PIDDLING ...A GREAT RETIREMENT TOOL!

RETIREMENT
the best piddling job I have ever had!
Sew..how do I piddle?

For instance...the All People Quilt UFO challenge 
My project for JUNE was a Sewing Machine Cover
that I finished last February...

I decided to use more of my COMMA fabric 

to make a Teflon lined travel bag for my small iron.

My UFO challenge for JULY

was to finish some zippy pouches

They were done in May!

This one is a donation for a friend's fund raiser!

Another UFO challenge completed
This could be a Halloween swap extra?
Its reversible!

With plenty of piddly time on my hands.. 

I used a charm pack to make coaster for two

4th of July parties I was attending.

This month I'm sewing for swaps and making holiday gifts. 

and some piddly crafts...like these needle minders

Found some kitchen towels laying around,

added some stash scraps and they will be

future swap extras or hostess gifts. 

 YUP those are some Christmas Ghastlies on the right!

Staying ahead of my own sewing game as I...

what fun projects are you working on this summer?

UNDER THE SEA SWAP - IS OUT TO SEA!

I finished up an Instagram Swap 

 #undertheseaswap recently and mailed it off to my partner, 

Stacey Smith @23whiteterrace 

Stacey indicated she loves 

this Heather Ross, Mendocino fabric

sew I ordered some!

Her first choice of a project was a pouch

so this one is pretty roomy.

 Close up of the quilting

Stacey mentioned she was allergic to walnuts 

but if I made a pincushion and stuffed it

with crushed walnut shells...she would not eat it!

How could I resist!

Tiny paper pieced geese were challenging but fun!

The back is just as cute with the fish!

More Mermaids, octopus and turtles...

and I made a sunglasses or eyeglass case

using the mustard as the lining.

I luv me some scraps and made note cards

I purchased this extra cause....

well it had to go into the package!

and here it is...including a pattern I tossed in as an extra!

Lots of under the sea treasures!

I have two more swaps currently in the works...

you'll here more about them later!

What is your favorite item in this swap package?

BUCKEYE NATION GETS A NEWBIE

My grandson, Nique, recently graduated from High School 
earning an "academic" full ride" to 
The Ohio State University.  

My hubby, Phil,  is an alumni and 
we both LOVE The Ohio State Buckeyes 

Sew, of course...I had to make Nique a Buckeye Quilt!

First quilt I quilted on my Bernina B740
Luv the 10" throat space...sew much easier to quilt!

I have been stitching text on the front of my quilts recently,
instead of a label on the back....can't take this off to easily! 

The backing...an OSU sheet found at a thrift store!

All done!

 Nique wrapping himself in some BUCKEYE LOVE!

Which one of these guys is happier?

Grandpa Phil or Nique?

And I am happy to have moved yet another quilt 
from my heart to his!

Only about 80 days til the BUCKEYES kick off 

the football season...but who is counting?

GO BUCKS!

UNDER THE SEA...

It has been several months since I joined an IG swap...

when I saw this one...I drank the sea water!

This one is hosted by

Carla Peicheff over on IG

I love the sea...I love the beach...sew why not!

First order of business was to make a collage

of "Under the Sea" items / fabric I like.

I did a mix of projects and fabrics for my swap collage

to give my partner an idea of things I like.

Of course...I am always happy for whatever I receive!

I asked for either a tote, a table runner, or a zippy pouch. 

 I went to my stash to sea what I had on hand

I may or may not use these choice...

Depends on "if" my partner responds "like" on IG

and what she lists as her fav fabrics.

Lots of folks have indicated they "like" this 

but many say "too juvenile"

Deep, Deep Sea by Michael Miller

 I did buy it with a baby quilt in mind.

Snatched these FQs at a local modern quilt guild sale 

Riley Blake - Maritime Modern..just might work!

My partner seems to like subtle colors

Should I have received a partner who loves

darker blues and browns...got that covered too!

Maybe I'll make an "angel" gift in case its needed.

That happens when someone flakes and drops out

of the swap...I hope they get drenched in the water

if they do!

As I was surfing for nautical fabrics I found this
Heather Ross, Modern Maritime. and ordered some

..cause well I like it and have NONE of it!

I wish my partner was a bit more active on IG...
but I do see her collage and 

 I can whip up some Kwilty Pleasures in a heartbeat!

KWILT RETREAT SHENANIGANS

I luv a good kwilt retreat...especially when its kinda Ghastlie

and if I am there...it's bound to be...

Like with these fabrics...

 that ended up as a kwilt!

Sidelights pattern by Mountain Creek Creations.

Hanging on a barbed wire fence was perfect!

...more  "Something Ghastlie Comes This Way" line

became a Supertote, pattern by Noodlehead

I had this Ghastlie's Garden fabric ready to sew...

but ran out of sewing time

Finished it when I got home... 

Another Noodlehead pattern, 241 Tote

I made my strap longer and added a key fob.

The next bag is the Poolside Tote pattern also by Noodlehead 

Now I'm waiting for my pool to be built (lol)

I am trying to use Lotta Jansdotter stash this year!

All three Noodlehead bags...done!

The project that took the longest, most difficult 

was made with this fun fabric I have hoarded since 2006

The bedside pocket organizer was like wrestling a grizzly bear using two layers of soft and stable

Pillow case...piece of cake!

Both are Christmas gifts for my 5 year old niece, Gemma

 who loves all things fairies!

Aunt Kathy gave her birthday gifts of

things for her first faerie garden!

I did not make her 5th Birthday cake but its magical!

Sew tell me about your last retreat!