Purse-onality Fun 6 Morning Camp

Folded Fat Quarter bags

     This summer the theme for my purse camp was squares and rectangles.  I found a couple of patterns from Sew News magazine and one from a demonstration at a neighborhood ASG (American Sewing Guild) meeting that fit with my theme.

Square Affair bags

     I had planned on making three purses in four days.  Well the girls sewed much more quickly than I had anticipated so I had to get creative on the last day to make use of their leftover fabrics.

Monogrammed accessory bags

     The first day they made the Folded Fat Quarter bag.  We started with two coordinating fat quarters and cut 18" squares.  Then they sewed them together and with some creative folding they had a cute drawstring bag with pockets on the inside.

Norah's projects

     The following day they made the Square Affair.  I cut the pieces for them but they did all the sewing.  By the end of Tuesday's camp they had their second bag.

Drawstring bags

     On Wednesday they did machine appliqué and sewed up an accessory bag with a zipper.  On Thursday, our final day, they made some drawstring bags.  They determined the size they wanted and then we worked the math together to figured out how big to cut the pieces.  They even did bags with two fabrics so more math was needed.  Hailey and Norah even did some more machine appliqué.  We had a great time!

Baking Bread and Keeping Cool Camp

Hard at work

     Today was my Baking Bread and Keeping Cool camp.  It was a one day camp where the girls sewed a potholder and a hot mitt while also baking bread.

     We started in the morning with the potholder.  The girls layered batting with InsulaBrite and a backing fabric.  They then sewed on strips of fabric, quilting as they went.   After a bit of sewing we went into the kitchen to start on the bread.

Loren

      They measured the ingredients into gallon bags, closed them up and smushed the contents until they were all mixed.  Then a bit of kneading and into the loaf pans to rise.

Veronica

     Then back to the sewing where they finished their potholders and started on their hot mitts.  With a quick break to put the loaves in the oven it was back to sewing.  Another break to take out their loaves, my they smelled yummy and more sewing time.

Ellie

     Then it was finally time to taste their bread!  They enjoyed fresh baked bread with butter followed by cherries picked right off our tree.  Then a mad scramble to finish their hot mitts.  With a bit of help from me, all done.  Upset with myself that I didn't get pictures of their loaves of bread, they looked wonderful.  The girls said next year they want to learn to make pie.  Hmm, maybe with the cherries from the other tree??

Beginning Sewing June 2017

All finished

     Summer sewing camps are back in session.  The past three days I had the pleasure of sharing my love of sewing with Madelyn, Ella, Samantha and Maggie.  Three of them are the younger sisters of girls I have had previously in my classes.

Madelyn

     On Monday they learned the basics of the sewing machine by stitching on paper and then on fabric.  By the end of the day they had all earned their sewing machine driver's license which I presented to them on Tuesday morning.  On Tuesday they finished their sewing bags and got started on their shorts.

Ella

     By the end of camp on Wednesday, with a little help, they were all able to wear their shorts home. Some of them didn't have the hems but no big deal.

Samantha

     I did spend a bit more time ripping out stitches than usual but all was good.

Maggie

     The girls all went home with two completed projects, a 'Driver's License' and a big smile so it was another successful camp.

     Next up is Bread Camp, a couple of Purse Camps and then another Beginning Sewing camp the week of July 17.  There are still a couple of openings in that camp.

Outdoor Dining

                                       

     Finally nice weather has come to the Chicago area.  Over ten years ago we had a paver patio done in our backyard.  We bought a wrought iron set of tables and chairs at that time.  They have been fine, but not super comfortable.

Seating for the fire pit

      I decided we needed cushions for the chairs plus some pillows.  For the two non-swivel chairs I made the cushions with the orange fabric as the main fabric and the stripes on the sides and backs of the cushions.  A couple of yellow pillows make these more comfortable to sit and enjoy a fire on a cool evening.

Comfy seating to enjoy the nice weather

     For the swivel chairs at the table I reversed the fabrics and did the stripe on the main part with the solid on the sides and backs.  I like making the cushions slightly different to add some interest to the area.  Eventually there will be pillows on some of these chairs also.

Monogrammed appliqué placemats

     For the table top I made placemats out of the same fabric as the pillows.  I monogrammed them with an appliqué using the cushion fabric to tie it all together.  I did a total of eight with four solid and four striped.  For the binding I chose a cotton fabric, not the Sunbrella, because it has a better stretch on the bias to go around the curves.  Next up will be some matching napkins.  

     When we had the family over for a meal, everyone really enjoyed the new comfier seating.