Something Just for Me on this beautiful August day --

I'm so glad I planted a bush of zinnias late this spring because it's nearly the only flowers blooming this August in my garden.  Due to such a dry summer, everything else is done blooming;  needless to say, I am really enjoying these colorful zinnias!  Got some cosmos just starting to bloom to the left, too.

I've been having some computer tech problems trying to update my Access customer base, so I've been tearing my hair out; the old Access program must have been corrupted last fall when I updated to Windows 7.  Since it took days & lots of anxious moments to get the customer list back in working order and, then, updated, I thought I deserved to sew something special just for myself.  Do you ever feel that way about your sewing & quilting - sometimes you just need a little day project for yourself!

Well, I came across this site www.luvinthemommyhood.com and followed a tutorial there for a tablet case.  This summer while visiting, my 11-year old granddaughter Audrey had helped me purchase a new tablet; she knew a whole lot more about it than I did for sure, so she was a big help!  Now I needed a soft case to protect it when I toss it into my purse.  My tablet is only a 7" one, so I did some adjusting in the size of the pieces, but it went together quite nicely.

Did I ever have fun making it!  The Jo Morton toiles were out on my cutting table just waiting for something special.   And the button came from my button box!  Isn't it so cute!  I even made a buttonhole - something I've not done for how many years??

Well, back to work; have a great day!

Christmas Stitchin's

I've been itchin' to stitch something Christmas since July, so since one of the designs in Table Cozees II looks like a star, I decided to sew it up in Sandy Gervais'  new Merry Medley fabrics plus a dark green of Lisa Bongean's Primitive Muslin.

In this pattern I used the red for the dark & the large triangles the same as the border - the pretty green Christmas print - putting red cornerstones in the first border!  That's what's fun with the Table Cozees patterns - you can move fabrics around, mediums & darks - & still have a great look!  This pattern is actually just 4 blocks of Old Maid's Puzzle to make the center of the little quilt.

- - - - - - First, the half-square triangle units 


Then, the larger triangle units - - - - - - - - -

Sew the blocks together - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -




Table Cozees II

Add the borders & it's ready for the scallops. 

I use Darlene Zimmerman's Easy Scallop for doing all of my scallops on my quilts.  It's just so very quick & easy!  Of course, with the scallops, you must use a bias binding.


The Table Cozees are just 19" square & I machine quilt them myself!  Fun!

Where do the days go . . .

Oh, my, here we are in mid-July so soon; the summer weeks are flying away even though the heat & humidity are both high here in Iowa.  Today we just may get a little rain to relieve the corn fields. 

We have enjoyed the company of two sweet granddaughters, Audrey, 11 & Isabel, 9; sisters from Cincinnati.  Audrey is our budding chef, so we cooked & baked some new experiments with her.   She loved baking the custard much more than eating it but it made for a great picture; she decided that she liked rice pudding much better than custard.  Hard to believe, but her favorite was the stuffed green peppers. 

Isabel brought 2 American dolls who needed new dresses from Grandma's stash.  She loved picking out the fabrics &

we followed a dress pattern

I had found on the internet. 

Gathered along the front & back top

tying bows on the shoulders made a cute dress for each one.

 

Go to www.libertyjanepatterns.com for the patterns from Cinnamon!

Now sister Emily (14) has arrived for her week in Iowa so we'll have fun with her, too.  I'm sure that some sewing project will be calling us & lots of shopping!  Emily's a big reader, so she's always entertained.  I also have a mailing I could use some help with.

Hope you are all enjoying your summer, too, with friends & family!  One of these days I must get back to work.

On to New Hampton & home . . .

With Denise Sinnwell, owner of Quilter's Window
 in New Hampton, IA

Leaving Merry's was difficult, but I felt much better when I walked into Quilter's Window   in New Hampton.  Of course, seeing Denise & many Clothesline Quilts patterns & quilts there made my heart happy.

We're standing in front of Jo Morton's new line here; isn't that cupboard just beautiful in red with the cut glass doors.  Denise has beautiful displays in her shop.

Don't miss the Bull Run quilt in red & black at the top of the cupboard  & the cute little Table Cozee in brown & blue at the bottom (to the left of me).  Denise just does a beautiful job coordinating the fabrics.

More Table Cozees !!

 I took more pictures of her many displays to share with you before I headed home.  Isn't that quilt with the Table Cozees above just gorgeous!

And I love the pinks, browns, & reds in the quilt below.  Looks like it's an Open Gate pattern, Dancing Stars !

I have to admit, I was ready to be home, so I just headed straight home not stopping at another shop & was home by supper time. 

Ahhh - it's always good to go, but so good to be home, too! 

Over 800 miles in 4 days is enough for me.  Next year I hope to do a couple different 4-day trips & get to other shops in the state. 

Hope you're enjoying summer even though it's a super hot one these days!