Sunday, April 29, 2012


First I'd like to thank all of you who dropped by during the Table Topper Blog Hop. I would especially like to thank all of you who left such wonderfully supportive notes.  My goal for this evening is to respond to them. 

I am running late with that because we were away for the Blog Hop.  We were in sunny (maybe not so much) Florida looking for a retirement home. We've still got 3 years but thought that prices etc. may not hold out that long so we should strick while the iron is hot.

To make a lonnnnnnnnng story short we are the proud owners of a piece of land in The Villages. House to be built on it this summer. It looks like an amazing place to retire to.  Saw in their weekly news of things to do at least 7 quilt groups and many groups of crafters of every kind.  Any one out there from there?

We were gone for the entire Hop and MJ let me use his tablet to keep track of the goings on.  We have a household where we each have our own toys because I am really hard on them.  It was really big of him to offer his tablet and true to form I somehow messed it up.  He now has all of my December blog pictures on his tablet.  I have no idea how I did it and we can't figure out how to undo it. What is it that they say about good deeds?

Since I've been back I have managed to do another pouch for a friend.


She was looking for something to replace her purse on workdays to cut down on the number of bags she totes around. This one needed to fit into the bag she uses to carry her computer back and forth.


I got creative.  Here is a zipper pocket for change.




 Slots for credit cards and space for bills. The piece of velcro works with the next picture of the flap



 that will cover over the cards and bills

I then went to clean up the sewing room and remembered the posting by Beth at Love Laugh Quilt about Half Log Cabin   Free style.  Needless to say I didn't get the room cleaned up unless you count using some of the scraps as cleaning up.  http://lovelaughquilt.blogspot.com/2012/04/half-log-cabinfree-style.html

4 blocks  down 36 more to go.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

My Turn for the Table Topper Blog Hop

1st, thanks madam Samm for organizing this event, such fun, and so many talented participants. An incentive to us all.

When M Samm sent out the first notice of having Table Topper blog hop I HOPPED on board. Had no idea what I was getting into.  I actually didn't have a clear idea of what a Table Topper was.  I guess I had seen them around Blog land but never gave the title much thought.

After reading the basic requirements I realized I needed to buy something, always a fun thing, like the Table Topper frame.  If you have been following me you know that I really have a problem doing one of anything. Why would this be any different.  The requirements were to make  a topper for the 12 by 14 frame. When I went to http://theraspberryrabbits.blogspot.com/ to find the frame I found that one, and a bigger one, like 12X24 big. In for a penny in for a pound.

My first completed Table Topper was inspired by this  cocktail napkin


I finished my topper in time for my families Easter Sunday celebrations



Here is the photo I took last week outside in the sun, much better light.





Bunny wasn't my first idea, just the first completion, that darn napkin got me sidetracked.  My first idea was to make a star block.  The star is my go to block for everything.  I need a quick quilt and that's where I head.   While my topper came out well beyond my hopes it does have its issues.




I don't know which end is up !



Therefore there is no hanging pocket only pins.




The bunny and the star both were large stitch hand quilted.  Something I enjoy but don't do much of.

So now on to the topper that isn't exactly part of this hop because it is outside of the designated size.
What can I say, it is an addicting type of quilting.... and I had the frame.



see how big, it barely fit on this table.




I needed to make the back pretty but plain because I live in a townhouse, not a lot of big spaces and this is a darn big frame.  It is now residing on the buffet in my dinning room with its Pretty but boring back facing a mirror. This piece has a traditional pocket and was machine quilted in the ditch.


 It's funny what you see when you look at a picture that you don't notice in reality.  For instance that in the reflection in the mirror I can see my favorite Halloween quilt hanging on the wall. I'm guessing it's been up since October.  It's several sun bonnet Sue's dressed as witches.  I hope she enjoyed Christmas and New Year's and Easter, no sense in putting her away now, she might as well enjoy her summer.

I do hope you enjoyed this stop on the Hop.  I had a great time participating. Please continue to follow along and go back and visit anyone you may have missed.

Table Topper Blog HOP Schedule
 
Monday April 16th


Tuesday April 17th


Wednesday April 18th


Thursday April 19th


Friday April 20th



Monday April 23rd



Tuesday April 24th

Wednesday April 25th





Sunday, April 22, 2012

Table Topper Blog HOP Schedule

Have you been following, aren't the presentations so far just wonderful?
 
 
Table Topper Blog HOP Schedule

 
Monday April 16th










Tuesday April 17th










Wednesday April 18th










Thursday April 19th









Friday April 20th














Monday April 23rd














Tuesday April 24th










Wednesday April 25th















Thursday, April 19, 2012

Table Topper Blog HOP Schedule

So are you following all these talented ladies and sending them wonderful comments on their creations? Good.
 
Table Topper Blog HOP Schedule

 

Monday April 16th










Tuesday April 17th










Wednesday April 18th










Thursday April 19th









Friday April 20th














Monday April 23rd














Tuesday April 24th










Wednesday April 25th















Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Pouch / Wallet replacement

Now that I have mastered the basic zip pouch I thought I’d try to expand my horizons.  I wanted a pouch that I could take with me instead of my big purse with all of its “stuff”. Pretty much a pouch that could double as my wallet but could hold my phone and keys as well.

I figured that I needed a few slots for credit cards, license, AAA and medical ID cards and a place for cash.  I also wanted a zippered pocket for changes and a little space in-between for the phone.  I didn’t want it big enough for “the stuff”.  I actually wanted this pouch in my purse so I could just grab it and run.

I didn’t have a pattern and was really too into NCIS an NCISLA to search the internet for a pattern or tut so I improvised.  Here she is.







I’m pretty pleased with this first attempt.  Next time I would place the slots higher on the side and make the bill fold section much deeper and with maybe a button or Velcro at its top.  The zippered change section is just what I wanted.  I would probably look for a tut on that type of pocket before I attempt another. I got it in but I have to believe there is a better way than how I did it.

We leave for a short vacation on Friday so I can give it a real trial run and see if I need to tweak anything else before attempting another. Someone I work with has already put in a request for one once I finalize my idea.

Don’t forget to go visit the Table Topper Blog Hoppers,  The list is in the previous posting.  Enjoy.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Table Topper Blog HOP Schedule

Please join us for the next 10 days  to see what we have come up with for the Table Topper Blog HOP.
 
 
Table Topper Blog HOP Schedule

 Monday April 16th






Tuesday April 17th






Wednesday April 18th






Thursday April 19th





Friday April 20th








Monday April 23rd








Tuesday April 24th








Wednesday April 25th













Friday, April 13, 2012

Number 3 is almost done

The third childs quilt I needed to make this spring is almost done.  I finished the top last night.  I need to make the sandwich but I needed to clear off "the table" I use for the pin basting of all of the scraps from all of the projects I have been working on for the past couple of months.  Usually things don't get quite this out of hand but the last 2 tops I finished i sent out so I didn't have the necessary shove to clear the table top.



This quilt is for one of the girls i work with.  She is having her first next month.  I made this quilt without haveing to purchase anything.  The stars are made from the left over HST from my swoon quilt.  The background is also from that quilt.  I over bought the background just in case.  The border is from my stash.  That fabric was used for the swoon blocks also so it was still on the table begging to be used.

Additional stuff on my table was from the 2 pieces that I will be displaying on the Table Topper Blog hop which starts on Monday, April 16.  See the button top right.  Another Blog hop ochestrated by madam Samm.  My day (along with 5 other lovely and talented ladies is the 24th.  I had never done a table topper before.  Had a great time doing these pieces.  Small and very quick to do and I did a lot of large stitch hand quilting which I don't normally do anymore because it takes too much of my time.  Really enjoyed the process.  Can't wait to see what everyone else did.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

They are done and ready for the mail

Got home from walking the dog last night to find MJ on the phone with his mother.  While I love that she loves my work and showing off my work I could do with a few less requests for samples of my work. Yes she showed the nurse at her doctors office her pouch and yes she was calling to see if I could make a couple of more.




I think I need to get them all into the mail tomorrow before she visits anyone else.  Now mind you these are her buds in Florida.  She comes back to NJ in May and has already started a list.

I thought before I sealed them up in the box I needed a picture of them all.