November Woods

I feel like our November woods. A little bit of color is trying to stay, but Mother Nature and Father Time are battling. Morning mists, morning frosts, morning snow - all fade away with the warmth of days sun. 2011 is fading into 2012. Projects done, projects that need to be done, and those we look ahead to. Changing our creativity with the changing season.

Almost to the end of the Raspberry Rabbits 12 of Hearts BOM. I still haven't decided on fabric(s) for finishing. Do I want a bright, do I want a dark?

And on the design wall - the finishing of the Sew Happy Sew Along embroidery. I may have to take this to my LQS and browse fabrics as nothing made me happy within the stash. I think it is the scrap quilters stash syndrome (is their such a thing) as just tired of the same old. Again a bright modern, or a muted country?

I never tire of playing with my small bits. When in a 'think' spot, I like to pull the barrel of pre-cut tinies and play. I know, who cuts 1.5" squares - I do! And they make for wonderful things as you get the fun of dark, light, bright, muted, spring, summer, fall, winter - all those bits of projects are in there.

I had to play with something new. This little clutch - The Dumpling - found here. Not sure it is something I would use, but know a few pre-teens that might like it.

REMINDERS

Be sure to check out the Henry Glass Blog Hop that started Sunday. Meet some of the designers and pick up some inspirations as well as some free projects.

You can still join in the 12 Days of Christmas Sampler.

Check those projects and think about joining in the SewCal 2011 Christmas Quilt Show.

SOMETHING NEW

I added a new button for a project coming in 2012 - 'Made in Cherry' found over here.

TRAVELING STASH

Box #1 - Shannon of NuNus Quilt World - She is ready to pass on the stash, so pay her a visit.

Box #2 - Staci of The Confused Quilter will be opening for comments Tuesday.

CLOSING THOUGHT

"November woods are bare and still;
November days are clear and bright;
Each noon burns up the morning's chill,
The morning's snow is gone by night.. "
- Helen Hunt Jackson

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

November Christmas Quilt Along

Wow, the last quilt along with Sue, it does give a wake up call! Getting set up and waiting on the coffee. I will update on this page thru the day.

I was going to work on the Christmas quilt done with this group - just needs quilting (binding made and ready), BUT I need to straighten these units. AND by the dust, also pull them out and do some cleaning. So I am going to do several small projects working just from these units while I clean/organize. Ah, coffee finished brewing - now I can start!

UPDATE

Here are a few of the 'manly' eye glass cases finished - for the senior home . For anyone new - the cases tutorial I did is here.

UPDATE

I made some tea wallets - will pair up with some teas for gifts. Need to clear that work spot up and then some lunch before the next project.
** I found a tutorial that is very close to how I make these -
here.

UPDATE

I straightened out the under-bed storage tote of X-mas fabrics - bagged all the strings (next years project) and bagged the small bits that need cutting down (have zip lock bags started with 2", 2.5", and 3.5" squares). I added my 12 Days of Christmas blocks in this. Now I will just pull once a week to finish up that project as the blocks are released.

I managed to go thru each drawer in the white tower and clean/sort/arrange each one. They weren't too bad, but a few items got tucked in the wrong drawer and needed to go back to their rightful home. I need to fold laundry and get to some other household chores. I have some fabric pulled to prep for key fobs. But I will be running into my time for hand stitching. So calling this my Quilt Along day.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Stitches for Me

I am keeping to my goal of putting some stitching time in every day. This piece is going slowly as I am working around some 'missing' color - floss is on order. Once that is here, I think I will work a full day on it to get all the missing pieces filled in.

I just love this bear! I chose to use real little buttons for his joints instead of stitching them. And I am working on the snowman. Then just the tree is left to do. Remember today she posts the final finishing for this mantel banner here.

The fourth block of the Fat Quarter Stars Quilt Along. This is not an easy block - beginners, don't skip it. Use it as a learning tool - just cut carefully and sew slowly. Use the pressing directions provided and you will be successful.

I have to tell you, I went two full days without touching my machines! Then one night I just had to sew. This is my block for the 12 Days of Christmas Sampler. The designer has a 4 present block, but I didn't want a lot of seams and wanted a balance with the other blocks. So I did one of the blocks from 'Gift Boxes' - I want a BIG present!

The next 12 Days of Christmas block is a snowflake done with selvedge and raw applique. I don't have any selvedge nor do I like the look of raw applique. So I went hunting for a similiar paper pieced block - I love to paper piece. I found this one here, check out the home page - lots of lovelies and some freebies! The light blue cone of thread in the photo - just to show you how much thread I go thru. If you have followed me for some time you may remember a post on this cone thread and how many I use. The cone is from Connecting Threads and holds 5000 yrds. This is my 4th cone for the year. That's not counting how many spools of other threads I have used either. I have another order in, but I do have a box, two cases and some specialty threads in a tin - so I can work while I wait.

I am linking this post up with Marcia's Minutes For Me.

REMINDERS

Hope you are popping into Sew We Quilt as all November is a Block Party. Lots of block tutorials with tips, techniques and inspiration to assist with your quilting.

The Raspberry Rabbits 12 of Hearts block comes out on Saturday 12th

The Christmas Quilt Along over at Quilt Times is this Saturday 12th. Join in getting some of your gifts done and maybe some inspiration, too.

Haven't heard of the Traveling Stash being ready to move on, but will update when I do.

SOMETHING NEW

New button added to the side bar for the Henry Glass Blog Hop. This was one of the fabric sites I posted a long time ago. They have updated the look of their site. Introducing some new things as well as sharing and give aways.

CLOSING THOUGHT

"From the manner in which a woman draws her thread at every stitch of her needlework, any other woman can surmise her thoughts." ~Honore de Balzac

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

The Eyes Have It

Due to a number of requests, I am presenting the eyeglass case tutorial today - next week on Thursday I will have the tutorial for the tissue box cover that I made with the Ghastlies.

SUPPLIES: (1)Main fabric - 4" x 13.5", (1) Lining - 4" x 13.25", (2) batt 4" x 6.5" (**I used a low loft cotton batt), pins, scissors, machine and thread. ** I used my own glasses for size so they may be a little large, but you have room then for a snap/velcro or tab closure if you like**

Here are my pieces cut for demo - main fabric, lining, and batt. I also have a green case as you will see as I needed to show a few different steps in one photo and hopefully the two different color cases will aid in that.

Place your main fabric and lining pieces right sides together (RST) and pin/sew the short ends - remember the lining is a little shorter in length, but that is to allow the lining to lay nicely inside the case with the thickness of the batt.

Press those seams open. You will have a continuous circle of fabric.

Now fold in half, matching seams and pin seams. Press.

Prepping for sewing - **on main fabric half** - place one batt, your case, and second batt piece. Batting should fit from bottom edge of case to mid-seam and side edges. Pin all in place and leave a turning opening (1.5"-2") on one lining side.

TIP - when sewing the long sides, start at the batt end, this will aid in keeping the batt smooth. This means you will sew down one side - remember your opening for turning **I did the turning hole side first so I would remember to DO IT! Then flip it over to sew down the other side starting at the batt end and sew all the way down. YES, back stitch your stitching start/stop so seams won't pop open when turning.

Clip your corners - TIP - turn your batt end first as it prevents the batt from bunching. And then the other half turns thru that hole so easy. Use your favorite tool for pushing out corners - I use an old chop stick.

Press flat and stitch your opening closed (by hand or machine). Then push the lining into the case BEING SURE that it goes inbetween the layers of batt. Use your corner tool to work those lining corners nicely into the case corners. If you have used all the pressing in each step, this process goes nicely.

Now you can embellish, top stitch edge if you like (this is small so you may have to hand stitch), add a closing tab or snap - or leave them plain - it is all up to you. Enjoy and please share if you make some as I would love to see them **link back to this post for tutorial credit, please.

CLOSING THOUGHT

“The eye sees a thing more clearly in dreams than the imagination awake.”
- - - Leonardo Da Vinci

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon