Fresh Sew Day

Sometimes I like my previous month review and sometimes can't believe how little I accomplished in the sewing department. Those slow months must be the ones I don't link up.   For June, I feel good, when I looked back it was more than I thought!  

There was two SuperTotes (pattern by Noodlehead, downloadable) and two Divided Fabric Baskets (also by Noodlehead, downloadable), one baby quilt quilted and sent, one bee top quilted and waiting to be given, the binding on another finished quilt, bee blocks, and cutting for the Lucky Stars QAL on QuiltStory.  

You can click the highlighted words to take you to my posts about those finishes.  All three of the quilt finishes were tops I had previously put together, which made everything go faster, so I might do that more often.  

I haven't shown the photos for this Super Tote, I sent it off last week as a late birthday gift.  

I used a linen blend for the exterior.  

Installed a magnetic snap for the large exterior pocket.  I made the straps about an inch longer than the pattern calls for.

I added a sewn in pocket on one side for cell phone, pens, or other items you want to just reach in and grab.  I used the interior lining pattern piece, made it shorter for pocket size, fused with SF-101 so the inside of the pocket looks nice and stitched up two sections for pockets.

Recessed zipper.  My sister in law should get this today.  I hope she likes it as much as I like mine!  

I follow most of Noodlehead's suggestions with the directions, using Duck, SF-101 on the exterior pieces.  It makes a difference.  I so use a longer zipper for my totes, that is just a personal preference.  

I am linking up with Lily's Quilts for Fresh Sew Day.  If you are visiting for the first time, I hope you will take a look around.  You can find my photos on Flickr and Instagram.  I am FairlyMerry on both sites.  I hope to see you again!  

Fresh Sew Day & A Give Away

Already it is March, I feel as if I should start making my Christmas things now as to have them done in time.  Don't you?  I always wait until November, then I get about one fourth of the gifts made that I want to.  

Here are some of the items I made in February.  Most are bee and swap items.  Normally, this would make me feel as if I hadn't accomplished enough, but there were almost two weeks on the sofa watching Duck Dynasty (seriously, have you ever watched that show?  I am hooked!) sickness, so I will give myself a pass for February.

1 and 2. are blocks for girls in the  Quilt Around the World II Flickr group.

3.  This is a row of 8 wonky Bento blocks for one of my fellow strippers in Strip Quilters

4.  Fabric basket made from Pink Penguin tutorial for VBMQG swap.  

5.  Emerald Challenge progress

6.  Addition to a block for Traveling Quilts group on Flickr

7.  One of the blocks for 4X5 Modern Bee, I made 5 of these in different colors.

8.  February's block for Simply Solids - we used our stash and I made 2 blocks.

9.  AND my new machine, Sully - too bad I've been down with strep and bronchitis so I haven't used him much.

Three things for sight seers stopping by, first a big Thank you, and I hope you'll come back.

Two, I am having a give away for my Birthday, entries end March 3, midnight EST

you can enter HERE

The prize is $20 Gift Card from my sponsor Pink Chalk Fabrics

I have started Round 2 of the Postage Stamp Block Swap on Flickr - blocks shipping by May 1, 2013.  

Join at any time, swap out as many blocks as you want, this is a scrapbuster block.

Finally, linking up with Lily's Quilts Fresh Sew Day

 

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Fresh Sewing Day Feb 1

I felt somewhat let down last night when I was making my mosaic for this link up.

Really, that's what I made?  Mostly bee blocks.  While I want to make those, I also want to make other things!  I think it was a combination of events, my niece visiting into the New Year, the arrival of the new grandbaby on Christmas Day, and spending a lot of time starting and finishing Madrona Mosaic.  It sure felt like I did a lot more sewing than what is showing up.

I did make one other thing I can't show yet.  And I have posted a couple of progress pics of a commission I am steadily working on, that should be complete by the end of next week.  And getting a quilt made from start to finish in 10 days was a big accomplishment.  And I love the way it turned out.  

I'll have more in February.  At least I am planning on it!

I completed the Running with Scissors Bee in January, and these are the blocks that went into the bee.

I like to take a look back at the end of a bee and see the diversity of blocks I made.  Some were more complex than others, and I have come to view those as a challenge.  Due to bees I am no longer afraid of paper piecing.  

Linking up with Lily's Quilts and