Finally, A Sewing Machine That Works

I finally took the plunge and bought a new sewing machine - it's a Baby Lock "Katherine," and I am so excited!

My old sewing machine was like driving a '50s jalopy. My new sewing machine is like a brand new Cadillac Escalade.

Seriously!

Here she is, running smoothly and with loads of stitches and everything from zipper foot to quilting foot to quarter-inch foot to - well, you name it!

And it's just in time for the arrival in today's post of my Hello Darling fabric by Bonnie & Camille.

Meanwhile I've been doing a bit more sewing for Christmas in July August. This little apron will be perfect for entertaining, don't you think?

And I made another Little Dress for Africa ...

So if you'll excuse me, I'm going now to drive my Escalade sew on my new Baby Lock. See you soon!

Mary 

I'm sharing at:

Cozy Little House
Stone Gable

Always Somethin'

"Always somethin', ain't it?" the country folk I grew up with would say when things went wrong.

Well, every time I sit down at my sewing machine, it's always somethin'.

Like with this quilt I promised to show you a few weeks ago.
 

Because this sewing machine is horrible!

I bought it last year - a floor model (lesson learned: never do that again) and the shop owner threw in a few attachments. Like this walking foot for use with quilting - and it has been the bane of my existence ever since.

I tried to do a bit of quilting on it last week and, as usual, my Janome walking foot created a hot mess. Terrible stitches, bunched up sections. Arg!

So instead of finishing my quilt this week, I plan to go sewing machine shopping.

Even in the pouring rain today. Because, as the old country folk used to say, "Always somethin', ain't it?"

Mary 

Patchwork Potholder Fun

Fun little projects that can be completed in a day are the best.

This patchwork potholder contains a number of fabric lines, but my favorite is the white fabric with red words (from Lori Holt at Bee in my Bonnet).

This fall I plan to make some apple pies I'll glance at my patchwork potholder and giggle, knowing that "men like" it.

Perfect for the 4th of July among the red potholders in my kitchen. What are you cooking up for the 4th?

Keep Cooking ~ 

Mary 


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Share Your Daily Cup

A Tote for My Things

I've been trying to think of what type of tote I would like for carrying things around. Things like my Bible and notebook, mainly, to church. I looked at Target, Kohl's, Macy's - but all their totes were too big. And too pricey.

Then I stumbled across a really cute, small tote on Pinterest. It was made by Sew4Home and came with simple instructions.

I whipped this together in about an hour, and now I have a tote for my things. Happy!

Keep sewing ~ 

Mary

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DIY Showoff
The Dedicated House
Cozy Little House

Lovely Spring Colors

Don't you love it when the dead of winter ends and new life springs forth?! My yard is showing it's colors.

We planted daffodil bulbs last fall. The soil was so rocky I wondered if any would come up. But they have.

There's lots of new color inside as well. I made this pillow from 2.5" pieces of fabric called mini charms. I love the happy colors from Moda Fabrics:

In 2014 I participated in a "block-of-the-month" quilt-along. It was a very challenging learning experience, but I'm pleased with my completed quilt.

Here's a close-up - I enjoyed hand quilting, outlining some of the designs with a red running stitch. Don't you love the fabric that says "Dishes Men Like." Now that's a very vintage sentiment!

Has spring come to your part of the world yet? Any pretty flowers "springing" up?

Happy Sewing,

Mary

Handmade Kitchen Towels

I've been pinning like crazy lately! Since sewing and quilting is my passion, I organized my pins by blog rather than lumping all quilting ideas into one pin and all craft projects into another. Now, I can go to my favorite blogger, find a project and I'm ready to sew!

This week I made three kitchen towels, and I love the way they took my kitchen from winter look to spring look. Isn't it fun how one idea can change the personality of a room like that?

They were simple to make (tutorial below), and once I made one towel, the others were easy-peasy.

SPRING KITCHEN TOWELS

Supplies:

Kitchen towels – I got 4 in a pack at Target for less than $5

Top fabric – 2.5” x width of towel + 2"

Middle fabric – 4.5” x 1.5 times the width of towel

Bottom fabric – 3.5” x 1.5 times the width of towel

Ironing:

1. Top fabric: Iron under 1/4” around each side, then iron under another 1/4” around each side.

2. Middle fabric: Iron under 1/4” on one long side, then iron under another 1/4”. Repeat 1/4" twice on each end.

3. Bottom fabric: Iron same as middle fabric.

Sewing:

1. Middle and bottom fabric: sew gathering stitches along top (side opposite finished side), then gather.

2. Attach bottom fabric with top just 1” above bottom of towel, leaving enough to wrap about 3/4” to the back on each side, pin and sew.

3. Attach middle fabric with bottom 1” above top of bottom fabric, again wrapping ends to back.

4. Pin top fabric so that the bottom of it covers the gathering/stitching seam of the strip below it. Then sew along all four sides (no need to wrap to back).

And there you have your lovely new springtime kitchen towels.

The Pin from Cluck Cluck Sew:

The lovely fabrics, called Clementine, were designed by Allison at Cluck Cluck Sew here. Her sweet momma made these towels.

Happy Sewing ~ Mary

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Hope in Every Season Homemaking Party 
Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday

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Quilty Fun

Voila! My quilt is completed and hanging on the den wall.

What visual interest it adds to a long, barren area. The quilts in the chair were made by my husband's mother and grandmother - treasures for sure.

I sewed along with Lori Holt at Bee in my Bonnet here. You simply must visit her to see the quilts she makes - and her home decor is amazing, too.


The mittens are perfect for February, although I must admit we're having very mild weather in Virginia.

Hubby and I sip hot chocolate most evenings in spite of the mild weather. We also sit by the gas fireplace and read. Cozy, it's all about cozy in this house.

Hope you enjoyed seeing my quilt. Did I mention it took a year to complete - wow, it really stretched my quilting skills. Which was a good thing.

Don't forget to visit Lori!

Mary

Hearts Galore

Hearts are one of my very favorite thing - I guess because they represent love!

I've made lots of hearts over the years - here are some of them  ~

And more ~

Happy Valentine's Day ~

Mary

Getting Through the Cold Days of January

I pretend I'm hibernating during the long, dark days of January by staying inside as much as possible.

But I don't really hibernate, as in sleeping through the winter. In fact I stay busy doing a few of my favorite indoor things ~

. Sewing - finishing up some quilts started in 2014 that never quite got completed. My block-of-the-month project ended in September so I've been working on October-December blocks. Almost there!

. Reading - after reading 120 books in 2014, I've started my 2015 list of authors to pursue. Donna VanLiere you may be familiar with - she wrote The Christmas Shoes which was made into a movie. She's a fabulous writer, and I'm working my way through her numerous books (borrowed from the library).

. Music - I was asked at a recent Christmas party to play carols on the hostess's piano. I did, but I hadn't touched my piano in two years, so you can imagine the mistakes I made?! I've decided to play for the sheer enjoyment of it this year. And if by chance I'm asked to play at a Christmas party in December, I'll be ready :)

That's how I'm getting through the cold days of January - how do you spend these long dark days before spring?

Mary

Pretty Fabric Pumpkins

Busy Fun Week

The Masonite siding on our house, where we've lived the past five years, was falling off in patches, so we saved and saved and saved and finally, this summer had new siding and windows installed ~ 

I love the gray with black and white trim - so very colonial. We became more interested in landscaping once the house redo was completed. Elizabeth (18) and I began creating a new flower bed around our mail box, starting with five of these lovely fall mums ~ 

I recently completed the August block-of-the-month - following along with Amy Gibson (Stichory Dickory Dock). Can't believe we've completed eight blocks with very little effort already. I even got to learn English paper piecing, which was on my list of things to do in 2014 - it was a real challenge but I've conquered it ~ 

The cherry fabric is from Lori Holt's Bake Sale line. Lori blogs at Bee in my Bonnet. I love visiting to see her cottage full of wonderfully painted furniture, as well as her many quilts. Lori has two books out (and word has it there'll soon be a third). Quilty Fun and Great Granny Squared are both available on her blog.

Here's a quilt I made earlier this year from her Quilty Fun book ~ 

That's it for this week, friends, hope you have a lovely week.

~ Mary 

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