Totally Trendy Totes II

While attending the Sauder quilt show several years ago, I watched a demonstration on making the Totally Trendy Totes II (previously named Totally Trendy Totes 2.0) bag. The lady doing the sewing made it look easy so I purchased the pattern. I'm sure Sauder's offered a class for the bag but I live 1.5 hours away. 

That same summer I purchased fabrics for the bag. A year ago I cut out the pieces for the extra-large size then quilted the red fabric for the main body with my sewing machine. Then I read the next step and was completely lost.

I carefully put all the pieces and the body on a tray and laid it aside for another day. That day came the first week of November. My friend Lori came and stayed a couple of days for a mini sewing retreat. I chose the tote bag to work on because Lori has made several bags.

She encouraged me all along the way, I wouldn't have finished it without her. I am please to show you my finished Totally Trendy Tote II bag.

I am so glad to not have that project guilting me anymore. And did you notice, it's not BLUE! I really liked the red floral fabric the moment I saw it, it is perfect with the yellow gingham print.

The Totally Trendy Totes II pattern is available from byannie.com. I think the pattern could have benefited from more pictures and better labeling. There is also a pattern included for a project bag which doesn't have picture of the project, I need to see a picture of what I'm making. That's me though, I don't participate in mystery quilts either.

There are two small pockets on the outside of the bag but no pockets on the inside. I made two pockets with extra fabric and hand stitched them to the inside before I sewed the side seams.

Will I ever make another bag? I might, at least I know how to make this pattern now but I won't try a different pattern. I don't think bags are really my thing but I have a finish!

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Put Your Foot Down

Hearts & Wreaths

The 3rd corner of the Hearts & Wreaths border was finished before we left for Maryland and I took several pictures. I'm sorry the left side got a little scrunched but you can still see the corners!

Just a close up picture of the corner.

If you click on the link at the bottom of this page about my first post about Hearts & Wreaths, you'll see a picture of the quilt. I changed my corners and didn't add the little leaf motif. For that reason I needed the vine/leaves to dip farther into the corner than the original.

It was challenging to make the curve the way I wanted it. It took 5 tries to have the correct curve, I wasn't sure it would be right until I appliqued the leaves. 

I always enjoy seeing pictures of the backs of quilts before they're quilted. 

Here is a link to my first post about Hearts & Wreaths. This post will give you information about the pattern, it also shows you a picture of the true yellow of the background fabric.

 Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Design Wall Monday, Craftastic Monday, Monday Musings

Lady Jane Again!

My computer problems have been solved. My computer was 11 years old and didn't have the capacity to update anymore. I have a new computer now.  There is a lot of blogging catch-up to do but we're leaving this evening to travel to Maryland to spend Thanksgiving with our oldest son and his family. (This is the Pennsylvania family who have now moved to Maryland.) The next post will be next Sunday.

Lady Jane is now displayed on a wall! Aren't blue, white and gray quilts striking?

I washed the quilt after she had the binding attached to remove the markings. Washing made her do some puckering. I thought the center of this flower was interesting. 

 

Another picture, because I can.

Grandmother's flower garden quilt has been moved to another wall.

After Christmas, I'm going have a blue & white display on the rafters.

In the last post about Lady Jane, I realized I neglected give you the finished size, she measures 87" by 93", a perfect size for my wall space.

She is hand quilted with a wool batt. The fabrics were a variety of blues I had in my stash. Click here for the Lady Jane finished post to see more pictures.

Here is a link to the Lady Jane pattern.

Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Craftastic Monday, Sew & Tell

Hearts & Wreaths

I'm still having problems with downloading pictures, now something else has changed! I'm in a holding pattern until our daughter arrives mid November for Thanksgiving, she'll figure it out!

I just wanted to let you know, even thought I can't post pictures or even retrieve pictures that are stored in Blogger, I am still making progress with Hearts & Wreaths. 

All of the borders have been appliqued and attached to the center. All of the corners have been embroidered and one corner has been appliqued. Maybe it will be completed by the time I'm posting pictures again, I sure hope so anyway.

Here is a link to a September post about Hearts & Wreaths.

Here is a link to my first post about Hearts & Wreaths.

The Hearts & Wreaths pattern is found in issue 138 of Quiltmania magazine.

I'm still taking pictures and I'm writing post drafts. I'll have lots to show you whenever I can post pictures again.

Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Sew & Tell, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings

Scrappy Sprouts Finish!

Several years ago I started piecing scrappy sprouts blocks using the color of the month with RSC. Earlier this year I sewed the sprout blocks into columns but I was undecided about what flower to use. Not everyone adds flowers to their sprouts but I wanted flowers.

This summer Preeti hosted 2023 Positivity Sew Along on her blog then designed a flower for the stem blocks. That is the flower I used for my sprouts. The flower pattern is no longer available on her blog.

I did modify the flower for my blocks adding a pointy part to the bottom of the flower to set into the stem. It's not perfect but I can live with it. I also had to add spacers to the sides of the flower blocks to be the same width of the scrappy sprouts.

Since the quilt is going to hang on a white wall, I used a black floral for binding. I cut the binding at 3" so I would have 1" on the top for a nice frame.

I'm not that good at machine quilting larger quilts with my sewing machine but I decided I was going to quilt this quilt myself.

I taped a large piece of plastic to the garage floor, (after blowing it off several times) then layering the layers like normal except I used spray adhesive. I also pinned those layers to help to make sure it stayed together. I should have used more adhesive but there wasn't as much in the can as I thought there was.

Scrappy Sprouts is based on a 2" grid so I thought I would just stitch 1/2" from the edge of the vertical seams. I didn't like it, I thought she looked baggy so I ended up stitching more seams which for the most part are 1/2" apart.

The quilting on the left side of this picture is 1/2" apart. The right side is 1" apart.

My stitching rows aren't perfectly straight but this quilt isn't meant to be viewed closely. You need to stand back several feet then look at her.

For the backing fabric, I used sheets from a sheet set I no longer need or use. I did have to piece the top sheet with part of the bottom sheet.

I've got a curtain rod and hangers for display purposes but she's not installed yet. This quilt will be hanging in my basement sewing studio where I will get to see her every day. I'll show you a picture when she's displayed. Flowers in the winter always bring a smile to my face.

Since I had used spray adhesive to hold the layers together, I was concerned about what effect this might have on the cotton fabric fibers. I washed the quilt and set the washer control to add an extra rinse beside the normal rinse. After washing then drying, my Scrappy Sprouts now measures 73" wide by 75" long.

Here is a link to instructions for the Scrappy Sprouts quilt.

The best things about this finish is that an UFQ is finished! Now there is just one unfinished project from the RSC, Dancing Stars! The problem is I know they are in the sewing studio somewhere but I don't know where somewhere is! I'll work on another UFQ until I find them.

I'm still having a problem downloading photos, I don't know if I'll have a Sunday post or not.

Linking to Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Peacock Party, Whoop Whoop Party, Finished or Not  Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Beauty Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts, Scrap Happy Saturday

Wakarusa Quilt Garden

I did have a picture of Hearts & Wreaths to show you but my download didn't work. Hopefully I can show you next Sunday.

These are September pictures of the Wakarusa Quilt Garden. She's definitely showing some age but she's still lovely!

This picture is a slightly different angle than the first picture.

The flowers in these planters have been replaced with mums. The planter to the right isn't blooming very much anymore.

These trees are on the the same street as the quilt garden. This photo was taken September 27th. These trees are completely orange now.

The flowers are usually removed the first of October, flower season is finished. I'm always rather sad to see summer leave. It's just after 8 in the morning and the street lights are still on!

Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Oh Scrap, Sew & Tell, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings

A Blogging Break

I hadn't anticipated taking a blogging break but I am. Unfortunately my phone is not communicating with my computer and I can't airdrop photos! I won't be blogging until this problem is solved, I think blogposts without pictures are BORING!

I'm including this picture I took several years ago at the farm. The trees here at the new house don't have long spreading branches since the trees are closer together.

Have a lovely autumn or, for southern hemisphere friends, a lovely spring with lots of Happy Stitching! I'll have lots to show you when I return!