Cell Phone and Camera Sling Bag

Necessity is the Mother of Invention.

~unknown

I'm so excited to show you my new Make! 

I will tell you that I have lost my beloved cell

phone very few times. Once I came home 

from the barn without it, and on back-tracking 

found it laying in the middle of the road 

across town. It survived. The second was a 

bounce out of my pocket while mowing. My

daughter had the experience of bush hogging 

her own phone into tiny pieces years ago, so

I knew I needed a solution.

I have been working on my Anna Marie Horner

Swap this past week, and the mini-quilt is

nearly done. I don't want to show you the 

whole thing as to not ruin the surprise for

my partner out there, but here's a sneak peek.

I needed some hand sewing to do one day while

all the dogs were here for a play date. My studio

is not yet dog-proofed for 6 energetic dogs!

This is an original design, and I was excited to

try out some applique and embroidery with 

this new project. I love the Folk Song line, and it 

seemed to speak to the 70's child in me. When I 

saw the leftovers, I knew what I wanted to do.

I pieced improvisationally until I came up

with a slab of both the tumblers, and the 

strips. The darker chunk of fabric in the

back is also AMH, but from an earlier line.

I liked the little bit of contrast it provided, 

and it's the backing used in my swap.

The strips made up the back.

The tumblers made up the front, and 

the Innocent Crush became the lining.

I added large 3M One velcro strips for

security, but none of the problems you

have with typical hook and loop tape.

I love this stuff!

I used FMQ in a swirly, floral pattern, and 

my favorite pink Aurifil thread to give

it a touch of pizazz.

I put a strip of scrap binding over the inside lip,

then bound it as I would a regular quilt.

Now for the strap. I can't stand anything digging

into my shoulder, so no wimpy strap for me. I 

used leftover batting and fabric with the selvage,

and made a wonderfully padded strap to cross

over my body. There are 3 layers of batting 

inside, and one seam sewn down the middle 

to hold it all together. 

I've been wearing it since I made it, and it's passed

the test. I love it. I can stick my iPhone with its 

Mophie battery pack, and my little Canon Power

Shot inside, and have room left over for

money or emergency items. 

I can actually say it was a total scrap project

because I used all the leftovers from my 

swap project. Woohoo! I'm over the

moon with my little Make, and thankful to 
keep my valuables safe now.

Working away at my QST quilt, and hope to

show you the flimsy finish this weekend.

I'm close.

Come on, Doxie Girls.

We've got sewing at Joann's tonight.

Daylight's burning!

Let's go sew.

Sandra is the hostess of 
Creative Space Tag today at~
Musings of a Menopausal Melon


Linking up today with~
Quilt Shop Gal
Crazy Mom Quilts
TGIFF @ Quilt Matters
Richard and Tanya Quilts
Free Motion Mavericks

A Quilting Reader's Garden
My Quilt Infatuation
Freshly Pieced
Quilting Jet Girl
Sew Fresh Quilts

"I See Your True Colors Shining Through": Lighting Problems

Lighting

This is the one most difficult thing I deal with when trying to show what I'm doing. The top photo was done in late afternoon with the light coming from the north. It was not retouched or edited besides cropping. The color is brilliant!

Show and Tell and Pet Project Show

There have been many occasions lately where someone has asked me if I had a card.

In the age of smart phones, do people still carry business cards?

According to my daughter at university, students there are encouraged 

by professors to carry business cards.

Several other friends said they always cards on their person.

Where have I been?

Jelly Beans and Chocolate

                                               We had a snowy weekend here, 

and I don't know what quilter doesn't translate that as,

"So sorry! We can't make it because of the weather," and

"Hip hip hurrah! I get to stay home and SEW!"

Just don't share that with friends and family.

They won't get it,
and they won't think it's funny!

100th Post and 1st Linky Party

I had hoped to have this done today, but life takes precedence. I made this wall hanging for my sewing room wall to remind myself that it's not the destination--it's the journey. I have been blessed by all the wonderful people I've met through Pink Doxies and quilting. One hundred posts, and dozens of new friends. Thank you.

Selvages and Pieced Oversized Tote WIP

 

Okay folks. I'm smitten. I'm, totally, head-over-heels Gaga over selvages. 

They are like gingerbread on a house to add the final zing.

Orphan Blocks and Selvages

 My sewing room is now 'cleaner', meaning there are still some piles of fabric waiting for another project or two, and, Woohoo! I found my lost ruler! Floors are swept, free of pins, and all table tops are wiped down. Cutting fabric causes a lot of lint and dust, but all surfaces are sparkly now. I was putting away some scraps, and uncovered a stack of orphan blocks. They were made with Kate Spain fabric, and left over from the "Daydream" improv quilt top I did a few months ago. They were begging to be put in a project.

Salvaged Selvage Bag

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Allow me to prepare you for a wee bit of rambling today, but there are pictures.

New Year's Day was quiet here inside, and very cold and windy out. There was a fire in the hearth, hockey on the t.v., and fast food for supper. I had almost the whole day to sew, and since the year was new, I wanted to try something I'd never done before. Selvages. Wouldn't they look cute on a little zipper bag?

Progress of My Zipper Bag Project

It's early this New Year's Eve morning. I've already been sewing, and put together this little bag. (Ummm. I like it.)This is probably the only end of the day I'll be awake to enjoy. It's never been a big draw for me to stay up until midnight to welcome in the new year. I'm definitely a morning person. But, for those of you who are prepared with your hats and party horns, make a lot of noise, and kiss someone for me. 

No Rest for the Weary

Remember a few days ago when I was looking forward to my week alone with my husband? I was planning to sew my days away with little responsibility, take walks with the dogs, etc. Well, let me tell you, it didn't happen quite like that. 

All week long I've run like a crazy woman. I've refereed more llama disputes than I could imagine, been spit on because I got in the middle, and have had mulitple flashbacks to the early days of mothering 5 kids. The other family dogs came yesterday afternoon for a total of six. Three over 50 pounds, and 3 bad dachshunds. It was a sleepless night while the new dogs got used to regular house noises. We were all up by 4:30. While trying to get medications out for one big dog, the other two played chase in the living room, and took out a lamp. One doxie didn't want to eat, but I coaxed her into it. She then threw up for the next several hours. Oh, dear, I hope it's not contagious. 

(Did I happen to say today's my 27th wedding anniversary?)

So, while I babied the sick dog, the rest have had a couch day. They slept, I finally got the new lights for the tree on, and you can see the little church and Santa finished the decorations. Now it feels like Christmas time.

I did squeeze in a little time to sew.

This is the other pillow top done for dear son's new house. I'll get it all together before he's home from vacation.

This, next, is a Christmas present for the in-laws. It's a dog bed top for their Scout. My mother-in-law has always had a thing for birds, and loves Charlie Harper prints. Harper did a fabric line with winter birds, and it was a perfect match. Some of the fabric was in a panel of sorts, and I had to be creative to work those into a bed top. Two rows go up, and two go down. No matter how the bed is turned, half the blocks are in the correct direction. I think it adds interest to the top. The sashing is a grey with hatch marks.

I quilted the blocks at about an inch apart, and the sashing in between closer to 1/2".

I think his prints give so much character to the animals. 

All six are sleeping hard, and I think I'm going to sneak downstairs alone.

Remember the saying, "Let sleeping dogs lie."

I'm off to sew alone.