Another Top Done!

I just finished this top this weekend! It was a free pattern called "Chelsea Manor" by Bunny Hill Designs that I found here at Henry Glass Fabrics. There is a brown and a red version of this quilt pattern available for free download. It was a lot of fun to make and I am so please with how it turned out. It took me about a month of casual sewing while waiting for the kids at sports practices etc. There is a little bit of everything...applique, redwork embroidery and piecing. I used the exact Chelsea Manor fabrics that the pattern called for and for the cream background I used 5573--7-Eggshell Fusions by Robert Kaufman. The only thing I did note about the pattern was I came up a little short on the fabric for the outer borders. I would recommend buying a full yard instead of 3/4 yd as per the pattern just to be safe. I don't think the pattern took into account that the borders might be pieced on the diagonal ( as I usually do it) as opposed to straight across.

Pillowcase Swap

I received the most beautiful handmade pillowcases from Laurie E. in the mail today. I recently participated in an online pillowcase swap where everyone made two pillowcases and sent them to a randomly assigned person in the swap. I think Laurie could read my mind as the fabrics she chose are just perfect! I also love the lace she used along the cuff. They are very beautifully done. Here is a link to a free pattern on how to make a basic pillowcase.

Costume Sewing

I like to sew clothing....especially those fancy dance and gymnastics costumes. Here is a photo of a gymnastics leotard I just finished for my daughter. I freehand sketched the design, made templates of the final shapes and top stitched on all the appliques. It is constructed with black and silver Mystique Lycra fabric and and embellished with hot fix Swarovski crystals. The design motif extends around to the backside of the leotard as well. It was really fun to make.

Autumn Houses BOM Progress

Here is the another Bunny Hill Designs project I am also working on this year as a BOM. The pattern is called "Autumn Houses". Here are my completed blocks #1 and #2...

12 Months of Baskets #3

Done! Here's my block #3!

12 Months of Baskets #2

So far so good! I am keeping up with these blocks. Here is my completed block #2! You can join in on this free BOM by clicking the logo in my right sidebar.

New Life for Old Chairs and Boo-Boo Blocks

I needed new chairs for my sewing room desperately. The old office chair no longer rolled from years of thread getting caught up in the wheels. Seemed no matter how often I cut the thread out of the wheels they would be choked up again in no time. Finally, I decided I needed a chair without wheels in my sewing room. I had these old mission style dining chairs in my garage. They were dirty and the cushions were dingy so I thought I would clean them up and cover them with my favorite fabric...when suddenly I noticed that a couple of my rejected boo-boo blocks fit the seats perfectly! Now, there is nothing really wrong with these blocks...they just came out to be 14" instead of the intended 12" because I printed off the wrong page from my Triangulations patterns so off to the boo-boo pile they went (yes, I did say pile). Anyhow, I cleaned up those old chairs and I grabbed my new second favorite quilting tool (a staple gun) and got to work. I finished them off with some clear plastic covering to protect them from my cats fur. I am really pleased with how they turned out.