It's in the Bag!

Happy Monday Everyone-

Well! I finished my bag yesterday and I'm so glad. I'm very happy with the way it turned out. By using neutrals I'm sure to get a lot of use out of it and not tire of it anytime soon. I thought it would make a good project back to keep by the couch, or to take books to the library, or stuff to the post office. A good sturdy tote.



nice inside pockets.Pauline came over last Thursday to work on our tote bags. I think we did more talking and ripping out than actual progress. She recently returned from a quilt retreat where they had a grab bag. These were her prizes - nice!
What cute sewing minder

I love the beaded comb and wobble (or whatever it is).


For lunch I made Janet's rustic pie recipe. I printed the recipe from her blog months ago and finally gave them a try. Delicious. I used ham instead of bacon and chives instead of onions. I think you can make many delicious combinations with the basic recipe - thanks Janet!


Okay, I took the process challenge, so here was the sewing process of the bag once the strata was completed. For those not interested, it's cool, I get it. See you next time.

After the strata is cut into the 3 pieces you attach a binding to the four corners.

The inside pockets are sewn down during the process.
the seams are covered when its turned to the inside and stitched down.
Here is am attaching the binding. It is so awkward to get every flap out of the way and they were quite stiff.


This is how the sides come up to form a corner of the bag. I think I was watching angels and demons at this point, but it looks like a classic B&W movie in the background.


I used a curved needle (awkward!). It worked well in grabbing some of the clothesline and making it a strong ladder stitch. Boy, were my fingers sore, it was impossible to use a thimble, did I mention awkward?

here is a corner done from the inside.

attaching the top binding, while also attaching the 2 handles.

Sewing down the inside seam. I little hard to see while sewing.


As a final touch, I sewed a seam across the bottom of the handles so they don't always flop down the outside of the bag. You can see the difference here.


And that, as they say, is that.

Better Stencils and Gardens

Here is something I hope you really like -

I saw stencils being displayed this way in a little quilt shop recently and all I could think was eureka! I've had a storage problem with my stencils for going on 20 years now. All it took for better stencil living was a package (about $2.00) of standard shower hooks and a hanger. There. Done.

I sorted them by category; blocks, feathers, borders, small, etc. When I need a certain type of stencil I can just go to the closet and take that hook off the hanger. I can also easily look through them all - Brilliant!


Michelle, of the Betwixt the Between blog is having a give away with 4 great prizes. Click here to visit her wonderful blog and put your name in. Check out the great angel applique' project she has going.

Here are my backyard gardens, taken from the Juliette balcony outside my sewing room.

This is year two on the "white garden". I planned and installed this garden (with Andrew's help) last year after the patio went in. This year I added just a dash of blue, which I love in the garden.


The herb garden. Moon flower vines will climb the structure.


This is the hydrangea garden, not in bloom yet. This is also the site for my lily of the valley and spirea.


In the center here are some of my many, many hostas and other shade loving plans. On the fence is a climbing hydrangea, which smells heavenly.

more shady plants.

This year I treated myself to these flower boxes and hung them on the inside of the railing so that I can enjoy them while in the sewing room. Actually, it doesn't look too bad from the yard either.


I'll take some front photos soon. In the meantime, I finished the quilting on the pineapple quilt, so now I'm on to the sleeve and label. Yesterday I took a deep breath said a little prayer to the quilt gods and shipped my two quilts to Columbus for the show. I'll be seeing Mary in just about a week!

Word Nerd Alert

HOORAY!

Tomorrow ESPN will be televising 4 hours of the semi-final rounds of the 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee. This is one of my favorite sporting events of the year. I will be armed with pad, pencil and my hotel bell - to ding them out before the official judge. I can't wait! The final will be televised on ABC (shameless plug for the company my husband works for) in prime time.


A big thank you to everyone who commented on my finished Strawberry Fields (Wine) doll quilt. You too can make one of these little beauties, all the info is available at Lori's blog. Jump over and join the fun! After all, I think June is Strawberry Month.

I little update on our bag project that we started here. Susan has finished hers and it is wonderful. Great job Susan!


Nice inside pockets

Side view

Here is Pauline's strata in batiks - beautiful.

And mine

We're hoping to catch up to Susan soon!

Let us know if your going to the 2010 National Quilting Association Show in June. We'd love to meet for a drink. Weather you are a reader, a blogger or a lurker, it makes no difference. If you like quilts, we like you - email me at barb.vedder@gmail.com to let us know.

Strawberry Fields

Happy Sunday - Here is my Strawberry Fields quilts, which I'm calling Strawberry Wine because I spilled an entire glass of white wine on it while I was machine quilting it. Yes, you can quilt on a slightly damp quilt.


Thanks Lori! Her blog, Humble Quilts is always a great place to visit for inspiration. After much deliberation and trials, I decided on this red dot fabric, which reminded me of a strawberry.


I was too engrossed in the Masterpiece episode I was watching and didn't line up the third vertical row correctly, thus losing a little of it forever. I was quilting when I noticed it....how do I get so distracted? And no, I wasn't drinking wine at that time :)

My doll, Annie, seems to like it fine.


I chose this pretty green fabric with the butterflies for the backing.


This week I heard back from the Special Exhibits coordinator and my quilt "Lunar Pineapple" has been accepted to be in the special exhibit "Trash to Treasure" at the Long Beach and Houston Quilt Festivals. I'm very excited to be included and I look forward to seeing all 30 quilts.

After cutting out a white batting, I soon realized that black batting was the only way to go. So I arranged an emergency lunch meeting with Jill on Friday who had a black batting to give me. It was great because it was also her Birthday and we had a lovely time.

I'm quilting it in all over tea-cup pattern. It is difficult to see, but I'm hoping it will give it a nice texture.


Sneak peak at the backing.


This one is for Mary, who asked for a coco fix. All she's missing here is a glass of wine and a little applique'.

Mansion in May

Good Morning Everyone

I hope you are all enjoying Amy's Quilt Festival. Mary and I plan to post our quilts this week.

I'll take it!

On Saturday Jill and I met up at the 2010 Mansion in May, which is a fundraiser for the Morristown hospital. The home, Fawn Hill, and property is currently for sale, a bargain at $5.9 million on 11 acres. With the total acreage of 30, the price is 13 million. As Jill said "depends on how close you want the neighbors".

Each room, hallway, bath and garden area is decorated or designed by different area designers. It is so fun to see the way each interprets there space. No photos are allowed in the house, but here are photos of the gardens.

enjoy~










Aaahhhh.....home sweet home