Dish Towels to Tote & New Poop or Deux Bags

I was wondering our local Dollar Tree store and found these dish towels. I don't know what the attraction was, maybe the word soup written all over it. I bought two towels washed and dried them. One came out a little wonky, but I made it work. I cut five inches off the top of each one for the straps. No lining in this, I just used the finished edges, folded down the top two inches, attached the handles and boxed the corners. If you want more information on how I made this, drop me a line. I really like how it turned out, so cute for my trips to the grocery store.

Theses are my Poop or Deux bags I sell on my Etsy site. The poop bags dispense from the front pocket. After you pick up after your dog, just drop it in the bag. You no longer have to walk around with a bag of poop. Also available in my Etsy shop.

Shirt to Pillow

I had this old tired snowman pillow which need to be revived. I have a box of thrift store men's 100% cotton shirts (all washed by the way) ready to be made into a quilt some day. That day has not got here yet (sigh) so I picked out one to cover the pillow. This is sew simple. My pillow was about 16.5 inches so I cut a 17" square from the front and back of the shirt. Sew about a 1/4 at the top and bottom of the button part. Not necessary, but I do it. Unbutton about three buttons so you can insert your pillow later on, now put your squares right side together, sew around each side using a one half inch seam allowance. Turn right side out, press, insert your pillow and you are done. (On a side note, I went around with a zigzag stitch on the wrong side to keep it from fraying.)

More Swap Blocks Made

So far I have made 12 blocks at 12.5 each. Some of the swappers will get two blocks and some only one. This depends on how much fabric I use in the first block. I am enjoying this swap. There are more swaps if you are interested in trying one at www.quiltingboard.com.

Quilting Board Swap

I joined the Boomerang Earth 7.0 quilt block swap on the Quilting Board. There are 17 of us. Each one person sends a fat eight (11x18) of fabric to the other. In return they make a 12.5 inch block for you in the fabric you sent. I am making a blue one for the moderator as well. Mine will be for Quilts of Valor so I sent out red/blue patriotic fabric to each. These are the ones I have made so far.

I finished up this small quilt top for my mother's birthday. We are going to Las Vegas next week to celebrate it. The back is mostly the zebra stripe and I had to add a small amount of the dots to make it work. This quilt measures 40 x 40. Mom has a love of this kind of animal print.

It snowed here in Eugene today.  A lot of snow! My beagle loved it, the schnauzer not so much.

Wonky House Pillow

Finished the wonky house pillow. I really enjoyed making it. I machine quilted each house, around the bird and the grass. I made an insert pillow by pulling the stuffing out of a new Walmart bed pillow. Much cheaper than a bag of fiberfill. I should have put a zipper in the back, but I took the lazy way out and went with a horizontal envelope back. Next time!

Leaving for Oahu tomorrow to visit my daughter and four grandchildren. Her husband is deployed and could use a break. Grandma to the rescue. Will be gone for two weeks - we have some fun stuff planned.

Wall Hanging & Roxy Shoulder Bag

The bag was made from a PDF I bought and downloaded last year. I was looking for the right lining fabric and coincidentally found it in my stash. You can get the pattern here - it is called "Roxy Shoulder Bag".  Very easy to make - I have enough fabric to make another one.

I wanted to make a wall hanging using words. Free pieced from the book Word Play Quilts, I think. Too lazy to get up and look for it. I also made another Three Stooges cell phone case but forgot to take a photo before I sent it off to the customer.

Down With Shingles

I have been down with shingles. Very painful, if you have not had shingles, I suggest you go and get the shot. It doesn't prevent it, but it won't be as bad. I am into week two of this mess and will be so glad when the horrible outbreak is gone around my ribcage to the front. Itches like crazy. I have been working on a little wall quilt and another quilt as you go lap project for me. Hope you all had a nice Valentine Day!!

Quilt As You Go Baby Blues

Close Up of Quilting

I made a baby quilt for a friend of mine who is having a boy. I just used my blues and boy themed fabric. I love making a quilt with this method. I bought three yards for the back so it was all the same and used the same for the front sashing and binding. The pillowcases are for the grandkids in North Dakota for Valentines Day. As always, click on the photos to enlarge them.

Crumb Table Runner & Words on Quilts

What's a crumb runner you ask? I made this using leftovers from the tree skirt I made last year. You had to sew strip sets and then use a template (arch) and cut around that. Lots of fabric not used. So I squared them up, added a strip here and there and made this runner. I quilted it all in leaves, something I would have not done, had I not been following SewCal free motion designs. The design this month was leaves. I am usually a "stipple" quilter. Really happy how it turned out. This not for "anyone" so I was a little more relaxed about quilting it. 

My next project is making words out of fabric. I have attached what I have so far. The saying "Today I Will Choose Joy" I got off of http://lilblueboo.com/. You should check out her site, very inspiring! I need a lot of practice - my letters are huge, about 5.5 inches.