Global Change Quilt Project

As the place I want to visit most in the World: Africa is near and dear to my heart.  So when my friend Vicki told me about this project I knew I had to participate.  First I went looking for my orphan blocks.  They are looking for 9 1/2" and 12" blocks (note: not 12 1/2") so anything extra or perhaps that measured a little bit small would be perfect.  I found more orphan blocks than I thought I had, so I took them all and made them into the requested sizes.

According to my friend's forwarded email the proceeds for these two quilts will go to built a well and latrines at a school in the Central Africa republic also known as CAR.  You can read all about it here.  The mailing deadline is July 31st so go get digging.

I'm sending five 12" blocks and seven 9 1/2" blocks, but you can do as little as one and as many as you'd like I'm certain they'd appreciate them all.

I knew those coin stacks I started and then didn't know what to do with would come in handy.

Blind Cat

Yesterday when Robert came home from taking Jessica to school our neighbor called him over to her house. Her precise words were "I think your blind cat is over here". Knowing the sheer horror such a sentence would bring to my heart my husband went over there. Eventually Rob found Sunny hidden amongst the bushes. It would seem the door didn't quite latch when Rob left. Thank goodness my neighbors know about Sunny and his roaming desires. The very neighbor who called Rob over told him that at first she thought the cat was a stray, but then she saw Sunny's collar. Thank goodness for neighbors, did I mention that already?

I made two pairs of pants for Bonnie Bear, both have reinforced double stitched seams. I felt making them reversible would add to much bulk for the pants to fit property. One is ecru with blue stripes and the other is made from some reclaimed Jean Denim, which I think will match the denim side of the hat wonderfully. I've misplaced all of my 1/4" elastic, so I'll have to add that to the pants later.

Speaking of misplacing, months ago my little "snips" disappeared. I like them for cutting little threads when I embroider and they're nice to keep by the sewing machine. Seems they fell into my scrap bag, luckily I when I went hunting for them today - sure enough there they were.

I started Jessica's Tinker Bell costume today. I made the petal skirt as a size 6 and I plan to make the bodice side 4. There is a sheer underskirt that I'd really rather not make at all, so my goal for making the bigger leaves/petals is so that they will be longer (and thereby hit lower on her leg) and not require the silly underskirt. Jessica being the wonder that she is picked a nice cotton, so I didn't have to buy the costume satin after all. I think she will be much more comfortable in the cotton.

Bonnie Bear's Surprise

Today I forced myself back to Bonnie Bear and her Barely Sleeping panel. I fell ill in the middle of the pj's so going back to slews of gathers was something I was dreading. The more I worked on those pj's today the more I found myself thinking "there's a reason why some projects are orphaned!" Then when I was nearly done Jessica came up to me. She asked what I was working on, and it was right at the perfect moment. The moment when all the crazy seams can be flipped and you can see the piece for what it is. As I turned the pj's I could tell it was something special. Something more than I'd hoped. As soon as it was fully turned both Jessica and I gasped, for what was under all those gathers was not pj's at all, but instead a beautiful dress. I think because I took the extra step to make all the clothing reversible it gave the pj's enough lift and poof to become a dress. From there I moved onto the skirt, the pillow, and the do not disturb door hanger (that somehow missed the photos. If you look at the above photos you will notice that everything is reversible with all seams fully contained. This bear has no snaps or buttons and I plan on using Velcro for closures on both the dress and the shirt. I used elastic for the waistband of the skirt so it's all very child friendly. Ask me how I know. All that remains is to make the pants.

Bonnie Bear Pjs

I've started the pajamas for the Bonnie Bear. Okay I cut them out. Since I'm working to make sure everything is reversible I haven't started sewing because I'm not sure I know what I'd like to have on the reverse. I thought maybe an applique heart on the bodice, but I'm not sure. Or maybe plain muslin with little floral pockets? Like a house dress on one side and PJ's on the other? Yes, that sounds nice.

Rob, my husband, is quite sick. I have seen him sick like this twice before. Once was with walking pneumonia (which he's had three times in his adult life) and then once when some unidentified virus landed us in the ER. I can't tell you how much I pray allowing him to rest will help him recover. Should he show no signs of improvement by tomorrow I'm certain a trip to the doctor is in order.

Orphaned Sewing Projects

What are Orphaned Sewing Projects? Orphaned Sewing Projects start out life with someone else. With the best of intentions they planned on doing the project perhaps even started it and then left it abandoned. These projects could have been abandoned for any number of reasons and the original purchaser is unable to finish them. Months even years pass before someone else, finds and finishes them. The finished project is found a forever home. They are now no longer "orphaned projects" and are instead are have been completed and adopted.

I have brought one such project full circle already, though I did not know I had done so at the time. You can read all about it here That Dress found it's forever home when I mailed out the 24"x24" box to Mary and her daughter. I've been working on the Bonnie Bear and Barely Sleeping Orphaned Sewing Projects from my neighbor when it hit me this is what I've been doing! My goal yesterday was the little vest, but when I sewed it wrong sides together it required more than a little bit of seam ripping. Today I've finished the vest and am working on the mini quilt from the Bearly Sleeping Panel, and just had to share the vest before I could continue quilting. No skirt yet as it requires elastic that I don't have on hand.

I'm glad the first week of VPK over. Currently Jessica and her daddy are enjoying lunch out just the two of them. Would you believe she's already four and they've never done anything like that together? I hope they have a good time, as there is homework that we'll need to work on later.

A Better Day

Today was a better day all around. The cock pot isn't simmering with something yummy for dinner, but I got to play at my sewing machine... ALONE... With the Music turned up! My kind of music even... Yesterday evening I pulled out some thing called cheater panels. These are to make stuffed animals. While a Cheater Panel for a Quilt I completely understand the "cheat" part of it I fail to understand "cheat" on these stuffed little bundles of joy. Front of jacket
I read the directions once, twice, three times. I looked at the pattern pieces and back at the panel. I don't understand why, but the pattern had me using 1/4" and not finishing any of the edges or seams. That seemed like a disaster waiting to happen. After all children play with stuffed animals. So I started with the Jacket. I lined it so completely with some re purposed leftover muslin that it is in fact reversible. Maybe while Jessica naps I can start on the skirt. Reversed aka inside out
Jessica did indeed have a better day, and I was greeted with a smile. I completely forgot to mention that yesterday Jessica counted to 39, hows that for barely 4? She told me they didn't count at school yesterday so I can give all the credit to singing that Cinderella jump rope song. Awesome hu? I also finished my knit trivets. These turned out really pretty and because they are 100% cotton knit they feel amazing. I am hoping that with these as well as the panels I've pulled out of my stash pile I will have a little bit of inventory for my on little online shop. Who knows, and only time will tell.

Projects Golore Anyone?

What have I been up to? Well in no particular order, I finished the little girls bonus dress that Loretta sent me in a care package a while back. I certainly learned from this piece! I'm guessing it is 6-12 months, it is trimmed with satin ribbon on the puffy sleeves, has a peter pan collar and I used five hand sewn snaps down the back - because when dear daughter was little I thought snaps were the easiest. The snaps run the entire length of the back so it will be very easy to get in and out of. The size is quite generous so I don't think it needs bloomers. I'm not sure, maybe I will give it away. It feels like one of those things that you make an hold on to, and when the time to pass it on comes along, you'll know.


Next I did some more work on my pj's they look less and less like the movie they are inspired by every time I touch them. Joann's has natural muslin on sale one 10 yard bolt for $20 with 97"-98" widths, so I'll be making the skirt with that. I figure two layers should do it.

Next for your viewing pleasure this is my attempt at a basket. Remember how I mentioned hexagons? Well I cut about 50 1" hexagons with blue roses centered on them and I'm planning to make an art quilt with a basket overflowing with said roses. I sewed tubes so I wont have to use as many stitches which might make it feel less nice on the completed quilt. I'm not certain about the white uprights on the basket, that is fabric from the blue lattice quilt I made for my sister, since I'm thinking this art quilt will go on the reverse side I thought it would be nice to use that fabric, BUT I bought extra to bind it in and I'm a bit afraid if I use any more than scraps on the basket it will cut into my binding material and I wont have enough. I was thinking perhaps DH can get me some 1/4" rayon piping/rope and I can tea dye it, what do you think?

It wasn't until yesterday that I came to the realization that both of my neutral colors both in the red quilt and the aforementioned white uprights are both quest for the cure fabrics which means proceeds went to help find a cure for breast cancer, wont that be a nice noteworthy part of these quilts for two women in my life who I love dearly?

The next item is not something I made at all, okay well I dreamed up the idea. This is a wooden cat scratcher deluxe size, because Sunny loves to sit on the cardboard scratchers while he scratches. The added weight of his own body allow him to put more umph, into his scratching. Since Jessica always destroys the cardboard boxes I requested DH make one sized to fit the refills. I personally think it's beautiful and that we should offer it up for sale on ebay, but it's part oak so it is very heavy and DH says while it looks good it isn't good enough to sell.

The cat I tried to catch to have spayed last month has indeed managed to get herself pregnant again. I have no idea what to do about that, and even though it's really the entire neighborhood's problem I'm not certain what - if anything that I should do. I dreamed about a white and cream or perhaps it was white with a tiny bit of black last night, it was teetering on my patio table. The sight of it made my eyes fly open and I even went to the window to check and see if there really was a kitten there. Of course there wasn't.

Mom is still wishing desperately for a new kitten to call her own. The right cat simply hasn't come along yet. She has even told me she feels bad for continuing to bring it up. The answer of the feral mother having a kitten and it going to mom might be the quick down and dirty answer, but it's not a real answer. Should her kittens survive to their birth there is no telling what will happen to them after that, the odds of her mother leaving one for me the way Sunny's mother left Tiny I would say is nearly impossible, and I would have to find it if she did. More likely one or none will survive to being out of the nest and it will be at least as wild as it's momma. Oh and this little girl is long haired like Sunny, and my mom is certain she doesn't want a long haired cat. I suppose it's all a case of wait and see and live and let be.

Hello Dears,

I have so many things to share today.

I went shopping yesterday, and spent way to much. Don't you hate that? I went out for toilet paper, rubbing alcohol, and laundry soap. Silly Target, have you seen the new Archer Farms products they are selling at the Super Targets? These are the cutest little bottles and jars. They even have a bulk candy isle, it's gourmet meets down home, homemade stuff. I picked up their basil and creamy pesto, which was okay, certainly not all the jar implied it might be, and I am waiting to try the lovely spinach and artichoke dip I bought as well.

I also went to Joann's because their polka dot fabrics were on sale 1.99 a yard! I picked up these lovely beauties. I also got 4 yards of white on white for a fat quarter swap I'm joining in on, but no photos of those for you, because there is no way it will show up in the photos. Somehow I've committed fixing my sister's denim butterfly jeans so I also bought all those applique bits and pieces that you see above.
The lady who made the labels for Jessica's heart quilts thought of me when she found a box of little girl fabric in a garage sale, so she mailed it all to me. In amidst the fabric I found these little pieces. It screamed "I'm a little girl's dress!" so I just had to try and put it together after all these years. I've been chatting it over with the ladies at the quilting board and we think it is about 40 years old. So far I have the collar of the dress done and it's waiting for me to wrap up the super puffy sleeves. I found the fabric very hard to gather (I tried four times in the sewing machine having to rip it out each time). So I'm hand stitching it to pull up the gathers. Not the most joyous job, but hopefully it will be something nice I can set aside as my hard work and hey no pattern, what you see above is all I had to work with.

So my loving husband brought home some ribbon for me to trim the bottom of the sleeves out with, he brought me pink and white. The pink doesn't match so well, so I just had to be inspired and started working on some pj's for me. My inspiration is the new movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 that my sister and I went to see day before yesterday. In it Alexis Bledel wears a lovely white night dress. While mine will not be the same I have gone to great lengths to add the decorative stitches. I doubt you can tell from this photo (that makes them look like pot holders instead of the bodice) but I sewed it a little wrong and have been seam ripping a bit while I've been working.

DD loves playing with my sewing machine, so we've sort of been looking for a kiddie machine, my husband suggested until she's bigger it would be best to let her run one without the needle, I thought the idea was brilliant, so ever since the night I looked up little kids sewing machines, I've sort of been shopping for a new one for me. After when my little Elna needs maintenance it will be the end of her. With the aluminum casting bent there is no way to open it, or so we figure. I'm certain time will tell.

That's all I have to share at the moment, how about you?