Getting Illuminated

Can anything be better than roses or chocolates? Well, in my way of thinking -- light!!! My husband made it his weekend project to bring illumination into my life.

Several months ago (when the Christmas tree went up), I began rearranging our living space. Wanting a more individualized (mainly private) space to sew and create, I moved most of my crafting items to a bedroom not in use currently. The only problem I started having was getting tired when working in the evening. I had put a small table lamp on the sewing machine table and thought that would be sufficient for me.

This however proved to be wrong and I mentioned how I needed to purchase a standing lamp for the room. (It only had a ceiling fan and two windows high on the walls). Come Saturday morning before I was up and moving around, my husband had already been to the hardware store and purchased two suspended light fixtures. With a couple screws in the ceiling for each fixture and the cords plugged into the walls, I am all set. Didn't know how much I needed light, until it was given to me. Thanks, Fred.

So yes, light is better than roses or chocolates, but I may just splurge and get him some!!!

Here are some nine-patch log cabins I had been sewing together in the dark. I really like all the colors, now that I can see them.



Also, been stitching away for a couple weeks at my new 3rd shift position at the youth home.

Under the Sea Colorful Creatures

For so many months in 2010 I was happily stitching away on some drawings I found on a blog once a month. Here are the end results to show as I have been putting them together in a quilt top.




I only have two final borders to go and a lovely twin size quilt or throw will be ready for sandwiching together as a finished piece.




One of the blocks I chose came from an old vintage pattern (the fish dancing with the mermaid). I also decided I wanted an octopus to go along with this theme and found a coloring page online to use as a pattern. They both fit so well here.




I am excited to have this one finally completed!!!

Creative Expressions

I started snapping photos at the Farmer's Market and it got me to thinking. There are so many different ways to express one's self creatively. I am always picking up craft books and thinking of things I want to explore creatively and even include my kids in the projects. The next big project on my list is paper mache with finishing them by painting designs or possibly some mosaics. I have been saving up newspapers and have a pretty big stack to get started.

Ornament Stitching

I have been stitching for a few weeks on a panel of little cute birdies to make into ornaments to sell at a local Christmas show this year. Here are some I have put together.

I am planning on doing more ornaments with different miniature pictures on them and have started stitching those in just the past couple of days. There are three girls at a group home I have been working at that have asked me to stitch them a little something so you will be seeing it here shortly. I just have to keep my fingers busy while doing some overnight shifts at the group homes. The little projects also make me feel like I am getting something completed faster.

Mental Note to Self

Ever have to leave yourself mental and sometimes visual notes of things you want or need to accomplish. Well, here goes three patterns in quilts I have seen recently on the internet that I want to try to make. At least one I would be changing the colors but love the layout of the blocks.

Stitching Away While Snow Is On The Ground

We still have all the white stuff (aka: snow) on the ground and the temperature is not rising much.

Also, I don't usually put much weight into the "Ground Hog Day" holiday, but do think Winter will be hanging around our area for a quite a while longer.

Grandma being in an out of the hospital several times last week and now at home much weaker than ever, I find myself picking up the hoop with needle and thread --not really any particular project in mind to start out with, but just a few patterns traced on fabric to occupy my days.

I included this little girl in a quilt for Aunt Mae two Christmases ago and had to put my hands back on the pattern to stitch her up some more. I like the little attitude she has.



Attitude or a special character style seems to be something I look for in patterns. I love this Scottie dog I turned into a doll quilt.



This year I want to make smaller size items and think a few doll quilts for little girls pretend play or even as wall hangings or table top scarves would be lovely. Incorporated also are scrap pieces which make projects so much more colorful.

Reversible Tote Project

This past week I found a blog from a lady in Romania about a shopping bag. She made the pattern and illustrated the instructions for making it. The link can be found here from Geta.

I like to call my shopping bags TOTES. This one is sweet because you can reverse it to your liking very easily.

This was my first attempt at making her project. I decided to add one of my many embroidered pieces onto one side of the tote.



Once completed exactly to her instructions, I have decided that I will work the closure of the handles a little differently on my next creation of her tote pattern. Also, an adjustment on longer length handles for the pattern might be worked on as I prefer longer.

My finished project was snapped up by Savannah Rose to be used for her dolls and their many accessories. She is always carrying a handful of items with her on our outings.

A Cheery Quilted Tote Bag

It all started with Savannah Rose (my daughter, age 15) wanting to embroider a flower. She picked out the pattern and the color of her threads. She tried to stitch one of the outer petals in the pink but this project did not last long for her and her attention span issues.

Her embroidery hoop lay on my sewing table for months and I asked her several times if she wanted to pick it up again. Her idea was to maybe choose another picture pattern. I let her do this and she came up with more involved pieces as far as stitching goes. I will eventually get her fabric ready and help with that down the road.




So, I could resist no long and completed her flower. When stitching I was thinking what should I use this in for her . . . a doll blanket, a pillow patch, an apron for her dolls . . . then it hit me!!! I could make a TOTE bag for her to carry all her goodies in when we go on outings. (This is always an event for her to get everything ready and loaded on outings.)

Last night was the grand finale on getting my vision completed. Even though I was up till 3 a.m. doing the free hand machine quilting, it turned out beautifully.




Savannah was so cute as she was up with one of her not sleeping nights. She said, "Mom, this is beautiful. I bet you could sell these at the Farmer's Market next year. Maybe for $5 or $10." A business woman is behind those young eyes, but I think I might have to raise her prices on items for sell.

I included something in my machine quilting for her to carry with her in this piece. I hope she knows it always . . .