A paper pieced finish

I don't have much to show for the first half of the week.

This is a block that I tested for Angela over at Sewing With Squeak .  She put out a call for pattern testers around the middle of the month.  I chose this one and a turtle,which I have yet to test.  This one will be modpodged on to a hard backed canvas and then be gifted to my dad.  He used to be stationed at Eldred Rock Lighthouse in AK during his time in the Coast Guard.

Although this looks nothing like that lighthouse I think he will still like it.

When making the basket for my swap partner (scroll down to see that post) I had planed to use this second geese piece for the back pocket.  However I made a mistake and had to use fabric glue in one spot,just down from the second goose on the left next to the boarder.  So this is going to be used  to make a zip pouch for...

This Soldier(Gil's girlfriend,Carla) who is deployed right now.  Today she received the goodie box I sent her last Tuesday!  She texted me early this morning to let me know it had finally arrived.

Recently my sis texted me  a few photos of Axton enjoying the quilt I made him!  Apparently it is much loved!

Row 5 ~ Baby Flying Geese !

These little,or maybe I should say Micro geese blocks took me much longer than anticipated!  Each block measures in at 1 1/2" x 2 1/2 "unfinished!

Here are some of the little guys all flying around on my design board :)

Check out this gaggle of baby honkers!  I ended up making more than required for the row(not sure how that happened) so plan on using the extras for the back of the quilt.

About half an hour before I went outside to snap a few photos of these little guys,it was blowing and snowing like crazy!  When I got outside,there was barely a whisper of a breeze,and it had quit snowing.

My plan was to get a shot of my baby geese getting in some flying practice!  This was the best I could do.  You can just see some snow dust on the steps at the right of the photo :)

Back inside,where it is toasty a toasty 65(our high temp today was 28)!  Here are all five rows that I have completed so far.  Row 6 is up,so I need to get busy on it,although it should go a lot quicker since it is the same size as the apples and butterflies :)

I also finally finished up my fall Rock Garden flag today :)  Of course I had to add some geese and since I was on a roll with the babies,that is what is flying across the bottom of the flag!

The backside is a patchwork print in fun fall colors :)  Just had time to snap these photos before dusk crept in on us.

This is one of two blocks I made for quilts for victims of Sandy,it is a disappearing 4 patch.

The second one,the fabric requested was florals,with a print that would read as a solid.  This was the first time making this block,but won't be the last :)

Now I am going to try and get a couple blocks done for Karen over at Hazel Dell Quilts These will be Wonky Scrappy Log Cabin blocks,if you have a few minutes why not whip up a couple yourself?

Hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend with at least a little sewing thrown in :)  Don't forget tomorrow is my day to post for the UR Priceless Blog Hop so stop in to see my cute little coin purses!

Flying geese quilt block & S~crappy tutorial

This morning I got up early this morning to work on some
sewing.
The above photo is my Flying Geese block for the
sew,happy.,quilt.QAL

After making my block there were all these little triangle
pieces left.
What to do with them???

S~crappy Pincushion Tutorial

First,take all those triangles and chain piece them together.

Press the seams toward the darker fabric.

Next,trim all those little ears that are sticking out at the corners
off.

Lay out your squares to make sure that the placement is
correct.

Take your two top pieces and sew them together.

Press your seam to the outside.
Repeat with the two bottom squares.

This is what they will look like.
Now sew the top and bottom together.

Finished block,all squared up.  Depending on the size of
your scraps,and finished block,you can decide what size to
square your block to.
Mine is 5 inches square.

Don't worry if your points do not match in the center,we
will be placing a button here that will hide that!

Now we need to decide on the fabric for the back side of
our pincushion.  Since I am scrap busting my backing
fabric came from the scrap bin.

Place your square and backing fabric right sides together,
and sew.  Making sure to leave a 3-4 inch opening.
This is for turning and stuffing purposes.

Trim off the excess backing fabric.

You will also want to trim off all the corners.
(the tiny pieces in photo)

Now turn your pincushion right side out.

I use a little dowel with a pointed end to poke out the corners.
These come in every bag of poly fiberfil that I buy.  Some
brands do not add these though.  So use whatever you have
on hand.  

Here it is all turned and pressed.

Next you will need to use something to stuff this little guy
with.  I used poly fiberfil.  The amount depends on how
"stuffed" you like your pincushion.

All stuffed.
After stuffing you can either hand sew the opening closed,
or use the machine.
This one I hand sewed.   The other ones I sewed on the
machine.

Now for the center button.
You will need a package of buttons that you can cover
with fabric,and another scrap of fabric.
Alternately you can use a regular button.

My finished/covered button.  There are easy to follow
instructions on the package.

For this step you will need very strong thread,or if you don't
have any,just double up your regular thread.
Start at the back in the center and insert your needle.

Wrap the thread around the button shank a couple times
before running the needle back through the pincushion.

Button sewn on and tied off at the back!

So there you have it!
A (4) S~crappy pincushion (s)!!!

Place mats finished!

 Finally finished the place mats for Mr. P and I!
This one is mine,I started out with the flying geese
quilt block,and then added some of the same fabrics
in a crazy type border along the sides.

This is Mr. P's place mat.  I started out with the same center
block and then added the blue & gold strips along the sides.

Yesterday we went to the springs (city) and shopped all day.
Mostly we went thrifting,which was quite fun!  We hadn't
done that for a couple months.

We found plates for making more bird feeders,Mr. P sold 3
to one of the ladies in the office where he works!  She is going
to use them for Christmas gifts.
So we needed more plates and jars,since we are planning on
taking some to the craft fair on the 3rd of Dec.

Anyway it was extremely windy here this weekend.  We had

High Wind advisory's all weekend.  When we arrived at the
last thrift store it was already dark.
So this isn't the best picture (took it with my cell phone)
What you see is a Huge pile of Tumble Weeds!

They were all in front of the Ace Hardware store next to the
thrift store we went to.  They were also all the way down the sidewalk
in front of the other stores.

Today we found out that there were wind gusts of 100 miles per hour!!!
All I know is that it was Crazy Windy!

By the way,Followers,if you haven't entered my giveaway
yet,you still have a little time!

I will announce the winner tomorrow evening :)

Yay,squishie mail!

First up is this Super Cool Zip bag and a smaller snap pouch
too!
Isn't this awesome fabric?  I love how Melissa at sewbittersweetdesigns
combined all this different fabric to make this zip bag :)

This is the other side of the zip bag.  I really love how you could
have either side be the front side,as they are both equally beautiful.
Even tho this side has more green,I love both sides and can not
pick a favorite! 
So I guess the whole bag is my favorite :)

The little snap pouch has 3 different spaces for cards,such as
credit cards,or loyalty cards.  Melissa added decorative stitching
on the edge of each slot.  She used a pearl snap too!

I signed up for her Pay ~ It ~ Forward a while back ago and had
forgotten about it!
I on the other hand will probably not be able to get to my Pay ~ It ~ Forward
until after the first of the new year when things slow down :(
However I will get to it!

This is my second squishie that was in the box today!
It is my second block for October from the Christmas Block
Swap/Exchange that I joined here  Come join the party!

I am so happy with this block,I just love how the geese draw
your eye into the center of the block!  Also this will go nicely
with the other blocks as the colors in the other blocks are
also blue,silver and white.  :)

This is the first block that I sent out this month.  my partner
received it today,so I can now show it off here :)
She wanted traditional Christmas colors and,she also requested
this specific block pattern.

Pesto,tomatoes & placemats

Lots of garden goodness :)
5 containers of pesto are now in the freezer.
The zip bag on the right has dehydrated tomatoes in it.
A variety of tomatoes.
Cinnamon basil drying in the bowl off to the right.
Zucchini & yellow squash.

Here is a place mat top that is in progress.  This one will be
for Mr. P :)
Not sure that I like the fabric combo,but he does,and that is
what matters.

This one will be for me.
I took this photo on my kitchen table,and the colors blend
way to much :(
Now I need to pick out the fabric for the back sides of each one.

Looking for my current giveaway?  Go here

Christmas Geese block reveal ~ ect.

Finally got this shipped out to Melissa a couple of days ago.
She received it today,and is very pleased :)  YaY!
Hope I do this well with all the other blocks in the swap/exchange!
I am so happy with how this block turned out,so have already
cut the fabric for 2 more which will be used to make a table runner.

 

If you are a follower you know that I was involved in Stashtactular
for the month of August.  It was such a blast,that I hope we do
it again next summer!
Anyway I won the Grand Prize which was a $25 gift card to
1choice4quilting :)
The photo above is the Loot that I purchased with said $$$

The Martini fabric in the middle of this clutch is one of the
many scraps that was in my return swap box of fabric & scrap
fabric!
I posted about it here a few days ago.

This is the reverse/back side of the clutch.  The black and gingham
strip of fabric in the center also came from my swap box :)
The personal add fabric I found recently while shopping in the
city with mom!

Who doesn't/didn't love EEyore?!
This pile of scrap-booking love was given to me
by mom :)  She knows that I love EEyore,so she
had been collecting and saving all this up to bring
when her and dad came to visit :)

Of all my hobby's and crafts scrap booking is the
one that gets the least attention :(
So sometime this winter I am going to have to make a
play date with EEyore!