square bottom tote

     My Fiber Arts Guild, Just Needles, had a purse class recently.  I was using this method for making a square bottom on the tote and a few of the members were not aware of this.  Soooo, I decided to create a little Tute for it...Here it is:



measure from the fold 1/2 the desired width of the bottom plus 1/4"

 measure the same distance from the SEAM line




cut along markings.  It will be a square from the
seam line (not the edge)  to the fold



Now, match the FOLD to the SEAM.  Stitch.  This will create a square bottom. A 1" square will create a 2" wide bottom.  

Stitch with a 1/4" seam...

Finished right side of flat bottom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope this works for ya!!! 

Keep stitchin', Marsha

                                     

Wow! been a long time since I posted and this thing has sure changed!!!  I just sent my mug rugs to the UK for the latest Quilting Gallery swap.  I really love these swaps! 
    My friend, Jeanette, and I are getting very excited as our trip to Scotland, Wales, and England approaches. We will be leaving June 6 and returning in July 9!!  What a trip!  I will try to remember to post pics when we get back.
    

Mini Quilt Swap

    I finally finished the mini quilt for Quilting Gallery "New Beginnings" mini quilt swap.  I started over 6 times!!!  They just wouldn't talk to me.  At first I was being way too literal. Then I found a pattern that worked wonderfully Except when I sewed the rows together---YUK!  I apparantly didn't trim leaving a quarter inch seam all around the blocks.  Hmmm, that won't work...Soooo, begin again!  Another new beginning, huh?!!  Here is the finished product.


front




back showing the free motion quilting

   The title of New Beginnings somehow threw me off...Don't know why...the pattern I finally chose was from a BOM at Craftsy.  The three stripes in a wave pattern represent the 3 tidal surge waves of Hurricane Katrina that hit the Ms Gulf Coast.  I live about 2 miles from the beach.  The entire coast had a new beginning after this storm. The borders are quilted in a flowing water pattern to symbolize the end of the storm.  The scrappy blocks symbolize what most of us had left...scraps of what was.  But, we put on our big girl/boy britches and started a New Beginning for ourselves!  I am now happy with my choice for this swap.  I hope my partner likes it!  Can't wait to see what I get and from where..so exciting!!
      Till next time---keep stitchin', Marsha

pic of the quilt pattern I will be using

Here is the pattern I will be using for the swap.  It's called Scrappy Basket.  Sorry for the quality.  I am still trying to figure out inserting photos.  For this one, I had to copy from a pdf and paste into Paint, then save as a jpeg.  Oh,well.  It's here.  More later on the progress.

     Keep stitchin', Marsha

                                

Quilting Gallery Swap

     I decided to participate in the Quilting Gallery Mini Quilt Swap.  The theme is "new beginnings".  Hmmmm. That opens a whole can of worms!!  But I decided to go with a scrappy flower basket...reminiscent of spring...new flowers..Easter...new life....I am going to try to post the progress of this quilt.  I am doing paper piecing aka foundation piecing. I love it!  Have a friend who hyperventilates every time it is mentioned!!  She does, however, enjoy English paper piecing.
    That's all for now...more when there is more progress... Keep stitchin', Marsha

New year

    Settled into the new room...or should I say, been productive in the new room and now its messy so I have to clean it up before I can get started on the next project!  But its fun having so much room.
     I am sooo into Fascinators now.  Made one for my oldest daughter to wear to a Carnival Ball this weekend.  She hasnt seen it yet. Hope its what she was expecting!

Here it is.  Looks festive to me!

I have also been working on baby gifts.  Tried my hand at smocked socks.. Love them!

I better get to work now....see ya later... Keep Stitchin"!   Marsha

Been busy

   After the craziness of Christmas, I decided to move into my new sewing space.  The room I was using is 10' x 12'. Now it will be an office space.  The new room is 10' x 20'.  After moving in, I can't believe that alll that stuff fit in the other room!  Well, with all this new space, I had better be productive.  Here are some pics....

former sewing room

former sewing room other view

My embroidery hoop collection

Sewing area

ribbon , bows and hot glue area

The new space....Almost done!

cutting and hooping area

sewing area- other view

     I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, Boxing Day, Hannaka or whatever you celebrate at this time of the year!   Until later,  Keep Stitchin'!   Marsha

Good Grief!!!

  Could I be any more lax in posting!!!  So much has happened since I last posted.  I keep saying I will do better, and I do plan posts in my head.  Trouble is,,,,they never seem to reach my blog.  AARRRGGGHHH!!!!!
   My oldest daughter had a crazy and fun Halloween party!  We watched Its The Great Pumpkin on the side of the fence, the children had a game of ghost bowling, and the food was amazing!!! It was soo much fun that we repeated it for Thanksgiving!!  Ate outside under a canopy, served the food inside buffet style.  What a great way to spend a holiday.  Wonder if she will do this for Christmas...NOT!! Maybe New's Years Eve.

   I am in the process of making Sock Monkeys for my 7 youngest grandchildren.  Almost done!  They each have their own personalities.  Here are a few completed ones. I can't help but name them.

Slim and Pinhead

Tutu and NayNay

       











                                                                                                  

    I still can't get the hang of labeling pics and getting them in the right spot.. Maybe If I posted More Often!!! 
            I do wish everyone a Very, Merry Christmas!!!!!!    Keep Stitchin',  Marsha
    

Pecan Festival at Richton, Ms

Had a great time today at the Richton Pecan Festival.  Kinda muddy, but we managed not to slip down.  Sorta disappointed in the number of commercial booths.  I really wish everything could be hand made. Here are a few pics:

my besties-Lisa and Jeanette

It's allll about the food!!!  Blooming onion and bbq pork

our new friend

I will post more pics later.  I am over trying to move these around to where I want them! I am open for suggestions on how to do this..Very frustrating!!  till later.....keep stitching! Marsha

Can't believe its been sooo long!!!

    Apparently I have been really busy not to have posted in ages!   Since I last talked to y'all, I have not completed the quilt for the doll bed, have made several dresses, and more aprons for a craft show Oct 1.
    I found some really neat bags to use for my fabric & zipper flowers.  They come with printable / stickable / hangable tops.  I think they look really professional.

 

   I ordered larger bags for my Mug Rugs and my partner's embroidered/appliqued kitchen towels. I am getting excited about the show.
    This Friday, my "girls" and I are going to the Pecan Festival in Richton, Ms.  We have gone for 2 years now.  The first year, it rained as soon as we entered the park.  Not just a sprinkle,  a real Gully-washer!   Didn't get to see anything that year.  Last year was great.  The food, the pecan pies, the crafts....Love it!!!
     More pics later, especially of the festival.  until then,,,,,keep stitchin'!!!  Marsha

Been a long time

I knew it had been a while since I was here, but didn't realize how long...Making progress on the doll bed quilt. Thought I would hand quilt it since it is for an antique, the pattern is an old one (dresden plate) and the fabrics are '40's reproductions.  Looking really cute, but taking me way too long.  Of course, I have completed other projects in the meantime.
  Here is the quilt in progress:

see the areas that have been quilted?  Getting there!

     Finally went to North Carolina to see my new twin grandbabies..and their siblings of course.  They are sooo sweet!  Could it be that I am a bit prejudiced???  Naaaa.  They just are!!!
     Here is a pic of Hannah's new dress.  Her mom, my daughter Stormi, asked for a dress with fireflies.  I created this design several years ago for Creative Needle.  Never have used it for a garment.  Don't know why. So, Hannah, grandchild number 8, gets the first!

   Until next time....keep stitching...Marsha!

Kids Clothes Challenge Week

   So, I can't seem to sew for only an hour a day...so I made the entire outfit for one of my granddaughters, Maizy.  This was made from a man's long sleeved shirt.  Used most every bit of it!

front (this is being modeled by "Miss Lola"  

 

 

 

 

back... the legs were the sleeves of the shirt!!

close-up of the leg             

          ok, so, since it drives me nuts to try to add pics and have it set up like I want, I am going to stop.  I need to finish an apron for my daughter anyway. 
          till next time....keep stitchin!  Marsha

New project...Mini quilt for my doll bed

     I have been working with English paper piecing, and I love it.  Did it several years ago..like 35... with my sister-in-law.  Seems easier now.  For those who would like a reminder of how to English Paper piece..

fabric is basted to the wrong side of a precut paper shape.

front side. see the basting thread.  

 

shapes are then whipped together on the wrong side.

these hexies make a flower for "Grandmother's Flower Garden".

 

 

 

back side of the pattern "Dresden Plate".

front side. these will make a 4" square. tiny, huh.

 

This is what I have so far. Need some blues and purples.

The recipient of the mini quilt.  

 



                The doll bed is over 50 years old. My grandmother gave it to me and one to my cousin when I was between 6 and 8.  Can't remember.  The bed has been through several moves to different houses over the years, and several hurricanes.  Hurricane Katrina nearly did her in.  I can't part with it yet.  She is going be so beautiful with a new mattress and her very own quilt.  More postings of the progress as progress is made.  I work on this while watching the news or movies or something really important like "American Idol". 
             Till next time...Keep stitchin'       Marsha
                          

Easter outfits and other stuff

  
 ok, this is a bit confusing cause I don't know how to move pics around yet,  but I hope you enjoy these.

Here are the pics of the girl's Easter outfits:

                           This is for Hannah. She is 2 and 1/2.  Hope her mom can get her to wear a dress!!!

                            This is the Forehand gang.  That's Hannah in the front.  On the left is Maizy, in the bunny's lap is Lily and Evan (twins) and on the right is my sugar man, Cole.

Here are the things I used :

Hannah's collar with tatting attached and attached to the dress.

Hannah's pattern

I started with a vintage chair back linen for Maizy's collar.  Had to do more cutting to get it to fit.

close up of the vintage tatting for Hannah and Maizy's collars.  This was removed from a vintage pillow case.  Had enough for both dresses.

Maizy's pattern

Lily looks precious in her outfit!

Evan doesn't look too happy, but his outfit was really cute!