Sharing your passion...

Sharing your passion...

It's midwinter break time here in Michigan so the kids are off of school for a couple of days.  My 10 year old granddaughter and I had been talking about sewing at Christmas and she seemed interested.  So I snagged her after school friday night and we had ourselves a sewing retreat!

She started with a pillowcase for her bed.  Super easy straight sewing.  I showed her how to line up the raw edges with a mark on the machine but even I sometimes find that annoying because I'll find I've drifted over to a different mark if I don't pay close attention.  I put a piece of red masking tape on the 1/2 inch line and she lined up her fabric against that.  It made it much easier for her.  Then I just talked her through it.  

She learned how to use the iron (carefully!) and that the machine IS a machine and needs to be respected.  

She did fabulous.   Here's her third project....a funny pillow for her bed!

She was so proud of herself!  I was so proud of her, too!  I actually had to force her to stop because Grandma was getting tired.  

She told me that someday she'd like to have her own sewing room and make her living sewing..........

Sharing your passion....what could be better than that?

Still playing with Minikins...

Still playing with Minikins...

I'm still trying out the minikins by Sarah Lawson from Sew Sweetness.  Here's my latest try using Tula Pink fabric.  LOVE Tula Pink with this bag because it highlights the animals in her fabrics.

They are also great scrap busters.  On the blue octopus I also used scraps of Linen I had left over from a picture frame project.  The elephant I used raspberry that came from who knows!  I've had it so long.  I had to do some hunting to find the raspberry thread, I can tell you!

When top stitching, I've been changing the top thread to make sure it matches the fabric so I sewed white on the octopus and then blue on the linen.  It's a much nicer look I think.

I just finished making 6 emmaline retreat bags for a client too but neglected to take a final picture.  :-(

Sewing on...

Back from Texas...

Back from Texas...

After the Christmas holidays my husband and I packed clothes, threw the suitcase in the backseat of our car, hooked up the 21 foot camper and left Michigan in search of warmer weather.  We landed in Texas where it was the coldest winter they've seen in about 5 years BUT it was warmer than here.  We only had one very cold day (an ice storm, in fact) but the rest of the time it was lovely.

Of course we checked out all the fabric and small quilt shops in Texas and I came back with fabric and ideas!

The three on the left are slated for shirts for me using some new Itch to Stitch patterns I picked up online while we were gone.  The two black and white are meant to be chickens in a table runner I'm planning.  Sew much fun!

I love little quilt stores.  I meant some of the nicest people.  One of my favs was in Dripping Springs, Texas, Vallia and Kim.  Modern fabrics, lots of quilts on the walls with ideas and super nice people to give you ideas on what to use.  If you are in the area, check it out!

Onto sewing....