Design Wall Monday

I've been in a Swoon bag making frenzy this month.

This is Swoon Vivian.
She belongs to granddaughter Taylor.

She gave my Designer 1 sewing machine a serious headache.

So out came the old 60s Kenny the Kenmore.

He is a beast and sewed through those thick layers like they were nothing.

Kenny lives in the living room with a few other machines in cabinets.

Saturday morning machines were shuffled around so Kenny could work his magic.

We finally got some much needed rain.

I felt it was ok to park myself in front of the sewing machine in the living room 

and watch crazy tv-The Walking Dead-while I sewed Pineapple Crazy blocks. 

Saturday night, 3 year old Estella stayed so no more crazy tv but still sewing away.

She was lots of help picking fabric and asked so many questions.

It was quite fun!

The girl loves green.

And blue and orange and....

Why?

This is Swoon Charlotte. 

My sister wanted this upholstery fabric made into shopping bags.

I couldn't do that...

not with this pattern waiting to be made.

She has a vinyl bottom and nylon webbing for the handles.

She will be a good work bag for Mary.

 Wednesday afternoon was spent with these people.

I took my Millefiore hexagons for rosette 2 along with me.

I wasn't sure how I wanted round 1 to go on.

After much spinning blocks and 

"making a puzzle"

we decided this is not the layout we want.

The black bars will circle the center block.

It's always fun to see things through young eyes.

I do have one more Vivian bag to make but she is on hold for a few days.

Today's plan is to finish up those 6 Pineapple Crazy blocks

and put Kenny away for a bit.

(I'm happy to have him out of the corner and easily accessible.)

Next up is to finish Tumalo Trails.

It's feeling a bit neglected. 

Check out what others are working on at Patchwork Times.

Shopping for the Stash

Most of you know I am not a fan of shopping. That includes fabric shopping. Weird I know!!! I must be in the mood. Yesterday I was in the mood. Sort of.

Crystal took me into town to take care of some business. Then we went to Craft Warehouse to spend our Deal Of The Day certificates. (The best deal ever-$40 for $20!!) I spent 2 of my 3 certificates. Total cash out was under $4. Judy math--$84 worth of merchandise-$80 in certificates (cost $40)=best deal ever!!!

I am always on the lookout for neutrals thanks to Bonnie. Read her thoughts on neutrals here. I found some I didn't have and they were on sale. There were fun fabrics for a couple of Swoon bags and horse fabric for pillow cases.

Afterwards we went to Gustav's for lunch! Fondue! Yumalicious!!!

Now I am ready to spend time at home with these girls. Thanks Crystal for a fun outing!!

This is how I normally shop.

Thousands of Bolts.

USPS delivers right to my mailbox!!

I'm done shopping for a while.

Wink, wink!!

Design Wall Monday

My design wall is the same as it was last Monday. Not one stitch was sewn into Tumalo Trails. Not one! Instead I got a bit side tracked and made myself a new bag. Alice is the newest free pattern from Swoon Patterns.

Saturday we were going to a picnic. I got up early because I had to take Alice along and she wasn't ready to go. The lining and outside were ready to sew together. When Ernie got up, I asked when he wanted to leave and he said whenever you want.  Silly man!  I told him I really wanted to take Alice along and only had 3 seams to sew. He understands that I might be a while. :)

When I was getting ready to sew the lining that needed a turning opening, I decided to go ahead and mark it so I wouldn't sew like I normally do and then have to rip.  I took the picture then proceeded to sew a couple more stitches......oh boy!!! I like to velcro my inside larger pockets closed. Just a tad of added security for me.

In the end, I love my bag, it is an easy sew, it is very roomy, my to go knitting bag fit inside along with all my other stuff and there is still room for more.

Will there be quilting in my week? Maybe, maybe not. Yesterday I cut out two more Swoon bags...Charlotte and Vivian. I can't wait to sew on these bags.!!!

There was a bit of hand stitching. I did all of these rosettes and one more set for rosette #2 of my Millefiore quilt. This is my 3rd rosette. I'm pretty excited to start sewing the hexies into the big rosette.

See what great things other quilters are working on at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

Just a few more seams to sew and the center of Tumalo Trails will be done. I need to decide on an inner border and I'm thinking red. The piano key border still will needs to be made.  Since I have been sewing one row at a time instead of webbing the top, the tumbler leader/ender project is  coming along fast. I'm just sewing rows together. Then after a few more, I'll lay them out to see what they look like.

I have become obsessed with Swoon Patterns for bags. This is Glenda. I have a notebook full of her patterns and can't wait to start the next one. 

Yesterday Ernie and his helpers built a ramp off the back deck. Our old dog has trouble maneuvering the step and sometime so do I. The kids got to nail down the roofing to prevent slipping. They miss their Poppy so it was a fun filled day for all of them with building, 4 wheeler rides, searching for eggs and ending the day with pizza. 

Check out all the fabulous design walls linked up to Patchwork Times. I love Monday in Blogland!

 PS to Mary: I hope to get that other blog post written this week. ;)

Design Wall Monday

I am finally working on Tumalo Trail (from Bonnie Hunter's book-Scraps & Shirttails II) again.  I haven't touched it since the retreat in May. I swear I had all the blocks made but when I recounted to group into 10s, I was 3 short! So I got busy and made the last 3--I'm sure I'll find those other 3 when this quilt is finished! I did have a few 9 patches left over (or not used yet-however you view it) so I only had to make 5 more. I love the rebel block in the center of the photo block. I didn't notice it until now. It stays! I am completely out of 1 1/2" squares so I now know where my scrap cutting needs a bit of attention. 

Then I got serious about the sashing. I took a bunch of short brown strips and cut them into cornerstones and then got out my box of 1 1/2" neutrals strips. I was so excited to be using a few of the strips from our newest retreat strip swap.  In the past we had only swapped 2 1/2" strips and decided it was time to change it up and start swapping different sizes.

I cannot wait to lay these blocks out with the sashing rows and start playing with which block goes where and in which direction and with what short sashing strips......you know how exciting that it, don't you!?!?! Since the blocks are very directional, I'll work on my tumbler leader/enders while I sew each row separately instead of webbing the top like I normally do. That will make excellent progress on my tumblers.

Check out all the fabulous design walls today at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

Basting, basting, basting. That was on my radar most of the weekend. I am so close to the finish line on this quilt.

I'm using a poly batting for this one with flannel for the backing. I think a certain little boy is going to love it!  Most of the quilting is done, the binding is a red stripe cut on the bias and it is sitting next to the machine taunting me. It wants to be on this quilt. I think the bias stripe binding and the zig zaggety edges are just plain fun and are perfect for this I Spy quilt.

I did manage to sew 5 more Pineapple Crazy blocks while staying with the kiddos. Maybe I could have done a couple more but it was more fun snuggling on the couch watching movies.  Have you seen Home yet?  We watched it twice! It is so cute and funny...watch it with children if you can!

See what others have happening at Patchwork Times.