Thursday, May 9, 2013

Been MIA, so so sorry!

The grandkids went home a couple of weeks ago, and I kinda went MIA.  I have been enjoying some much needed downtime, and getting back to my sewing.  I have a couple of projects to share with you today.

First up is a pincushion I made using an upcoming paper piecing pattern by From Blank Pages.  I was so happy to be picked as a tester.  Now let me say, this pattern was perfect.  No changes needed and clear piecing instructions on the pattern.  It will be a great pattern to pick up when she releases it.  I'm sure it will be in her Craftsy store soon.



I also finally got around to making the quilt top for my dear FIL.  I have been hording these fabric since Houston Quilt Festival last year.  I had originally bought a pattern to use, but was really wanting to do something that would really show off the prints in these fabrics.  My dear FIL is an old God Fearing Cowboy.  A man's MAN.  A hard worker, and a very fair and just man.  Honest, loving, and caring.  I wouldn't trade him for a million dollars. That's how much I love him. 

I started with a pattern by In Color Order.  I loved the simplicity of this pattern but felt something was missing.

I thought it needed some length added to it due to my dear FIL being a tall man and I wanted to add the Pony Express material I had purchased for this quilt.  


I am still considering adding a border to the sides to give it a little more width, but I think he will love it.  

I also made another block for the Simply Solids Modern Bee.  I debated about how to make this block until the last minute.  We were sent the material and the pattern, but I wasn't really sure if the stars were suspose to be all one color or we could mix it up.  So of course I went with my gut feeling of how I would want the block to look.


I love how this turned out.  Thinking I am going to use this in another quilt I am working on.

That leads me to this shabby chic block I just threw together one afternoon.  This is growing quickly as I have started two more of these blocks and now am thinking of doing two star blocks using my shabby chic scraps.  The plan is to put this in a modern setting using lots of solid white Kona cotton.


And last but not least, I spent 14 hours yesterday making myself a summer top using some Carnaby Street Fabrics by Pat Bravo Design for Art Gallery Fabrics. I did not use a pattern, I did let lots of bad words come flying out of my mouth, but it was worth it.  I had a picture in my head of what I wanted and I can't wait to wear this to work tomorrow.  I am so proud of myself for sticking in there and not giving up on this blouse.  And I have to say my dear hubby was so sweet to help me pin and repin the shoulder straps.  Please let me know what you think~



Well I think that covers all my recent projects.  I hope you like them.  Please leave me a comment, I love hearing from you all.

Love



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Thursday, April 11, 2013

April Showers Mug Rug Blog Hop!

Today is day 5 of the April Showers Mug Rug Blog Hop and I am so glad that you have stopped by! Thanks to Mdm. Samm (Sew We Quilt) and Erin Davis (Sew at Home Mummy) for thinking up and organizing this wonderful blog hop and inviting me to join.  This is my first blog hop ever so I hope I have done them and you proud.  And without further ado here is my Mug Rug.







 I decided this would be a great opportunity to try out my decorative stitches on my machine.  I had these great fabrics in my stash thanks to winning a door prize at Fabrics Etc. a couple of weeks ago during the Greater Houston Shop Hop.  This is my first time making a mug rug and I found that I still need to figure out how to finish off my binding strips.  I am really having trouble with this step.  I have watched videos over and over, but just don't get it on the first try, ever. LOL

P.S.  After making the above mug rug my granddaughter told me she wanted to keep it.  Then of course my grandson wanted a "boy" one.  So, being the Nana that I am, I whipped one right up for him.  This time it only took me two tries to get the binding right. LOl





Anyways, I hope you will stop by all the other blogs on the hop today.  They are:


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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

My life right now....


Consist of taking care of two awesome grandchildren on top of our daily crazy life.  I am loving it.  Every wonderful, and trying moment of it. And while they are visiting, we are trying to make as many memories as possible.  


There has been crazy amounts of playtime:




We are growing green onions from our scraps:





We visited the Stingray Reef in Kemah:





Uncle Michael, Hannah and Dalton 


And went to Galveston to play at the beach and ride the ferry







And I just have to add that I love, love, love this photo that my daughter, Kaylyn, took of the two of them sitting by the creek



I think this would make an awesome art quilt, except I don't make art quilts.  Maybe someone out there would make a grandmother something so special??? LOL

So as you can see not much sewing or quilting getting done around here lately, but I do have two more pictures for you.  My daughter finally asked me to show her how to quilt.  My grandson had to join her, and yes she is working on her own quilt, LOL:


And I did finish up a pillowcase dress for my granddaughter


So I guess that gives me some progress and a finish for this week so far.  Yeah!

Hope your days are filled with so much love and awesomeness!


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Saturday, March 23, 2013

Love me some summer.....

Yes, I do love me some summer.  Sun, sand, ocean, pools, and sundresses.  I have been drooling over this Riley Blake Designs "Seaside" collection for sometime now.  I am just IN LOVE with the beach scene print. When I found the Tea Party dress pattern at Oliver S + Co. I just knew the two were a match made in heaven. So with out further ado, I present my Princess Hannah's new summer sundress!  I can't wait to see her in it. 


Don't you just love this fussy cut on the bodice?


And this coordinating polka dot hem lining?


And yes, I am to lazy to hand stitch a hem and don't own a serger, so I totally cheated and did a double topstitch on the hem line. I love the way it looks!


And the great thing about this pattern is there is also a coordinating playsuit pattern for a boy and bloomers for the dress.  This is perfect because next I will be making the playsuit in the "Seaside" plaid for my grandson.  Won't they just be the two cutest things.  Okay, I'm done gushing for tonight. 

Love,


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Plum and June @ Simply Miss Luella


Friday, March 22, 2013

I just have to share this.....

This overwhelmingly warms my heart.  Music is an amazing thing! Enjoy!






Sunday, March 17, 2013

Challenge Completed and a Sew Together Bag

Crazy I did it!  I have finished my table topper quilt for the Henry Glass & Co. fabrics Desire to Inspire challenge.  And I love it! Here it is:



This was such a fun challenge.  It was also my first time binding a quilt.  It was much easier than I thought it would be.  

This last week I also finished my Sew Together Bag by SewDemented. This was a little challenging for me.  I still have to learn how to get my machine to sew over thick areas of fabric such as the side seams of the pockets.  Putting the binding on this was the hardest part.  I did however, learn how to install a zipper.  It was super easy with her instructions. 




My daughter loved it, but asked that I make one using laminated cotton so she can use it for make up.  Oh boy, don't know if  I'm quite ready for that binding again.

I also designed a pattern this week for my dear FIL's quilt.  I did it on graph paper and figured the math my self.  Hoping I did it right.  I will start cutting on it this week.  Here is the fabric I have been hoarding for this project.


I think it will be perfect for an ol' cowboy. What do you think?

Now onto the Riley Blake Designs BOM.  This months block is the Churn Dash or as they call it Simplicity. I have to say I love this block.  It is so easy and you can do so much with it just by changing up fabric patterns.  


And here are January, February and March's blocks all together:


Here are all the blocks I have made with this wonderful fabric:




Well that's all for now folks. I hope to be back this week with another finish.



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