Happy Valentine's Day!

Colorado

Colorado was great, It was nice seeing family! The trip there and back was a long 19 hours each way, but Riley did very well and slept more than I thought he would so that helped. The weather was nice, hot, but bearable. We had tons of fun just hanging out, swimming and doing a little shopping. 

The last whole day we were there we went out to a local lake for some swimming, a picnic lunch and some fun on my brother's boat. It was a blast!

The lake was surrounded by mountains most of the way around it and it was just gorgeous!

Riley had a ton of fun playing with his aunts, uncles and cousins.

B is absolutely adorable!  I couldn't get enough of her and it was really hard leaving knowing it would be at least five months before I would get to see her again.  Here she is laying on the Ruby Bird Baby Quilt I made for her.  Her mom and dad loved it so I know it will be used which is all I ask for!

Here she is making her "cheerio face" as her daddy calls it.  She does it all of the time and it is so cute!

This photo is more of the blanket she is on than actually of her, she was not very happy at the time (and excuse the poor photo.)  Back in March I made this self binding baby blanket, there are tons of tutorials out there, and matching burp cloths, bibs and wash cloths.  I had planned on sending them out for the baby shower, but then they didn't have one so I took them out along with the quilt and they were in full use by the time we left.  When we got out there I realized I didn't have any pics of them so this is all you get. 

While we were out there I took some time to do my niece's senior pictures.  I just wanted to share one with you all.  I can not believe she is a senior in high school!  I was in fifth grade when she was born and I remember it like it was yesterday...  Anyway, isn't she beautiful?  I realise I'm a bit biased, but come on.

Overall the trip was great and I miss them all so much already!  We may be going back out for Christmas or they may be coming here, we're not sure yet.  Either way I can't wait!

Have a great day!

Christine

Wordless Thursday?

To bad I wasn't more on my game to get this posted yesterday, but oh well.  Here are some wonderful (she said sarcastically) photos from the last week or so.

I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!

Christine

Retro Travel Bag

I was browsing through my Pinterest boards the other day and came across this cute Retro Travel Bag, perfect for my upcoming trip.  I was suddenly inspired to sew!  It was nice feeling that way again...I think maybe the idea of having something to blog about was also giving me a little push.

I left off the piping since I didn't have any and added lots of pockets, including one on the outside. I also made my own handles and made them long enough to carry the bag on my shoulder.

I didn't have the right sized zipper so I had to refigure the sizing of the side pieces and had to do quite a bit of readjusting to make it fit to the front and back pieces, but made it work in the end. It wasn't the right type of zipper either. The tutorial called for a parka zipper that completely came apart which was not what I had. So I attached the zipper in the same manner as I would on a zip pouch and the sewed on a piece of fabric that was the total width of the zipper and the fabric on each side of it.

Every piece of fabric except the two large lining pieces has heavy interfacing attached. The outer front and back as well as the large interior pieces and the bottom section all have fusible fleece. This baby is nice and sturdy! I also quilted the outer front, back and bottom pieces to keep everything together.

When it came to attaching the front and back to the side piece I threw the tutorial out the window. Good idea? Maybe, maybe not. To be honest there isn't a lot of visual detail when it comes to attaching the lining so I was a little confused. So instead of trying to figure it out I just came up with my own way.

For the front and back I basted the outer and inner pieces together so they wouldn't shift while I was sewing.  The zipper section and the bottom section were all assembled with the wrong sides of the inner and outer pieces sewn together.  With the outer sides together I pinned the top/bottom/sides ring to the front panel.  This took a lot of patients and because of the thickness I ended up with quite a few bent pins.  Pinning the on the back panel was even more frustrating, but I got it done.

My way of assembly left exposed raw edges and I had every intention to cover them with bias tape, but after realizing the thickness and struggling a bit to get it through my maching I decided to skip it.  So I went back and zigzag stitched over the edges to stop any fraying that would occur, if I had a serger I would have used that.  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

I added a bunch of pockets on the inside because I love pockets; they help keep me a little more organized.  On the front side I added some simple pockets using the same method I used for my Pleated Clutch.  I put in a large pocket that runs almost the length of the bag and centered a smaller one right on top of it. Then I stitched right up the center to divide them.

On the back side I added a zip pocket.  This was SO easy!  I thought this was a much more difficult process, but it's not.  I followed this tutorial.  Here are a few photos to show you just how easy it is!

Simple!

And there you have it!  My new Retro Travel Bag ready for its first trip.  I can't wait to pack this baby full.  I think it will be perfect for my hand stitching projects, MP3 player, snacks and small toys for Riley on the long trip!  Big enough to hold it all yet slim enough to fit in between the seats and not take up much room.  I love making bags and I'm sure this will be one that gets plenty of use!


Christine

Catchin' Up!

Gosh...I don't even know where to start! 
First of all, if you are reading this I just want to say "Thank you!" for not giving up on me.

Things have changed so much since I started this blog a year ago.  I'm not terribly comfortable going into all the details, but I will say we are currently living with my parents due to recent struggles.  My sewing space is a little sewing cabinate tucked in a corner.  I guess I should be happy I have any space at all.  It's just harder when I can't just go sit down and start sewing or just walk over my cutting table to cut something.  I don't know how you kitchen table sewers do it!

But anyway, I have been doing some sewing and quite a bit of handstitching.  I'm taking Handstitching Class and I'm plugging away at my Ruby Bird Baby Quilt.  I really need to get this quilt finished since this little cutie...

...was born just a few days ago and we leave for Colorado in less then 3 weeks! 

This quilt is for her, B, and I can't wait to finish it and get to meet my little brother's first baby!  I didn't expect to be so emotional about this, but I have been.  This is the first baby in the family that I haven't been able to meet with in hours of their birth and it has been really hard.  She will be a whole 3 1/2 weeks old be for I get to hold her!  It's killing me!

January

March

April

May

I'm currently working on the July block and should be finished tonight or tomorrow.  When I focus on working on them I can knock them out pretty quick.  Now that B is here I'm really feeling the pressure to get this quilt finished up which equals a lot of hand stitching!

Probably not the best time to take a handstitching class then, right?  Well I did anyway!  I'm gonna have quite a bit of catching up to do and I can't wait to do it!  I'm taking Rachel's Handstitched Class and I can't wait to finish the quilt that goes along with it.  It includes reverse applique, embroidery, english paper piecing, applique and hand quilting.  Now obviously I've done a couple of these, but learning the ones I haven't and having step by step instructions to make the Modern Medalion Quilt are so worth it!

So far I've done the center medalion which was done with reverse applique.

And I have it prepped to start the embroidery.  I'm having a hard time putting this aside.  I wanted to start on it right away and was plannin to, but I really need to get B's quilt done so this will have to wait.  The perk is that I will have plenty to keep me busy on the 17 hour trip out to Colorado and then another 17 hours home!  Just need to make sure I take some Dramamine...

I'm loving my choice to use Aunt Edna by Denyse Schmidt.  I've been picking up fat quarters and yardage evrey chance I get.  I LOVE this line and plan on using it for all of my Handstitched Class projects.

So there ya have it.  That's most of what I have been working on lately.  I have been keeping my Flickr up to date and post quite a bit on Instagram (christink35) so add me to your contacts or follow me if you would like.

Christine