New York City

Every year I take a one day trip to New York City.  It's one of my favorite things to do all year.  A friend of mine charters a bus, we get on the bus at midnight on Friday, the bus drives us all night to the city.  We stop about an hour out of NYC for breakfast and to freshen up.  Then boom we are there!  We have all day Saturday to roam the city.  

This year a quilter friend went with me, and we met up with another quilter and we did a mini- fabric quilting tour of the city.

You may know @mushyhed and @nyc_christopher (The Tattooed Quilter) from Instagram.  

(Starbucks re-feuling)

Chen and I had both been to NYC many times, and Chris lives there, so although we saw a few sights along the way, this day was all about the fabric.

Mood was beautiful and overwhelming with choices

I purchased buttons, ribbon, and a beautiful piece of leather from Mood

City Quilter 

This is where the Erin Wilson quilts were displaying

I wrote a post with more photos about these quilts here

I bought a large piece of oilcloth here and a yard of fabric

We saw a few sights on our journey from fabric store to fabric store

We rode the subway - one of us for the first time

The weekend we were there it was SantaCon - which makes for some interesting Santa sightings

Now back to fabric

Walking through the streets we came across a flea market

With an entire stall of African Indigo.  We had a lot of fun going through these cloths

Next stop - Purl SoHo

This hoop wall inside Purl made me want to have a hoop wall 

I purchased my first bit of Liberty at Purl

We saw the tree.  Barely.  Through a million people

Had great food,  good laughs, bought fabric, met a quilter friend in person, perfect day in NYC

Shout out to @nyc_christopher for taking us everywhere

Till next year!

Mary

Handmade Christmas

If I could, I would make everyone a handmade Christmas item.  If I make you something it's because I have thought of you, but because I don't make you  something it isn't because I DIDN'T think of you, its because I don't have all the time in the universe.  

Oh, that I did!

This year my theme was pillows - I love handmade pillows - love the ones that have been made for me - so I figure everyone else would love one too.

And what says Christmas to your brother but bloody zombies?

And a paper pieced zombie?

That you can snuggle up to at night

This was a 16" pillow form, and I decided before mailing that it was too snug, so I used a 14" pillow form instead and that worked better.

I didn't take a before photo of this one, but this was a boys t-shirt I found in Target.  I cut out the front of the t-shirt, backed the jersey with SF-101 and used it for the pillow center.

This one I used the QAYG method as I pieced around the center owl - I added top stitch quilting when the top was completed.

I made these small coin purses for some of the girls in the family, I like having these little zip pouches in my purse for miscellaneous items.  I used oil cloth that I purchased in New York City and zippers I had on hand.  There is no lining in these, I cut one long piece of oilcloth, added the zipper, and closed the side seams.  I zig zag stitched the inside seams to finish the inside.

I hope you are yours had a happy holiday - I am still recovering from my marathon sewing sessions.  (there is more to show!)

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Mary