Project Bags and Labels

Guess what came in Monday's mail?!?!?!?

slim, small envelope, from France

100 labels

It took a couple days to fill the order (they did it in good time).  It took 24 hours to get from France to US, but, it took 12 days to get from NY to my home.  :(  (no speed records set for the US Post Office).

Here is some 'up close' of the labels.  Sorry for the blurry pictures.  I tried several times, but, the labesl came out blurry every time.

'Teapots2Quilting' on the front

underside of label 'by Cheryl Parker'

*OOPS!*  I forgot to include a link to the labels. Ikaprint is the company, and they are out of France.  Here are the labels that I ordered. 

I was ready for those labels to arrive!  I got started stitching the labels and binding onto all 10 Project Bags.  It is a slow process, since I'm not used to stitching BOTH sides of the binding down by machine.  All those Clover clips and fussing with everything made my arms sore.  I got 2 bags done on Monday afternoon.  The first two bags are using one of the 'Ugly' fabrics from my little quilt guild's Ugly Fabric Exchange.  The 'ugly' fabric is the wild flowers showing thru the window of the bags.  Both of these bags are the same, except that I quilted the flower fabrics differently.

First 2 Project Bags finished, with labels

up close of one of the bags with the label on the left side

On Tuesday, I stitched the rest of the labels on the bags, and started stitching the bindings on.  I got 6 more bags finished.

These two bags are different fabrics.  One used the orphan blocks from the freebie table at my large quilt guild.

one of these bags is not like the other.....

treadle fabric thru the window

using orphan blocks to make this bag

These next two bags are the same, except that the zippers are different (one pastel, one hot pink).  I got these fabrics a few years ago, when I got 3 large bags full of fabrics at the local thrift store.  I've been slowly making projects with some of these fabrics.

sewing themed Project Bags

up close of one bag

If you want to see the backings I used for these project bags, check out this post.

It is a well known fact that I collect vintage sewing machines (and sew with them, too).  When I find sewing themed fabrics, I HAVE to buy some.  Since the majority of my vintage machines are Singer's, you can guess why I had to have some of these fabrics.

Singer fabric bags

first Singer bag

second Singer bag

These last bags are made from several different sewing themed fabrics that I've collected.  They aren't the same fabric line, but, I thought they went well together.  I got up this morning, and stitched the last bit of binding down on each of these bags.

last 2 project bags

first bag

second bag

10 Project Bags FINISHED!  I got the pattern from By Annie.

pattern

I'll make these again, but, I did make some changes as I made these bags (added fusible interfacing to zipper fabrics, and used the 'main' fabric for what shows thru the window, not what is on the back (that won't get looked at).  I also decided to use a solid piece of fabric on the bottom, instead of piecing a strip of fabrics. 

Oh yes, these Project Bags were made on my 1939 Singer 221 Featherweight, Betty Sue.  I did 'cheat' and did the machine quilting for the backings on my Janome 4800QC.  I do love 'needle down' while machine quilting.

Betty Sue, stitching Project Bags together

 Hopefully I'll be off shortly, to sew with friends at a local quilt shop, Sewing Etc.  I'm waiting for the AC man to arrive, and fix our AC first. 

Table Runners

I've been busy stitching this week.  Other than buying matching zippers for the Project Bags, I haven't worked on those anymore. 

At my March guild meeting, someone put a completed table runner top on the freebie table.  I grabbed it quickly.

table runner top from freebie table

It was time to finally baste and quilt this.  I pulled some red polka dot fabric for the backing, and some red Kona for the binding, and proceeded to straight line quilt this.

completed table runner

showing backing fabric

 I think this will be fun to use under one of my vintage sewing machines.


 Back in February, I designed and made a table runner top for a friend.  After I finished the top, I put it aside to make 7 purses.  It was time to baste and quilt this table runner, too.

finished table runner

showing backing fabric

I'm in two 'Ugly' fabric exchanges.  One of them is for the Michigan TOGA.  This is one of my vintage sewing machine gatherings.  The next TOGA is in June.  I have to have a project made with the Ugly fabric by then.  It was time for me to finally start.

I had got a pattern off the freebie table (I LOVE the freebie table) at guild, back in February.

I liked the star in a star blocks, and thought I could make a table runner, using my Ugly fabric.  My Ugly fabric is a black on black.

Ugly fabric for MI TOGA

I don't think this is ugly.  I didn't think my fabrics last year were ugly either (both large scale polka dots). 

I made three blocks, using Civil War reproduction scraps to go with my ugly fabric.  Here are my blocks

I was going to add the sashing, like in the pattern, but, I don't know if I want to do all that applique or  not.  I also don't know if I want to make more of the center stars, that are the cornerstones.

up close of sashing and blocks on pattern

I was thinking I might set the blocks on point, instead.  Decisions, decisions.....

On Tuesday, I went to sew at Kelly's quilt shop, Sewing, Etc.  Kelly was cutting up fabrics to make a demo quilt with 10 inch squares.  She gave me the scraps.

scraps from Kelly

I'd just looked up a block on The Quilter's Cache.   I hadn't finished the star in a star blocks yet, and was still thinking about the Ugly fabric exchange.  I found a block, called Michigan, on the site.  What a great block to use some of those scraps.

Michigan block from The Quilter's Cache

I was supposed to come up with a 12.5" block for another groups Block of the Month, and, this works for both projects.  Here is my finished block, using the ugly fabric, and Kelly's scraps.

Michigan block, finished

I decided that this block needed something, so that it could become a finished project.  I added a small border, using the ugly fabric, and then, cut 2 large squares, that Kelly had left with the scraps.  I machine quilted it, and bound it with the ugly fabric, to make a 19" square table topper.

finished table topper, using 'Ugly' fabric from MI TOGA

up close of the quilting

showing the backing fabric

Woohoo!  Another finish!  That makes 3 finished table runners/toppers, all using fabrics from my stash, scraps, or Ugly fabric, from the exchange.  I've never considered myself a 'scrappy' quilter, since I don't usually use my scraps.  Most of the time, my scraps just sit in boxes or bags, when I finish the quilt.  This year, I've been using scraps for several different projects. 

Now to get back to those Project Bags.  One of the reasons I hadn't done anymore on them, was that the vinyl was 'folded' and I've been trying to get it smooth.  That takes time, and heat, and more time.  I think the vinyl is ready to be cut now. 

Last of the Pin Cushion Thread Catchers, etc

I did a demo on pin cushion thread catchers at the Michigan TOGA last weekend.   I had 7 different pin cushion thread catchers, in various stages of completion.  Well, I've finished all 7 pin cushion thread catchers.  There are NO unfinished pin cushion thread catchers at my house.  Yipee!  That means I've completed 18 pin cushion thread catchers THIS YEAR! (some were started last year).

Here are the last 7 pin cushion thread catchers.

so you can see the pin cushion parts

so you can see the thread catcher part

Two of these were for the Ugly fabric challenge from the Michigan TOGA.  I had made sewing machine mats with my ugly fabrics, and the pin cushion thread catchers were 'bonus' projects.  I didn't finish them before the TOGA, since I needed them for the demo.  Here are my completed Ugly fabric challenge projects.

sewing machine mat and pin cushion thread catcher #1

sewing machine mat and pin cushion thread catcher #2

I am showing them with my 1927 Singer 15 hand crank, that I made them with.  Our projects were supposed to be made with a 'people powered' sewing machine (treadle or hand crank). 

I found I need 10 more string blocks to make my pillow cover to go with my Tulip Fields quilt.  They are half done.  I want to get these finished, and stitched together, so that I can take the quilt to the longarm quilter. 

What are you working on this week????

2016 Michigan TOGA

I attended the Michigan TOGA this weekend, in Battle Creek.  The festivities start on Friday evening, with dinner out for anyone who arrives early, and end on Sunday morning, with breakfast for anyone who's still around.  I was there for all of it :)

A TOGA is a gathering of Treadle On vintage sewing machine collectors (one vintage machine starts a collection).   There are TOGA's held all across the country.  I've been lucky enough to attend several of them, in several locations, over the years.  This is my third year at the Michigan TOGA.

Saturday is the main day for the Michigan TOGA.  We all meet at Sharon's home.  LOTS of lovely machines in Sharon's collection for us to drool over (pictures of them at these two previous posts here and here).

Patience gave a great demo on sewing machine tension.  I really needed this, since my 'Victor' treadle hasn't been working properly for some time now.   During the demo, I finally figured out why.  I bought a machine that uses a class 15 bobbin case, but, the bobbin case was missing.  I 'borrowed' Victor's bobbin case, and put another bobbin case in Victor, later.  The bobbin case I put in Victor was too tight.  Everything stitches nicely now!

Esther working on her hand crank

Suzanne, listening to the demo

Patience, teaching the tension class (with Mary Ellen looking on)

Cathy and Shar, watching the tension demo

Diana, listening to the demo

all the stitches I made, trying to fix Victor's tension

Patience did a great demo class.  We all really learned a lot about the tension on our machines.  Thanks Patience!

Of course, at a TOGA, there is food and raffle prizes. 

waiting for lunch to be ready

raffle table

some of the machines for the raffle table

another machine, and goodies for the raffle

hmmm....wonder what is in this sack?

I didn't get the mystery sack, and, I wasn't in the same room as the person who won it, so, I don't know what was in it:(

A couple of hubby's also attended the TOGA.

Harry & Charlie

We had the block exchange.  Seven of us participated this year (no pictures of me and my block, sorry).

Sharon and her block

Carol

Beth

Diana

Linda

Suzanne

What's a TOGA without someone to host it!?!  Here is our hostess with the mostess!  Thanks for hosting us, Sharon!

Sharon, whom's home is where we meet

A couple local ladies also came.

oops, I didn't get their names, sorry

Last year, we decided to have an 'Ugly' fabric challenge.  We could bring 1 or more 'ugly' fabrics, and exchange them.  We had to make something with the 'ugly' fabrics we got, and bring them back to this year's TOGA.   Here are the projects that came back this  year.

Diana made a headband with one of the ugly fabrics I brought last year

Suzanne used the ugly fabric she got, and also used one of her sisters ugly fabrics (that I donated last year) for the sashing for her little quilt

Carol used one of her ugly fabrics for her exchange block (I donated this fabric last year)

Carol with her quilt top, using all 4 of her ugly fabrics from last  year

my first ugly fabric, the large polka dots, made into a sewing machine mat

my 2nd ugly fabric, the polka dots.  I also made 2 'bonus' projects, but, forgot to take pictures of them)

Sharon with her 'hobo' purse, that she made with her ugly fabrics

Shar, with one of the aprons she made, with one of her ugly fabrics

Shar modeling her first apron, while the 2nd one is in the bag

Shar's 3rd ugly fabric apron

Beth's quilt, using her ugly fabric (the pink in the left star)

We also drew new 'Ugly' fabrics.  Our projects are due at the TOGA next year.  I lucked out again, and got a great fabric.

me and the fabric I drew this year

I did a demo on how to make pin cushion thread catchers.  I didn't take any pictures (of course), but, you can learn by checking out the tutorial above.  My two 'bonus' projects using my two 'ugly' fabrics were pin cushion thread catchers, to match the sewing machine mats.  The pin cushion thread catchers were part of my demo, and aren't finished yet. 



Here are some more random pictures from the TOGA.

Sharon and Diana

Sharon and Cathy

Somehow I missed getting a picture of Tina, so, I'm showing a picture of her from 2013.  Somehow I missed getting a picture of her last year, too. 

Sandra, Tina and Shar, at the 2014 Michigan TOGA

I did want to show one of the items I got off the raffle table.  It's the only machine I came home with this year, that I didn't bring.

White Rotary case

White Rotary #FR2369345

I looked at the manual, and, some pictures fell out, along with an instruction sheet & threading hooks for a Singer Touch & Sew machine)

I wonder who these boys are?

more bobbins and a bobbin case

rewired White friction motor and a random foot pedal

I did plug the machine it, but, something must be loose.  Maybe hubby can figure it out later. 

Hope all of you had as fun a weekend as I did!