Slowly I return...

I am slowly returning to the land of Fabric!  I've worked on a couple of small projects over the last couple of weeks and today I started a Baby quilt for my great-nephew, Jack, who was born yesterday! I have a few small holiday goodies I want to work on, but most are handwork and I am thinking of making a mat for my sewing table with a drop down pocket to hold scissors, seam ripper etc. Although, I am not sure how practical it would be to sew with those thing between me and the machine!  Gotta think on that one.

So here's what's been happening in the Study-O concerning sewing / quilting / fabric...

My machine did not come with a sewing machine cover and honestly, when I first started sewing / quilting I didn't think there was a need for one. Wrong!  Machines get so dusty (at least mine does).. even when it's being used fairly reguarly. I have a clear vinyl cover I bought at a fabric store some time ago and it definitely does the trick, but I wanted something cute.. fun... and so I whipped this up...

I love the bright colors and especially the pink and green ribbon for the ties!  Goes very well with my bulletin boards.

I have seen several scrappy pillows on Pinterest that include a bit of Embrodiery.  There were lots of 2 1/2" squares left over from the Christmas Granny Squares quilt, so I decided to play a bit. I created a pillow front.. here it is turned 2 different ways.. a bit raggedy and such right now.

I plan to embrodier Merry Christmas in the white space and then finish it off with some cording or trim and backs (I do 2 pieces and create an envelope so it can be removed and washed).  We shall see how it turns out.. no matter.. it is fun to do something.. well, just for fun!

For months now I have had plans for a baby quilt for a great-nephew due in Novemeber..the fabrics have been ironed and draped over the back of a chair for weeks.. and today I finally cut the up and started sewing!  Baby Jack was born yesterday!  His dad went to LSU and loves the Tigers! As soon as I heard a baby boy was coming, I knew I'd do an LSU quilt. I am not an LSU fan.. I bleed red and blue and yell Hotty Toddy quite often (my hubby's alma mater, Mississippi State, is ranked #1 in the Nation right now.. we are a rather diverse bunch!).  You know I love the boy if I'm spending my Saturday messing with anything purple and gold! LOL!

And lest you think the mad quilter (a.k.a. my hubby) has given up the hobby, he has taken the granny square blocks and is adding a frame to each one.  This will create the look of white sashing between the blocks.  Can't wait to see this on the iron bed in the guest room!  It's going to be lovely!

Hope you are having a fabulous day doing whatever makes you smile!

"Belle"

Chugging along....

Sewing Central has been chugging along..... Hubs has finished a top for a friend's new granddaughter...

and is working on an I spy quilt for the baby's big brother...

I whipped together another top for Quilts for Kids...

and the Christmas Granny Squares production line continues...

A run for some batting is needed soon so these tops can become quilts!

Photos of finished products will be forthcoming.

Belle

It's all in the planning....

I don't always have chunks of time to sew... between being a full-time wife, working part-time, normal house stuff, 2 young adult kids (young moms it does not get easier!), my 81 year old mother, church activity and life in general, I have to find the time and energy sometimes to work on a project.

So when I can, I like to set things up for those times when I have 15 or 20 minutes to play with fabric.

Here is how I have sewing central set up now....

I sew on our dining room table. Normally I use a task chair, but I haven't taken the time to roll it from the computer in the other room to the dining table this morning. I have 2 Granny Square Blocks set up and ready to sew.. as well as piles of fabric cut and ready to set up more. I have to add a BIG advantage is a husband who cuts fabric for me! Of course I am often cooking supper or doing laundry while he cuts, so it is a win-win.  :-)

I may only get these 2 blocks sewn together today.. but that is ok!  It will be 2 more to add to this small, but growing collection...

And once the 2 are sewn today, I will lay 2 more out for the next bit of sewing time.

If you struggle with finding time to sew and if you are able to leave things set up, I encourage you to try something like this. Get fabrics cut.. layout a block or two.. have machine ready (correct thread, plenty of bobbins, fresh needle if needed) and then when you have a few minutes to breath, do it at the sewing machine!  You will accomplish more than you think!

Granny Square Block

Last year I was reading through some quilt blogs and discovered a group of bloggers making Granny Square Quilt Blocks. I fell in love with this block!  It is a great way to use up scraps (I am a true scrap quilt fanatic!) and it connected me to my grandmother.  My dad's mom has a great deal to do with my love of quilts.  She made one for each of her grandchildren... my was her last and the only one for a girl and she made it several years before I was born.  My folks were told about a year before I came along that they could have no more children.. 1 in a million chance. My grandmother was certain that her granddaughter would have the lovely dutch doll quilt she made. (She did everything by hand... never touched a machine).  Sure enough, a year later I came along.

BUT I did not get the beloved quilt then.. in fact, I was 18 before I got it!  I would often get her to pull it out of the Cedar Chiffarobe and let me look at it.  It was a great treasure to me.  My grandmother came from a time where you didn't use "fine" things and this was a fine thing.

I still have it. It adorned the bed in my daughter's room for many years. It needs a bit of repairing, but is still lovely and usable and, Lord willing, will one day be treasured by a granddaughter.

So what does this have to do with Granny Squares? Well I never saw my grandmother quilt. She was done with that by the time I came along, but I watched her crochet.  She tried to teach me but my fingers would not cooperate at all! I remember when she started working on the granny square afghan.  The squares are made of bright colors (she loves bright colors.. must be where I get it!) and they are put together with navy yarn. It is a large bed-size afghan with bright multicolored fringe. I love it!  And she made it for me.  As far as I know I am the only grandchild who has anything she crocheted and the only one who had something made especially for her.  Makes it more special!

Quilts and Granny Squares both hold a special place in my heart because of my sweet Mama Rush... Bessie Case Lea Rushing... and this block combines those 2 and stirs memories of days with her.

I knew I wanted to make a Christmas quilt this year and while looking online for inspiration, I ran across a pin on Pinterest of a Christmas Granny Square Quilt.  This was it!  So I pulled up the Granny Square Tutorial.. pulled some fabrics.. and whipped up a practice block.

It takes a bit of time and focus to keep things order, but it is a fairly easy block and I think it turned out lovely! I will be pulling more fabrics this week and start cutting lots and lots of 2.5" squares.  My plan is to have a box full of squares, so I can make blocks in between other projects when I just need something different to do.  The blocks are essentially 9" blocks and I want to make a pretty decent size quilt, so I have a bunch to piece!