A learning curve.

The last while, has been a learning curve.  Playing with more detail and quilting to make a baby quilt panel more interesting.  The other how to install hardware on purses.  A golden rule, is to always test the screws and that the hole actually have the thread to grip the screws.  Doing this tiny test, will assure that the hardware is not faulty. 

 Quilting in the ditch, then around the shapes.  Added more shapes to the elements.

 Making the sun even more happy.

 Birds got wing detail. Flower centers with stars.

Butterflies always have so much patterns on their wings.

Quilted all the backgrounds with stipple fills.

The complete quilt, ready to go to a new baby girl.  The panel is called "Anna's Garden" by Patrick Lose.  Very apt, as the new baby's mom is called Anna too!

 Diane finished her 2017 Stitch-a-long.

Those purses are done.  Only one more to go.

This is what they look like open.

 The zipper pocket all have special theme's.

 This one is for someone who loves silver.

 The big five.

 Science.

They were made from the leftover fabrics from the retreat bags, which they received as gifts for Christmas last year.  One way to make sure the leftovers get used up in a very creative way.

Applique can be used to add so much to a project...

All four seasons, in a week.

It has been busy in our neck of the woods. We started with sunshine, then we had rain, wet snow and now we are back to the sunshine.  The trees are shedding their leaves at a rapid rate.  With the blowing wind, the leaves are all over the place.  So picking them up and keeping on top of it, is a daily event.  Soon all we will see, will be grey skies and lots of white, so no complaints here.

 Unexpected projects landed on my list of to do's. Another fishing rod cover, this time much shorter.

 It needed and embroidered label, once the main body of the cover was prepped, this could be done.

 The label with the details of the owner embroidered, the carry handle cover this, for privacy.

Sewing the caps on the ends.  Clover clips turned out to be very handy for this job.

 Handy Quilter had long arm quilting classes at The sewing Cafe.

Some of the samples, which were on display.

Over the weekend the flannel fabric, was sewn together to make a baby quilt top or backing?

Peter Rabbit got some more hand quilting.

 This green check was meant to be the binding for the baby quilt below.  However, it turned out to be the perfect fit for the hedgehogs.

 Adding extra details to create more interest to the basic panel.

 With the quilting one can play, to make it more whimsical.

 Shapes and lines add extra little details.

Adding the shapes, create a learning opportunity.

Works in progress continues....

Over the past two months, LE got some attention.  These leaves have been prepped for a while, it was time they got appliqued onto the background.

Playing with these corner pieces.

Peter Rabbit baby quilt.  Quilting in rows to highlight the writing.

A Happy panel for a baby girl quilt.

The binding is a very bright green and the backing is a white with a pink design on it.

 Diane's 2018 stitch-a-long:

This is the band for October, which is in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Enjoy the sunsets with the ones you love. Quiet times spent together.

There is a nip in the air...

 For us the weather have turned cool and the prospect of snow is around the corner. It forces us to spend more time indoors.  So first the "springcleaning" needed to be done. Moving to the northern hemisphere has not changed that part of me.  Instead this ritual has become a part of our lives in April and October.  A tidy house, just makes us feel good and then we can enjoy creating again.

Time to play in my sewing room. Peter Rabbit followed me home from Stable at The Hobby Horse.

Making a new frame for the center panel, using the stripe fabric.  A bit of parchment paper to draw curved pieces and scraps of muslin.  All the curves was freehand.

Cutting all the excess fabric away with pinking shears, makes the fabric more flexible.

Once the pieces were done, they were turned inside out.

Next, the curved pieces needed to be attached to the border strips.  First on the straight edges.

Just zigzagged the pieces together.

The curved edges was machine appliqued with a blanket stitch.

Once this was done the border strips could be sewn onto the main panel.   This frame just created a more interesting baby quilt.  It will be machine quilted and going to a new baby boy soon.

Baby quilts are fun to make. The best part, they can be finished in a short time frame.