Patty and Nadine at Web Fabrics in Purcelleville, VA

Well, here I am again.  August and September slipped away so fast that I hardly remember them.   October started off with a bang with a trip to Northern Virginia to the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Va.   Nadine Knecht who owns Knecht’s Sewing Center where I buy my Pfaff machines, Patty Wilborn  and I went along with my daughter Kristin. Kris lived in that area and was our driver and tour guide.  We had, as Nadine would say – “Sew” much fun!  It was three days of venders and exhibiters at the show and visiting 5 quilt/fabric shops.   And of course there was the Leesburg Outlet Mall!   There was hardly room for us in the Suburban on the way home!  We found some beautiful fabric and so many ideas and patterns that even a month later, our heads are still spinning.  Here are pictures at the shops we stopped and shopped at:

Nadine and Patty at Jinny Beyer Studio in Great Falls, VA

Patty and I at G Street Fabrics in Rockville, MD

Sisto's Fabrics,  Frederick, MD

We found so many wonderful fabrics and patterns along the way that my new and improved Pfaff Creative Sensation has been humming away burning the midnight oil!

Of course, early October, everyone is concentrating on Halloween.  At our first stop at Web Fabrics I found a booklet fom Disa Designs with table runners for all seasons and I made this one for Kristin with fabric purchased at Web Fabrics.  I also bought a book of purse designs by Amy Butler that I can't wait to try.

At the quilt show, we met the owner of Pickle Pie designs who has an amazing collection of designs all done in the hoop:

These are some of the cross body bags that the ladies did in a class at the sewing shop.  We have sew much fun there and they all loved their finished purses.  So many different fabrics make them  all look different and individual.

Another vender at the show was Dalco Home Sew with in the hoop applique designs - hundreds of them.  We brought this one home and I stitched it up.  So nice - so easy - - -

I used the last two design to make these towels.

This is an Anita Gooddesign towel edge applique.  Easy and fast.

Another pattern bought at the show.  It is a wall hanging done in raw edge applique.

Some other projects I've been working on: 

A purse and accessories for one of my favorite girls - Mimi who loves pink!

A fall table runner for Kristin!

Last Sunday, Glenda and I went to a quilt show - yes, I said the "q" word at Lockport, NY.   I found a magazine there called Quilting Celebrations by designer Patrick Lose.  He is my newest and favorite applique designs!!! Love his work.  Here's one thing I've made so far from his collection.  They are called Minty Mug Mats and are so adorable.  

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and at work we asked our customers for donations to the Carol Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund.   We collected over $500.00 in honor of Mimi's Mom, Susan Buckley who was diagnosed and started treatment at the same time I did.  Unfortunately, Sue did not make it and we honor her every year.  I made these aprons for Mimi and I to wear to promote donations.

Lots of other things in the works - but sh-h-h - Christmas is coming - don't want to spoil any surprises!

Boldt Castle July 24, 2011

Ok - so this isn't a sewing project, but thought I would throw it in the mix. This was Kira's first trip to Boldt Castle and knowing her Mom, It won't be her last. It was one of the most perfect days we have had this summer - not too hot and just a little breeze. A beautiful day with almost the whole family. If you haven't been to the Castle, you should visit. They are constantly working on it and new things to see with every visit.

Sewing Room

So - this would be where I spend all my spare time. Since the girls and Derric have moved onto their own homes, I have this large bedroom that I have turned into my sewing studio. My sewing before was done in the basement family room. This is so much nicer with all the windows, air and natural light. I have three active sewing machines - Pfaff Creative Vision for sewing and embroidery, Pfaff Expression 2.0 to use while the Vision is humming away on an embroidery or for visiting daughters to use and the Pfaff 4.0 Coverlock serger. I have the Koala Quilt Pro IV cabinet with the outback extension which gives plenty of workspace for large projects or the extra machine. I also love my large cutting table which is cabinet height and saves on my back. This room can still be used as a guest room as there is a pull out love seat in the corner - but that visitor will have to put up with my late night sewing habit!

Overnight travel bag for Kira

I bought this Amy Butler Weekender Travel Bag pattern quite a long time ago but never found material that I wanted to use for me. Then, I thought, this is the perfect size for my little grand daughter when they go away for the weekend. It's big enough to put in a week's worth of baby clothes! Her mother, my daughter, picked out the fabric at Sew Creative in Fairport, NY and it took me two lo-o-ng evenings to make. The fabric is a Michele D'Amore collection. The large flower print is accented with a matching brown polka dot bias cording and lined with a reverse polka dot fabric. Peltex gives the support for the side panels with layers of Peltex for bottom support. This is not a difficult pattern, but definetly not for a beginner sewer. I addded a picture with a soda can for perspective of size.

Erin and I love going to Sew Creative (see my links below). They have a nice selection of quilt fabrics and fashion fabrics that are hard to find. All the ladies in the shop are so very friendly and helpful.

Heirloom Camisole with lace shaping

This is another Martha Pullen design in heirloom sewing. It was a free pattern in an issue of Sew Beautiful magazine. I loved making the Christening gown and I thought that I would try my hand at lace shaping - a new technique for me. It is quite tedious, but the results are beautiful. This was made with a fine Swiss Nelona batiste with French cotton laces. The center and top band embroidery are a built in stitch on the Pfaff Creative Vision and stitched on English netting. I made this for my daughter and she will look lovely in this as it is or under a sweater or blazer. I plan on making another another cami in a different style lace shaping for another daughter.