Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year all!
I am posting with my completed steps for Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt with Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville
We are all waiting, hoping to get the next step early as Bonnie has done previous years!

Here are only 10 or so of my completed blocks of each step...
So far, Clues 1, 2 and 3 are completed.











Clues 4 and 5 are close to finishing the completed units, but my yellow is running out, so I am waiting to see how many more Clues there are and how much more of the yellow is needed.  If I need more, now will be my chance to add a similar flour for more unified scrappy look.
This year I have really used up scraps and leftovers!sure feels great!

Anyway, Happy New Year all!
I am planning on a better 2015 than the previous 2 years have been for our family!
Take care, Leslie


Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas to One and All!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I know I have been gone for a very, very long time, but lots of changes at our home.

I am adding pictures of Christmas quilts from around the house and linking up with Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville!

Sorry if these are blurry, but I am a little shaky and still have't got picture taking on my IPad conquered.
Anyway, wishing you and your loved ones All The Best over the Holiday Season!
Take care, Leslie

A Christmas Candle Mat!  Original design unknown, from a Minnesota Shophop kit, but I added trees and stars from a 2007 Lisa Bonegan arrival in Quilt Magazine.
This is a tree skirt I started in 2006 and finished in 2010!  This is from Thimbleberries fabrics Nd the poinsettias and holly pieces are satin stitched machine appliqués with rayon thread!  It is about 60 inches round.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Welcome to the Pin It Blog Hop!


Hi There!


Welcome to my day on the Pin Cushion Blog Hop!
Thank you to Madame Samm, Kristen  and our great sponsors for bringing the blog hop together!

I love Bird Brain Designs!
I have these pincushions I made awhile ago, but unfortunately, gave them away!

Picture of BIG Flowers Pin Cushions

And the Always Blooming fabric Madame Samm has from PB Textiles!  Gorgeous!

I had planned a whole bunch of pin cushions, but here is what I made!

I love these mannequin pin cushions! 

I wanted to make a miniature sewing room, with a sewing machine, the mannequins and a sewing chair, but I think way too big!  Family visiting, frequent house showings, pain, all got in my way....

So, without any further ado here are my Gingham Ladies!

Imagine, you are planning a trip to somewhere warm
how about a new bikini?
In Red gingham madame?
with black gingham edging and green flower decorations?

Pincushion blog hop sept 17, 2913 What about a new suit in red and black gingham?

Mais Oui!!


OR

Planning a all night sewing retreat?
Expected dress?
Your best new PJs, Of Course!
How about aqua gingham, with pink gingham and velvet ribbon trims?

Pincushion blog hop sept 17, 2013 How about aqua for new PJ's?

What Else!

I tried to use gingham, there is wool and cotton gingham.  By the time I decided on gingham, I could not buy any where we live!  I went to a flea market, bought a crafted basket made from gingham, came home ripped it apart to get the aqua gingham below!

The stool is made from cotton and wool gingham, and when turned upside down, will also be a thread catcher using the idea Madam Samm had a while ago.  The red gingham cotton is from red bias tape trim, I sewed together!

Here is the schedule to see all the other pincushions today!
So sad, is the last day......


Have a great day!
Take care, Leslie

 

Sunday, June 30, 2013

A Brief Goodbye...

Hi there!
I will be suspending my blog for awhile...
WHY??
1. Goggle Reader is gone, and I do not whatnot to go with some of the other Readers as I do not want to use anything associated with Facebook.  I just don't like it, I guess trust it would be the right word...
2.  I am having surgery in less than 2 weeks and my activities, including sewing, for awhile.
3.  I do not have much to show right now with house selling, cleaning, etc
4.  I am getting spam comments, so I want to stop that too!
I tried and tried to upload some clip art, but the IPad can't seem to do it...
I will be watching from afar....
Yes, I will be back when I can, if there is any news!
I will miss you lots,
Take care, Leslie

Thursday, June 13, 2013

The Tammy Bag, My Turn! Two Bags of Gold!

Good Morning!
 
Welcome to Day 2 on the Tammy Bag Blog Hop!
Samm, this is such a wonderful pattern, thank you so much for letting me participate!
 
 
When I saw Samm's posting about why she designed the bag, to find her scissors, of course, and then the pictures, why I had to make one too!  When you sew and quilt, including hand sewing, for me, needleturn applique, a Tammy Bag is a must have accessory!
 
So, I purchased 2 handle sets from The Bag Lady, or Man, in my case, that is whom I spoke with to ensure I was getting the correct set of handles.  Then I started one bag, and decided, well of course, I needed to make 2!  My favorite things about the bags are their size, very easy to put into a tote bag, take into the car and the easy to access pockets, both inside and out!
 
While in the San Francisco area a few years ago, I found a set of half yard bundles, in a very pretty yellow, gold, peach colour grouping, and when I was looking through my stash for the right fabrics to match my gold coloured handles, I knew I had the right grouping.
 
So, without any further ado, here are my 2 bags!  Yes, my photography skills are terrible!
 
You will notice one is a little different from the other. 
 
This is the first one I made.  I had a lot of pulling and tugging to get the rounded edge into the square handle.  So I thought, with the next one, I would adjust the top edge to avoid the rounded edge into the square handle.  I know, sounds a lot like a round peg into a square hole!
 
Today, when I was looking at the other bags and postings, I realize I must have purchased the wrong handles!  Everyone else seemed to have the rounded handle, not the square ones like I have.  Oh, well, I think they look great!
 
They hold so much too!  For me, 2 sets of applique projects.
 
 
I added white, thin ric rac and a large gold button to match, to attach my scissors to, as Samm gives this as an option in her pattern for purchase.  I'm not sure if you can see the scissors in the front pocket.  You will also notice the upper edges attached into the handles seems to stand up straight.  I altered the pattern by adding these pieces so they would fit easily into the square handle frame, but unfortunately now, it is harder to get into the bag, despite the generous opening Samm designed into the pattern.  As well, this bag is made with a firmer fusible interfacing, so it helps it to stand up more.
 
 
This one also has an applique project, a needle case, some thread and my camera!
 
 
This is the first bag I made and doesn't have the lace on the outside pocket, and the pockets are a little different on the inside.  This one is made with the fusible fleece, so I think that is why it is softer. 
 This one has a small cushion I use to wrap up my applique background, prevents wrinkling and a fold.  You can see my project. it is approximately 18 x 24 inches, plus my thread.  I made a small ruffle with some hemming lace (I used this stuff when I was making my own clothes, for my hems, so they laid flat and protected the unfinished edge).   My scissors are in the outside pocket, again attached to the thin white ric rac and the large gold button!
 
 
 
Hey, I have 2 bags of Gold! 
 
Yesterday, there were several clever ladies who made matching needle cases, pin cushions, small bags for change, an electronic gadget case, etc.  I will see what I can put together from my leftover fabrics and add to the bag later!
 
Sorry, no giveaway this time around. 
 
This is the list of the other Tammy Bags for today! 
Be sure to drop by and say Hi!

Les (Yup, that's me!)

Have a great day!  Take care, Leslie

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Winners of Say It With Flowers! mug mats

Good Morning!

Thank you for all the wonderful birthday wishes, I had a wonderful day at home!


I selected the winners on Monday evening.

Elizabeth Coughlin of Elizabeth Coughlin Designs.  She offered a really cute flower pincushion, what a wonderful prize! 
And Carol of Just Sew Quilter.  Carol, I left a comment on your blog as you are a no reply blogger!

Have a great week!
Take care, Leslie

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Say It With Flowers,on My Birthday!

Hello!  Happy Birthday To Me!
 
It is my day on this great Blog Hop!  Aren't all the spring flowers we are seeing on this blog hop lovely? For us, because our spring has been soooo late, our trees are just finishing getting their leaves. 

I see some people are showing past projects with flowers, I have just one to show you.


I made this quilt awhile ago, it is made with a jelly roll into strip sets, then the strip cut into blocks and laid in this pattern.  It is sitting on a blow-up bed, in what was my sewing room and is now our 4th bedroom in our home.  I thought if I dismantled my sewing room, it would help with selling.  I had shelving with my plastic containers on them in the same space as the bed takes up!


So, I was making these for the April Showers blog hop when this blog hop was announced.  To me, my project looked like and evening, or early morning flower garden. 


The Dresden petals remind me of the setting or rising sun!  I machine appliqued and quilted with a rayon yellow thread, using machine blanket stitching.  The fabrics are by Tula Pink from a few years ago.  The white fabric I used in my borders and the black background fabrics have some of the flowers laminated and there is lots of glitter on them to make the flowers gleam in the moonlight!


Yes, there are 2 mug mats, leave me a comment and I will draw 2 winner!
(I am sorry for these blurry pictures, they looked ok before I posted them!)

Please stop by today and see all these wonderful projects
May 31st
Les Quilts  That would be me!

A very special thank you to Madamme Samm and Carol our hostess for looking after us this time!

Have a wonderful day, the weekend is here!
Take care, Leslie