Friday Flaunt - Apron and Stockings

From the title of my post, you might think I'm making clothes for myself! Perhaps I am making clothes if you call a handyman apron clothing. I do expect the apron to prove so useful it will be something I regularly wear. I came across the "Retro Handyman's Apron" pattern on the Olfa website.

Being a bit barmy for palm trees, this print, purchased last year at Rainbow's End quilt shop in Dunedin, Florida, proved perfect for the apron pockets. The blue tone-on-tone fabric is another favorite: "Satinesque" by Patrick Lose. I'm pretty sure I thoroughly own it... in eight colorways! Rick-rack adds a nice touch. As I often do, you'll note I made the striped binding on the diagonal.

I sewed several sizes of pockets on the front, customizing them to suit the tools I want handy: rotary cutters, snips, tape measurer, 1" X 6" ruler, wash-out marker, and Chaco-liner. I'll probably poke a pencil in too.
If you make this pattern my suggestion would be to cut the pocket as a single piece, then fold it wrong sides together. The instructions have you cut two fabric pieces and in the next step sew them back together again making a top seam onto which you top-stitch rick-rack. (Huh?)

As for the stockings part of my post, it's another of the "Season of Grace" BOM by author Emilie Richards and quilter Pat Sloan. September's stocking is "redwork." Stitched words could be anything we choose, so my BOM-swap partner Mary and I agreed on "Peace on earth" (her words), and "Goodwill to all". Instead of redwork, our work is DMC #3799.

I've learned that when you're embroidering small words, the stem stitch doesn't work so well. Yes, I completely stem-stitched "Goodwill" and then unstitched it. Small words such as these are more legible in backstitch. There's always something new to learn, isn't there?

A post script for those of you who may be curious about my "Friday Flaunt." Friday Flaunt is the brainchild of Cinzia White, an Aussie who belongs to the Yahoo chat group, "Quilting Down Under," as I do. Cinzia suggested that QDU bloggers post a weekly flaunt of their quilting projects. Knowing that every Friday other quilters will be looking for one's weekly quilt-y productivity is great motivation!

Find links to all 19 Friday Flaunters here.

Friday Flaunt - Stockings (again!) & Snowflake Medallion

It's the weekly Friday Flaunt! Check Cinzia's blog for a complete list of "Frenzied Flaunters." Don't miss the great stuff everyone is doing. I can honestly say that participation keeps this quilter motivated!

The August "Season of Grace" BOM stockings designed by Pat Sloan are made. Mary and I are each making two identical stockings, then swapping one. These are three-dimensional so when the quilt is hanging, treats and treasures can be put inside the 25 stockings.

I'm as tickled as can be to share my progress on this "Snowflake Medallion" quilt designed by Emma at Ballarat Patchwork. My SnoMed is 50" X 50" now. I love the colors! All the fabrics came from quilt shops here in West Des Moines and Clive.

There are 28 teal colored Sawtooth Star blocks.

Then, there are not one, but two rounds of striped borders.

I'm glad I spent the time needed to figure out and sew the mitered corners.

But I confess: there was more than one border unsewn and resewn!

The next medallion rounds are green Flying Geese and applique blocks. Time to applique again.

Friday Flaunt - Stockings & Bub's Quilt Top

These Christmas stockings with yo-yos are the July BOM in the "Season of Grace" project being co-coordinated by author Emilie Richards and quilter Pat Sloan. One of my stockings is to swap with my BOM buddy, Mary.

Pat didn't post the August BOM until yesterday, so I guess that means she's just as busy a quilter as the rest of us!And, I'm working on another baby quilt. I've never needed to make baby quilts for anyone in the family and now we have a family that's blossoming!

This baby quilt is for our grandson - our first birth grandchild. Bub is due in October, to mum and dad who live in New South Wales, Australia. This American Nana is has been suffering from missing out on pregnancy. Thank goodness for Skype and webcams, and digital photos.

I'll meet Bub (his real name is a secret until he's born) for the first time when he's three weeks old.

Mum (our DD) and dad have been particular about colors not to include in Bub's quilt. So, feeling color-constrained, I opted for blues and browns. The fun came when choosing Aussie animals to machine-applique to make this 45" X 50" top.

Naturally, no Aussie animal quilt is complete without koalas.

The critter designs came from several sources: the Internet, an issue of Australia Patchwork and Quilting, and Down Under Di who drew this cutie herself and emailed it to me.

Thank you, Di!

I'll be sandwiching soon, using my favorite Cream Rose batting, by Mountain Mist. Then, some quilting that may include eucalyptus leaves, and Aussie animals' silhouettes.

Visit Cinzia's blog for a complete list of bloggers participating in "Friday Flaunt."

A Season of Grace Christmas BOM #5

My Tuesday "I can't wait" happened. Summer arrived. And with a vengeance! The temperature reached 90 F (32 C) and today the forecast is 91 F (33 C). Now that may not sound too awful, but add to the temperature humidity at 91 percent and you have the makin's for misery, as soon as you step outside. This wavy head of hair has turned to complete frizz.

To avoid turning on the air-conditioner for as long as possible, I hunkered down in my cool basement sewing room. Though not quite ready to think Christmas, the Emilie Richards/Pat Sloan June BOM of the "A Season of Grace" needed making.

As usual, I made two identical blocks: one for (Blogless) Mary and one for me. Will this do, Mary?

Season of Grace Stockings

I've been playing catch-up on the Season of Grace, BOM (block-of-the-month) being offered by author Emilie Richards and quilter Pat Sloan. The BOM began in February, and has two options.

My friend, blogless Mary, and I are each making the Advent stocking quilt that will finish into a 25-block wall quilt. Our stockings are about 5" X 7", faced with muslin, and blanket-stitched to a background fabric (have yet to do that part). They'll be dimensional so treats and little gifts can be stuffed inside.

Mary and I are each making two identical - or very similar - stockings for every month, then swapping one. Though we agreed on a background fabric, and basic colors, I'm sure we'll end up with 25 very different stockings.

Here are February (Nine-Patch) and March (Crazy Quilt) stockings.

And these are April (applique...ha, we agreed to embroider instead)

and May (Candy Cane Stripe) stockings.

Fingers in Many Pies

My body is slowly, reluctantly, flip-flopping to US time. Gosh, I even slept in this morning until 4:00 a.m! Thankfully, my productivity levels are still running high, so I've been able to dabble in a variety of things. Perhaps it's time for me to create a WIPs (Works In Progress) blog list to hold me accountable for finishing all I've begun.

I've cut out the "Snowflake Medallion," quilt from Ballarat Patchwork in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.

I'm playing catch-up with the Season of Grace BOM (Block Of the Month) "Advent Christmas Stocking" quilt by author Emilie Richards and quilter Pat Sloan. It began in February.

I'm creating a home i-Movie production, combining photos and video from our five weeks in Australia and New Zealand. "Australia Revisited" is an hour and a half long. Watch for it at your local theater.

And I'm working, writing two articles. One piece is for "Quilter's Newsletter" magazine about the February 7 Victoria, Australia bushfires, and the quiltmaking relief efforts that are underway.

These are some of the quilts that have been collected at Eaglehawk Primary School in Bendigo, Victoria.

The other piece is about New Zealand, for the travel section of the "Des Moines Register" newspaper.

New Zealand has the most magnificent, varied scenery on earth. Here we are tramping on the beautiful Franz Josef Glacier on the west coast of New Zealand's south island.

This is where I was when I tore ligaments in my knee. Five weeks ago, and it's still a swollen ouch.

Sitting in a chair to sew and write doesn't sound like a bad idea.

A Season of Grace Christmas stocking BOM

Happily, merrily, joyfully...I spent an entire weekend on a quilting retreat with eight best friends. How blessed we are when we have very special women in our lives! These friends not only enjoy quilting as much as I do, but we can and do share our faith with one another. What a precious gift from God!

With plenty of time for sewing, I made my two identical "A Season of Grace" Christmas stockings from the Emilie Richards/Pat Sloan February block-of-the-month.

My friend, Mary and I have agreed how to make them. Stockings will be:

1. sewn with similar fabrics.

2. sewn onto a background fabric we have both purchased.

3. fully lined with muslin.

4. appliqued with a machine blanket stitch.

5. open at the top so messages and trinkets can be put inside.

Mary will get one of my stockings; I'll get one of hers. This is sure a fun way to share quilting with a wonderful friend!