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

April Bag of the Month

Oh, did you think I quit making bags???  NOPE, just been super busy and a quilt or two got in the way!  This months bag was from Janelle at Emmalinebags.com  she is a fabulous pattern writer/designer and I could not be more pleased with the outcome of this purse!  It is the Manhattan Bag and there are actually two sizes the Mamma and the Miss.. The one I just did is the Miss but plan to make the Mamma soon!

Not sure if you can tell but the flap actually has a zipper all around and is a pocket you could put  your sunglasses in!

Hope you have a Blessed Tuesday!! Nancy

Taking my sewing to a new level....

When I purchased my Janomi 8200QC a year ago it was with the intentions of learning to quilt... I had sewn for many years and had kind of almost given it up.  I first learned of sewing from my dear Late Mom!  Some of my earliest memories of her were her sitting at her Treddle Sewing Machine and sewing for myself and my four siblings as well as herself and anything she could sew for the home.  My Mom could do anything! :)  Her mother (my grandmother) passed away when I was 2 1/2 and really all I know about my Grandmother was that she was pretty crafty too.... she loved to crochet and quilt!  I learned to sew small things as a kid and as I got older I began sewing my own clothes, and then when I had children I sewed clothing for them.

When I bought my machine I never intended to fall in love with Bagmaking, but I sure did!  Please do not think I won't be making bags anymore, because I will!  I finally accomplished what I set out to do a year ago and I do not plan on stopping that either!  I made my first quilt, a twin size from a Craftsy Class by Camille Roskelly.  I made the Piece of Cake into a Twin Size Quilt.  I actually made it with Scrumptious by Moda which is designed by Camille  and her mother Bonnie!

 
Below shows me free motion quilting on my Juki 2010Q, yes I know I over quilted but it was my first and YES my arms and hands were extremely tired when I finished!

BUT... I do love how it turned out!  I just need to find a good place to take a full picture of it!

SO, I had to try my hand at another.... this time I made a Strip and Flip Baby Quilt  by Cluck Cluck Sew, out of the same fabric as I did my first quilt....  I LOVE IT!  I did circle quilting on it and it was sew much easier and quicker!

 I even tried a Zakka pincushion out of the book Patchwork Please!

Now I need to get busy and get my March Bag of the Month by Noodlehead finished!

Hope the Son is shining wherever you are!!

Nancy

                              

A Special Purse....

What excitement we have had in our family this past month!  FINALLY my daughter and her husband got the call that the Adoption Agency had a son for them!  The long awaited phone call had finally come and they quickly went about planning their trip to Bulgaria to meet this handsome little 2 year old boy who melted their hearts the first time they saw his picture!  While they were only there a week the bonding was immediate as they welded their hearts together.  It will be anywhere from 3-5 months before everything is complete and they can return to bring him home!  During that time they will be able to Skype with him every two weeks!  God is so Good!  Everything went so well with their trip... While this Momma's heart was a bit anxious, I certainly did a lot of praying for their safety and for a wonderful time with the little guy!  While a lot of people travel abroad frequently so all those long flights are nothing for them, this is something new for our family!  I had the joy of staying with their 3 children for 5 days while they were gone and couldn't ask for sweeter kids ( I shared duties with their other Grandma)!  They are so excited to be getting a little brother!

So what did I do immediately upon finding out they were finally getting to go to Bulgaria?  I ordered some Vintage Old World Map fabric from Mango Tree Creations on Etsy... Tried to figure out which purse pattern I had that would work out to be a great small travel purse and Oooooh Laaaa Laaaaa I picked the Butterfly Sling from Janelle at Emmalinebags.com  and I could not of been more pleased with the outcome and Amber loved it!

The lining you see  below was not what I had planned, but somehow it just seemed perfect!  It is my logo fabric "Wrapped in Love" that I ordered from Spoonflower.  Since my fundraiser had been called Wrapped in Love, I felt like I was sending my love with her to Bulgaria!

 Here is Amber standing in front of the Black Sea!

We have freezing rain here today, with the promise of yet more snow!  I love winter but am looking forward to Spring!

Blessings to you!  Nancy

2nd Hyacinth Bag...

Why yes... I do like this pattern!  A test of whether I like a pattern is if I make more than one!  Sara Lawson did an awesome job designing this pattern!  It is a keeper that is for sure! The fabric is Michael Miller Straw Daisy and Mini Mike's Dot n Square.

Happy Friday!  Nancy

February Bag of the Month

Here it is the February Bag of the Month.... The Hyacinth Bag... pattern by Sara Lawson.

I used Kate Spade cotton Laminate in Central Park line of fabric.  I combined vinyl with this one and love the outcome!!

Happy Thursday!!  Nancy

The Amber Bag by Swoon Patterns

I just found Swoon Patterns a while back,  The Amber Bag caught my eye since my youngest daughter is Amber!  With her new job and hauling stuff back and forth between two schools I thought possibly this bag just might fit the bill for what she needs... we shall see.....

If not I have another one up my sleeve......

The pattern came in two sizes and this one is the larger of the two.

I put more hardware than I intended on this one.......

The fabric looks like it could be twill but it is not!! It is flannel!

I thought it ended up looking like a professional bag.... 

Happy Saturday!  Nancy

A long overdue gift

What did someone tell me one time about good intentions?     Well obviously I had good intentions and it just did not get done..

A family friend got married over a year ago, (yes I am embarrassed) I was going to mail a gift before the wedding, since I could not attend the wedding... then time got away from me....  So this year on their first anniversary (in May) I thought I would just make something for them that I knew the bride/new wife would just love.  So fast forward to November and I was cleaning my craft room again and came across everything for the gift.  I decided it was time, time for me to just get that present finished.  I finished it and mailed it on the same day and the sweet couple (Katlyn & Jordan) should be getting that gift any day now!

Katlyn loves bright colors and loves elephants even more.  When I saw this fabric I knew exactly what I was going to make for her!  A thermal casserole carrier!

The pattern is a freebie from 2 Little Hooligans although when I make this I add at least 3 inches in length to both pieces.

AND who doesn't like a gift with their name on it?  I used my Cricut machine and made a stencil and etched her name on the side.... as long as the dish doesn't get broken, she will always know which dish is hers!  Look real close below and you can see her name on the side.....

Hope this provides the couple with many years of casserole carrying to different events!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Nancy

The Professional Tote (aka Diaper Bag)

My friend Pat's daughter Amanda was soon to be in need of a diaper bag.... so I went fabric shopping with Momma's specifications of what she would like to have.  Momma then sent me to the VB (you know Vera Bradley) website to take a peek at the bag she liked.  I hunted and hunted and hunted some more in search of the perfect pattern for such diaper bag.  After purchasing three (yes three) patterns I came across to what I thought was the perfect bag  "The Professional Tote".  It fit the bill for the size, pockets and straps.  I.hope.she.loves.it

The floral fabric was great the Chevron was really hard to work with.... it was not even straight on the bolt so it was a bear to get straight....

When finished I gave it two really good overall sprays of Scotchgard Fabric Protectant.....

I love the pockets on the inside.... even a place to hang your keys... and the center zip pocket is padded and safe even for your IPad  (you know you can never start technology to early these day...) haha

 and the feet.... you gotta have feet and with a bag this big it was deserving of 6 feet!

Here is a couple of pics of my Diaper/Wipe Changing Pad Clutch  I used the pattern from 

Made by MarziPan    It was rather simple, except I got into a big hurry so I could get this bag out, for Heaven's Sake She had the baby this week!!!! (not the not so rounded corners....)  I am my own worst critic.....  

I used Pul fabric on the inside and thought it a little hard to work with.....  It is too stretchy!

   

Happy Weekend!

Nancy

This n That.....

Oh gee, the month is almost half over, kids are starting back to school.... WHERE did the Summer go?  I have been busy doing lots of things...

We have had some major projects going on here at the homestead....  new roof, blacktopped the driveway, patio being built by my sweet hubby and I am doing some landscaping!  In the midst of all of that I got to spend some precious time with my two girls and all of the kiddos, we met at a halfway point..... They had a great time together!  We heard two of the "J" boys in the back of the van on the way home from an overnight in a Hotel (with a pool that they loved playing in)  and they were telling us that they had their cousin "O" hidden in the back of the van... We chuckled, but the truth is they had so much fun playing together all 7 of them and I can imagine one of these days my youngest daughters family will have that little boy from Bulgaria and it will be even more fun, it just doesn't happen frequently enough!!! :(

My youngest daughter has been a stay at home mother for the past 6 years, and since everyone is in school "O" the youngest of her brood is in preschool this year...  She landed a position as the grade school counselor her "dream job" .... she was in need of a lanyard, might I just say she wanted one? Then again that isn't how I roll......

and a glimpse of the landscaping... not yet finished....  The brick is just laid there to show how I want it.... it needs leveled into place.... but it is beginning to look so nice outside!  We took the shutters off and power washed the front of the house!  It is really coming together nicely.... soon I will post before and after shots!

Happy Thursday to all!  Be Blessed!