Feeling Overwhelmed

Does your sewing space ever look like this??? Some quilters get stressed when they have projects that HAVE to be done. Me, I get stressed when my space is cluttered. I place items on the ends of my cutting table and pretty soon the ends are in the middle. Time out!! Clean up time before I can go on.

Two sewing machines and both tables covered so I can hardly use either one. Doesn't take long before this happens.

Close up of end of cutting table...unfinished project, backing needing piecing, fabric for bags picked out, pile of patterns that I really, really want to do.....and the list goes on.

Cal-co Quilter of the Year

Every year the Cal-co Quilter's Guild features a quilter at our Quilter's Harvest Quilt Show. She will be displaying many of her quilts in her own booth at the front of the show. This year it is Nancy Everling and she will be displaying all her Christmas.....her favorite time of year...quilts as well as others. Hope if you are in town you can see the show. Sept. 8 and 9 at the Marshall Activity Center in Marshall, Michigan.

Motion Comotion and January Amber Fenton BOM

Still keeping very busy in sewing studio during this hot, hot summer. I quilted a shop sample, Motion Comotion, a pattern by Suzanne McNeil and made another BOM of Amber Fenton Designs, the January block. Doing snowmen in July and then I will do spring flowers in January. Enjoy the pics.

Amber Fenton Designs

What would I do if the quilt shop did not get in new patterns? Well that is not a problem. A new designer, at least to me, is Amber Fenton Designs and she has adorable little wallhanging blocks only 12" by 12" to use individually or put in a quilt. She sells them on her website as a BOM so you can get the fabrics from her as well. I just opened my batik scrap drawer and made September, October, and November. I used fusible web after sewing the 2 borders onto the background. Invisible thread stitched the edges of the applique once the top was layered so it also served as the quilting. Then I machine stitched the binding.

The is November. The pumpkin has a crazy block in the center. The first I have ever done.

The sunflower is September. I like how the designer does the ribbon. Really adds a nice feel to the block.

And then there is Halloween...October.

I couldn't tell on the pattern how the designer did the cat's mouth and whiskers but I did a close zigzag stitch for the mouth and then free motion for the whiskers.

Instead of hanging these on a wall I added an "envelope" type thing on the back to place these over an inexpensive plastic picture frame to stand them on a table. The envelope is a piece of fabric the width of the quilt folded in half. I like mine to be long enough over the plastic to stabilize the quilt when on the frame. the envelope is stitched with the binding.

Newest Favorite Blog

My friend Nonnie just shared with me a blog by a very interesting quilter and appliquer who is quite entertaining. She is my new favorite and can be found at kimsbigquiltingadventure@blogspot.com

Check her out. Wonderful tutorials on needleturn applique.

What's In Your Bag? by Stitchin' Sisters

Going to be another hot day in southern Michigan so I am spending my day in the basement where my sewing studio is located. Even with air conditioning it is still more comfortable in the basement. This morning I took 2 fat quarters and 2 zippers and made 2 bags with What's In Your Bag? pattern by Stitchin' Sisters. The directions were vague is a couple of places so I wouldn't suggest this pattern for a beginner bag maker. However, the bag is easy and was fun to make and when done I had 2 bags!! These are made with a vinyl window in the front. Just loving being able to see what is inside.

These were done before lunch today. Hmmm... what will work on after lunch???

Classmates by Atkinson Designs

If you need a project bag this one is easy to make and super functional with 7 pockets including 2 with zippers and 3 pencil holders. It uses vinyl on the pockets so you can see
what you need. Don't know about you but I never remember which pocket I put something in and then I am opening every pocket and digging around looking for what I want. Well this
project fixes that problem. It is from Atkinson Designs...my favorite bag designer...and is called Classmates. It is 12 inches wide and 21 inches long when unfolded.

Mill Girls Quilt: 1830-1850 Reproduction Fabrics

The last 2 weeks have been spent in my very comfortable, cool sewing studio in the basement of my home putting together the quilt shop's latest BOM, Mill Girls Quilt. Marcus Brothers manufactured the fabric and designer was Nancy Link.

The quilt blocks went together simply with clear directions complete with pictures using the required fabrics..and....in.... color. This quilt will be available as a 10-month BOM starting in September so ask about it at your local shop. If they don't have it, Quilts at the Marshall House will be very happy to have you join us and have no problem mailing if necessary. The pattern is $56 and each month is $24. It measures 98 x 98 and includes binding, narratives each month on the Mill Girls, and enough leftover scraps to make a lap quilt.

Here are some pics laid out on my basement floor. Notice the bubblegum pink carpet it is laying on. That carpet was throughout my living room, dining room, long hall, and master bedroom when I moved in 10 years ago. It was the first thing I changed. Now some it rests in the basement where I lay out quilts to be layered and pin basted.

You can see the outer border better in this pic.

Some of the fabrics before I got started. Wish I had thought to take a pic of the outside border. It is so awesome.

Some of the 7 1/2 inch blocks for the border on point after the 4 patch border. These were done in the first 6 months of the BOM. I finished them in 3 days. No mistakes and no unsewing...Unbelievable!!

New Projects

Presently 2 projects are a priority in my quilt making. The quilt shop has started receiving Halloween fabrics ....which is by far my most favorite time of year....so naturally I just have to get started on Halloween quilts. I am pushing my needleturn applique skills doing the Baltimore Halloween wallhanging. The designer is Pearl P. Pereira and P3 Designs is the publisher. Because the pieces are so small I am starting with the easiest blocks which finish at 10 x 10. You can see the entire wallhanging here: http://www.honeybeefabrics.com/store/products/details/?product=BalHalBOM

Here are the first 2 blocks done. Don't know why my witch will not turn the right way. Sorry.

Another Happy Holiday Table Topper by Atkinson Designs in some new Halloween fabrics the shop got in recently. Just need to get the binding on now. This will be a shop sample. Just don't understand when I have loaded the pictures correctly onto my computer and they are turned correctly why they are uploading to my blog turned. This is not nice.