Page 4 of 19

Fall is in the air!

Fall is in the air here in Edmonds.  After an unusually warm summer it’s time to get into the fall routines. I’m working on that for sure.

I have done lots of odds and ends of sewing here but really haven’t had the inclination to post much. I’m looking forward however to some updates here and continue to make a record of my finishes.  I’ve got lots of plans for the fall so we’ll see how I do.

One of my finishes this summer has been a second baby quilt. This is for the friend of daughter #2 who is expecting her daughter #2. When I started this I really only expected to test the block idea and size but after I had finished several of the blocks I decided that I really like it and it would be perfect for this new baby. I did struggle with the binding for a bit but finally settled on this green stripe. At first after it was done I thought I had made a mistake because it’s so much bolder than I had anticipated but I do think I like it and it does go with the fabrics.

Starfish Alley

 

 

 

 

 

As I was searching for this picture I also found many others.

Another project from earlier in the summer was another pillowcase. This was also for a Girl Scout friend.

Starfish Alley

For the love of Pinterest

For the love of Pinterest..  I’ve heard this so many times.  It fills my head with ideas and I get excited, pull fabrics, print patterns, make plans and often before I’ve finished one project I’ve started another.  There are so many that I would like to do that sometimes I also get bogged down in the ideas and the planning and forget about the doing. This time however I even did the doing part!  I’ve made jar cozies/carriers for 16 oz mason jars.  Once again I almost got lost in the choosing fabric stage but I pushed through, and made my decision and was very firm with myself about not going back and choosing something better, or more appropriate or any number of other things.

My kids have fixed overnight oatmeal with oatmeal, a liquid and berries, putting it in the fridge overnight and taking it with them to work in the morning.  I’ve also given them each several of the colored ball jars that are popular right now and I know they use them for storage and transporting food etc. When I saw these on Pinterest it was a pin from the sewmamasew website, I knew this was what I needed to make next. Like many projects of this type, the cutting preparation is really the most time-consuming part. I cut four of them at a time although when I was done I realized I needed more of the insulbrite cut but I can easily do that part tomorrow. The sewing was fast and fun and I can see making more of these. If I can figure out who to give them to.

jar cozy - Starfish Alley jar cozy2

Graduation Time of Year

It’s graduation time of year again.  I don’t really have close to me relatives graduating this year but  do know two ladies that I want to recognize.  Graduation is a big accomplishment if it is high school or college.  The first lady is a high school graduate and like I’ve done many times over the last several years I’ve made a zip bag.  I love to make these and they are so handy to have around.  I have odds and ends in my purse, like Tylenol, eye drops etc. I have one for my cell phone, I have one for my Kindle and I have one for all of my charging cords.  The usefulness can go on and on. I hope this lady will like her zip pouch as she heads off to college and finds it useful for some of life’s odd and ends.

camera zip pouch

camera aip pouch2

The second lady is older and a college graduate.  She has put herself through school while working full-time and I have lots of admiration for her and her hard work.  She is also a Girl Scout volunteer and for many years has volunteered one week of her vacation at a summer overnight Girl Scout camp.  As I puzzled about how to recognize her I decided I could make her a pillowcase that was designed especially for camp. Her camp name relates to a small animal and there are many interesting small wildlife creatures at camp so I thought this was a fitting recognition and something that she will use, enjoy and it will not show any dirt.  At camp this is always a bonus even if you do sleep inside!.

Chipmunk pillowcase

So for this year, graduation sewing is done. Next on the agenda is a couple of aprons and at least two baby quilts.  One of those quilts has been pieced so now it’s just layering, quilting and binding.

Baby Baby

Baby baby, can’t you hear my heart beat… well not mine I guess but I’ve had lots of fun in the last couple of weeks sewing for my niece’s new baby girl.  She actually will arrive in this world June 4th but I really didn’t want to wait.  There are still more babies on the horizon. Not my own grandchildren yet, although maybe someday, but children of folks that I do know.

I made this new little girl a lovely “girlie” quilt.  When I first started I knew the colors I wanted to use but when I cut the first pieces out it seemed too intense so I ended up cutting the strips of fabric and resewing and cutting again.  I’m quite pleased with the result.  It has produced a lovely quilt that is not too jarring but very sweet. It has this cute pink dancing bunny flannel on the back.

pinwheel baby quilt - Starfishalley

bunny quilt back

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the new baby there is also a tag blanket, a new burp rag and a darling sweater that my friend made for me to give her.

Tag blanket and burp rag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby sweater

 

 

 

 

 

I had some leftover blocks and decided that I needed to make some fun gifts for the big sister too.  Now the big sister is two and a half and loves to help her mommy.  She is also a great imitator and has a wonderful imagination.  I just knew the big sister needed to have a new baby doll of her own.  With that baby doll, she needed a few necessities to take good care of the baby so I also made her a doll blanket for that precious baby, as well as a few diapers with velcro, some diaper wipes, and a diaper bag.  She also has a soft colorful blanket to cover that baby doll so she won’t get cold.

Baby doll, doll diapers and doll quilt

Doll diapers and wipe case

Doll diaper bag

A couple more pictures

A couple more pictures here. I did make some things for Christmas this year but find I only have pictures of some of the things.. not sure what happened.  Guess I’m out of the habit.

I did make this nightgown for my niece’s daughter. I love making flannel nightgowns for little girls.

Flannel nightgown Starfishalley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I made my brother some napkins.

pulled thread napkins Starfishalley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course there were also a few more zip bags.
IMG_0005

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I also made about 20 of the long rice heat packs. There was a 50 pound bag of rice left at one of my work places so I made many of these.  In fact I even ended up going to Costco for a second bag of rice.

rice bags

 

 

 

 

 

Next up will be several baby quilts and other items. There are at least 3 babies that I know of in the next few months.  I do enjoy the baby sewing and could easily get carried away by that.

A bit more control

Finally I seem to have a bit more control at my house and I want to start sewing more and posting more.  With the challenges the last two years it seems like it’s been a struggle sometimes to just get through day to day.  With cancer and chemo for daughter, broken foot, broken femur and knee cap for husband plus three months of no working and no mobility and my mother deteriorating and passing all at the same time plus many hours of work, it’s been day to day work with a bit of sewing but not much else.  I actually have made a few things and am going to search for pictures and add some other posts. It’s something I look forward to.

Last summer I did make two chemo caps for a friend who was losing her hair.  These are fast, fun and quick to make up and I did making enjoy them.

purple caps - Starfish Alley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then I made a couple of gifts for my niece’s daughter, an I Spy bag and a small carry all bag that she could put her books and “important things” in and take them with her.

Owl bag - Starfishalley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i spy bag

 

 

 

 

 

And then a fun zip bag for a friend from some Laurel Burch fabric from my stash. I do like making these bags.

Linda zip bag

 

 

 

 

 

Now I have to search for more pictures.  I’m usually quite organized about where I store things but this past year has not been  as good so now I’m on a search and organize mission. so until next time..

A long time coming..

This post has been a long time coming.  Sometimes life just gets in the way.  So far this year hubby has broken a foot, and then broke his leg, was in the hospital and in rehab and not walking for 3 months.  Just before he got the ok to start putting weight on his leg my mother passed away.  Now we’re approaching the holidays and I’m trying to get things in order. I think it may be awhile.

I have done some sewing but not much really.  I did make this cute apron for a young woman getting married.  I find that often these younger folks not only don’t do as much cooking but have never owned an apron but are grateful to have one and find they are really quite handy.  I like aprons and have many and will continue to make more.  It was a bit of a shock to count the number of apron patterns that I own and I told a friend that if she caught me looking at apron patterns to remind me I was on restriction!

cle apron

Quick graduation gift

I knew a couple of young ladies that were graduating and needed a quick graduation gift.  I’ve made pouches for young ladies this age before and found they have been well received.  They seem to be useful for odds and end and all kinds of other things.  I made these a tad bigger so they could be used for charging cords.  I don’t know about you, but it seems like I am taking more of these with me when I travel places and it’s hard to find a convenient place to store them where you can find them again.  I hate to keep looking for my things and try to keep them all together and be consistent about where I put my belongings so this is important to me.  These young ladies will not have mothers with them to keep track of their things when they leave for college in a few weeks so I’m hopeful that these pouches will be useful.

graduation zip pouches

In my dreams..

In my dreams I update this blog frequently with new projects and fun sewing activities.  In reality, I just dream about it because there really has not been a lot of sewing.  I did make a couple of skirts for a daughter’s birthday. I’ve also done a few zippered pouches and a bit of mending.  I’ve also made a few dish towels with some applique. I would love to do more and maybe that will happen and maybe only a dream for a while.  Part of the reason is just far more hours spent working.  You know those adult kind of work things.  I’ve also done some reading and tending to family issues.

This week is camp week however.  After 21 years of attending Girl Scout camp as an adult and many more years as a girl, camp seems to be a part of my summer.  I “retired” from camp a couple of years ago but still have lots of friends who attend and carry on this fabulous tradition.  It looks like they will have a great week this week too.  I try to send some mail but it needs to be sent at the beginning of the week or it will not arrive in time.

Although I didn’t think of this very far in advance I wanted to send mail and thought it should be a bit different. I’ve read about fabric post cards and have some leftover Girl Scout fabric so thought I would give it a try.  Although these are not very elegant or elaborate it was a fun diversion and I’m going to make some more.  Because it was a last minute thought I decided that I would use what I had on hand.  I had some Peltex and Wonder Under so I created my own double stick post card base and then experimented with ironing on the fabric and doing some simple applique.  I got some permanent fabric markers and sent them through the postal mail.  I do hope they receive them and if not I do have a picture.

Off to make a couple more.  I have several friends that were not able to go due to health reasons.  I thought they might like camping@home mail.

 

post card frontpost caard backs

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2024 Starfish Alley

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑