A Couple of Finishes

     I love to sew things for family so when GD Lily requested a seashell pillow for her bedroom, I wanted to make one. Since we don't have JoAnn Fabrics anymore, I had a little trouble finding the right fabric to use. I created my own pattern from an internet photo that she shared. For dimension I cut 2 layers and stitched lines to create the sections.

After stuffing the sections for a front and back,

I sewed the 2 halves together, turned right side out and stuffed more. Here is GD Lily with her seashell pillow.

     At the last church quilt day I sandwiched a child's quilt and Saturday I finished the quilting. It is not my favorite quilt but I hope a child will enjoy it.

     I spent some more time cutting up scraps; however, not enough to record a change to my stash report this week.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Many Small Finishes

     For the past few weeks I have been busy making quilted journal covers and finished the last 5 for 18 total.

  I thought you might be interested in seeing more about my process. I adapted a free pattern from The Wooden Bear. You can find the original pattern here. I pieced the tops, then sandwiched and quilted.

Next it got trimmed to the 10 1/2” by 16 1/2”

and then sleeves are sewn on.

A standard composition notebook fits well.

These will be gifts to a group in August and I'm happy to have them made so that I can focus on a UFO.

     A few months ago I went with my sister to a small quilt show. She bought a quilt top and asked me to quilt it for our great niece. I finished the quilting. She will bind it.

     Last Wednesday I did a demo for my church quilt group on an easy 5 fabric Trip Around the World pattern. Wednesday I got my center pieced. Saturday I added borders. I chose the color palette based on the colors in the border fabric  and shopped for stash for fabrics.  I used almost every inch of the fabric to add a wide border.

      My church quilt group pieced little houses using the free “Village”pattern by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. for Moda Fabrics. I created an alternate setting in EQ and pieced the top. It is really cute.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 5.5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year –Used: 65.545 yds Added: 38.5 yds

Net decrease 27.045 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Sad Farewell to Joann Fabric Stores

      Saturday was the last day my Joann Fabric store was open. All of the Joann stores will be closed by May 30. I did not go the last day but 4 days before the closing. It was sad to see all the empty racks and think of not having the store to shop for sewing items. I did take advantage of the clearance sale to get fabric that I will be able to use; however, there was not much selection. Even though I have been working hard to reduce my stash, this was an opportunity I could not pass up and the price was right at $2.05 per yard so I bought 31.5 yds. I bought a lot of dark blue because I use a lot. Some of that yardage will probably be donated to my church quilt group. Even so that is quite a hit to my effort to reduce stash; however, Joann Fabrics is gone and I don't know when or whether I will be able to buy fabric at that price again.

     A few years ago a member of my church quilt group made a 7 fabric Trip Around the World lap quilt and she suggested that would be a good project for others. Instead of 7 fabrics, I found a design using 5 fabrics that will finish about the same size using larger pieces. I shared the directions with them. So that I can show them the steps, I pulled fabric from my stash to make one. I pulled a multicolored fabric to use as the border and found 5 fabrics to coordinate.

 

I used the filter to change the photo to black and white to check the values.  I wish I had a darker aqua blue but made do with what I had. As I was sewing my sample, I found an error in my directions so I will need to correct it. 

     I am continuing to make quilted journal covers and have 3 more finished. I have made a couple of similar covers but I am trying to make many different designs and use orphan blocks or units I have. The cover on the right was made from a FM practice piece when I was practicing several FM motifs. I hope someone will find it interesting.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 6.25 yds Added: 31.5 yds 

So far this year –Used: 60.045 yds Added: 38.5 yds

Net decrease 21.545 yds

      For this Memorial Day, let us take time to remember the the brave men and women who served our country and gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

More Journal Covers

       I have finished 5 more journal covers and have 2 covers pieced.

I am on a mission to make 18 for gifts and I'm half way there. It has been good to use some orphan blocks and scraps even though it is quicker to just use pieces of fabric. I'm trying to use scraps but as a quilter you probably know even that creates more scraps. I hope to spend a day this week sorting scraps and cutting them into usable units.

Stash Report for 2025

       this past week - Used: 2.5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year –Used: 56.295 yds Added: 7 yds

     Net decrease 49.295 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

March Block a Day Finish and More

     For several years Pat Sloan has hosted a March Block a Day sew along. This year the block was a half log cabin block with a larger center. I chose to raid my 2 ½ “ strips for all the greens I could find. I cut a few more to get the contrast of light and dark. I started using brown squares for the start but added some greens later for more interest. I chose the overlapping squares layout and only made 20 blocks for a 4 by 5 setting to make a lap quilt. I FM quilted swirls. Here is my finish with a simple border to frame.

     I have been thinking about making many small gifts that I can give as a thank you. I usually make a lot of mug rugs so I wanted something different. Saturday I decided to make quilted journal covers. I finished one.   Then I pulled batting scraps and pieced 14 “Franken-batting” pieces for 14 covers.

 I thought about using orphan blocks. I was able to finish 3 more journal covers.

However, I think it takes longer to use the orphan blocks than just using fabric scraps.

   This week I have more journal covers to make and a baby quilt top to quilt.  

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 2.6 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year –Used: 53.795 yds Added: 7 yds

Net decrease 46.795 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Non Quilt Project

      My older GD has a birthday the end of the month and I decided to make her a backpack using UGA fabric.  I titled this post a non quilt project; however, I did quilt the fabric for the backpack.  I have had the ByAnnie backpack pattern for a few years, but this was my first time using it.  I needed 1 yard each of 3 contrasting fabrics. I was able to pull 2 from my stash and bought 1 yard of UGA fabric on sale at Hobby Lobby. I ordered some of the needed notions from ByAnnie. First I quilted a sandwich of 2 fabrics along with Annie's Soft and Stable. Then I cut out all the various parts and they were numerous.

       I have the printed directions; however, I found it more helpful to watch her video as I worked - watch a section of the video, sew a part then watch the next video section while referring to the written directions, etc. It was very helpful to stop the video to sew or watch the video again. It was not that difficult, just numerous steps and lots of parts, but that is one thing that makes the backpack so special. Here is in progress. 

  This is the finished backpack.  

I hope to make another one and I'm sure the next will be easier.

      I made a QOV pillowcase and bought special fabric to make a couple more.  Friday I shared a quilted comfort quilt finish and some pink potato chip blocks. Those are the sewing/quilting projects I worked on this past week.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 4.5 yds Added: 3 yds

So far this year - Used: 10 yds Added: 3 yds

Net decrease 7 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Variety of Small Finishes

      The past week I spent several day quilting on a UFO but it's not ready to show. Then when I needed a break from quilting, I worked on small projects. I finished 3 very scrappy Christmas placemats for Meals on Wheels clients.

     In September my guild will host a silent auction fund raiser and I wanted to make some things for it. I decided to use a few of my practice quilting pieces to make notebook covers. Here is one I cut for the outside of a notebook cover. 

 Here are 2 finished.   Outside 

and inside view.

     Next I pulled another quilting practice sample and cut the outside piece for a notepad cover.  I hope someone will be willing to pay something for them. 

     I needed some quilting thread, and when I was in JoAnn Fabrics, I found a ¾ yd remnant for $0.82 which I couldn't resist so it was added to my stash of black and white prints.

Stash Report for 2024

  this past week - Used: 2 yds          Added: 0.75 yds 

So far this year -Used: 76.455 yds Added: 35.125 yds

     Net decrease 41.33 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” - Philippians 4:13

Sewing Holiday Items

       My only goal for the past week was to make progress on a UFO.  I did that but have no photo to share. Last week I shared a crochet hook holder design I found that I wanted to make for my granddaughters. You can find the link for the pattern on last Monday's post. Here are the 2 finished by me. They each contain a few of their Great-grandmother's crochet hooks.

I also made a few other Christmas items. I used the pattern from SewCanShe blog found here except I did not add the zipper. The mini-stockings are large enough to hold a gift card or other things, yet not too large and cute enough to hang on a tree.

Stash Report for 2023

       this past week- Used: 1.75 yds Added: 0 yds

     So far this year- Used: 106.35 yds Added: 50 yds

      Net decrease 56.35 yds

I have a UFO to work on if there is time between holiday happenings. This week I plan to do some crafts and baking with GDs as is our holiday tradition.  Hope you enjoy some holiday happenings.

Have a great week whether or not you have time for quilting.

Weekly Goals and Small Gifts

      It is Monday already and the start of a new week. Last week I stayed busy and feel good about what I accomplished even though I didn't meet all my goals. Friday I shared 2 small quilt finishes.   

This is how I did on last week's goals:

1. Quilt more on “Celtic Fantasy”. Not Done.

I just didn't have the energy to tackle the large quilt so chose to work on small projects.

2. Finish quilting the “Dancing Garland” wall-hanging. Done

The top was finished last year and was waiting for quilting. You can see more about the finish on Friday's post.

3. Quilt the snowman mini quilts. Done.

Both are finished and I'm keeping the one with the light blue border with mittens.

      In addition to quilt projects I made a Dorothy dress for GD Lily's Halloween costume. Hope it will fit.

      Sunday afternoon I did some organizing of projects and found a kit for a microwave bowl cozy. I needed a new one so quickly made it and one more. Then I cut out kits for 2 more pairs which will become gifts.

     Next I found 3 panels for Christmas soft books. One was already cut out so I cut fusible fleece and it is ready to sew. I also cut fleece for the other 2. These will be quick projects and will become gifts. Best of all, they will be out of my house and useful for some young children.

Stash Report for 2023

this past week- Used: 3.5 yd Added: 0 yds

So far this year- Used: 85.01 yds Added: 40 yds

Net decrease 46.01 yds

Goals for this week:

1. Quilt more on “Celtic Fantasy”.

2. Sew Christmas gifts.

3. Sew charity quilt project.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Finished Tops Instead of Goals

      Today is an anniversary to remember. I was a teacher specialist in a middle school and no regular instruction happened after the morning news on that day. The rest of the day was a blur of horror, sacrifice and bravery. I have a lot for which to be thankful. I get to spend a lot of my time sewing and quilting for fun.

This is how I did on last week's goals:

1. Make progress on the Quilt Con fabric challenge quilt. Done. 

The top is finished and sandwiched. I need to shop for thread before I start quilting. My son suggested the name “Twisted Transistor”. What do you think?

2. Make another Call Me bag. (free pattern from ByAnnie) Done. 

 I finished one for GD Lily and another for my guild silent auction.

          

   

Then I made a Piecekeeper Project Bag (another free pattern from ByAnnie). 

       

I am pleased to also be able to use a couple of almost antique metal zippers. Check this one out. 10 cents.

3. Do more quilting on the Celtic Fantasy quilt. Not Done. 

I just have not been in the mood to tackle this and other projects have a deadline which this one doesn't.

      A friend shared her unfinished quilting projects so I pulled an easy one and finished the top of this Christmas tree wall-hanging. It has the binding made and the backing fabric. I hope someone at guild would like to have it to quilt.

     Last Wednesday my church quilt group spent the morning sewing coffee gift bags. We help sell coffee for Cafe Justo which is a grower owned Coffee Cooperative based in southern Chiapas Mexico, formed to address the poverty and migration from Mexico to the U.S.A.. I brought home a fit and finished 12 more gift bags.

Stash Report for 2023

this past week-      Used: 3 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year- Used: 74.21 yds Added: 40 yds

         Net decrease 35.21 yds

Goals for this week:

1. Start quilting my Quilt Con fabric challenge quilt.   I would really like to get this totally finished soon. 

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Monday Full with Visiting Family

     I hope you enjoyed a relaxing Labor Day holiday. I enjoyed spending several days . with 2 of my sisters visiting.

We stayed busy so I am just taking take time to update my weekly goals.

Here is how I did on last week's goals.

1. Finish borders on the March Block a Day top. Done.

Borders added on the “March Block a Day”  

2. Create more units for the Quilt Con fabric challenge quilt Done.

I created a few more but I've decided not to share a photo until I have a top together.

3. Work on another UFO. Done.

I added the border on the “Traffic Jam” top.

Both finished tops are designs by Pat Sloan. Now they have joined the waiting line for quilting.

      Next I made a “CallMe bag” which a free pattern from ByAnnie. This one has been claimed by GD Mattie.

 

I plan to make several more including one for myself.

Stash Report for 2023

this past week- Used: 1 yd Added: 0 yds

So far this year- Used: 71.21 yds Added: 40 yds

Net decrease 31.21 yds

Goals for this week:

1. Make progress on the Quilt Con fabric challenge quilt
2. Make another Call Me bag.
3. Do more quilting on the Celtic Fantasy quilt.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.