Finally - Vacation!

I'm finally enjoying some much needed vacation time to work on those "someday" projects.  While everyone else is getting ready to get back to school or get kids off to college, I'm enjoying some  post-wedding free time to do whatever I want :) I'm excited to have some time to hide out in my 'cave'!

It's very hot and humid in Minnesota this Labor Day weekend, so I am choosing to stay indoors where it's cool and sew.  My new tatting print fabric was calling me to do SOMETHING with it, so I made a few Dorset Bags. Cuz I need 4 of them, ha!  Gifts maybe?

This pattern makes my favorite tatting bag because of the two outside pockets - so handy for needle cases, extra thread and scissors.  

I'm thinking I can make some table toppers with this fabric as well, and add a tatted edge.  Maybe a new larger carry-all bag?  I also have some dish towels to make and another quilt to bind - not to mention enough fabric to work on another quilt (or ten).  What to do?!

I should prepare for Christmas.  I'm always too late to make much, but maybe I could change that?  In any case, here's to a productive week of Bluebird time!

Two of My Favorite Hobbies

... are sewing and tatting.  And even though I have an important wedding to attend in TWO days, my brain is planning some sewing. Tatting bags? Or maybe a crazy quilt!  Whatever I end up making, I just had to share a picture of today's delivery that arrived amid my beautification appointments :)

After we gushed with adoration over her tatting bag, one of our Twin Cities Tatters found out where the fabric came from and shared the info.  Awesome fabric.  I can't wait to make something with both.  (Or at least decide what to make, ha!)

Thanks Marlene ;) I needed another project!

Love and Love!

He loved the quilt.

We had ice cream from Dairy Queen to celebrate the Big 3-0 birthday yesterday.  The birthday boy is thrilled to have his own quilt - and not to have to use the pink one or the zebra print one that my daughter so kindly shares.  Ha!  And for his birthday, he ... yep ... went fishing.

We girls also loved the bachelorette party for the girl in love :) Saturday, the bride-to-be and her wonderful friends gathered for one last hoo-rah before the wedding.  We painted and drank wine while chatting for about 3 hours.  I definitely do not know how to paint.  Especially not clouds.  It's harder than it seems like it should be!  I think I was following directions (to a fault) rather than thinking about the picture I was creating.

My cousin joined us for the day - she IS an artist.  Her clouds are perfect.

On with the last couple of weeks before the big day!  

More with Sulky Blendables

I've squeaked out another tatted cross with the Sulky Blendables.  

Mary Konior's Large Cross is one of my favorite crosses, but it truly is 'large'.  I've tatted it in the past with size 20 thread and it ends up as big as a page in a book!  (Ok, my book does suggest size 40 thread, but I have such an abundance of beautiful colors in size 20). The sulky thread is the perfect size, and as I've said before, it would compare to size 40.  Maybe I should start using the recommended thread sizes?  

In any case, a beautiful pattern is even more wonderful with the right thread!

Secret Project - Done!

Remember the Secret Quilt from my post back here? I just finished sewing the binding on it. Yay! The birthday is exactly one month from today, so I am so pleased and relieved to not have to rush in between wedding preparations.  I love it when plans come to fruition without setbacks!

Can you see the quilting?  Fish jumping.

Here's a better look ...

I was so excited to see that option when I was choosing the stitch pattern for the quilting - a perfect finish.  The only thing left to make is the label for the back with the date and quilt info, along with the birthday message.  Just need to get the right permanent pen. There is a new Hobby Lobby that just opened nearby that needs some investigation anyway ;)