Stitchy Stitchy

Yesterday I stitched up this super sweet zip bag. I love it! It's the Everything In One Place Zip Bag, from Modern Log Cabin Quilting by Susan Beal. It's the first one I've made so it took a little bit to read through the pattern and sew it up, but I'm already planning on stitching more! 

 I lined it using a cheery, yellow floral print by Lecien.

I used some of my favorite prints. I tend to hold on to my favorite prints for quite a while, but I'm trying to break that habit and actually use them.

I'm off tomorrow to a job interview that I am really excited about. I hope everyone has a great week!

UFOs

I've been making a concerted effort to finish up some projects.  And I mean projects. I've got several. I want to finish my UFOs so that I have pretty FOs, and not partially completed, at various stages, projects. Part of this desire comes as a result of my doing a job search and when the time comes for me to move, I do not want to move UFOs.

Anyway.  I stitched up these great granny squares that had been little piles of 2 1/2 inch squares.

Two nights ago, I stitched said great granny squares into a table topper. I thought I would add a little pizazz with a red border about 2 inches wide instead of the white strips used between the blocks. I like the way it turned out. I used Lori's tutorial to make the squares. It's easy and seriously addicting. If I had it my way I'd just keep making great granny squares out of all my fabric. Seriously.

Yesterday I pieced this diamond table topper. I had had the diamonds made for several months now and they sat languishing in a basket. I used a pattern in this book.  While I am fairly happy with how it turned out, it was my first go at a pattern like this and I had some challenges piecing the sashing. Some curse words may have been mumbled and sight frustration ensued. Not easy. But it was a great learning experience and I am happy to get the top pieced and closer to being a FO!

Are you working on any UFOs lately?  Have a happy Monday! 

Fabric Love and Current Projects

Friday and Saturday brought happy mail! Oh do I love some 1930's repro. Now to make some new goodies for the shop! 

I've been stitching away too. I put together a wall quilt using 6 great granny squares. Geez, these are addicting! I haven't backed or quilted this one yet, and I'm already stitching up more great granny sqaures!  This time I'm using white as the background and will make 4 blocks to put together a table topper.

 I'm also working on this baby quilt for the shop. Last night I quilted it. Now all it needs is binding. I'm really liking the way it turned out!

Well, back to stitching for me! My "want to make list" is forever growing! What are you working on? 

Glorious Time Away

I'm back from my little getaway and what an amazing time it was! I went up to Hershey, PA for a music festival called Mixtape which was held at Hershey stadium. I had never visited Hershey and what a swell place it is! 

 The weather was a little rainy on Friday but it didn't stop us from having the most fun time!
The band line up was pretty incredible and included LL Cool J, The Fray, The Wanted, NKOTB, Backstreet Boys, Kelly Clarkson, Carly Rae Jepsen, and several others. I'm usually not one who enjoys large music festivals. Concerts yes, 2 full days of it, outside, no. But I enjoyed it immensely!

Here I am in the middle with my friend Angela on the left and my friend Anne-Marie on the right.

I really, really liked The Wanted. They were really upbeat and Saturday night they joined NKOTB on stage to sing their hit "So Glad You Came. Fun!

NKOTBSB put on the best concert I've ever seen them do together. The energy was so high!

 On Sunday morning we went to watch a softball game: NKOTB versus Backstreet. It was SO fun! One of the highlights of the weekend for sure. NKOTB won making it an even sweeter experience.

This is a picture of me with Anne-Marie to my left and Sue to the right. The two other girls on the end of the left are two sweet girls we befriended from Oklahoma. They were so, so fun to hang out with.
Part of the fun for me when I take these trips is meeting new friends and of course spending time with old ones.

Here I am with my friend Crystal to the left. She came from Seattle for the festival. Alicia, on the right, flew in from California. It was so good to see these ladies!

This is probably my favorite photo that I took this weekend. Great memories made! 

Now on to sewing! ;) 

Mini Hexies

How's it going peeps? I simply can't stop making these mini hexagons. They measure approximately 5/8 inch across and are so, so fun to make! I made a bunch of them while watching the olympics. These are a portion of what I made. Not sure what I'll use them for yet but I have a few ideas floating around my head.  I'm also still thinking about starting Christmas gifts. I need to start soon. Can you believe it's mid August??

I'm off on a short end of summer trip to meet up with some sweet friends in PA. We're going to a music festival and are super duper excited!  Oh how I love to take these getaways and I always seem to return home with a new perspective and gratitude. 

I'll return to this space next week. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the week! 

Saturday Stitching

Meow

Pincushions and A Tea Towel

Yesterday I went to one of our local thrift stores and as luck would have it, found this sweet embroidered towel! I am thinking it's vintage because of the weight of the towel. It's a nice, lightweight cotton or maybe cotton/linen blend. Sometimes I wonder how such sweet stuff ends up at the thrift store!

I just updated my shop with these oversized pincushions. I LOVE the way they turned out!

 I had made a couple as gifts a while back but then had someone express desire to purchase one so here they are!

Plenty of hand stitching involved here but I found it to be relaxing and something fun to do in front of some good TV!

And they match remarkably well with my "new" vintage towel! ;)

On to the next project! Enjoy your weekend!