Sewing Retreat all Gone!

It came and it went so very fast. How can that happen? My baby sister came out a few days before the retreat. She stayed a couple of days afterward but not long enough. Truly, I am having withdrawal.  My life-long friend, Carole (who feels like Earleen is her sister too) was with us every giggly moment. Oh my gosh......laughed until we cried.  

And do I have a picture of us? No - I guess I was too busy. Drats.

 I hope someone took a picture of the three of us and sends it to me.


Sew-In ladies donated over 90 little dresses to this year's charity, One Dress at a Time. There were other donations of fabric and accessories as well. Patrick generously donated a lot of his fabrics! 

Donna, Linda and Edi accepting the dresses,

We enjoyed an all-day workshop with Patrick Lose and his assistant, Gary.  They shared some fantastic tips and techniques. We chose our project from three of Patrick's designs. Gary made kits and we brought threads and basic sewing notions.

Betsy with Patrick.

 I chose the sunflower as my project. I'm very pleased with it.

Our own ladies offered terrific information during our mini-demonstrations throughout the weekend. 

Bettye and Cornelia present a technique.

I didn't finish a lot of projects. But honestly this year was so productive in many other ways. We had one hysterical evening with friends from way across the valley who we haven't seen in 2 years. 

 I totally enjoyed my two chair massages.   

The food was to die for as usual. 

 We had a big "Quilted Raffle." I won the place mats I wanted, which were meticulously made by my friend Suzy. My pictures don't do them justice...World Travel mats. So cute and they go well with my new counter tops.

Back of the mats.

My Christmas purse is cnearly finished.

Applique' all done and hanging up!

Little vinyl zip bags, always good gifts.

Halloween runner, so cute!

My Pretties!

My girls are as precious as they are pretty.

Leslie, me, Janna and Julie
Notice who is missing....poor Ella.

 Time to brag - these young women are incredible. If only I had been half as smart, successful and beautiful at their age! Of course, I've adopted the two blondes - but after 20 years I'm allowed!
My argyle tee shirt is an original.

Happy Christmas Cactus!

I made the  door hangers last year. However, Mrs Big Lots made the doggie.

 

The Kermit-Green Jacket Rescue

You have to go read this story from Thread e-zine - Kenneth King saves this jacket from the Salvation Army Thrift Store.  Badly worn at the edges, too shabby to wear......Kenneth steps in and saves the day with a great technique. Really, a fantastic idea.

Nice story, great idea, the last sentence just blows me away.
Come on click the title link and tell me what you think.

Is is fall yet?

Ella says no, not yet! She takes a break while her parents do the yard work.

Record high temps are upon us here in "Cactusville." 

(As my blogger friend says!)

I'm trying to force Autumn.....I've taken down all the patriotic runners and hangings. (Hey I figured out this year that patriotic works from Memorial Day - Labor Day!)

 Am I getting lazy??

My friends in the SewnSews are so talented - I am intimidated when I attend.   They do such fancy things!  My table topper below is looking fall-ish to me! Completed in one morning -- if you bring it pre-cut and embroidered.

Each table topper is

  different and beautiful. Thanks for the lesson, Sue.

I had a surprise this week!  Opened a packed and got some designer pumpkins made by my sweet sister!  Too cute!!

Downward Facing Dog

This is my fantastic new yoga bag. I was compelled to make it because I fell in love with the Yoga Dog designs  from Embroidery Library.

I've made this bag pattern before in trade for some work.  It is a free Amy Butler pattern - oh my gosh, no. It is from Sew4Home. They used Amy Butler fabric in the picture.  I made some changes because I wanted to try using two-sided quilted fabric rather than lining the tote. JoAnn's had this pretty batik print.

I bound the seams to provide a neat finish inside. That is not a problem until you start sewing over layers. Stitching two layers of double quilted fabric, plus two layers of folded bias binding, to square the corners was horrific. Arg....I'm surprised that only one needle broke. I wouldn't choose to do it again. Even with the walking foot and the  "jean-a-ma-jig" it was way thick. Oh, and I pounded that seam as well.  


I could not find brown cotton webbing (no patience to order it - had to be NOW) so I used nylon webbing. Just let the iron touch that nylon webbing one little bit and you've learned a BIG lesson.


I do like the bag but the original, lined version is much easier. I could sell the totes if people could afford me. Honestly, if you ONLY consider the cost of the fabric, webbing and the designs  & thread - sure someone would love to buy it. But....now consider the time it takes to make it.  Sewists understand what a dilemma it is to figure out what to charge 


However...I love the generous sized bag. The pattern states -we guarantee good karma for all who tote the tote to class.  How Zen! I did have loads of lovely compliments in my yoga class. Truly, I am considering making some more for yoga friends.

Are you smiling when you look at this? 

I thought so!

Beagle in Camel Pose!

(P.S.  I can do this pose but Kelly does it much better!)

Busy Birthdays

A great family birthday yesterday!  I did not take enough pictures but here is the tote I made for Leslie.

She LOVES  El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead Celebration). 

Leslie travels light to her condo in Rocky Point. This large mesh tote (adapted from the pattern Screen Play)  will probably be enough for her personal items! 

I made a shopping bag and a little zipper bag as well.

Both of us love this fabric!!

To be continued...

What's on my needles!

I've accomplished very little the past few weeks! As my friend Carole says....."Life has a way of taking over your best plans." (Or something like that.) My Grandmother used to say, "You can't get any thing done if you don't stay home." She was right but seems like I've stayed home a lot but either with a nasty headache or inertia.

On the needles: first is a lacy top using size 4 needles - eeekkk! With some guidance from my knit group I've completed the back. The red background may not be the best for picture but at least you can see the lacy pattern at the hem. Very challenging and fun. Now to get to the front and sleeves. Surely by spring I can wear it. My friend Noreen and I are going to a group at Family Arts Needlework Shop. Each person works on their own project but our leader is always ready to resolve or help you rip it out! This is a very nice shop with beautiful yarn and lovely ladies to help out.
On the needles #2: the periwinkle sweater is basic but interesting. I've completed the front and back. Now I am working on the cable strip that goes around the neck and arm openings. (A finished picture will come soon!)

Why do I have two knit projects? The lacy one is so intense, I have to count and keep track of the rows! The blue one, I can work on while I watch TV. So - it is relaxing.

The little coaster is a simple machine embroidery that I put under the Plexiglas. Isn't anything with a Scottie perfect?

Quilting Arts is a fantastic magazine - full of great ideas.

I made this glasses case from a pattern in this issue.

You've seen this crazy, wacky Christmas tree wall hanging in progress. I am finally finished. Whew! The holiday Scottie Dog fabric on the back has been in my stash for ages. Good to find a use for it.I do have another project which is still top secret. I'll show it after Christmas. Hopefully I get it finished.

Projects

Some projects have the Kiss-of-Death all over them from the get-go! For example this cute dotted knit. I got ready to cut the pattern and whoa....who cut this big old slash in my fabric??? Surely not me? Grrr... Alrighty then - I worked around that disaster. My pattern is Very Easy Vogue 8323. As I assembled the front I found I was missing a section....totally forgot to cut it. Whew, the trash can held the left over fabric. Fine. Next I discovered I cut the wrong center back. So with view A cut for the front and view C cut for the center back...it was either be creative or the trash!

Yeah, Very Easy Vogue if you have a brain!

The end result is OK, but not stellar in terms of fit. I'll have the girlfriends see if it can be tweaked. It is a nice soft knit which is a littler greener than the picture shows. (I used to like it!)
It came from from SAS - so no tears!

Below are the logo shirts for the almost son-in-law's business - Sun Blockers. It is about only repetitive work I do! It's a cute logo that we designed together. He loves my embroidery thread box and he picked the colors. He seems really proud to wear them and he get lots of comments. (Would I sew logo shirts for money? No way! Just for family!)

The kids had a community garage sale last weekend. I brought home these treasures. They are Sac crocheted pillows which happened to be a perfect match for the red wall in our family room. I washed them and did a tiny repair on a zipper.