Soup Bowl Cozy! A Free Pattern!

“Anyone who tells a lie has not pure heart, and cannot make good soup.”   ― Ludwig van Beethoven 


I am a "sit on the sofa and eat my soup" type girl......and those soup bowls can get a little warm to the fingers!  I used to take a kitchen towel with me to wrap around the bowl......that is until I came across this wonderful free soup cozy pattern! (this size is more of a hot cereal size......)

 

You use 2 fabrics from a layer cake (10x10) and 2 10x10 pieces of batting for each cozy to make one large enough for a cereal bowl.  I found they were a little small for a soup bowl so I added an inch and a quarter to each layer cake square and that worked perfectly!  I apologize for my photos....they really don't show the difference in the sizes very well....the red fabric is the larger one

Here you can see the different sizes a little better.........they sew up in about 10 minutes!

 

Click here for a link to the free tutorial!

 

 

Finished with H2H quilts! And 2 more Japanese Fans.............

"What you really want for yourself is always trying to break through, just as a cooling breeze flows through an open window on a hot day. Your part is to open the windows of your mind."-- Vernon Howard

I was finally able to get the last of my Hands to Help charity quilts finished this morning!  The "Bingo" quilt is ready to go off to Happy Chemo with it's traveling partner "Thomas the Train".........

 I was not real happy with the fast quilting job I did on Bingo.  The back had some pleats in places from the quilting but the front looks great and I think probably the back will look really good from a moving train....(grin)......

 I was really pleased with how Thomas turned out.....the binding was easy and I love how well the fabric for the backing matches...........

They are both off to Happy Chemo today!

I also finished a couple more "in the hoop" Japanese fans "ala Ida"..........As I had explained on my last post....the pattern for the in the hoop fans ended up too small for my liking so I adapted the pattern a bit then finished with my regular sewing machine in order to make them bigger.  Here are the latest......

So now I am off to mail the H2H charity quilts........I missed the linky, which closed yesterday but please go to Sarahs page at Confessions of a Fabric Addict to see what many participants have made!

Click Here to Go there!

Picking but not Grinning...........and some fun with fans.............

"You can be drinking the wine today and picking the grapes tomorrow" --Jonathan Tucker



I spent more time the last two days trying to  do some free-motion quilting on the little Thomas Train charity quilt I'm working on for H2H......and spent a lot more time with my seam ripper doing a lot of picking instead......
for some reason my free motion foot just didn't want to cooperate......if it wasn't breaking the top thread it was having problems not pulling the stitches taut on the back side!  I even tried changing machines from my Singer to my old trusty Rockford but no luck.  I hadn't used my Rockford in so many years that it was all but seized up and needed oiling and "fuzz brushing" and even all that cleaning didn't make the FMQ any easier............I changed needles, re-threaded and still I had to pick out much of the quilting I did. 
Finally I decided to just order a new foot and see if that helps............I ordered the genuine Singer FMQ foot so it should be here next week and I'll try again....anyway here is the work in progress....I showed you the front on my last post....here is the back. (a little blurry)

I found a darling free train design for my embroidery machine at Thomas Sewing Center and added some "Choo-Choo" lettering together with a label...the FMQ is 3/4s of the way done so hopefully I can finish it off next week..........

I did get to play a little with my new Embroidery Machine.  I had purchased a Japanese Fan In-the-loop pattern that turned out rather small by the time I was finished..........you can see by the measurement on the cutting mat that it is barely 3x7 inches....it can maybe help fan a doll with hot flashes.......lol

But I was determined that I would make it work  for a real person so I used another of the beautiful Japanese patterns in the pattern bundle and then added my own design to make it a usable size.......7x10 inches! 

Here you can see the difference......

So now what did Mr. Tucker say about drinking wine today??? Don't mind if I do!   Cheers!

Another top for H2H and I have a new toy!

“Life is a game. It is up to you to be a toy or become a player”  ― Prabakaran Thirumalai



Awhile back I bought a pre-printed fabric Thomas the Train book that I intended to cut into blocks to make a quilt for my grandson, who was head over heels in love with Thomas........
Well, time flies and now he is into Poke'mon so I decided to finish the idea and donate it to Hands to Help instead..........I had used the Attic Window design before and really liked it so I did it again for Thomas and Friends............

This is the top.......when I get it finished I will send this together with the Bingo quilt I showed you on my last post to Happy Chemo............. I'm linking up today with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Hands to Help.......I invite you to go check out the other linkups!

Now to the second part of my post..........My sis and I had been wanting to move up to a larger hoop embroidery machine for some time now........I knew exactly what I could do with my little 4x4 hoop first machine so I took it in and had it cleaned and re-aligned so it is now good as new to give to my son for his birthday......he is as excited about that as I am with my new Innov-is! 

I embroidered 11 logos on some t-shirt material for a t-shirt memory quilt I'm working on and it went so fast!  Today I am going to try some "in the hoop" Japanese fans......oh, and, um......I may have "made" my sister, Irene, move up to a 5x7 hoop machine too.......

Hands to Help Flimsy done.......and a visit from Murphy....

“Learn to light a candle in the darkest moments of someone’s life. Be the light that helps others see; it is what gives life its deepest significance.”
― Roy T. Bennett

I was so proud of myself on Friday because I got this post all ready to go for today, Sunday, which is the day that the Hands to Help first check-in linkup was set to open......and then Murphy intervened....

First I saw a little message from blogger saying they had several new themes.....well I haven't changed my blog theme in ages so I thought....it won't hurt to just look.........Wrong!  Before it was all over and done I had changed my theme and I couldn't find anything!  I really did like the theme and I just wanted to make a few changes but there were no links to the layout pages, etc, so I spent awhile trying to figure out how to find the html edit page and luckily I had saved my old theme and was able to get it back, but not before I had somehow deleted the post I had all ready to go for this morning!  (sheesh....talk about a run-on sentence....my high school English teacher would be rolling her eyes)

I also had a different quote about giving on the initial post that I wasn't able to find this morning but I like the one above that I did find.......
So onward............

I am linking up this morning with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict on her Hands to Help Page........this is the 7th year for H2H and my second year joining them. If you haven't heard of this worthwhile cause I invite you to check it out! 

My inspiration for this little lapquilt I am making was a bingo block that my Sis and I each made for a May for Me celebration a few years ago.  I liked the bright colors and hope it will help a child undergoing chemo to stay a little warmer.  I will be sending this to Happy Chemo when it's finished.

I just started with the Bingo block as the center and built out from there.  The backing will be the same fabric I used on the second and final rounds.

Click here to check out the other link-ups!




 

Christmas Round Robin Finished, a new mug rug, and Hands to Help

Said the robin to the sparrow, "I would really like to know Why those anxious human beings rush around and worry so."

Said the sparrow to the robin, "Friend, I think that it must be That they have no Heavenly Father such as cares for you and me."  ---E. Cheney

I have been swapping with a great group of friends and last year we did two Robins......a round robin, which I finished and showed you HERE, and a Row Robin.....which I finished and show you below!  My starting row was the wrapped gifts.....my group added the beautiful lettering at the top, the pretty row of ornaments, the dancing Christmas trees of every size and shape (don't you think they look like they're dancing?), and the sweet snow globes at the bottom.....Did I say I love swapping with this group? I can't wait for Christmas to roll around now so I can bring it out!

Here is the back.......I was able to incorporate the signature blocks with the Merry Christmas banner separating the two Christmas fabrics....

Our Group is doing smaller projects now.....this month we swapped mug rugs........my partner Irene sent this when I requested a Texas theme and she also sent the little hexi coaster which allows you to fit the base of your wine glass into it!  Thanks Irene....it's just what I "ordered" and more!

and last but not least.....Confessions of a Fabric Addict is having their annual Hands to Help Challenge........Click on the button on my sidebar or HERE and maybe you can help out too!

Lions and Tigers and Bears...Oh My!

"A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others"--The Wizard of Oz


My kids gave me a beautiful Wizard of Oz framed puzzle for Christmas so I decided to bring all my Oz stuff out of my bedroom and into the dining room so everyone could enjoy.  This is where I will hang my Oz Hexi wall hanging UFO someday when I finally get back to working on it and actually get it finished...........but I digress..........

Here is the framed puzzle!..............I have added a shelf to put some of my Oz collectibles on........and I'll be adding some other stuff to the wall....it looks a bit bare right now.....the jewelry box is one my Sis painted for me a few Christmases ago....I blogged about it HERE.  The back and sides have most of the Oz painting on it......She told me I should turn it around and display the back instead......I might just do that!

I decided since I already have sooooooooo much Wizard of Oz fabric that I'm using for the Hexi Wall Hanging  I would make a table topper for the side board.........I made it reversible.........you can see it in the photo above underneath the books and jewelry box....

I signed up for Hands To Help at Confessions of a Fabric Addict today and you can too!  This is the 7th year and I believe over 700 quilts have been donated to various charities since Hands to Help began.   Follow the link or Click on the button on my right side bar to "give a hand"...........

                           

Sewing with Friends...............

 

 

"Here's a mug rug for you,
and a mug rug for me,
We'll have a snack,
Some cookies, or tea" -unknown

 

I swap with a group of friends....the same group who we did a couple of Robins with........I showed you the Round Robin we did in my last blog and am currently working to finish the beautiful Row Robin we finished swapping in December.  Now we are working on smaller projects.  This month we swapped mug rugs...........For my first request I asked for a mug rug having to do with New Mexico because I am a New Mexico native......Lynette made this gorgeous map of New Mexico with the Zia Sun Symbol!  I Love it Lynnie! Thank you.:)

 

I was supposed to send something to Mary, who only asked that it fit in her 8"x8" mug rug box in her living room.  Since it was close to Valentine's Day I sent this to Mary.  I found the pattern on Craftsy....I believe it is called "Floating heart" or "Hearts Afloat"....or something similar.

 

 

 

I sort of got a bit ahead of myself because I found another Valentine pattern I liked so I sent this to Lynette so she could use it this month......

 

Aren't mug rugs fun??

 

Ready For Spring!

 

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime"  --Chinese Proverb
  

I am definitely ready for spring....aren't you?  I know I haven't blogged in ages....since last year, actually.......but I have a few things to show you:

Every year my kids go to Great Wolf Lodge and they keep asking me to go with them ...this year I actually did go!......what a great trip....I'm so glad I went.  It was a great relaxing trip.....I think I might go next year again!  

 

For those of you who have never been to a Great Wolf Lodge....I will explain that the whole hotel is "interactive" and has several "quests" the guests can take...and they can also spend a lot of money on costumes.......unless they have a Nana who sews!

Here are the costumes I made for my grandsons.............

 

I have actually been "playing" quite a bit up in my sewing room lately and made a couple of weighted blankets among other things......the weighted blankets are supposed to be good for kids and even adults who have to live with ADD or ADHD....even autism....seems they "hug" when used and the weight helps by giving a calming effect......well I made the first for my grandson...one of the sweet little guys in the photo above.......7.5 lbs worth of Poke'mon.....

and one for my son.....a t-shirt quilt weighing in at 25 lbs!

 I turned over the sides of the one I made for my grandson so that I can add extra pellets as he grows.....according to the tutorials I saw, you should make them at least 10% of the person's weight but not more than 15%......the filler pellets are the same that you see that are used for filling dolls....polypropylene plastic................

Below is the T-shirt weighted quilt----my son is a Cowboys-Rangers-Mavericks and Longhorns fan....(should I have just said "Texas"?).....and I also included some scripture T-shirts for him (because he is also a fan of Jesus).....Since I didn't use any pellets in the sashing it was kind of hard to get it to lay very flat....but my son gave it a good rating ("Neat!") after sleeping with it so who cares if it lays flat or not, right??

I also finally finished the beautiful Round Robin wall hanging my group did for me last year!  See my blog post here when I blogged after getting it back from everyone.  So I now have it on my bedroom wall....I used a navy solid together with a strip of the Peacock fabric to frame the signature blocks for the backing....but I may have to take it off the wall and use it as a lap quilt because it makes me sad that I can't see the signature blocks......the navy actually looks black here...it photographed quite dark.....

 

 

One more photo and I'm outta here........my eldest son has a "fishing wall" in his Man Cave where he hangs photos of all his family and friends who send him a photo of them holding an actual fish they caught.....and this is the rule in order to get yourself on the wall: ....you actually have to send a photo of you holding the fish..........I told him the only fish I had caught lately were at the grocery store.....so I sent him this photo of me holding the salmon I "caught" at Albertsons......and he said..."Well it has to go on the wall!"

 Yeah....you have to be kinda weird to be in this family.........lol.....



 

Goodbye 2016

"My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?"-Bob Hope



My last post was counting down 90 days until Christmas and I had just finished making a costume for my Granddaughter to wear for Halloween..........so I thought I should show you the costume again..........with the Pumpkin Princess inside this time! Is this the most adorable thing you've ever seen?

 

I hosted Thanksgiving at my house this year and was fortunate enough to get all three of my sisters and my Mom and two of my nieces to join me together with some of their family members and one of my sons.  I love this photo of three generations of the ladies......

 

 

I have done very little sewing lately but I did manage to pour some concrete and love into making an Urn to place between the graves of our beloved Daddy and Shayne.  They rest in an old country cemetery devoid of grass but plenty of wind which was constantly overturning the flower vases.  Years ago Daddy had made several  concrete stepping stones using some aluminum ring frames he had made  himself to hold the concrete.   He gave me one of the frames to make some stones myself.  This is the first time I used the frame.  I placed a stone flower Urn in the middle and added marbles representing all the members of the family to it, together with a cross for Daddy and a cross for Shayne and some other little ornaments.......

 

 My sister, Barbara, was sweet enough to take it to the cemetery and place it in just the perfect spot....

 

 

 

May you all enjoy the most blessed Christmas and New Year!

 

 

 

 

90 days 12 hours 27 minutes 51 seconds til Christmas!

"Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves." ~Eric Sevareid


I know a lot of the bloggers I follow have been sewing up Christmas stuff year around but I finally got a project done! 


This summer my son laid some new tile in my living room which just wasn't going to look as good with the 15 year old carpet....so I decided to take advantage of 18 month same as cash financing for some new carpet..........well and the 20 year old heavy sectional I had just wasn't going to look as nice so I got a new sofa and loveseat...(not heavy at all!). 

This is sounding like that old story about "When a Mouse eats a cookie"!

But anyway....the sofa and loveseat have  throw-pillow backs so I thought I would use a panel (also that I've had for at least 15 years!) to make some pillow covers for the smaller cushions.....5 of them!

 

I also sewed up a little "Pumpkin Princess" Costume for my granddaughter.........I had visions of a pumpkin-shaped costume and I used a little dress pattern then sewed some stretch knit to the bottom to round it out and then sewed a tutu to the leggings to help fill it out.........I found a darling pumpkin cap at Hobby Lobby and made a crown to go over it.......I am so looking forward to getting a picture of her when Mom and Dad dress her up in it!

 

 

My Sis just came back from a visit in California and she stopped in a local quilt store there and told me that she had "saved so much money!".........it appears that they not only had quality FQ's for $1 each, but if she bought 10 FQ's she got an additional one free!  Well she quickly calculated how much she could SAVE by buying 20!!!  Guess who was the real saver here???  Me! Because she gave me 11 of those FQ's!  (Can't argue with that kind of math)   

 

 Thanks Sis........I love the fabric but I love you more! :)

 

 

 

 90 days 11 hours 49 minutes 24 seconds.....and counting......

 

 

 

 

Parade Winners!

“Winning is something, but participation is everything.”
― Debasish Mridha

As promised, Mr. Random worked deep into the night deciding the winners of the Perfectly Pleasing Pincushion Parade, and did his magic for several link-up winners.........and here they are!

The winner of our first place prize donated by our sponsor at the Fat Quarter Shop is Barbara at The Flashing Scissors.  Barbara gets a $50 gift certificate from FQS!  Contratulations Barbara and thank you, thank you, thank you FQS!

Winner of the Moda Jellyroll is Lin from St Victor Quilts

3rd place goes to Lynette from ...and the little sister follows

4th place winner is Lisa Marie from Quilts by Lisa

Honorable Mention Christmas/Halloween FQ bundles go to Missy from Missy's Homemaking Adventures

and Jo from ButterZ

 

 

Did everyone read the inspiring quote at the top of this post?

Well for this link-up participation is definitely everything so I am asking everyone to remember to send me your mailing address.  We still have the cookbook and the gardening set and other prizes to send out...........If you commented or linked-up please send me your address and I will send you a surprise!

click the email link below and email me your mailing address.

 

Send me your mailing address!

 

The Parade is Over!

 

 

“Dieting is the only game where you win when you lose!”
― Karl Lagerfeld

What a fabulous 10 days we had at the Perfectly Pleasing Pin Cushion Parade! We had 29 link-ups this year!

 

I want to thank everyone who participated and also want to remind you that I said that everyone in the parade would win something.  Mr. Random is still spinning around deciding the big winners are and will tell me something later tonight, but now I would like to ask everyone who linked up or commented to email me your snail mail address so when we hear from Mr. Random we can get your prizes sent out to you because

EVERYBODY WINS!!

 

 click on the button below to email me your mailing address so I can send you a surprise:

Email me