a Busy little Bee.....

I have been pretty busy since the first of the year... We have had tons of cardinals at the feeders this winter... I can easily count 18 at a time!

Lots of pictures..... 

I finally finished two of these Chevron Quilts for two grandsons that share a bedroom.. I also made matching pillow shams...

 Thought I would personalize it a bit....

Trying to learn to use my Bernina Stitch Regulator !!

   One of my Swoon Bags I made along with a billfold!  The Nora in the small size along with a wallet.

I had these four grands one weekend!  What fun!

I tested this wonderful clutch for Christine at Chris W Designs!

I made my first tuffet!  I love it!  So does my granddaughter!

Another Nora by Swoon bag!  I love it!

 So in case you thought I was sitting around eating Bon Bons and hibernating.... Nope not me!

Happy Valentines Weekend to all of you !

Nancy

Gearing up for sewing in 2016

It seems like I am continually looking for "a better way"  a "neater way" to have all of my gizmos and still be "neat".  Crafting in any form is sometimes "messy" so the key is to have places to stash your stuff.... In that being said I have too much "stuff" so I just did a major revamp of my studio and replaced my "cube island" and my "scrapbook cube storage" with 2 Hemne 8 Drawer Dressers from Ikea.. I love Ikea how about you?  In case you are wondering the glass cabinets are also from IKEA they are the Billy System... Love them!  I have also been asked the size of this room, it is 12X14 and that does not include the closets.  For those who have asked the dressers with the board on top is 38 inches tall.

So I have been destashing and keeping what I am currently using....

Oh and all of the bright light coming through the windows is the reflection of snow!  Where was it last week???

I went to Lowes and had them cut a board (it was Birchwood in 3/4 in thick)  the correct size to fit onto the top of both of the dressers (my hubby put a 3/4 inch strip around the outside so it would not shift) and then covered it with batting.  The whole thing can be used for an ironing board when I remove my cutting board.

I also always get asked about the sign above my sewing area "God Is Good all the Time" it came from Hobby Lobby a year ago.

I also get asked about the irons, the black and white is a Euro Steam which I LOVE it is the best iron I have ever had.... the purple and white one is an Olisio I purchased recently on Black Friday at Joann's, I got it for times I did not have a lot of ironing to do.  (The Euro Steam has to be emptied EVERY time you use it!)

In the above picture you can see my sewing closet with my Juki TL2010q, now that machine will sew through about anything!  I love it!

I do not think I properly introduced you to my new friend "Bernie"  I think we will be best of buds!  (I have an embroidery attachment also for her)...  Bernie is a 770QE

Pretty much my wall of shame..... (Because I have way too much yarn,...)

Just to keep this post real this is under my sewing area.... It will soon disappear too!  It is loads of scrapbook paper!

Hope you have a great day today!

Nancy

Since we have been in our "new to us" home, we have certainly enjoyed our bird population.  The squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, mice and snakes I could definitely live without!  We are near the Mighty Mississippi which I am sure might help the population!

Here are a few of our most recent visitors....

 I was delighted when my granddaughter spotted this in my trees!  We have rarely seen a Pileated
Woodpecker in our trees!

 I believe the next one to be either a Purple Finch or a House Finch, they are beautiful!

One of my favorite birds is the Tufted Titmouse!  They are so cute!!

We are inundated with Downey Woodpeckers, it may be the bark butter that they love that entices to come back!

We have had a surplus of Goldfinches since spring!  They are not as pretty in their winter plumage but still one of my favorite visitors!!!

So there you have it..... I must be a crazy bird lady!

Nancy

Easy Street Patterns

 I have recently finished two Test Patterns for ChriswDesigns,   Christine has launched a new line called Easy Street Patterns, which are simpler but awesome patterns.  The first two in the line up are Brandt's Boulevard (a tote bag) and Abbey's Alley. (an awesome wallet)  Both of these patterns were easy to make!

Abbey's Alley is a really neat tote, in which Christine had a unique way of making the pockets.  I love to try different patterns because each one always challenges me and makes me learn something new! 

The Abbey's Alley would make a nice knitting bag, (because of the size and the pockets), but I plan to use mine to take to swimming at the Y!

Approx. size: 45.7cm W X 31.8cm H X 13.5cm D (18” W X 12 1/2” H X 5 ¼” D)

Two large outer pockets on each side of the bag and also on the inside for a total of 8 pockets!!

Brandt's Boulevard could be described as an awesome wallet that packs a punch!  It has  4 credit card

slots, an ID pocket, slip pocket for notes or bills, zippered coin section, smaller slip pocket and a phone slip pocket that will hold an iPhone 6 Plus or a lot of receipts or coupons.   It also has an optional removable wrist strap.

Once again Christine outdid herself with this creative wallet!

Approx. size when closed: 18.4cm W X 10.8cm H X 2.2cm D (7 ¼” W X 4 1/4” H X 7/8” D)

Hop on over to Christine's Shop and buy yourself a couple of patterns.  ChriswDesigns  is the place to go.  You have plenty of time before Christmas to make some for yourself or for someone else!

Nancy

A New Bag From Chris W. Designs

I was thrilled when Christine allowed me test one of her new bags, The Epiphany Bag...  Testing a bag for an awesome designer is something I have wanted to do for  a while.  So I was thankful when Christine of Chris W. Designs let me test her newest pattern!

If you have never sewn a purse I will tell you that one of the very first patterns I ordered and made was the Sugar and Spice Bag from Chris W. Designs  if I can do it, I know you could too!  Her patterns are well written, with more instructions than you could possibly imagine.  She is very detailed in telling you how to make her bags and has an ample supply of pictures that go along with each pattern!

The Epiphany Bag was no different.  A very well written pattern and awesomely designed bag so it is a win, win!  Here is the link for the Blogpost about this new bag!  Chris W. Designs Blog

I enjoyed making this bag and will definitely be making more!  It is just the right size, not too big and not too small and it is stylish to boot!

So go on over to Christine's website and buy this pattern,  you have plenty of time to make several of these up for Christmas gifts!  Here is the link to Christine's website....  Chris W. Designs

Don't look at the strange legs on my  model, her legs broke and she is sitting on a plant stand!

I love the sleek look of this bag!

The roomy interior has plenty of pockets!

I love how the bottom of this bag is designed!

Okay so what is stopping you?  Go on over and order your pattern now!!

Happy Wednesday!!

Nancy

sewing, sewing, sewing

Oh and in between all of our adventures this summer, I have been busy sewing!

A diaper  bag for a sweet new Mom at church.

The Seneca Bag pattern by Betz White, was one of the Bag of the Month patterns.  I still have two I did not do,  one is cut out and ready to go!

I have a goal of making 10  twin size quilts for gifts (before Christmas) we will see if they get done!

This Diaper Bag out of the Professional Tote Pattern was made right before we left for Alaska for my sister in law's niece.

and these clutches..... I found out two nights before we were leaving for our two week trip that someone special wanted them for a wedding to take place two weeks after we got back from Alaska.  Knowing that I was also going to be gone for a week to babysit when we got home and that I didn't even have hardware to do this... I did stress a little.  I ordered the hardware from my favorite supplier emmalinebags.com and no worries about that they were home waiting for me when I returned.  That only left me a week to get them done,  My stepdaughter and her hubby came over one night and along with my hubby we got them cut out and they helped get some of the hardware on for me, and I had them done a day and a half later. :) 

This Diaper Bag out of the Professional Tote pattern actually was for a friend's daughter in law who lives in Italy!

This bag is for an order from a friend, from The Wavy Top Tote one of my all time favorite bags to make by Sweet Bee Buzzings, (it is  a free pattern)  I have lost count how many of these I have made!

A Strip and Flip quilt, free pattern from Cluck, Cluck Sew.  Awesome quick baby quilt!  Made it in a day and a half and I love quilting it in circles on my machine with my walking foot!!

Have a Great Sunday where ever you might be!   Nancy

A summer's end....

This has been a very busy summer to say the very least.  Much of our time was spent redoing the Old House In New Liberty, and finally.... we are near completion....  The house is now in the hands of our realtors!

Let's see The House in New Liberty (Which we just put on the market! YEAH) , An Alaskan Cruise, Nikolai coming home (what a Blessing to meet this beautiful little boy who is my newest grandson) and last but not least my stepson got married.  I think pretty much finishes off my summer!

We were went on an 13 day trip to Alaska, 11 of those days were spent with Princess Cruises 4 day on land and 7 days at Sea.  My sister and brother in law went with us (he was the official cruise guide)  We had a marvelous time to say the very least.

One of our many ship shots....  haha They were there with a camera at every turn!

Beautiful, beautiful Mount McKinley.. (yes this was before it was renamed by Mr. President)   We were among the 30% who actually got to see this view!

This picture was taken in Anchorage!  We were blessed that Mark's cousin Gary and his lovely wife Aileen have lived there for a number of years and took us on a sight seeing adventure!

Beautiful scenery ... Everywhere!

Lots of glacier waterfalls!

The Glaciers were absolutely amazing!!  The sounds they make were unreal!!

At one of our ports the ships look so big!!

At the end of our trip my daughter and son in law headed to Bulgaria to get my new grandson and bring him home!  So upon my returning home I traveled 5 1/2 hours to babysit my grandchildren and relieve their other Grandma.  We had a great time together and on our last day together we drove to Indianapolis picked up my hubby who flew in from Chicago and we spent the day at the Children's Museum.... and at the end of the day we drove to the Airport to meet Mommy and Daddy as they came home with Nikolai... what a joyous reunion.  I was absolutely thrilled to be a part of it!  Nikolai is  2 1/2 and is adjusting well to his forever home! Then upon arriving home from babysitting I had Wedding Project to do for Robert and his bride Michelle!  I made 11 clutches....  and then got ready for the Rehearsal Dinner.  The wedding was the middle of August and it was just beautiful!  We are so happy for them!

I will bore you with more pictures in my next post... What?  you thought I had disappeared?

Wishing you a Wonderful Wednesday!!!

Nancy