A Stitch in Time Tote & Quilt

Hello Blog Friends!

Today I'm sharing my latest project with you...a quilt and a tote that were chosen and made just for (Gasp!!)...ME!  

Both of these projects were purchased as kits from Connecting Threads and both are of the same fabric line...Stonehenge, A Stitch in Time from Northcott.  I made both items at the same time, as I needed to "share" some fabrics between them.  (The tote and the quilt top and back were all made earlier this year.  Tote was finished first, quilt was just finished this past week.  So, not only did these projects bust the stash, they came off the UFO pile as well! Win-Win!!)

This quilt is the epitome of the "no waste" quilt.  Virtually all of the fabrics have been incorporated into the front or the back.  The quilt top is a simple row quilt, utilizing border prints and coordinating fabric prints.   Because of the way it was cut, there was quite a bit of leftover fabric and printed motifs, so of course, I used all of it on the back.  Pattern:  Life of the Party by Creative Sewlutions.  I quilted it in an all-over meander.  I will also add a hanging sleeve on the back, since I intend to use it as a decoration in my sewing room.   Size:  42" x 64"

Front:

 Back:

So, which do you like best?


Using this same fabric line is a cute, zippered tote.  I wanted a sewing themed tote with a zipper to use when I visit quilt shows or go on shop hops.  I think this one fills the bill just perfectly!!  Pattern:  The Essential Tote by Around the Bobbin.  Size:  13" H x 19" W x 4" D.  I love it!  I took it along with me on  my recent bus trip to Missouri and got many compliments!

Up next...I get Seussical!  Till then...

Stash Busting BIG TIME!

Hello Blog Friends,

This past month I have been stash busting BIG TIME!  I've been working to use up all those Chic Neutrals fabrics that I won a few years ago.  Remember, earlier this year I started using it up by making a pillow and table runner as a door prize at the scrapping retreat held last month.  See that post here.  This week, I've made some progress on the rest.  All projects made with the rest of this fabric line are a gift to my daughter Kristy, who watched over our house while we were in Italy.  She battled snow, rain, and ice and went beyond the call of duty to help keep our house safe.  We had a small amount of surface water make it in to the garage and basement, but nothing major with no permanent damage.  She  minimized the impact of the water and battled a leaky pipe.  Since the colorway on these fabrics is more to her liking than mine, I decided to make her a permanent token of thanks...mere words did not seem enough!  I just finished the last piece of the puzzle...the quilt this week and will gift it all to her at scrapping group this Thursday.  

Just to refresh your memory, here is the list of materials used in these projects:

Original fabrics (won in the gift basket)

• Chic Neutrals 2 1/2" squares
• Chic Neutrals Charm Pack
• Chic Neutrals Yardage (1 yd)
• Chic Neutrals Fat Eighth bundle

Purchased fabrics (at a discounted price!):

• 3 yds. multi print for quilt backing and pillowcase
• 1 yd. gray print for pillow backings and pillowcase

Kona solids Black (all from the stash)

I used the pack of 2 1/2" squares and yardage for the giveaway pillow, and some of the Fat Eighths for the giveaway runner.  I did have to buy some additional yardage to complete some of the second wave of projects.  This line of fabrics was introduced in 2015 and since it is now out of date and out of print, I was able to pick up (online) the yardages I needed  at a reduced and sale price!

So...out of the remainder of the original fabrics and the purchased yardage, here is what was made:

A throw quilt, size 46" x 62"

2 14" pillows

A pillowcase

A pop-up canister (for use as a trash collector in her new car)

Not a bad use for all that fabric!  I have a few little bits and pieces left over, and I will uses those when I make pages for the quilt diary.

The sewing machine has been humming and several other projects in the queue.  More on those in the next few posts...

Springtime Hearth Makeover

Greetings Blog Friends,

Spring has finally sprung here in Wisconsin.  Grass is growing, trees are budding and some early spring flowers are up.  Remember my fireplace hearth and how I spruced it up for winter?  Click here to see that post.  Now with the turn of the season, it is time for some springtime cheer in the living room.

This past week, I made a jelly roll rug from the Clover Hollow fabric collection by Moda.  It is fun, bright and full of springtime flowers.

A new bench pillow for in front of the hearth was also in order.  This is pattern aptly called "Welcome Spring" from Kimberbell.  The fabrics, including backing were all from bits of this and that from the stash.  The bench pillow insert was reused from the winter decor.  I changed up the pattern just a bit, added a few raindrops and made by own flowers.  My goal is to have enough pillow cases to change one out for every month and season!

The sewing machine is still humming along.  More new projects to share with you next time!   

Mystery Solved and MORE!

Greetings Friends!

This week I am happy to solve the mystery for you (see last post).  The rectangles and circles became these three pop-up canisters.  Pattern is from Fat Quarter Gypsy.  There is a wire inside the pop-up to help hold it's shape when it is upright.  It can be folded down for storage and held flat with the ties on the side.  But, who would want to store things as cute as these?  Finished size is 9" tall and 8" diameter. 

 I already have one of these that I use as a trash bin in my car.  It is a handy size for tissues, wrappers and the occasional empty water bottle.  The blue with stop signs and red lining is for my grandson Conner, who is 16 and goes for his driver's license tomorrow.  He already has a car and it is the same blue as his pop up.  The dolphin print with pink lining is for my daughter Kim to use in her car.  She loves dolphins!  My daughter Kerri just got a new car and she and her husband love to take road trips.  They will be going on a trip in just a couple of weeks and will need a trash bin also.  Hers is the license plates with aqua lining.  That leaves one other daughter, my oldest, Kristy, who also got a new vehicle about a month ago.  She got a new black SUV, and she needs a trash bin, too.  This one is for her (below).  The fabrics are part of a suite of fabrics I won a couple of years ago, Chic Neutrals.  So, girls, if you are reading this post, guess what I have for you when we get together this weekend? LOL

All fabrics were from my stash.  These are a great way to use up that 1/3 yd of leftover fabric!  All I needed to purchase was the wire inside.  I purchased mine online, but I have also seen them at quilt shows and quilt shops.

Besides these pop-ups, I also finally completed a project for a scrapping friend of mine.  Tanya came to me last summer and told me about some dresser scarves/runners she wanted made.  She had originally asked her mother-in-law to make them for her.  That was a couple of years ago and with no hope of seeing them anytime soon, she asked me if I could help.  Tanya brought everything I needed...the focus fabric (a pair of really long curtain valances), a coordinating fabric and even the thread.  I had to put them aside last fall, as I had Christmas projects to finish.  Then, you know how busy I've been so far this year...two scrapping retreats, a trip to Italy and a bus trip to Missouri.  Anyway, I have finally (after more than 6 months) got her project done.  Here are the finished runners.  I added some decorative stitching to keep everything in place.  They turned out cute.  I might just raid the stash and make one like this for myself!

Two more projects are in the queue and one is already in process.  And both of them are for me!  Tune in next time for those!