Rainbow Around the Block #3 Completed

This afternoon we got a bunch of rainstorms so was stuck in the house. I just couldn’t pass up the chance to work out another block for the Rainbow Project so hit the stash and started mixing and matching fabrics.  As you can tell, I like reds and blues, and reds and blacks so have a lot of those fabrics up in my library/fabric room.  I really need to branch out and start using more of Anna Maria Horner’s and Amy Butler’s materials.  The times I’ve sewn with them have been so enjoyable. Their designs are absolutely out of this world.  It’s been a hot and humid day but one where Buddy and I got a lot accomplished inside and out... but any day where I have some spare time to make a little something for charity is a successful one. I wonder what we will be up to tomorrow.

The Second Time Around the Block Was the Charm!

     My children, students, and husband tell me I am the most hard headed woman in the world when it comes to getting something just right, but this time it paid off big time!  I was so upset with myself for messing up my first block for the “Rainbow Around the Block” project - a wonderful project spearheaded by Anna Maria Horner - it made me work even harder to get it right this time. I decided NOT to use the pinwheel in the middle since I was designing this block from scratch.  Rather, I went back to the old stash and found just enough of a batik scrap left over from the backing of my ragged square quilt and the other reds and blacks surrounding the center were leftovers from that quilt, too. Thank heavens for the old stash! I love the way it all came together, and I am especially happy that is ended up measuring 12.5 in. X 12.5 in square.......HURRAH! I kept telling myself...”If at once you don’t succeed, Eugenia, try, try again!”  Oh, Happy Rednesday!


“Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul.”
~Duuglas MacArthur

Began My First Quilt Square Today for Rainbow Around The Block

Trying to select the fabric for my "Rainbow Around The Block” 12 inch quilt square was not easy.  I don’t know about y’all, but whenever I go to my stash to look for something, I wish I had something else.  I finally ended up choosing Thimbleberries “Timeless Grace” fat quarters, and the pattern I am using is the “Thirties Pinwheel in a Square Quilt Block Pattern” which I found on About.com Quilting.  I’ve cut out all the pieces and will start sewing tomorrow.

Graduation Here We Come..A New Dress and Two New Bags!

   A week from today my first grandchild will graduate from prep school and be off to college to become a chemical engineer  My attendance at his graduation is one of the items on my “Bucket List,” and it looks like I am going to get my wish.  All this weekend I have been plugging away finishing a special sundress for my little five year old granddaughter following Amy’s Finlayson’s precious “Simple Sundress Pattern”  and a new variation on the Anna Maria Horner “I Want One of Everything Bag” for me to carry. On this dress I used four grosgrain ties rather than one long one that Amy uses in her pattern. The little squares with the letters E-L-O-I-S-E in them above the ruffle on the are from Shrinky Dink plastic. For my bag, I made another modification to Anna Maria’s original pattern by bringing it in about an inch on each side and extending the straps by about two inches. This way it is a bit less bulky to carry, and it hangs nicely from my shoulder. I used Walmart fabric rather than the Amy Butler fabrics, and I think the result looks just fine. For my granddaughter’s bag, I made a smaller pattern the same as mine and used the leftover fabric. I’m a very happy camper tonight!

Variation #2 of Anna Maria Horner “I Want One of Everything Bag"

Two weeks from today is going to be one of the most exciting and happiest days in my life.  I will be attending the graduation of my first grandchild’s graduation form St. Andrew’s School, in Middletown, DE.  I already had a Flax suit but wanted a new bag to wear with it.  I loved the blue plaid variation of the Anna Maria Horner “I Want One of Everything Bag” I made a week or so ago so much it was a no-brainer...make another one but using blacks this time.  The lining is a tiny black polka dot on a dark gray April Cornell fabric and the exterior is a black and white batik apple print.  For the strap carrier I used some plain Moda black.  Since the suit had beige on the collar and sleeves I decided to add some antique tanish-beige pearl buttons I’ve had squired away for years. It took no time at all to complete and love the way it turned out. I can’t wait to hang it over my shoulder and head off to the “big event.” 

Taxi Tote

I just completed another one of Anna Maria Horner’s bags from Seams to Me.  It’s roomy and hangs perfectly over my shoulder.  I love it!  I added a double pocket to the inside for my cell phone and my iPod...can’t go out without them! It was such an easy pattern to follow. It is full of great ideas.  Three fourths yard of lining fabric,  another three fourths yard for the outer bag fabric, and some double sided bias binding was all I needed to make it. I’ve definitely gotten my money out of the purchase of her little book.

A Variation of the “I Want One of Everything Bag"

Our school librarian who has been spearheading my “100 Dress Challenge” was looking at my “I Want One of Everything Bag” and came up with the neatest suggestion.  Should you ever need to make a quick, last minute gift, this is perfect.  It can be completed easily in a day or less. Her idea was to make the same bag, but this time to use only 3 fabrics: one for the outside, one for the lining, and another for the strap channel.  I took her up on it and did just that with a blue and white plaid front, a light due denim for the lining and a blue and white floral strap channel.  I wear blue jean fabric dresses to school all the time so thought it would look really cute. Since I was out of medium non-fussible interfacing,  I used what I had on hand which was a medium weight fusible one. The bag seemed really stiff when I completed it, but after giving it a wash in warm water it came out perfectly.  I can’t wait to use it tomorrow and see the look on my friend’s face.

I DID IT! “I Want One of Everything Bag” Completed

When I got up this morning, I was determined to work on the bag until it was finished.  I even gave up a chance on our first warm and gorgeous Saturday to go to the annual “Road and River Relay.” I was a woman on a mission.  My! What an accomplishment!  Putting the lining to the front and back was a doozie.  I could not understand the instructions to save my life.  Finally, I decided to baste it like I though it was supposed to be sewn and see if it was correct....well, time after time it wasn’t.  Finally I got it right. Thinking I would make another one, I took down lots of notes and kept a pictorial journal of each step in the process.  Since this is to be a special gift, I was careful to baste all of my seams...and I still had to rip on occasion.  When I was in boarding school with the Domican nuns, I can remember Sister Rose Brendan telling me in Home Ec...”Eugenia, if it is worth making, then it is worth ripping.  Otherwise quit the project and go and do something else”  That was in 1959, and it is still my rule of thumb.

                                 Close ups of the torn braided straps

                                    Close up of strap channel

"I Want One of Everything Bag" Interfacing

Following pattern instructions, this afternoon I attached the interfacing to 1/2 of the bag with a 3/8 inch seam.  It went together just fine and looks like it will go the job nicely.

                 Wrong Side

                 Front with Interfacing Attached

I Want One of Everything Bag

Last summer my daughter introduced me to the Amy Butler line of fabrics which our local quilting shop, The Quiltery, just happens to carry. Her prints are so bright and vivid I am drawn back to them every visit I made to the little store. Last week, while looking through Seams to Me by Anna Maria Horner, I became fascinated with her “I Want One of Everything Bag” pattern. Everything about the pattern shouted out, “You’ve got to make me out of some of that Amy Butler fabric.  So back to The Quiltery I went and bought a 1/4 yard of 12 of her gorgeous prints.  Working out the placement was a tad bit tedious, but the fan shaped front and back became a real eye opener when the pieces were laid out side by side.  Today I basted all of the little sections one to the other and then stitched them and pressed open the seams. My next step will be to create the lining, but that will have to wait for another day. Fun, Fun, Fun!