There was an old woman who lived in …

 … a quilt studio and had so many projects she didn’t know what to do!  Except to maybe try to keep track of them.  So here goes…

It’s all about the design wall.  Currently it has 9 completed purses, three flaps, linings for these last three, and six mushroom blocks for my B Bee mate.  We are leaving tomorrow for a week cruise on the Tennessee rivers.  These mushroom blocks are coming with me because they need some hand appliqué  stitching.  I’ll try to get these next dozen purses in the mail but I don’t think it will happen this week.

I’m sure this picture above doesn’t look like much,  but it contains everything from the past two workshops with David Owen Hastings.  See all the blues and whites?  This was the first workshop.  The second featured using architectural elements in quilting.  Both workshops were terrific.  And I don’t want to lose track of these projects.

This quilt is assembled, hanging now in my closet, and I think I want to hand quilt it.  However, there are already two big quilts in my hand quilting queue.  And this gorgeous quilt is small enough that perhaps I’ll machine quilt it myself.  As I was working on it, I fell in love with two of the feature fabrics.  So of course I located more of these two fabrics at the quilt shop when I was taking the workshops!  Then I found a favorite quilt pattern using big blocks. So this pile of four fabrics and the quilt pattern is on the to-do shelf.  

And an on-going project is my 100 day project - a a handful of us in the guild are doing this, and we have the freedom to tailor this project to our individual needs.  What I am doing with these 100 days is using my black, grey, and white scraps to make a useable quilt.  I’m making 6” and 12” 9-patches.  I’m sort of thinking about layout and have a plan.  Of sorts. I’ll post this quilt 100 days from October 1.  Early January!  But first.  Finish the 12 purses for October and get busy on the 12 for November! 

Sewing all the things…

Once the Sewathon was over, I was itching to put this quilt together.  I saw the design and the fabrics and wanted to make it.  I think I’ll use this design again but with different fabrics,  and I now I need to find some good No 8 Perle Cotton.  I need my design wall so assembling these blocks was the first task.  The completed quilt top is now hanging in my closet.

And what’s been on the design wall is the start of my 100 day project, the goal of which is to make a useable quilt from my black and white scraps.  I started making simple 6.5”  9-patches and throwing them on the wall.  It was kind of overwhelming and cluttered.  So I made some 12.5” 9-patches.  While layout is to be determined, daily I am making additional blocks. October 1 was the start date.  So the end? Early January 2026!   

But what I really needed the design wall for was purses.  I have committed myself to a dozen ourses a month.  So it’s time to get busy.  This time I hit my green scraps to make flaps.  There are 8 in process.  Next step is make linings for these 12.  

I love fall Saturdays when John is engrossed in football.  Although I could do more with purses, I was pretty happy with my progress.  So much so that I decided to start another purse project with my favorite Seth Apter fabric.  Normally I’m would use the design wall to keep track of the various parts of this Sandhill Sling, but the floor will have to do.  Perhaps I should work on this first today!  And then go back to purses.  And of course do some 9 patches!

Last, I’m in love with the Great British Sewing Bee.  Yes, I watch sewing while I sew. 

Time for a New Purse!

 Now that I’m finished making purses, I have time to make myself a new purse.  My favorite purse pattern for me is Hey, Mercedes - a Sara Lawson pattern from her book  Windy City Bags.  I’ve made this ourse several times, usually for myself.  The style suits me - liter slip pocket perfect for keys and phone, 2 zippered pockets, a roomy interior, and a magnetic snap.  

I’m pretty happy.  Now I just need to go somewhere! 😁

Sew Powerful Sewathon 2025 is in the books!

 

I’ve sort of lost track of what purses I have posted.  But I haven’t lost track of how many I made during September.  My goal was 24, but I made 40.  Combined with the 12 from August, I’ll be putting 52 in the mail next week.   And each one of these will have a note of encouragement that neighbor Lynne has created.  The purse below features my latest fabric crush.  But more importantly, people I know have donated over $5500!  I am still stunned by the generosity of people I know.

The photo I used for this years fundraising was 8 years old.  So here is the updated shot, all ready for Sewathon 2026.