RRCB

 Here are my fabric choices for Bonnie Hunter's new mystery Roll, Roll Cotton Boll which will be starting on Nov. 19. I had to get a few more browns since I didn't have enough variety. I didn't realize how many pinks I had. Yikes!


My two constants will be the green and red fabrics shown in the first picture.


I am hoping my neutrals have enough variety in them. We'll see how this one turns out. I still have to finish my Carolina Christmas.

Walking Foot and GF Mixes

 I haven't posted in a long time because I ran out of space on my computer. I couldn't download my pics from my camera. : (


Anyway, I am using another computer. (Note to self - get an external hard drive.) I downloaded my pics to this other computer that has an external hard drive.


My first pic is of my new walking foot. Well, I bought it one or two months ago. I just couldn't post the pics until now. I am so happy with it. My pot holders, I'll post pics later, came out so nice with the walking foot.

The next set of pics are of some gf mixes my brother and his wife got for me. So thoughtful of them to remember me. There are not an abundance of a variety of gf mixes available here in the islands.


I tried the Cinnamon Raisin Bread Mix and it came out really nice. I forget to take a pic of it. You could smell the cinnamon as it was baking and it smelled so good. The loaf also looked very nice. I cut it and ate about half a slice. Then I got a reaction to all the cinnamon. It had lots of cinnamon in it. I was so sad that I couldn't eat it.


They also gave a Mesquite Pancake Mix, that I haven't tried yet, and a Brownie Mix. I'll let you know when I do try these. I'm looking forward to doing so when I have some baking time. Thanks to GY and JY for thinking of me!

Blue Angels

 The Blue Angels were here for Bay Fest. Bay Fest was held later this year than last year.
We were lucky enough to be invited to my daughter's classmate's house to watch the show. It just happens that their street is in line with the runway at the base.
The show was spectacular!
It's too bad my camera isn't that good. These were some of the best shots I got. My daughter's camera is newer and she was able to get better shots.

$2 Fabric and Bees

 I went to Fabric Mart and these were in the $2 fabrics! I don't know why I bought so much brown. Oh well, I'm sure I'll be able to use it for something.

One morning we found this dead carpenter bee in our garage. It was just lying on the asphalt. Strange, huh.
Anyway, I just have to tell you my "bee" stories.

A few years ago I was driving to Kailua with my windows down and a honey bee landed on the arm rest inside the car. I was so scared that it would sting me. I pulled over as soon as I could, opened the door and got the bee out. Needless to say, it just fell to the ground when I swiped it out of the car with something.

Now a few months ago, as I was driving up the Pali Hwy, and another honey bee fell into the car. This time it landed on my left knee! I was in the left lane and had to go all the way to the right lane to go on the Old Pali Road! This time I was really scared because it was on my knee, luckily I had long pants, but still...anyway, I had to swipe it out of the car and off my knee with something. Again, the bee just fell. It didn't fly, it just fell.

These happened when I was driving alone, so sadly, I have no witness of these freakish events. I do not want to experience this again, but has anyone else had these types of things happen to them? I would like to know.

Shop Hop

 I participated in a Shop Hop in August and purchased these two items. It was on two weekends so I split the shops up and did some the first week and finished the rest the second week.

A few weeks later I got a phone call saying I won a prize from the shop hop. Yay! I won some fat quarters. I've participated in this before, but never won anything. I'm not sure what I will make using them, but I'm sure I'll think of something. I'll let you know when I do. Until then, I'm enjoying just looking at them.

Embroidery Workshop

I went to a embroidery workshop back in August and got to play with the Bernina 830. It was fun. We got to make bags. This is the bag I made. It has reverse applique. The pink heart was done using reverse applique.
In reverse applique, you cut away the top fabric to reveal the bottom fabric. I could have cut it a little closer, but it was the first time I've ever done this, so, I guess it came out okay.

Here is a close up of it. I also learned how to attach crystals to my design.

The last picture is of the cut away we also learned how to do.

Another lady in my group made that one.

The 830 is a huge machine! It is also very sensitive. I don't think I want that machine, it is too sensitive. I've talked to three people who purchased the machine. Two of them still haven't taken it out of the box and the third doesn't like it because it is too sensitive.

I'm thinking that maybe I'd like the 730 if I ever get enough funds to purchase an embroidery machine. I've also heard that Janomes are really good too.

What embroidery machine would you recommend?

A bag for Ruru

My DD is in Japan this semester. She has a host family for a home stay, because Tokyo International University doesn't have dorms. The family has a little girl.

Naturally, we got some omiyage, like kona coffee, chocolate covered macadamia nuts, etc., for her to take up. We decided to make the girl a bag using some cute hawaiian print fabric. My DD chose the fabrics, made the lettering and I did the rest. It took me 3 days, of course, I didn't work on it continuously...I had to go to work. lol.

The first picture is of the bag with 1-1/2" wide handles. I actually got done with it a little earlier, but decided that the handles made the bag look funny because they were too wide and too long. I ended up taking it apart and redoing the handles. I shortened the handles and made them 1" wide. It looked so much better.

This was one of the few times that I actually made something without a pattern. This is also the first time I  put a pocket on the inside of the bag. I don't know if you can see it in the last picture.

We thought it turned out really cute.

Moli'i Fishpond

Went to a wedding during the summer. The couple had their ceremony at the edge of the Moli'i fishpond. You can see the archway where they performed the ceremony. It was a very beautiful setting. I had never been there before.

The bride's sister did ceremony. She got her license online!

The ceremony was performed at dusk, then they had the wedding reception on the grounds in a very large tent.

Choosing fabrics

I needed fabric to start a new quilt, so I bought two of the same print in different colors...couldn't decide which one to use. Ended up using the bottom print with the fabric on the upper right hand corner of the picture. The pattern of the quilt is called "Harlequin quilt". It consists of diamonds all on point. I had to purchase a special template to cut the pieces.
At the class, I was able to cut can start sewing, but have since had to put it aside because school started. I'm not sure when I'll be able to continue on it, but I will keep you posted.
Start any new projects lately?

Pinwheel coaster and shoes

This was an experiment coaster using the extra half-square triangles from Carolina Christmas that I wrote about here, here, here, here, here, and here. I still have lots more, but I got tired of having to square them. I also had to match the sizes so that they would match.

These are my new Earth shoes. I had to order them through the internet because Birkenstock didn't have them in stock. Luckily, they fit perfectly and they are so comfortable.

Pillowcase

Well, school has started and I don't have much time to do any sewing. This is a pillowcase I made during the summer as a sample for my class at school. I wanted to make more samples of pillowcases with different patterns, but I never got around to it.

I've been reminded that Christmas is coming, but I'm not done with my samples yet. sigh.

Dilema

Well, I've been cutting t-shirts again, I found more "holey" t-shirts, just in time for the hot summer weather. These tees have come in handy as we've been having very little rain and the weather has been very muggy.

 I also made some pencil cases for my dd to give as gifts this up coming school year...I've been reminded that I need to start on Christmas, but somehow, I'm drawing a blank on that. Hopefully, something will speak out to me about that...maybe it will jump up and down, scream and wave at me saying, "Make me! Make me!" Yeah, right! Any suggestions?

Carolina Christmas Part 5

Okay part 5 done. Now, on to part 6...almost done! Woohoo!

I have to square the blocks, then sew them together. The blocks pictured below are not sewn together yet.

4 poinsettia blocks are to be sewn together and 4 Fox & Geese need to sewn together to create a Christmas Star block.

Let's hope it comes out okay.

Jewelry Roll-Up

I went to a Bernina Club meeting in June where we learned how to make a Jewelry Roll-Up. I haven't made one yet, but maybe someday...

Carolina Christmas Part 4

Carolina Christmas part 4 is done! Oops, I forgot to take a picture of the blocks after I added the green. Oh well. Maybe it will get done in time for Christmas this year. lol.

When school got done in May, I had tons of scraps that I brought home from school because the bin at school wouldn't close. I brought it home, washed it, ironed it and gave it away to some of the ladies at church. They were very happy. One of the ladies even made me something. I will take a picture of it and post it later.

Happy sewing everyone!

More SOL Dinner Theater

This is a quilt I made that was donated to the silent auction for SOL Dinner Theater. It is a "Turning Twenty" pattern, but I called it "Turning Seventeen" because I used seventeen different fabrics instead of twenty. I started it last year and finished it in time for dinner theater. It sold for $300.00. I was so happy!

This is the front of the quilt.

The back of the quilt looks like this.

Another contribution was this banner. My DD and I designed it. I then sewed it together and DH put in the grommets with the cords.

Stage Skirts

Well, last month, we were busy with SOL (Soldiers of Light) Dinner Theater. Dinner Theater is their only fundraiser that they do every other year.

The students sing and dance and put on a show. The parents cook, donate things for the silent auction, bake things, make decorations, costumes, etc. The theme this year was "Seasons of Love". Therefore, the decorations were in Spring colors with butterflies and flowers everywhere.

This is one of the stage skirts I made. There were 3 of us moms sewing them. We made them in sections. One of the moms came up with the design, and the other mom and I followed her lead. I was able to find out the best way to attach them to the stage with the help of The Friendly Sewing group on Delphi Forums. Thank you to all who gave me input on this. : )

I've attached pictures of the set up of the gym...all of the parents hard work.

This first picture of of the stage without the stage skirts. The one following that is with the stage skirts on part of the stage. By the way, the choir director loves the skirts and says he will use them over and over.

The next picture is of the bake sale set up in the gym.

The picture after that is of the silent auction tables.

Then there is a picture of the scaffolding where the videographer would be, along with some other decorations.

The tables where the dinner guests would be eating and enjoying the show, along with the bleachers where show only guests would be seated.

Some butterflies on a fence to separate the dinner portion of the room from the sales portion where the bake sale, silent auction and refreshments would be sold.

More fencing with butterflies and flowers.

An archway with a walkway lined with flowers led the way to the dinner area from the entrance to the gym. The arch also had lights!

Iron rails to section off the walkway into the gym and act as a separation for the selling area. The butterflies were made by the parents, painted and decorated by the students. The students later got to take home their butterfly as a souvenir of the event.

 Sorry for such a long post. I wanted to keep all of these pictures together.

Birthday Gifts and more quilts

My DD came home from college last month and brought these wonderful mixes and crackers for my birthday. Of course, since I am posting about it so late, everything is gone.

I made the french bread first and it was yummy!

The next thing I made was the Bob's bread, not my favorite, but it was okay.

The crackers were delicious! Those disappeared with the help of DH and DD.

The last thing to go was the Pamela's mix. I used it to make a coffee cake for Father's Day. It turned out great.

I would buy all of these for myself except the Bob's gf bread. Thank you DD for the yummy treats!

Here are more quilts. This is the last of them from the quilt show...enjoy the eye candy!