Pillowcases, Pillowcases, Pillowcases

Hello Blog Friends,

The question is...is it too early to start thinking about Christmas 2017?  My answer is a resounding "No".  I think about the next years Christmas as early as Dec. 26!  As a matter of fact, I already have a start on it.  

Here is a cute pair of pillowcases that will be a gift at Christmas 2017.  And the lucky recipient is....it's a secret until the big unwrapping event happens.  

I was purging my stash again the other day, and found yardage enough to make these pillowcases for Denis and me:

Each year in April, I go on a scrapbooking retreat that daughter Kristy arranges.  This year at retreat, I'm donating a door prize consisting of this pillowcase, a bottle of wine, and dark chocolates:

Enough of pillowcases for now.   On to bigger and quiltier things...

Till next time....

Pillowcases on Deck

Hello Blog Friends,

The next several months are going to be busy ones...half our weekends are booked through the beginning of June!  So, I've decided to do a little scrapping and try to get caught up on some of my ongoing projects.  I will also do a little sewing, some quicker projects for now.  I'll get back to the larger quilts sometime in the summer.

What do you think of this stack of fabrics?  I've been collecting these for a couple of years.  Now it's time to get to work.  These fabrics will all become pillowcases for donation.  My deadline to have these done is early October.  I'll keep you posted as to my progress.

First up, however, is a cute little row quilt I'm making for the new baby daughter of a co-worker.  We are having the baby shower on the 16th, so I have about 10 days to get it done.   Wish me luck!  Here are the fabrics for that:

I'll be checking in soon with a progress report!  Till then...

Holidays 2015

Hello Blog Friends,

Yes, it has been a very long time since I've posted.  I have been very busy, as usual, with Christmas projects, and actually did complete one project for me!  More on this one later.

Here is the hand/home made lineup for this year:

 "Laundered Money".  An money origami/scrapping project for my brother in law.

 Bingo dauber bag for my daughter Kim.

Circle purse for my niece Heather.

Sock monkey pillow cases for nephew Kurt.

 Doll closet and doll dresses for granddaughters.  Husband Denis made the doll clothes closet.

Minion pillowcases for daughter Kerri.  Guess who loves Minions???

Another successful Christmas in the record books.  Till next time...

Minions and Mitts

Hello Blog Friends!

I'm happy to report that I am two-thirds finished with my quick projects.  Minion pillowcases and oven mitts have been added to the "finished" pile.  Here's a look at the finished pieces:

I chose to make the mitts with the red paisley on the outside.  Both projects were quick, easy and fun to make.

See you next week with the next progress report!

Til then...

Sock Monkeys and Scrapbook Pages

Hello Blog Friends,

It's been a good week.  Projects started and finished.  No UFOs!

As I mentioned in last post, I received some fabric from my daughter Kim at Christmas (I had requested it).

Fabrics are from the Funky Monkey line by Moda.  The red dot is from the Breezy line by    P & B Textiles.  This week I stitched up a couple of pillow cases for myself. 

This week also was scrapping group.  We made pages from the Close to My Heart paper packet "Snowhaven".  Here are the finished pages:

My next project is on deck...a quick stash-buster quilt for a very special young lady.  Tune in next week to see the finished product.

Till next time...

2014 Pillowcases, Group 3

Hello blog friends,

I've been working on the final group of pillowcases for this year's donation, and they are done.  Here are the final six:

These are a couple of school themed pillowcases.  Crayons and numbers on black. 

 I've added this close up showing you the accent flange in a white on white numbers print.  It goes so well with the main fabric.

Here is a favorite of both boys and girls...Berenstein Bears.

 This one will be suitable for an older child.  Puzzle anyone?

Here are a couple of cases appropriate for girls.  I balanced the sports equipment in this one with some pretty pink flowers in the accent fabric.

Who doesn't like whimsical animals in pink, green and blue?  Some little girl is gonna love it!

Well, blog friends, that is the pillowcase class of 2014.  They will be delivered to Children's Hospital on my next trip south to Madison. 

Here in Wisconsin, we are having a state wide shop hop, complete with fabrics designed especially for the hop.  I have my fabrics (all washed and ironed like a good little quilter) and I've designed my quilt.  I'll share the fabrics with you next post.  Until then...

2014 Pillowcases, Group 2

Hello Blog Friends!

I've been sewing and sewing and have more of the 2014 group of pillowcases to share with you:

Here is a sports-themed pillowcase that is definitely "all boy":

 I've had this pirate fabric since last year, but just couldn't find the right accent fabric.  I finally found something that was perfect...it looks like sand on the beach, don't you think?

 A couple of animal themed pillowcases....bulldogs and octopi:

 

Here is one definitely for a girl.  It's so bright, maybe I should give a pair of sunglasses with it!

 Next post I'll be sharing the last of the donation pillowcases for this year.  Back to the sewing machine....

See you next time!

2014 Pillowcases, Group 1

Hello Blog Friends,

The sewing machine has been humming this week.  Here are the first pillowcases for 2014 to roll off the production line.

This first pair is made of fabric from the Pet Park line by Robert Kaufman.  The same cat print is repeated on the white and blue background.  I used the same paw print as the accent fabric for both cases.



I was able to get enough of this robot fabric to make two pillowcases.  I try to use all the fabric that I have, so out of 1/2 yard of both the red and white accent fabrics, I came up with the following.  I love the tone on tone pattern in the white. 

 

 Here is one definitely for boys:

 

 And this one is definitely girly-girl:

 

I'm having fun with these.  Until next time...

Pillowcase Party 2014

Hello blog friends!

Well, I've been busy for the past week or so...sorting, washing, ironing, cutting the fabrics for this year's installment of pillowcases for donation.  Last year's pillowcases were donated to American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.  This year's group will find a home there also.  This  hospital is important to our family, in particular, two of my grandsons are receiving ongoing or follow up care from the doctors and staff there.  These pillowcases are my way of saying "thank you" and also to help other young patients through what can be a very difficult time. 

I recently received a very nice letter from Children's..."Some of the pillowcases  will be given to patients after surgery.  It is a special treat for our staff to see the expressions of worry and fear on a child's face transform to delight after receiving a special treat like this one."  The best part is that they get to keep their pillowcase and take it home.  This is the very essence and reason that I and many other sewists and quilters like me do this. 

During the course of the year, I attend a number of quilt shows and visit a number of quilt shops.  I'm always on the lookout for cute prints suitable for both boys and girls.  I always shop the sale racks first, and sometimes find some real gems.

As I said before, here is the pile of pillowcases, all cut and ready to sew.  I'll share my progress over the next few weeks and show you the class of 2014 as each one graduates to the "finished" pile.  This is going to be fun!



Come back often to check my progress.

See you in a few....

Pillowcases for Children's Hospital, Part 3

Hello Blog Friends,

What does candy, baseball caps, cats, dogs, and the circus have in common?  They make up the final installment of pillowcases that will be going for donation to Children's Hospital.  Enjoy!

This one in my absolute favorite.  Love the circus print and the coordinating stripe fabric!

I've shifted focus now to another UFO...the scrapbook of our Chicago trip that I've been working on for over a year!  It's time to get the pages done, get them in an album, and get it off the UFO list.

Until next time....

Pillowcases for Children's Hospital, Part 2

Hello Blog Friends!

Here is the second installment  of pillowcases to show you.  It is an interesting and eclectic assortment of circus, fish, monsters, and trains.  Enjoy...

 

 

My third and final installment next time.  Until then...

Pillowcases for Children's Hospital, Part 1

Hello Blog friends!

This year I am once again making pillowcases for donation.  This year's recipient is Children's Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.  Earlier this year my grandson Corey was seriously ill and was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.  He spent a couple of touch-and-go days in the hospital.  While he was there, he received a pillowcase that someone had made and donated.  He was and is very proud of his pillowcase!  The doctors, nurses, and staff took very good care of Corey, and as a small token of thanks, I have been making pillowcases to donate to other sick children.  I hope those who receive them will love them as much as I do!

Denis and I are planning to attend the Quilt Expo in Madison in just a couple of weeks.  We also will drop off the pillowcases at Children's that day.

There are 10 pillowcases for donation this year.  During the year, I am always on the lookout for suitable fabric prints for children's pillowcases.  Here is part 1 of this year's selection:

 The white band is a tone on tone numbers print.

The band is a deep purple floral print.

 

 

More pillowcases in tomorrow's post.  Until then...