Pretty {little} Pouch Swap

Pretty {little} Pouch Swap

I finished my pouch for my swap partner today. It was my first time using a zipper and I'm happy to say it turned out well. It isn't quite as polished looking on one end of the zipper as I would have hoped but it will work just fine. The inside is lined with the farmdale fabric pictured beneath the pouch.

I used a great tutorial that you can find here at kelbysews. On a side note the pouch featured in the tutorial lives with me! I love it and use it to carry my embroidery supplies.

I'm very happy that I finally settled in to my new place and can get back to making things.

Modern Swappers 2 - Items Sent

Today was the last day to send my package to my Modern Swappers partner. I stitched right down to the last possible moment and got it shipped off just in time. My partner should have there package Monday if all goes well at the USPS. I will share two items now and the rest of the package after I know my partner received the package in case she is checking my blog. I want some of it to be a surprise.

The main item is several things in one. I love the sewing machine cover I got in the last round of Modern Swappers it looks amazing in my sewing room but it spends a lot of its time off my machine because I am sewing so much. So I thought to myself what if a sewing machine cover could serve a duel purpose. Lots of people have been making weighted pin cushion thread catchers to sit beside you when you sew. So I combined the two. When it isn't covering your machine, it sits under your machine. I have thought about the fact that you might not want this directly in front of you, so partner if that is the case hopefully you have something you can weigh it down with and use along side of you. Also the pin cushion is held on with snaps so you can use it anywhere as just a pin cushion and the thread catcher is also held on with a snap to make emptying your scraps easier. Partner I hope you enjoy your sewing machine cover/pin cushion/thread catcher/notions holder... in one!

I also made a wall hanging to match the cover as a decoration for her sewing room. I embroidered 'sew' on some tiny hoops and attached them to a small quilt. I have had these teeny tiny buttons for a long time and finally found a cute use for them.

The rest of the swap includes some little surprises and 1 1/2 total yards of fabric. I love this swap and can't wait to do it again! Hopefully my package from my mystery partner arrives soon.... I CAN'T WAIT!!! People put together some great packages!

The Pillow Talk {Swap} 4

I finally joined a round of The Pillow Talk {Swap}. I've been wanting to get in on one for a few months now. It is wrapping up and after going back and forth and back and forth on a design and fabrics, I finally dove in and created something that I was not so happy with. So I abandoned it and dove right back in and came up with something completely different, even with different fabric choices. I'm pretty happy with the outcome and hope to make myself one after the holidays.

Here it is:

Hope you like it partner! If not you can send it back!!

Bees... bees and more bees... and some swaps!

Mostly Finished and One Work in Progress

I've been busy with my quilting bees. I was a bad bee member and was behind on finishing my July blocks but they all got mailed out last week!

First up we have Liz's blocks from Sew to Speak. She sent red and aqua fabrics, white triangles and a plastic template to make the blocks you see below. I had some trouble getting these to line up when I sewed the final center seam, but my hope is once quilted it will improve the look.

Next, Jeremy from The Hive sent the fabrics below and requested the specific block you see below. I actually made 4 of these, but have only pictured one.

I also finished this block for my quilting journey bee. This block is for Melissa. She requested any type of pinwheel block as long as it was 12" finished. She also sent along some Heather Bailey, Nicey Jane fabric and the owl fabric in the center which is Alice Kennedy. This block is my version of the pattern found here. The second picture is all the blocks that have been made so far, Melissa's starter block is the bottom left.

Now for some swaps. I participated in a fabric post card swap. Below is the post card I made for Vickie, she is a member of the quilting journey bee.

I am also participating in a mini quilt swap below is the fabric I sent to my partner, Kimmie. I sent her fabrics (30 - 4.5" charm squares) from the Heather Bailey Freshcut line that I snatched up at the craft supply rummage sale I went to a few months back. I decided this would be a good use of it. I also sent along some coordinating Kona jelly roll solids and a fat quarter of Joel Dewberry. She gets to use my fabrics to make the mini quilt of her choice and then it gets sent back to me.

I received Christmas charms and some Michael Miller fabric with kids building snowmen. So I will create a Christmas mini quilt for her. Even though is seems a little weird thinking about Christmas already, it is actually a welcome thought in 100 degree heat. Also on my plate for August bees and swaps are blocks with Alice in Wonderland, math symbols, and more fabric post cards to name a few.