Friday, February 20, 2015

Pattern tester was I!!

Svetlana of S.O.T.A.K handmade put the call out for anyone interested in testing her latest pattern. I missed out on her first little pouch as it was December busy time but jumped at the chance to try this one...Lucky Me!! Introducing...the Lola Pouch!
Svetlana's patterns are so well written with charts showing your material and cutting needs.
                                                            Tons of great photos.
                          I'll admit here that this was the easiest pouch I have ever made AND...
....there is binding on the zipper!!!
Once you get all your pieces cut,  fusibles ironed on and bindings ironed you never have to leave your sewing machine until it is totally done and no hand stitching!!
 The pattern includes instructions for a 9"x 4" (2" deep) pouch and the larger 12"x 6.5" (4"deep)                            pouch.  Both very useful sizes but what's so very cool about this pattern is...
 ...I totally feel comfortable making it whatever size I want using various size zippers cause once you get the basic sewing technique down you can make it as wide or as tall as you want!!
  I think I could even make the bigger one a little taller and add straps for a truly cute bag!
Go visit Svetlana's blog and see the sweet, sweet pouches made by her and the other lucky tester....then buy the pattern!!!:)
~d


Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Long time no blog!

Wow...it's been a month since my last post! Been busy, busy, busy and we are trying to stay warm!! Quilting helps!:)
You have already seen the finished Polaroids quilt...I just added a little hand quilting to it but Dance Floor is today's highlight!!
 Dance Floor is from Dana Bolyard's Imagine Quilts. It's the third one I have made from the book having already finished Ampersand and made the zip it! that you see in the actual book!:)
I love the quilting! My pal and coworker Kathleen Imagined it all and it's perfection!
 Love, love, love the backing and the binding and of course the crinkly goodness!  You can see where I hand quilted around the larger Polaroids and tied in the middle of the smaller ones. I love that little extra texture!
(3.5" blocks)
 Was also sucked into another round of Bitty Blocks.  The theme was Folk Art....
(4.5"x 6.5" blocks)
 ...and post cards.  Just waiting to receive from my fellow swappers then I have to put my thinking cap on as to putting them together.
 Finish Along 2015 is still going strong....finished the two tops from the bag-o-strips.  Kathleen now has the two tops for quilting.  Even have the binding all ready!
 The main reason for not quilting those two tops is saving my hands to get the pickle dish finished.  One of the four sections is done...another pin basted.  Loving the wool batting!!
 Woke up to this and 6 degrees (-14.4 C)  Supposed to be colder tomorrow...see why we are trying to keep warm? We sure feel for our friends in New England since they have been getting record snow!!
But this is what has really kept me busy...would you like to hear the story of these 40 and counting Grandmother's Flower Garden blocks? It's really cute!!:)

~d