For our vacation this year, our family traveled to Virigina Beach, Va. and then to Charlotte, N.C..  We had a great time and I was able to stop at a few fabric shops along the way.  I had been told about Mary Jo's Cloth Store in Gastonia, N.C.  http://maryjos.com/  but never expected what I found.  It is enormous and has every type of fabric you can image.  It was quite an overload to the mind.  Which section to go to first.  What to buy, what not to buy.  How much to buy, where am I going to put it. Oh my!   Can't wait to go back with projects in mind.  Not far down the road is  Long Creek Mills  http://www.longcreekmills.com/location.html which has thousands of cones of embroidery thread at VERY reasonable prices.  Another place for me to get in trouble.   I also stopped at a nice little quilt shop near Kristin in Charlotte  Qbee Quilts and bought a few things there. 

We had a great time at the beach with a room with balcony on the beach front.  The kids swam all day and played in the sand. 

We visited the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C. and what a beautiful and enormous estate.  

This is an e-reader cover and eyeglass case to match the professional tote that I made for my sister which is shown below.

 And yet another bag for Erin with matching wallet, sun glass case and change/card holder.  Erin gave me the ultimate compliment.  She was at a Vera Bradley store and sent me a text that said "I like yours better"!!

Did a little sewing for my little cutie granddaughter Kira.  These are both Kwik Sew patterns and the fabric was purchased at Calico Gals in Lyncourt.
She's so precious - always on the "go".

AND - I finally made something for myself!   It's a beautiful laptop bag.  The pattern is from Indygo Junction and the fabric was purchased at Cazenovia Fabrics.

Lizzie's Prom Dress

 This is my beautiful niece Elizabeth ready for her senior prom.  I'm so very proud of Liz.  She started sewing only about 1 year ago and she not only made her dress, she designed it too!  It a royal purple satin with sparkles on it topped with layers of organza.  She made each of the flowers from the satin with tiny seed bead centers. They start at the shoulder and come down across the bodice and around her waist and continuing down the skirt. Her Mom helped with the flowers (Cause there were so many to make) and made the little shawl cape.  And she is wearing Grandma Clara's  antique amethyst necklace.  Grandma would be very proud!  You look beautiful Liz and nice job!

 Another baby - another diaper bag.  This one is for my daughters friend who will be a first time Mom.  I love making this bag.  It's full of pockets to hold all the necessities.  The diaper changing pad has a "Baby Tweet" embroidery from Embroidery Library.com. and has pockets for diapers, wipes and cream.  With the cross body strap, it's so easy to carry. 

Kristin bought the pattern for this bag and sent it to me to make for her.  It's a Valori Wells design and fabric.  It came out nice but I didn't like the directions or sewing sequence at all.  Not one I would make again.  Of course had to make a matching sunglass case and small wallet/card case to match.

My sister who sews  said - I wore out the bag you made me - I need a new one.  She picked out this fabric and I think that it came out beautiful. Again, it's the Professional Bag which I think I have made nine times now.

More Party with Patrick designs from Patrick Lose.  Just for fun.  They are fast and fun to do.

This is a 20" table mat just right for displaying a plateful of delicious cupcakes.

 The original design for this is the round table mats.  I scaled the pattern down to make a banner for the table top frame.

So many things to do and so little time.  I'm a bit behind on posting to my blog so this is a catch up post with lots of pictures and a few words - a little unusual for me I know.

You may remember that I made a Big Bird/Sesame St. quilt for my granddaughter.  I had quite a bit of fabric left so I designed and made this tote bag to carry all her important things - that right now being toys.  Attached to the side is a little "Binky Bag" from Pickle Pie designs.  It has worked quite well to bring her toys to
 Grandma's house.

I also promised a picture of my nephew Patrick with the Hoop Sisters flag I made for him.  This was taken at Christmas before he deployed to Afghanistan. He will be there until the end of the year.  He told me he was taking this over there with him.  Thanks Patrick! 

 This banner is also from the Hoop Sisters and is hanging in my sewing room.  I forgot to take a picture of the  Blue Star banner I made for my sister, Patrick's Mom.















The following are all from designer Patrick Lose(see link to his website below). He designs seasonal oriented items- banners, mats, table runners for applique and I so enjoy doing them.  I didn't find his designs until last November.  He has so many for Halloween and Thanksgiving and Christmas ones that I can't wait to do.  I understand the Christmas fabric is starting to come into the stores.  Time to go shopping!

 Birthday Banner

 Easter Lilies and Hoppy Easter

 Spring Lady Bug Pillow

 Valentine LOVE Banner

 This Lepraucahn was a little challenging but I got it done!

 Christmas Noel Banner

 Santa Embroidery

 Shamrock Banners

 Shamrock table mat

 Love, love, love this table runner.  It looks great on my cherry kitchen table.

 Cheers for a prosperous New Year - for Sarah

 My first Patrick Lose project and I was hooked!














This reindeer banner has a fits over a table top stand and has a
pocket in the front to hold incoming Christmas cards. 

I'm not sure that this is all of them but there will be more.  I'm working on two more right now.  I've made them for our daughters and gifts for friends.  They make great gifts.  Everyone loves the cute styles and they are pretty fast and easy to make. 

I've done other things although it looks like all I've done is the above designer.  Here are some of them and there are quite a few I forgot to take a picture of.

These were just fun little coasters.

 A pink purse and accessories for the pink lady - Mimi

 This was a project for our sewing retreat.  A contest of sorts to see you had the most interesting sewing apron.

 These next three pictures are of hand towels or tea towels as they are often called.  The designs are from the Anita Gooddesign collection "Scarf Ends"  The are twelve designs in three sizes.  Again a seasonal group of designs.

And finally, just a Christmas embroidery done with mettalic thread.