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Monday, November 26, 2018

still quilting and a few small projects

I hope all of you who celebrated had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! We had a lovely weekend full of family, delicious food, and time to relax together. I could use a few more weekends just like it!
I did not accomplish my goal of getting the binding on this quilt before Thanksgiving. In fact, I'm still working on the quilting today. Turns out it needed more quilting than I was originally planning. That, and I spent a lot more time in the kitchen than I thought I would. (Isn't that always the way?) I figured it's best to add the extra quilting now rather than trying to add more later. I'm almost 75% done quilting at this point, so it shouldn't be too much longer. I am getting excited to bind this one!
I took a little time this weekend to sew up a zip pouch with this lovely scrap of yellow floral fabric that I found, which was designed by Bari J for Art Gallery Fabrics. I thought it was so pretty that it needed to be a pouch. I'm not a huge fan of sewing zippered pouches, but I sure enjoy using them, so I go through the motions once in awhile anyway. :) This one isn't perfect, but it will work for toting around a knitting or crochet project quite nicely. It's loosely based on this pattern, but I used a single fabric for the exterior. I also used fusible fleece for the outer layer and quilted it before assembly. It is a good combo!
I've been working off and on (mostly off) on a few prototypes of mini thread catchers. The patchwork squares in the one above finish at 1". Why is tiny always so cute? It's quite addictive....and honestly, quite putzy….but it's mostly worth it! Ha!
Last, but not least, I used my friend Anna's new Forage fabric to make this normal sized thread catcher. (Pattern is available here.) This "thread catcher" is currently in my sewing room holding chocolate....which I highly recommend. The patchwork squares in this one finish at 2", which seem huge in comparison to the previous one...but it's good, because it holds more chocolate! (It also works well for catching threads, or giving small gifts like charm packs, mini charms or even fat quarters to your friends. :))

On another note, we tried out a few new recipes this weekend, which I would highly recommend:

Smitten Kitchen's green bean casserole is AMAZING! It was the first thing to disappear at our Thanksgiving dinner. It was SO GOOD that I'm going to make it again tonight. It's totally worth the time and effort!

Chocolate cake in a mug by Pioneer Woman was also amazing! My daughter actually made it for my husband and I to share after dinner last night. It took barely any time at all (especially compared to the green bean casserole mentioned above) which just goes to show, that it all evens out in the end. :)

Alright, that's it for me today! Happy Monday to you!

13 comments:

  1. Those are some really cute projects. LOVE that project bag, in particular!!

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  2. good grief -- you need a larger table for quilting that monster! dying over the pile of "lights" ...

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  3. The quilt is so beautiful! I am wondering....why are you not quilting on the long arm machine that you have been using? Do you still have it? I am thinking about getting one, so am especially curious if there was a reason you preferred not to use it. (I have been quilting everything on vintage domestic machines.)

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  4. Those are some happy little chocolate holders! :-) Love the bright sunny yellow zip pouch too!

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  5. I totally agree, tiny patchwork is just the cutest!!!

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  6. Again, I love it all! Where did you get that DARLING wall quilt with your name on it?
    So so fun!

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  7. no use having a chocolate bag on my table. I would not be able to keep it stocked even a minute!! LOL AS much as I love your vortex, which is the quilt I wanted to use up my scraps on, I am making one of your quilts in the no scrap behind book...because I have lots of strings. I love your book!!!!!!! thank you!

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  8. Totally loving the chocolate holders, both the concept and the execution! I'd be embarrassed to think how many times I've had to sponge little chocolate specks off fabric!! 🙄

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  9. There's nothing quite like finding a really pretty, happy fabric and turning into a little pouch. I'd put chocolates in that, too, but chocolate is my ultimate weakness. (And I have lots of those.)
    Give the licorice quilt its time. It will be done before you realize it. The holidays seem to sneak up on us, snatch away precious minutes, and make us grateful for every second. The quilt is going to be fabulous when it does get to the final stage. I can barely wait to see it.

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  10. you are the second person to recommend that green bean casserole recipe. Now I have to try it too! Can't wait to see that quilt bound up. We have a foot of snow today so it would be the perfect day to cozy up and bind a quilt--unfortunately I have none ready to go... better get cracking so I have some to bind on christmas holidays by the fire.

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  11. Love the licorice quilt...but I REALLY love your thread holder!!! Is it a printer's draw? Can you tell me the dimensions? My husband said he would make me one but I am curious as to how big yours is.

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  12. I love reading your blog. I’ve used many of you tutorials and they are very helpful! Recently I made your biased potholder pattern. I have 9 sister-in-laws and I’m making these from fabrics found in my mother-in-law’s stash.

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  13. A thread holder with chocolate in it. That's my kind of sewing room!!

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