Learning how to Sew

CHLOES PANTS, a photo by NavyRev on Flickr.

I had the wonderful opportunity to teach a interested child how to sew. She wanted to make a pair of pajama pants for the days when school allows them to have a pj day. We did an earlier shopping and she picked a wonderful animal print with a dot and a bit of black lace trim.

Today we cut and sewed, pinned and pressed. I think she was tuckered out at the end of the day but she had a great pair of pants.

I wonder what the next thing my little friend will want to make?

Via Flickr:
Made with a young friend who is a budding designer.

Left Overs - Origins

Since I had some leftovers of the Origins jelly roll, I decided to put them to good use and make something else.  What didn't go to make the top went on the back so there were no leftovers left. I did have to buy a little bit of green solid to make a binding and to add to the back.

I had purchased Heather Mulder Peterson's Little Charmers 7, which features three table runners. The runner that appealed the most to me was the Ribbons runner.  This went together very well, despite being a bit fiddly with adding triangle edges.

Over all the top looks very striking on the cream background. And the good news is that it is reversible and will be able to be used on both sides.

Origins

Well the Origins top is finally complete.  Again it was very quite to do the blocks, but when it came time to sew it all together, I was not inspired.  Eventually I got my act together and sat down with the goal of finishing this a few tops. The plan is to take them to my favorite long arm quilter for quilting and when they return I am that much closer to have a few peoples Christmas presents done.

The Origins top takes it name from the fabric line of the same name by Basic Grey.  I just love their stuff and was so glad when they branched out from paper to fabric.  Their grunge lines are fantastic blenders or backgrounds for much of what I do.

The pattern that I chose to use up a Origins jelly roll is Kristy Daum's Index. It is fast and easy to put together and would be a great way to use up those 2.5 inch scraps that most of us have lying around in a bin somewhere.

Not sure how I want to quilt this.  Considering a variegated green thread or a variegated yellow and brown thread if I can find it.  I am hoping that Arlene will have some idea of what to do pattern wise to make the quilt pop.

Marathon Sewing Afternoon

I had the chance to fit in an marathon sewing afternoon yesterday.  I scurried around in the am doing errands and chores and when those where done I sat at the machine and let er rip. It was awesome and good for the soul.

I completed Bento Blocks for Jaclyn at the Joy do good stitches bee. She will cut these into four and then marry them up with the other peoples blocks and come up with a fantastic quilt top. Its a great way to use up scraps.As long as folks use her colors, pink, green, purple, and yellow, it will all go together no matter what shades or tones are used.

I posted about this quilt top before. Like months ago.  It has taken that to get this top together.  In reality it only took 45 minutes do trim and sew but I just couldn't find the time to do it until now.  It measures 39 X 53 and is very bright and colorful. The plan for the back is to do a multi color and fabric back making the quilt look like it is two for one.

Sock Monkey!

Have you seen the Pier One Imports commercial?  The one with the sock monkey in the rocker?  Yeah that one.  I love that snip of commercial.  While I was traveling I happened to load up on quilt magazines and one of them, Simple Quilts and Sewing, had a pattern to make a sock monkey.

So while I was in Walmart this week to get groceries, I bought some work socks, cannabilized a pillow form and set out to make my own sock monkey.  Who knows maybe I will create a collection of funky sock monkeys...

I added a bit more hair and a wide lips as the sock in question did not have a red heel like the pattern did.  Despite that addition, I think he looks pretty good.  Maybe a bit thick in the neck but that is a question more of stuffing him too full. 

I want to do another one since I have the batting and more socks left. I found these inspiring.

sockmonkeys at wordpress.com

by maribelmade.com

from rebelalamode.deviantart.com

 If you are wanting to make a sock monkey check out Operation Sock Monkey for patterns, tips and photos.

April Joy do. good stitches block

This month Rebecca at Our Busy Little Bunch is up for the making a quilt. Surprisingly she chose a block that I had on my to try list.  How about that for coincidence.  If you check out the Parfait Cafe you will find a block called Interlinking Seasons.

 I mentioned that I had this block on my Quilt Block to try list, right? After doing one I have to say that I won't be making this block again. Too fiddly.  Maybe if it was paper pieced I might do it again. You would think that straight strips would be easy enough. But the width of them makes it tricky not to stretch them.

 But despite that, they are done and ready to be popped in to a mailer and sent to Rebecca to make her quilt for her charity.

Sunday Came Early

So on my flight back to Ottawa, via Winnipeg and spread over two days, Sunday came early. It is amazing what one can find while looking for other things, and today was no exception. As I spent some time in the Chinook Lounge, dining on fresh chicken noodle soup, gingersnaps and a decadent Caesar drink, I was looking for a program that I saw on the local tv while home. Of course my memory is slow to capture the accurate name so I just started searching the internet to see if I could find it.  Who would have guessed what you would find when you type in canadian religious broadcasting!

Along the way of course I found something else which gave me pause, in fact became my little bit of worship time in the airport. Since I will be travelling during church time, I figure that this video by Jana Childers and my usual prayers on the iPod will be my way of setting aside some time to be holy and to honor the Lord my God. I really liked the style of this preacher and how she took the text and made it come alive. It was nice to laugh as she talked about the bible greats and their feet, noting how she slyly took the sexual reference to feet and put that to work for her as a bit of levity in her sermon. It was great to see how she took a very common notion of a powerful God, a God that is overwhelming and forceful and transformed that by referring to the manner in which he could have healed the bent over woman. I never would have thought that Jesus would get on his hands and knees in front of her to heal her.  Or that he might even touch her feet.  But considering the healing in this way makes the story of healing all the more powerful, showing the strength in humility, in bending the knee before the other.

Normally when I view this lesson in my minds eye, I see Jesus, stooping and putting his arm around her in a comforting protective manner.  When you compare the two, my view of it weakens the gospel.  Oh it is satisfactory that option but not as powerful as Jesus on his knees in front of the hunched over woman who stands for all those infirmed and hunched over by their burdens of health and disease or oppression by the players of the world around them.