The Tote Bag Fiasco

Lynda and I are going to Ireland in 3 weeks and I wanted a tote bag that I would carry with me during the day that I could put my coat, scarf and umbrella in, in case of inclement weather.  I started out designing one in brown and turquoise to match the clothes that I am taking.  I thought I would try a "disappearing 9 patch".  The only problem was that I forgot to allow for the seam allowance.  I cut the squares at 4 inches instead of 4 1/2 so the purse was too small.    So, I decided to make another purse and made the blue one, but it didn't match my clothes so I made a third tote bag.  The last one is the right size and colour. 

Now have I two more tote bags that I don't really need.  All three have zippers and internal pockets.  I am getting quite a collection of tote bags as I have many others also that I made just for something new to try.  What to do, what to do.

Peggy

This is a stain glass piece that my sister Lynda made for me.  It is called a Celtic Trinity Knot.  She started doing stainglass a few years ago but put it aside for a while and then just recently she got back to doing it again.  She has made a few large pieces and seems to enjoy it.  It is certianly a beautiful hobby, a lot like quilting, because you are designing and making something of your own creation.  Nice work Lynda.

Peggy

Taking Emma Home

I returned from taking Emma home on Monday, tired and happy to be home.  It was a long day as I had to sit in the airport for 4 extra hours because of mechanical problems.  I wouldn't have minded getting on that plane as I found out later that it was my son that fixed it.

When I got home my newly repaired car was waiting for me. It has that new car smell and is all fixed good as new. It took 2 weeks but it was worth the wait. I had a nice 2010 Escape that had many features that mine didn't have but I still like mine best.

I finished 2 more water bottle holders since I returned home.  One is for my daughter-in-law and the other for her mother.  The photo shows them as different sizes but if fact they are the same size.  I hope they like them.

I have to make myself a new purse for my trip to Ireland as the zipper opens the wrong way on the one I had planned to take.  I will look for some fabric to match some of the clothes that I am taking.  I'm sure I will be able to find some in my stash, all I need is the time to make it.  Four weeks tomorrow we will be heading to the Emerald Isle.

Peggy.

Painting the shed

We are home from the trip to the cabin.  We were gone 6 days.  The shed is painted and looks great.  Breanne, Kyle and Emma did a great job.  We found them old t-shirts to wear so that their clothes wouldn't get painted in the process.  After that there was time for fishing and swimming.  Emma caught her first fish so it was pretty thrilling.  She has been visiting us for 2 weeks now and has been having a great time except for the no-see-ums that have been biting her like crazy.  It must be that southern Ontario blood.  Every day we had great weather.  There is a large area in front of the cabin where they played soccer and badminton.  Some days it was too hot because the temperature reached 33C but mostly hovered around 25-27C, which is still too warm when you have no central air-conditioning to cool you off.  A good time was had by all.

Peggy

What a week it has been

What a week it has been!!!  My car and I collided with a bear on the way home from Joanne's birthday party and had a lot of damage done to the car but not to us.  My guardian angel was looking out for me for sure that day.  We got home okay but the mechanic at the body shop wouldn't let me drive it anymore.  So now I am driving a rental, same make as mine but way classier with leather seats and a sun-roof.

Then on the way to the cabin we got a stone chip in the windshield of the truck.  So now it will have to go into the shop to be repaired.

We had a horrific thunderstorm overnight and awoke to a flood in the bedroom.  I must of used about 20 towels to soak up the water that was pouring in from a leak in the roof.  We tore the wallboard off and part of the ceiling insulation in order to find out where the water was coming in.  That will be another big job that will need to be done to fix that up.  Next week we will be up there with the grandchildren but they want to have fun and not be doing major construction jobs.  We have a paint job lined up for them to do.  The new shed needs a paint job.  That should prove exciting.

Peggy

Baby Quilt for Janine

This is a baby quilt that I made for our niece Janine and her husband Peter.  They are expecting August 22, 2010.  I was so excited to hear the good news that I just had to make them a quilt.  I made it a while ago but couldn't post it until they had received it.  I wanted it to be a surprise and I didn't know who would be viewing this blog.  It is called Buggy Days from Fons and Porter Baby Quilts magazine dated Winter 2008.  I changed the layout of the buggys and pinwheels but kept the basic pattern the same as in the magazine.  I love the bright colours and since they won't know the sex of their baby until it is born I used a selection of colours that would be suitable for a girl or a boy.  Good luck Janine and Peter.

Peggy

Tote bag and purse

I made these 2 bags yesterday, the Dandy bag is for my sister-in-law's birthday.  We are going to London, ON to help her celebrate her 60th birthday on June 26.  I also made her a tablerunner that matches the bag. 

The Sew Sweet Satchel is a new purse for me for travelling.  I like the colours in the paisley pattern.  I think it will go with a lot of different things because of the multi-colours in it.  The fabric was left over from the backing for the Bear River Quilt.  I always make my straps adjustable on shoulder purses or over the body purses so that they can be used by anyone.

Peggy

The table runner and 8 placemats are finished.  The deck makes a good backdrop for them.  It looks like it should be for valentines day but really they are nice small red and white flowers.  I guess it could be a duel purpose set.

Peggy

I finished the binding on the Bear River quilt.  I think it turned out pretty nice.  It is 73 x 85 just a nice size for a double bed quilt.  The colours of the borders don't show up very good in the picture.  The brown is not a solid brown but almost a batik or shaded colour of brown. It took me over a year to get it together, and I am glad I finally got around to it. 

Peggy

Newly shingled roof

I haven't been able to do much quilting lately as we have been re-shingling the roof on our cabin (our getaway).  My son and his best friend came to help out.  It took a lot longer than they expected as they had to do a repair job on the front and back as the boards under the shingles were rotten.  It was a big job and they worked tirelessly on it.  When they finished that, they shingled the new shed that we are building.  We were so grateful for their help.  I was the chief cook and tried to feed them well as they were using a lot of energy those past 4 days. 

Peggy

Sew on Binding

I have the Bear River quilt back from the quilter and am busy sewing on the binding.  I hope to have it posted in a few days with a picture.

Peggy

What I have been working on

These are what I have been working on lately.  The larger green bag with the flowers is a bag to house my netbook.  I got a netbook for Christmas and wanted to protect it when travelling as it is really handy to take along on a trip.  I padded it with quilt batting but didn't quilt it.  The small green pouch is called "A Zippered Pouch"  I found it on http://projectsbyjane.blogspot.com/ and it is handy to store small things in.  The flowered pouch is called "Makeup Bag" and it is from http://flossieteacakes.blogspot.com/ .  I thought it would be a nice size for makeup in your purse or for travelling.

The long black bag is one of my creations.  It is a bag for my walking stick.  I have a walking stick that comes apart in 3 sections and telescopes together to use.  The stick has a spring loaded anti-shock mechanism and a thermometer and compass on the wrist strap.  It is very helpful in going down slopes, saving stress on the knees.  I wish I had it when we were in Italy in 2008 because of the hills in the town of Assisi.  It was very helpful in Spain last year. 

The small blue pouch is a water bottle holder.  I have made at least 6 of these for family and friends.  Notice the buckle on the strap.  That is not in the pattern but I like to make my straps adjustable so the the person wearing it can adjust it for their liking.  This pattern is from http://www.pinkchalkstudio.com/ .  I am so glad I found this pattern as it also is handy for travelling and keeping you hydrated without having to carry a bottle of water.  You just slip it in the pouch and away you go.

Peggy

I love Tablerunners

This tablerunner is a pattern called "Little Charmers III".  There are 3 patterns in the pamphlet.  I used Moda Charm Squares "Objects of Desire" and the fabrics from the same line for the background and backing.  It is very bright and summery.  I tried to do some free motion quilting but I am not very good at it.  I really think that I have to practice some more.  I usually use some of my fancy patterns on my Babylock Quilters Choice sewing machine instead of free motion quilting but this time I thought I would try something different.

Peggy

This new bag is called a dandy bag from Dandelion Quilts.  Her site is http://dandelionquilts.blogspot.com/  It is made a lot like the other tote bags that I make except that it has a nice band to separate the top band from the bottom of the bag.  I also put a few stitches in the bottom of the bag to hold the lining down so that it does not pull out of the bag.  It is a little tricky but it can be done with care.

Peggy 

Amanda's Purse

I made another purse the other day.  It is a This & That pattern called Amanda's Purse.  I made it from Moda Frolic charm squares with matching fabric for the handles and the lining.  If I made it again I would make it longer but not as wide.  I also added inside pockets.  A purse had to have pockets, don't you agree.

Peggy

Getting Ready for Hallowe'en and Christmas

I needed some hand sewing to do while we were waiting for the propane frig to be fixed at our cabin, so I quickly sewed up these 2 kits that I had.  The are from Patchabilities; Scary Buddies and Perkie Poinsettia, and the local quilt shop here makes up kits.  I added googly eyes to the ghosts.  I think it makes them a little more animated.  It is very easy to put them together and you have nice things to put on your door for the different seasons.

Peggy

I just realized that I have not posted this quilt.  It was for Emma who turned 10 in January.  It is the "Apple Blossom Fairy" by Cicely Mary Barker.  I picked the fabric up at Hannah Johnson Fabrics in a nice quilt shop in Duluth, MN.  The centre is a panel and then 3 borders are attached. The last border is appliqued with the flowers.

Peggy

Brett's Quilt

This is the small lap size quilt that I made for my grandson Brett.  He turned 15 yesterday.  Where have the years gone?  The idea for the pattern came from Morning Glory Designs.  Her blog is http://katlovesquilts.blogspot.com/ .
She had a block of the month called "Midnight Posies" using black background and pieced 10 1/2 inch squares.  I used some of her blocks and some of my own ideas.  She also has an appliqued flower border, but since this was for a 15 year old boy I decided to make a piano key border and used all the fabrics that were in the quilt for the border.

Peggy

I have the centre panel of "Bear River" quilt up on the design wall.  I finished all 6 bearpaw blocks so I decided to put it together and see how it turned out.  So now I have to add the borders and make it grow to double bed size.

Peggy

My Latest Afghan

I finished my afghan today.  I had three very large balls of wool that needed to be used.  They were 16 oz. each.  I decided on the ripple pattern so that it would be more interesting than just straight knitting.  The finished measurements are 60 x 50.  I hate joining sections together so it is knit in one piece with no seams.  I used a circular needle with over 300 stitches per row.  It kept me warm while I knitted.

Peggy