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Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Quilt Retreat March 2019

Store sample as inspiration

     Quilt Retreat March 2019 started on a Thursday this year.  I picked up my friend Kris and we headed up to Hillpoint WI to spend time sewing and eating with our other friends.

First quilt top done at retreat

     Of course we have to stop at a couple of our favorite quilt stores on the way up.  First was Patched Works in Elm Grove.  I bought a Halloween strip set that was on sale plus some pretty sparkly Christmas fabric.

Frustrating pinwheel quilt top

     Next stop was Mill House Quilts in Waunakee.  There I fell in love with a large print fabric but didn't know what I could do with it.  I saw a sample hanging in the shop that used large squares alternating with 4-patch blocks.  Perfect!  With help from Kris I chose several coordinating fabrics.

Another baby quilt

     Finally we made it to the retreat.  That afternoon/evening I put together my first quilt top.  I already had made the blocks at the last retreat so it was just a matter of arranging them on the wall and sewing them together.

Eileen's Cranberry Chutney quilt top

     I spent all day Friday and Saturday piecing my next top.  I had cut the pieces at home but after sewing together the strips I had to cut the triangles to make the blocks.  As I was about half way through sewing the triangles together, Kris looks over and says they don't look like the picture.  Sure enough, I had sewn them together wrong.  Instead of looking like a pinwheel they looked liked a bullseye.  Thankfully Eileen, Joni, Nancy, Carol, Kris and Hilda all helped me take them apart.  Great to be sewing with friends.

A friend's quilt top in primary colors

     I put them together the correct way but the instructions didn't give you any directions for pressing or adding on the corner pieces.  Very frustrating.  I was so glad to finally get it together.  On Sunday, I did get most of another quilt top done, just a baby size.  I added the borders after getting home.  It was great to be with my friends even though the sewing didn't work out as planned.  Of course the conversation and sharing of ideas is what the retreat is all about.  I love seeing what everyone else is working on.

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Joyful Hearts Quilt

Finished quilt

     I bought the fabric for this quilt at a quilt show in April of 2016 just because I liked it.  One strip set was called Beach House and the other was Chocolate Milk.  I wasn't sure what I was going to make with the fabrics until I saw my friends making the Amazing Jelly Roll quilt from 3 Dudes from youtube in March of 2017.  At the March 2018 retreat I made the blocks.

Block Detail

       Then my sister had her wedding shower and she was asking for brown and turquoise items for her bedroom.  That is when I decided these blocks would make a great wedding quilt for her.  It needed to be bigger so I went through my stash and found fabric for the border and cornerstones but nothing for sashing.

Border detail

     I headed to my local quilt store to look for fabric and found the perfect one at Quilter's Destination.  At the October retreat, I put everything together.

Label one


     I cut 3 1/2" strips for the sashing and 8 1/2" strips for the border.  I then took it to my friend Joni to get it quilted.  I made labels with my embroidery machine and added those to the back.  The backing is flannel from JoAnn Fabrics.

Label two

      I finally got the binding all hand stitched by Christmas but I haven't had a chance to give it to my sister yet.  Hopefully I will see her before their first anniversary.

Quilting detail

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

St Patrick's Day T-shirts


Happy St Patrick's Day

     For St. Patrick's Day this year, I made the grandkids t-shirts.  I bought the fabric from The Fabric Fairy.  The designs are from Designs by JuJu.

Teddy bear design
Teddy bear shirt

     One day while the two older grandkids were at our house, they chose the designs they wanted for their shirts and then they chose the designs for their cousins' shirts.

Leprechaun design
Leprechaun shirt

     They picked a teddy bear applique design for the youngest one and a Leprechaun for the older brother.
Rainbow design
Rainbow shirt

     My granddaughter chose a rainbow while my grandson chose Sham Rockin' for his.  I used the t-shirt patterns from Kwik Sew and cut all the pieces.  Then I did the embroidery designs and assembled the t-shirts.

Sham Rockin'
Sham Rockin' shirt

     Double sided iron tape made the hems quick and easy.  So fun to do these projects for them.

Fusible tape

Applique design in progress

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Summer Sewing 2019



     My summer sewing schedule has been set.  I will be offering 3 different sessions of Beginning Sewing.  The first will be the week of June 10, the second the week of July 8 and the third the week of July 22. Want to learn the basics of sewing?  Earn your sewing machine "driver's license" with this beginning sewing class. After learning the basics of operating a sewing machine, you will make a Patchwork Pillow, a Drawstring Bag and a Book Bag using the Avery Lane Designs program.   Come learn from a Trained Sewing Educator in a small size class that allows for personal attention.  All supplies are included.

Groovy Backpack

Zippered pouch

     For my returning students I have several camps to choose from this year.  First up is Groovy Backpack Plus the week of June 17.  You will make this totally cool backpack from pre-quilted fabric, perfect for a trip to the shopping mall or toting your supplies to class.  You will also make a zippered pouch to keep your small items from getting lost.


      Next up is Garden Party the week of June 24.  Summer and flowers for you and your 18” doll.  You will make matching skirts for yourself and your doll along with appliqueing matching t-shirts.  A drawstring tote will complete the ensemble.

Easy Peasy skirt

Headband

Reversible bag


     Next is Summer Cotton Fun the week of July 15.  Cotton is the fabric for summer.  Cool and comfy in the heat.  We will make an ‘Easy Peasy Summer Skirt’ a cloth headband and a reversible bag all from cotton fabrics.  Buy coordinating fabrics and you will have the basis of a new summer outfit.

Sewing caddy

Memo board

Hanging organizer

    The last week long camp is Organize Your Sewing Stuff.  Is it the week of August 12.  Are your sewing supplies taking over everywhere?  Come join us and make some projects that will help you corral all your 'stuff'.  We will make a multi-pocketed fabric slipcover that will turn an ordinary paint can into a wonderful caddy for your sewing tools.  We will make a fabric memo board that will hold all those ideas you cut out of magazines.  We will also make an organizer to hang in your closet that will hold all your 'projects in process'.  Soon your sewing area will be 'neat as a pin'.

Ice cream in a bag

Denim apron

     One last camp is a one day camp on July 29.  Is it Ice cream Fun.  I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.  What is more satisfying than ice cream in summer?  You will make ice cream in a bag plus a neat apron made from just one leg of a pair of jeans.

     The week long camps meet Monday thru Thursday from 9am until noon.  The one day camp is from 9am until 2pm.  Please call me at 847-543-7907 or email celeste@sewmuchfun.biz for more information.  Looking forward to sharing my love of sewing with you this summer.  Celeste