Good for Blog Ego

I haven't felt like I've had much to say recently, but there has been some sewing going on.  I guess I start to feel like I am blogging and no one is reading, but then someone will say something about the blog, and it's good for the blog ego.  So this post is dedicated to Caitlin.  Thanks for your kind words, you inspired me to get back out here.  I took a photo of some of my favorite sewing loot for my Sewing School and I know I have good stuff because I have nearly everything that Martha Stewart says you need in her new sewing book.  What's your favorite notion?  Currently, I am rather fond of the japanese hand sewing needles and silk thread in the mid to lower left corner.

So I taught a Sewing School to three gals last week.  It was a ton of work for me, but a lot of fun!  They did a great job and it was inspiring to be sharing the joy of sewing with them.

I am participating in a fun summer goal setting project: Summer of Craft.  Check it out and join us!

I made my first ever table runner.  I am not a table runner kinda person, but this is a sample for a recent club.  There was a LOT of embellishment going on here.  I liked some (couching, piping) and disliked some (blanket stitch applique).  Overall, it's kinda cute and makes a good sample for the store and table runners might be growing on me.

A non-sewing related topic: I just learned that my vitamin D level was very low.  I got a prescription and started it today.  I hear this should help with my lack of energy.  Anybody have experience with this?  I just know that I want my bones to be strong, so all this sewing doesn't make me a crumpled up little old lady someday.

On A Roll

I am on a roll finishing quilts.  I watched BenHur with the husband this weekend and jammed through a lot of handstitched binding.  I am proud to say, I am finally finished with the ice pops quilt.  My name for it is, With Me Grandma Bea.  My great grandmother Bea saved a lot of things, including a box of white bed sheets.  My sister somehow got a hold of this box and thought I would use them.  I did.  They have become the "white" in many of my quilts, including this one.  This is the first quilt that I have made for myself.  It feels good.  I recommend making one you intend to keep and suggest not waiting so long to finish it.

My animals approve...and also love it when I open the bedroom window.

WIPs and a Winner

Announcing the Me Made May GIVEAWAY winner!!  I gathered a total of 36 comments on the mmm posts! So I did the random number generator from 1-36 and got 5.  The 5th comment was my own, so I did it again.  I got 29, which also happened to be one of my comments.  So in conclusion, I am either extremely lucky today or I comment on my own post too frequently.  Third times the charm.  The winner is Crystal.  HOORAY! You are the proud new owner of a lovely handbag.

In other news, there are some things brewing in the sewing studio here.  I finished 4 blocks of the paper peiced project. 

I traced off the Ceylon pattern and have fabric selected.

and BIG news...I finished the quilting on my Ice Pops Quilt.  This is the first Denyse Schmidt quilt that I made after getting her book.  I am not lying, the top has been finished since 06.  I purchased fabric for the back on my 30th birthday trip to LA.  This quilt is 4 years old and I am proud to say, I only have three sides of hand stitched binding between me and the finish line.

I finished a quilt for 2010!!

So the quilting has taken the back burner to the garment sewing...there I said it.  It's true.  However, I did manage to finish this little ditty for my first nephew, coming in August.  I am super excited to have a nephew to add to the bouquet of three nieces.  The quilt pattern is Cog + Wheel, by Denyse Schmidt.  She is my quilting hero.

The pattern it pretty easy to put together.  I cut plastic templates for all the wedge shaped peices and this made it quick to cut out.  There is one tricky part, the cream colored "cogs" (or the negative space of the cog) uses both the standard and reverse of the piece.  The fabric I used did not have a distinguishable front from back, so I had to be super aware of which direction I was sewing and when.  This will likely only make sense to those of you who have done, or are doing, this pattern.  I also did the quilting.  I followed the shape of the outer edge of the colorful circle and then used a guide on my walking foot for the rest.  To me, it was easier than tracing the quilting pattern and trying to follow lines.  Plus I didn't have to worry about it leaving any marks behind.

Most of the fabric came from my stash.  You can't really beat Denyse on color palette, so I used hers to inspire my fabric selection.  I purchased the cream fabric.  For the back, I used a yellow and blue plaid flannel.  I picked this up on sale at a Sew/Vac place in Augusta, GA a few years ago.  It was perfect!  I love it when that happens.  Now, I am just waiting for the little guy to arrive.  Until then, I have the quilt on display at the store.