Sewing For Happy Campers

Several years ago, far too many to count, I bought these panels for the girls' bunks at camp.  In my world, the urgent tends to crowd out the important, so they had to wait....and then wait a little longer.....until, finally, my world got a bit less structured and I was able to put them together for this summer's camp. 

So, I got started.  I cut out the Sugar Daddy pillow and quickly realized the manufacturer goofed:

Oops!

By adding the words, "Delicious Milk Caramel Pop," they made the front at least an inch larger than the back.  The grain of the fabric wouldn't easily allow for fudging, but I did the best I could. Really wish pattern designers would proof-read and double check their patterns--crafters are limited in how much time they can spend on their hobby and this type of bump in the road only wastes valuable time.

The other pillows went a little easier and the tootsie roll one is the favorite:

Gives whole new meaning to "Super Sized"

Love sending handmade gifts with the girls when they are at camp--sort of like I'm right there with them, but without the bugs!

Summer Fun!!

Just in case you need something to fill your summer days, Anna Lena has organized something of a quilt challenge for the summer--try to make one six inch bow tie block every day of summer and have 95 completed blocks by the time the kids go back to school.  Here is her blog post.  There's a Facebook page, too, you may want to "like" so you can see everyone's progress--click here.

As always, I'm a bit behind, but have every intention of catching up.  So, my plan is to make two blocks a day to not only catch up, but be ahead by the time we go on vacation.

Here are my first two:

Pretty sure I have enough 1930's reproduction fabrics to make no duplicate blocks. 

Looking forward to having another completed quilt top for the fall--then off to the quilting frame and binding.  Perfect way to spend a chilly autumn night, under a quilt!

New Gadget

Until I invest in a better system, I'm forced to pin, pin, pin when loading a quilt onto my frame.  My family is a bit tenuous to approach me while I'm preparing a quilt for quilting for fear of being skewered.  So, I've been trying to find alternative pin holders rather than my apron.

At MQX, Judy Woodworth had these nifty little magnetic holders, but our time was so short, I never got a chance to ask her about them.  But, a trip to Lowes was able to solve the riddle:

Its intended purpose is holding nails, nuts and bolts and costs less than $7!

It is one strong magnet!  In fact, it can hold pins on a vertical surface or on the bars of my frame--check it out:

Magnet strong enough to go through all the layers of a quilt, too!

Had a pillowcase making session with "the girls" and they loved using the bowl for catching pins.  (Being such a powerful magnet, I wouldn't recommend using this as a pin bowl next to a computerized machine or credit cards for fear of causing damage.)  Looking at our trips to Lowes in a whole new way!

Latest Quilting Endeavor

Latest quilt I quilted for a friend.....

Amazing use of color!

Each basket has different quilting.

Rick-rack adds texture and a punch of color....

She asked that I get creative--brave soul!  Quilted ferns and tendrils in the borders.

This is the kind of quilt that makes a dent in a scrap basket.

Thankfully, she seemed pleased with the end result!