A Few More Exchanges

I've been in several different exchanges this year.  These are some of the last exchanges.  I only have one more exchange this year.

Treadle On Pin Cushion Exchange.  ALL of my Treadle On exchanges have to be made on a people powered machine (treadle or hand crank).  This is the pin cushion that I made.

lady bug pin cushion

Yes, I made 2 of these, for different pin cushion exchanges.

Here is the pin cushion I received with this exchange.  The pink one is from the exchange, the tiny finger pin cushion was from the hostess that organized the exchange (thanks Stephanie).  Really cute!

Treadle On pin cushion's

The next exchange was also with Treadle On.  This time it was a bag exchange.  No rules, just make a bag.  I had to cheat in the end, since I couldn't get the binding on the one I made while using a hand crank, and, since I stopped every few stitches, a treadle wasn't an option, either.  I did include a note in the bag, to let the new owner know that I used an electric (1939 Singer Featherweight) for the binding ONLY.  This is the bag I made.  I thought the fabric was perfect for a Treadle On exchange.

Treadle On bag exchange

Here is the bag that I received.  There is lots of detail in this bag, and pockets inside, too.  Look at all those ruffles.

bag I received

Stephanie was the hostess of this exchange, too.  She made all of us a bag herself.  Here is the bag that Stephanie made.

triangle zipper bag

The last exchange was with the Yahoo Harry Potter group.  This exchange was for Wizard trading cards, shaped like Chocolate Frog cards.  They had a template that we were supposed to use, but, no more information.  We could use whatever 'medium' we wanted to use.

I was late on finishing this exchange.  It is in the mail now.  Since she doesn't read my blog (not a quilter) I think it's safe to show these pictures.  Here is what she sent me...

card with the Wizard cards

She made these cards special, so that I can insert a photo of someone inside the lace, at the bottom of the card, and add important information to the back of each card

Wizard Cards I received

Here are the cards I made.  Mine are all fabric. A Firebolt (broomstick) a Golden Snitch and the Hogwarts Crest.  I got the patterns off of Fandom in Stitches.  They were all 5" patterns, but, I reduced them down to 3" and added strips of fabric on each side, so that I could make them the shape of the Chocolate Frog cards. 

Wizard Trading Cards that I made

Since I didn't want to go 'muggle' on her, I used a people powered machine (no ekltricity was used in making these cards).

Harry Potter!

Happy 20th Anniversary, Harry Potter!  20 years ago, today, Harry Potter was released.  Wow, has it really been that long????

We read all 7 books with our kids.  We went to several of the Harry Potter book release parties, held in downtown Naperville, IL (Anderson Books hosted these).  All of downtown Naperville became a magical village, with Harry Potter themed stores. 

On Monday, I found 2 new Harry Potter fabrics at Walmart.  I bought all 8 yards of both fabrics (great for backings, too).  One of these days, I'll finish the 4 different Harry Potter quilts that I've started.

the 2 fabrics, with Hedwig, in her cage

I used to teach how to miter borders, and used these Harry Potter blocks as examples.

36 1/2" x 37" block

alternate block, same size

I haven't taught miter borders in several years now, so, I guess I need to finish the last few blocks, and get these quilts made.  I don't have quite enough blocks to make 2 quilts, so, I'll have to figure out what I want to add, to finish these quilts. 

Back in 2013, I started the Harry Potter Project of Doom quilt blocks.  I've made 2 of each of the first 12 blocks for this quilt.   Yes, I made 2 of each block, to make sure that I got one of the quilts.  I should have made 3 of each block, since both my sons will want this quilt when it is finally finished.  If you want to see the blocks I've made, they are shown on this blog post.

So, to celebrate 20 years of Harry Potter, settle down with one of the books (or audio books or movies)......

illustrated edition

Grab a mug of tea.....

Gryffindor or Ministry of Magic mugs

and enjoy!

Christmas and the New Year

I haven't been stitching the past several weeks, since I've had family in town.  Yesterday, I finally got into my sewing room, but, I only had time to organize things.  I'd moved half the closet stuff, and the dresser drawer items into my sewing closet, while family used the guest bedroom for over 2 weeks.  More went in, while my oldest son gave up his room to his little brother and new sister-in-law for a week. 

While my sewing room was being organized, I took the time to clean, and also to finally put the cover on my new ironing board hubby cut for me.  The top is 18"x60", held onto a new ironing board with screws.  A friend had me add foil to the board before I stapled the new ironing cover on (she says it will reflect the heat back to my project better).  I haven't had a chance to iron yet, so, I'll see soon if it works.

new ironing board and cover

The old ironing board is a vintage wooden ironing board, and, since is is so short, I had to set it on bed risers, to get it to the height I wanted. 

I wanted to show you some of the great presents I got for Christmas.  First, I love Harry Potter, and have all the books and audio books.  I saw the new illustrated Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on Sarah's blog, back in October.  Of course I showed it to hubby, and, guess what was under the tree.

illustrated edition

 I also got a few sewing related items for Christmas.

fabric bowl and double ended seam ripper, that my stepfather made me

bobbin buddies

1930's scissors my stepfather gave me

A few days before Christmas, a blogging friend, from my hometown, contacted me.  Was I interested in buying her purple Featherweight?  I printed out pictures, from this blog post, and showed them to hubby.  After he sang the praises of a Featherweight to his parents (who'd arrived that morning) he told me that the Featherweight would make a great Christmas present for me.  Woohoo!  Guess what will be headed my way in the next week or two!?!?!?

pictured from Sue's blog (I'm mentioned in this post)

I made hubby a mini quilt for Christmas.  He saw the pattern, way back, when I won it, on my blog, so, I couldn't show the quilt until after he received it (no secrets here, since hubby reads my blog).  I changed the dog from tan and white, to grey, to make it look like hubby's Alaskan Malamute, Ratchet.

Ratchet (where he lays when I'm in my sewing room)

hubby's hiking mini quilt

On Tuesday, I drove my son and daughter-in-law to the airport.  I stopped by the Quilts of Valor sew-in on the way home.  We are meeting in a new place now, since the quilt store where we started, is closing by the end of January :(    Prairie Shop Quilts was one of the best quilt stores in the Chicago area, with the friendliest staff around.  Bonita ran the store for almost a decade, and decided to leave to spend more time with her family.  Well, after I visited the Quilts of Valor sew-in, I headed to the quilt store, to see if I needed anything that was left (like I really need any more fabric).  Of course I found several different sewing theme fabrics that I had to bring home.  While there, Bonita gave me the last vintage sewing machine in the store.  Several years ago, I cleaned and serviced all the vintage machines she had at the time.  Those machines sold in the first few days of her going out of business sale.  This machine, that was left, was dirty, and needed new wiring and TLC.  No one had looked at it, after seeing the shiny machines. 

Singer 99 (knee controller) in Bentwood case

scary wiring!

I'll get this machine cleaned up and converted to a hand crank in the next few weeks. 
Hubby thinks it's cute (he likes 3/4 size machines). 

I have to get moving in my sewing room.  A friend and I are hosting the Holiday party for our larger guild (held in January instead of December) and I have projects to complete for the party.  I'll try to remember to take pictures of all the decorated tables that other ladies are hosting (we are also hosting a table, along with the whole party). 

Hope you are having a Great 2016!

Make A Wish and fabric finds

One of the Harry Potter Crafts Yahoo group members was contacted by a wish granter from Make A Wish.  She was asked if she could contribute something with a Harry Potter theme for a little girl with cancer.  The girl's 'Wish' is to go to Harry Potter World at Universal Studios, but, she can't do that until her treatments are finished, many months from now.  Till that time comes, the crafter was asked if she could contribute something while the girl waits for her wish.  The member contacted the Yahoo group members and asked if anyone else could contribute something, too.  This is what I will be sending.

Make A Wish mini quilt

This was a block that I made for the Wicked Blog Hop back in 2012.  I hand quilted several different Harry Potter themed items in the blank places.  Since the white stitches on the white background don't show up well, I added pictures of the stitching on the back, too.

Hogwarts Shield on front

Hogwarts Shield on back

Harry's glasses on front

Harry's glasses on back

spider on front

spider on back

Golden Snitch on front

Golden Snitch on bacj

Stag in Crystal Ball on front

Stag in Crystal Ball on back

I quilted this at sew-in on Thursday, and sewed the binding on and stitched it down Thursday evening.  Woohoo!  A finish!

Our area is losing another quilt store, The Quilt Basket in Downers Grove, IL.  This is a great shop, where the owner and her helpers are all friendly.  They will be missed. 

A friend and I stopped by on Friday morning.  We found some great buys.  I found these 'food' fabrics for an upcoming Canning Jar block exchange.

Asparagus, Carrots, Potatoes, Peas, Peppers

Cherries and Blueberries

I also found fabric for 2 more 'twists' for my son's wedding quilt.

reds & yellows for 'twists'

These are the colors I purchased earlier this week, for the twists.

blues, oranges, aqua's, pinks, purples, greens

I now have fabric for 8 'twists'.  This is the pattern I'll be using.  I still need a white for the background.

Twist and Shout pattern

A little stitching and some fun finds!

I made a little label for the baby quilt.  I wasn't going to put one on a baby quilt, but, my Aunt insisted she wanted at least my name on it. 

label for baby quilt

I should have made this before I put the binding on, but, I just forgot about it.  I was too busy rushing to get it finished to show off to my little quilt guild.  I had to hand stitch it to the back of the quilt.  My Janome does letters, so, I used that.  This quilt should be in Texas any day now.  The baby is due next week. 

Susan, over at Starwood Quilter, made some burp cloths a while back.  I used her idea and made a few for the new baby.  I shipped them with the baby quilt. 

burp cloths

Not too bad for a first time.  I need to make more of these. 

My Harry Potter Yahoo group is making some things for a little girl with cancer.  Make a Wish contacted one of the members of the group.  The little girl wants to go to the Harry Potter theme park as her wish, but, she can't while she is still on chemo.  The member was asked if something with a Harry Potter theme could be made for her, while she waits till fall for her wish.  OF COURSE some Harry Potter themed items can be made for her (and her little sister, too).  Several members have signed up, and started crafting.  I pulled out a mini quilt top I made for the Wicked blog hop back in 2012, and basted it.  I've started hand quilting it.  I will hand quilt some Harry Potter themed items  in the blank places, too.

basted mini quilt, waiting to be hand quilted

The backing is black with white polka dots.  I made binding to match the backing. 

Hubby had me hit the thrift stores last Friday and Saturday (the sacrifices I make for hubby ;).  Besides the new Sewmore #404 sewing machine that I got on Friday, I came home with a few other goodies I thought you might like to see.

I found a lovely, hand appliqued pillow.  This is hand made and hand quilted, this is NOT Chinese made.  I can't believe someone dropped this off at the thrift store.  It is in pristine shape, and lovely!

hand done pillow

Every applique stitch is hand done.  All the quilting is hand quilted, too.  How could I resist?

At another thrift store I found a whole baby quilt kit, unopened.  Couldn't resist it, either.  

unopened baby quilt kit

I came across a cutie that just called out to me.  He's now living in my sewing room. 

cute baboon

Yesterday was another Quilts of Valor sew-in.  This one was at the shop in Yorkville, IL, Sewing, Etc.  They have a brand new website.  They've been on Facebook for a while, but, I don't Facebook.  The owner, Kelly, is a sweetie. 

My youngest son, Connor, is getting married next year.  He has requested a quilt as a wedding present.  I decided I want to make Jean's Twist and Shout.

Twist and Shout by Jean Kritenbrink

As usual, I'm going to change it up a bit.  My son requested a larger quilt than this, that he and Krystal can snuggle under while watching TV.  I plan on adding more 'twists' and making each 'twist' longer.  I'm also making it in more colors, as requested by my son.  His favorite colors are blue, green and purple.  Krystal's favorite colors are pink, orange, lime green and purple.  While at Sewing, Etc. yesterday, I found a few fabrics to use in the quilt.

some fabrics for Connor's and Krystal's wedding quilt

The black, on the bottom will be substituted for the dark purple in Jean's quilt.  I picked two shades of each color (sorry, they look better than in the picture) for the twists in the quilt.  The ladies at the Quilts of Valor sew-in, and Kelly, the owner, all helped with the fabric choices.  I still need to find a bright white for the background, and, at least 2 more colors for more twists.  I'm thinking yellows and ????. 

Another one of our local quilt shops is closing.  Their rent went up too much for them to stay in business.  It's a great shop, and, we always went there on the shop hops, after we stopped at Ballydoyles Restaurant for Irish food.  The Quilt Basket will be missed.  A friend and I will make one last stop there on Friday.  We'll also eat at Ballydoyles for lunch.  Hopefully I'll find more fabrics for Connor's quilt at The Quilt Basket.  If not, then a trip to another quilt store (and IKEA) for lunch is planned for Tuesday. 

I can't go anywhere today.  My car is in the shop (again).  The engine light has gone off 3 times now, in the past few weeks.  Unfortunately , I need a new catalytic converter.  A very expensive fix.  Oh well.

Fun finds! Sew-in & July NewFO's

Since I'm headed out of town in the morning (have to drive youngest son's stuff back to college), I won't have time to write separate posts about all I've done.  Sorry.

Thursday was the regular sew-in day at the LQS.  I worked on my Harry Potter blocks, getting them ready to embroider.  Boy does it take a lot of time to transfer title names, and pick out thread colors for each book!

After sew-in, I stopped by a few thrift stores.  It was a very Harry Potter day!  Here are three of my big 'scores' for the day.

Harry Potter musical water globe from the 2nd movie

 My son wanted to take my Harry Potter tie I found a while back.  I told him that it was for my collection, but, that I'd keep my eye out for one for him.  Well.....

Gryffindor tye, with original tags

 I have a set of Dessert Rose dishes, that were 'salvaged' from the trash pile.  They had belonged to hubby's coworkers grandmother, and coworker didn't like them.  (set of 6, plus lots and lots of extras included).  Well, I do have 2 different platters, but, look what I found for $1.99.  Not a chip on it!

Dessert Rose platter

Friday evening, hubby and I went to the Oswego Antique Market.  After a supper of a yummy lobster roll, and a shrimp roll, I found a Singer oil can in great shape for only $5.  I've been wanting one for a few years now, but, I was unwilling to pay more than $5. 

my new (to me) Singer oil can

Saturday was the Pride of the Prairie sew-in.  I got lots of 'NewFO's' started.

some of the ladies at the sew-in

more ladies at the sew-in

7 preemie quilts cut out and pinned, ready to be stitched

The preemie quilts are due to be finished next Monday for my other guild.  Not sure if they will get done by then or not.  I forgot to take pictures of the 'outsides' of the quilts. 

I've also been asked by another of hubby's former coworkers if I can 'duplicate' the baby quilt I gave to her youngest daughter.  Now, I did NOT make this baby quilt, I cheated and bought it. 

baby quilt that has been 'loved' to death

Here is the stack of squares that I cut out so that I can duplicate the quilt.

squares to duplicate the 'loved to death' baby quilt

Yes, there are WAY more squares than I need.  I figured that while I was cutting, I could cut enough to make more than one quilt top. 

Here are some of the projects that some of the other ladies at the sew-in were working on.

trying to use up her patriotic fabrics

Maria's hexie quilt blocks

One lady brought these cute 'goodie' bags for everyone that came to the sew-in.

You Don't Have To Spend a 'MINT' To Have A Good Time!

I keep saying that I'm working on my Harry Potter blocks.  I have finally finished a few of them.  Here is proof.

embroidery finished

Magical Water Plants of the Mediterranean & Spiders & Their Habits

finished embroidery

Madcap Magic for Wacky Warlocks & Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches

Magical Drafts & Potions by Arsenius Jigger & Intermediate Transfiguration

embroidery finished

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find them by Newt Scamander &            Flesh-Eating Trees of the World by Hugh G. Forrest

 

 

An Anthology of Eighteenth Century Charms

Trying to figure out what titles to use for each book (and fabric) can be difficult.  I am having fun, though.  Hopefully I'll get back to paper piecing new blocks soon. 

The only other thing I've been working on lately (other than machines) is my string quilt for Quilts of Valor.  I keep forgetting to take pictures of it.  If I get a lot done at the sew-in next week, I'll try to remember to take pictures of it. 

So, until next time.....

"So much time, so little to do!  Stop, switch that!"

(Willy Wonka)