Thursday, January 28, 2010

Opinions, please

For the last few years, I have, with thousands of other people,  have walked 39.3 miles in 2 days  in the hopes that we will someday find a cure for breast cancer.





To help fund my walk, I am going to make a quilt to raffle.

I made one last year, all in pink..


and although I had great response with it, many thought that it was a baby quilt...

So, for this year, I thought that I would do something a bit different.

I chose these fabrics...



and I'm trying to decide  between this quilt..


or this one...



I like them both....

any thoughts ???

Thursday, January 21, 2010

The matching *gym bag*

Ok.. so I  attempted to make a matching gym tote to *tote* my sneakers & ipod to & from the gym in the winter weather...

MY problem, I've used it as my constant purse/ tote ever since.... I really love this cheery bag!



I even made a special pocket inside just for my Ipod......



but it also works perfectly to hold my lip gloss on the go........ Maybe I need to make another tote JUST for the gym..



I finished the quilt top ( minus the borders) for the circle quilt.....

This quilt makes me smile!!!  I used a blank CD to cut out the circles form a charm pack!


and lastly, I got the Quilts for Kids quilt all ready to quilt and realized that I didn't have navy thread for the bobbin.....so her she sits, awaiting ......

I am VERY excited to actually 'quilt'  on my new machine...

after a busy birthday weekend for my daughter last weekend


her barbie cake that I made with WAY too much icing....




I look forward to a quiet weekend with hopefully a little one on one time with my  machine!!

oxoxo

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

I am SO excited!!!!!


About this bag right here....


I have been looking for a yoga mat bag that I liked and could not find one..... Why it took me so long to figure out that I could just make one, I'll never know....


I used fabric from Amy Butler's Modern midwest collection and fully lined it with a co-ordinating pink polka dot fabric



I also made 3 large pockets on the front to carry water bottles, gym membership cards.. etc..


I just love this bag ;) I am going to try to make a matching small gym bag now........

This stuff  makes me smile !!!

oxoxox

Sunday, January 10, 2010

a VERY exciting January!!!

It HAS been very exciting!! mostly because of my new arrival......


my New sewing machine!!!!!.. She arrived this past Friday at about 2:30 pm. She weighed in at about 20 pounds and she is all that I dreamed that she would be.!!.. We are still deciding on  a name for her , so for now we will call her ...I'll get back to you...

I have the quilt top for the 'Quilts for kids' that I was working on finished......



this is a great organization...... for any of you out there  if you contact them, they will send you a pre-cut kit to make your quilt.. all that you need to do is provide the batting .. and the love... They are asking that you match them by making a quilt out of your own stash, but this is because there is such a need for the quilts ... so many kids....


I've also been working on my circle quilt..... I really don't have a pattern.... I used a blank CD to cut out the circles... appliqued them on to whit Kona cotton squares ( trying to use up my bobbins from my old machine) ...then ....at my daughter's suggestion, filled in with co-ordinating squares....


this may look like a mess to  you, but I assure you.. this makes PERFECT sense in my head...... really!

I finished a bag for one of my closest friends....



and since I finally gave it to her, I can post this picture.....



I just love my little labels! They make me smile ;)

Last thing that I've done is (in trying to use up scraps) made this little square




It is going to be the front of a messenger-style purse for me...(somehow.. I just haven't figured out how)  I made it with some of my favorite Amy Butler fabrics.......

ok... I'm off to play wii fit with my daughter.. and think of how to turn that square up there in a purse...

Happy Sunday!!!!

oxox

Sunday, January 3, 2010

What??? 2010???

If there is anyone out there who cares.. yes, I am still here ;) I haven't posted since November , but I have been sewing up a storm...

I took the majority of the month of December to create a cookie blog.... quite counter-active to all of my weight watcher stuff... but.. I had a blast doing it & wouldn't change that for the world.

or the 10 pounds that I put on....

During all of this I was sewing my little heart out making quilts



for loved ones...

Frenchy bags for friends & family.. I've made many, and won't bore you with all of the photos, but here is my daughter-in-law Amanda Christmas morning obviously very excited !!






and making my own version of the snuggy... the michnugglie!


... so the Christmas decorations are put away... the cookies are in the freezer ( for the occasional snack for the rest of the family) and I am back to(one of my most)  favorite hobbies.. sewing!!!


I am awaiting my new sewing machine *big smile* and in the mean time I am working on many projects that I have started... oh yeah, wait, they are called ufo's, right?


I have started by working on yet another quilt for Quilts for kids... an organization in need of many quilts for so many children... I thought to myself, 'self, what better way to start of the new year than to make another quilt for a child who will love it'..

so here is the start of it....


That floral part is actually my new ironing board cover... after 20 years of the same one, it was time... man, what a difference!!!

I hope that this bright colored quilt will make some child very happy....

I am also working on a belated Christmas gift ( hey, I'm not perfect ) for someone who means a lot to me...




I am still playing around with how to actually put it all together, but it is based on this quilt from one of my favorite bloggers who sadly has just signed off.....

Amanda Jean

Thank you Amanda! you have helped & inspired me so!!!

so as I await my new machine, emptying my bobbins one by one, appliquéing circles, and creating happiness in a colorful animal quilts, I want to say, "Happy New Year!!" to all ( if any ) of you are reading.

I feel a very creative year has just begun ;)


oxox
~michelle