One Lovely Blog Award

An Opportunity to Recognize Kindness and Support

Have you noticed the " One Lovely Blog Award " recognition that is going around in Blogland now?   

I have been nominated by the lovely Lara B,  of BuzzinBumble, 
 and also  ( a day later) by the lovely Soma, of  Whims And Fancies , to take my  turn and  share a bit about myself.   

Here's what we do when we accept the One Lovely Blog Award: 

1. Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link to their post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Choose 10 blogs to nominate for the award. (It is fine to nominate less than ten, just however many you feel comfortable with.)

Thank you,  Lara  and Soma,   lovely ladies, for being  so supportive and kind , and surrounding yourself by folks who are also this way!  I adore both of your blogs!

My Nominations for the  "One Lovely Blog Award" go to:  ( in alphabetical order)

Amanda    The Patchsmith Blog

Geta         Geta's Quilting Studio  Blog

Janine       Crafty Tokyo Mama II  Blog

Sheri        Sunshine in the Attic Blog

****        waiting for one other possible person!  may be adding her later

Click on their blog links, to go over to their blogs for a visit.    

And visit Lara B and Soma, too!

Lara B    BuzzinBumble Blog   **** Giveaway at  BuzzinBumble !!  ****

Soma     Whims And Fancies Blog

Sharing  7 Things about myself:

1.  I have a big sweet tooth! I haven't met a dessert that was "too rich to eat" yet!!   Vanilla Ice Cream is rarely  never  refused and is my favorite flavor.

2. I love to embroider. For years,  I only sewed  cross stitch and embroidery, and did  some hemming by hand.   It is harder to cross stitch now, as I need some 
uber-strong  magnifying glasses to see the pattern and the stitches!!

3. I love music... I play handbells  in my bell choir, sing in the choir weekly (during the school year), and play my flute at our church.  I am a soprano now, but sang as an alto  for years.

4.  I am allergic to  all seafood.  I can't cook any  fish or shellfish at home.  Fortunately, I can still eat out in most restaurants.    ( I can't eat at crab places at the beach... too many allergens in the air there!)

5.  A  " True Confession"-      I love to watch the Discovery Channel  while I sew:  

The Deadliest Catch ( yes, even though I can't eat or cook  a thing that they catch!)     Alaska : The Wild Frontier  
Alaskan Bush People 
Gold Rush   
I don't camp, but like to see others braving the wild !!   Notice a trend?   Apparently I am drawn to Alaska... I can't "do cold extremes" but can live it vicariously through these shows .

6.  I learned to sew on my sewing machine , as an adult, so I could make tote bags and purses.   I  have made well over 100   " Bow Tucks  Tote " bags through the years..... in both  the large and the small size.   

The Bow Tucks Tote pattern   here

The Bow Tucks  tote basic pattern  uses 3 different  fabrics.  I think I have spent hundreds of hours going through fabric stores to find different fabric combinations!   

7.  I was always just "average" in my Art classes in school. ( Phys Ed and Art were always my lowest grades.)  I began taking lessons in painting with acrylic paints on wood, from a neighborhood friend .  Maria taught me  how to shade and layer colors and stipple.  I loved the Folk Art/ Primitive style.  I think painting  was preparation for my  sewing and quilting!  

Some projects I made

I love making friends and meeting folks who are supportive and helpful and kind... and "sew lovely!"   

I'm off to my sewing room!

The Sunburst Clutch

What could possibly be more fun than a paper piecing project? 
A new little  clutch purse pattern,  by Mrs H  ... COMBINED with a paper pieced flap!  That's what!!

Samantha, of Sewing Patterns by Mrs H,  and Kerry, of  Pennydog Patchwork,  collaborated to create this  super cute pattern ... a clutch with a fun flap! 

As Samantha explains in her pdf pattern description:  

"If you're a bag maker wanting to give paper piecing a go, this is exactly the pattern for you, with just a small amount of paper piecing to dip your toe!

In fact, let's just say this is an excellent pattern for anyone who wants a cute clutch, for a date night, a wedding (it is wedding season after all!) or even just running errands when you only need your wallet and phone!

The finished bag measures approximately 8.5" x 6" x 1.5" (22cm x 15cm x 4cm) and features mitred corners, a sunburst paper pieced flap and a magnetic clasp closure.  "

Go to buy here

I am lucky to be a pattern tester for Samantha. When she showed us this cutie clutch, I knew I would MAKE time to test out this  pattern!

The Fabrics:

Black Denim    (bottomweight) from JoAnn Fabric
Barcelona   charm pack  by Zen Chic  (5 inch squares)

Magnetic Snap

Dimensions:   8.5" x 6" x 1.5"  approximately

Now, I won this Barcelona  charm pack.  It is not in colors and designs that I normally choose for myself.  It sat in my "Charms Box" for probably over a year.  It is very modern and darkish.

photo courtesy of Emerald City Fabrics

However, I was determined to use something from my stash.  So, I began sorting out the fabrics into piles of similar colors.  
This is what  I came up with.... and I LIKE it!!

The Sunburst Clutch          Susie's Sunroom version 

Some of the rays in the sunburst pattern  are longer than 5 inches.  I simply sewed sections together.  (Patchwork piecing !)   The inside lining of the flap is pieced...
see below.

The flap lining and the inside of the clutch.   Yep... it's all pieced from charm pieces!

 Samantha's purse pattern directions are written clearly, with lots of pictures . It is a pleasure to make bags from patterns made by Mrs H !

This pattern took longer for me to choose my fabrics, than to sew up the clutch!  
You can see all of the different fabrics that the other testers used to make their Sunburst Clutches...  Here      I love how this clutch can be made to be dressy or casual.... fun and funky or traditional.

If you'd like to make your own Sunburst clutch, you can buy the pattern in Samantha's  Etsy store here.
*  For this first week only the pattern is 15% off using the code NEWPATTERN15 .

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up at:             Let's Bee Social @  Sew Fresh Quilts   and
                                         Sew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilts  and
                                   And Sew We Craft Together @ And Sew We Craft

Blogger's Quilt Festival 2015

Amy's Creative Side blog

There's an  Online Quilt Show!!

 I am submitting a favorite  mini wallhanging  of mine, in  the Spring 2015 Blogger's Quilt Festival    at Amy's Creative Side blog.  Amy has link ups for quilters to share a project, in lots of different categories. 

I love seeing all of the gorgeous quilts that so many talented people have created. 

You'll want to hop on over to Amy's Creative Side now , and see all of the entries!!

And, if you like my Ladybugs mini quilt,  cast a vote in the Mini quilt category , starting May 22.



Here's my entry-                         Lady Bugs Mini Quilt/Wallhanging

Pattern -  from Paper Piecing 1/4"  issue 5  April - June 2015   QAD Publishing  {here}

Ladybugs                by Susie's Sunroom

Mini Quilt size:   20 inches x 20 inches

Fabrics:   Sugar Hill    Tanya Whelan by Free Spirit

               Black and white polka dot,  tonal white, and blenders -  from my stash

          

{Previously posted on April 1 , 2015 }

If this is the first time you have visited Susie's Sunroom.... welcome!  

I'm off to my sewing room!

Pattern provided by QAD Publishing

Linking up at:  Blogger's Quilt Festival 2015   mini quilts @ Amy's Creative Side

Farmer's Wife Blocks

Friday Block Talk

It's been awhile since I sat down to make a few Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt blocks.  I really enjoyed making these!  I had fun looking through my laundry basket of Denyse Schmidt fabrics to pick the fabrics. 

Block # 27:  Darting Birds

#27   Darting Birds       Susie's Sunroom

Block # 28:   Duck and Ducklings

#28  Duck and Ducklings    Susie's Sunroom

Block # 29:  Economy

#29  Economy     Susie's Sunroom

I really like this Economy block!  I can see making a quilt with this block , where I want to feature some cute fabrics in the center.

Block # 30 :  End of Day

#30    End of Day    Susie's Sunroom

You can see all of my completed Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt blocks :

Here  at the FWSQ Page  ,  at the top of my blog under the header    

and

Here   in my FWSQ  Flickr Group


I think I'll be adding to my pile of FWSQ blocks this summer.  They are very relaxing for me to make ( by paper pieced foundation!)

What do you like to sew, that is relaxing?

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up at:      Can I Get a Whoop Whoop! @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict   and
                           Fabric Frenzy Friday  @ Fort Worth Fabrics Studio      and
                           Paper Piecing Party @ Quilt Art Designs  and
                           Sew Cute Tuesday @  Blossom Heart Quilts

A Spring Petals Finish

In Full Bloom

The Spring Petals Quilt Along at  The Crafty Quilter

This week, I was able to finish up my Spring Petals Table Topper !  This is my second Quilt Along completion in the last few months.  (The first project was my   Irish Chain Twist Quilt , sewing along with Melissa at Happy Quilting.)  Both have been "sew "fun and great learning experiences!


I only had one  "uh- oh" incident while finishing up the topper-

I thought it would be pretty to have a simple fleur-de-lis  pattern quilted  in the corners.   I found  a gray varigated thread, which will blend in nicely with the background fabrics and binding, and still contrast a little  with the yellow corners. 

I appliqued the petals onto the background, using a small  blanket stitch on my sewing machine.

             - Aurifil 50 Wt  cotton from a special box of Color Me Happy  (V and Co.) threads
             - Stencil  -  with fleur-de-lis pattern
             -  Frixion pen   ( iron and it disappears)

My corner is  all marked with a Frixion pen  waterproof pen

Oops!   After I marked it and started to admire the pretty classic shape , I  realized that I had used a waterproof pen that I use for making quilt labels!   My heart sank!
Then I remembered that,  fortunately,  I started to mark the quilting lines on a corner piece of fabric!  (I had originally been  thinking about starting in the center  with something  from the stencil!)
I simply ripped the stitches out from that  yellow corner piece, cut out a new triangle, and replaced it!  Whew!

I used my walking foot to quilt along the lines made with my Frixion Pen

I added this little box in the  the open area around the center flower in green

I couldn't wait to iron the Frixion marks off , after some  simple quilting touches were added to my topper.  (My scrappy fabrics   {Summersville Spring   charm pack }  are pretty busy, so I chose not to compete with the fabric designs and bright colors.)

The binding , with its unusual corners was a initially a bit  intimidating to me, but  Julie's excellent tutorial took me right through the process , in Lesson 5.  { Here }
Now I can tackle this kind of binding!  Thank you , Julie, for your awesome tutorial!

Referring to Julie's tutorial,  I was ready to attach the binding.  I grabbed a cup of coffee, and  sewed the binding 'raw edge' to 'raw edge' on the back side first.  Then , after a good pressing, I held the binding in place with my handy- dandy Wonder Clips.   

I love using these little Wonder Clips  (Clover) for sewing on binding 

I machine stitched the binding on the front side of my topper.   Before  I knew it..... the binding was finished!!

Susie's Sunroom

Spring Petals Table Topper     by Susie's Sunroom

Spring Petals Table Topper    by Susie's Sunroom

This Spring Petals table topper is a great project that can be completed in a week or a weekend, and makes a beautiful gift.   It is truly fun to make!!

Julie,  The Crafty Quilter  ,has  a Link Up showcase ,  where you can see everybody's Spring Petals Table Toppers .   {here}   

It's not too late to get started and make one of your own!  You have until June 6 to enter a Spring Petals topper.   Julie has even added a second  topper pattern... with  no applique!  { Here }     And,  to enter the link up, you don't have to have your topper quilted.  Just have a finished top!

I am going to look over the rest of my  Summersville Spring charms pack, and try to make the non - applique' table topper.    I think my Mother wants this first Spring Petals for her Mother's Day gift!!     

I'm off to my sewing room!

                                                        

Linking up at:       Spring Petals  QAL @ The Crafty Quilter               and

                           Can I Get a Whoop Whoop @  Confessions of a Fabric Addict  and
                          Let's Bee Social  @  Sew Fresh Quilts    and
                           Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Fort Worth Fabric Studio    and
                            Sew Darn Crafty @ Sew Many Ways

A Low Volume Forest

My  Finished  " Forest of Pieced Trees" 

I finished sewing my Spring Trees blocks this weekend.   

Four " Spring Trees "  paper pieced blocks    - in low volume gray and yellows

                                               -  you can get the pattern here

Remember my inspiration?   This painting by Gustave Caillebotte  :

Paris Street; Rainy Day    1877
Gustave Caillebotte   Art Institute of Chicago

Pattern:     A Forest of Pieced Trees      - Spring Trees -  in a  paper pieced wall art  design -
                    included in    Paper Piecing 1/4 "  digital magazine  Issue 5  Ap-June 15   
                               by Janeen at Quilt Art Designs    (here) 

Fabrics:   (from my stash)
                 Willow  by My Mind's Eye   Riley Blake Designs - light grays and yellows
                 Taza    Ribbon Damask  by Dena  Free Spirit    taupe gray
                 Love At First Bite  Dots  in gold    Windham Fabrics      yellow                                          Brussels Washer Linen Blended White (linen/rayon) - background
                     Gray   Kona cotton   for binding

I really love how these two trees turned out!  The right "Willow" fabric reminds me of knots in the tree bark.....

My two favorite trees

My  Low Volume Forest of Pieced Trees         by Susie's Sunroom

I chose some gray Kona fabric for the binding.
And  for fun...... I pieced scraps together for making the corner pockets for hanging on the back.

The back   -   scrappy corner pockets

'Low Volume ' Forest of  Pieced Trees             - by Susie's Sunroom

I  am entering my  "Low Volume"  Forest of Pieced  Trees  mini wallhanging  
                                       in   May's  Le Challenge... 

                                       the theme is " Wood".  

Le Challenge.com    click here 

Every month has a new theme.  You link your finished  project ( made after the challange theme is named) , for a random chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop.   Isn't that cool?!

April's Art Inspiration  and  my  Susie's Sunroom  Project

I'll leave you  with a question.....

"If a  "Low Volume "  tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"            { link here}                      (Sorry. I couldn't resist putting this in.)




Linking up at:   Sew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilting  and
                         Fabric Frenzy Friday  @ Fort Worth Fabric Studio  and
                       Pet Project Show @  Pink Doxies

I'm off to my sewing room!

Pattern provided by QAD Publishing