It's a conundrum!

I decided that I was going to make  a sewing caddy for my machine.....our guild is having a program sewing day and making this project.  I have a hard time sewing in a group...(I'm too nosy and want to see what everyone else is doing) and because of that I made mine over the weekend....I know, I know, I should have saved it for the working day.  But in a way I am glad I did it at home. I probably would have screwed it up royally at guild since I had to play around with the fabric and do some thinking...not my strong suit when in a group. I couldn't find any ticking so I bought duck...it works equally as well.  The instructions are pretty good although I did play around with it some....the bane of the independent type.

Here's my version...the  thread catcher is smaller and my pincushion doesn't look quite the same.  I am happy with the caddy though.  I may do a little machine quilting on it to hold the batting in place. Even though it is fusible ,it did not stick as well as I would have liked.  Now I have a caddy to put under my machine when I go to classes...about time , since I have wanted one for....well, let's just say a long time....

I need a visual!

 Here's my Folio...that dark fabric is a pocket and,of course, the zippered part is where you keep your papers and such.  I'd seen this done elsewhere and really liked it...the pattern is easy to follow  BUT I need a visual to figure out where to put my fabrics...plus these choices were not quite what I wanted to finish with. I'll use this, I'm too practical not to; however, I WILL make another one and pay attention to where I want particular fabrics...I guess you could call this my prototype...lol!


I really enjoyed the machine quilting class I took last week...I learned so much...pays to have someone who knows what they are doing show you how.  I played a little with the techniques we were shown and discovered I  am much more relaxed sewing when alone (I guess, I don't want anyone looking at my work until I am finished with it....must be a little shy..teehee!!!) I didn't plan this positioning of the outside pocket to sit in the middle of my machine quilting but I am happy it worked out that way....got a spare thread there that needs cutting...I'll get around to it..

Poor TV night!

 There was very little that interested me on television tonight. As a result I got bored.....again! This is a mug bag ...I downloaded the pattern from Red Brolly website....I believe it is Australian...anyway, it worked up rather quickly considering I didn't start it until around 8:30 p.m. and finished it , including the hand stitching before 10p.m.  I have a mug bag that I made ages ago and I really didn't like it that much so now I have a new one and this one I do like.  That isn't my favourite mug in there but I just wanted to see how one would fit...quite well as you can see..that is a green tea(my tea of choice) bag peeking out of the pocket.

Here's the front of the little bag with its appliqued butterfly on the front.  The button is actually two buttons, a larger one in back and a small thread spool on top.  I sure am going to have a lot of show and tell this coming week at guild.  I made two cuddle quilts, this bag, my snap bag and 12 preemie knit caps and in between I cleaned up my flower beds...sheesh I make no wonder I  keep thinking today is Saturday...I've lost count of the days...oh,oh!!!

Machine Quilter here!

 I took a class today "Beyond Basic Free Motion Machine Quilting"...our teacher was Gail Mitchell from Fredericton and I highly recommend her as a teacher....with whatever, she decides to teach...her blog is Quilt, Knit , Run,Sew and can be found quilt-knit-run-sew.blogspot.com  Don't be fooled by this picture, we did not spend a lot of time sitting around while she explained....it was here's what you do and why you do it and away we went to our machines and got down to it.....my kind of class. She's making her model pose here for a giggle.

This wonderful project was a gift from Gail to me for organizing this class....how every thoughtful of her and I love it!  I am going to brag somethin' awful at quilt guild on Tuesday.

 This is the inside ...before I start adding my 'stuff' so I can take my little kit for sewing with me where ever I go....geez, I am so lucky!

 I decided to include my mishmash of machine quilting ...don't look real close, I have to do a lot of practicing. But now I know how to go about doing it properly and that really makes a big difference. I plan on improving so I will keep you posted as I improve.

 I really like this squiggle pattern, especially when it is seen in patchwork.  ...I can do this.....my sewing improved as the morning wore on....still need to work on my curves...takes practice, right?

This was another pattern where in I learned that I can control the pattern side to side much better than up and down....although we had to practice both. I also learned that turning the fabric as I moved along really wasn't the best way to make the curves...again, I need to practice keeping the fabric going in one direction and one only....If I wasn't so tired I'd be at my machine right now....maybe tomorrow.  What a great day! I learned so much and that's always a good thing!

I got bored!

 I hate to admit it, but I get bored so easily....I hate housework even though I know I should be doing some...after all it is spring and housecleaning is the "Normal" thing to do . There's nothing on television that interests me , especially through the day...sooooo....I cut a hexagon and started adding  1.5 inch strips to it ...much like a pineapple foundation piecing

 although I did not use a foundation to make this hexagon table topper.  I also like table runners but DH doesn't...gets in the way of his placemat...mind you, he never complains, just pushes them aside. I can take a hint!  This one fits just right and his place mat is safe from those nasty runners...lol.

I sewed some corner darts in my Snap bag and it stands up on its own...much better..You can see some of my free motion stippling in this picture. My practice piece so I won't feel like a complete dummy at the more advanced class I am taking next week. I will have to remember to slow down some ...it is not a race to see who can finish first...right??






Thought you might like to see my messy sewing corner. That is "Quiloinka" supervising everything. She is my fairy quilting godmother...wears a crown and all. I would like to point out that I have tidied up since this pic was taken...you can actually see the top of the table that buts up against my sewing table.  Really neat and tidy ...for me, that is.

Surprise Visitors...

DH gave a holler...did I see the raccoons?. Well I went to all the windows and searched but couldn't find any..he suggested I look up....There they were , two fat and sassy raccoons. They spent the day up there, waited until dark then disappeared....I'm glad to see them go...they are much bigger and certainly more vicious than our Shelties.  No doubt Tigger would have wanted to play and Faith would have been having a fit coniption if they wouldn't leave.  Plus, there is always the concern of rabies. The 'girls' are vaccinated but it isn't something I'd like them to contract.  Hate to admit it, but raccoons are cute to look at.

Here's what I've been spending my time at these evenings. These are 'preemie' caps. They'll go to the Regional Hospital in Saint John where all mommas go to have their babies around here. These're fun to do and so easy. I get into fits now and then and all I want to do is knit or crochet. My Mom taught me two crafts...knitting and embroidery. She couldn't sew a button on a shirt so I'm not sure where my interest in sewing and quilting came from.

I went to lunch with a few friends the other day...we had a show and tell session and one of the ladies brought out one of these...it's a snap bag...you know one of those bags that uses a measuring tape in two pockets at top to 'snap' shut. I took measurements and here is my version. I think I will sew some folds at the bottom so it will stand up on its own...what do you think??