Hand Piecing a Trip Around the World

One of my "stashbuster" friends was looking for some easy hand piecing to do while away for a few days.

Several years ago, I went home to live with my parents to be a private duty nurse for my dad during his last few weeks. I took with me a box of squares, all cut from Christmas fabric. I also took just a few needles, several pins, a spool of white thread and these fabulous directions on "Concentric Piecing".

It is believed that the pioneer women pieced the Trip Around The World in circles around the center piece, rather than in strips as often done now. Here is the link for the directions to do the piecing. I do not know who the person is that posted these directions in her Webshots album, but she is a genius!

I did finish that quilt top before my Dad died. It did take me a few months to be able to put it on the frame to quilt it, but I did - it's done - and one of my most precious quilts! Here is a picture of that quilt.

Another bag finish

Another bag is finished.

The bag is pretty, bigger than I expected to be and most of all DONE!

This was the bag from #$%^ The pattern itself - not for the faint of heart - and definitely not a "first bag" had no pictures or diagrams, only text to explain what needed to be done for each step.

Now, I've been sewing for 40 years, quilting for 20 and making bags for a couple of years and this one was awful! The company really needs to do something about the directions for this pattern!

Also - the pattern specifically called for each piece to be basted to lightweight cotton batting. I used the lightest bat they make and there were times I was sewing thru 8 thicknesses of "stuff".

Before I make this one again, (and I'm sure I will) I'll be rewritting the directions and deciding what does and does not have to be padded! Whew! My shoulders, wrists and hands will need a day or two to recover.

Have a great day

Beth (in rainy Michigan)

New Jelly Rolls and Charm Squares are in!

New jelly rolls and charm squares from Moda are in! They are just beautiful and I am thinking about lots and lots of projects that I can do with them!

I've started on a new bag - It's going to be beautiful when it' s done, but it's a bit more of a challenge than I thought it would be. The instructions - written without diagrams of any kind, are not optimal. But, I WILL figure it outI also finished a bag for another precious granddaughter. I make each of the kids a bag for "stuff". Sometimes they are used to pack necessary items for day care and sometime they are just filled with important "stuff" like little cars and truck or dolls.

Kindle 2 bag - padded & lined

I am the proud owner of a Kindle 2 and felt that I needed to have some kind of a "bag" to protect it while not in use or to take it places. I knew that I needed a bag that was pretty much the size of the Kindle so that it didn't flop around in the bag. I also wanted a bag that was lined and padded to protect my investment! My first bag was pretty and it worked well, but I needed a better looking zipper.

I found Lisa's Blog that has a wonderful tutorial on doing bag zippers. I printed it out and headed back to the studio. My second attempt is great
pretty good! I even added a wrist strap. I'm not sure that I would be comfortable swinging that thing around by a strap, but it looks neat and might come in handy.

Drop me a line if you have any questions about making one of these bags for your Kindle 2!

New Bags!

Taking a break from quilting the last few weeks, I've made a couple of new bags! These are such fun. And, I have picked up patterns to make a few more. Affter I finished the black bag - it really needed something on the rose colored flap. So, I found a HUGE button to cover and covered it with the fabric that I used on the bag. I like it!

This blue tote is done with 5" squares. I have a few charm packs that would make really cute totes!

Mr. Sunshine is out!

Mr. Sunshine, as one of my beautiful grandsons calls it, is out! What a pretty site!

I also received notification that the Paperdolls fabric line by Windham fabrics will be shipping in late March. I received one bolt today, a beautiful gingham check. Fons and Porrter featured the fabric in their January 2009 magazine. Doesn't this look like fun! If you fussy cut the dolls, put a little stabilizer on the back of the clothes before you cut them out, and then add a dot of velcro or a snap to the dolls, a little one could be entertained for hours!

Be sure to get your copy of this magazine so that you have the pattern and instructions when the fabric gets in!

I also finished the Flowering Orchard quilt top. That thing is HUGE! It finished out at 92" x 114". I will need to let it hang on my quilt frame for a few days while it tells me how it wants to be quilted!

Yep - it's snowing again!

I know that the little groundhog saw his shadow and forecasts 6 more weeks of winter........ but, can't it just be cold and stop snowing?

I've been working very hard on my niece's wedding quilt. It is pretty, but not my style. The quilt is not so very tedious, but the way it is put together is really "outside the box" for me, so I'm having to take this one step at a time. I am really trying to do this the way the pattern says to in hopes that I will learn a new technique or two, instead of relying on what I know works for me. So far, the sawtooth star blocks are turning out quite nicely.

I've also been spending a bit of time with my new Nintendo Wii Fit. I was introduced to the Wii Fit by my Physical Therapist and have decided to try and continue at home. Since my last couple of orthopedic surgeries, I have had some balance issues. So, spending some time every day bouncing soccer balls off my head and walking a tight rope is supposed to help! Bowling and golf are more fun but I don't think they are as good for my balance issues.