April's Friday Night Sew-In and Fest

For this Friday Night Sew-In, I decided to make the tote bag that Heidi and Bobbi offered.  It looked like a fun project and it was!!  Thanks Bobbi & Heidi!! I decided I would change it up a bit by adding a pocket inside (I always need pockets! Don't you?) and I changed the handles.  I had so much fun and liked the results that I made 2!  What do you think?

I also spent some time organizing, washing and pressing fabric for my next quilt and making a list of things to get at the quilt festival.  So this morning, I was off to meet my friend, Tracy, at the festival.  

We met up with not too much difficulty and started by admiring the many beautiful quilts.  Here is a small sample of them...

Churn dash, architectural, mariner's compass art quilt, and units...

dandelions, play with H's, pineapple and bright scrappy flowers...

landscape and stars...

And we then headed to the venders.  It is a bit overwhelming with way too many choices!!!  I am glad that I limited myself and brought out my list.  I actually pretty much stayed the coarse.  (Remember I just had a big shopping spree in Cedar Rapids last month! ) I got a yard of a coordinating Moda fabric from Make Life (purchased a piece in Cedar Rapids) and the template and thread I needed for the Mariner's Compass.  I now need to get busy and sandwich and quilt the Mariner's Compass.  It has been on hold for too long...

It has been a fun 2 days playing with fabrics and seeing so much eye candy!  Ahh! 

Updates...

It has been some time since I have posted, so I thought I better give an update of what I have been up to.  

First, the mariner's compass is on hold for a short while.  The top is completed, batting ready, backing washed and ready to sandwich.  I am waiting for the INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL in Rosemont, IL this coming weekend, April 15 - 18.  There I plan on purchasing the template my husband has picked out and some thread for the quilting.  I love this inspiring festival and have been eagerly waiting for the annual event. Typically, I spend the first part of my day admiring the beautiful quilts on display - from traditional to art quilts, postcards to large sized, machine or hand pieced and/or quilted.  Such talent from around the world! Then, I visit the many merchants vending a myriad of products useful for quilters and crafters.   Every notion you can think of, fabrics galore, patterns, machines, etc.  Of coarse there are speakers, classes and other hands-on opportunities.  If you are in the area, don't miss it!  This is one nice thing about living in Chicagoland! 

I also completed a table runner that I purchased almost 2 years ago on a Shop Hop.  I wanted to learn the technique of adding piping to my quilts so I purchased this kit.  It has been on my 'to-do' list since.  Now it is a finish!

I also have been knitting for a service project in honor of a young mother from my church who lost the fight against cancer about a month ago.  The Monday Night Knitting Group will be using her yarn (donated by her husband) to make chemo caps.  I have completed 2 hats.

The week just before Easter, we took delivery of our new appliances.

And Easter weekend was full of family time....

Our beautiful daughters!

My brother and sister-in-law with their grandson, Izaak.

A very happy baby!

Finally, head over to Jandi in Stitches for a give-away!  She is giving away a charmpack of Moda's Fruitcake.  Delicious! And get ready for this Friday Night Sew-in!  What will you be doing? Go here or here to join the fun! Look for my results on Saturday and pictures from the Fest!

April's Friday Night Sew-In

It's coming soon!  The  April Friday Night Sew-In is April 16th.  Mark your calendars and get ready to join the fun!  This month Heidi and Bobbi added a tote pattern for everyone to sew along.  It is really cute.  Go here to get more information!

A little update on progress.  The Mariner's Compass is on hold for a little while.  Needs to be sandwiched and then quilted.  Started a new little project. It's ready for quilting.  Pictures soon.  Also been working on some stitchery and a few more red and white blocks.

My daughters are home for Easter break.  We are enjoying time with them.  Hope everyone has a Happy Easter!
Thanks be to God!  He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!  1 Corinthians 15:57

Mariner's Compass Update

I have finished the top of the Mariner's Compass quilt!  My husband decided (with my encouragement) to use the colors in the compasses to make a sawtooth border (HST) and forego the black and white border representing the ones you may see on a navigational chart.  Here it is. It really came together nicely.

I also wanted to share some of the finds from the antique malls.  Some empty wooden spools, a needle holder and a large spool.  

And then we found this spool holder with old threads and wooden spools.  This was most likely handmade by someone's DH.  Each little spindle is carved round!

I also found an old coat and hat hook to use to hang one of my quilts.  This idea came from Rachel over at p.s. i quilt.  She showed a little tutorial about hanging quilts the Rachel way using plate holders.  So very clever!  However, I don't have very much empty wall space so it wouldn't work in my home yet the idea got me thinking.  So I adapted the idea for one quilt.  I LOVE IT! What do you think?

Back from my trip!

Well I promised to let you know what I found while with my husband on his business trip.  Oh, it was quite wonderful!  My first stop was Pine Needles Sewing Center.  This was a lovely bright shop with lots of beautiful fabrics.  Since it was my first, I had a hard time trying to decide what to buy.  I found a very cute bag but they didn't sell the pattern.  It was from Moda made with a line a fabric that they carried.  So I am in search of a bag similar...but I bought this fabric (words) for the lining.  I am also collecting soft pinks and I found a lovely one here.

Next up was the Cottage Rose.  This shop is much smaller but oh so quaint.  The first thing I noticed was Moda's Blush line of fabric.  I already purchased a charm pack of this line just to see it and feel it.  I needed more!  So here is what I got.

I also picked up 2 pieces for my Lincoln Logs stash from their sale room.  The owner also designs some of her own patterns that I really did like.  Need to keep them in mind for another time!

And on to Connie's Quilt Shop just a few blocks away in a little house that is packed with fabric in every room (even the bathtub)!  Too much eye candy to see and touch!  I added to my pinks, my Lincoln Logs stash, and some lovely turquoise, yellows and grays.  

I found a cute little coffee shop in town, so I took a little break (picture later).  That's when my husband called and said he was done.  Already?  SO....I took my husband back to Connie's because I found some backings that I thought he might like for the Mariner's Compass.  He chose one!  After that, we just browsed around some antique stores in Marion.  And treasures we found!  More pictures later!  

If you are ever in the Cedar Rapids area, stop by these lovely shops!  Everyone was so friendly!

And when I got home, a package was waiting for me!  My first ever win! From the March Friday Night Sew-In sponsored by Heidi and Bobbi.  

What's inside?  Some beautiful fabric and the cutest pin cushion handmade by Heidi.  Take a look!

Thanks Heidi!

Now I need to get busy in my sewing room!  

Progress Update!

Today I spotted a little birdie in my backyard.  Take a look...

A friend of mine gave me a little crochet project.  I haven't crocheted since I was a young girl.  So I picked through the instructions, not quite getting it right.  I remembered seeing this cute little birdie on another blog, Attic24, with a tutorial so I thought I should give it a try and practice a little crochet.  Not bad with a very good tutorial. Try it here!

Mariner's Compass Update:

I finished putting the the last background pieces on the compasses and sewed all the blocks together to 'finish' the top. It now needs borders. My husband doesn't really know what he wants except a small black and white narrow border to represent the border you would see on a navigational chart. I think it needs another border that will tie all the colors together. Looks kinda plain on the cream background. Just say'n. What do you think?

Thought I would share a little project I did for Easter last year...You can find the project here.

Give away!  Go on over  to AbbeyLaneQuilts for a great give away.  One of the prizes is the cutest  Abbey bag.  If you don't know what that is go on over and check it out! 

Leaving tomorrow with my DH for a business trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  While he is working, I'm checking out several quilt shops in the area.  Love doing this....I'll let you know what I find!

March Friday Night Sew-In results

Before I get to my progress... yesterday seemed like Spring was here (officially the last day of winter)!  The temperature was in the low 70's which is heaven this time of year in Chicagoland.  I was peeking around my gardens and look what I found.

Then this morning, the first official day of Spring, we woke up to this! And it is still snowing! Ugh!

For yesterday's Friday Night Sew-In, I finished sewing all the centers in my Mariner's Compass quilt and the background template is made and the pieces are all traced.  

I detoured to make a sweet little pincushion using the directions here.  A fast, easy and fun little project!

AND then I started another surprise stitchery.  I can only give a little peek!

To see more Friday Night Sew-In results go here!  Hope you had fun and made some progress on your projects!