A Week(end) in Review

After the cold snap here in Florida, Friday turned out to be a beautiful day!  We hit the 80s.  So the kids, myself and the grandbaby had to get out and enjoy!

Here’s my Charlie taking a break from the swings and slides.

My two oldest daughters.   My 16-year old (in black tee and denim)  is teaching her sister (the 23 year old, in peach top and a new mother) how to ride the ‘Ripstick’!  WOW!  I even got in on that!

…and the baby enjoyed his stroller ride in the sunshine!

The baby girl, did not want to leave the swings.  And, we all miss Dad when he’s working out-of-town and we go to the lakefront to hang out!

Now, Saturday was MY day!  Good company, Good conversation, Good food and of course, Good sewing at my Sewing Meetups!  I was also able to complete my quiltalong blocks and some sashing!

Willa, our Fabulous Organizer of the Sew Meetups contemplating her next move on her project!

A beautiful quilt done by one of our members, Marilee!  Lovely!  Oh, and that cute little machine sitting in the pic, is one of my dream machines!  I want a Featherweight!

Mercedes working on her pattern and Heather working on hand-stitching!

Marilee working on paper piecing and Nanette working on her quilt blocks.   And, Peggy (on the end) focused and finishing her quilt (which she did, and started another)!  She’s an inspiration and encouraging!  Peggy taught me quilting and free-motion.  She was also the person who had given me my first treadle and taught me how to treadle!  Peggy’s pretty amazing, huh!  A wonderful person!  (Hey, did you notice all of the ladies to the left of me had Featherweights?)

So, to say the least I had a Fabulous week(end)!

HAPPY SEWING!

The little things…

…a smile; a sincere “hello” from a passerby; a note in the mail, which is what I received in my mailbox the other day from a friend!

And, she included these cute, crocheted spool pin doilies!  Aren’t these just lovely?!

It’s the little things that mean so much!  Thank you, Linda!  I love my spool pin doilies!  So refreshing to pull your letter out of the mailbox!

What’s New?!

Happy January!

…from this “Happy Hugger” made using Amber Perry Patterns.  I love her blog!  She has many tutorials for knitting, crocheting and cloth diaper sewing!  Also, check out Amber Perry Patterns on Etsy!  I love her ‘Butt Knits’ for babies…so cute!

I opted to put hair on my Happy Hugger named Rosie.  I knitted about 8-10 rows of scrap ‘eyelash’ yarn and then, sewed it on.  I think she’s a doll! (hehe)

I’ve also been working on these rice bags/packs; for hot and cold use.  I’ve made these for my family and friends.  They are sew easy to make!  Check out the tutorial.

I’m currently knitting fingerless mitts for myself, finally!

Now, I ask…”What’s New With You?”

Spring Quilt 2010 – Completed!

Well, I finally completed the Spring Quilt!

I decided to bless my neighbor with the quilt.  She is expecting her first child in June!  She’s had some rough spots…and, a quilt is a great source of comfort!

I also had some left over scraps and made a travel pillow to go along.  She loved it!  And, what’s great is I found out that yellow was her favorite color!  It was destiny!

You can see more pics of the quilt on my Flickr.

Have a Prosperous and Productive New Year!

1st Patchwork for Alyssa

I have been teaching my 6 year-old daughter, Alyssa to sew!

She started off on a Morse and New Home electric sewing machines.  However, when I purchased a handcrank and she tried it out…she LOVEd it!  I would have to say that it is the best machine to teach (especially young ones) sewing.

We’ve been quite busy in our household this past week.  Besides, getting things ready for Christmas, my oldest daughter has given birth to her first and our first grandbaby!

THE best Christmas present…Gabriel!

So, today was a “Mommi & Me Day” for my 6-year old and myself!  Alyssa wanted to work on the handcrank for this project.  Her first patchwork piece…a pillowcase!

She knows to iron all of her seams flat.

She did an excellent job!  And, she’s (and, I) are very proud of how her patchwork pillowcase turned out!

Very good, baby girl!

HAPPY SEWING!…and, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

First Project for the New Year…A WIP!

I’ve been sewing for a long time, but I just learned this year to quilt and free-motion.  It’s as addictive as my enjoyment for vintage sewing machines, vintage sewing patterns, fabric and vintage sewing notions, etc.!

My first project for 2010 is a Spring Log Cabin Quilt which displays my love of vibrant colors and patterns!

I’ve assembled all of the blocks and I need to add sashing.  I think I will use white cotton for stashing; a solid color for backing (maybe, lemon); and, figure out what fab to use for the binding.

I read a tip from a reader in American Patchwork & Quilting, June 2008, “attack the stack”, …after finishing a quilt (or, any sewing project), instead of adding the leftover fabrics to the stash; cut it into strips and store in a strip box.  When box is full, it’s time to make a quilt.  Donate quilt to a local charity.

So, this is how this quilt came about.  From leftover fabrics from other sewing projects.  Don’t know yet, who will be blessed with this quilt.

Stay tuned…to see it finished!

HAPPY QUILTING!

Holiday Cheer!

I put up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving, as always…but, I was not in the “Holiday Cheer”.

One day last week, this put a ’spark’ in my cheerfulness!

This was delivered from Santa and made me smile!  This is machine 1 of 2 from Santa.  The name on it is Eau Claire (as in, the name of a place in Wisconsin).  I’ve been researching…haven’t found anything.  If you know something about this machine and leave a comment, I would be much appreciated!  However, I was thinking of gifting this machine to my niece after I give it a good cleaning and oiling.  It runs perfectly!  Machine 2 of 2 has not arrived yet,  it is a Frister & Rossmann hand crank.  I’m so excited!  Santa LOVES me!

Needless to say, my Holiday Cheer has arrived!  I completed ALL of the handmade gifts to teachers and staff at my childrens’ schools, and ALL of the gifts for my sister.  You can see the photos of some of the coin purses and cup cozies with matching mug rugs on Flickr.

…Cheers!

Mommi’s Helper & Updates

It’s been a long time since my last post.  I’ve had lots going on, as I’m sure everyone does!  So, there’s no excuse! ;D

I’m teaching my 6 year-old daughter, Alyssa how to sew!  And, she is having a blast!  She’s made a couple of pillows to start; and, this week we made fabric ornaments.  I cut out the shapes and Alyssa has sewn her teacher’s ornament all by herself and she’s so smitten!

I think it’s best to train a child on a ‘real’ machine instead of the toy machines.  A hand crank is also a good child’s beginner sewing machine.  Always teach safety no matter what kind of machine use.

…she also stuffed her ornament!

Way to go, Alyssa!  I’m thinking by the time she’s 8 years-old, Mommi’s Helper will be piecing quilt tops! ;D

I’ve been busy sewing all kinds of things.  A sewing friend of mine, who also had given me my first treadle machine, taught me to piece and free-motion quilt.  I’ve always wanted to learn how and now I’ve gone quilting crazy!  Resistance is futile!

On that note, here is a WIP of a Christmas tree skirt, which I have pieced and am now free-motion quilting.  Check out the tutorial from Piece N Quilt blog.

Hopefully, I can finish quilting this today so that I can add the binding and get it in the mail soon!

Here is a cute gift or stocking stuffer project using up scrap fabric.

Cup cozy (cup sleeve) and mug rug (coaster)!

I used a cup sleeve from my cuppa as a template and added about .5″ in size for seam allowance; cut 2 of fabric and cut 1 of batting (for both sleeve and mug rug).  I measured about 2″ in width for binding (sleeve).  Cut the mug rug 4.5″ square and for it’s binding, I measured about 1 1/8″ width.

It was good sharing with you all!  I have to get back to work.  I’ll try not to stay away so long!

HAPPY SEWING!

garage sale and thrift store finds

Hello!

I cannot resist a garage sale, nor a thrift store.  I always check the local thrift stores to see ‘what’s new’!  And wherever I drive, if I see a ‘Garage Sale’ sign…I have to stop and check it out.  Here are some of my finds.

Storage…

…I’m using this to store and carry small scraps and needlework to my sewing meet-ups;

…this is such a cool sewing basket.  Circa 1970s.  hard plastic;

…and beautiful vintage linens.

I thought of making aprons from the vintage linens, but wanted other ideas and suggestions.  Friends have all suggested pillows and baby bedding, which I like!

What are some of your ideas?  I appreciate your input!

the house that alyssa built

Lego-mania!

My children LOVE lego building and grandparents oblige by sending loads of lego kits EVERY birthday and Christmas.  Their lego collection takes up 1/2 of their closet space and shelves.

The house Alyssa built has a working door and window…

and she’s very proud of her creation!

PEACE!

Thank you for visiting…to see the house Alyssa built!