Let it Snow Blocks 4 & 5

I finished 2 of the Let it Snow blocks. Block 4 & 5. I am using flannel fabrics that look like wool and hand stitching them in place.

This is a spacer block between the word "let" and the next word "it".

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Happy Bag

I made this Happy Bag on Sunday. It is an ImazzPattern, but not a new pattern. It is called Happy because of the *smile* pocket you see on the front of the bag. I guess I wanted my bag to be extra happy, because I made the back of the bag with a smile pocket too, lol! Normally, the back of the bag is one fabric (like the blue denim), but I wanted a couple of pockets outside. I could have added a back zippered pocket, but I thought why not add the same pocket on the front and the back. I also did my pockets in patchwork strips. I wanted to use the blue denim and so I decided on digging through my red scrap bag and then I made the patchwork pockets and then quilted them with a red variegated thread. I love how the bag turned out.

I showed the finished bag to Mr. P. and he said he thought it was one of the nicest bags I ever made! Wow, who knew he even paid that much attention to my bags? I think he liked the red patchwork and the denim paired together. It is a really nice bag and can be used as a tote bag or a handbag too. I like the simple style of this bag and it lent itself well for doing some patchwork on it too.

This is the front of the bag. See the *smile* pocket?

This is the back of the bag with another smile pocket and I used some different red print fabrics here too.

I used a wavy stitch as my topstitching and added a "Handmade" button. I also used the wavy stitch on the center of the straps too.

Inside the bag I sewed 2 slip pockets. One is in a light denim color and the other is the same print as the lining. I think this beach lining is so cute and fun. This would be a fun bag to take to the beach! Now if only there were some beaches here in New Mexico, lol!

Hanging in the Desert Willow.

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Oval Fabric Basket

When I saw that Carol, of Just Let Me Quilt, had made a fabric oval basket, I knew I wanted to try making one too. Her pattern is free on Crafsty. Carol made a great patriotic basket and even added applique letters "USA" on her basket. I wasn't sure how large this basket would be in person, so I wanted to use up some fabrics I had on hand to try this out. The basket was easy to make and the instructions were very good too! Thanks Carol!

I chose some Christmas fabric because it would make a nice gift, especially with some goodies inside the basket. I noticed after I made mine, that my handles were placed differently than Carol had placed hers. I must have made a goof there, but you know I like them that way as it makes it easier to carry. This basket would also make a nice knitting basket too. I will make more of these now that I know how easy and useful they are.

I might make the next basket with one exterior fabric next time, which would be even faster to make.

The basket bottom. I quilted the bottom following the diamond pattern of the fabric.

Since the handles were too large for my small hands, I folded them back and stitched on top to make it easier for me to grab and carry. Of course if I had placed the handles where they were meant to be on the ends, the handles would be just fine. Sometimes mistakes work out to be better.

My knitting project fits nicely inside this basket.

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Rainbow Twister Table Runner

The quilt guild I belong to had an all day in town retreat that met on a Thursday one week and again the following Thursday. I sewed this Rainbow Twister Table Runner top together during the retreat. It was fun to sew with friends. This was my UFO that I had started at home. Some of the ladies were working on their own UFO's and others were taking the class that was being taught by 2 ladies in our guild. Not wanting another UFO, I decided to work on my own project.

The top is made.

I used all scraps of fabric to make the top, except for the border fabric. Even all the whites and off-white fabrics were scraps.

I quilted the runner with simple vertical and horizontal lines.

The backing fabric is a bright patchwork-look with frogs hopping all over. I didn't have enough of this print to back it, so I sewed some squares of the colorful scraps I had left from the front to make the back large enough. This runner is a gift for my sister. Shh, don't tell her.

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Eve Handbag

I recently tested a handbag from a new designer, Liz Schaffner of Moments. Liz is fairly new to designing bags, but she isn't new to making them. Liz has tested bags for years for a lot of online bag designers and she always added a little special touch to the bags she tested, such as a beautiful machine embroidered design on her faux leather bag. Liz is the queen of using faux leather too! Now Liz has branched out and is designing her own bags. As she mentions in her pattern, she just needs a little extra money to buy her some coffee, lol!

Eve is a great handbag that is versatile because you can add things that you like for your own bag. Such as, do you want your Eve to have a zippered closure or a flap? Do you want your flap to close with a magnetic snap or a turn lock? Inside there is a zippered pocket that you can add a nice trim to or not and slip pockets that can be divided how you want. Since Liz uses a lot of faux leather, the instructions are geared for using faux leather, but you can certainly use cottons (like I did) and some of the other testers did also. Some of the testers even made more than one Eve! I guess they wanted an Eve with a flap and one with a zipper closure too. To see all the wonderful Eve Bags go here.

To purchase the Eve pattern go to Liz's Craftsy store.

Here is my Eve in plaid and Paris print fabric:

I chose to do the flap with a turn lock closure.

Backside of Eve.

Lots of inside pockets.

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Janome Memory Craft 3500 for Sale

I am selling my Janome Memory Craft 3500 Sewing Machine. It's in excellent condition! I have used it very little over the past year and I need the space as I already have other sewing machines and a serger. SOLD!

Practically brand new. Gently used and well cared for machine.

The hard cover case slips over the machine and you use the machine handle to carry the machine.

The machine, hard cover case, power cord, foot pedal and instruction book.

Comes with all these presser feet and 4 bobbins.

Under the presser feet tray is storage for the tools. All these come with the Janome.

This machine has the basic stitches and some fancy stitches too. 

This machine will sew through thick layers of fabric with ease. I folded a blue jean fabric so there were 8 layers and it easily sewed through the 8 layers and I didn't even have a blue jean needle in my machine (I had a universal #14 needle).

Janome MC3500 50 Stitch Sewing Machine LCD, 50 Memory, Auto Lock, 4x1Step BHs, NeedleUpDown, SpeedLimit, Threader, AutoDeclutch, 7-Piece Feed, HardCase

The MC3500 gives you computerized Janome sewing with 50 pre-programmed stitches, including 4 different fully automatic buttonholes. Create your own custom stitch settings that the MC 3500 can "memorize," in combinations of up to 50 selections.

§                            50 stitches, including 4 buttonholes 

§                            LCD screen 

§                            Auto-declutch bobbin winder 

§                            Reverse stitch button 

§                            Auto-lock key and up/down needle position key 

§                            Manual stitch width and length keys 

§                            Convenient one-hand thread cutter 

§                            Built-in needle threader 

§                            Quick foot conversion 

§                            7-piece feed dog 

§                            One-touch hook cover plate 

§                            Magnetic type horizontal full rotary hook 

§                            Convertible free arm for circular sewing 

§                            Extension table for Freearm and Accessory Storage 

§                            Fully automatic sensor buttonhole 

§                            Convenient carrying handle 

§                            Plastic hard cover 

§                            Bright halogen lamp 

§                            Four step pressure dial

Included Accessories

# Blind Hem Foot G
# Cording Foot H
# Over-edge Foot C
# Satin Stitch Foot F
# Automatic Buttonhole Foot R
# Zigzag Foot A
# Zipper Foot E
# Hemmer Foot 2mm D
# Lint Brush
# Seam Ripper
# Spool Holder (L, S)
# Spool Stand
# Additional Spool Pin
# Spool Pin Felt
# Quilting Bar
# Bobbins (4)
# Instruction Manual
# Hard Cover

Message Screen
The LCD screen indicates your chosen stitch number, the stitch pattern, the correct foot to be used, and the thread tension. Adjustment of the stitch width or length is also shown on the screen.

Memory and Clear Keys
Most patterns can be memorized in combinations of up to 50 selections.

Manual Stitch Width and Length Keys
Stitch width can be adjusted manually up to 7mm and stitch length can be adjusted up to 5mm.

Built in Needle Threader

Provides easy needle threading and less strain on your eyes.

If you are interested in purchasing this machine, please email me. I am asking $375.00 + $50.00 shipping (or free local pick up).  This Janome retailed for around $900 when it was new. Thank you for looking. SOLD!
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Leaning Doors Knit Poncho

I knit this poncho last year, called Leaning Doors Poncho, by Cathy Montoya. I liked the knit pattern when I saw this pattern on Ravelry. It's a free pattern. I still haven't sewn the shoulder part in place. It's essentially a rectangle and you need to sew a little at the shoulder to turn it into a poncho. I have it pinned in place, but when I try it on, I am not sure if I like it. Maybe it's too short? I have it pulled forward in the photo. I better finish it and see.

I used a soft yarn with a bit of a fuzzy halo to it.

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