Last Cathedral Window update and other sewing stuff

I shared with you how I've started my last Cathedral Window quilt. I have all the fabric and years to do the hand sewing. I thought I'd share a couple of updated photos.

Pretty traditional design. I'm sewing what I can when I can and am putting no pressure on myself to get it done quickly.

Denim tote bags have been on my mind lately too, and there are a few ready to sell. I'm using up some old Grandmother Flower Garden flowers I made some time ago and have been saving.

As a fun addition, I used recycled blue jean pockets inside each bag, attached to the lining.  

Another bag design included using a wedge ruler to play with design and shades of blue. This one is much more striking in person. Again, there is a cotton lining and a recycled blue jean pocket inside.  

And if I didn't have enough recycled blue jean fabric sewing projects, I made a set of placemats. Patchwork denim with Grandmothers Flower Garden patch on one side and strip quilting with a cotton that I also used for binding on the other side.

And then there's painting. Not sure where I got this idea, but I did and here it is. Acrylic paint on a wooden plaque.

Keep sewing and creating. Let me know if I can help you learn something along the way!

Sewing in the new year

I promise I'll finish the open weave vest tutorial. In the meantime, I've made two of the size 4 vests and one for me, a bit bigger than size 4. I've also made two patchwork Minions vests in size 4. Photos of those to come. For hand sewing, I'm working on a calico and white muslin Cathedral window doll quilt. Lastly, I'm still working on folded fabric ornaments for next year's Christmas (those will be on sale). I've stocked up on Hanukkah fabric to make some placemats, but that's on my to-do list.

My new thing is painting rocks for the Kindness Rocks Project. My painting skills are not the greatest, but that's not the point. Here are a few I've painted and set free to be found:

My daughter placed this one in Boston for me. 

The above were all released in Williamsburg, VA, where I live.

This one went out today on National Law Enforcement Day. 

I have officially semi-retired and have more time to sew than ever before. It's very odd having real free time. Raising three children and working full time forever have kept me more than busy. Relax? What's that? I don't know how!

I have the photos for the open weave vest ready to go. I need to sit down and just do it. It's a fun and tedious project, and the results are so worth it.

Keep sewing!

Crafty and not sewing stuff

You may have heard about rock painting. You paint a rock, label it on the bottom, and "hide" it in your town or somewhere else. When someone finds it, they post on the Facebook page (in this case Williamsburg VA Rocks!) that it was found. If you find one, you can keep it or rehide it. It's just a fun hide-and-seek thing to do. This is my first one. It's going out into the world today. 

I've been working on this whacky peg rack and this is how it started - painted black and then stripes taped and painted white. 

I'm almost done with it. I got the pegs themselves painted and the oogly eyes started around the edges. I have one side edge to finish placing the eyes, and this, too, will be sent out into the world for sale on Etsy.

Lastly, I've seen doll part drying racks online for anywhere from $9 to $25. I showed one to my husband and he got to work. A few pencils and a chopstick, a cast off piece of lumber, and a drill bit, and I have my own doll part drying rack. Now I have somewhere to place doll arms and legs when I paint them! It's like another set of hands.

That's it from the wacky world of crafting. I'm never sure what I'm going to do next. Peter Max tote bags one day and rock painting the next. Semi-retirement is suiting me very nicely.