Time to Sew and Tell!
I have a birthday that is fast approaching and the mister asked me what I would like to have. I don’t need a damn thing but it never hurts to Jones for a thing or two. Here was my opportunity to request one of the items on my list of “wants”. I asked him to buy me a serger. Lucky girl that I am, he did all of the research and found the highest rated serger in the price range that I was comfortable with. A few mouse clicks later on Amazon and my birthday gift was on its way! Yay!
A few short days later she was in my hot little hands and I was thrilled to get everything unpacked. I found a nice little place for this girl in my sewing room but here is what I didn’t like:
That awful, awful, horrible cover! With all of the desert dust, I have no choice but to keep my things covered and safe but this just wasn’t going to do. Much like the cover that I made for my Dream Machine, I decided that I would use the provided plastic cover as my pattern and I got busy. I didn’t have any remaining fabric to match my sewing machine cover, but I did have something that was on point. She Who Sews by J. Wecker Frisch for Quilting Treasures is just perfect for any sewing room project or enthusiast.
I used my sewing machine to stitch the “Serge Forth” saying and the curlicues across the ribbon adornment. I attached another piece of ribbon for a handle and smaller grograin at the sides for ties. 
Practical AND cute….can’t say that about too many things. I am excited to learn how to use this serger and I am sure it will be featured in some upcoming posts. Stay tuned!
Next I stitched up a trio of “one yard wonders”. I got some super cute flannels on sale and bought 6 yards (1 yard front, 1 yard back) to make three cute blankets. Charlie Dawg has claimed two of them and the new grandbaby will be the proud owner of the one in the middle. I use a corner rounder tool to take these super simple (and cheap) blankets to the next level.
While at QuiltCon in Pasadena, I finally broke down and purchased this saccharine sweet pattern by Elizabeth Hartman. I knew that I wanted to make a single hedgehog hanging for my sewing room and purple would go great with my new soft green walls. This is a well written pattern and easy to complete with basic sewing skills and pattern usage. I love the fabrics that I purchased from my LQS and was eager to get started. I did make a mistake, but it was wholly and totally user error (and being tired!). Once that was rectified, everything went together easily and I adore the final product.
Here’s looking at you! I embellished with a zig-zag stitch because hedgehogs are spiky…right? I also used a fun variegated purple thread that added some interest.
Here is sweet little Hazel, all in her happy hedgehog glory! She brightens my day.
Several weeks ago while in my LQS, I spotted a lady at the cash register with a super cute but simple purse. I didn’t get a chance to ask her about her bag, but I wasted no time scouring the web for a box tote pattern. Not only did I find one, it was FREE! Yee-Haw Ya’ll!
I adore green and this is just the cat’s pajamas as far as I am concerned. But the best part is that this bag is reversible!
What’s not to love? If you want to grab your own pattern—for free—head on over to VeryShannon.com and search for Reversible Box Tote. #RBTote
While I did accomplish a lot this weekend, it was also highly frustrating. Since I still don’t have my “work circle” worked out in my sewing room, I have issues finding things. I am still looking for an edge hemmer ironing tool thingy that I know I own….somewhere. Damn! Plus, it has been nearly a year since I embroidered anything. My machine is super easy and works great but there are certain steps you have to do in a certain order and I have simply forgotten. I rested too long and now I have rusted. Double Damn! So, what should have taken less than an hour to accomplish took many more than that. Then there was a connectivity issue with my laptop that required several adjustments and a few more hours. Triple DAMN! But I refuse to quit and I finally got a useful and funny patch from Urban Threads stitched out. It was all worth the hassle and it will go much more smoothly the next time I embroider.
Now there will never (yeah, sure, right *wink, wink, nod, nod*) be a question whether the dishwasher is clean or dirty.
These last two things aren’t something that I finished this weekend but rather updates to my UFO list of days past. I don’t like leaving things unfinished but I really had no choice during our home sale, move and home purchase. Time just goes. A dear friend of mine married in November and I decided that one of my projects was the perfect gift. Both bride and groom had their own households for many years and they really didn’t “need” anything to start a new home.
I stitched up this wonderful rainbow quilt and I just adored the somewhat final version. I finally decided to bite the bullet and have a local longarmer finish it for me. I purchased backing and binding and she provided the batting, sewed on the binding and did all the quilting. I was so pleased and quite proud to give this to the worthy recipients!
The black binding makes everything pop and keeps it from appearing too feminine.
A nice neutral backing to rest your eyes from the colorful front. The quilting just adds to the loveliness of it all.
Another one of my UFO’s is a version of a plus quilt that I had hanging in my sewing room for many a month. Once the rainbow quilt was completed and returned to me from the longarmer, I decided that I would have her finish the plus quilt as well. Here you can view the before: Plus Quilt
Here is the after looking cozy and welcoming
Great fabrics and a modern design
Contrasting back and binding with lovely all over quilting. Not sure who is getting this one but it is nice to move this one into the DONE column.
I am also happy to move this blog post into that same column. After a major crash this morning and some other aggravations, I said Whisky Tango Foxtrot!?! Then I climbed in the car with the mister and did this:
We took in a Cactus League spring training game and enjoyed the beautiful day. And thus endeth this!
Nice work!