Who doesn't love a free bag pattern and one with a bow no less....

When I saw this bag pattern on line, I just had to make it.  Not that I didn't have enough to do but I put everything aside and got to it.

You can find the actual bag pattern here:  Cheri did a great job on the pattern and with her tutorial

I did not follow any of it....we had a thunderstorm last night which kicked us off the internet until a few hours ago.  I did have the pattern already printed but couldn't get it to work so...

I went off on my own.

So what you see here is my version of her bag.

I actually wanted a smaller bag but hey....it is done and I actually love it.

Maybe I will do a smaller one later...or maybe not.

-------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for all of your kind comments about the Fabric Shop and my patterns.  I really am over it....and since thinking about it come to realize it was just her personality.  I have been in her shop before and she truly has not been overly friendly and maybe she was just too busy with what she was doing to pay too much attention to what I had to show her.  Or maybe she was just tired of people wanting a piece of her.  What ever the reason it is ok....life goes on but I sure appreciate all of you and your kind words and support.

HAVE YOU EVER DONE SOMETHING THAT YOU WERE AFRAID TO DO?

                                                   Well...
                                                       I
                                                    Did today!




I went to the fabric store here in town (fairly new).  I
Took a few of my patterns in.
Asked her if she would be willing to sell them.

She has maybe 4 patterns all together in her store.

She didn't even look up from what she was doing.

She said that she has people coming in all of the time wanting her to sell items like crochet (yes, that is the example she used).

She said if she said yes to me she would have to say yes to everyone else.

I was in shock....crochet.

This is not crochet...these are patterns.

I told her well....I thought since these were patterns.

Still NO!!!

It took every ounce of my being to just walk in there and ask.  I have been meaning to for months, got my patterns all ready....and finally took the plunge today

and she says no.

She would come out on the winning end.  She has no money invested.  And.....where does she get her patterns from?

Oh well....I still feel kinda raw from it and my insides kinds shake but tomorrow I will be over it.

So if you own a store, where do you get your patterns?  Do you accept people off the street?

That is my soap box for today.



Making Chocolate Chip cookies.....

Tomorrow is another day.

EVERYTHING IS POPPING UP GECKOS

I know, I know....quite rolling those eyes....

Posting several days in a row? 

What is going on here?

Well....everything is popping up Geckos!!!

Cut these out last night while watching "Deadliest Catch".

Even tho geckos are totally harmless, there is something about them running around your house

that kinda creeks a person out.

In Amerika Samoa I had a gecko that loved this quilt.  It was on the back of one of my couches.

Anytime I washed it, he would make sure he smelled the fresh scent of my

laundry soap.  

Then there was the close encounter of the worst kind in the bathroom.

I kid you not....

at least I was in the right place for any leakage.

I am getting ready for the Island Batik Ambassador's Blog Hop in August.

Using the awesome Tradewinds Collection by Island Batik

Yes....I get to fondle these lovelies.....and my heart does a flip just looking at this picture.
The only Hotel in Amerika Samoa is called the Tradewinds....what a fitting name for such wonderful fabrics.

PUPPY LOVE

Don't anyone drop your teeth,

fall over dead....

I know it is a shock that I have posted more in the last two weeks than I have for several months.

I have made another puppy.

This is for a baby shower, the navy fabric is off the PJ's of this gals father who passed away years ago.

I know, I put buttons on this buggar...but he is not suppose to be a toy, just for display.

Bowl Love

Isn't this felted bowl just adorable????

Barbara from Pinelands Treasures made this.

I am now the lucky owner of this bowl.

Need I say that I LOOOOOVVVVE

IT!!

Thanks so much Barbara, will cherish it always.

DONE DEAL LUCILLE!!!!

This is my July Challenge

and it is done 

well

the top is.....

I am so excited and can't wait to quilt this.

So...

Heather at Books and Quilts

and

 Hetty at Crafts and Stuff

took on the challenge as well....

Stay tune for my August Challenge....

trust me there is a lot to chose from.

BIGGEST SCREW UP EVER.....

If someone can mess something up, it will be me.

I have my hand raised!!

Biggest Screw up!

Here is my Island Batik project for next month!!

I have been saving it...had it done early....

I thought I could relax

NOT

I had made this for the August Blog hop but the full information didn't come out until after I had this finished.

Isn't my little hula girl cute?

                                                    Here is a close of of some of the quilting...

I got the hula girl off the free coloring book page here: and just enlarged it.

Even tho this is a great project and fits in the theme which we didn't have yet.

The theme will be seaside....

but wrong fabric....

Oh yes...

you heard it here first.

yep.....

Biggest screw up ever!!!

The main fabrics used here was "Lavish" and some Desert Rose by Island Batik.

Truly it is not the end of the world.....great project,

lots of fun.

just have to get back to the drawing board and come up with

another project.

I have to admit, I have the most fun when I am coming up with something of my own.

It is like the world stands still and heaven forbid if my husband wants supper during one of these "Aha" moments.

So meet me here next month on the 22nd for my Island Batik project for the blog hop

I will be using Tradewind fabrics.  I love these fabrics, they remind me of Samoa and the hotel there is called Tradewinds...so fitting name for sure.

UPDATE ON MY PERSONAL JULY UFO CHALLENGE

I am working in squares that are 8 x 8 which = 64 two and a half inch triangles.

I need 4 of these 8 x 8 squares for the sides of my quilt which =  256 two and a half inch triangles  plus

 12 x 8 = 96  which added to the 256 = 352 two and a half inch triangles just for the two sides.

I have that right now!!!  Yea!!! 

Then for the top and bottom I need the same 256 plus

80 two and a half inch squares which = 336

this side is one 2 1/2" shorter than the other that is why there is a difference.

I have that yea!!!!

Now I am working on the end caps (that is what I am calling the end squares)

I need two 8 x 8 which equals 128

which makes the total 2 1/2" squares that I need just for the border

806 two and a half inch squares

I am not a mathematician and if my calculations are somewhat off....

No matter to me, I can add or take away but I know I will be close....

so no worries in that department 

Just giving you an idea of what I am up to 

and 

how

sick

I

am

of 

these

squares!!!!

I have a week left and I am determined.  While calculating this I wanted to cry because I

thought I almost had it but found an error in my figures (go figure)

so back to the sewing machine..

You can cheer me on....

seen chocolate

send a diet cherry limeaide

send a paddy wagon!!!

MUSICAL SEWING MACHINE

We all have heard or even played musical chairs before....

Well...I am playing musical sewing machines.

Here is my Pfaff....I loved this machine but it causes me grief.  Terrible straight stitch...

but

I can blanket stitch and free motion quilt without too much worry.

Then here is my embroidery machine.  It does do the blanket stitch but is too much hassel to do so.  Those who know me know that take my blanket stitch away and I would go crazy.

This machine does a wonderful straight stitch and I just learned today how to free motion quilt on it.
                                                  We are getting closer.

 I borrowed this Pfaff from my mother and it only likes cotton threads, top and bottom.  Then to my dismay it does not do a blanket stitch.  So there it sits.

Why don't I take my machine to the shop?

I want to

but I have things to do...things to get done.  So for right now I go between the two machines

and sometimes pull my hair out.

I found this panel and decided to quilt it up.

Oh my stinking gosh....if I could just keep the threads from breaking on both machines.

I am nearly bald.....(smiling)

Then I made this baby changing pad.  It has a fleece backing.

I attached an elastic band on the side to wrap around the pad when it is folded in half and rolled up.

If I were to make another one, I think I will encase the elastic with fabric..

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

It is hard to believe that Christmas will be here before you know it.

When did July happen?

So this month for the Island Batik Ambassadors it is "Christmas in July"!!

!!

I hope I can get more than this runner done but....

as we know

LIFE HAPPENS!!!

"Ringing Bells"

You can find the pattern on the Accuquilt site  or my personal craftsy site 

The fabrics used in this is "Holiday Happenings"

As you can see there are a lot of lovely fabrics to chooose from.  Island Batik sure makes some awesome fabrics. I also used Superior threads, did I tell you that I am in love with their threads?  Fantastico is the thread line I used.

This runner is really easy to make and even easier with the Accuquilt Go.

It is 100 degrees and thinking
of Christmas somehow makes it
cooler outside (yep...all in my head)....

PS....can't you just see this design as a wedding present with their names or even on the tables as decoration?

                                          

WHAT DOES A PERSON DO AT TWO IN THE MORNING WHEN SLEEP JUST WILL NOT COME?

That is a no brainer!!

Quilt!

Blanket Stitch!

Yep.....when these hazel eyes just can't take a wink......

I put my sewing machine to work!

I am working on my Island Batik Challenge for the month.  Christmas in July.

Holiday Happenings Collection by Island Batik

Here is what I have so far on my personal challenge for the month.

I am working in groups of eight.

Each square will be eight by eight which will give me 64 two and a half squares.

I never said Math was my strong suit....in fact never take my word for anything when it comes to math.

So far I decided that I need 4 of these 8 x 8 squares....you do the math.

I am now sewing the  8 x 8 squares together.  I need four for each side and then the end caps.

Okay, my brain is smoking right now...enough of that.

I was asked to cover some pillows...just a simple cover....

I had to quilt them (couldn't just put two pieces of fabric together like she wanted).  Then I made it so the back opens up and she can wash the pillows.  

I have also done ten fabric microwave bowls....no picture....too lazy to go over there and take a picture.

Have a fabulous week-end!