Another Halloween Finish

Last night I finally finished my Charm Party Tote Bag. This was a two weekend project for me. I don't think I was in the right frame of mind last weekend to do the bag. I got to the pocket last weekend and I was lost. In the end I discovered that I was thinking of a totally different tote bag with way different pocket on the front. With some help from Maureen last night, thank you Maureen I was able to finish the tote and now I know I can go on and make more for different holidays. I think this would make a great " Christmas" gift for someone so I'd better take out fabric and get started.

The charm pack I used for this tote was on that my secret sister gave to me at our last BOM. The inside lining is the bright orange that the handles are made out of.

I also have a new look to my blog compliments of my daughter Jen, thanks Jen. Today the two of us are going to a quilt show and then to her house for trick or treat. In the complex that I live in I never have any kids so I get to go there and help hand out candy and of course sew.

JJ the fun begins

Last night around 5:30 I got a call from Jen and Jill had arrived safely and I needed to get my butt over there. So my machine and I went. It was so nice to finally meet Jill and her fur kids. I just have to say I feel so TALL next to Jill. Now I'm only 5'2" but this is so cool. We hung out for a little while and then off to IHop to eat we went. Great food as always and then off to the Lang Store. We have a great Lang outlet store by us and we each found some great things. Then back to Jen's to start our sewing.
I promised pictures so here they are.

Jen was the first one who started to sew. She's finishing up her Halloween Quilt and let me just say it's beautiful and really LARGE. Oh we decided to sew in her kitchen for more space.
Jill was tired from the drive so she took out her lap top and started playing with that.
Max and Maisy are both just adorable and here are two very tired pups from their long day of traveling. Maisy is on the right and Max on the left sleeping away.
Holly is trying out her Mom's Halloween Quilt a bit early.

All of the fur kids are playing and having a great time together.

I'm off to work at my quilt shop today but I'll join up with the sewers tonight after they get back from their ROAD TRIP today.

The Invasion is almost upon us

I'm so excited. In just less than an hour I'll be at Jen's house and so will Jill and Max and Maisy. We'll be talking away and I just can't wait. It's time to pack up my machine, feed my dog and head on over to the BIG QUILTING WEEKEND.

I'll post pictures I promise.

Cleaning and pain go figure

So tonight is my cleaning night. I like to do things like vacuuming and straightening and laundry on Thursday nights so I have my weekends free. I'm probably one of those crazy people who happens to love to vacuum. When I'm stressed there is nothing like taking on the apartment with my Oreck. There I was manned with a clean vacuum cleaner bag and I was ready to have a good time. Now keep in mind that my apartment isn't all that large so it really doesn't take all that long to do plus I happen to love it when you have those neat vacuum lines in the carpet. Yeah I know it's a sickness but what can I say? I start, I get the livingroom and the dining area done so far so good. I move in to do the bathroom floor and the throw rugs. I'm in pain, where is that pain coming from? I stop and I sit a minute. The pain is in my right butt cheek, yes world I said butt cheek in my blog. So why does it hurt? I vacuum all the time and anyone who knows me can testify to that. Not a little pain but a sharp knock the breath out of you, WOW, pain. I have two rooms to go and it's not like I have a heavy machine it's an Oreck, so it's a whole 8 pounds. Come on what did I do wrong? Does anyone else ever have this p roblem, am I so unusual that's it's only me? Are my days of relieving stress with this household chore over? No I say NO I'm going to buck it up and finish the other two rooms. Wish me luck.

Pumpkins Gone Wild

Last week we celebrated my Mom's 89th Birthday. Since there isn't a whole lot that she needs I decided to make her a wall hanging for her birthday. I picked up this panel at the Patched Works and had fun making it for her. I decided that it needed to be quilted and have binding on it. Over to Jen's I went and she put it on her frame and in a matter of 10 minutes she had it quilted. Then of course I forgot t0 take it home once it was done and had to wait a few days for it. Then it was time to make the binding and finish it off. In the end I used some crystals to "jazz and sparkle" it up a bit. I had thought it would hang on the outside of her door but when we got there she had a pumpkin hanging on the door. Anyway it ended up inside her apartment on the double doors that close off her washer and dryer. This way she gets to see it all the time. In the picture you don't get to see the crystals but they really added something to the panel.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

This is what I've been working on tonight. The pattern is called "Mirror Mirror" and I picked it up a while back when we went to the quilt show in Madison. It's a really great little kit and didn't take that long to assemble. Now all it needs is for me to button hole stitch around it and a few embellishments and it's ready for Halloween. So, the pattern calls for button hole stitching all around and it looks like it's all done in black stitching. I'm not sure which way I want to go so I need a few suggestions. Do I do it all one color or do I match my thread to the color of the piece? It's time for bed even though I'd really like to start the stitching it will have to wait until tomorrow night.
Th