For today...October 24 , 2013

Outside my window...it is sunny but crisp and cool.

I am thinking...I still need help with the templates for these posts.

I am thankful...for the warmth of the sun through my southside windows.

In the kitchen...I smell the beginnings of French Onion soup in the crockpot.


I am wearing...my pajamas!

I am creating...Christma presents and a charity quilt.

I am going...to read at the elementary school Litercy Night tonight.

I am  wondering...what the Red Sox will do in tonight's game?

I am reading...A new quilt pattern book that arrived in the mail.


I am hoping...to get a lot done today in the sewing room.


I am looking forward to...heading 2.5 hours NORTH to celebrate our daughter's birthday!

Around the house... I need to vacuum.

A favorite quote for today..."Keep your face to the sunshine and you can never see the shadow." Helen Keller

FOR TODAY October 18th,2013 10:15 AM

Outside my window...it is pouring!

I am thinking...that I am surprised that I was able to cut and paste this document to post again.

I am thankful...the support of friendship.

In the kitchen...chicken soup in the crock pot!

I am wearing...jeans, tan top , socks and sandles! Work clothes.

I am creating....a pillow sham with left over quilt material and a sweater for a gift.

I am going... to the store this afternoon to buy the local newspaper, stamps and carrots. Perhaps some new quilt magazines will be out.

I am wondering...what time the Red Sox game will be tomorrow.

I am reading...a new novel by Elizabeth Berg, a favorite author.

I am hoping...this weather passes and returns to sunshine.

I am looking forward to...stitching the afternoon away..

I am learning to  eat with chopsticks.(Still,LOL)

Around the house...I am cleaning the junk drawer out.


A favorite quote for today..." Tomorrow, tomorrow, the sun will shine tomorrow>>>"

Daily Template

FOR TODAY October 15,2013

Outside my window...it is very dark. The street light is on.

I am thinking...that I am glad Jenna was able to save this template for me . I enjoy reading other blogs with this on it.

I am thankful...

In the kitchen...the dishes are done and the floor is swept. the kitchen is CLOSED!

I am wearing...my ne Dansko walking shoes, capris and a black top.

I am creating....A Redwork pillow and table toppper for the Congo Church Tea.


I am going...on a "bird ride" way up north with my husband this week to revisit the area he managed as a forester.

I am wondering...if the Red Soxs will win their play off game.

I am reading...an Amish novel about barn fires. I have a hard time remmbering titles when I use my Kindle!

I am hoping...this weather lasts.


I am looking forward to...visivting with frineds who live about 3 hours away.

I am learning to eat with chopsticks

Around the house...I am working on sourting fabric in the sewng room/


A favorite quote for today..."If it is to be it is up to me"

Still Here

I promise that this blog is still alive and well! My computer died at the end of the summer and then was briefly swamped with the beginning of the school year but now that I have had time to familiarize myself with my new tablet I will be posting all about what I have been busy with!

Stay tuned to see some funky place mats, a landscape in progress, tips and a-ha moments from the state quilt show work shops, some adorable knit snowman hats made on my loom And A few teasers about holiday gifts!

I've certainly got my work cut out for me to get caught up!

Respectfully,

Harmony

Never Ever

I never want to  be in this position again! I have to be done with Christmas sewing Thanksgiving weekend and I am way behind!Last year I dedicated the second Sunday of the month to gift sewing and really liked the feeling of accomplishment. Why,oh,why did I not continue with that in 2013???

I have been reading this summer and  quilting with my friends on Mondays. However, I need to get serious about heading into the sewing room after dinner. Time is marching on.

I do have a few finishes to share with you. 15 months ago a cute little kindergarten boy drew a picture for his grandmother.  His mom posted it on Facebook and I immediately knew it had to be made into a  pillow. A great kindergarten memory as he enters second grade! LOL ! I hope Natalie reads this!

During this past year I have been working on a BOM sponsored by Quilter's Quarters in Zephyrhills , FL.

Each month we received a new pattern and two colors in batiks. I am anxious to return south and finish the quilt. You make 9 blocks,keep one, turn 8 in and receive 8 blocks back in different colors. This is a VERY large quilt! Posted below is one of the 108 blocks I have made!

We have frost warnings tonight so I am off to cover the flowers before I head to the sewing machine. I WILL be ready by Thanksmas .

In stitches,
Pieceful

Mini Messenger Bag

Thank you, Pinterest!

I found this wonderful messenger bag tutorial on Pinterest. It led me to to a great blog titled "ocd: obsessive crafting disorder" which I thought was very clever. Head on over and check her out! (Click the word tutorial above to be linked directly)

I found her instructions and pictures very clear to follow and didn't have to take the seam ripper out even once!

Here is the fabric I chose for my mini messenger bag. The print is a heavier home decor weight that I think will hold up well and of course purple for the lining!

You begin by making the flap. She chose to use buttons, but I've opted to use magnetic snaps. (I promise that wrinkle is not nearly as bad as it seems....)

Then you make the lining and the outer bag. I like the way she assembled these by adding the bottom and sides first, then the opposite panel. Other bags I've made has you put the bottom on last, but it always causes me frustration lining up corners. Not a problem with this method! Also she has left the hole for inverting the bag at the bottom of the lining. Again, other bags that I have made leave this at the top of the bag where it is much more noticeable and causes more frustration to have it look 'right' in the end.

Finally, assemble and add the adjustable strap! I forgot to take pictures of this part. It was my first time using adjustable strap hardware, but it was very simple to do! I added a loop with a hook to be able to clip my car keys to.

Stay Tuned

Pieceful and I are going to the state quilt show this weekend! I'm getting very excited but anxious too. The classes I chose will have me learning lots! They are called Vivacious Curvaceous Squares and Life's a Beach (Picture Piecing). I'll share pictures of those later!

Respectfully,

Harmony

Summer Sewing

School's Out.....

for summer! Woohoo! It was a crazy spring with lots of musicals and concerts to keep me me too busy to get much sewing done. I did, however, find some fantastic Riley Blake jelly rolls to make adorable race quilts for two little girls who share the name Anna Grace. So I call these my Anna Grace quilts. Each quilt was the same set of prints, but came out quite differently because the strips were assembled in random order.

I photo documented the jelly roll "race" process. If you haven't tried this yourself, it's a must. Very fun, quick and easy. Missouri Star has a wonderful tutorial on You Tube!

Anna Grace Quilts

Select your material! *note I forgot to take a 'before of the jelly roll...this photo was part way through the sewing process...

Begin  by chain piecing ALL the strips together.

Once you are done it looks like this...fancy! Kidding!

Trim and clip the thread so you have a single 1600 foot long, continuous strip! I have a very helpful hand model (thanks Jon).

Let the race begin! Bring the two ends of your super long strip together and simply sew a 1/4" seam the entire 800 foot length. This first one seems to take forever, but after this time flies. I promise!

Cut the fold that you have created at the end. Now you will have an 800 foot strip that is two strips wide.

Repeat the previous two steps until desired width:

Bring the two ends (now two strips wide) together and stitch down one side.

 Bring the two ends (now four strips wide) together and stitch down one side.

Bring the two ends (now eight strips wide) together and stitch down one side.

Bring the two ends (now sixteen strips wide) together and stitch down one side.

This is where I opted to stop.

I could have layered this as it is since it is a good size for a toddler quilt, but I chose to add a 4" border.

Here is a shot of the backing. I thought is was the perfect compliment to the front. Very cheerful for smiley toddlers!

The part that I am most excited to share is that these are the first quilts that I have quilted entirely by myself! Most everything went quite smoothly (with only one ridiculously, silly WHOOPS that I am too embarrassed to share) right up until about noon-time today. When my trusty Kenmore whom I've been calling 'Bessy' decided to get a bit moody. The second quilt has literally eight inches of quilting and the binding left, but I don't dare try it until Bessy sees a doctor. I'll be making that appointment tomorrow ;) I've really learned a lot making these. And there are spots where that definitely shows in a few places...but I know that they will be well loved and get lots of use!

Stay Tuned

When I get my machine back from being serviced, I will be showing a few small projects that I have on my to-do list. One item is a multipurpose play mat that I am making for a friend who is due in August and the other is a messenger bag for myself!

Respectfully,

Harmony