectangle quilt
challenge wall hanging
GoodNight Irene quilt/wall hanging
Emerald Island Fusique table runner
Five and Dime quilt
Fractured Pineapple quilt
Charming Stars quilt
Brown half square triangle quilt
5 sets of doll blanket, pillows and rug
Hexagon flower table runner
Wall hanging for quilt guild
Challenge quilt for quilt guild


2015 Finishes:

Locker Hook Rug
re-do binding on blue and peach patchwork
9 lined fabric bags
yellow crazy quilt lined bag
Pink hexagon table topper
Blue hexagon table topper
Yo-Yo Table runner

I am linking up with the following blogs:

WIP Wednesday 2/25/15

Oh my.  I believe the only thing I have worked on this past week is the pink hexagon table topper!

 I posted this picture in bubblews yesterday and shared it a few places.  I asked opinions on adding another round and then which of those 3 fabrics I should use for that round and for the backing.
The darker pink gingham was the choice by everyone.
I actually have a start on it, but chose to just go ahead and share this picture.

Even though pink will end for the soscrappy blog color challenge, I will continue to work on this until it's finished!  This is a promise to myself. 

Hopefully next week I have more projects to share in progress!   In the meantime, here is my list of unfinished objects.

 UFO's:

Rectangle quilt
challenge wall hanging
GoodNight Irene quilt/wall hanging
Yo-Yo Table runner
Emerald Island Fusique table runner
Five and Dime quilt
Fractured Pineapple quilt
Charming Stars quilt
Brown half square triangle quilt
5 sets of doll blanket, pillows and rug
Hexagon flower table runner
Blue hexagon table topper
Pink hexagon table topper

And I am linking up with the following blogs:
 

Frugal Friday with Marsha 10/10/14 --Crafts as Gifts Part 2

Sharing a few more of the gifts that I have made in the past.

Years ago I learned how to crochet with plastic grocery bags.  Each of the granddaughters then got a Barbie dress made out of grocery sacks.   They are cute, but a little see through  LOL     I actually wouldn't mind making more of these, but I will figure out how to put maybe a different colored bag inside as a lining!

I used to really make a lot of things with plastic canvas.  I rarely made sets like this Barbie patio set that you see, but it is just too darn cute!  I gave this to my granddaughter, Ariel, for her birthday a few years back.  Just looking at the picture makes me want to get into my plastic canvas stash and start making again.

When I made dresses for the girls' Barbies I needed to think of something to make for the boys.
I actually won the purple pillow in a giveaway at an online party, which gave me the idea to make the brown one.
This was before I owned a sewing machine, but pillows are one of the easiest things to make.  I actually stuffed these with filling.  It is better to use a pillow form.   I have been fortunate as of late to find pillow forms at yard sales.  They aren't too cheap to buy them at the store, which makes the pillow too expensive for me to make.

Last, but not least, sharing again something I made before owning a sewing machine, is this table runner that I hand sewed to give my boyfriend (now husband) for Christmas.
We still have this.  It's on the entertainment center with the TV and sound bar sitting on it. 
It's a good feeling to see something that I made still in use.

Will you be making any crafts for gifts this year?  I am in the middle of making quite a few things right now, that eventually I will share once I get through the older gifts.
Don't forget to check out my Homemade linky page here on my blog...find cool crafts to make, or add links to your own.


Since I now want to look in to doing more plastic canvas, here are a few products, including a book that I have put in my wishlist to purchase!

An InLinkz Link-up

TGIFF--Bambi Quilt is Done

It's been a LONG time since I've posted a Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday post. I don't think I've completed anything else between then and now as far as quilting. That means that I really need to stay busy!

My finish today is a simple Bambi baby quilt. I used a storybook panel, cut out the pages, put the sashing between each one and made binding.

I bought a new sewing machine, so this is my first machine quilted quilt. I bought a walking foot to go with my machine. I'm very pleased so far.

This is also the first time I've tried hand sewing the binding complete as well.