Everything is coming up roses...

Today is October 1 and my flowers are still beautiful.  Some years we have already had several killing frosts by this time but this year my roses are still showing off.  Husband is still picking blueberries... just a few every few days and people are still stopping to look at the dahlias in the garden.  Yep.  We think we should maybe have a donation box for a charity of choice that people could donate to after the dahlia tour.  So funny.  Maybe that is the beauty of growing flowers.  So other people can see them too.

And then there is Webster wondering what the heck I am doing in the rosebush in my slippers and a camera.

Fresh Sewing Day!

I made this mosaic yesterday and thought I was missing a finish.  I was.  I put it down below.  Just imagine it in the centre, in that white space where it should have been.

As I do my little review here, I am thinking... not too shabby for the month of September.  September included school start up which is a super busy time for me in my day job-elementary school principal.  September also included a family wedding and gathering of the clan and all sort of other busy stuff!  So not too shabby.

I finished "Kona Modern Quilts" Modern Baby for a guild challenge.  Cynthia Frenette is the fabric designer and illustrious guild member.  Then I made the "wonky log cabin in blue floating in white" cushion.  Two Jane Market bags and an iPod cozy.  Shabby Chic Baby in pink arrived on the scene much to my delight because I loved making it and it is just too pretty for words.  And I made good progress on my Proverbial quilt.  You can sing if you like.  I also finished "Feels Like Fall" which is the quilt I forgot to include in the mosaic.  I should have made a new mosaic when I realized that it was forgotten but that is a whole other story.  Trust me, it is better this way!

Linking up with Lynne at Lily's Quilts for Fresh Sewing Day!!!!  Happy October for tomorrow!

My scraps are overflowing!!!!!

The problem is I have too many scraps.  Actually it is not a problem at all.  I love scraps and love using them.  And I have a scrap quilt quilt along coming up so it really is all good but I could not close the lids on my pink, green and blue scrap bins despite making all sorts of scrappy things.

I had to buy more shoe boxes.  And then I got busy.  This was all part of my clean up my sewing mess last weekend.

Sigh.  Scrap happy and all organized.  I am now able to breathe and sleep easier knowing my scraps are tidy again.  Have a fabulous weekend!!!!!!

The thing about blogging is...

You get to meet some really lovely people, even if it is only through email and comments and lovely packages in the mail.  You get to have a wonderful group of friends that are part of a really snazzy online community.  And that is why I have a new pair of shoes.  Milk glass shoes to be precise. Julianne sent me shoes!!!!!

 I met Julianne months ago when she started commenting on my blog.  Julianne had some questions about some of my quilts and blocks and I had some answers.  Julianne knows how much I love milk glass and she found these wee shoes in a thrift shop and thought of me!  I feel very lucky to have somebody feeding my milk glass habit!  Thank you so much, Juliannne!!!!  You are a dear.  Now I have to say that these wee shoes travelled all the way from California to Canada in perfect shape.  Probably because they were sandwiched with some super lovely fabric!  Yep!  Super spoiled, I am.  Tea cups!  On fabric!  So much fun.  Julianne has started blogging too and you can find her at Quilting with Calicos. 

Work In Progress Wednesday

My proverbial quilt is my only official work in progress.  What?????  It is true.  I have nothing else currently on the go.  I have plans, options, thoughts and dreams of other things on the go but this is it folks.  Never fear.  This will all change by the time the weekend rolls around and I will for sure have something else started.

I put all the letters out on the spare bed which is a double , just for the record.  The words takes up a lot of room but I only have "you make me happy when skies are gray"  left to piece and then I can put the whole shebang together.

Hopes, plans and quilt dreams involve...
1) Tracey's Treasure box quilts (one to donate and another for fun)
2) And Ellison Lane's Scrappy Stash Quilt Along which will start in October

And more Market Bags and I always seem to make another baby quilt just for fun.

Linking up with Lee's Work In Progress Wednesday because who knows?  Maybe after I look at what everyone else is up to, I will have another idea!

Jane Market Bags

I have made several Jane Market bags since I bought the pattern.  I made two more on Sunday.  I have made a few tweaks to the pattern which make sense to me but you might just want to go with the standard pattern.

The first thing that I do is make the bags out of home decor weight fabric.  I like the bags to be sturdier.  Both the bags were made with thrifted home decor weight fabric and lined with quilting weight cotton from my stash.

The second tweak is that I cut the corner at 3" square rather than 4" square.  This makes a taller and narrower bag which I prefer.

The third tweak is that I sandwich the handles inside between the lining and the outer bag.  I still stitch a nice little "x" to anchor the handles but I like the handle ends hidden.  When using the home decor weight fabric there is a lot more bulk and it makes it more difficult to finish the ends of the straps neatly.  That problem is solved by hiding them between the lining and the outer shell of the bag.

So there.  Jane Market Bags times two.  Set for shopping.

pocket detail

wow!  that's lining!!!

lining on bag one is more sedate

Shabby Chic Baby

I finished another baby quilt.  This is none other than Shabby Chic Baby. The same idea as Lovely Stars and Ice Cream but in pinks.   I used a bunch of florals that were a little bit dated but I think that when I put them together like this, they work!  I used a variety of pinks and whites along with the florals.  I just love it.  I used a pink dot on the binding and a shabby chic print on the back.  How much fun  is this?  Quilted with Aurifil 50 wt in white in two straight lines on either side of the seam lines.  Nice and simple.  Measuring 39" by 39".

And this is the back.  Shabby Chic Baby.

Linking up with Megan for Sew Modern Monday and Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday!