Hot Hot Hot

Exactly how I feel.............

Bag as Gifts

Trying to feel productive and at the same time thinking of a gift I could make for the maid that was cleaning my room while vacationing in SC, I stumbled upon this cute bag pattern in one of the magazines I had picked up at the store.  This pattern was easy and small enough to finish in a day which was great.  It hangs around your neck and can carry some cash, key and phone which is useful for travelling or if you are a volunteer at a church or some place and don't feel safe leaving your handbag sitting around or in you car.  After the first one was successful, I started making a few more and they sure make good gifts.  I have gifted away three of the finished ones.  Have two thats been cut and will probably keep one for myself whenever I get to finish them.  My UFO's are building up again because I am overly inspired by all the magazines and quilting websites. 

Front View

Back View

Liberated Bag

I started making this bag pattern when I was on vacation in SC becos I wanted a bag that would carry just my wallet, keys and phone.  The first one I made was in pink from leftover fabrics from my quilt (I can't find a picture of it to post) and then when I got back to TX, I decided I needed a more versatile color to match my daily wear clothes so I made one with this fabric which I adore. 

But as I was quilting it, I didn't like the outcome or the quilted look over the fabric, and much prefer the soft unquilted look so I decided to stop the quilting and made one side of the bag with the quilted look and the other unquilted.  I feel so liberated doing this.  Its my bag and I can do what I want.

Quilted Side

Soft Side (unquilted)

Looped

Inside pockets

Fernando Ortega - I heard the voice of Jesus say

Yann-Tiersen - Comptine d'un autre ete L'apres midi

Signs of maturity

When I was younger, I remember my mom would always buy 'foods' like sweets, fruits, imported canned foods(cos they were expensive), even fresh vegetables & raw meats as gifts for our elderly friends and relatives especially during the new year season. I remember watching her and the servants sort & bag the shopping and then deliverying them accordingly.

As a child then I was wondering why she only bought food stuff........ as I was downsizing my collections..........I discovered the answer..........they did not need more clothes and 'toys'..... :)

When DH asked me what I wanted him to bring back for me on his trip back next week, I stop and smiled when I realized everything I requested was either food or health related......hmmmm

New laptop

I got back from visiting DH in SC and my computer(desktop) went completely out and so did the house alarm. So we went shopping for a new computer and I decided on a laptop instead. I had one long time ago but never got around to using it that much as it was heavy to carry around. But these new laptops are light even the 17" ones. Only thing is I have not been able to download anything from my old computer so I have to pretty much start over. Trying to remember old sites I frequent is trying..... :) Using the new software to blog is also trying...... I feel so ancient. I am a creature of habits and I am having a love/hate relationship with this new laptop. I love the speed.....yes, it is a very speedy laptop indeed......not having to wait for download to watch video or view photos is a big plus. I hate all the updates/downloads they force on you. I love that it is wireless but I have not got around to carrying it around the house to use it.......funny.

Anyway, being away from home is good therapy for the eyes cos when I got back, I was ashamed at how messy my study & studio was. So these three weeks before DH comes back for a visit, my goal would be to reorganize which will involve alot of downsizing my collection of books and stuff..... :) I have already discarded 5 garbage bags full so I am very proud of myself. But I need to let go of more.

While in SC, I watched the families who loss everything dued to the tornadoes(on TV) and I asked myself what would I miss most if it happened to me and surprisingly, I didn't miss much. So as I am downsizing my collection of stuff, I am constantly reminding myself of that revelation to make it easier for me to let go of them. It is working wonders cos more shelves are sitting empty now. Very proud of me..... :)

Mini Art

After finishing two lap size quilts, I decided to change gears and do something completely different. Something small, fun & limited sewing involved. I settle on applique using fusibles - no sewing whatsoever.....yeah......just tracing & lots of cutting........but thats good as I can sit in front of the tv while cutting. But before I can move forward, there was some shopping to do......I needed more colors and prints of fabric, teflon sheet for ironing, light table, wax paper, sharp small scissors, white background fabric and fusibles. I felt so lost without all my supplies and tools but thats ok, I am just grateful I can find them here in SC. I was very happy with my new stash of fat quarters(I forgot to take a picture before diving into them) and supplies. Not sure how I was going to start on this project, I went ahead and washed the fabrics first and fused 6 inches of each fabric with fusibles. Then I traced the patterns and moved along slowly at first cos I was not following the book's instructions. The book calls for hand stitching(turned applique) which I deemed will be a very slow progress for me. But after getting the first one done, I discovered new ways to progress faster than the traditional way of fusing. Hmmmm....what one can do without all her tools around.........I couldn't find the teflon sheet so I used parchment paper and it worked wonders. I just have to remind myself all the small tips I have discovered for my future projects.I am not sure what I am going to do with this or how many I am going to make but for now.....I will keep making them till I get bored ........:):).....maybe they can be an individual wall hanging ......or a big wall hanging with numerous blocks......hmmmm.......we shall see....

Trip Around the World Quilt

With enough fabrics leftover from my log cabin quilt, I eagerly got started on this quilt. Here it is laying on my bed. I had housekeeping take the hotel comforter away so I could audition my quilt top on my bed. I didn't want to make it too big. It is about 55x65 (lap size)I feel so blessed the hotel manager was so nice to let me use their meeting room to pin and tie my quilt at no additional charge. I used it from noon till ~9pm with breaks for dinner and a walk after dinner. It was fantastic that I had the whole room all to myself.Here it is ready for pinning.............finished pinning and ready for tying...................in the midst of tying.......I have attached the binding but have not finish turning them over. Will post picture of finished quilt later.

Design Wall

I kept myself busy with sewing and quilting while visiting DH in SC. The first few days was spent visiting all the fabric shops and shopping for fabrics. As soon as I got back to the hotel, I washed all the fabrics and started generating ideas for a pattern. Because I have never done a log cabin quilt before and had always wanted to try one, I decided on a log cabin for these fabrics. But first, I had to reorganize the room so I could have space for my machine and cutting. I started running out of space and had to stack my rulers and fabrics. Any space I could find was filled with something. But praise the Lord, I was able to get myself situated and started cutting and sewing. I don't have a picture here but I had alot of fun playing with my new machine. This wall actually had a painting hanging on it but because I needed some kind of way to audition my blocks, after measuring this wall, it was a perfect size for a design wall so I took down the painting, went shopping for flannel and tada......I am so happy with my design wall.I feel the quilt top really brighten up the room so I have decided to leave it there for now.

....here I was starting on a new quilt as soon as I was finished with the log cabin quilt top. I realized I had enough fabric to make another quilt top and was so excited to get started on the next one. I decided on a bargello quilt.This is actually the dining area......