I've been pretty busy lately, but having fun....

 Well, I'm still making bags.  I made three last weekend, one today, and took eight to the little local gift shop that recently opened in the heart of our little town.  The building was my son's office when he and his family lived here.  The girl who now owns it, really fixed it up. I talked to her about selling some of my purses and she was game...

My friend wanted a white one. She thrift a pair of Ralph Lauren white denim, which were perfect for what she wanted.

And isn't this the cutest lemon lining fabric.

In addition to the purse making, we canned 22 quarts of green beans this week. Time consuming, yes, but worth it? I think so.

I finished what I'm calling a "comfort" quilt recently.  I love the bible verses in the blocks.

I initially intended to make two of these quilts but now I think I'm going to make pillow covers, and some framed blocks with the leftover verse fabric.

I'm thinking I might quilt some blocks and put them in the frames without glass. I might like that look better than unquilted, behind glass.  We shall see.  Might make a few for the gift shop owner to sell. She liked them.  I feel like I'm working on getting another job - making and selling bags and other crafts.  I really don't want another job, I'm getting ready to retire, but I love to make stuff, so it will be fun to make some things and if I sell some of it, great, I can make more - ha!  

She had some really cute things in her shop.  This little pillow was one. I love it and had to bring it home.

Leather Bag!!! I did it!

 This may be the most awesome thing I've ever made (It doesn't take much to get me excited).  I made so many round denim bags, I got my confidence up enough to cut into the big, beautiful piece of leather I bought last fall. It was on sale at the leather shop, and I had a "wild hair" thinking I would one day make a leather purse. I made it yesterday.  Cut it out a week or so ago.  I normally use a plate for the template, but my small plates were too small, and the large plates were too big. I found a paper plate to use that seemed right.  I made several mistakes -- put the zipper piece in crooked, then ripped the facing of it when trying to remove it, also cut the gusset too small, twice!  Thank goodness the leather piece was huge.  Well, here are the results.

Next are some process pics.  I patterned it after the round leather bags from Portland Leather I've seen online.

And why not put a denim pocket inside?? 

Not sure I'll ever made another one, because it did seem to be hard on my Bernina Bernette 08 machine, but no needles were broken. That machine is a workhorse!

 

Memorial Day 2025

 Remembering those who gave all......

Catching up since last post.  We had the grandkids for a week on their Easter Break.  Lots of fun was had!

The kids taught Puzzle to swim.  She was so excited with herself!

Made several more denim bags.  One from my sister-in-law's paint splattered jeans. 

A few more smaller ones.

My son turned 40!!  Hard to believe....

And I should add my granddaughter is really growing up!

I started, and finally finished another scrap quilt, my fav.  I wasn't really sure what it would turn out like when I started making the blocks, but it seemed too busy, so I added 6" low volume plain blocks.  It was a booger to quilt though, I believe, due to the backing being a batik fabric.  Took me three days, should have only taken a day, but I had anywhere from 2 to 5 thread breaks on each row.  So frustrating, but I finally finished it today.

Not sure what my next project is going to be.  I have some beautiful bible verse blocks I want to make a throw quilt from, but I haven't yet figured out the design.  I also want to make a round leather bag.  I started it today.  I don't really know what I'm doing but that's never stopped me before.  😊

Spring is here 2025

 Already spring and I realized there are some quilts I've not shown here, plus a few other things.....

Here's two little llama quilts.  Pattern by Elizabeth Hartman.  I adjusted the second one to make it a little bigger.

Still making sourdough bread......  :)

A made a couple of round purses from jeans.  I watched a video (no english) but it actually seemed a little easier to get the gusset right. I didn't like the way the top zipper was so I made another, and put some stiff stabilizer in the zipper portion.  I am much happier with the way it turned out.

I also got much better at the inserted zipper.  I gifted my first, prototype to a childhood friend. She acted like she loved it.  It looks kind of like a saddle bag and she is a horse lover/rider.

Speaking of that friend, she visited me recently.  We had a wonderful visit. The time between the two pictures are about 52 years!!!  Our cameras sure have improved.

I was asked to show some quilts and speak about how to get a quilt published recently.  It was a fun experience.  I enjoyed getting to share quilts and talk to other quilters whoa are interested in trying to get one of their own published.

And the last thing I want to show is something that makes me so happy!  A portable clothes line......I've been wanting one ever since we moved in this house but my husband didn't really want one in the yard (neither did I). This one is expandable to about 90" and I can use it on our deck or inside the screened porch.  It makes me so happy to have wind dried clothes.