A sweet little finish

Isn't it amazing how sometimes you have a piece quilted, are attaching the binding, and it just doesn't look quite right?  But, the moment you get the binding finished it all of a sudden looks perfect!  That's how it was with my sweet little finish.  A potholder for someone secret in the Triad Modern Quilt Guild.  We will give them to our secret partner on Tuesday at the meeting.  Part of that exchange is telling of the journey.  That's why I love swaps of smaller items.  They are a great way to stretch your skills, practice ones you have just learned, and try something new. 

This potholder took me on a little journey.  I pulled out one of my Aneela Hoey's Sherbet Pips charm packs and carefully choose some squares to cut up.  One of the things my partner said she liked was red and white so I focused on those prints.  I added the red and gray prints too.  I added some small hst to the corners of two of the squares.  I love these prints! 

Now it was square and didn't look 'right' yet.  So I decided make it round after seeing Sarah's pot holder in the Triad Modern Quilt Guild's flickr pool.

I love the hand stitching she did in the center! 

I have this old metal strainer I throw keeper scraps in when I'm sewing.  I just turned it over and cut around it.  I then had to decide what to put on the back.  This red and white print from Bonnie & Camille's Bliss-another favorite collection- was perfect!

I then used some more of the Free Spirit Dogwood Gray I used to frame the 9 patch on the front as binding.  I also added a little hanging tab with a scrap of Sherbet Pips.  It folds under nicely so you don't see it unless you need it. I really think it turned out cute!  It has two layers of thermal batting which was the only real requirement. 

We had 15 people sign up for this first swap experience.

I can't wait to see all the others! 

Keep dreaming...Colleen



Thanks for the kind words on Cary-cat's passing.



Busy little sewer

So Flaunt! is Friday night and Saturday.  Come join in the fun!

I'm going to set up Thursday.  Here are some Owl and Deer Owwie bags. 

 They can be heated in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or put in the freezer to use as a cold pack.  I made these kid size.  I have other larger styles.  Mom loves to use hers for heat.  She has worn out three covers and one inner bag.  I make separate inner bags of rice so you can easily wash the outer bag.



Sorry for the blurry picture.

Here is the beginning of my potholder for the Triad MQG first swap.

 I'm thinking of some DS Quilts red dots for the binding and a hanging tab in the middle of the top.  Not sure what will go on the back.  I may break into the stash of red and white fabric I'm hoarding for the Forsyth Piecers and Quilters challenge.  Im also thinking some pearl cotton stitching in red.

This is the AWESOME Scrappy Halloween Mug Rug I received from Andrcarl on flickr.  She even included some of the  middle tree fabric which I love!

Keep dreaming...Colleen



Kalli sleeping in my studio comfy chair among my various pillows.
What's funny is I have to move her from this chair to my sewing chair.
 Some times repeatedly.  Yes the sewing chair is padded too.



New guild and some projects

So last night I went to my 3rd guild meeting in as many days.  Third!!!!  I must be crazy!!  Well I went to the local guild Monday night Forsyth Piecers and Quilters-I take the show and tell photos. 

Sunday  was the Triangle Modern Quilt Guild in Chapel Hill.  I drive over an hour and forty minutes to get there.  But it is in the store run by someone who helped me start quilting so many years ago.  And it is in the town I used to love living in.  Then last night the new Triad Modern Quilt Guild had its first ever meeting.  How could I not go when it is literally just down the road from me in the Sewingly Yours!?  I took some photos of the brief show and tell.

This women is making a quilt to raffle of to benefit homeless cats and dogs.  Her applique cats and dogs were amazing.

This quilter worked on these two tops instead of her dissertation this summer.

Another quilter made this quilt along quilt.

Paige made this awesome pinwheel quilt with DS Quilts fabrics.

BTW Im now the swap organizer.  We'll see how that goes.  I may have to give some where.

I have also been working on some swaps.  I'm in the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap group on Flickr and we are doing a Halloween swap.  Here is a collage of the fabric I dug out of my stash.  I did not realize how much I really had.  Most is old #2,3,4,and a few of 5.  #1 and 6 I found on the shop hop last weekend.

Still deciding which to use and what pattern.

Lastly I have been playing with Jay McCarrols Habitat fabric.  Triangle MQG was sent some and are allowed to add a solid so I chose this gray with a hint of brown.  I am calling it '123' right now.  I have sewn strips together and have 8 sets.  I have a few ideas on what to do next.  Still letting it simmer.

keep dreaming...Colleen

These are the 9 wonky star blocks I have received so far for my month in
Let's Bee Together.   Aren't they awesome!