Table Runner

Here's a newly sewn table runner made from a nice border stripe. The pattern is the same as one I used previously to make two placemats. Sorry, but the free pattern is no longer available on Timeless Treasures' website. 

And in other happenings...For the second time, I made pavlova, a traditional Australian dessert. I topped it with strawberries and kiwi - passionfruit isn't available here. My quilting group, the Batting Buds was here last evening and tried pav for the first time. Of course they liked it! Next thing you know, we'll all be speaking with a lovely Aussie accent! 

Today we've had an unseasonably warm (54F - 12C) and sunny winter day. Instead of sewing, my VW Bug got a good wash and vacuum. And wouldn't you know...it's supposed to rain Thursday.  

A Basted Day

Here's the "String-X" quilt top I made following Bonnie Hunter's wonderful free pattern at Quiltville.com. I'm just tickled with this colorful, 54" X 68" quilt sewn entirely from scraps and stash fabrics. 

Since I machine quilt on a Bernina QE 153 sewing machine, I chose to make today get-ready-to-quilt day. I made backings, and sandwiched and basted two quilts. Though basting isn't my favorite part of quiltmaking, it does help to have a large surface for pin-basting, and happily, I do. I have two, old, hollow-core sliding doors, that when butted together and laid across sawhorses, give me a 72" X 79" surface. 

Here are the two quilts I basted.

I pin-baste using a Kwik Klip and 1" safety pins -- not the curved ones because I've been making quilts for so long, the curved ones weren't even thought of yet! I bet you can guess what I'll be doing next. Yep, machine quilting.

While I was pin-basting my personal chef who happens also to be my DH, prepared beer can chicken. Here's the chicken, seasoned and ready for the outdoor Weber charcoal grill. The outdoor temperature was 20 degrees, (-6 C) but am I ever glad DH enjoys grilling year-'round! This chicken tasted awesome!

Happy Village

I recently completed this happy village, 16" X 16" wall hanging. I hope you agree that it looks like what we imagine as Jerusalem, or another Middle Eastern city. Of course, a village like this wouldn't be complete without a couple palm trees which, after the machine-quilting was complete, I machine-appliqued on top of a tulle overlay.

Instructions are in Karen Eckmeier's book, "Happy Villages," which I purchased from Quilting Books Unlimited.

A Shoulder Pouch

After watching Joan Hawley explain her "Sassy Shoulder Bag" pattern on a Kaye Wood episode, I made this body-hugging travel pouch.

It's sewn from a pair of hubby's old blue jeans, and one of my favorite palm tree prints (aren't they all my favorite!?)

I've been saving the press-on rhinestone palm trees for something special, and putting them on the flap gives this some extra bling.

The inside of the bag has a nice expandable, elastic-edged pouch, with two pockets inside. Perfect for a package of tissues, lip gloss and a pen.

Velcro holds the flap in place, keeping the contents secure. There's a pocket on the back of the bag too.

This is a nice bag when you want to carrying a few essentials, and for being able to shop hands-free.

Industrious Day

Somehow or another, this blog is making me feel accountable about my sewing...even if no one is reading it! So, it's been sew, sew, sew at my house.

Thanks to a new Aussie quilting friend, Glenice, who's a member with me in Quilting Down Under (QDU) chat group, I've made one of her favorite tote bag patterns. Actually, my friend Mary and I are making these simple, one-yard bags for a church mission trip to Jamaica. The free pattern is the "With Love Tote Bag" by Joan Hawley of Lazy Girl Designs. 

I made my version with a kid print, lined with a black and white check. Folding the bag down at the top to make a cuff reveals the lining. Red belting handles are sturdy and make the bag look kid-friendly.

Still Stringing

Okay, I admit I'm now certifiable when it comes to stringing. Just can't seem to get it out of my system! Below are photos of this craziness as I'm making Bonnie Hunter's "String-X" quilt pattern from Quiltville.com. This time I'm using up bright, kid-print strings. Come and see what I'm doing.

Begin with strings! Quantity is not a problem here.

Sew strings to a foundation of 4-1/2" X 10-1/2" telephone book pages.

Trim excess fabric and cut corners.

For a 50" X 64" quilt, I'll need 48 of these shapes.

Next I will select a print from which to cut triangles that will be sewn to these shapes to make a block. More to share soon, I hope!