My 16-yr old's first attempt at quilting..

My younger one wanted to try her hand at quilting but wanted to make something small. When I suggested a tote bag, she said she would rather make a drawstring bag since she would actually use it! So she sewed up a bunch of these pre-cut quilt squares till they were the size of a drawstring bag, and I added a layer of lining fabric and a back to it, cut up and strung 2 pieces of cord, and VIOLA! Here we have it.... a useable drawstring bag!

What do you think? I would love to hear....

Summer time = Embroidery time!

OK, the yarn doesn't feel as good to work with anymore, and you can't really enjoy spreading the WIP baby blanket over yourself in the summer.... :( So, it is time to move onto......TA DA...hand embroidery! My favorite thing to embroider is a dish towel....Here's a pattern that sells well for me, and also one I love embroidering....

I have trouble deciding whether that is a peacock or a partridge. It's pretty either way. You're welcome to leave me a comment if you know :)

Some more dish towels ready to be embroidered!!

8-day road trip plus 2 crocheters = 10.5 Little Sweetie dresses.

Just came back from an 8 day road trip to Yellowstone, and we were PRODUCTIVE!!!! When I said I planned on making TONS AND TONS of the Little Sweetie dresses, I guess it actually happened. We even had to make an emergency "yarn-crisis" trip to the Bozeman, MT- Walmart since we underestimated how much yarn we would use up :D

I made some minor changes to the basic pattern as I went along.....Now, I just need to do the remaining headbands, and sew buttons on the back. I might add some ribbon accents to some of them :)

WIP- Tulip blanket!

Yay, it's summer vacation finally!! It is such a strange feeling, to go from being so busy you feel like you don't even have time to breath, to "Hmmm, should I do sewing next, or should I go water the plants? Wait...I have a choice??"
Here's what I have been working on for the past 6 weeks....

Full size version of the Tulip blanket done in baby yarn! Now I just need to add a border!
Next up, I want to make a ton, and I mean a TON, of the Little Sweetie dresses from Red Heart with matching headbands!! So cute :)

Sari blouse is done!

Here is the blouse I was working on! Ready to go off to it's owner!

All the darts and hand hemming inside!
So there you have it. Another finished project.

Repurpose reduce recycle!

Just couldn't get myself to throw away this lawn seed bag, so I decided to give it straps and repurpose it into a tote bag! Having sewing skills is AWESOME :))

Also finished up about 5 table runners....Made them with coordinating strips of solid fabric, on which I free hand drew some patterns, and added some sequin appliques for a bit of jazz!

Indian Sari blouse- drafting a pattern!

So, I sew Indian Sari blouses from scratch!! Realizing about 17 years ago that there was a demand for this skill here in the United States, I learnt how to draft patterns and have sewn quite a few for people over time. Here is a picture of my latest order being sketched on paper.

This is the silk fabric for the blouse. It will need lining, for which I normally use broadcloth.

Here is one side of the front drafted on the cotton lining with tailor's chalk. Now to get back to the sewing machine :)