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 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!!
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.
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.
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.
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 The rayon linen squares were upcycled from an outdated dress.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.
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. 
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.
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.
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.
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. 
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. 
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. 
I'm making the Jane Market Bag once again. These are going to be the two center panels and of course, I just couldn't make a plain strap. These two also have the extra length added so the bag can be carried over the shoulder. I have felt birds to add, but I'm debating on what else I should add to the panels. The house pattern is from Sew Retro. 
I was so frustrated with the John Deere fabric I used on the pillow case, I thought I should just use this and be done with it. Well, this piece (remnant from Hobby Lobby) was much better. I enough material for two outers. I used the same brown I used on the pillow case for the inner layer. The denim on one bag is a lightweight denim chambray (also used interfacing) with a gray broadcloth on the inside. I couldn't find anymore denim scraps for the other bag, so I used the back of the legs from a pair of my daughter's worn out jeans. Since I already had interfacing cut, I interfaced those straps even though the denim is considerably heavier than the chambray. I also used a triple stich on the pair with the denim and I really like how the stitchin is more noticeable this way. The photo with the food is showing what was in the packed bag in the top picture. There was still plenty of room for more food too. Two more stash yards used. 
I made a pillowcase for my three-year-old nephew who loves tractors and bobcats (as in the machine not the animal). This is my usual pattern, but the quality of the fabric was not good. I wish another company had the rights to the John Deere prints. The green ran in some spots, and it the fabric in general seemed quite off-grain. 
I'm participating in the Stash Contest at patternreview.com. Each year, my goal is to beat my previous year's goal. I still need to check back to see what I need to beat this year. These are my first finished projects from Keyka Lou. I made two grocery totes using a canvas purchased at a thrift store a couple years ago, a not-the-best dye job on the gray cotton lining, and a midweight denim (scraps) for the handles. I also used a bold straight stitch (#2 stitch on my pfaff) on the handles of one of the bags to make the top-stitching stand out more. At approximately one yard each, I now have two yards to add for the year 2012.
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