Still here!

Summer is flying by already and I haven't done most of the things on my to do list! Where does the time go. I've been trying to get my house organized and cleaned up. (I guess it's a late spring cleaning.) Seems like every step forward I make, I take three or four back. I am making progress here and there but it doesn't show much yet. I did finally hang my clock up again. We took it down when we painted the walls in my sewing space several months ago. My son gave me a gift card for JoAnn's Fabrics for mother's day and I bought the giant scissors and a couple of other things. Aren't they fun to have in my sewing space? I bought the photo holder at IKEA and thought it would work to display some postcards. The photo shows what is above my computer.

I've been studying Sharon Schambers video on leaders, enders and rice bags. I've looked at a number of methods for getting my quilts on the long arm and so far I think I will like hers. I made the straps and enders for the sides according to her method and I'm sure that will work better than what I had. Still need to make the leaders but they should go together quickly. She uses velcro. I know many people use zippers but I decided to try the velcro for now. It's good to know I have options if it doesn't work for me. This photo shows my enders. Kind of a jumble now but I'll take another photo when I have them attached to a quilt.

I need to make six leaf postcards. The idea is to make them on one large piece of fabric and cut them apart. I did leaf pounding for these. I still need to finish them up but this is what they look like so far.

I like the look of just the edge and the center and wish I had thought of that at the beginning. I might have to make some more and try just that.

I have a few other Works In Progress that I'm trying to finish as well in between cleaning my house. Such as this one called Pick a Peck of Posies by Susan Perry. There are quite a few more blocks involved before I finish. This is another block of the month I purchased many years ago thinking it would be easier than making and buying my own. Hah! I messed up the first block so much it's almost a full inch smaller than all of the rest and I have no idea how I did that. I stopped after that first block and there it sat. It's going together perfectly now so far. Not for a beginner though. You are given exactly the amount of fabric needed and if you don't cut carefully you can't get all of the pieces from what they give you. You really have to plan every step of the way.

I also finished one more row on my potato chip bag purse. I made this row all black. I worked on this at our "quilter's day at the lake." Only four more rows to go!

I'll leave you with another garden shot. I have to enjoy my flowers while they last. Well, back to my cleaning. Can't wait to finish so I can spend some time dyeing and painting and rusting fabric while the weather is good. Have a creative day. Janet

Potato Chip Bag Purse & Mom's birthday

I went to Iowa to visit my mom last weekend.  She had her 91st birthday while I was there.  She still lives in her own apartment with the help of Meals on Wheels, a visiting nurse, a home health aide, and the society for the blind.  She doesn't get out much any more though so I always take some hand work to try to work on while I am visiting, especially good when she is napping.  This was a nice visit.  Two of my sister's were there this weekend as well one of my brother's who lives in the same town as my mom, and one of my cousins even stopped for a short visit.  My mom did get to go to her study club meeting last week with the help of my sister-in-law.  She was thrilled about that.  It was the annual luncheon so a fun meeting to go to for her. She has been a member for about 50 years, I think that is what she told me.  That's a long time to be a member of any organization. She loves listening to books on tape and music CD's.  I bought the Irish Tenors for her, I hope she likes them.

The handwork I took with me was a potato chip bag project.  At the last Minnesota Contemporary Quilters meeting Peg brought a purse that she bought made entirely of potato chip bags. She mentioned that the instructions for making the bag are online and that was enough to get me started.  Do you remember making chains with gum wrappers when you were little?  This is the same principal, except I don't remember making anything but chains with the gum wrappers when I was little.  Here is a link to a blog by Mylinda with instructions for how to make the bag.  We don't eat too many chips so it will take me awhile to get enough for the bag.  I've had offers from a number of other people to save their bags for me.  We'll see how many actually remember!  I found that other things come in a similar bag, such as chex mix and animal cracker cookies so I save many things. 

So far I have two of the seven rows finished.  I will also need enough for the strap.  My son wants me to make him a belt next.  So I guess I will be saving bags for quite awhile.  You cut the bags into pieces so they are the same size as the gum wrappers we used to use.

Then you fold them and link them together.  Mylinda has excellent instructions on her blog.  I haven't got to the sewing part yet but hopefully I will be able to figure it out.  She even adds a zipper.  I think I will probably add a lining too. Have a Creative Day! Janet