WIP Wednesday and Finish It Friday

Today I have a WIP I am so excited to share!  I teetered on whether or not to make the Amy Butler Weekender Bag for my  trip and I am SOO glad I did it!!  I think I read every single blog post out there about it, so I knew exactly what I was getting into, too.  And I can honestly say, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I would totally make it again.  Now for the details!  I used the quilt-as-you-go method for the panels and didn't include any interfacing or peltex.  I wasn't sure about the piping, but I decided to make it myself instead of buying it pre-packaged.

I used a 26 inch dual zip parka zipper because I had heard the 30 inch zipper went down into the pockets and who wants to mess with that?  Plus, a dual zipper means that no matter which end I grab, I will be able to open the bag.  For the handles, I just used a pre-fab woven handle since I wanted something faster than the pattern called for.

Here are each of the side pockets...they are awesome!

And here's the back...I omitted the extra outside pocket.

For the lining, I wish I had more time to make extra pockets and stuff like that...but I ran out of time and didn't want to be installing it last minute!  The pattern says to attach the lining by hand-sewing, but I wanted it to actually stay intact, so I sewed it as far as I could by machine. I just sewed right over where I attached the zipper and it worked great.

I still have to finish up the false bottom, but that's simple compared to making this thing!  I absolutely love how this bag turned out and can't wait to make another one!

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday and Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts!

Two Weeks Away!

I've tried to reign in my excitement, but one of my lifelong dreams is coming true in two weeks!!  I am heading to Europe with my sweet husband for our second honeymoon, celebrating 15 years of marriage this summer.  This trip is over a year in the making--planning and waiting, and I cannot reign in the excitement any longer!!    We are spending 11 days in 3 cities - London, Paris, and Rome.  Since we are going to London on day 1, sometime that day I am planning to get my tail over to Liberty of London.

source

Poor Branson is not going to be able to get out of fabric shopping while we're there!!  Good thing I am packing an entire empty suitcase to carry it all back home :o)

I have been making travel bags lately to get ready for the trip (because I apparently don't have enough pouches!!)  I thought about making the Amy Butler Weekender Bag, but that pattern scares the crap out of me...so I've been putting it off and now I really want to make one!!  I don't have the time before we leave to make one, but maybe I can make something close.  Today I finished my over-the-shoulder bag, complete with inside zipper pocket (not shown).  The flower was made using English Paper piecing, placed on Paris map fabric, and sewn together with my favorite Aurifil thread from Italy.....how appropriate!

This purse measures approximately 10" x 11" ish....I didn't get a final measurement.  There is just one strap so it can fit comfortably over my shoulder, across my chest.  I don't want to carry a heavy bag when we're sight-seeing!

I'm linking up this week with Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It up Friday!  Amanda Jean's blog was the very first quilt blog I started reading and what got me so hooked on quilting in the first place.  

WIP Wedesnday

Another week flying by again!  I was able to get a lot done this week, despite the busyness of this month.  I had a couple of finishes...which I am very excited about!  They are both of my heart quilts...the first one is the signature quilt from a friend's wedding.  Lovin that gray!!

terrible cell phone pic, but it's all I could get of this one!

Also finished this heart quilt for my SIL for Mother's Day.  This one was easy to put together, despite its appearance!  I love it and need to make another one for my hallway :o)  I quilted it the same as the one above, swirls and pebbles, which seems to be a new go-to for me.

In other news, my daughter Emma turned 10 last week and the original plan was to have a Nancy Drew party....but at the last minute she changed her mind and wanted to go roller skating instead.  But not before she asked for a quilt for her b-day.  The Saturday before her b-day I found this Nancy Drew charm pack at the quilt shop and whipped together this lap quilt for her!  It's not quite finished, but it is basted and ready for quilting.  I just need to find the time to quilt it!

Finishes: 2
In Progress: too many!

Winners!!

This post was scheduled to be published first thing this am, but I had some issues with blogger, apparently!  Here we go again :o)

I am blown away by all the entries in the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway!!  I had a blast reading through the comments and I can't reply to each one, but wanted to thank you all for entering to win!

Now for the winners!

Winner of the pillow cover is - CurlyGirlMom

Winner of the Tula fabric is - Mike Pearson

I will be contacting both today for shipping info and will have everything in the mail on Monday :o)

I printed out each entry and put them all in a basket and had Dayna choose one at random.  Thank you all again for making this a fun giveaway week!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day

*Comments have been closed*

I always seem to miss participating in the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day....not this time!!

I have been thinking about what to give away and couldn't just pick one....so I have 2 items up for grabs.  You can enter for one or both (rules below)!

The first item is a handmade item made by yours truly!  I recently made 2 of these amazing pillows for my couch and have an additional one for giveaway.  I am giving away the cover only to make it easier to ship.  Fabrics are Kona Ash and Lotta Jansdotter Echo and it's machine-quilted by me :o)

The second item I'd like to giveaway is a charm pack of Tula Pink's very hard to find Neptune fabric!!

Now for the Rules!

1.  If you'd like to win the pillow cover, please leave me a comment telling me your favorite vacation spot.

2.  If you'd like to win the charm pack, please leave a comment telling me what your favorite fabric line is.

3.  You can enter for both giveaways, please just leave separate comments...one for each item so I can keep it straight :o)

4.  Comments will remain open until May 10th.

Thank you so much for entering and best of luck!!  Open to US and International :o)

Finish It Friday

This week I finished 2 pillows and a quilt (almost)!  I just need to finish up the binding which should be pretty quick.  The pillows are for our new couches, eeep!!!  I love them!

I'm linking up with Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts and Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict!

WIP Wednesday

The weather this week has been just ugly...overcast, rainy, no sun.  So my pictures are not the greatest!  But I have been working on stuff this week, big yay!  Work is not settled down, I'm still taking work home almost every night, but I am turning it off at a certain time to work on something creative.

I was bound and determined to NOT start any new projects until I whittled down the WIP list....but I couldn't help it this time!  We have new living room furniture being delivered on Friday and I just had to make up a pillow for it!  I actually need to make another one, but since this one was an experiment, I started with one. I've never made a pillow like this before, and it's totally inspired by this quilt I have loved for a while.  There is no pattern, or tutorial, so I had to wing it.  It measures approximately 24 inches square...now to find a form....

I have a bit of insomnia now and again, so this pouch was born out of that last night!  I love gray...it's in all of my projects lately.

This quilt is going to be another favorite of mine...seriously crappy picture, ugh!  Oh well, you get the idea :o)  This is going to be a Mother's Day gift for my SIL who had a miscarriage this past fall.  I know it's going to be a hard M Day for her, and I hope this makes her feel extra loved.

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced!

Supernova Finish

More pictures of this quilt...sorry for the overload this week!  I just love this one so much!  I still need to run it through the wash but here she is, all quilted up :o)

I had a great time quilting this baby.  I tried to branch out a little bit and try some more creative things.  I have found so much inspiration on Pinterest, of course!

No progress has been made on any other project this week, but hoping that changes this week!

I'm linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced and Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts!!

Quilting the Supernova

Two posts in one week, watch out!!  This quilt has been so fun to work on.  Besides the fact that I  ♥ every single fabric, it was just a breeze to finish.  I have been having issues with basting lately.  Normally, I am a pinner, but the last 2 quilts have converted me to a sprayer!  It was so much faster to baste and quilt because I wasn't stopping to take out pins.  I know it's yet another expense, but it's worth it for larger quilts, that's for sure!  I used the 505 brand and it did gum my needle a little bit....but the gummy bits rubbed right off the needle and I usually change needles after machine quilting anyway.

I also got a new pair of gloves recently...I lost my well-loved/used quilting gloves recently and got a cheap pair of gardening gloves for $2 at WalMart.  They are awesome!!  They are so grippy :o)

Each section got its own quilting design.  It isn't perfect, but I love it!!

I wanted to do something different with the neutral space, but was a little stumped.  This was my inspiration, but with fewer bubbles. My husband saw it and was pretty impressed, so that was pretty cool.

I hope to get some good pictures of the whole thing tonight to show tomorrow....if I get home before the light is gone.  I need to retire so I can quilt!!

WIP Wednesday

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I last blogged!!  I am alive and well, just overwhelmed with busyness.  It's the last month and a half of school and there seems to be a mad rush to pack in field trips, sports, activities before time runs out.  Emma is playing volleyball and is happy as a clam.  She and Dayna are both doing so great with their gymnastics, too!

Onto the WIP list!  I have been making some progress, although small in the last few weeks.  Last I blogged about the mountain of quilt tops that need finishing.

1.  Good Folks Supernova - basted.  Since my last post, I have finished quilting a customer quilt and had all kinds of issues with basting so un-pinned it all and re-basted with spray.  I cannot believe how everything just stayed put so much better!  So I spray-basted my Good Folks Supernova quilt and I am hoping it will work just as well.

Here is the backing of my Supernova quilt....LOVE this fabric from IKEA!

This next quilt top is something I should have done a LONG time ago...sad to say.  It's a project that I had totally forgotten about until recently and I can't believe I am so long in getting this done, or that I forgot about it, omw!!  It's a signature quilt from a friend's wedding.   Guests signed their names on squares of white cotton and I was going to whip it together into a quilt.  Here we are almost 4 years later and it's finally a quilt top.  This one is super-high priority to get finished asap.  I thought I would go with the heart theme I have fallen in love with in the last couple of months.  Her wedding colors were 2 shades of pink, which ALWAYS makes me think of Steel Magnolias "blush and bashful"...if you don't know what I'm talking about we can't be friends anymore :o)  So I pulled a bunch of pink from my stash and went to town making this in less than 4 hours.

No progress has been made on the other 6 quilts on my last WIP list.  *sigh*

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced...so many great projects!!