My 2013 Finishes

 Having two surgeries this summer sure affected my sewing time.  After I made this mosaic, I realized a lot of my garmet sewing was used immediately upon completion (mainly swimming suits and volleyball shorts) so at least everything is getting used.

Nesting Fabric Bowls Owl Style

 I made 1 nine inch bowl, 3 five inch bowls, and 2 four inch bowls for my owl theme classroom.  I also like to think about common objects to help with size, so I took a picture of each size I made with an everyday object.  The Pepsi can is near the 4 inch bowl and the Starbucks are next to the five inch bowl.

 This is a great stashbusting project too.  It doesn't use a lot of fabric for the feature print, while the lining and solid panels do use up more fabric. 

This pattern is from acuppaandacatchup.com and is called fabric nesting bowls. 

Secret Tote Bag Swap

I finished my bag for the secret tote bag swap.  I had started cutting it out almost a month ago.  Then, I had two surgeries which put me behind schedule.  I missread parts of the directions and miscut several pieces.  All in all, I know the bag is not perfect, and I like to be a perfectionist, but I decided this bag is pretty (hopefully my partner thinks so too), structually sound (I zig zagged a lot), and can hold lots of stuff.  The lining is the part that I dislike the most, and it just isn't as neat as I would have liked it to turn out.  I think my favorite part of this bag is the handles.  I love how sturdy they feel.

Pepper Potholder (aka coaster) from Zakka Style Book

 I've particpated in enough coaster swaps that I really didn't need any more coasters, so I decided to also make a potholder (hotpad).  I made my pepper but instead of using cotton for the backing, I used lightweight fusable interfacing.  The linen that I used as the background is my absolute favorite, and I maybe have enough for one more potholder.  I used twill tape for the stem and  upholstery thread for the handstitching.  The brown binding was also a scrap I had on hand.  I used one layer of warm and natural batting and one layer of thermobright in the potholder.  The backing is a home dec scrap with browna and green stripes.

2012 Finishes

 I keep seeing other bloggers looking over their previous year and thinking that is kind of neat, but I don't have enough to put together.  I looked through my flickr photstream and was quite amazed at my finishes and the new things that I tried.  Hopefully, I can remember to do this each year.

Friendship Bag

I'm making this bag as part of a friendship bag swap.  I have the bag finished; now I have the next couple of weeks to work on goodies to put inside the bag.  I have a few ideas, but I'm not positive what else is going in . . . yet.

Christmas Tree Pants

 I wanted to try out the Happy Zombie's pattern for Christmas tree pants and overall I'm pretty happy with it.  I made this for my parents and wanted to go with more traditional Christmas colors for them.  I did some free motion quilting on here as well.

PP12 Coasters Received (from the Netherlands)

 Dutchcomfort sent me these coasters and a Halloween themed mug rug and she doesn't even celebrate Halloween in her country.  It is so fun to receive the international swaps - I end up learning the neatest things. 

I love all the fabrics she used and am envious of the variety she has!!!

Halloween Coasters for Potholder Pass 12

 I love the whimsical side of Halloween.  I've also enjoyed watching more and more quilting projects incorporate crocheting.  Once I finished these coasters, I just thought they begged for a crochet border.  Hopefully, my partner thinks so too!!

Rosy Wedge Bag for Scrappy Bits Swap

 I've been wanting to try out Amy's pattern (During Quiet Time blog) for a while.  Since I signed up for the Scrappy Bits Swap and my partner wanted the colors that I had out, I decided to make the Rosy Wedge Bag for my swap item to try the pattern out.  My partner had several dresdens in her mosaic, so I also decided to try my newest rotary guide out too.  These are the 2'1/2 inch wedges.  Overall, I love how it turned out and hopefully my partner does as well.

Scrappy Mug Rug Swap (sent) - Patriotic Hexagon!

  This began from a free pattern from my LQS; however, I changed the dimensions, added hand quilting and applique and here we go.  I like how it turned out and hope my partner does as well.  Some of the scraps are from when I first started quilting 13 years ago.

Kwik Sew 3421 (Mens Swimming Trunks)

 These are basic pair of swimming trunks with an elastic waist and drawstring.  The camo green is a brushed polyester (I think) purchased from Mill End Textiles.  I used a mesh nylon from JoAnn's for the lining.  I made these in a size small with the longer length which seems to fit him just perfectly.  Pattern review here.  I think this pattern will work for a few years for him.

Finished Piano Runner (for me)

   This is a piano runner for my family.  We have a very tall, old, but beautiful piano and I've always had intentions on making a piano runner for it.  The rayon linen squares were upcycled from an outdated dress.  The four frames of my children will go on the four squares and there shouldn't be any uneven seam lines for the frames to sit on.   The fabric strips are from Ty Pennington's Impressions line.  This runner also matches my dining room curtains and table runner.  I have declared June "Just Sew" month for me.  My goal is sew and sew and sew and clean up.  Thus far, I have finished the piano runner, repaired a washcloth, kitchen towel, and adjusted the straps on my daughter's shirt.  We have used up one spool of thread.  Here is a link to my dining room curtains here and table runner here.

Jalie 3023

 I finished this Swimsuit for my oldest.  I used a size Q and it fits just perfectly with a little growing room.  The sizes are cinched up tight.  She says the halter style back stays up.

Beginnings of Table Runner for Table Top Swap

 My partner seems to like pinks, oranges, and reds so I went with a scrappy log cabin style.  I like it with 2 exceptions.  I accidently put two blocks with the pink floral on the outside right next to each other.  Secondly, I put the directional blocks going each direction.  I'm not sure if I like it or not.  We'll see if my partner comments.

Crochet Dishclothes

 I love to read, but I cannot read in a moving vehicle without getting sick.  Thus, I often crochet.  I really like this pattern and it presents a good opportunity to use up little bits of colored cotton without throwing it out.  The free pattern is available at ravelry under doni-speigle.  The pattern is mostly single and double crochet, so it really isn't difficult for someone familar with crocheting.

Swap Received from Fab Little Pincushion Swap

 This is the most adorable pincushion that I received from Beachgirl Sews.  The pincushion is filled with walnut shells and that is new to me.  I love the weight that the shells provide.  She also included all the pretty pins, needles, and the patriotic fabric.  My dad is a veteran so we usually attend our community Memorial Day program; however, this year we went to my niece's graduation and Memorial Day became a traveling day.  When I was in a small fabric shop yesterday, I looked at some patriotic fabric and considered buying it, but decided not to.  So it was an absolute treat to get home and find a package with a beautiful scrappy pincushion with bits of linen and handstitching (my faves) along with the other treats.  Do you see the candy that Beachgirl Sews included?  Nope, it's already gone - my kids were super-surprised they had a treat in the box too.

Jalie 3023

 One year ago, I made a Jalie 3023 with the intent on having the swimming suit last for two years.  Well, it didn't.  The top became short, and the bottoms started to show more then they should.  So here is a new Jalie 3023.  I went up two sizes (size K) and this one is big, but definitely wearable. 
     This is the first time I made the skort version and it is adorable.  I did make the following changes to the pattern.  I added clear elastic in the bodice.  Her first one gaped, especially when wet.  I used clear elastic that was 3/4 of an inch shorter than the bodice contrast.  It's hard to tell if this was effective as the entire top is too wide for her.  Note - this does not run wide.  Her chest measurement is several sizes smaller than the size K that I made.  Last year, I said this was a cute swimsuit to make, just not a quick one.  I agree this year as well.  There are a lot of pieces, but it is well worth it.  The pattern is drafted well.
     Here is the link to the pink swimming suit made one year ago http://dakotasews.blogspot.com/2011/03/jalie.html.

Potholder Pass 10

Yes, another Jane Market Bag!  My partner showed a pillow with houses in her inspiration mosaic.  I decided to run with that idea and used a tutorial from Sew Retro to raw edge applique two different houses onto each center panel.  I really had fun digging through my scraps!!  The linen scraps I used for the actual houses was my favorite and these houses really made maximum use of the scraps.  My partner indicated that she may not use this tote for groceries so I used some duck and canvas in this bag to make it stronger  and also added a pocket inside.  I didn't really have a pattern for the pocket; I just cut some scraps here and there and sewed them together.  Then I decided some straight line quilting was in order and after that I still though it needed something.  I've been wanting to try stamping on fabric and had recently purchased a stamp pad for the that purpose.  I did ruin a few pieces of twill tape working the kinks out and my images are for from perfect, but overall I think it works.  The lining is osnaburg lined with medium weight interfacing.  I also sewed canvas and duck to the insides of the Kona gray.  The binding was leftover from a small throw I made for Christmas, but I thought it added a certain something to the bag, especially the pocket.  

PP10 Bag Swap

I've progressed a little bit further on the bag swap.  I've added the birds and some topstitching.  I think I may add some smoke lines coming from the chimney and perhaps a path from the door.  I plan to use a Kona dark gray for the sides, osnaburg for the pocket lining and the middles section.