A Wristlet Key Fob and Atlanta's BIG/LITTLE Snow!

Wristlet Key Fob


Although, I made it yesterday, I had bought the hardware at Christmas time to make gifts and ran out of time, procrastinated, didn't get to, gave up.  I really have no good excuse for why I didn't get to making them. Yesterday, we were iced in so I had plenty of time to relax and sew.  I took time for both!  This project is fun and uses a small amount of fabric and batting.

A Wristlet Key Fob!

Originally, I was disappointed with the hardware.  In December I drove everywhere, and I mean everywhere (Hobby Lobby, Michael's, JoAnn's, Hancock Fabric's numerous fabric stores) and couldn't find the hardware everyone else was using.  So, I gave up/gave in and bought what you see in the picture.  I was sure I wouldn't like it but I really like it now that it is put together.  Sure could have saved myself a lot of diesel fuel - don't tell my DH!

Making a Zipper Pouch Change Purse

My grand kids go to two different schools this year.  Next year my GD will go to the same school as my GS.  Each weekday my GD and I wait in the carpool line to pickup my GS.  There is a very nice parapro who organizes the pickup of the students and she always comes over and talks to my GD as we pull up for our turn.  Consequently, my GD is very excited about going to the BIG elementary school next year.  Well, we heard it was this persons birthday on Monday and said GD does not have school on Mondays.  We always find something special to do on Mondays so this time we spent the day making a zipper pouch change purse for the parapro's birthday.  Here is my GD sewing.

Sewing the zipper pouch change purse

Please excuse the very blurry picture.  We realized on the way to carpool, we hadn't taken a picture.  We pulled it out of the gift bag when we got into line and I tried to take a picture with my cellphone.  It is very apparent I did not get it in focus.  We quickly re-positioned all the pretty tissue paper in the gift bag.

Zipper pouch change purse - loved the bright cheerful fabric she choose!

Tuesday was Atlanta's BIG/LITTLE Snow Day!
I say this because here in the south a little snow and ice goes a very long way.  Everyone is laying blame on someone else.  However, everyone really stepped up to help each other out.  People took food to stranded motorists.  Others drove people if they had 4-wheel drive or 4-wheelers, ATV's, or other means of transportation that could work in snow and ice.  A facebook site was even set up to help people get help and scores of people were helped through it.  People were amazing!

Snow can be so peaceful and nice!

I am responsible for my two wonderful grand kids during the day.  One is 7.5 miles away on hilly windy roads and one is just under 2 miles.   When I saw the first snow flake I called the furthest one (a preschool and asked what their plan was)  the school district was releasing 2 hours early but didn't know what that meant for the preschool.  They were trying to make a decision as we spoke so I just headed out and picked up the youngest.  Soooo glad I did.  In the 30 minutes it takes to get out there and get her buckled and headed back the roads were already icing.  I slid three times and it had only been snowing for 30 minutes, it was crazy!  This put me in line for the other grandchild as he was getting out at carpool on early release but there was quite a delay.  Luckily, we are very close to the school and the only spot the road has curves and hills is our street - and it wasn't too bad.  Only two of us picked up kids from our street so I was driving on fresh snow.  Easy, peasy!

My husband left work 35 miles away at noon, he arrived 5 hours later.  Our son lives just 6 miles from his house it took him 2 hours.  Our daughter works 17 miles away but left at 3:00pm it took her 6 hours.  She couldn't get from her house to ours to get the grand kids because they closed the road between us.  They had a Snow Sleepover at Nana and Papa's house.  It was fun!

Sledding - this is the bottom of the hill!

Fun in the snow!

 Also, this week I made some progress on the Quilt on the design wall.  Here is a picture of my progress.

Added three more diamond shapes to the quilt layout.

My Mom made this coaster on her loom. 

I keep it by my sewing machine for my water.

Today started off very cold with icy roads.  They cancelled schools because the buses couldn't safely get to the kids.  The grand kids and I have had a lazy day.  However, it has really warmed up and the snow has all but disappeared.  Next week everyone will be back at school and I can get some more sewing done.

Have a great weekend.

Karen

I made a Design Wall

I needed a design wall to stage my blocks for my quilts and more importantly to get them off my cutting table.  I needed to come up with a way to hang it and I didn't have time to run down to Ikea to get their nifty hanging hardware.  So, what's a girl to do.....well in my world you come up with your own and improvise!   I wanted some of those cool little clamps.  It took me several days and a lot of trying to explain to various store personnel what I wanted.  Every time I would get a blank stare or a completely wrong item.  Finally, I found what I wanted with these.

I only needed the clamp and hook not the ring.  It came apart easily.  Plus they were on clearance at Target.   I attached them with wires to the dropped ceiling in my quilt/sewing room and attached white vinyl tablecloth yardage.  (I still need to trim it to size). 

I'm so happy I finally have a design wall and on the wall is my current project.

The Strip Tube Ruler Quilt.  I haven't named it yet, it needs a better name. I love these blocks - so pretty.

Strips pressed and pinned.

Strips ready to sew.

 

My helpers!
My GS matched up all the colors for the quilt.  You can see the strips hanging in the background.
My GD  likes to help with the actual piecing.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Karen

My Sewing Room and a Strip Tube Ruler

I haven't posted since the last day of summer and we are well into winter!  We've had birthdays, Veterans Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day and not a single post from me.  All of those events were great.  I kept busy, mostly doing all sorts of activities with the grand kids.  Christmas was a joyous and wonderful time for our family.

Now we are well into the New Year and I hope you are all doing well.  I do visit your blogs and thoroughly enjoy all of the knowledge you impart and seeing all the wonderful quilts, crafts, food and activities you all are doing.

As for me, I have a new sewing/quilting room.  For several years our daughter and grand kids lived with us.  Consequently, the entire downstairs was their home.  We are fortunate enough to have a separate kitchen, laundry and bathroom downstairs so they were able to have their own space.  But we had to fit all of our stuff in half of it's usual space - no easy task.  Last February they moved about 6 miles away.  I still watch the grand kids five days a week.  However, it is very nice to have peaceful evenings with my DH.  It was also nice to be able  to  finally create my own space.  DH has a nice new office, too.  Here are pictures of the progress on my sewing/quilt room:

Before (the carpet was maroon - yuk!)

After paint and before new carpet. I wanted a bright color. It is a sunflower yellow - love it!

With new carpet! Not the best picture but you get the idea.

Now this all happened last spring and I have been working on setting it up for  awhile.  I have changed the arrangement of the sewing table, cutting table, two shelving units and ironing board at least three times - probably more.  I am driving DH crazy!  Just this week I finally stumbled upon a setup that I think is going to work.  As soon as I get it cleaned up a bit I will take a couple pictures of it.  I'm sure it will always be a work in progress.  Plus we still need to make a cutting table.  I have a folding one I bought at JoAnn's years ago but it's so wobbly and drives me crazy.

I am currently working an a fun project involving a Strip Tube Ruler and Batiks.  It is sooo much fun!  Here is a sneak peak at what I have on my work table.

Tube after it is cut into a triangle.  When you press it open it is a square.  See below.

Four squares make this.  This is so easy. 

I will try to post more often and update you on my progress on this project, too.

Have a pieceful week.

Karen

Time to say good bye to Summer!

Good bye Summer! 


Summer was a busy one for the grand kids.  They went to Day Camp. They played and swam and played some more, their hair got lighter, they got tans and tough skin on their feet.  Oh, such fun!  But.......they have been back at school for 7 weeks and are just coming off a week of Fall Break.  Summer break is shorter than where I grew up.  They only get June and July off and then go back to school in the sweltering heat the beginning of August.  The bright side is they get breaks all year long.

They enjoyed their Fall Break.  We had some fun together this week watching movies, playing Monopoly Jr., looking for frogs in the yard, coloring pictures and painting (one painted a mini bird house and the other a tiny treasure chest for Mom). Plus they got two days at Fall Break Camp.  Great week!

Painting a mini bird house for a friend.

A treasure chest for Mom!

My Sampler blocks are coming along and here are two more to add.  I need to get pictures of the progress.  Slow and steady is my motto with this.  However I am really enjoying working with the batiks.  I haven't taken any pictures of the traditional blocks lately.

So far with the exception of one of the blocks, I have loved the colors in this quilt. It is just so vibrant.  Even though the finished quilt is on display at the quilt shop I still get excited picking up my block each month and seeing the colors for 'my' block for that month.  I know its silly but I'm just having a great time with this. 

And last but not least a couple pictures of my favorite furry friends, my shih-tzu's, Smokey and the Bandit.  They are indoor dogs and Bandit doesn't do well in the heat but loves to lay on the lounge chairs on the porch under the fan.  Smokey loves to find a spot in the full sun and sit with his eyes closed soaking up the heat.  Kind of strange for a black dog - maybe he is trying to get some Vitamin D! At least I can get a picture of him that way.  Very hard to take pictures of a black dog unless he is in the full sun. 

Smokey, put your tongue in your mouth - silly dog!

Bandit watching the grand kids paint.

Hope your last day of summer is wonderful! 

Peace and quilting,
Karen

Prairie Stars Sampler Blocks Month 2 & 3

This is my Black & Batik Sampler block for month two.  I don't really like the colors in this block. They just messed with my eyes and head when I was sewing, still do!  I might remake this block with different colors since it bothers me so much. The Tri-Rec Ruler was used to make this block. At least all my points are close and it came out fairly square (not the picture) but the block.

Ouch, my eyes hurt! 

I finished my Black & Batik Sampler block for month three just in time to go back to the quilt shop and show it to get my next set of fabrics for block number four.  I really need to start working on these a little bit sooner.   I like it a lot better than the colors in month two!

Here is block number three.

I really enjoyed making this one.  Lots of fun!

My granddaughter was my assistant for this one.  She handed me pins and I held her hand and we guided the iron together as she helped me press seams.  Not too long now before I will be teaching her how to sew.  I figure by the time we get to the actual sewing I will have taught her all of the basics.  She just loves to help.  If I have to rip a seam out, she loves to pull all the tiny little threads for me - and who likes that job (not me)?  I love my wonderful quilting helper!


You might notice the Earthy blocks are missing.  Well, I didn't get them finished.  Month two just needs a couple of seams - like really a couple of seams.  And Month three needs all of the seams but it is cut.  What I really need is more 'ME' time!  Oh, and since everything is in disarray because of the next item some things just have to wait. (And in this case it's a good thing)!   

The soon to be new quilting/sewing room has been painted and has new carpet - I am so excited!  Can't wait to get everything moved in.  More to come........

Have a great weekend,
Karen

Latest Projects

I've been able to get to my sewing machine and sew but I didn't realize I hadn't posted since before Christmas.  Oh my goodness, before Christmas.  That was a loooonng, long time ago. As a matter of fact, it was just two days in to winter and two days before Christmas. Wow!  I could come up with all sorts of reasons, the dog ate my paper.....no! that won't work on a blog site!  Hmmm, let's see the sewing machine ate my work, that's it!  Nah, I just got so busy with other things, quilting, creating a church website, housework, family, taking care of my grand kids (mostly the latter - definitely not the housework!) that I didn't take the time to attend to my blog.  The good news is I did actually do some quilt and sewing things.

I have been doing a Sampler Days Quilt with a local quilt shop.  Each month I show up and as long as I've done my block for the month I get a new one.  I chose a quilt with a black background and vibrant bright batik colors.  I practice the block with more 'earthy' colors first.  This way when we are all done at the end of the year. I might have two quilts.  Below are the first months blocks.

Everything is cut and beginning to sew on first block for Earthy colored quilt.

 

First block for Earthy quilt!

 Both quilts use such distinctly different colors yet I really like both of them so far.  I chose the Black & Batik because it was so vibrant.  The Earthy is actually from a layer cake I have.  I will post which one in a future post.  I just love working on these.

 

All cut and starting to sew on Black & Batik quilt.  I love these colors!

First block for Black & Batik quilt!

This is a pair of tights my GD had.  She pulled them out to put on one morning and they had a hole in the toes.  She didn't have anything else to wear with her and it was too cold to go without them.  So, Nana to the rescue.

 I cut off the feet grabbed the lace (right side of the picture) that I'd had since her Mom was a little girl and.........

 

With a quick seam around the bottom we had tights with lace around the bottom. 

They looked real cute on her but I forgot to take a picture of them on her. Oops!

 

 

Almost forgot, I am getting a new sewing/quilting room.  We started work on it this week.  It will be awhile before it is done.  So very excited!

Have a great weekend!
Karen

Mail surprise, Teacher gifts and Special Ornaments!

I said I would be back the next day with more about decorating the tree and what came in the mail for my birthday but caught a nasty cold virus and it slowed me down a little.

 For my birthday I got this wonderful package in the mail containing this.......

I just opened the box...a GO! Cutter....Yipee!!

The goodies in the box, plus the family bought me several dies including the holiday die, bird die, and mats.

My grand kids needed teacher gifts and I thought it would be fun to make the gifts so we made these cute little ornament trees for their gifts.  The kids had a lot of fun making them.  My husband calls the Suess trees because they are rather whimsical, bright and colorful.

The whimsical gift tree!

My GD working on her tree.

 The grand kids love what we call "projects"  any time I say "Do you want to do a project?"  they know we are going to make something fun!  I love it, it keeps them busy and they use their hands, hearts, and creative minds to make something.

GS working on his tree.

The completed trees, what fun!

 We decorated our tree a couple of weeks ago for my birthday.  The grand kids did most of the decorating which was great fun.  I wanted to show some of my favorite ornaments that my Mom made - she is very creative.  It's where I get my artsy, fun, creative side.  I love to do anything creative.  I do think my Mom is better at it but I love to do it.  Here are few of the ornaments she has made over the years.

In the first years of our marriage my Mom made this 7" Christmas tree using costume jewelry as the decorations.

This snowman couple is 2" tall and sit in a tiny gift bag on our Christmas tree.

 

My favorite is this tiny little bear Mom crocheted when I was expecting one of my kids.  He always has a place near the top of the tree.  Love him and love my Mom!

Hope you enjoyed looking at the pictures of a few of my ornaments and the grand kids teacher gifts.  Just in case I don't make it back on here in the next couple of days.  Hope your Christmas is blessed and filled with JOY!

Peace,
Karen

I'm back and I've been busy!

Wow! I haven't posted in ages.  I have taken two vacations!  One with DH and one with DH and some great friends we have known since before our kids were born. Our kids are now in there 20's and 30's and we both have grand children.  They are the type of people that you don't see for quite some time but when you get back together you just pick up where you left off like it was yesterday.  So, much fun and so much laughter - at least the two of us girls (the guys just look at us like we are crazy)!  It was so good for me! No one will ever know just how much it meant to me but the laughter alone was good for the soul.  Needless to say, it was a short but wonderful vacation.

I've worked on a couple of projects.  This cute zipper bag is one patterned after one I saw on the Crafty Gemini.  She has amazing tutorials.  This one here was much larger, you just can't tell from the picture.  It was for my Mom - she loved it!

 

This one was for me. I use it everyday. It's a smaller change purse or business card size.  See the business card?  It is for a friends card company, as in Christmas, Father's Day, Easter, Thank you, Birthday cards, etc.  It's called  RLPCo.  for  Red Letter Paper Company.  It's a wonderful Christian company.  The link is to her Blog and you can link to her store from there.  Check it out and maybe you can get some last minute Christmas cards!

 This is a pillow my GD and I worked on together.  She picked all the colors for the strips and told me exactly how she wanted them.  Then we drew the butterfly and put it together.  Fun project!

She loves to have her picture taken.

Playing with the new pillow!

 Whenever a stuffed animal gets a hole in him/her, he goes to Nana's stuffed animal hospital (aka Nana's sewing room) for surgery.  This bear had just had successful surgery on his neck.  The grand kids were happy to get him back so they could give him lots of love - I got a big hug, too!

All fixed up and ready to play.

 These are the current fabrics I'm using in a project I'm doing.  Anyone know where I got the fabric?  It might surprise you.

So, that's a little of what I've been up to.  I will add some more (hopefully) tomorrow about decorating the tree and what came in the mail for my birthday!

Have a pieceful evening!
Karen