Bag It 2016 and a Give Away

I've been working with a quilty friend

one day a week during the summer months,

teaching her little tricks of the trade!

When she asked to learn how to make a zippered bag,

I jumped at the chance to refresh my memory

and make a giftie!

I was trying to make the Open Wide Zippered Pouch
from a tutorial by Noodlehead
but I confess,
I messed up.
Worked out okay, because it showed her two
different ways to finish the end of the zipper.

I'm also teaching her how to finish her own quilts,
so I took the opportunity to quilt the front and back
differently so she could see she has
options besides sewing a simple grid.

I apologize for the poor pictures. I only snapped them real fast

to show her from the back, because after the pouch was sewn up,

it was difficult to see.

I'm proud to say,

her first zippered pouch was gift worthy!

Success.

I'm linking up to
Elm Street Quilts.

Speaking of Elm Street Quilts,
I continue to have fun with Patty's Chunky Alphabet.

This 14" x 24" pillow cover

was posted in the mail yesterday to my step-cousin.

An intellectually disabled adult,

she recognizes her name in lower case letters,

so this was a fun project

that she will just adore!

I stitch my letters in the evenings, after I clean up the supper dishes.

It's like having a delicious dessert,

without the calories!

I did say there would be a give away!

Patty is graciously supplying a PDF copy of her 

Chunky Alphabet Paper Pieced

as a give away today!

As an extra bonus, Patty just happens to be having

a birthday sale in her Payhip shop through the end of the month!

Just use the coupon code BIRTHDAY

for a 20% discount!

What a deal!

So take a minute and go check it out!

Thanks, Patty!

Just leave a comment to enter the give away.

The Random Number Generator

will choose a winner

one week from today!

Thanks for popping in!

WIPs Be Gone

Look at the beautiful postcard

that I received in the mail from Sheila!

It's almost just like looking out my front window!

I can take it to Texas with me

so I don't forget!

Thanks, Sheila!

A few finishes, finally.

Sometimes, I work on so many things at once,

it takes me awhile to finish any of them.

This Pineapple Blossom quilt has been a WIP

for a very long time.

Each center square carries a signature.

I will be gifting this to a long time friend who's husband is very sick.

She needs a perpetual warm embrace!

This baby/toddler quilt is a top I made in Texas

and brought back to finish on the Janome.

It still lacks a label.

And that's about all!

Today, I'm linking up to

A Quilter's Reading Garden.

Thanks for stopping by!

In My Humble Opinion

There was more than a wee bit of secret sewing happening at my house during the month of August, but today I can show you one finished project, as it has now been gifted.

(please click on picture to enlarge)

In anticipation of a weekend visit to Linda, The Scrapmaster aka The Fabric Pig, I whipped up this cute little banner for Linda's sewing room.

 The paper pieced alphabet that I used is available in the Elm Street Quilts' Craftsy store. Just click right HERE to purchase yours! 

The pig face is a free tutorial from Sew Fresh Quilts, which is generously offered HERE!  I have future plans for both patterns, and can't wait to get started!

Visiting Linda is such a delight.  Her family is always so welcoming and supportive, and Linda has so much to share and teach, which she does quite naturally.  I drive away with a lot more knowledge about fabric selection, thread, needles, FMQ than I ever arrive with.

Here is where Linda sits when she does her handwork.  Lots of natural light over her left shoulder.
The perfect spot!

I took the picture because I really like the pillow.  

She has the most awesome pillows and quilts all through the house.

They are soft and wonderful and every one is an invitation
to sit and snuggle up.
Here is one on display by Lesley of The Cuddle Quilter,

gifted to Linda when we had our challenge swap
during the late spring, when the NSQBQ met up
 at the Westville Quilt Show.
(This year's challenge is a round robin,
thus the 'other' secret sewing.
We aren't going to show each other until the big reveal next spring.)

I was quite taken with this beautiful wallhanging at that show,
as a matter of fact, it stopped me dead in my tracks.
No way does the picture do it justice.

Imagine my delight when I discovered it was made by our very own Sheila!

Check out the beautiful detail!

They each have lots to teach me!

~~~

Now for my humble opinion:

Creating controversy is what some people do best, however...

.......just because someone makes a statement that you may not agree with, you must remember, it's just one person's opinion. It's not the law.  It's not a rule.  It's not everyone.  It's just one person.  

Bottom line:  If you want to stipple, then stipple.