Zipper Bag Trio

I finally have a finished project to share with you! I'm not sure why my output has been so low this year. I've only finished two quilts so far, and both of them were extremely easy.

I bought this zippered pouch pattern as a kit from Connecting Threads. The pouches were simple and quick to make. I started this project on Monday night with Joannie. Before I got started, I replaced the bottom color strip (they provided beige--I hate beige) and changed out the provided lining fabric from a very dull cream color to a vibrant orange. It took me over an hour just to cut out the pieces of fabric, but I do tend to work slower at night so I don't make mistakes (I'm a morning person). On Monday night, I got as far as inserting the zippers, but when I was sewing the first one I ran out of bobbin thread, so it was time to call it a night.

The bags are bright and cheerful. The smallest is about 4"x7".

Tonight, I squeezed in about two more hours of sewing time and finished them off. It took a little longer than usual because I was running out of orange thread, so I kept changing the thread from grey when I was doing interior construction and it wouldn't be seen, to orange for topstitching and zipper insertion.

Here's a couple of things I will do differently the next time I make them. First, I will add zipper tabs to the top. I love zipper tabs. I think they make it easier than cramming the zipper tape into the seam and sewing over it, which always leaves a little bump. Second, I will omit the interior pockets. Not sure why you would need pockets in such a small bag. Third, I will reduce the wrist strap to a loop and add a "D" ring so that you can clip it to things.

Here is a free pattern from Moda Bake Shop that is very similar. I've made it before and it is also quick and easy. The pattern above from Connecting Threads uses interfacing to stabilize the fabric, whereas the Moda pattern uses quilt batting and you have to prequilt your fabric before assembly.

I definitely want to make some more of these. I've already promised my husband Mike a set for his guitar accessories. I'm keeping this set. I'm so happy to have something finished!

Linking up on Friday to Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Richard and Tanya Quilts and CrazyMom Quilts. Thanks so much for visiting!

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

Date Night Deja Vu

Last night I took my friend Eleanor out to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory for her birthday. We made a dinner out of assorted appetizers (among them, avocado egg rolls--super yummy!) and I brought home a piece of cheesecake (which I did NOT eat for breakfast this morning. I ate it after lunch.) After dinner Eleanor and I headed over to the Walking Company so I could check out a pair of red sandals that I had seen online. I've added some red to my summer wardrobe and I needed some snazzy red sandals to match.

I bought these!

Red Snake! Very Fancy Nancy! When I brought them home and showed them to Mike, he thought they were hot!

Wednesday night is date night. Both of us were tired. Neither of us was very hungry and we didn't have anything special that we wanted to do. I was sitting on the couch watching television with Elvis and LarryPug. Then Mike asked if I wanted to go to the Walking Company with him so he could try on some new shoes.

Twist my arm!

Tonight I bought these sneakers. You wouldn't expect me to watch Mike try on shoes and not try some on myself.

I needed them because Mike and I are doing the Pug Rescue of New England 5k Walk on Saturday. You may recall that we did it last year too. Hopefully it will be cooler this year and we can bring the pugs with us.

And I may have ordered these too... but you'll just have to keep reading my blog this summer and looking for photos of my feet!

And guess what? We ate dinner at the Cheesecake Factory again... I'm not complaining... shoe shopping and the Cheesecake Factory? What more can a girl ask for? Well, maybe for another piece of that fabulous chocolate raspberry cheesecake...

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

June Quilt of the Month

There are daisies blooming in my garden, so it seemed fitting that my Daisy Chain quilt should go on the bed for June.

I bought this quilt as a kit from the Pumpkin Patch in May 2007. I bought two kits to make the quilt bed size. The daisies are cut from a panel. I put the binding on in 2010. It is exquisitely machine quilted by my friend Kate Mitchell from Kate Mitchell Quilts. Kate changed the thread color to match the background of each block. The daisies are outlined and surrounded by feathered wreaths.

This is a bright and cheerful quilt.

I love the multi-color daisy border print.

 Here are some close-ups.

The alternate blocks form a diagonal chain.

Look between the orange and turquoise daisies and you can find the alternate block.

Here are some real life daisies from my garden.

Linking up on Wednesday to Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts. Adding links on Friday to Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Richard and Tanya Quilts and CrazyMom Quilts. Thanks for visiting.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

A Little Sunday Show and Tell

Welcome to June! How did the first five months of 2014 go by so fast?

I hung out with my Brown Bagger quilting buddies today. Lori made a special trip to show us a couple of finished projects.

First, here is a gorgeous batik quilt that is a high school graduation gift for her niece Jill. Congratulations Jill!

Lori is behind the quilt with her assistant holder, Sally.

It doesn't seem possible that Jill is old enough to graduate from high school. I can remember back when she was born...

Lori also made these adorable baby dresses for her future great niece, who is due to arrive in the world very soon. This is a free pattern that can be found here.

Lori's Great Niece will be a well dressed baby.

Aren't they cute? Lori pre-washed all her fabric and ribbons and sewed everything down with a vengeance to make them baby proof.

Nancy D. made this beautiful Yellow Brick Road quilt top in a bevvy of blue fabrics from Connecting Threads. The fabric line is called Symphony of Blues. It is an order from a former coworker who will use it in her guest room. I love the circular print in the border.

This is too nice to give away, Nancy D.

I was very happy to see my friend Carol make an appearance. She is working on a very cute Hello Kitty Quilt for a friend.

Carol is using lots of pink and black prints plus the famous Hello Kitty.

I worked on my Scrap Wave that I started in the Berkshires. I happily sewed all day and put together strip sets for a third panel. The next step is to sub-cut the four panels of 10 strips into 2 1/2" strips of squares and start the assembly of the panel.

Watch out Heidi Klum! Here I am modelling my new quilting t-shirt.

If you can't read it, it says, "I'm a Fabricaholic on the road to recovery. Just kidding. I'm on the road to the fabric store." I bought it on Facebook through Teespring and I love it.

We also exchanged the first set of Row by Rows. They are looking great so far! Sorry, I can't show them to you until all the rows are finished.

Hope you had a great weekend.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

Pug Friendship Circle

May 31, 2014, 8 a.m., in the park near our house.

From left to right:

LarryPug aka Larry David Roderigo Velveteen Rabbit Cohen-Tomases Pug (his full name, story to come another day). The Baby. Age 5 years and 2 months.

Elvis aka Mamma's Baby. Arthritis has slowed him down a bit, but he can run if there is food in sight. Age 11 years  and 7 months.

Romeo. The pug who loves everybody and everyone, aka, the Pug Ambassador. Age 12 years and five months.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

Thursday Girls Show and Tell May 2014

I got to hang out with my Thursday Girl Sewing Friends last night. They had lots of beautiful quilts in progress.

Karen made this lovely Scrap Wave out of Amy Butler fabrics. This is a free pattern on Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville website. It's a big quilt. Pat and Karen are both behind it, standing on chairs.

Karen still needs to add piano key borders to the top and bottom.

Karen was inspired to make her quilt, after she saw Pat's Amy Butler quilt, which she finished last month. I started a batik version last week.

Pat's Amy Butler Scrap Wave.

Isn't it funny how the inner border can make a difference? Very similar fabrics in both, but the blue inner border accentuates the blue fabrics in the quilt, while the pink inner border accentuates the pink fabrics. I am in love with both of these quilts. Maybe I need to start collecting Amy Butler fabrics...

Karen also gave me this finished quilt top to bring to my friend Terri for machine quilting. This quilt was made from birthday blocks that the Thursday Girls did a few years ago.

Very Lily Pulitzer! This quilt makes me feel happy.

Toni was finishing the same quilt in a different color way. She is still putting on her piano key borders. Want to know a secret? Toni's piano keys are made from one fabric--it's printed in stripes! This quilt is even prettier in person. Toni even has red leopard print in it!

I may have to steal this quilt from Toni when it is finished.

Last, but certainly not least, Judi made a Popsicle Stick quilt out of a beautiful blue batik jelly roll that she bought at QuiltPort.

Isn't this pretty? Too bad you can't see Judi or her paisley print shoes.

I hope that you enjoyed our Show and Tell. Maybe next time I can get my friends to show their faces! Thanks for visiting!

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

A New Face in Town

When I left my house last Tuesday, my husband looked like this.

Winter Mike

When I returned from my trip to the Berkshires, on Saturday, he now looked like this.

Summer Mike and LarryPug

Yes, same guy. Went from long hair (shoulder length) and beard to super short hair. I loved Mike's beard, but now that he shaved it off, I think he looks 10 years younger. No fair! Mike is adorable either way.

LarryPug is relieved that Mike did not want to shave him!

I promise to do some quilty stuff soon to show you!

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy