DE-STASH #1

What could bring me out of the woodwork? A chance to DE-STASH! I saw mention of this LINKY Party at SewCalGal's blog and have been waiting for the day.

  Unfortunately while I was waiting - instead of going through my stash to get ready for this event, hubby and I started looking for a new house. And we found one. So all that entails is now in motion. The house closed today, one week early! How often does THAT happen?

 I would prefer to only ship to USA addresses. I might make an exception if someone pleads their case. Shipping is not included in the listed prices. I can give you a total amount due once you tell me what item(s) you want to buy. Payment by PayPal only.

 So I have a few items ready for the De Stash with MORE on the way. I needed to do this De Stash before but now that I am moving it is really in order!

First up-Amy Butler's Style Stitches. I was going to partake in a sew along with this and then I just couldn't get my act together. I have looked through the book very gently. The pattern packet has not even been opened (see second picture). The book is in LIKE NEW condition. $16

Clover Large Yo Yo maker - who was I kidding? I do NOT like doing any sewing by hand. Bindings are my limit.

Never opened.   $5

 Next up a "La Petite Ecole" jelly roll by French General for Moda

I won this in a blog sew along and have never figured out what to do with it. It isn't my go to colors and so it keeps getting pushed aside for other fabrics in the stash.  $20

This is a Hope Cove Fat Quarter Bundle in Mint, by Robyn Pandolph for RJR Fabrics  

 9 fat quarters. Never opened. Again, I just haven't come up with something to use this for. Sweet prints. For sale at The Fat Quarter Shop for 32.50.  You can get it here for $22



A sweet fat quarter bundle of Irving Street Flannels by Erin McMorris.  You can see the full prints at Quilthome.com (where it retails for $10.95 per yard). 

6 fat quarters of flannel  $12

Various patterns - quilts, aprons, rug, child's top.

new and unused

$3.50 each, please specify which pattern(s) you'd like!

That is it for today. Leave a comment letting me know what it is you are interested in. Make sure that I can contact you - leave an email address if you happen to be a no-reply blogger. I have more to list so please come back soon!

Visit FingertipShopping for more bloggers taking part in the De-Stash event!

Praise - oh so many things to Praise the Lord for since I last wrote! My friend who had bone cancer just learned this week that her blood work shows NO active cancer in her body!

Prayer - for my hubby's left leg. For some reason it has been swelling just over his knee over the last few days and getting worse.  Prayer for healing and for wisdom on how he should handle this.

Mail love

I recently won a drawing at J & O Fabrics. The prize - Ann Kelle fabrics! I could have 5 one yard lengths, 10 half yard lengths, or 20 1/4 yard lengths. I chose the 20 1/4 yard pieces. MORE VARIETY that way! I don't think I could have narrowed it down. I guess Ann had trouble narrowing it down as well because she sent 21 pieces. Gotta love that!

Look at this loveliness - mostly Remix;


pastel heaven;


ice cream shoppe and sherbet colors;


I love the stripes and zig-zags;


and the argyle!


who doesn't love dots?


Sophie flannels;


a handwritten note from the designer;


I will treasure that along with my note from Kate Spain. I'm weird like that.
Now what to make with all this beautiful fabric? Some little purses/wallets? A camera strap for College Girl? A baby quilt? Thank you J & O Fabrics and Ann Kelle!!

Praise - little things like fabric in my mailbox can make me so happy!

Prayers - College Boy plans to go snowboarding today, prayers for his safety on the road and on the slopes.

Big ol' list!

Here we go for the April edition of;

Since my goal is to sew EVERY day this month I figured I might actually get a few projects done so I could be ambitious with my goals for the month.

First up a copy of a purse that I made in 2008;

College girl's BFF loved the purse that I made in February and so college girl has asked me to make one so that she can give it to her BFF. This green is so springy!

I received this charm pack for Christmas and wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it. I like each and every print in this line so I'm thinking of making a simple 4x10 or 4x9 tablerunner. No pattern. Nothing fancy.Just gonna let those prints shine!

The Verna 'lap' quilt;

I would like to get the flimsy done for this Cotton Blossoms quilt. I've listed it before but then set it aside for other projects.

Another project that I have set aside too many times. This is for a good friend of mine. She probably thinks I have forgotten all about it.

This for another friend of mine. She has no idea about this so hasn't been disappointed that it hasn't happened yet.


Quite the list huh? I am already dreaming of other things I would like to work on. A pair of baby shoes, half square triangles for a quilt, little zipper pouches and a couple of other purses. I guess I'd better get sewing!

Praise - for the snow that we've gotten today. It is so pretty on top of the spring brown.

Prayers - for college girl's weekend. Because of snow in the Pacific NW her plans for Easter weekend have changed (the pass is probably going to close).

Tagged Again

As part of our participation in the Charming Girls Quilt Club, Kelly tags us each month and if we want an extra entry for her drawing then we answer the questions. Easy enough right? Bonus - it got me back to my blog!!!

1. Share your favorite quilting or sewing tip - if you didn't use the fabric and pattern for that cute outfit you planned for your own toddlers, save it - someday you might have grandchildren and more time to sew.

2. Share your best tip for managing time more effectively (what works best for you)! Ohhhhh, if I only had a good answer for this - my quilts would be sewn, my college girl's dresses and skirts would be finished, all purses and totes would be sewn and I wouldn't have much fabric left in my stash. Best tip - limit time on the computer. If need be, make your computer time a reward after you have done the things you want or need to do.

3. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Newfoundland. I have been to all the other provinces (well I think they added one somewhere along the line but I am not counting that) and have ALMOST been to Newfoundland twice.

Praise - the weather has cooled off the last couple of days. There seems to be more hot temperatures for us this August but this little cool down is much appreciated.

Prayers - a couple girls from our church will be returning to college this week. Prayers for their safe travels and for the school year ahead of them.

It's been awhile but I do have pictures

Everyone likes a blog post with pictures. I know that I do. Well I have my camera issues as you know. Oh I can take the picture but then it is remembering to ask hubby to take them off of the camera and put them on the computer and then transfer them to my computer. Zzzzzzzzzzz. Add to that the fact that the camera I was using went into a coma. Well we thought it was dead. Hubby tried his best to revive it but it looked liked the end so he got online and found me a new camera. I said I didn't care what it did, how many megawhatsalls it had as long as it was red. Hubby found a camera that he thought would be great for me. It said in the listing that it was red although the picture must have been taken in poor lighting since it didn't look RED RED but more of a pink red. It arrived and it is PINK PINK. See;

I guess they let the colorblind guy post the colors of available cameras. So now I have a new PINK camera and I LOVE IT! It is light, it is small (fits in my sweatshirt pocket), has a big screen on the back instead of looking through a viewfinder and it takes great pictures! But once I take the pictures, I have to remember to ask hubby to take them off of the camera and put them on the computer and then transfer them to my computer. So really not so much has changed.

* * *

My old camera came out of the coma. I know. Hubby didn't pull the life support from it and gave it one more jolt with the paddles and revived it. I guess he has an extra camera to tote around now.

* * *

I need to make a little case for my camera very soon and I am having trouble deciding which cute fabric to use. I guess I could make more than one.

* * *

I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks. Oh I've thought about it but just never followed through with it. I have kept busy reading blogs, that is always fun and I get such great inspiration from them. I have spent some time scrapbooking and I have also been sewing. Here is a purse that I made for college girl while she was home on spring break. The pattern was from the latest issues of Quilts and More. I made another one from the same pattern but different fabric in late March. I made a pair of hot pink flannel backed satin jammie pants for a friend's birthday (I took a picture of them but the satin and the flash did not agree with one another).

Finally here is the skirt that I made for the March challenge. I just mailed it off to college girl yesterday so if she reads this she will see her skirt here before she sees it in person. I am anxious to hear if it fits. I went by the measurements on the pattern but I think it looks big. She says after she eats all the goodies she got for Easter it will fit just fine. :O

Once again this pattern is the Hip Skirts by Favorite Things and this is the circle skirt. The fabric is from the Al Fresco line by Michele D’Amore for Marcus Fabrics. A few things about the pattern. First of all, I had no idea that there was going to be elastic all around the waistband. Another pattern I have by the same company just has elastic in the back. Secondly, something to keep in mind when choosing fabric for this pattern is there are four panels to make up the circle, so a center and back seam in addition to the side seams. It worked out great with this fabric but another print might not look as good with those additional seams. The directions are clear and easy to follow. There are three other views on the pattern and I will most likely make this skirt again. College girl's opinion will determine that for sure though. Good results with two of their patterns now and that gives me confidence in trying another one at some point.

* * *

I have lots of sewing to do and lots of sewing that I want to do. Have you been to the Moda Bakeshop site? Table runners and baby quilts are on my list.

* * *

Prayers - College girl is super busy with classes, her jobs and now her campaign for Secretary of Hall Council. Prayers that she would get enough sleep, get in enough time to study and yet still fit in all the other stuff she wants to do. I hope she puts God in her jar first and then fills in with all the little things. My son has 3 more weeks of school and then a SAT exam the first weekend of June. Prayers that he would do his best right to the end of the school year and that he would put some effort into studying for the SAT. Continued prayers for a buyer for our house.

* * *

Praise - HE LIVES! Easter is such a wonderful celebration of our risen Savior.

I'm going to challenge myself

So as I was wasting time, procrastinating, putting off doing anything productive and oh yeah, catching up on my blog reading I came across THIS challenge over at Oil Cloth Junkie's Blog. Boy oh boy could I relate, I love me some patterns! When the fabric stores have Simplicity, McCall's, and Butterick patterns on sale for 99 cents or even 1.99 I feel it makes sense to buy some. Sometimes I can even reach the limit. But then I also like other kinds of patterns, the kind that don't go on sale very often. The challenge - USE some of these patterns! So I have chosen 13 patterns. I will choose ONE pattern each month and make that item in a month's time. I have 13 so I can have an alternate if one of them is just not speaking to me. ;)

Sorry for the lousy pictures. Bad lighting and it looks like I took an aerial view from the Goodyear Blimp. But hey, can you believe I took the pictures today AND they are now up on my blog...same day! I know, so very exciting. Not as exciting as an impromptu trip to Disneyland but it is the best I can do.

the first 6 patterns;


Stacked Coins by Pieced Tree Patterns - for a charm pack friendly table runner. I have admired stacked coin quilts online and I thought this would be a small investment in time and material to see if I like the process.

the emmeline apron by montessori by hand - cute apron AND reversible!

Strip-Ease by Threaded Pear - I even have the fabric for this (and right now I have no idea which line it is - Ava Rose? Pop Garden? Seriously I have no clue).

Simplicity #3949 - a classic apron style with some variations.

Hip Skirts by Favorite Things - I have made a couple of skirts for college girl using another one of their patterns and liked it so I bought this one.

Covington Bag by Amy Butler - this is hard to come by and I found this at a teeeeeny fabric store I visited this summer when I was at the quilt show. I was thrilled and even more so when I saw the price marked down to $3 from $12.95. Something tells me it was marked down again though to 99 cents. but that sticker is not on the pattern so maybe I am dreaming that part.

Here is the second lousy picture of the other 7 pattern picks;


Short Stack Apron by The Paisley Pincushion - I have almost all of her patterns and I really like those I have made (yeah so there could be others on this list). I did have difficulty with one of them but I emailed her and asked for clarification. She answered quickly and sent photos via email to go along with her explanation! Try doing that with Simplicity or McCall's!

New Look #6841 - I love these bags! The grey one on the top left is going to be RED - yes I already have the fabric. It is a faux silk. I wish I could have found that same grey, maybe someday. I also love the white one the model is holding but I am going to use some Joel Dewberry Ginseng fabric for that I think.

Simple Charm by Thimble Blossoms - I am going to make this pretty much like the pattern cover, although I might not use the blues. This is a table topper and I might part with it and give it as a gift. I love Cotton Blossoms fabric (have two quilts to make using it!).

Flea Market Bag A Grand Revival Pattern - a simple ( I hope) slouch/messenger style bag. It has a few variations. I have some batik that I am thinking of using for this.

Ava Bag A Grand Revival Pattern - Says it is easy AND reversible!! I imagine all sorts of fabric combinations for this always wondering how I would decide which fabric would be in and which would be out.

Just Can't Cut It by All Washed Up - I have seen this made up most recently over here. Seeing that young man make this up encouraged me to add it to the challenge. Maybe if I just send him the fabric...

Market Bags by Portabellopixie - my favorite of the two variations is the gathered market bag. I am not sure which fabric to use for this yet.


So there you have the line-up. This will be sewing in addition to my other projects. I have other quilts and aprons and purses that I want to make. This really will be a challenge for me.

Since I am starting this challenge when January is more than half over I need to go with something I think might be fairly simple. Well at least compared to a quilt!

This is my pick for January:


I sure do hope that all of my other unused patterns don't feel bad.


Praise - that my college girl was able to spend time at my sister's house this weekend. Not quite the same as being home but at least they are related. I know she felt loved while she was there. She worked on a project for school, went out to eat, watched a couple of movies and went ice skating.
Prayers for all of those involved in the inauguration, especially those in law enforcement and security. My friend's hubby is working very long hours and people are taking their crowd control frustrations out on the men and women in blue.

So I have some catching up to do

Just because I haven't posted in awhile doesn't mean I haven't been busy! Of course there is still unpacking but I am pretty tired of that. I have done a little bit of Christmas decorating and more needs to be done. I find that I am usually way behind in that department and then it seems it is time to take it all down. I think my reluctance to decorate for Christmas is because it means I have to put the fall stuff away and it still IS fall. Fall IS my favorite after all.

I made this tote and checkbook cover for a gal that missed getting the other one that I made for an online auction. This one is very similar, although not an exact copy. I have some aprons to make as well. When I have aprons and bags to make I get to shop for fabric!!!! Mmmmmm, I love shopping for fabric. Online or in person doesn't matter.

Speaking of fabric shopping the little LQS that is half a knitting store had a great Black Friday sale. If you were a key chain holder you could get in at 6 a.m. and shop until 8:30 a.m. and EVERYTHING was 40% off. Well you KNOW I am a key chain holder and I would get up that early to shop for fabric but not for plasma televisions or Nintendo games or bicycles. I mean I have priorities! Since I had no guests for Thanksgiving and college girl was not home I was free to get up and go (figuring the guys were going hunting anyway). Man it is dark at that hour! I pulled into the parking lot just at 6 and there were already quite a few cars parked out front. A clerk met me at the door and handed me a little slip of paper and said the sale was actually 50% off of everything!!! OH.MY. My heart began to race. I think THIS is an aerobic workout for me!! I kept saying to myself 'I have to be good, I can't spend too much, I must use restraint'.
There were lots of ladies there and ONE clerk cutting and the owner at the cash register, but it went much quicker than if I had been at JoAnn's and there were 4 cutters and 4 ladies on cash registers. Everyone in line was having a good time, talking, commenting on fabric choices etc. As soon as a fabric was cut a runner would take the bolt and get it back on the shelf. Over the next few days I will show you some of my treasures. This was one of my favorites. I had NEVER seen this print before, at that store or online. I have seen it since then though. Isn't that funny how that works?
This is from Alexander Henry and is called Starlings. It is so bright and cheery and makes me smile.


Here is a close up of one of the little birds. The paisleys and red swirls....mmmmmm.


My college girl is OFFICIALLY finished with her first quarter!! WOOO HOOOO!!! She will be getting on the train Thursday afternoon and will get home early Friday morning. I can hardly wait!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. It SNOWED here yesterday afternoon. Not alot but enough to cover the ground and it is mostly still here. A mile down the road - no snow.

Praise - college girl has made it through the first quarter of college away from home! My son made it to town and back, driving his truck on wintry roads for the very first time.
Prayers - again, for safe travel for college girl to get home. Also, prayers for the household of Freda's Hive. I don't know specifics and I don't need to know them - God knows! Nanette you are in my prayers. I am also praying for Dong Yun Yoon, the man that lost his wife, two daughters and his mother-in-law when the jet crashed into his home. My heart breaks for him.

It was a Quilt Show Saturday

My friend and I started out early, after all we had a 1.5 hour drive ahead. My friend's sister who happens to be a quilter was going to meet us there. These gals were GREAT Quilt Show companions. They were funny, they were appreciative, they were very much into the detail and workmanship that had been put into the quilts. We looked at EVERY quilt displayed. Here are just a FEW pictures. The photo of one of my favorite quilts did not turn out so great so I am not showing that here. Taking photos was not easy with so many people there and the lighting was an issue as well. Anyway, on with the show!

Most of the flowers in this quilt have a raggy edge (some pinked) that is not attached. You might be able to see it better in the second image.


I call this one the tearjerker quilt. It is a lovely photo quilt that anyone could appreciate, then I read the entry card. OH.MY. The quilter's younger sister was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's at age 53. The quilter made this as a gift for her sister, to help her remember people and events. She stated on the card that it helped her to accept what was happening to her sister as well. She said making the quilt brought on many tears but also smiles and laughter.

I didn't get a picture of the whole quilt here but I just LOVED the border and the quilting!!

This is one of those itty-bitty, never in my lifetime quilts. It was MAYBE 12" across.

I just LOVED this quilt!! It is just so darn cute, little paper doll dude. It makes me smile. :D

The photo does NOT do this next quilt justice. It is called COPPER PENNY and it was just gorgeous! It had a beautiful depth to it as well as some shine.

I am not sure if this qualifies as a watercolor quilt but I really liked it. Each of those squares is a flower.

A log cabin with a tulip growing from the center. The center square is also not the traditional log cabin center shape. I loved the color scheme of this one.


I really liked this saying;


There were MANY MANY quilts featuring applique this year. I don't know if this is a new trend or if I just didn't notice them before. Another trend, machine embroidery featured on the quilt. It did not change my mind about selling my embroidery module.

I was a little disappointed in the vendors this year. First of all, I did not see ANYONE demonstrating the new Bernina 830. I was sure someone would be there to do that. I was wrong. I have seen the machine demonstrations in the past, even when there was not a big release coming up soon. Secondly the booths themselves didn't have that over the top inspiration that I usually love about them. I am used to seeing purses and totes and aprons and quilts just spilling over each booth, so much so that I tend to miss things on my first go 'round and discover more when I make the rounds again. I wasn't WOWed by anything in the booths that I can recall. Thirdly, the fabric. Let's say the LACK OF fabric. Oh there was fabric but really, nothing NEW and EXCITING! Some of it was fabric I saw at last year's show. There was not a whole lot of the new fabrics that I know others are able to get in their local quilt store. I was really looking forward to seeing it all in person. The one exception was seeing some of 'Recipe for Friendship' in one booth. I was surprised to see how big the paisleys were, not how I envisioned them at all. I still like that print but was just surprised. ONE booth had some 'Ava Rose'. Some. Phooey. None of the red or grey. I went with a list of things to look for and I didn't get one thing from my list. I'll show you later this week what I DID get! I need to take a photo.

It was a long, fun day. My dogs were barking after all that walking. I dropped my friend off at her son's house and then I went to a quilt store. They did not have 3 of the items on my list that I thought they might but they did have the miniature vacuum attachments for machine cleaning. I bought that. I stopped at a Hancock's after that and just spent time looking at pattern catalogs and home dec fabric. I did get some fleece that was on sale so it wasn't a total loss. ;)

Praise - that my trip to and from the Quilt Show was safe and uneventful. That my son had the time of his life helping out on an infomercial shoot. That my hubby was safe helping someone bring in their hay. Finally that my daughter had a TERRIFIC time at the retreat! Prayers - that we would get final approval, this week,to move ahead with the new house.