Christmas 2025: End-of-the-year Wrap Up

This news is the biggest!  What do you notice about the  picture? Yes - that is my right hand, and I am totally left handed.  But my left thumb has been very ouchy, arthritic and overused. This inflammation means no quilting.  But it’s what I do every night. So 8 weeks ago I started my journey to ambidexterity. The first few nights were awful - I couldn’t even hold the needle.  I kept referring to my left hand so that my right hand could see what it was supposed to be doing.  And , my right-hand quilting is now pretty good! The best bonus is that I can switch hands for a change of direction.  My thumb is still ouchy but can handle a wee bit of quilting, 

Both hands have matching protection!

And this has been my practice piece for right-handed quilting! 

This recent finish pleased me a lot.  It is my Summer 2025  project.  I cut 8.5” x WOF strips from various grunge fabrics and spent summer evenings holding just long thin batted and backed strips and quilting.  I thought I would  go for  a corner log cabin layout.  But it looked so plain.  So I cut the yellow quilted strip into 8.5” squares and began to fool around with this layout. I used what Sharon Peterson calls reversible quilting and what others call quit as you go QAYG.   You can see the grey connecting bits in the front.  The back I almost like even more - see picture below.  For backing I used any low-volume fabric, and I love the effect. 

This is nothing but a fabric I love.  Marcia Derse is the designer, and I have loved her work for over 10 years.  I don’t know what I am going to do with it.  But I love it and will figure something out.  

And look below.  Purses.  Always Sew Powerful purses. This was the December dozen, which means I sent off 144 purses this year.  And I already have the beginnings of January’s dozen on the design wall.

The good quilting fairy has been whipping up various pouches and zip clutches. And some have already been gifted.  It’s a luxury to just play in the studio with fabrics and zippers and create fun little things! 

Last year I did a big bed quilt for stepdaughter Jen.  These pillows are from her leftover fabrics 

This is my 100 Day project. Quilt Buddy Lauren suggested this project to our guild.  10 of us have responded, and each of us gets to determine what they want their project to be.  Some, in the true spirit of 100 Day Projects, are working on something daily.  But I have tailored these 100 days around a black and white scrap project with the outcome being a useable quilt.  Here it is in its pin-basted form.  And currently I am quilting it and figuring how to incorporate some hand quilting   See the picture below?  My eye needs help.  So I am experimenting with stitching around the nine big blocks in the center of the blocks. 

And here’s the end.  This picture above has three of my favorite things in it.  First, my grandson under the quilt.  Second, my grandson taking the picture - look in the mirror.  Third, this quilt.  I love it, I loved making it, and I love that Ryan wants it and how good it looks in his apartment.  I also love that Brandon is sleeping on the sofa bed we passed on to Ryan. The same sofa bed where the boys and I used to have sleepovers. 

This holiday season was good.  I prayed last year for one more winter.  And that will be my prayer again. The holidays are constantly changing and evolving.  While we may yearn for traditions  and faces of yore, we must constantly  adapt and look forward. Here’s to 2026. 

A Glorious Six Days: The Best of Winter

 Even though it’s early December,we've had winter weather complete with snow.  It started the day after Thanksgiving.  Our dinner was small, and of course there was football.  Which meant I had the day to sew! Same with Friday, Saturday, Sunday, yesterday, and today.  All I’ve been doing is sewing.  Sew happily.

The class I took in October with David Owen Hastings on shibori quilting was fun,and I’ve finished my quilt top.  After the class at Quilters Quest, I left my Husqvarna for a badly-needed DNC.  And it is working superbly.  I’m working on matchstick quilting it.  It’s an interesting technique, and I doubt I’ll repeat it.  But it’s satisfying to do.  

Meanwhile I’m getting familiar with my new Bernette.  I made this Swoon Denver backpack to see how the machine does with straps and layers.  And of course the machine is superb. 

To further test this new machine I’m working on this Quilt-As-You-Go ode to grunge.  I spent the summer hand quilting these 8.5 x WOF strips.  And now I’m connecting them.  Lots of layers.  This is a great technique, and I’ve written a tutorial on it.  But it is sewing through a lot of layers.  A lot! 

But here’s been the really big news: I am learning to quilt with my right hand!  My left thumb has been very sore - repetitive use.   So to let my left hand heal I’ve been practicing with my right hand.  And here’s what I’m working on…

This quilt is huge  I’ve been running straight stitches along the white sashing,  while quilting right handed does’t feel natural yet, I no longer feel like the needle is going to jump out of my hands.  Sitting under this quilt, practicing quilting, during the winter when it’s been snowing, having a husband who will leave the house - glorious days! 

Something New in the Studio: A Sew Powerful Prize

WARNING: THIS IS A LONG READ

 I started making purses for Sew Powerful in 2016.  Intrigued by the mission of menstrual hygiene education for junior high girls in Zambia and fascinated by the purse pattern, I threw myself into purse making.  Here are some of my first purses.  

If you go through my Instagram account @moquilt, you could probably get a number of how many purses I’ve made.  I’m not a counter though, so I haven’t done that.  But I estimate I’ve made over 300 purses, probably more.  Some months I would do a purse a day.  My rhythm the past years has been to do 12 a month.  Someone asked me who pays for the fabrics and strapping I use.  I do.  And I’ve been asked how do I get these purses to California where they are packed in shipping containers for Zambia.  Well, I ship them, paying the postage.  In the first 7 years shipping a box of purses might cost $40 to $50.   But Sew Powerful is now a recognized charity for the Give Back Box, a charitable shipping program.  Now I can send a box of purses for $20.  I too support Sew Powerful through monthly giving.

We know the financial need at Sew Powerful is great.  And these needs have been identified by the community it serves. There is a constant assessment of needs.  In addition to the menstrual hygiene aspect of Sew Powerful, the organization has supported needs the community identifies.  Not enough soap has been an issue.  So there is now a soap cooperative that employs local me.  There’s a sewing cooperative which makes uniforms.  There’s a farming cooperative which provides food for kids who are undernourished. In addition to serving communities in Zambia’s capital city Lusaka, Sew Powerful has begun working in Livingston, the city that’s at the base of Victoria Falls. 

Every year sew Powerful holds a fundraiser.  Our purses are meaningless unless there is also $10 worth of supplies that go into them before they are given to the girls,  I’ve never participated - my reasoning: people I know are already so generous and supporting what’s important to them.  But this year I responded to the email calling for fundraisers because there were more prizes than fundraisers.  Fine, I thought.  I’ll give this a try.  After all, who can’t use a new pair of scissors or one of those nifty scissors sets?  I set a goal of  $500.  And thanks to my sister and my husband, I reached that goal the same day.  I had to keep upping my goal because people were so incredibly generous.  My final tally was $5500.  

Sew Powerful also did a great job with the fundraising communication.  We were easily able to keep track of how much money we were raising and how many purses we committed to making.  My goal was 24 purses, but my final count was 36 purses.  We were also able to see everyone’s fundraising tallies.  The top fundraiser who raised 15k won a trip to Zambia.  The next two fundraisers were eligible to the next big prizes of fabulous sewing machines.  But these two women both fundraised last year and won prizes so they refused prizes this year.  So I became eligible for one of the terrific sewing machines,  I chose the Bernina Bernette - it is a straight stitch powerhouse.  I can’t wait to make a bag or backpack and let that machine glide through all the thicknesses.

After a month during which I waited patiently, my Bernette just arrived,  and boy oh boy is it ever sweet! I can’t wait to get to know it better.  So far I’ve wound a bobbin, figured out the threading, and have done some sewing.  And today I’m starting a backpack to really test out the machine.  Il, wait a week or so before starting my December purses! 

I’m thrilled but also a wee bit embarrassed.  I am not a part of Sew Powerful for any individual gain.  Yet I’m beyond delighted with this machine. Over the years as I’ve gotten new machines I’ve given old ones away.  My niece in Colorado has my first trusty Husqvarna. My buddy Cristina has my old Brother straight stitch machine.  And two others have older machines of mine.  This new Bernette will allow me again to be generous with an older machine - a granddaughter is talking about learning to sew!

Years ago when I was very new to  Sew Powerful, I wrote an essay “So Fiddly But Perhaps Worth It” which was published in “We Are So Powerful”.  At that time I was using the intermediate pattern which had an elaborate flap with an elastic pocket.  The effect was lovely but it was difficult and laborious to do. Shortly after a beginner pattern was published with a much simpler flap, and I took to that pattern very happily! I love that my sewing is productive and has a purpose.   I’m thankful for this Sew Powerful mission and knowing that I am having a positive impact on young woman and the future of their country.  

My 100 Day Project

 100 Day projects are common in QuiltWorld.  The last time I participated was led by the Canadian Quilters Association.  Daily a 6-inch quilt block would be posted, and daily I would make it.  Here’s what I did in those 100 days.  And I bartered this quilt away to a tradesman whose wife loves black and white, 

This 100 day project, spearheaded by the soon-to-be president of my Chicago Modern quilt Guild Lauren, allows participants to define the shape of individual projects.  Two of my quilt sisters are doingg amazing things.  Jenni every day is appliquéing a different symbol of resistance, so necessary because of the awful ICE raids in Chicago and suburbs.  Diane every day is appliquéing a different alphabetic symbol in a variety of languages.  Steff is approaching her project like mine - setting goals for various projects that will be completed by October 1, 2025 + 100 days.  You do the math - early January 2026.  

Despite doing so many scrap projects,  my scraps still have scraps.  I have so many black, white, grey fabrics.  So my project will be to use up these fabulous scraps. But I’m not working a day at a time - I’m working in chunks of time.  Here’s what I have so far - and this is like day 35.

There are 4 blocks above, each 24” x 24” made up of one big nine path surrounds by 12 6” nine patches.  I have 5 more 12 x 12 blocks and need to make 60  6” nine patches. And so far I have 20 complete.  The finished quilt will be 75” x 75”.  But I am putting this away for a bit and using my design wall to get back to the David Own Hastings workshop I took last month.  Let the play day begin!

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.

Reporting on the Sewathon

The past 19  days of the 2025 Sew Powerful September Sewathon have been so affirming, thanks to the generosity of my friends and neighbors and acquaintances.  And apparently one of my superpowers is underestimation.  I thought maybe I could raise $500.  But I have had to up my goal a couple of times.  Currently my total is almost $4500.  My Weight Watcher group is responsible for $500 of this! I normally do 12 purses a month.  So I thought I’d do 24.  As of today my purse total is 36.

The giraffe purse is courtesy of a scarf my sister bought when we were in Kenya.  Several of the purses below have scrappy flaps.  And I have been buying webbing for straps rather than making my own.  

The busyness of purse making and fund raising almost overshadows why we are doing this and why we are so committed.  This organization has been working with Zambia for over 10 years.  In addition to working with the young girls and keeping them in school, there are adults who have meaningful employment through sewing, farming, and community development. Originally all work was done in the capital city of Lusaka.  But now the programs are spreading to a Livingston, the city that is at the base of Victoria Falls. And the administrative costs of Sew Powerfulfor all the work they are doing is about 4% - remarkable.  

It’s been a good month.  There are a few more purses to finish, and I will have to beg my neighbor Lynne for cards. She’s a genius at making cards! 

If you were one of my contributors, I thank you.  And look out-  this Sewathon is a yearly event! 🙂

September Sewathon and Fundraising

I love sewing.  I like making quilts, bags, and purses.  And the mission of  Sew Powerful - to combat extreme poverty by creating local jobs, providing vocational training for adults, and producing purposeful products like feminine hygiene kits, school uniforms, and soap - resonates with me.  After 9 years and over 300 purses, I’m realizing that making purses and my meager monthly financial support isn’t enough.  The bags that I and all the other pursemakers create and ship are worthless if there isn’t money for what must go inside the purses!  This year’s goal is 33,000 purses as Sew Powerful expands its work in Zambia outside of the capital city Lusaka and into Livingston.  

So I dug out this picture from 2016 and decided to put on my fundraising panties. I’ve avoided fundraising before because people I know are so generous - we all have causes we support! But as I began to think about how important the materials inside the purse are, I realize the necessity of additional funds. 

In preparation for the Sewathon (rules state we are not to get started before September 1), I’ve sorted through some fabrics and grouped them by accompanying  thread color.  My rotary cutter has a new blade, my machine has been cleaned and oiled, and there’s a nice new needle.   My goal is 24 purses during the month.  Perhaps a few more.

An essential part of the purse program, besides the obvious menstrual hygiene supplies, is a note of encouragement urging the young ladies to focus on their education and school all month long.  I’ve written so many notes and discovered that they slowed down my purse making.  At the same time some groups of scrapbookers started making cards.  For a while I was sending my purses without any notes and asking the organizers to add notes to my purses.  But no more!  My wonderful neighbor Lynne doesn’t sew, but she loves to embellish cards and write notes.  She has even enlisted her granddaughters to work on these notes with her.  

Using materials provided by the Sew Powerful organizers, I made these double-sided handouts.  The printer person at my local Office Depot quoted me a price of  $75.  When I recoiled and mentioned this wa for a fundraiser, he worked hard to get my cost down to $24!  

Amazed and gobsmacked - my two adjectives since I started this fundraising.  Want to keep track with me?  Here’s the link: https://sewathon.org/dashboard?donation=8d5ed320-855d-11f0-9672-e78c9b23ffd4&utm_medium=email&utm_source=raisely&utm_content=Donation%20Notification&utm_term=ed72faa4-b981-44dd-a27b-879b7d656df0

A huge thanks to John - always so supportive - and my sister.  And to the mysterious  Virginia!