Shaggy Rag Scarf

This is the first shaggy rag scarf that I made. The back is a purple batik flannel and the front is strips of calico cottons, batiks and some flannel. Someone e-mailed me last night who had looked through some of my purses on my Etsy store. She was interested in the shaggy rag totes that I had sold in the past. So, I will be making some more soon. Enjoy the photos.

Quilted Pillow for Gabby!

I met the nicest family at the Spanish Market at the Heard Museum in Phoenix about four years ago. Art carves crosses and religious statues out of Elk antler. Art and his wife have a very special daughter named Gabby and I started bringing her little things that I had made. They did not attend the show this year, so I went ahead and sent this pillow to New Mexico last Friday. I just love the Our Lady of Guadalupe fabric and also found some very floral fabrics to work around it. I machine quilted the front and back and sewed on some satin flowers. I used a varigated lighter thread over the red material on the back and it just popped! If you would like to check out Art's art... please visit www.gabbysdad.com .

Quilted Backpack with Beads!

I recently finished this backpack and it only took 9.5 hours! I finally decided to start tracking the time on some of the larger items. I think if I worked earlier in the day, I might be moving a little faster! I bought the material for the exterior of the bag at a quilting store in Payson, AZ and the material for the inside of the bag at Quiltz in Phoenix. The outside and inside lining are both machine quilted with batting and I hand stitched the beads on the front. I triple stitched and triple knotted almost every bead. If one gets knocked off, the others will still be on there! Anyhow, here are a couple of photos.

Recent Trip To Pine and Strawberry, AZ

If you drive through Strawberry and hang a left at the Strawberry Lodge, you will soon be at the Fossil Creek Creamery! Take Fossil Creek Road all the way back until it becomes a dirt road turning to the left. Keep going and you will see the signs on the left side of the road.

They have dairy goats, lamas, a yurt, a great little gift shop and store that was recently opened. They sell natural goat milk cheeses, fudge, goat milk soap and lotion. A must see if you are in the area. Want to escape the buzz of the city, go take a hike with a lama!

Little Girl Tote off to New Hampshire!

This sweet little tote was sent off to New Hampshire this past Monday. A woman bought it for her daughter to give as a birthday gift. She told me it will be her first purse and she hopes that she keeps it for a long time. So sweet!

Teddy Bear Donation

I recently donated a strip pieced, machine quilted bear to the Teddy Bear Ministry at the church I've been attending. The bears will be delivered to hospitals or to be shared with individuals in need. I have been wanting to donate some bears and this opportunity presented itself. Like all great things, it just happened. I hope someone enjoys this special teddy!

Patchwork Quilted Backpack

I just love this backpack and the shades of purple are really nice. I sewed strips of material together, cut them and then reassembled them. The exterior and linings are both machine quilted with batting. This will make the bag hold shape nicely. There are four very large pockets on the inside and plently of room for everything you may need for a little day trip. I sewed the loops for the straps more than a few times for strength. This is also an item that may be machine washed, towel dried and then tumbled in the dryer. I will be making more of these featuring mountain and pine tree themes. I had seen a pattern for a similar bag, but it was much smaller. I decided to make the bag quilte a bit larger and not use an exterior pocket because I did not want anything to interfere with my patchwork. I did not use a pattern making this piece.

Machine Quilted Toddler Blanket

I machine quilted this blanket and the back is one large, continuous pattern! I strip quilted sections and my goal was to make the pattern very random. It is quilted with one layer of cotton batting. I machine washed it and the cotton puckered very nicely giving it a bit of a vintage look.

Quilted Christmas Stockings... Already!!!

Here are a few Christmas stockings that I have almost finished. The only last thing to do would be to sew on the little piece of material these would hang from. I bought the printed fabric at a quilting store and used the front as a pattern. I also had to cut material for the backs and two pieces for the lining on each stocking. The front and backs are machine quilted and I added a faux fur cuff on the top. I am working on six stockings right now that are all pieced together and in the process of being machine quilted.

New Quilted Items!

I have been busy sewing and making quilted purses, totes, backpacks and wristlets. I made a couple of quilted teddy bears recently and they have been a hit. I made a backpack out of a patchwork design recently and it came out nice. I made a blanket for a little girl that my son goes to school with and hope to have more requests for special gifts soon.

I have completed three Christmas stockings already! I have several more that I am piecing together and getting ready to machine quilt. Wow, I had no idea how much fabric I would use on some of these projects.

Hmmm, I should be focusing on Halloween and Fall first and do have some projects in the works. I have purchased a new, used Brenina with that stitch regulator and I can do so many creative free motion designs. I have done some pumpkin and sunflower designs. My dining room table will never be the same!