Odds and Ends + Groundhog Day

No, it’s not Groundhog Day yet, but it soon will be.

Feb 2^nd is right around the corner, so remember to watch to see if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow – do we really need 6 more weeks of winter?

To cheer you up, here are  the two finished tote bags that I have mailed to Sadie’s Dream for a Cure.  I posted about this group (see the older post here) when I started making the first tote.  The one on the left is the material they sent and the one on the right is my fabric.  I like them both.

And continuing with the jungle theme that I seem to be on – this is a small quilt that I am working on now.

I do seem to gravitate towards either frogs or jungle animals – I just can’t help myself when they are as cute as these!

Peacefully Piecing Tops

I am having a great time with my new Bernina machine.  I went to the second class last night and learned all about the decorative and specialty stitches.  I also had one of those incredibly valuable learning experiences before I went and was able to talk with the instructor about it.

I had reluctantly agreed to repair some lingerie (I hate do not like working with that slinky fabric at all!).  Well, sure enough, the machine ate the fabric.  My fix, after I took the machine apart and retrieved the fabric that had been stuffed down into the needle plate (that was learning experience #1 – taking the machine apart for the first time outside of the classroom), was to change the presser foot pressure.  Well, it turns out that I didn’t actually do that - I had inadvertently changed the tension instead.  Then I forgot to change it back when I returned to piecing on cotton (learning experience #2 – put a post-it note or something by the tension wheel so you’ll remember to change it back).  Of course, I only noticed this after making 6 or 7 blocks.  The bobbin stitching on the cotton was acceptable – I didn’t have to rip it out – but it needed to be returned to the proper setting to be perfect.

So to make this long story short, I was telling the instructor about my adventure and she reminded me that not only didn’t I need to change the presser foot pressure, that I didn’t even have the ability to change it on this machine.  That’s when I found out it was the tension I had changed.  Live and learn.  So now it’s back to the piecing I love (on COTTON – the Fabric of Life – I’m very susceptible to advertising …LOL).

Here’s what else I finished up on Tuesday:

This top used Judy Martin’s Post and Rails pattern.  She occasionally puts up a free BOM or quilt pattern on her website.  They seem to be only out there until the next one is put up, so this one isn’t out there anymore.  This one went together very quickly and I liked the soft blues and greens.  Thanks, Judy, for posting this pattern way back when!

I also added the last row of my Quilt of Valor (maybe I should have ironed it!) and will take it to next month’s meeting for someone else to quilt on a longarm:

And this is the fabric for my next tote bag for Sadie’s Dream for a Cure (see this post for more info).

I’ll be finishing this up this week and getting it off in the mail, so I’ve got my work cut out for me (sorry about that pun!).

What’s What on Wednesday

Today was a mixed bag.  I had to do laundry (yes, that happens to me sometimes), but I wanted to get some stuff ready for my next Quilts of Valor meeting, also.

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/07/fourth-of-july.html

It’s not until next week but I wanted to layout some blocks for tops and get them numbered so the ladies could be productive sewing them when we’re together.  We’re lucky that out group is growing, but that means that there’s not as much available space in our meeting room to lay out these bigger tops, so it pays to be prepared.

Picking up the numbered rows
 (this is a second top)

We lay them out and then number the rows – then when one block is carefully placed on top of another, anyone can pick them up and sew them together.  Voila!  Teamwork …

Then after finishing the vacuuming (how did that chore sneak in there – I swear I vacuumed just 6-8 weeks ago…LOL), I did a little more work on my new adventure.

I discovered a site called Sadie’s Dream for a Cure, named after little Sadie S. who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at 6 months old.  Just look at this darling face and tell me that your heart didn’t melt at least a little:

Brochure from Sadie's Dream for a Cure

The mission of this organization is to help young pediatric cancer patients as they go through their treatments by supplying reusable totes filled with supplies to keep a child entertained and by providing emotional and financial support to their families.  The sturdy totes are made by volunteers.  Sadie’s Dream for a Cure is a 501(c)(3) corporation, so your contributions are tax deductible.  Be sure to check out their photo gallery at:  http://www.sadiesdreamforacure.org/Photo-Gallery.html

You can learn more about them at the above link or on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/sadiesdream01

This is my tote bag-in-process.  I was sent a kit from this group with all of these supplies (bag and lining material shown and pellon interfacing, plus an extra label).

Lining (L) and Outside of Bag (R)

I am in the process of making up their bag and will make one from my own materials to return to them along with theirs.  These are stronger totes that take a little time, but their instructions are easy to follow and the results are worth it.  These bags are very sturdy and well designed.

Inside out - WIP

Ready to add the top cuff - WIP

I am pleased to now be a part in helping this organization.  You’ll see more totes from me in the future (and this one finished, of course)!