Super love for a Supertote!

Had a great weekend spending plenty of time sewing (Saturday was a bit of a bust, but there was fabric shopping done that day...so it's all good in my book).  Sunday was the big sew day...I finally got to work on a Supertote (pattern by Noodlehead).  It took me a grand total of 8 hours to get this puppy put together!  The first 3 hours were spent on cutting and fusing interfacing...that always seems to take forever, but once I got past that...it was pretty clear sailing.  The pattern is so clearly written and easy to follow.  I had a problem with one part...and that's all me, not the pattern itself.  I don't know what it is with me and zippers...but every time I use a pattern that calls for a zipper...I have to read the instructions 20 times.  The first time I read the steps for this one...I could not understand it...and then I read it 5 more times...still didn't get it.  I had to take a break and then come back and read it to finally understand what it was saying...I think it's mental...I see "zipper" and my brain shuts down. 

Anyways...like I said the pattern was really easy to follow, and I am thrilled with how this bag came out! (all pics from instagram because I've gotten lazy and haven't been getting out my real camera lately to capture some good pictures)

"Front" side (the pink panel is a pocket, I made it fully lined and am so thrilled with how the piping looks!)

Back side

Sort of picture of the fully finished tote (love the recessed zipper!):

Inside

This particular bag is not for me...I'm making this to serve as a diaper bag for my friend (that I've been working on the other baby stuff for).  But I already have (at least in my head) planned a couple more of these!  Now that I know how it all goes together, I can definitely see it taking less than 8 hours per bag, and I will add the magnetic snap that is listed as an option in the pattern.  I didn't add it this time because I just didn't want to take the time to do so.  I know they don't take long...but at hour 5-6...I just didn't feel like it!  LOL!

And now I'm off to work on a different bag...Girl would like a new one, so I'm going to try out the 241 tote (pattern also by Noodlehead).

Details:
Supertote pattern by Anna Graham
Fabric: Kona Cotton in Bright Pink and Med. Grey, the rest are prints picked up from Hancock Fabrics and a black denim also from Hancock
Thread: Coats and Clark universal (worked great, a bit linty, but my machine didn't balk at all!)
Interfacing: Pellon 808 (I used what the pattern recommended)

Put it in the DONE pile!

I did quite a bit of stitching yesterday on the skull quilt...but today was all about the finish...and I finally finished Soda Shoppe!  (as in finally binded the quilt...it's only been sitting waiting on binding since mid-April...youch...)

Here it is:

and the really really simple back:

and the details:

Fabric: Vintage Modern by Bonnie&Camille, KONA Snow or White (hard to tell), backing is a basic quilting cotton print I picked up from Hancock's
Pattern: Sugar Almonds
Batting: Warm&White
Thread: Aurifil for piecing and quilting

This quilt belongs to Girl, and she claims to love it...so we are both happy!

Checking in...

Hope you are having as enjoyable a weekend as I!  My plans for a sewathon of a weekend are on pretty good track.  Now, it hasn't been non-stop sewing...had to take care of a few regular weekend items...but it's been a good 75% sewing...so life is uber good!

Yesterday I got this quilt top put together:

Next up is basting it...have the backing fabric ready and waiting, just gotta see if I actually have the batting for it!

And now...the bag...the bag I am 100% in love with!  I have been slowly but surely working on it piece by piece since yesterday evening.  And I am just super excited!  Here it is:

Pattern: the vera bag by Green Bee Sewing Patterns
Fabric: Joel Dewberry Notting Hill Sateen (Kona Med. Gray lining)
Interfacing: Pellon 809
Thread: Aurifil
Happy factor: THROUGH THE ROOF!

Another look:

and the inside:

(LOVE THE POCKETS!)

This pattern was so easy to use.  And I am over the moon (if you couldn't tell) over how the bag looks! I can't wait to swap out from my current handbag to this one!  And a very good possibility I will make another with this pattern in different fabrics!

and next up...I think I am going to make a matching wallet using this pattern:

I'll let you know how it goes!

A rainbow of a finish!

So excited to share this finish with you!  This quilt was originally "supposed to" have been done in time for Christmas.  It didn't quite make it...in fact it has been sitting partially quilted since I last posted about it here.  But not any longer!  I finished up the quilting on Saturday, and then did the binding today, popped it in the wash and then to dry to knock off all the dust and fuzz it collected just sitting get all crinkly.

I love this quilt.  And thankfully so does Girl as it is her quilt.  Of course I reserve the right to "borrow" it from time to time!

Back (pieced directly from what I had in my stash that was large enough):

Each "arm" of the star was quilted in it's matching thread color.

Details:
Fabric: a little of everything, all pulled from my stash (includes some Cherry Christmas, Sweetwater, DS Quilts and others.  Solids - Kona and Designer Solid).
Pattern: Giant Vintage Star Quilt by Jeni Baker of In Color Order
Batting: Warm and Natural
Thread: Piecing - Gutterman, Quilting - Gutterman, Mettler and Aurifil

Just keep rolling...

So far so good, I'm really making progress and getting some things cleaned up on my stitchy Saturday!

As I'm still (mostly) avoiding cutting fabric today, I pulled my HST BOM rows out and the sashing strips I had previously made for them, and got them all put together!

Now, this HST BOM was a 2012 BOM...and its' still not anywhere near complete...but now I sorta have a quilt top!  The original pattern calls for adding a border, and I think that would be a good idea, now I just have to figure out fabric  (and for the backing and the binding...but border first).  I may have enough of one of the FMF prints to use as the border...but that would require me to pull it out, measure for the borders, measure the fabric...and right now, that's right up there with cutting in my mind!  I'll spend time on it another day.

Once I got that done...and took a break to go running with Guy and eat dinner and stuff...I actually cut some fabric.  But not any serious cutting mind you...I put together the quilt back for my Layers of Good Fortune quilt (last seen over here).  So I technically, I cut some fabric.  But it was one slice...and done!

I spray baste my quilts, it's just much easier for me, saves me time, and it works.  However, once I get them basted, I have to let them "air out" for a little while, so I don't have fresh fumes up in my face as I start quilting.  So now my love seat is bedecked with a quilt sandwich:

And I may start quilting it tonight.

And another set of finishes...

These two quilts were delivered today, and well received I might add!

First up - Shake n' Bake (so named because I cut the charms, threw them in a bag, and shook them up.  I then pulled them out and pieced them however they ended up getting pulled out of the bag.)

Details:
Fabric - Kona Steel (backing and binding); charms - Aviary II by Joel Dewberry, Curious Nature by Parson Gray, Seasonal Little Gatherings by Primitive Gatherings, assorted KONA solids
Pattern - ummm...yeah
Thread - Piecing: Gutterman, Quilting: Mettler Metrosene
Batting - Warm and Natural

Next - California Girl (originally started over here)

Details:
Fabric - California Girl by Fig Tree (all of the quilt including the binding)
Pattern - Jelly Roll Race
Thread - Piecing and Quilting: Gutterman
Batting - Warm and White

update...

Just a quick update to the Christmas quilt saga...latest and greatest info in purple (I have also named some of the quilts) pics via instagram (lesleyworth).

• Rainbow scrap quilt - DONE
• Rainbow strings quilt - need to add borders to the remaining 3 sides, quilt top done, backing made, basted, quilting in progress

• California girl - quilted, needs to be bound
• B's quilt Shake n' Bake - fabric is cut and piecing has started, quilt top done, backing made, basted
• G's quilt  Rainbow star - nothing (I think I know what pattern i'm going to use, need to select fabric) fabric selected, piecing in progress, quilt top completed (so in love with this one!) 

• J's quilt Strawberry Swoon - nothing (but I may have a plan for this one that will make life a little easier), dug out the 3 Strawberry Swoon blocks (last heard from in November 2011), made the 4th block, finished quilt top, backing made and basted

• N's quilt  Shake n' Bake 2- newly added to the list, Girl was worried I was leaving someone out, so we'll see if this one gets done!  fabric selected and cut, piecing in progress, scratched from the "must do" list, now on the "if i get time" list for the other J

and that's all she wrote for now...off to get some more quilting done!

A finish! (and some other stuff)

I got quite a bit accomplished sewing-wise yesterday!  First up, I can finally call the T-Shirt quilt FINISHED!   I had started quilting this one in mid-October, but it felt like such a struggle, so it got tossed to the side to wait for a bit.  Thankfully I figured out WHY it felt like I was fighting the quilt and my machine (one little setting was not correct) and I was able to quickly finish it up on Friday!  So I made the binding yesterday and got it bound (I machine bind all of my quilts, binding is my least favorite thing to do, so I want it done as quickly as possible!).  Here is the front:

and the back:

I FMQd some "scribble" around each T-shirt block and then just for fun, did a very rough trace around each Longhorn.  After it was finished, I promptly presented it to Girl who has an icky cold!  (She was very happy!)

After I finished up the T-shirt quilt, I got to finishing my 36 Rainbow strip blocks, so here they are:

And then I took a break from the machine and watched some Pirates of the Caribbean with Girl (we are now on the 3rd movie) and did a bit of hexie work while watching:

and after watching the 1st pirate movie we jumped into the 2nd and finished up the Scrappy Stash QAL quilt top:

I originally was going to use some Kona Med. Gray to finish it off, but found I didn't have quite enough in my stash, so instead used some Designer Solid in Manatee that I happened to have quite a bit of stashed away.

so now, just need to work on getting the backing done and then baste it and quilt it!

A few errands to run today, and then hopefully right back into the stitching!  Right now I must dash, Girl is waiting to start pirates #3 for me!

15 minute challenge...week 13!

Well...let'd dig right in!

Tuesday:  HST BOM...August block finished

Wednesday: HST BOM September block from start to finish

Thursday: none

Friday:  finished Paris Race!!  And made the back for my T-shirt quilt!

Saturday:  none (it was Girl's birthday!)

Sunday:  basted the T-shirt quilt and started quilting

Monday:  nothing
And that's all she wrote for today!  Off to link up at Life in Pieces!

15 minute challenge...week 12!

It's been a busy stitchy week!  I spent most of the past week's designated 15 minutes picking fabric and getting a few blocks done for my version of the In Color Order HST BOM!

Tuesday:  fabric

Wednesday: HST BOM - June cutting and HST's made

Thursday: fabric

Friday: none

Saturday: HST BOM - June finish

Sunday: HST BOM - July finish

Monday: none

and here are the June and July blocks:

June 

July

And that's that!  But that's not all for today...be back later to share with you a quilt finish!  Linking up at Life In Pieces!

15 minute challenge...week 8

so let's just dive in:

Tuesday: Paris Race

Wednesday: none

Thursday: Paris Race

Friday: none

Saturday: Paris Race

Sunday: Swoon and T-shirt Quilt tops finished

Monday: nothing - traveling for business

I spent most of the week sewing for exactly 15 minutes (even set a timer!) just to make it happen.   The majority of the time was spent getting Paris Race quilted.

Now that the Terrain Swoon quilt top is finished, I really have to figure out what I'm going to do for the backing.

In the mean time, I'm ready to get started on my Christmas quilt...I'm going to be using Sweetwater's Countdown to Christmas and I think I'm going to do it using a disappearing nine patch pattern.  (got a couple of charm packs...gotta use them up!).  So that's the next new thing to add to the list.  We'll see how it goes!

Linking up at Life in Pieces.  Have a great week!

15 minute challenge...week 7!

Where I finish a quilt...and face near devastation with another!

Let's check the progress for the week:

Monday: pinwheels

Tuesday-Friday: nothing

Saturday: finished the binding on Girls' SQ and worked on piecing the last bits of the Swoon top

Sunday: basted Paris Race

Monday: nothing

So let's talk finish...I FINALLY finished Girls' SQ (started way back here, quilted here, and now it's DONE!)

Front:

Back:

She loves it!  (or so she says...who knows what the opinion will be tomorrow).  Details: fabric - Solids are all Kona, Patterned fabric - seasonal purchased at JoAnn's, batting - Hobbs, thread - Gutterman (piecing and quilting); quilted in a completely random all over  free motion "scribble" by me

And now...near devastation...

I've been happily plugging along getting Swoon all pieced...and it was time to add the borders...got one border on...and then...as I was laying it out to pin the next piece...apparently I dragged one side/edge through a little...treat...that my puppy left me...right by my sewing table.  This after I swept and mopped the floor a few hours earlier, and right after the dog came inside after being in the yard for 30 minutes.  I about cried.  So I very diligently dabbed and patted and dampened the spots with cold water (and a tad bit of stain remover)...and laid it all out to dry:

I THOUGHT I had taken care of it!  And then on Sunday, went to add the final border...and found a spot that had been missed...so back to near tears...and dabbing and daubing, etc.  So instead I got a different quilt basted and I'll be working on that this week (need to have it done by the end of the week).

It was such a heart breaking moment that I'm almost afraid to touch my Swoon...in the event something else randomly appears on it!  (and HOPEFULLY get the final border on this week!).  I really need to figure out what I'm going to do for the backing!

And that's my adventure in sewing this week!  Linking up at Life In Pieces!  Have a great day!

15 minute challenge...week 6!

I am feeling really good about how this past week went!  So as I link up to Life In Pieces...let's jump right in and show you what I did!

Tuesday - Thursday: nothing (typical for me...this is the area I need to improve in)

Friday:  Terrain Swoon (getting sooooo close!)

Saturday:  Pinwheels (from my Swoon leftovers)

Sunday: HST BOM (see post here)

Monday:  HST BOM - April

and all the HST BOMs so far:

I am so glad I decided to go ahead and cut into my Flea Market Fancy stash, I'm loving these blocks!!

P.S.  It was the first day of school today...I had a big ole smile on my face all day long!  (as did Girl...she likes school and was excited for today to come!)

Getting Fancy on Sunday!

As in Flea Market Fancy!  Ok...going way back to this post...I gathered up the fabric...and then it sat...and sat...and I didn't want to cut into any of it!  It's too PRECIOUS!  LOL!

And then I decided I needed a new project (oh how foolish of me...).  I have been following Jeni's blog In Color Order for a while now...in particular her HST Block of the Month tutorials.  So...I woke up this morning...and decided that I really wanted to try the blocks...and why not go ahead and cut into the Flea Market Fancy!

So here we go!

January block:

February block:

March block:

and so far I'm really enjoying these blocks!  I already have the fabrics selected for the April block...so I should be getting to that tomorrow!  (if I don't just buckle down and get my Swoon top finished!!!)

FNSI...the results!

Well this month's Friday Night Sew In got started a little late in my house...but it should be called the Friday Night Swoon In!  As in...I really started taking steps to getting my Terrain Swoon quilt top finished!   I had started sashing the blocks the other day...and last night I really kicked it in to gear!

and now all three rows are sashed...now to sash them together!  Here is a pic taken this morning (once my models were awake!) of just how much closer I am (considering the blocks have been sitting for about 3 months) :

One more row to add on...then borders...and then DONE!  Wooohooooo!

15 minute challenge...week 5

This should totally be week 9 or 10...but life is what happens when you'd rather be sewing!  So, I'll keep it as week 5!

Tuesday - Friday: nothing (again...life)

but then I jumped full in!

Saturday: block 2 of the FQS 2012 Designer Mystery BOM, bound this quilt, and got the urge to finish up a UFO, so I pieced the back and started quilting this quilt:

it's a very random, completely "go with the wind" FMQ...Girl LOVES it!  Now all I have left is to bind!

Sunday: finished block 3 of the FQS Designer Mystery BOM!

Monday: started the sashing on my Terrain Swoon!  (bout time!)

Feeling so good to be back in the sewing swing of things!  One thing I did this weekend that I found very helpful...I have a short attention span, and I hate rethreading my machine (not that it's difficult, just puts a stop to things!)...so I kept sewing on something that went with whatever thread was already in my machine...kept me interested because I'd finish up a piece of one thing (BOM), and then move to a different project (Terrain Swoon) because the thread matched!

I'm linking up at Life in Pieces!  Have a great day!

a well loved work in progress

so a few weeks (perhaps longer) ago I decided I wanted to attempt a T-shirt quilt...and thanks to this fab tutorial...I was able to at least start...at about 5 this morning...my sleep schedule is a bit off these days...

I wasn't entirely sure with what T-shirts I wanted to start...until one day I was talking about maybe using some of our old University of Texas shirts to make a quilt...and Girl popped up and said...oh I have a bunch of those...and she ran up to her room and grabbed a bunch of hangers...with the CUTEST little T-shirts on them...all of them were hers...from back in the day when she was a much shorter little one...As I looked at each shirt she "donated" for the cause...well...I was feeling a tad bit emotional...she once was that small!  and my...how she has grown since then...sniff...so I knew immediately that this particular quilt would be special...simply because of the memories...so I pulled what Texas Longhorn related stuff I had in my stash and set out to get going...

and after a bit of trimming...and a few moments where my throat closed up and I remembered my Girl when she was about 5 years old...I ended up with this...

and then after adding some Pellon Featherweight I ended up with this...

enough for 9 total blocks...(still working on the final block sizing).  I'm currently trying to figure out what size I want the blocks to be in the end...and what size borders I'll need for each block...and if I'll have enough of any one fabric to do anything completely cohesive...but in the end...I know it won't matter...this quilt is too special to be worried about the little things...