4th of July Tote Start to Finish

One of my fellow Peeps wanted to know where I've been lately and what I've been up to. I've been busy sewing.

A quick update on the last two projects I posted about. My Mom absolutely loved her chair pads and they fit her chairs perfectly. We celebrated Marge's birthday and she loved her new tote bag. It's always puts a smile on my face when I give someone something I've made and they truly like it. Both projects were a success but I didn't think to take pictures of the recipients.

Soooooo here are a couple of pictures of the latest Charm Party Tote that I just made for myself. I had picked up this charm pack when we were in Ohio. I decided I needed a new purse for the upcoming holiday. I changed up the pockets and did some decorative stitching on the handles using a star design my machine has. I put ties on the sides to help to shape the bag and sewed in a clip so I won't keep loosing my keys.

Next up I'm making myself another purse and then I need to put the binding on a baby quilt and binding on a wall hanging. I want all of these finishes done by the end of this week. Pictures to follow.

4 finished UFO's

My first 4 finished UFO's are done. I started thinking about these before retreat. My Mom recently bought a new dining set and she was looking for new pads for the chairs. She started out trying to crochet the pads by herself. A little history here, my Mom has Macular Degeneration in one eye and age degeneration in the other. She used to be a whiz when it came to sewing and it's been really hard on her that she can't see well enough to sew anymore. Her love of sewing and quilting is where I got my love for quilting and of course where her Granddaughter Jen got her love for it too. I suggested to her that I make her chair pads out of strips of fabric wrapped around clothes line and she jumped at the idea. So, I started looking for fabrics and I even looked while we were on retreat but didn't find anything. Once home I started going through my stash and came up with some dark browns and beiges that she was looking for. I added a piece or two more and made her a small sample to see how she liked the colors. She saw this on Mother's Day and really liked the combinations so Iwas good to go. I started out OK but every now and then I'd stop and just put them aside. I had the first three almost done by the time our challenge came about to finish UFO's. Those three just had to be finished off and odd threads cut off. Tonight I finished the fourth chair pad, finished off the other three and did the snipping of threads and now they get to go to their new home. I talked to her yesterday because I thought she wanted ties put on them but she didn't. I still have some strips left over so I might just try and make her a few coasters for the table top and later on a table topper since heaven forbid anything sits directly on the table. So, here are my first 4 finishes.

Christmas is over

The Christmas season is over and again we all survived it. I had a great Christmas Eve spent with my two best friends. We started this tradition the first year that I was alone and have done it most of the years since. We get together and have dinner, exchange gifts and in general have a great time together. This year was no different. I had made my two friends each what is called a Stitch N Chicks bag. Both were loved and that always makes me feel good. We even sat for a couple of hours and played Yahtzee which I hadn't done in probably 30 years.

Christmas Day was spent with my daughter, Jen. My girl is so good to me. For Christmas this year she took some of my quilt tops I had made and quilted them for me. Then all I had to do was put the binding on them. I had decided to give my Mom the BOM quilt that I had been working on and Jen kindly quilted that one for me too. She brought it along on Christmas and I put the binding on so I could give it to my Mom. Needless to say Mom loved her new quilt. Jen had made Grandma a wallhanging and a table runner that she also loved. We ended up tracking her down at my sisters and spent an enjoyable afternoon with her family. I just love Christmas's that aren't stressful and this was one of them.

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.

Quiet Sunday and some sewing

Today has been a very quiet Sunday in my world. I'm still recovering from all the packing and moving so not much got done today. I slept late which felt fantastic. Did some cleaning and a little laundry and watched meaningless TV. Tonight I've been doing some sewing. It's wonderful to sit at my machine that has now been recessed into my new sewing table. Yesterday Michelle and Louie came from Iowa and Louie was gracious and recessed my machine for me. There is no possible way to thank him for all he's done for me and somehow just saying thank you doesn't seem enough. I so deeply appreciate this. Anyway Jen and Michelle have posted pictures of the whole process so all I'm going to add is a picture of my latest work in process on the machine that is now a joy to sew on. It started out a coaster and then I thought maybe a bowl and now I'm leaning towards a small rug. Who knows what it really will be but all I know is it's fun to sit at my machine and sew. May we have many happy years of sewing together.

Last I wanted to share a picture of my family with all of you. My sister Kitty is on the left and Mom is in the middle and of course I'm the one on the right. We're all looking a little tired but hey that's life.

Is it really SPRING?????????

I just opened the door to let the dog out and it's snowing like crazy out there. What happened to it's subposed to be SPRING???????? I want spring, I demand that we have spring. There I feel much better now that I vented.

Today I'm off for a nice three day weekend. I'm NOT going to let this snow spoil my day off. I have a few errands to run this morning and then our good friend Michelle and her husband Louie are coming for the weekend. I just talked to them and yes it's snowing, yes they are driving slowly, they are coming from Iowa. They will be stopping at some big Goodwill stores along the way and they should be in town by late afternoon. Michelle assured me that Louie doesn't mind driving in this at all. She said he was going 25 when I talked to her and he corrected her that he was driving much faster, 26. They do however sound like they are having a great time.

In a little while I'm off to do a few errands and one of them is to stop at my brothers to see how Mom is doing. I also stopped at Chocolate House, a big candy store yesterday on my way home from work and picked up a bunch of Easter Candy so they can make baskets for his two granddaughters. That was fun since I hadn't candy shopped for kids in a very long time. Let's just say as a great aunt I'm going to put them into a hyper sugar state.

OK I'm off to brave the elements and I'll be back later to post a picture of my finished Miranda. This is my first one I made and number two is cut out and waiting for me to sew on it today.

Litter Mittens

A while ago my dear friend Michelle shared a pattern with me for car "litter mittens" I've been hooked on making them ever since. It's nice to do a project where you don't have to do a lot of thinking and in a little while it's finished. As of today I've made a total of 7 of these. This last batch was made last night and finished up this morning. The one on the far left was made for a request from my Mom. As most of you know my Mom hasn't been well for a while now. She's been going and staying with us kids so she's been going from house to house. Mom spent the weekend with me and it was a nice time. It feels good to be able to help out even if it's in some small way. I'm going to cherish these times that she stays with me always. So this morning I was finishing up this group that I had decided to make for my family. I was going to see them today and decided they all needed something from me. Mom asked if I couldn't make one for her but make the flap part longer. OK I said but why? She's a typical Mom and she always keeps kleenex under her pillow, of course don't most of us? I made the flap longer so that it could be tucked under the mattress and hang next to the bed as a little garbage bag. She was thrilled when I finished it. I had some blue fleece left over from a project that I had done last year and decided to use this. I then went into my fat quarter stash and used blues from in there for the linings. So, I gave them to my siblings today. Even my brother liked his for his car. Thank you Michelle for sharing the pattern with me. Last week I even made one out of Red Hat fabric I had for one of my Red Hat friends.

Saturday's sewing

Today was the big sewing day at my Mom's apartment complex. We all had fun and there were several of us there. My Mom, Jen, Me, Maureen and my sister Kitty and her daughter Keri stopped in to watch. There were only a few ladies who stopped by to see what was going on and they were friendly. We shared the big community room with a group who comes in to play cards, they were friendly at all.

Alot got finished today. A couple of Project Linus quilt tops that my Mom did. I think her number is up to something like 10+. I finished another flannel raggy quilt for Project Linus. Kitty finished her baby quilt she's making and started to quilt it. Maureen worked on her mother in laws quilt and her and Jen worked on our BOM getting them put together. Since there was no real turn out I think next time we'll either sew here or at my sisters.

After we were finished Jen, Maureen and I grabbed a quick dinner and called it a day. Jen came over and brought Holly with her. We sewed quite a bit tonight. We made coasters, she worked on her BOM and has most of it put together and it's FANTASTIC and I finished my Halloween door hanging and made coasters. Then I started cleaning out my sewing drawers. I want to organize better and label the drawers so when I"m looking for something I can actually find it without searching. Now it's time for bed and I'm tired. Tomorrow is another sewing day and I think I"m going to do my BOM and make a Lazy Girl purse, the Veronica. Stay tuned for the next episode of Snippy Sews.

Cindy (Peony the House Elf)

COMMENTS
Sunday, September 9, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
Ok, didn't any of you take a camera? Let's see some pictures!!! Glad you had a good day. Sorry your efforts didn't turn out the way you wanted, but you tried. Have a great day sewing on Sunday! Love, Michelle

Sunday, September 9, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I hope to see a picture of Veronica when she is done! What fabric are you using? I hope your sewing day goes well and think of me here cleaning. :-( I could use my own Peony the House Elf but until then I guess I am my own house elf again :-( I don't like cleaning. Have fun today and know that I am wishing I could be sewing with you. Maureen http://www.myquiltblog.com/MaureenQuilts/

Sunday, September 9, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
HOw come you didn't mention the raggedy edged coasters? LOL

Sunday, September 9, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Raggedy Edge Coasters ?? Those I would love to see ,please post a picture ,come to think of it why not raggedy edge placemats ?????

Sunday, September 9, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lori
Ok I'm not taking the blame this time ,I did sign in for the last post Honest LOL

Sunday, September 9, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by cowgirl4ever
I am really looking forward to not having to play military anymore.. I love my job but the last couple weeks have been pretty frustrating.. I read about all the fun that you have sewing and want to be doing it myself.. frown... Soon though.. soon I'll have a normal job Heather

Mom and Murphy

I'm still on Mom watch and I'm getting pretty tired. So far I've been with her every day this week at some point. I don't really mind but I'm getting tired and I'm not able to do anything at home that I want to do. Tonight was picking up pills, grocery shopping and then filling her pill box for the week. Finally I left around eight and said I was tired and was going home. She's doing really good with her Project Linus quilt tops so that's good. I'm glad that it's giving her something to do but it seems as though she's obsessed with finishing them. No matter what I tell her she sews from morning till night. Now she could do that thirty years ago but she was also thirty years younger and had good eyes. I noticed tonight that she had alot of shortness of breath and that was bothering me some. Well I busted her. I found that she isn't using her inhaler like she is subposed to. After a lecture on why she needs to use it I hope that I got through to her. I really hope that when I get her age I'm not as stubborn as she is or Jen will have me put away.
Saturday is the day that Jen and I have organized at my Mom's apartment complex as a crafting day. It started because we thought using the community room for the family to sew in would be great. Well the woman who is the manager of the building wanted to charge us a $250 deposit to use the room. That's insane. So, we came up with the idea to offer a sewing or craft day for anyone who lives there. We're not sure who will come but it's worth a try. Part of the reason too is so we can get my Mom to meet more of the people in her building. We're hoping she can make some friends. One lady stopped by Mom's today to drop off a box of odds and ends for crafts that she had and hoped that someone would be able to use. I thought that was very nice of her. Keep your fingers crossed that this works out on Saturday.
Now Murphy is a totally different story. He's been feeling neglected since I've been gone so much at night lately. Everytime I tried to sew tonight he needed something. He hates to see me at my sewing machine. I've been working on a Halloween wall hanging and as soon as I sew a few embelishments on it I can take a picture and post it. This was my first attempt at machine button hole stitching.


-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)

COMMENTS

Thursday, September 6, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Trina
I can't wait to see the Halloween wall hanging........that is my favorite holiday.

Friday, September 7, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
I hope all works out well for your mom this weekend. It sounds like so much fun. Poor little Murphy!!! You need to have a Murphy day, well maybe not if you did that he would expect it all of the time. Kristie

Friday, September 7, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
What are we going to do about her? She needs constant entertainment latley. =( I love her dearly but like the other night, she could have called me and I could have fixed that machine on my way home from work!

Quilts and other things

Tonight started out OK I had good intentions. Came home from work, tossed a load of wash in, ran the dishwasher, downloaded and printed some patterns. Jen and I were going to go to dinner and we did at I Hop and then off to WalMart. We decided to do the quilt that Kristie is doing, the Migraine one. We bought our fabrics and then home we went. All I wanted to do tonight was start on a purse that I want to make. So out came the pattern and I looked that over and was just ready to start to cut it out when I got a call from my Mom. Her machine wasn't working right. Ok back in the car and over to her house Jen and I went. After sewing a little while on it I realized thread was wrapped twice around one of the upper thread catchers and that was the problem. Fixed that and then started sewing some of her blocks to gether for her. She had gotton herself so worked up over her machine I thought it best to do a little sewing for her until she calmed herself down a little. She told us she has plans to sew until midnight tonight. Why that late I didn't ask. So, now we're home. Jen went home and I can't wait to go to bed and try all of this again tomorrow. To all of you who got to sew today, way to go.
-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
COMMENTS


Tuesday, September 4, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
You even sound tired , hope you get some rest tonight ,the sewing will wait till tomorrow .Your very good at helping your mom out but you also have to look after yourself .Don't forget to show us the purse you are making .

Tuesday, September 4, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lori
Gee guess who LOL

Tuesday, September 4, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
I am so glad that you and Jen are going to do the Celestial Migraine. So far it has been so easy. I won't take you very long to catch up since the blocks are simple. This is great. What fabric did you guys get? Is it like mine? Kristie

Wednesday, September 5, 2007 - What a day!
Posted by born2quilt
You sound like you did alot. Way to go with the sewing. I did some hand work today but am work tonight. I wont get to touch more sewing till my next day off on Thurdsay. Stephanie
Wednesday, September 5, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by 51050
Lori, you make me laugh!! I did get to sew yesterday, but today I was called in to work, and after that I have corn to pick up to freeze - only a bushel this year, thankfully, and then get ready for an early start to Wis. for another aunt's funeral. She was 93 and my father's last sibling. I'll wave as we go by, Cindy. Rhoda

Wednesday, September 5, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Mom, what are we going to do with her? Seriously. I mean I have no problem going over there but when she first calls at 8pm when she's sat on this problem all day. I could have stopped on my way home from work.

Thursday, September 6, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MaureenQuilts
Cindy (aka Peony) Did you make any clothing with the strips Jen gave you? Then you would be a free house elf! LOL. Okay you are so nice to your mom to go over there so late at night. It is also nice of you to sew so that she calms down. I am also glad she was feeling better at the end of last night. She is so funny...sorry she was out of breath from the heat. Maureen

Doggie day at the pool

Well the weekend is over and I didn't get to do any of the things that I wanted to do but I still had a great time. All of my projects can wait for me. Yesterday I picked up my Mom and she spent the night with me. We didn't do anything last night but we still had a good time. Today was a full day of sewing. Mom is still putting together strips for the project Linus quilts. She sewed me under the table. By this afternoon I had to take a nap and she kept on sewing. Then Jen came and joined us. I worked on a small wall hanging for Halloween and as soon as it's finished I'll take it's picture. I made quite a few yo yos today so that was good too. Then it was time to take the dogs to the pool. Our county pools closed today for the season at 5PM. What they do then is open up a couple of the pools so the dogs can swim. Then they get drained and cleaned getting ready for winter. So off Jen and I went with the dogs. We got there and joined all others with their dogs in a line. There was every sized dog in the group. Then the line got even longer and by the time they opened it for the dogs the line was so long. In we went and already dogs were swimming and running in the water. Now our two dogs are a little more cautious so they watched at first. Then we walked in the shallow water with them. Murphy was so busy looking around he would have been content to just watch what was going on. I tried to coax him into deeper water to swim but he wouldn't budge. Then Jen took his leash and he followed her into the deeper water and took off swimming. He looked so happy. Jen is going to post some pictues on her blog of the dogs. We got out of the pool and walked to the deeper end. They had these huge really cushy pads on the side of the pool and Murphy was standing on it and before I knew what happened he stepped right into the water. Down he went and he came up butt first. Then out popped his head and I've never seen a dogs eyes get so huge. Holly just watched him sink and then followed him in, another surprised dog. With a little help we pulled them both out of the pool. Lots of fun later it was time to go home. Mine is now sound asleep. There were hundreds of dogs and they were all so good. Running and swimming, chasing balls in the water. It was great to see them all have so much fun together. Well I guess that means it's the end of summer.
Cindy

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)

COMMENTS

Monday, September 3, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
Sounds like you had a very busy weekend. You are a good mommy to Murphy....and a great daughter....and a wonderful mother to Jen. You have a great week at work this week, and sleep tight tonight. Love, Michelle

Monday, September 3, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lori
That would have been so funny to watch the dogs swimming ,poor Murphy must have wondered what the heck was going on LOL .I bet they had a great time ,can't wait to see the pictures .Summer may be over but now we all get to settle down and spend long fall days quilting I don't think I could live where there was only one season ,there's just something new and exciting with the change .Not that I like winter driving .

Tuesday, September 4, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
That is such a nice thing that they do for the dogs. sounds like you enjoyed it as much as Murphy did...Glad to hear that you and your mom had such a great time sewing. Kristie
Tuesday, September 4, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by 51050
What fun for the dogs and for you! I can just visualize Murphy's butt coming up and then the huge eyes! We have a pool and a cocker. She's not a great swimmer. Matter of fact, we had to teach her how. How dumb is that? The last one we had jumped in with us occasionally, but this one doesn't. Rhoda

Tuesday, September 4, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
I had a fantastic time. I just wish I knew if Holly did!!

Tuesday, September 4, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MaureenQuilts
Peony you are such a good puppy mom...poor Emma is jealous. I did giver her some turkey which my parents sent home for her. Ohh she is one spoiled dog...just like two other I know. Glad you had a good time at the Doggie Dip. Maureen

Grandma and project linus

I had a call this evening around 7 and it was my mom and she was all worked up about her sewing machine. She was having trouble threading the machine and needed help. I told her I'd be right there. I only live 3 miles from her apartment so off I went. It seems she was trying to thread the machine and kept missing the last three places that the thread goes. She has macular degeneration so it's hard for her to see but she's determined that she needs to sew. Anyway I got her retheaded and she sat right down to sew again. She's working on project linus quilts and she's so happy doing it but she's really pushing herself. She wants perfection and she isn't there yet but she'll be there soon. She used to be able to sit and sew all day and she so enjoyed it. You can just see how her mind is going and she's starting to think of other quilts that she can do. It does give her something to do all day. By tomorrow she'll have two tops finished and ready for more.

-Cindy (Peony the House Elf)
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Giggle. I'll have to stop there after work to get her tops and put the borders on. Maybe I should come home first and get her some more kits from your house to start on.
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
Ladies, that is awesome that your mom/granma is that determined to sew! It is inspiring what with the macular degneration and all!
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Does she have a large magnifying glass? I remember that is what my Grandma Opal used. She had one that she carried in her apron and another that had a movable arm on it that attached to her sewing machine. She moved it down in place and looked through it to see to sew. Kristie
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Thursday, August 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
Cindy, How happy you must be to see your mom so excited about something again! Kristie's idea about the magnifying glass is a good one! Sleep well...God is so proud of you and Jen! Michelle
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