December sewing

Well the year is almost over only 3 more day, my where did the year go.

The family tradition, declared by nephews on Hubby's side of family, is to make them each a pillowcase for Christmas. This year I made 19 of them,  I make them with fabric to go with something they did this passed year or something they like.    here are the pictures of them getting them  Made few extra this year that I normally don't  one for Sister-in-law, oldest niece,and bonus daughter( son-in-law's sister)  these are so fun to look for fabric all year long and then make them and embroidery their names on them.

 in this picture are niece and nephews, grandsons and daughter

in this picture is daughter and granddaughter in front with great grandson on the floor would not hold his up,  in the back is son-in-law, sister-in-law, niece and bonus daughter

My small sew group that meets on 1st and 3rd Monday evening is doing a seasonal block of the month. We got in 2nd meeting in Nov a pumpkin and a tree. I got them done and here is my tree. Going to be fun to make these and display them each month.  I made a bigger border on each to make it look better in the stand I have. 

 I also make memory pillows for sister-in-law, niece and 3 nephews from my brother-in laws shirts.  I put the saying on printer fabric and put it in the pocket instead of sewing it on.   SIL's and niece's(which was from her Dad's shirts) were made leaving the collars on  little more tricky.    They loved them and yes a few tears.    Few more for family members after the new year.

 We had a quiet Christmas week so I got to do some sewing and yes cleaning of sewing room to remove stuff that was put in there out of the way for Christmas.
I had done clue 1 and 2 of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt before the 20th  so I got 3 and 4 done last two day.  This is the first time ever that I am staying caught up.

Did some cleaning this morning and put living room and dining room back in order. We bring 2 tables up from downstairs to have enough seating for everyone we have 24 for xmas weekend.  washing sheets now and have ham and beans in crock-pot for supper.  we look forward to the ham bone for beans. All other leftovers have been eaten. Now I will have to think of meals again, but only for few days then I am off to retreat for  days...

Have a Happy New Year  and a great year sewing.

Sharon J

Nov sewing

well Nov sure came in with a vengeance, so great sewing weather but I need to get some more mojo.  Getting a few quilts done for customers. Ready to sew on binding and sew it down for one today.  Fixing another quilt redoing the borders so it lays flat.
I am getting some of my pillowcases made for Xmas presents I make all our kids, grand kids, nieces and nephews one with their names on them. They told me it was traditions to get one every year.   So that is about 15 a year, I try to find fabric that goes with something they have done during the year or  a sport they do in school.
When I just want to sew but not think, I have been using scraps to make wonky court house step blocks form Bonnie Hunter's pattern.  I have made 32 and have 8 more started.  Scraps not disappearing very fast  I think I am just fluffy them up.  They are fun and easy to make. I need to find some more neutrals for the project I have plenty of other fabrics to last a life time. I know I have some just finding them is the trick.

I sure love my little iron and wool mat for pressing. 

Our small quilt group is doing a BOM project  which really is 2 seasonal blocks a month.   They are so cute  most of us are going to finish them to put on a stand. 

These are September and October.   Paper pieced blocks from scraps from stash and sharing with friends. Ready for the next 2 blocks next Monday night. 

off to sew binding.

Happy sitching

Sharon J

sept slow progress

Well September has been a slow start, I have not got very much sewing done due to working on getting MIL's house cleaned out and doing estate sale.  I have sewn in the evening just to relax. My evening sewing has been pineapple blocks from 1 1/2 inch strips. I have 21 blocks done. These are fun and easy not much thinking just grab a strip and sew. The pattern calls to cut the strips in certain lengths for each round but I just sew and cut as I go.   The pieces just have to be long enough to be as long as the side sewing it on then use the pineapple ruler tool by Gyleen Fitzgerald to trim.  Did I say this is so fun and uses scraps.

Tuesday went to a friends house to sew, Four of us are working on a Kimberbell Xmas embroidery project together. I started sewing mine together and others were making the blocks. 

I was hoping to get another project to the border stage but that did not happen due to needed to rip it apart and put it back together correctly. I had 2 sections upside down.   It is back together ready for borders now... 

Well I am off to see what I can get done in the half hour I have before going to help daughter move. 

keep stitching
Sharon J

continued progress in August

I have trying to sew in the evenings and have done a good job of working on something.  I went as far as I can on the deer Xmas wall hanging while waiting for more fabric. Yes it was a kit and did not have enough background fabric to cut all the pieces. I lacked a 2" strip.   This is why I don't buy very many kits  due to running into shortage of fabric before .then having a hard time finding more.
Neither the shop I bought the kit from had anymore fabric and other local shop did not either, so online I and couple friends went to find it.  Luckily I found it without too much trouble.  It arrived today, I also order 3 of the other three fabrics just in case need them and I like them. I want to make some place mats from the same panel and fabrics.  I will not get back to working on it until Maybe Sunday.
Also took all the paper off the table runner I finished. This is not my favorite part of paper piecing but I so love the perfect points.  Now it is read to be quilted.
The last two evenings I wanted to sew but did not want to think about anything so I have been making crumb blocks.  I have 43 blocks done just using up scraps.   I will put them into a quilt for charity.

also cut up some scraps into usable strip sizes (1.5, 2 and 2.5 inch) plus some more strings.

Last week retreat was great and I got quite a few things to the flimsy stage.  I will take some pictures and post in next message.  Great time, friends and  food.

keep on stitching
Sharon J

August progress so far

well it has been a busy beginning of August here.
 I got some sewing/quilting/embroidery done this last week and half.
on the 1st I went to daughters to watch the grandsons and came home on the 5th. we had a good time. I took my sewing machine to work on couple projects while they were busy with video games and YouTube videos.  Since had my sewing machne there were some repairs need by SIL  needed to resew a belt loop on his work pants  and he brought his pillowcase I made him that he has at work to repair a seam had come out. He is a Paramedic and works 24 hrs at a stretch so sleeps at ambulance barn. I put his Medic number on it instead of his name.  He has had many inquiries about where he got it..  No he is not taking orders wants to be special and he is.
Here is what I worked on while I was there.  I took a class in Nov. I think on crumb stars each block being a color.  I had 1 block made and some parts made.
I finished 8 blocks and I think I am done and it will become a table runner instead of a quilt.

 this is the crumb blocks made to make the stars

 here I am making the star points  and yes they are wonky  just put on and sew and trim great easy fun

Here is a completed block.

I finished the spool of thread that was on the machine and used another one too  yes there were small spools but that is a lot of thread.

On Saturday while there younger grandson and I went shopping. We went to Joann's since I wanted to get shape flex for an embroidery project I was starting and some Xmas fabric for it.  He found Harry Potter fabric to make a pillowcase  and some other goodies from clearance bins. 

We went home and made it.  He was very happy with it.

While we were shopping SIL and older grandson went fishing to catch supper and they DID!  very tasty  has it with sweet potato fries and fresh corn on the cob.

Last Tuesday some of us went to a friends house to work on an embroidery project  4 of us worked on cutting out and organizing all the pieces and 2 worked on other projects.  We got almost all of it done and labeled.  We will meet again to work on it. It is fun to work on projects together.
I could not wait to start it and had Friday to myself so I had fun making some of the blocks.

On Weds. while hubby was gone all day I decided it was a good day to shampoo two rooms of carpet that was over due to be cleaned.  They look so much better.
The sun room has new chairs now. brought them from my mother in laws house.


The yesterday my guild sponsored a Judy Neimeyer paper piecing class by 2 certified instructors. It was a fun day sewing and learning with friend.  Here is what I got done.  4 more to go.  It will be a table runner when it is finished.

Well not sure what I will work on today.   I need to get stuff organized for a retreat starting on the 19th.  Get the little project for everyone to make kitted up and get all my projects ready to go.   I have a sew day with a group on Monday so I will get to sew then  most of the rest of the week will be getting ready and one day of doctor appointments.

Happy stitching
Sharon J

cleaning and sewing continue

Well the cleaning continued yesterday, I can almost see the cutting/pool table downstairs.  What is left is mostly my hubby's bow equipment. He has been not feeling well so hope this weekend he will feel like putting it away. I have left him 2 shelves on the shelf units we bought to clean up my mess. Hopefully when I finish going thru all the stuff I just shoved on the shelves to get it off the floor there may be another shelf for him.  So nice to see the floor in the back room downstairs.
I have 2 piles downstairs that will go out Monday and Tuesday, 1 to my daughter and granddaughter of their stuff I found and the other pile to charity on Tuesday since they are not open on Monday.  This pile sis quite large.  Also have another pile of scrap batting  hopeful will call lady this goes to and she can meet me Thursday night and get it .
I also went thru a box and bag of fabric a quilting customer brought me. Sorted into what I want to keep and have a pile for sewing group to go though on Weds. I cut up a small box and bag of scraps and put them away in my scrap user system. here is the empty  box and bag

 here is the scraps ready to be put away  from 1 1/2 inch to 3 1/2 inch strips excluding 3 inch  and 2, 2 1/2, 5, and 6 inch squares.

after supper I watch a move and made  10 pineapple blocks 4 were already started.   not sure how many more I can make with the fabric I have we will see.
these were started in a class I took at spring Paducah.   Easy way to make pineapple blocks without paper piecing.

Well off to do some more cleaning and some laundry.
Happy Stitching
Sharon J

back from vacation

well we are back home from taking the grandsons for a week to St Louis to see the sites. It was a great week with no rain.  Most days were not too hot.  Met their Dad yesterday in Morton IL to return them to their parents.  House is quiet.
Now it is time to get the house back together and get sewing.
Last evening I just had to sew so I got the rest of the  blue blocks sewn together for Bonnie Hunter's Good fortune mystery,  I had about 10 blocks done  and now there are 25 blocks.   11 of the stars  go one way and the rest go the other way oh well that is what happens when you don't do them all at once or pay attention to what you are doing, but it will be just fine  new design element in the quilt.
Note: the green unit is what got sewn both ways.

Now it will be time to put up on design wall and sew together.

this will be a top before the next one starts 

well off to get cleaning would rather be sewing but it needs to be done first.

Happy stitching
Sharon J