Block swap

Here's another block from the swap I am a part of
(more info if you click the image)

I did show the teaser pic here

Here is the full block

I like how it turned out!  Spools are SO much fun!

And the other one

Garden of Eden in red, white and black!

Baby C quilts #1

I have a good friend in Texas.  When I found out she was pregnant with her first baby I was SO excited for her! I of course wanted to make a quilt for the baby!

It was SO tough trying to find BOY fabrics!! there is SO much floral stuff out there!  Once I found the fabrics I had to decide on the pattern.  I chose trip around the world, which it was the first time I'd done it.

Here it is, with the back showing.  I used a minky type fabric, and it didn't lay quite as nice as I would have liked.  I used a prepackaged binding.

And here is the whole top! I love the way the stripes look!

Jacobs ladder

For another quilt I did, I needed 2.5" squares.  Well I made that Jacobs ladder block a few months ago, and that used 2.5" squares.  So I thought to use up the 2.5" squares I would make some more Jacobs ladder blocks, and then a quilt!! I am quite excited about it!  It's VERY scrappy, and I hope that it turns out ok!

 

Here are the four blocks I made tonight

And here they are together.

They're not helping!!!!

Traveling Stash give away

Now I do not currently have the travel stash, but one of my blogging buddies does!!

If you want more information on what the traveling stash is, or how you can get your hands on it go visit Handmade by Rebeckah!

Testing blocks

Does anyone else test a block out before they make it for a quilt?  I do that sometimes when I haven't done it before, just to make sure it's the right size, and so I know that I am doing it correctly.

Here is a tester block I did today.

This was SUPPOSED to be Ohio star, but I should have switched the square red and white pieces.   I do like how it turned out (minus the few corners that don't match up!) but I do like how it looks.  I think I might do one following the pattern and see which one I like best for the quit I am making.

August swap

Well my partner for August was Charlene again. She asked for red, black & white blocks.

Here's her teaser pic!

Block swap July

My partner for July was Rebeckah at http://handmadebyrebeckah.blogspot.com/

The block she requested is called borrow & lend. Since she knows which block she's getting, I made it black & white!

And I received a lovely kitty from her!

Big Bag!

My host daughter (from Chile) bought a boogie board on our trip to North Carolina.  Well she was hoping it would fit in her big suitcase she is taking back home.  But it wouldn't.  So she just figured she would carry it on the plane with her (as a carry on)

 Well I was thinking about it, and I told her I could make her a bag, she could even put her wallet in it (or her purse!)

 

Here is the bag.  I made it a little bigger than the board so she could have room for other things.

 (I am not sure why this picture is sideways!) but it's the two pockets I added

And here it is on top of her carry-on.

I added a little strap with a snap to the back so she could attach it, and it won't fall so bad!

I hope she can use it when she goes to the beach and such back home!  It was a quick and easy project!

I need to add a back to a quilt top I have, and make a quilt block for my exchange! I have the fabrics picked out, just not sewn up yet!

Finished projects

 I have some pictures of things that I have finished that are getting used.  The first two pictures are blankets I made for my friends Joe & Christi.  Joe and I have been friends for something like 8 years.  Him & Christi have two beautiful girls, and I made them these two blankets.

The first one is minky with FOE around the edges. 

The second one is minky and fleece.

And this one isn't a newly finished, I finished it at Christmas.  It's the Tetris quilt.  Well Hollie decided she liked it so much she is stealing it from her daughter!

Scrap challenge!

Well if the fabric swap challenge I'm in isn't enough how about another? I plan on spending as many days as possible of July in my sewing room.

Block swap continued!

So I shared the first block I received, and the first block I sent out, but now it's time for the third (I don't have pictures of the second (I would have SWORN I took pictures! but I can't find them, and haven't received my block yet)

 I received this block from Karyli who is at http://sewandsoon.blogspot.com/

And here is the block I sent her!

Block swap

This is the first block I've received. I love it!

This block is from Charlene at http://geemaswonderings.blogspot.com/

The block I sent is the Jacobs ladder block.

So excited!!

I am SO excited! my friend Christine started her own blog!!

You should all go check it out!!!

Synchroc's sewing!!

Silly sewing sallies

We're still smiling ;) even after a few hours sleep. . .and lots of quilting!

Christine got half done with her quilting.  I finished 2 pillow cases and started on my block exchange!

Sewing day!

Christine & I have been sewing today! Here's what we've gotten done!

Christine quilting her canvas for her bag.

The pillowcase for my sister! (I have also been organizing!)

Jacobs ladder

I am a member of

Which is a block exchange.  you get a new partner each month, and you make a block for them, and they make a block for you.  My first partner (april 2012) didn't specify which block, but what colors, her colors were "Greens and teals, blacks, reds".  I think I spent more time looking for fabrics than actually sewing!  I had greens, but no teals.  I had a few blacks, and a few reds, but nothing that really went together.  Well finally I found the fabric that you will see.  I thought they went together nicely!

So the next thing I had to decide, was which block to do!  I searched for blocks that were 12.5" (a requirement of the swap).  I finally decided on a Jacobs ladder.  And I LOVED it!! I have wanted to make one for a while, so I did!

I couldn't find any really good instructions on it, so I decided to write one up myself!  This will I believe be my first FINISHED tutorial!  I have started a few, but not finished them! (I need to quit being such a slacker!)

 You need strips, ok you don't need strips, but I like to do strips.  They are 4 7/8" and 2 1/2".

 You cut them into squares, so this is the 4 7/8"

 Here are the 4 7/8" squares

 And the 2 1/2" squares

 Take one light and one dark 4 7/8" square and draw a diagonal line from one corner to the other.

 Then sew 1/4" seam on both sides of the line.

With your 2 1/2" squares sew them in twosies (sets of two, one light one dark)

 Then sew the twosies together to make foursies.

 Cut apart the 4 7/8" squares.  And here are my foursies.

 Press the HSTs open.

 Lay it out (I would suggest doing this! I accidentally sewed one piece on wrong cause I wasn't paying attention to my lay out!)

and Voila!  A finished Jacobs ladder block!

Tee shirt quilt side 1

So I finished my sisters tee-shirt quilt, but I hadn't gotten a picture of the backside, so I didn't want to post pictures of it, but it's been too long!  I just need to get up what I can, and then take another picture next time I am in Iowa (or just start taking pictures before I ship things off!)

I didn't realize how fuzzy this picture was! I REALLY need to get a better picture now!  What I did, was cut up the blocks, then put interfacing on the back.  Then I added the sashing and corner stones.  I decided on the front to use purple sashing with yellow corner stones and on the back yellow sashing with purple corner stones.  (her school colors were purple & gold) as I was getting to the end of the back side I didn't have enough shirts.  Well I found a few that would work, but as i was cleaning up something in my sewing room, guess what I found?! some more tee-shirts!  I guess I will be making her some pillows ;)

I would definitely do some things differently next time.  This time I made some blocks smaller, and some a little bigger, thinking the rows would end up being ok.  But I had put this away for a few months, so I forgot which ones I had done that too!  So the back ended up being a little wonky.  And even here you can see that top row is slightly shorter than the row below it.  I ended up just adding a little bit of fabric to it.

I of course needed help pinning the two layers together ;) I hope their puppy Bo didn't mind the cat hair :)

Haiti Student & Teacher bags

Haiti Student School Bags and Haiti Teacher School Bags

I am a part of the Methodist church, and one of their projects this summer.  My mother in law had a display and she asked me to make up some of these bags so that she could display them and what is in them.  I was glad I was able to help.  Last year I had done the pillowcase dresses, which I am hoping to make a few more this summer!

So here are some pictures of her display and the bags.  If you want more information about the bags, then you can click this link that tells about it

 Here are the five bags I whipped up! (they really didn't take much time!) and I was able to use some upholstery fabric I have had for a while! I wanted to use more corduroy, but I couldn't find it!  I really need to clean up my sewing room!

And here is the display my MIL had put up!

The UMW of Indiana is also collecting supplies to put in the bag, which can also be found on the link that I posted.

Finished project!

 I was hesitant about posting this, because these aren't the greatest pictures,and they still had some strings, but I need to get them posted!

I would have done a few things differently, like using purple thread instead of white, since the ruffles ended up curling a little, so you can see the top of the one under it.

But here is my $9 shirt! (It's the same shirt just different pictures)