Monday, March 25, 2013

Oh My Sewing Machine My Sewing Machine- A friend indeed!


Sherman and I got a lot done this weekend. Of Course it wasn’t the stuff I should have been working on but …. I finished my project for the Covert Robin and I even put an inset zipper pocket in the tote! (applause)  and then I decided to start another little project for my swap partner- I hope that whomever has my name is enjoying this swap as much as I am! 


Last weekend Aunt Bobbie got to take Emma Bean out to Lunch for her birthday. Emma received a new kitchen from mommy and Daddy so I made her an apron and potholder. I believe she liked it!- She didn't take it off the whole time we were shopping and would have slept in it if mommy had allowed her.   Emma Bean’s Apron was a store bought one that I purchased many moons ago for a child that is way too tall for it now. I just added a pocket. I also made a potholder for Emily, whose birthday we celebrated this weekend.

 I took Emily's potholder in to work to show it off and left it on my desk. Being too lazy to go into work to get it, I made Emily a little bag and then I decided to make her an apron as well.


Emily's Apron is reversible


After arriving home from Emily’s party, I started making spring bags for the little girls in my nursery SS class. I made four. I think the Venti Mocha Java Chip Frappucino that Diane brought me may have had something to do with my crazy sewing spurt.

I still had the JDeere Fabric out from Emily’s apron, so Sunday afternoon I made three bags for the boys. The fabric was intended for pillows and I used the outside edges as the handles (the hardest part was pressing those things) and I pieced the leftovers to make the back for one of the bags.  I ran outta time, so I still need to make one more boy bag and one more little girl bag for Wednesday night. I also need to make a couple of bags for the “bigger girls” in my Kings Kids class.


I was really supposed to be making gifts for our Volunteer party at work- but the party isn't until April .....
Have a great day!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Covert Robins

Tomorrow is the first day of spring and I believe the robins have been undercover click here for music- don't forget to come back and read :)  That is what I thought of when I saw the sign ups for the COVERT ROBIN Swap.  I really didn't *mean* to sign-up but somehow it happened.

That means I have to covertly visit my partner's blog and figure out what she might like and make it for her. And mail it by March 31st. I was thinking- ME and my big ideas! My partner really hasn't posted much of what she likes, mostly what she as made. (which is some pretty cool stuff) So I decided to make a tote bag using her logo- and it is working very well- Thankfully her friend that  designed the logo made it simple enough for me to copy. Thank you! Since I can't show you the whole bag yet (she would definitely figure out who had her then, wouldn't she?) I will give you a sneak peek



this is the back

and a closeup sideview of the front
I am having fun with this project! I hope she likes it! I have decided I need to get an applique pressing sheet- I am making a mess of my iron!
Have a great day!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Mysteries and Mayhem

the handprint belongs to the recipient of my project
I have had sew much fun just looking at everyone's Nancy Drew Projects! I have been sew amazed at the talent and creativity shown by everyone! Detective Samm and Detective Carol have done a fantastic job keeping us amateur sleuths in line! I think they deserve a promotion!



As I was puzzling over what to make for this hop, I started thinking of mystery stories in general. Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, The Three Investigators, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames, The Dana Girls were all a part of my childhood, and I have a niece that loves to read as much as her Aunt Bobbie. Her favorite books seem to be the same ones I loved.  I knew I was making her a pillow, but I had no CLUE what pattern I would use. Footprints, clues, hidden treasure, creepy passages, old clocks, lilacs – nothing was clicking and then I had a hunch of my own!

“Read read read Thats all I can say”
Carolyn Keene, The Secret of the Old Clock




A Question Mark!  Every mystery starts with a question- Who Done it? The Three Investigators use the Question Mark as their symbol because “they stand for questions unanswered, riddles unsolved, mysteries unexplained." I couldn’t find any patterns on line or even a picture of a quilt with a question mark so I made up my own. 
 I picked up a few clues from my fellow sleuthy bloggers.  Every mystery has clues- footprints and .......
FINGERPRINTS
so I tried my hand  at FMQing some fingerprints into my quilt


I had to play with the color so the  fingerprints would show up in the picture.


Another thing a good mystery has is a secret, whether it is a secret passageway or a secret compartment-

"After Nancy had discovered Fay on deck, and Captain Easterly  had been sure he would not return, the thief had made two visits to the clipper and hidden in the secret compartment of the wardrobe"

the Secret in the Pillowcase
So of course my project had to have a secret compartment too (mine is not as cool as the books behind the painting that we saw earlier this hop, but it is hard to see.) Since this pillow is meant for a reader and that reader has glasses, I added a secret glasses compartment on the back of the pillow- if she is anything like her Aunt Bobbie, she needs her glasses right at hand.



Abby’s Birthday was the 3rd of March, but I didn’t have her present quite finished- we took pictures anyway!
Here is the finished project (without the pillow form)

"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island."
— Walt Disney
 







Abby forgot to put Samantha's coat on her.
And then I sat her in the snow! :)

I was taking a blog reading break during my Nancy Drew project and Amy, over at Naptime Crafters was hosting Dressing Up Dolly. Mom 4 Reals shared a tutorial for a book bag for an AG Doll- I had a few “too small” HST’s  and squares leftover from the pillow top so I put them together and made Abby’s doll, Samantha a book bag.  What is a book bag with out books? I didn't have access to a printer so I wrote up some handwritten books. I used quotes from Abby's favorite books: The Bible, Little Women and Nancy Drew. I have plans for an Anne of Green Gables books too.  I stitched the bindings on the books with my sewing machine.


My Camera has blink detection and after every picture of Samantha,
it said Blink Detected!
 Reminded me of a Trixie Belden Mystery-
 the case of the Blinking Eye

Abby said that Samntha LOVES her new books!
"They're just the right size!"
Like Madam Samm, I Love my coffee and I love tea too so when I came across a cup cozy in the midst of my sleuthing frenzy... I had to make one- Can't read a good  any book with out a cuppa -

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice





it fits my regular sized cup and...

I added a tab so it would fit through the handle
and be adjustable, however, it barely fits my big cup!  
I still need to sew the velcro on- the glue melts when the cup is hot!

Thank you for stopping by to see all my sleuthy projects- I hope you are having as much fun on this hop as I am! Be sure to hop over to my fellow detectives and see what they have come up with! I have a hunch you will love it!

Thursday, March 14, 2013 

Friday, March 15, 2013 

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Sleuthy

Things have been rather Mysterious around Blogland and it just keeps getting better- Have you been sleuthing around yet? If not you, really need to. I have a hunch you will not be disappointed! The whole schedule is over on Just Let Me Quilt.  Carol has been a great hostess- and is giving out clues daily for fabulous prizes. Get a Clue and start hopping! Be sure to hop on over here on the 14th for my sleuthy projects.
Sew we quilt 





This week these fantastic sleuths are sharing their projects---oooh I can't wait to see what they have come up with! It is rather amazing that you can give everyone the same fabric and each project comes out so unique!
Monday, March 11, 2013 

Tuesday, March 12, 2013 

Wednesday, March 13, 2013 

Thursday, March 14, 2013 
From This To That <-- Detective St. Clair at your service!! :)(AKA ME)

Friday, March 15, 2013 

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Quilt show

Just a few pictures from our first Quilt show. We had around 25 items to show- If we had had any more I would have had to go down the halls with them! We are already planning to expand the area for next year's show.

Our residents enjoyed hearing all the stories about the quilts and sharing some of their own as well.













I am sew excited! tomorrow starts the Nancy Drew HOP- makes me think of the Lindy Hop- Let's Dance! :) You can check out all the fun over at Carol's - She is our fabulous cheerleader for this hop! my day isn't until the 14th but you will see my footprints heading toward the clues!
some of my blocks adorned the nurses desk- three are from blog hops!