Christmas crafting underway!

I have started making a few little gifts ..about time, I guess!!

First up is these really cute little ear bud pockets. There is a great tutorial here. (Dog Under My Desk)..very easy.   And what great stocking stuffers..uses up lots of little scraps too..bonus.

Instead of using a ring on the tab, though, I added a clip.

I only had two on hand, so for some of them I used small caribiners.

I also tried the top stitching around the outside edge, but couldn't get it smooth, so liked the look without it better. Word of warning ...first time I trimmed the edges too close....(guess this one is for me)

Another small, quick project are these toothbrush rollups... (found on Pinterest  from My Little Darlings)

I just used face cloths, and quickly stitched up the sides and then divided the pocket into 4 and stitched it up too. I used a fun shoe lace for the tie up..

What a great idea, though...when you get home, you just throw it in the wash and it is ready for your next trip!

Now...back to work...Christmas is coming!!

linking up to WIP Wed at Freshly Pieced..

And TN&TN..

And dont forget to come back tomorrow for Saskatchewan day of the Blogathon Canada!!
                                          

Joining Downton Abbey Mystery QAL

I am getting braver...I am joining another QAL!!

This one is a mystery quilt....and what is even more fun is that it is the Downton Abbey QAL over at Love Bug Studios!!

                                    
That's right...a whole line of fabric based on Downton Abbey from Andover.  It is new, and just coming out in most stores.
There is a fabric line for the Dowager Countess, Lady Mary, Lady Edith and Lady Sybil.  You get to choose which one you want to use.

I am going to make a "Lady Sybil" version ....I love these colours !!

If you are a Downton Abbey fan, you should really go and have  a look at this. It has only just started...most people don't even have the fabric yet, so you are not too late. Come join the fun!
                              

Stay tuned...

EEEKKKK..(is that how you spell eeekk??)
I am so excited...Blogathon Canada starts on Monday..... stay tuned!!

                                  


I have a great giveaway coming...stay tuned!!

There are lots of featured blogs....and lots of giveaways every day!!!

It will be fun....stay tuned!!!

Saved from the brink.

Saved from the brink.....of disaster, that is!

Remember my disaster with the quilt top that I had to rip all apart and pretty much start over??  You can see all the sad details here.

Anyway....I am happy to say that I have not only put it back together  - with some new fabric choices - but have now finished it and quilted it!

And not only that..I am pretty happy with it now..

The quilting was really fun! I did it with one big spiral!! I showed some of the details about how I started the circles here.  I really like the effect.

Another finish! Yeah!! All bound, washed and ready to give away!  This one is going to a very special young man.

so another finish....another link up to TGIFF!!
today over at.. Hot Pink Quilts


and Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts..

Lest We Forget

http://www.teacherfiles.com/clip_art_remembrance.htm

Mountain view

I have finished the quilt that I was making for my daughter.  As you may remember.. she lost everything, including 4 of my quilts....when Calgary was flooded in June. (See previous post for pictures and details)

Just as an update, reconstruction on her apartment is under-way, and hopefully she can move back in early December! It has been a long hard summer for her, but she will have a brand new place, which will be exciting! I think she will miss out on the "One Slab" quilts because  she isn't back in the flood area yet, so wont be there when they are distributed. A big thank you, though, to Patti.....a quilting friend ...for donating a quilt for her...she loves it and has been using it a lot!

Anyway,  I wanted to get a new quilt done for her too...and here it is..

The pattern is from Moda Bake Shop..called S'more Mountains.  I didn't add the appliqué bits of trucks and cars though.

This went together well, but I commented before on how disappointed I was with the amount of waste in making the blocks. For each striped block I had to trim off about 2".  I had some great suggestions on using these bits for the binding or on the back...all good ideas. ...but didn't happen :(
I should have tried, but I was in a hurry to get this one finished and just didn't take the time. Maybe next time I will try to be more creative.  Now I need to think of a project for all the bits! Maybe some pillows to go with the quilt???

It has some fun fabric..sort of newpaper print fabric. ..

The backing is some flannel that I thought would make it especially warm and cozy..

The quilting is hard to see, but is just straight lines following the blocks.
I am really happy with it. It is not exactly the same as her "coffee quilt" that she lost, but does incorporate some of the same fabric, so hope she likes it.

Linking up to TGIFF...over at  Quokka Quilts..
                                                           
      

playing with pockets

My sister has requested a new bag...she has a few from me already, but wanted one in red.  So I picked up some red fabric the other day....on the half price wall...so had to buy a minimum of 1 metre (yard), which means that I have lots to play with.

I am using the Phoebe bag pattern...a free pattern by Rebeka Lambert. It is a great pattern, and makes up quickly. I have made this one several times before...

I noticed that Rebeka now has several other patterns offered for purchase...they all look great!

I decided that since I had some extra fabric, that I would play with pockets, and try out some new additions..

First up I added a padded pocket on the back outside to slip in a kindle or tablet. I like to carry mine with me when going to appointment or somewhere that I might have to wait..always good to have a book along.

I just cut an extra pattern piece of fabric and lining, and cut it down a bit on the top to make it flat. Then I added a layer of fusible fleece to the outside fabric, and a layer of quilt batting to the lining, I sewed it straight across the top, flipped it over and top stitched it, then sewed it to the back piece...

It is a little bit padded, but not too bulky.  Worked out great.

Next up I wanted to try an inset zipper pocket.  These always look so "finished" but look so hard to do.
But...I found a great tutorial, and easy peasy....I now have a set in zipper!!

It was so much easier that I thought, that I am now adding them to everything!!! (OK, maybe not adding them to my quilts...but all my bags for sure!)

this is the inside view of the zipper pocket..

I have also decided that I need to make these bags at least 3 times...to fix all the things that I would change.  Like for the second bag, I put the zipper pocket inside, and I should have had  a snap closure inside the padded pocket maybe. Oh well, I am just playing...live and learn.

So that is what I am doing this week. ...so linking up to
WIP Wed at Freshly Pieced..

                                             

And TN&TN