Pinnie Parade

There's a pincushion parade over on Instagram this month, and I have joined in!  What I love about this #pinnieparade is the pincushions can be ones made already - gifted to a friend, gifted from a friend, newly constructed, vintage - you get the idea!

Here's a rundown on week one:

Graphic made while trying out Canva

Day 1 featured my newest pincushion acquisition, gifted by my friend Caroline.  She pieced tiny pieces to make this adorable pinnie.

This pincushion for Day 2 was made following Heidi's pattern from her Sew Organized for the Busy Girl book with leftover Carolyn Friedlander fabrics and mailed to a friend.

Day 3's pincushion I kept for myself.  I used a thin leftover strip of solids from Chawne Kimber's Small Pieces workshop.

Day 4 was a gift from my friend Jackie.  She made this pretty hexie pincushion with all Cotton+Steel fabrics.

I pattern tested this cute scrappy pincushion for Amanda Jean's Plenty of Pincushions Volume 1. Posted on Instagram for Day 5.

This long skinny pincushion gifted by Amanda Jean was shown on Day 6 and is perfect for placing right in front of my sewing machine when chain piecing.

Leslie sent her new Urban Artifacts fabric, and I made this pincushion with her selvages for her market booth.  That's Day 7!

I am pretty sure I can play along for 31 days using pincushions already made!

If not, then I will have an excuse to make MORE pincushions.

I see that as a win, win situation!

Friday Finish: Featherweight Bag

Hey and Happy Friday! 

I finished Jeni Baker's Sew Portable Travel Bag, and let me say it travels well on the airplane!  

Not being a bag maker, I was happy the sewing machine bag, as well as the drawstring pouch and tray cover, was not complicated to make.  I cut into my precious Carolyn Friedlander fabrics for this project.  The bag could have been quilted more, but I was in a hurry to finish before my trip.  The picture above shows the featherweight that traveled in the bag, but I should note that I used my Juki to make the bag.

I have wanted a way to carry my featherweight on the plane without having to lift it into the overhead bin (forget checking it in a suitcase), and I seemed to remember this pattern being described as such.  When I went to find the pattern, I did not see it described as being able to fit under an airplane seat, but it does which is awesome.

This was on a Southwest flight; I had more room on the United flight.

I brought my featherweight with me to Montana (via a quick trip to Chicago), and I had no issues going through security (no more than usual...I always give TSA a heads up), carrying the bag through the airport, or fitting the bag and machine under the seat in front of me on the plane.

I can't tell you how happy this makes me.  Soon I will travel to Minnesota for my eighth Gruber's retreat, and I am excited to have a better plan for traveling with my machine.  In the past, I would pack my sewing machine in my carryon bag and carry an oversize tote bag filled with fabric as my personal item to fit under the seat.  Well, you know how much fabric weighs!  Over the years, I have developed a pain in my left shoulder from carrying heavy tote bags and lifting suitcases (usually holding fabric and a sewing machine) in overhead bins.

Recently, I have switched to traveling with a backpack that slides on the handle of my roller carryon bag...nothing on my shoulder and seeking assistance with lifting my bag in the overhead bin.  For this trip with my sewing machine, I replaced the backpack with my Featherweight bag which had room to hold my wallet, iPad, and sweater.  My rolling bag was lighter without a sewing machine so lifted easily in the overhead bin.

On the return trip, my rolling bag had acquired some weight so I checked it in which meant carrying the Featherweight bag on my shoulder through the airport.  The structure of the bag was durable enough for this purpose, and I had no concern carrying the sewing machine around.  It was quite the conversation starter as well while waiting to board ;-)))  The funniest comment I heard was from a quilter's husband who referred to quilt guilds as "covens"!

So those are my tips and experiences when flying with a sewing machine.  What are yours?

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.  Thanks for stopping by.  Have a fabulous weekend!

Friday Finish: Swap Pouch

Popping in to share the wide open zip pouch I made for my Glamp Stitchalot partner.  I used Noodlehead's free tutorial and made the medium size pouch.  

Leftover flying geese parts in favorite prints and low volume background paired with essex linen make up the top, and I cut into my Carolyn Friedlander Carkai prints for the bottom and the lining.

I will do just about anything to avoid using interfacing, so I quilted the outside panels of the bag before assembling to give it some substance.  

I also made my partner a thread catcher using Crazy Mom Quilts pattern and opted for the quilted version.  I love the notebook paper fabric that I recently found at my LQS in the bargain bin.

Both items were stuffed with lots of goodies, and my partner seemed happy which makes me happy!  Each time I participate in a swap, I say it will be my last ;-))

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.  I'll pop back in later with all the fun details on Glamp.  Until then, have a fantastic weekend!

Friday Finish: Toddler Layover

With the fat quarters of Luke Haynes' new fabric line I received from a friend, I made a toddler version of my Layover quilt.

The brushed cotton side is so soft, especially when paired with the peppered cottons.

The indoor photographs do not do justice to the gorgeous colors and texture.  Hoping to get better quilt photos once this top has been quilted.

The weather here these past few days has been rainy and windy so outside pictures are not doable at the moment.  

Quilt top measures 32"x48"

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.  

Keep safe and warm my friends.  There's crazy weather everywhere this weekend.

Friday Finish: Layover Quilt

My Layover quilt is back from the quilter, bound and ready for gifting!

 As I mentioned in this post, the quilt design is based on a window in an airport lounge.

I made this version with all Carolyn Friedlander fabrics and measures 56" x 84".

This is one of three quilts that Frank quilted for me before Thanksgiving.  I am so appreciative that he fit me in his crazy busy schedule.

Pattern is being tested and will be available soon.  

I can't wait to share other quilts made with this pattern!

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts!  Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Spiraling Butterflies

Spiraling Butterflies is my finish for the QuiltCon Michael Miller Glitz Fabric Challenge.

The butterfly blocks were made using Little Bluebell's paper pieced Modern Butterfly pattern.  I just love this pattern and have so many other butterfly quilt plans!

The background fabric is Michael Miller Cotton Couture in Blush and also in Love.  The color variation is quite subtle, but I like the depth using two different colors provides.

I finished making the blocks and determined the layout while at our Orlando MQG retreat (still need to post about that!).  Having creative input from others was awesome!  After that, the top came together quickly.

I used my walking foot to quilt spirals (THANK YOU Jacquie and Craftsy for the refresher) starting a little offset from the center.  Aurifil 2410 in 40wt was the thread I used.  I had just enough left over from this quilt and the color matched perfectly.

Twice before, I quilted spirals, but one was a mini quilt and the other was just on a portion of the quilt.  I said I would never do it again, but this time I found the process quite therapeutic.  Crazy, right?!

The Cotton Couture solids are SUPER soft, so possibly that made a difference in the quilting?  All I  know is, the {continuous} turning of the quilt through my Juki didn't seem as difficult as I remembered.

 
The backing fabric is Michael Miller What's Your Angle? and the binding is the pink pearlized dot from the Glitz line.

 The binding was hand stitched to the back while on Thanksgiving break.  I finished just in time to photograph and upload before the deadline.  This is my first time entering a quilt into a show.  I must admit, it was quite exciting and nerve wracking at the same time.

I saw on Instagram this morning that a record breaking number (1,810) of quilts were entered in QuiltCon 2016 and approximately 300-350 will be accepted!  What an incredible show it will be!

To me, it's a win-win.  If my quilt gets in...Cool!!!  If it doesn't....I don't have to make a hanging sleeve and ship it have to part with it!  Good luck to all who entered!

Friday Finish: Quilt Top

Happy Friday everyone!  I have a finished quilt top to share with you today.  The design has been in my head for a while and is based on an airport lounge window of all things.

Does anyone recognize the airport?  We have had more than one layover here, and each time I find myself looking at this window and thinking "quilt".

Delta Crown Room

It was difficult to get the entire flimsy in one picture.  The top measures 56" x 84" and consists of all Carolyn Friedlander fabrics.  Other than having to order more of the black crosshatch for the background, all came from my stash.  Think this is the third all-Carolyn quilt I have made.

Today on Instagram I saw a video of Carolyn's new fall fabrics.  Guess I need to sew faster! Or maybe buy less fabric?!

 Any suggestions on a name for this quilt?  I keep calling it MSP (airport code), but it needs a better name.  Ideas?

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.  Be sure to come back Sunday for a chance to win a charm pack of Amanda Jean's new line of fabric from Connecting Threads.

 Thanks for stopping by,

June Blocks

Our MCM Bee added new members this year and rearranged months, so I get to be Queen Bee sooner.  That's the reason I am giving for not having my Dresden quilt finished before requesting new blocks!  I was so proud of completing my first bee quilt before the second round that I wanted to keep it up.

bubble block in blue

I chose Aylin's bubble block this time around and my bee mates have been gracious in making this block for me.  It's not the quickest that's for sure. 

slightly crooked picture of Elizabeth and Susan's blocks

Susan pointed out that four of these blocks make up our bee logo.  Very cool!  The pattern can be purchased here.  You can search Instagram using the hashtag #MCMBee or #midcenturymodernbee to see other blocks made by our bee members and #aylinnilyabubbles to see other blocks made using this pattern.

House block 1

House blocks were requested for Wish Circle bee.  I made these while out of town so my fabric choices were quite limited, but I think they are quite cute.  We used this tutorial if you'd like to make some yourself.

House block 2

Amanda Jean's block for Sew Sisters bee will be made while on retreat.  This is the first time retreating since our bee started so it should be quite fun making bee blocks together.

It's nice to have my blocks completed and blogged in the same month!

Thanks for stopping by,

Friday Finish: First of 2015

It's the first Friday of the year, and I have a finish to share!  Woo Hoo!

20" pillow cover

My pillow cover for the Angled class pillow swap is complete and in the mail.  I followed a pattern by Katy Jones of I'm a Ginger Monkey in the Pillow Pop book.

Envelope back

The recipient likes greens and blues which I happen to have an abundance of in my stash.  I chose favorite fabrics from Carolyn Friedlander, Alison Glass and Cotton+Steel to piece the plus/crosses.  The backing is a simple envelope style flap.

quilting on vacation

I assembled most of the pillow top at home, then brought the remaining supplies with me on vacation to finish on my little Janome.  I quilted straight lines using my walking foot with the only Aurifil thread (1148 in 50wt) I had with me which happened to be a perfect match. 

in the mail

Some extra goodies include a journal cover made using Rachel's tutorial (appropriate don't you think as she hosted the swap!), Wonder Clips, washi tape, Montana delicacies and my Peace quilt pattern.

I hope my partner likes her package.  There are some amazing pillow covers posted on the group's Flickr page.  Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.

Thanks for stopping by,