Pencil Pencil Case

I just love this little pencil design pencil case.  Instead of using scraps from the Oh Canada quilt, I decided to use batik scraps from some wallets I made recently.    The front of the pencil case is now done.  I stitched in the ditch using black thread to accentuate the lines of the sharpened pencils.   I just love the contract of the rustic osnaberg cotton next to the fine batik fabric.

Next, I will machine quilt the back of the pencil case before putting it all together.  I'm not sure what to quilt on the back, so I'm thinking on it.   I'll show you the finished pencil pencil case in a few days..

Stitch in the ditch with black thread.
Love the subtle detail that it brings out.

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What's on my Worktable..

We have had some cool weather in Florida.  I'm not complaining.  It's beautifully sunny and we have been doing our regular walks and finding fun things to do.    Shuffleboard.  Who knew it could be so much fun and competitive.   Bowling with those big balls that you stick your fingers into.   I can only use the lightest balls and I find it breaks my thumbnail.   But the game is fun and the bowling alley is electronic so it records your score for you.   And we have taken up to swimming laps at the indoor pool.  I forgot how much I  just love to swim non-stop for a half an hour...  

And of course I've been sewing in short bits of time when we are indoors.  In the past two weeks I have cut out several wallets, and finished four this week.     These will be part of a bunch that I send to my sister in Nova Scotia.  

Today I went to the little sewing group in the community, and one of the girls brought in a couple of books for me to borrow.   I love this book called Sew Gifts.   As soon as I saw it, I thought of my Canada Quilt scraps.    The pencil case on the cover of this book grabbed my eye.  I came home and picked through my scraps.   Ahh, it's such a cute design.    I'll show you when I'm done.

Another Scrappy Pouch

Another little bag made from my Oh Canada quilt scraps.   There were 7 others in the late November Oh Canada quilt class where we swapped fabric.   I wonder if they are having as much fun with their leftovers as I am.  This is the third little project I've made with them.   

  

There are still enough small scraps left for another small project or two but I'm running out of ideas.   I may just sew them together to make a stripe for the backing of the Oh Canada quilt. 

   

Sample Wallet

I couldn't resist this black grey and pink plaid suiting fabric in a fabric store a couple of weeks ago.  I just purchased a quarter yard.  I didn't know what I was going to make with it.  I ended up pairing it with some gray and black fabric to make a wallet.  I have a few bits left over.  I'll save them to take home and make a coordinating coin purse.   I really like it.     I think this will be my sample for my EdVentures 2016 summer wallet class next July.  

    

A Scrappy Pencil Case

I saw this little project in a guild library book.  

I intended to give it a try long ago.   I wrote down some brief details before returning the book and put it on my to do list.  It's been months and maybe even a year or more..   I had leftover scraps from my Oh Canada blocks.  It was time to give it a try.  Well, my notes were too brief..... it was trial and error.   I persisted and made some adjustments and finished it.  

It turned out cute, but smaller than I thought it would come out.  It's about 8" long by 2.5" wide and tall.   I'll add a nice zipper pull and use it to store some of my sewing notions in.  



 

Knightly Knitting

I couldn't help with the extra K...     I've been knitting in the evenings as we watch Netflix.   I started a scarf like this at home, and I was in the homestretch to finishing when it was time to head south here.    I loved knitting in the evenings.  It makes me feel productive.   

I've started another scarf.  I love this garter stitch pattern and the little bobble and pointy details.   Depending on how much tv we watch I can knit 1 point, or maybe two if it's a long movie.   No rush to finish of course.  No need to use it here in Florida...

  

 

Canada Flag blocks done,

It was pretty easy.   In just 15 or 20 minutes each day, the 10 Canada flag blocks are done.  I started these blocks two weeks ago.   They didn't take very long to finish.  I will sew them together, and then it will come home with me in the spring to be quilted. 

Christmas 2015

We survived Christmas without our family.  Thank goodness for technology.  We spent time online with each of our three daughters and families... And we were able to watch our youngest grand daughter open all her gifts.  It was fun and so heart warming.    Later in the day, here in the community, we had an organized pot luck turkey dinner with 5 other couples followed by a Yankee swap.  It was lots of fun.     In Florida, where alligators are our respected back yard neighbors, they are honored on the front yards as decorations.   

So, for our Christmas pot luck dinner, I brought vegetables.   I used a couple of borrowed casserole dishes to put them in.    With time on  my hands, I made these two hot pot pads to fit the dishes.  I considered making Christmas themed hot pads, but decided to use scraps from my Canada flag quilt.  I will use these hot pads again.   when I return the dishes, I'll send along the custom made hot pads. Cute, Eh..

Fusing Maple Leaves

 I tested out my sewing den a bit yesterday and today.    I found out I wasn't a fan of the big office chair.   A spare kitchen chair seems to be better.

I've been itching to get at my Oh Canada quilt.  I led a class last month at our guild where we prepared 10 flag kits, and did a fabric swap.   I brought my kit of fabrics all nicely cut and stored in baggies by color.    I knew it would be my first project here.

I decided to work on the 10 maple leaves as my first project.  It wasn't very much sewing, and an easy project to work on in short spurts.

After piecing a chunk of fabric sized to fit each of the different colors of the maple leaves, I fused the traced leaf onto the back of the fabric.     This afternoon, I spent some time on the warm lanai, cutting out the 10 fused maple leaves.

They are calling for cooler weather here in Florida in the next few days, so I'm sure I'll have a chance to work on the side sections of the flags.

I'm done sewing for the day, but I did get a chance to lay out a couple of the colors on the ironing board.

For these side pieces, I'm doing a bit more contemplation on the placement of the colors, and how to sub-cut the strip sets to create a little variety and interest.

Stay tuned..

My Sewing Den - Winter 2016

We arrived yesterday at our home away from home in Florida.  It was so nice to finally get out of that car and just soak up the warmth.

Before

Here is the before picture of my sewing den.   I spent a little time thinking about how to set it up.   I had my sewing machine, bags of fabrics and project kits.  I also have some knitting and stitching supplies.   I'm here for four months, so I want to make sure that I'm comfortable.


So it's all ready to sew.    I will have a look it my bag of kits and decide which will be the first.    Stay tuned.

After.
A simple placement of the office desk by the window is perfect.
My cutting mt and tools are on this end of the desk.
The ironing board has a nice place to the right.

Lots of storage here.   There's even
a cute TV.  I'm not sure I'll use that
but we will see.

And another storage bookshelf.

Meet the St. Anthony's Quilters

I was visiting with the St. Anthony's quilters earlier this week.   They are almost done the Christmas Goose Quilt.   I love that they have a full complement of quilters around the frame.   They will put on the Bluebell quilt that I showed you last week.
Remember, I couldn't remember the name... Well, it was Bluebell.   They knew what it was right away.    I guess it was only me that couldn't remember.  haha..

So, this is Doris, Alice, Paulette, Dolly, Josey and Alice.  Over the winter, they will pass Wednesday afternoons quilting.  

Scarf - allmost done!

I was knitting like mad last evening to get my fun scarf done.    But I came up short.    Just another hour of knitting and it would have been done.     Today, we are on our way to our home away from home in Florida.   So, since I hope not to need my my cute scarf for the next few months, it remain here and
will just be completed and blocked in the spring.

Actually, I consider this my practice scarf.   It's such a fun pattern to knit.  Each point of the scarf requires twelve rows.    While south, I'll look for some nicer yarn and I may knit one when I'm south..