New quilt top for Fall-Harvest Thyme altered

This is a small quilt or table topper or wall hanging, etc. I like to make these and lay them across my kitchen table.
I used a pattern called Harvest Thyme for the pumpkins etc and then made the background and borders different from the instructions. I can't seem to follow a pattern without embellishing it?
I am happy with the way it turned out and will quilt it myself on my Baby Lock with a light orangey very small checked Provence faabric on the back. Then I have a Moda bias tape called Butterscotch which also is a very small check I will bind it with.

I used Eleanor Burn's technique to make the appliques and it is awesome. I learned it directly from her at Houston at the Quilt Market last year. I sewed with her at her sewing machine and really enjoyed it. She is wonderful.

I finally pieced a quilt top!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here you are able to see the boarders.

I made this using a pattern I found in a magazine for quilters out of Michael Miller fabrics, Exclusively Quilting and Moda.

Now I need to find someone to quilt it for me.

Most of my quilts are hand quilted by Amish ladies.

T he back will be a white tonal with tiny flowers in it and the binding probably the border, which is paisley. See picture number 1.

Of course, I made this using my Baby Lock Espire, which I love love love.

dish towel tote bag

This is my new tomato bag made with dish towels I bought at Kohl's. I got the pattern and idea out of the new aug issue of the Am Patchwork and quilting magazine.

The pattern called for round or d-handles, which I didn't have. So, I used the fabric which was cut off and made handles, which changed the purse drastically but it still has the outside pockets on both sides.

We thought the tomatoes were cute.

New bag called "To - Go Bag"

On the cover of my new magazine called Threads is a delightful picture of the To-Go Bag.

Of course I had to make one.

I used Michael Miller fabric on the outside and Exclusively Quilting fabric on the inside and Michael Miller bias trim. The handles have rings attached and I used a magnetic closure.

There are pockets on the outside ends and none in the inside.

I had to read the pattern numerous times to understand how to make it and still was struggling, but I finished it and was pleased with it, even though I had the handles on incorrectly and had to repair alittle. lol

This bag is smaller than I like to carry but plenty big enough for all your purse needs.

Update on my arm & my mother's scarf

3 months ago my arm went numb from elbow to pinkie and ring finger and lots of pain in the elbow area. After several doctor appointments and tests and different opinions, it seems I have a problem with my ulnew nerve which has greatly reduced my sewing activities.

Now, it is getting better slowly and for that I am very thankful. Praise the Lord.

Friday night our air conditioning went out, and husband George flipped the whole house electrical switch in the fuse box. This caused the computers (3) to go offline.

I spent 2 hours on the phone with the cable people and talked with 3 different techs and the conclusion they reached is my computer no longer recognizes my network card which is surely damaged. So I am using the extra computer in the garage, but the garage has a window air unit!!!!!!but no printer.

My memory sticks do not fit the computer in the garage so I am using George's computer to post my blog. Where there is a will there is a way.

Last night, George got the air working. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, the whole point of this post was to tell about my mother's scarf.

I am wearing this weird looking brace on my elbow and decided to "doctor" it up with a scarf. I was looking for a smaller one and found one of my mother's that I had never really looked at that closely. I fell in love with it and decided it would make a great pattern for a quilt.

George wants to frame it and put it on the wall-the scarf that is.

Anyway, at the bottom of the scarf, it says Margaret Cusack.

I did some googling and found her web site and all about her. She is quite an accomplished artist and designer. I wrote her and asked her if I could use the pattern to make a small quilt and she wrote back and said yes provided I endorsed her copyright.

Here is a picture of the scarf-above.

another hobo type bag only slightly smaller

I made this bag for friend Connie. It is very similar to the one I posted last called Hobo. This one is smaller but the same shape and handle and inside pockets with magnetic closure.
For 2 years I have been stuck on the tote type with the boxed corners etc. and now I have branched out.
I love this bag and love carrying the one I made for myself. It is so comfortable and eash to use. I discovered by lengthening out the handle it will fit across my body like a hipster type bag and would be perfect for traveling and shopping etc.
This fabric is Michael Miller inside and out, of course, my favorite for sewing.

Hobo

I made this up and like it even though it is alittle larger than I am used to carry. I like the vinyl handles that are so soft and adjustable.

New Spring Purse

My Posting is sort of backwards today, because I added more pictures after I had written and don't know how to rearrange them. Keep reading and looking at the pictures. Back side of the eyeglass case.
Check book holder I pieced and quilted.
The other side follows and also an inside view.

Inside view of the clutch/wallet described below.















This is my new spring purse which has basically the same colors as the quilted bag with the braided handled. I made accessories that match each bag so I can carry either one I want now.


This bag was made using the Flea Market Bag pattern and Michael Miller fabric on the outside and exclusively quilters on the inside. Great match.


I made slip in pockets for the inside on both sides and used a magnetic closure.





Even though I used Pellon Decor on both the outside and the inside, it has a sloppy look and very fresh and casual-great for spring and summer. It is very lightweight and can be used as a hand or shoulder bag. I love it.





I think the next one of these I make I will try sew in interfacing, like the pattern called for. LOL I always have to deviate somehow.

This make up bag I made with Michael Miller fabrics outside and inside and used the YKK vislon activewear zipper, which is my absolute favorite zipper in the world.
This is the clutch bag pattern by kwik but I altered it by adding a looper and inside I added an extra pocket separation. I use this for a wallet and love it. This Michael Miller is absolutely gorgeous.
This is the glasses case I made by piecing and quilting and using decorative stitches. It wound up so thick I couldn't fold it over, so it is larger than I intended but I love it. I am going wild adding loopers to everything.

New Pieced and quilted Tote

I ordered a pattern and dvd from Justine Foster called the bag lady carrying bag. I love the pattern and loved even more the dvd. It is awesome to watch her make the bag with such ease and such talent. I learned so much from her it was like taking a class.

I made the small size and it is approximately 15 inches wide and 11 inches tall and 6 inches deep. It has side pieces and also a bottom piece and everything is quilted. She even demonstrated stipple quilting on the dvd and hand stitching. It is awesome.


I wanted to show a side view so you could see the side panel. On the inside there are pockets on the sides also. I like that.
The inside has a document pocket and then pockets on both sides and the ends.


There is a loop and button closure and also one on the document pocket.

I love this pattern and am going to to try again and see if I can make one similar to hers.

Her logo is Love & Stitches
Desigsn.

http://www.loveandstitchesdesigns.com/index.html

Check out her website.

Since Fall is my favorite season, I used Moda fall fabrics and a few o thers and think it will be freat to carry in the fall, and I love the document pocket. It is awesome.

Simplicity

I finally finished a new tote purse I have been working on for myself.
I used the Moda Simplicity charm squares and faux leather handles.
I pieced the fabric and quuilted it and used a stripe for the lining with flowered pockets.

I made another one like this with fabric handles for my niece Susan for her Easter gift.

I have not been posting much because I have had health problems with my arms. First I had a stress test because the doctor that it might be heart related and the test turned out negative, so I had a catherization. That, however, was fine. Praise the Lord.

Then, when I was barely over that ordeal, my left arm went numb from my pinkie up to my elbow. The worse was the pain in my elbow. I went to the doctor and he had me to take muscle relaxers and pain pills and I slept for a week. Then I had to go for a nerve conduction test, so I quit the pills. Then I went to my doctor for the follow up and he said I need prednisone, so now I am taking it and back on the pain pills and it is getting a little better.
If this doesn't work he says I need surgery on my nerve in the elbow.....

Back to the purse, I have decided to put rick rack around the top of my next tote and I am excited to try it. I am afraid it might be a little tricky for me though.
I wish some of you reading this would write me.

New Tote Bag with zippered divider++a 1st

Finished Product


Inside with zippered divider unzipped to show the pocket.

Inside with zippered divider zipper and slip in pockets on each side.

Enlarged picture to show design

One of the ladies from church said she needed a new purse and would love for me to make her one---BUT she liked a zippered divider. You guessed it. I had never made one like that. So, I decided to try and see if I could do it and I did!!!

I was very pleased with the way the bag turned out.

I added pink"leather" handles and used Chocolate Lollipop fabrics from Westminster.

I put the divided pocket with a pink zipper in the middle and slip in pockets on both sides of the lining. I also used a magnetic closure.

This purse would be cute wider and shorter too.

Haute Tote McCall's Quilting Magazine

When my quilting magazines arrive, I immediately look for a purse pattern. I was not disappointed in this current April issue I received a week ago.


This tote was designed by Nina McVeigh and is intermediate in skill level. It has woven handles which call for an apparatus (Diva Custom Cord Maker) you have to buy that costs $35, but I made mine from a coffee can lid.

It also calls for you to make piping out of cording and bias tape you make.


Anyway, I used all new fabric from my ebay store from Michael Miller and Exclusively Quilters.
http://stores.ebay.com/Fabric-for-quilts-and-more

It is pieced and quilted, and I am very happy with it, since it is my first attempt. I did follow the pattern, except I put in a magnetic closure and added pockets on the inside. I like a lot of pockets. I did find that the inside lining piece was too tall so I made alittle edging out of the lining which sticks up on the outside of the bag (the polka dot), and I rather like that. My husband called it a happy accident.


I used Warm and Natural batting for the outside and fusible fleece on the lining.


You have to make bias tape from the 8 fabrics you use to make the bag. If you don't know how, it is shown on the website for McCall's.
http://nccallsquilting.com/
You have to buy the magazine to get the pattern for the tote.