Sunday, May 19, 2013

Some Finishes!

Hello!
I'm going to milk this for all the link up's I can LOL
I haven't been posting much, I have lots of good reasons....
as you know, we are selling our home, so getting it ready and keeping it ready for showings, as you know, is a full time job.
I have my own full time job, which is almost 1.25 full time jobs....
Then, I have my neck and arm pain, that is about a half-time job to control....
then, with my want to keep the men in our home organized, need I say more.
Then, what is left, is my sewing slash quilting time, not much time left over is there?

So, I have been busy over the past few months sewing.  I redecorated our bedroom for showings.

We have this summer weight quilt I made a few years ago, called Marriage.  A little bit of both our favourite colours, hence the name.


 I had 4 blocks and some fabric left over (yes, I guess they are scraps...), I have been wanting to make shams for our bed for at least 2 years.  Guess, what, I got them done!

Next, I wanted to change out the drapes and curtain valance on the window over our bed. 

Boy, in  a small town, it sure is difficult a challenge to find some drapes to fit the rod, in the right size, in the right colour at the right price!
I had to think about a valance for over the bed to match the drapes....
eventually, I arrived at Plan D, I had a shower curtain panel in the right colour.  It may have been in the back of the Linen Closet, I think.  So, I had to cut that up, sew it together in a wide width.  Of course, it was tooooo long.  So, back to the drawing board, I decided to just cut off the bottom, to the right length, sew a simple hem.

I found a set of brocade drapes on clearance, of course not enough to cover the entire width of the garden doors.  So I found some lace panels, again not wide enough either. 

But I had a brain wave, to sew them together, lace panels to the middle.  After taking all the headers apart, sewing the lace to the brocade panels (unsewing one set as they didn't go together correctly... shesh...), then sewing the rod pocket gussets at the same height. 

Then, I realized, the lace panels wouldn't have any backing on them and it would be difficult to sleep in on the weekend....
So, I found a number of shower curtain panels, all the same, for $1 each at a clearance sale!
I sewed them together, and then to the back of the drapes below the casement seam line.


(I guess I couldn't get a picture of the drapes together, due to the direction of the sun coming thru the windows!)

I think I finished all these the night before our 1st Open House.

So, to say the least, with sewing for blog hops, etc, this all took me about 2 months to finish!!!!
Yahoo!  Three Cheers, and all that!

I think they all look pretty nice.  Not modern, not the newest colours, but traditional. yes, probably conservative too, but so is the budget.

In the past 2 days, I have dismantled my sewing room, turned it back into a bedroom, all but the sewing machine and table.  Thank goodness, I was using 2 sets of drawer chests to keep my stuff in, at least I don't have to change that up!  Pictures to come after I cover some cushions for the bed.

So, I will be linking up all week with this post.
I will be relaxing this May long weekend in Canada, raining all weekend, so no gardening or playing in the flower beds.
PS:  I'll  be doing lots of link ups this week, starting with Show and Tell Tuesday with Randi .

Have a great week,
Take care,
Leslie


Thursday, May 9, 2013

It's For The Birds! Welcome to my Day!

 
Happy Birthday Linda!
 
 
Welcome to my day!  Well, as usual, I had all kinds of ideas, but none seemed to be right.
 
Then, I found a pattern on Moda Bakeshop, and a few ideas came together.
 
But a story first.  A long time ago, I bought a fat quarter set and a panel of ladies going to a quilt retreat.  I'm sure you have seen it.  A short time later, our guild had a mini sale and swap, with the proceeds going to the guild and I donated the same fat quarter package.  My friend Linda was just learning to quilt, Moi being her tutor, and I suggested she should buy the package for a minimal amount.  Of course she did!  She asked what she could make with it, and I replied whatever she would like.  In a quilting magazine, she found a pattern for a curtain for over the window in her quilting room.  It turned out so cute and she did an amazing job!
 
 
If you click on the picture, you can see the cute pictures of all the quilters!
So, when I found Crystal Hendrix's this pattern at Moda Bakeshop, I had a plan!
You see, Linda loves birds!  All birds!
I asked her if she had any bright fabric scraps left, like she used for her window topper.  She included some  blocks from the panels too!
Unfortunately, this isn't finished, but I think you will get the idea.
I apologize to everyone, but I had a busy week this week and did my best.
So I made 6 birds, like in Crystal's pattern, 3 black, 3 green and 3 orange. 
Two of each.  Lots of piecing in those birds!  They are 8.5 inches unfinished.
 


 
You will also see a panel block
So, there are birds above and below the panel block
 
 
It's a sewing machine cover!  Or will be....
So far it is 22 x 26 inches. 
There are more panel blocks and fabrics, I could put on the reverse side,
Linda can make the next few sets of decisions and then yes, I will finish it.
The yellow isn't sooo bright, but the lighting late last night at 11 pm, it is, what it is!
 
Linda's birthday is next week, but she will be away,  so here is an early birthday present!
Sorry for the funny stories Linda, but I wanted it to be a surprise!
 
Many thanks to Mary and Samm for your ideas and coaching!
Here are some of my friends for today's postings!
 
 
Enjoy the blog hop!
Take care, Leslie

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Scrap Basket Sunday!

As a Hexie Flower girl, I found Grit's blog by accident!

Look at Look at What Grit Has Done!What She Has Done!



Holy Hexagon Batman!
I think I could manage the centre round medallion with the hexies
I have and some fabrics to add, but not the whole thing!
Grit estimates 10,000 hexagons in this quilt to date!

I'm working away at painting and making new curtains for our bedroom...
I've started sewing my contrast end to the strips on this quilt....

 
Have a wonderful Day!  (as I write this, yes, the air is WHITE!  you know with what...)
Take care, Leslie

Thursday, April 18, 2013

April Showers Mug Rug Winners!

Hi!
Sorry to be so slow with this announcement, but we had some unexpected company on the evening I was going to post the winners, then I lost my notes (no the dog didn't eat my homework! LOL!)

So, I decided to give both of the mug rugs away to .....

Kristen Loves Fabric
 and
Stitches and etc

I will be emailing you ladies for your snail mail!

My weekend will be filled with some painting.  I haven't done any sewing all week!  Wish me luck this weekend.
Talk with you in a few days

Take care, Leslie

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Scrap Basket Sunday 1!

Good Morning!

I've been good.  I THINK I don't really have scraps, I have a stash.
I THINK guess I use up my scraps as I go.  Or maybe I discard larger pieces than others would.  I usually discard pieces of fabric under 1.5 inch strips.  I THINK I'm not a person who would make 1.5 or 2 inch squares just because I could.  I find, thread is expensive and I like to move onto NEW projects. 

So, I had this collection of a Park Avenue layer cake (by 3 Sisters, Moda) and 2 charm packs.  I found a neutral background in my stash too, so I cut the pieces for the cover quilt.
Happy Dance, I'm on my way !!!


Then when I was cleaning out a corner and I found a container with some usable scraps!  So, I guess I really do have scraps.  These are all leftovers from a quilt I made for family a few years ago.  This fabric is by Moda, it was a special printing of fabrics for the Minnesota State Shop Hop (which starts August long weekend). 

It looks like I was making HST to make a square in a square table topper.  I found some of the blocks put together!  Ok, note to (self) Lady Perfectionist, I'm not perfect! LOL

I also found my spools, a leader, ender project.  I'd like to get this at least all cut out and together in a bag, so it doesn't get lost or separated when we move.  Honest, I inherited these scraps, I'm just making good use of them, honest!

Ok, so looks like I have at least 3 (long term) Scrap Basket projects!  I think that is enough for this multi-tasker!  (plus my UFO projects on my cutting table, yikes!)
Have a great week!

Oh, before I forget, I'll draw for winners of my April Showers Mug Rug by supper tomorrow!

You can go HERE  to leave a comment to be in the drawing if you would like!

Take care, Leslie

Thursday, April 11, 2013

April Showers Blog Hop, Water Lilies!

Happy Friday!
 
Welcome to Friday on the April Showers Blog Hop!
A big thank you to Erin and Madame Samm for organizing this for us!
 
The Perfectionist (go away!) in me is arguing with the Zenist (trying to keep me calm!) in me ......

I picked some cute fabrics to make some bright flowers. 
 I had tulips in my head, on a bed of green grass.....
trying to think of April showers, bring May flowers, I planned on making 4 sets of flowers, but ....
I didn't realize the smaller the Dresden petals, the more you need and the bigger the inner circle, 

(edit: 2 inch strips, made 24 petals, I think 4.5 inch circle)

but I had to keep going. 
So, as my 4 sets would not make 4 dresden flower circles.
 Ok, so I put the colours together for 2 flowers. 
Then I had to pick a colour for the centres. 
When I opened my green bin, out jumped a bright green, so I thought great, for a bed of grass! 
Enough for 2 mug rugs!
So back to looking for fabric for the centres, I thought black and white check....
But it wasn't in the bin, but wavy black fabric was, good for contrast...
No time for hand applique, I prepared for fusible centres
I put the mug rugs together, pillow case style...
laid the petal circles down
ironed down the centres
Voila!
Now, Perfectionist says they are sooooo dark

So, Zenist, says, in her most calming, soothing voice.....
 think about sitting outside in a warm summer evening
near the pond in the back yard, (natural or your own design)
look at the dark blue water, long shadows across the surface
see the green leaves and stems?
Open your eyes, what do you see?
 
W A T E R   L I L I E S
 
 
 floating on the pond surface....
 
My Zen lady won out!
Now I love them!

If you leave me a comment, tell me which of my lillies you would like,
 I will send it to the luck winner!
 
Enjoy your day!

 Erin  has the list to visit my other friends today!
 
Take care, Leslie

Monday, April 8, 2013

Welcome to April Showers Mug Rug Blog Hop!


Hi!


Welcome to the April Showers Mug Rug Blog Hop! 

Erin Our Cheerleader! has the lists for each day and all the links for you!

Me, I'm up on Friday!

See  you then!

Take care, Leslie