Few of my Projects from Last Year....

I am going to be setting Wednesday's aside as my blog "Working Wednesday "day. I want to make sure I make my blog a success and share my love of fabric, quilting, sewing and handmade crafts and how memories are made and brought to life in craftings, so I am going to be doing nothing but blog/computer work on Wednesdays. It will also be good to take a break from the sewing machine, clear my mind of all the plans and designs that are always going on in my brain, so that on Thursday, I can jump right back in with a clean slate of energy!

My blog is still alot under construction and things that I will be adding etc, but I got a great start. So for today..  I think I will post some of the things I did last year.

I did twin size quilts, doll quilts, doll diaper bags, crayon and coloring book bags, zipper pouches, pillowcases, pillows and did some alterations on my clothes. But, since I dont' like doing that anymore, I won't be talking about the clothes alterations! I'll just post some pictures here and a brief summary (I can be VERY chatty and I tend to write ALOT, so I will work hard to keep  on the straight and narrow so as not to bore everyone!)So here goes.....

First, the best time I have had in a LONG time was teaching my 7 year old grand daughter to sew. I taught her to sew a charm quilt (made from a charm pack) She loved organizing the colors and then took to sewing a straight stitch like she was born with her foot on the machine pedal! I was so surprised she adapted so well,  so quickly! I'd say it was in the gene pool but I am the only person on either side of the family that even knows which end of a needle goes in the fabric first! So I will just brag that "she got it from me!!!"

This is Ashleigh, my sewing buddy. She is holding the pillow case she made..all by herself! It is Cordoroy, the bear with the green overalls. She loves this story and it is the  basis for some story telling I do for her, featuring the bear and his friends. The back of this pillowcase says "Good Night".

Here are 2 of the Coloring Book tote bags I created. I gave ones to my grand kids for Christmas. I have some for sale at my Etsy Shop too. I wish I had had these when my kids were little for all those times of waiting in the doctors office, going to a friend's house that didn't have kids and other times I could have used a nice form of entertainment for them instead of just stuffing the crayons and a book in my over sized purse! I made a ton of these too! All different prints and colors...for boys and girls!

And for Christmas, I made the four grand daughters, 3,5 and 7 a doll quilt for their baby dolls.  All were made from "scraps" I made a diaper bag to go with them...out of the same fabric as the backs..but don't have pictures right now. It was a quick and easy pattern tho!

Hourglass pattern

'

Pinwheels

Flying Geese

I got into mug rugs..and made a ton of them..some in my Etsy Shop, others I gifted to friends and family. Mug Rugs are the perfect "coaster"....one can hold you cup/mug/glass and still have enough room for a cookie, donut or half a sandwich! Also great because they are large enough to be "seen" and not have to search for that small little circle coaster on a crowded desk, but just large enough to serve their purpose! They are about 8"x10" and reversible! I made a ton of them too..holiday and regular!

 
Then I got into Zipper Pouches. I use them all the time so I am glad I learned to make them. Again, in my Etsy Shop and gifts for Christmas to friends and family. They are about 7"x9" in size and lined! These are just a few.. I made a bunch of them...some with Smurfs too!

Metallic fabric!

Showing you the money!

New York New York!

 And the pillow cases...those were first. I made some for the kids as Valentine Gifts...parents have told me NO CANDY so...I will give them sweet dreams this way! The camo one is flannel, the others are all cotton, and standard size!

Military camo

Colorful hawaiian flowers

I also did another doll quilt and I found a doll high chair at a thrift store. I painted the chair white, and made cushion seat and back out of the same fabric as the quilt. (pictures to come) as Christmas gift for grand daughter.

A few WIPS...
1. a pink bargello for my daughter...done, just need the label and then the binding. Her b-day is in May so that is her gift.
2. Civil War style quilt for my son. I didn't understand what "civil war" quilt meant other than just a bunch of blocks...all different stitched into a quilt. But there is more to it than that! But in this case.. I chose several blocks and chose muted, "civil war" era colors. Tops is done...just need to sanwich and finish. His B-day is in June..have a little time!
3. Nearly done..several decorative pillows for my living room.

And a few "Have to Do's"
1. have a wedding quilt to make for my first cousin, once removed. Wedding is in April, held at a winery (they like wine!) and out doors. I chose a wine colored solid, but need to put a print and another contrasting color. While waiting for my car to be serviced on Friday, I sketched out the design...2 rows of zigzag at the top and bottom of the quilt and a block that, if I do it right, can look like a flower. On the back I am going to put their names in appliqued  Scrabble tiles.
2. a quilt for my living room to go with the new deco pillows I am nearly done making. Colors are blue turquoise, browns, silver and a splash of purple and green teal.
3. Some new placemats... I have a few sets, but some aren't that great as I made them first when I had just started quilting again. I want some really nice decorative ones now!

So that is it for this Working Wednesday. I said I wouldn't chatter to much, and I think I did pretty good at cutting it all down to just the basics! I did alot last year...just now realizing it! Makes me just want to  get back in the sewing room and do more! Oh yeah.. next week I'll tell you about my sewing room. Been sewing for 50 years.. and just now got an actual "sewing room" all to myself!!!!


Thanks for stopping by and...keep on sewing those memories!

, the Quilting Nanny