A panel, fat quarters and some yardage

That's what I've been working with.  I bought a flower panel from the Lovely line by Sandy Gervais and some fat quarters to go with it a month ago and forgot all about it.  Found it hiding in my sewing room and pulled it out.  I wasn't quite sure what to do with the panel.  I did a little mental brainstorming and cut it up.  Added a border around each block and make some coordinating 9 patch blocks and here you go!

What I haven't decided is how to big to make this quilt.  It will be going to Punkie.  She called it.  She likes it and wants it for her bed (I think).  I toying with either a 4x6 layout with an outer border for a lap quilt or a 7x8 with a border for her bed.  Either way I need to get a couple more panels.  Fat Quarter Shop has them on clearance for $4.50.  Until I decide and actually order the panels, I will continue making the 9 patch blocks.  Amelia is going to have quite the collection of quilts soon.  I have 4 others that I have fabric for to make quilts for her.  I don't have a single one for myself but Punk has 2 completed quilts, 1 that needs to be quilted, 2 being worked on and 4 waiting in the wings.  What does that add up to?  NINE quilts!  Good thing I love that little girl!

My postage stamp quilt... blocks are done!  Woohoo!!!  I was going to start laying them out and sewing row but my energy level isn't there.  They still have to wait a little longer.  But the blocks are done. 

That's all for now!
Enjoy your day!
Jen

Here Chick chick chick!

Keeping cool out there, blog friends?  It's super hot here today.  The weatherman just told me that it's still over 100'F at my house with the humidity.  YUCK.  I just got out of the pool.  It's as warm as bath water.  Not really refreshing but it's wet.

Did you see what Terry's daughter and her friend worked on earlier this week?  Chicken pin cushions!  Well, they are too cute for words and I just had to create a flock of my own!

my sightless chickens

I still need to add a couple of french knots for some eyeballs but I think they are cute!  What am I going to do with 5 chicken pin cushions?  I don't have a clue.  One will go to Punkie because I know she will want one when she sees them.  One if for me.  The rest will just sit around.  Maybe I'll do a chicken giveaway?  You'll just have to wait and see.

Another thing posted out in blogland that I had to make for myself was one of those fabric portfolios.  Kris made one last week and I really liked it.  I wanted to see how the pattern/tutorial was to work with.  The tutorial link is posted within Kris' blog post if you're interested in making some yourself.

I was initially going to make the outside out of canvas that I have here at home but my walking foot is dead.  I didn't think I would be able to complete the portfolio without it so I bought some linen.  I really liked how it came out.  I will be making more for gifts this year.

I have been busy working on some other things here, just trying to stay cool and out of the heat.  I hope this heatwave breaks soon.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Baby Gifts

Once again I've been playing with my embroidery arm of my sewing machine.  This time I made a couple of baby shower gifts.  One of my many cousins is expecting her first and her shower is at the end of the month.  I wanted to make her a little something.  I found these great gift ideas on DigiStitches.

Baby Wipes holder and Paci Pod

The baby wipe holder holds one of those 40 count "travel" packages of baby wipes.  The Paci Pod seems to hold 2-3 extra pacifiers and can be clipped to the diaper bag or purse for easy access to the extras.

See the travel pack in there?

I only found one lone pacifier in the house from Amelia's baby days but you get the picture.

I hope the Mom to Be will like my gifts.  I bought her a few other little things to add to my gift.  With me not working right now, money is a bit tight.  She better appreciate my thoughtfulness.  LOL!

The projects are REALLY easy to do and the sewing machine does all the work for you.  Even the stippling!  I wish I could just throw a quilt on my machine and have it do all the stippling for me.  Like magic!  So if you have an embroidery arm attachment for your sewing machine and need some quick baby gifts, I highly recommend these.

Sorry my blog has been so quiet the last week or so.  Amelia hasn't been giving me much free time to sew.  We are also gearing up for her birthday party next month and have been gathering supplies to make a favor for all her little guests.  I'll show you what we (I) came up with once we get things together.  I've also been working on getting my Postage Stamp blocks together.  It's high time that came off my list.  I have 10 more to go.  I'm planning on finishing those today.

It's a hot one out there today.  Stay cool wherever you are!
Enjoy your day!
Jen

Fun Mail!

Oh boy!  My Santa Sack swap package arrived yesterday!  It's a wonderful grocery tote in the Christmas colors that I love WITH pinwheels!  Truly, it pales in comparison to the one that I sent Melissa.  She went totally out of the box and made me a tote while I made her a sack.  I'm actually embarrassed!  So now one of my gifts is shifting gears.  I feel I need to make up for it.  That's just how I am.  Oh!  I didn't realize it was REVERSIBLE too so that I can use it year round!  I need to step it up!

Oh!  I wonder what's in here....

I let Amelia do the opening...

TA DA!  Is it for me, Mama??

Close up of tag

Melissa - I love it!  Thank you so much!  Now I have to be patient and wait for December to open the rest.

Oh.  I should probably show you the sack I made for Melissa.  Sigh.

I also won a couple of giveaways in the last couple of weeks.  First up is from Michelle.  She split out a FQ bundle 3 ways.  Only thing was, we didn't know what colors we would get.  Here's my share:

Sorry for the lousy lighting.  I took the pictures last night.  And that cute "Laugh" plaque.  I needed to hide it from Punk.  She was ready to claim that too.  Thank you Michelle!

And from Wendy:

A super cool sewing basket pattern and some sewing inspired fabric!  I was ready to head upstairs last night to start that sewing basket but it was after 7:00 and the pattern looks like it really needs my full attention.  But I will be making it.  I think it's so neat!  Thank you Wendy!

closeup of sewing inspired fabric

With all this good cheer that came my way, I feel that I need to pay it forward so I'll be doing a giveaway soon.  Before the end of summer.  So stay tuned!

That is all for this Sunday.  I need to get some light housework done around the house.  It's tough going.  I twisted my lower back last week doing the same thing and I'm still not right.  Standing for any length of time can't happen.  My back starts to spasm.  I haven't been walking my 2 miles every morning and I'm starting to miss that exercise.  I think I need to call the chiropractor.  Ugh.  I hate going there.  Good news is that in the pool, my back is fine.  So I'll be hitting that thing in a couple of hours!

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Sew Fresh Fabrics Scrap Block Bee 3

Sew Fresh Fabrics put out an SOS for scrap blocks for charity quilts.  I think the original post was back in February some time.  I stuck my name out there and was asked to make a block for round 3 of their scrap block bee.  They sent me scraps and I made a block.  I made a wonky Maverick star.  I've always wanted to try one of those.

I only used 2 of the scraps that they sent.  Some were too small for me to use and the others I really didn't like so I busted through my own scraps and came up with this.

What do you think?  I've been collecting "rainbow" scrap squares for a zig zag quilt.  Now I'm thinking maybe a wonky Maverick star quilt top instead.  Oh the decisions to make!  Which would YOU make??

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Embroidery Machine Fun

I made another personalized pillow for a gift.  This one too is headed to TX.  It's for my BFF's neighbor's oldest.  Her sister has one too.  Her room is bubblegum pink and chocolate brown.  I think this one fits the bill, don't you?

I also had some fun trying out a new "In the Hoop" project from Digistitches.  They always have some cute projects but I never buy all the ones I really like.  This one caught my eye and I had to get them both.  A little work is needed on my part with better placement of the zipper but overall, I like them.  These are both for Amelia.  She'll find something to stick in them.  I just need to add a key ring or something to them for her.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

My Little Fish

For the first time ever in my life, there is an honest to goodness pool in my yard.  I am so excited!  I begged my husband forEVER for a pool.  Even when I was 9 months pregnant in the middle of the summer.  He finally caved.  It's nothing fancy but it's perfect for our needs.  Punkie and I just spent 3 hours in the pool this afternoon.  We had a great time just hanging out, her and I.

My little fish.  Her swim lessons are really paying off!

Enjoy your day!
Jen

The Latest

Happy 4th!  Okay, I'm a day late.  I hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe holiday.  I would love to tell you that I partied the weekend away but sadly, nope.  Nothing like that.  Homebody that I am, I stayed VERY close to home.  I never left... except to go to the grocery store yesterday.  Amelia has been away since Thursday, enjoying some time with her Grandma and Grandpa in New Hampshire.  She will be home sometime this afternoon.  My husband worked most of the weekend because he could.  I, on the other hand, watched a bunch of junk on TV and sewed.  The neighbors did invite us over yesterday to watch fireworks and while I was very gung-ho about going in the afternoon, come time after dinner to head out... I fell asleep on the couch.  My husband went alone.

I have been busy sewing.  Here are a few things that I finished up.  First up is a beach bag for Punkie.  PLEASE keep in mind that I did not... I repeat... I DID NOT... pick out the fabrics that are used in this bag.  Punkie did.  It's her bag and she will be pleased to see it all together today.  It was a WIP when she left.

Lovely, isn't it?

Next is a Pinwheel Charm Tote for one of the hairdressers where I go.  She's been wanting one since March and I left it up to her to cruise the internet and find fabrics that she liked.  When she told me she couldn't decide and left that chore up to me, I couldn't decide either!  This is what I went with:

Dream On by Urban Chicks

Dream On by Urban Chicks

Last up... table runner with my Sanibel scraps.  The table runner pattern is available within the Sweet Pea quilt top pattern.  I thought it would be a good size for my table or my china hutch.  Not sure how I'm going to quilt this one yet.

Come back soon.  I've been playing with my embroidery arm of my sewing machine.  I'll have to show you what I made.

Enjoy your day!

Jen