Life Gets in the Way

Just a quick note to let you know that I'll be away from home, and the internet, for a while. I'll be back with stories and pictures. Keep crafting and have fun with it. Becca

Kindle Bag: Take Two

I gave the Kindle Bag another try. Just a little bit bigger. See, about 1/2 inch bigger.
I didn't have much of this wonderful fabric from Amy Butler, so used all I had and made two.
I'm much happier with the result this time. I don't have to fight to get the Kindle into the bag. I also love the red flannel that I used. Now that Kindle won't get cold.
Now, I'm onto the next little quilt which will be created using Park Avenue by 3Sisters for Moda.

Kindle Bag: Take One

How does one go about making a little padded case for the Kindle? I decided to find out. First, I picked out a cute little print and some coordinating flannel. I measured the Kindle and decided on an appropriate seam allowance. I cut out all the bits and got with the sewing.
I added in some batting to make the little bag a little more protective. I sewed it all up with a wrist strap to make it easy to carry.I should have provided for a little more seam allowance. The Kindle does fit, it is just a very snug fit.There you have it! A simple bag to hold your Kindle. I think I'll go work on those numbers again to make it a little easier to get the book reader in and out of the bag. Maybe decide on a flap or some other closure... hmmm... such wonderful possibilities. Or, I'll try the same thing for the iPad.

This Little House: the Sewing Suite--The End

The sewing suite is done!
On Saturday, my contractors showed up at 9 am to finish the flooring upstairs. I spent most of Monday morning cleaning up all the sawdust that was scattered about. Then I got with the moving of furniture.
The space is really much bigger than I can capture from the open doorway. See how nicely my desk fits in there? Then I unpacked box after box of fabric. You can't even see all the fabric in this picture because I ran out of room to put some of it. I just need to find the shelf brackets so I can have more shelf space. At least half the room isn't full of boxes any more.
I couldn't resist hanging up some of my quilts on the great little quilt stand we picked up at the thrift store last week.

This Little House: The Sewing Suite-Part Two

I have nearly finished with all the work I'm going to do to the house this year. The latest project is to finish up the floors in the sewing suite.Look at poor Slick, the movers dismembered him. At any rate, here is a view of the other side of the sewing suite before I got busy moving everything out so I could pull up the last of the evil carpet this house has been using to harbor smells, dirt and less savory things.
This morning, I started with an empty room. Time to tear up the carpet. Hammer: check. Screwdriver: check (although I have no idea why I needed that). Utility knife: check. Eleven-in-one tool: check (this is the most awesome tool I've ever had, no homeowner should be without one).
Carpet up, time to take up the padding. Padding that was was stuck down with some pretty sturdy double-sided tape.
After a couple hours, I've discovered the floor beneath. Whew! Time for my contractors to get here with the tools and expertise to cover it up with something much more pleasing. Then I get to move all the stuff back in.

Bliss

This little quilt was made using Bliss by Bonnie & Camille for Moda. I love the pinks, reds and browns. I couldn't resist using this "bubblegum pink" flannel for the backing.
First I split up the charm packs and made a stack of four-patch blocks. Then pieced all the blocks together. I want to say that I don't spend too much time fiddling with layout, but that would be a lie.
Layer, quilt, bind...
Result: A blissful little quilt that would make any little girl pleased as punch.
Ingredients: 2 charm packs, 1/3 yard of coordinating fabric for the border, 1/3 yard of coordinating fabric for the binding, 1.5 yards flannel for the backing, thread and lots of love. Bliss!

This Little House: The Front Room

I spent some time last week uncovering the stairs leading to the sewing suite. I was hoping I'd find some hard wood treads. Instead, I found this dark-finished pine. Not a problem. I like them anyway.Removing all that carpet made such a difference. I'm really glad I got it finished. It was mostly prompted by the floor finishing upstairs. Since the flooring continues across the landing, the carpet had to give at some point. Somewhere down the road, we'll have the stairs refinished to match the rest of the house.
Look at all those boxes. I'm really starting to dislike this unpacking business.
Aren't those hardwood floors pretty? Now, to get those guys in here to put down the baseboard trim.
Okay, so here is the front room when I started. Some boxes, no real window treatments and a bunch of space. I didn't want to this to be our room for watching television. I read somewhere that if your television is in the first room in the house you are common. To avoid that (yes, I know, I'm plenty common, just look at those chairs) I decided we would put the dining set in the front room to create an area for entertaining. It's not like there is any room in the kitchen to put a table and chairs.
You will have to forgive the chairs for being green. It isn't their fault they don't match the window treatments. Maybe I should have gotten the brown curtains. Oh, well. I like the orange. You can just see past the table to the matching pillows on the lower shelf unit. I'll unpack a few more boxes to get something on those bare shelves and we'll call this room done.

Summer's End

What good is a sewing suite if you don't get some sewing done?
Here is the newest quilt, all laid out for basting. It's wonderful to have enough space to actually baste a quilt without having to crawl around on the floor.
All quilted and the binding added. Time to watch some DiY network to finish the binding off.
After many hours sitting in front of the television with needle and thread, I've finished the binding.
These fabrics are from Summer's End by Kansas Troubles Quilters for Moda. I had six charm packs that I worried to death to make these two quilts. This is the crib-size quilt made with the reds, oranges and the creams. Everything left over was used to make the larger quilt above.

I decided to go with a larger meandering quilting pattern for this one. I think they both came out wonderfully. Overall, a great way to say goodbye to summer as the weather shifts to a crisp autumn.

This Little House: The Sewing Suite

Over the last couple weeks I've been working on getting the sewing suite finished so I can completely unpack all of those moving boxes full of fabric.Step One: Pull up all the stinky carpet. Look at that wonderful floor! Someone tried to tell me it was "Art Deco." Whatever it is, it will soon be covered with something much better.Here it is as a work in progress. I love my home improvement experts. They make everything easier. Last night, they finished up the trim. The trim will need a coat of primer and paint, but that can wait. I have to shift everything from the other side of the level so they can continue the wonderful flooring all they way across the level.

Today's project is to finish the baseboard trim throughout the main level.

Truly Awesome

While I was cruising around this Awesome fabric from Moda came in the mail. I couldn't wait to dive right in and create a new little quilt.
Ingredients: Two charm packs, five 2.5" wide strips of border, five 2.5" wide strips of binding, about 1.5 yards of flannel and batting to fit. Add thread to match and get sewing.
I found a great multicolor thread that was in the same warm, fall colors.
Yield: One Awesome quilt!

Joey & Nina

Last Saturday, we were in Massachusetts for the wedding of an old friend. It's been years (more than ten, for those of you keeping track) since we have seen Joey and several other friends.
Here is Joey's Mother, Joey and his beautiful wife Nina.
The ceremony was wonderful. Catching up with friends at the reception was great.
The best man Tim and the groom enjoy some wedding cake.
It was great to see everyone again. Time flies. Here is to not losing track of friends.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

More pictures of Santo Domingo. These were taken the third day we were there. Throughout the day the sky would open up and douse the streets with rain. Several times we had to duck for cover. Sometimes we would find something wonderful.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Next stop: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Apologies, all of these pictures were taken while my camera lens was fogged from the humidity. I'm going to call it a special lens effect and carry on.
The walls of Santo Domingo. The age of the structures here is rather humbling.
Columbus Park.

I have some much better pictures of this area. (Without special lens effects, even.)