Shipshewana..... Disneyland for the quilter.

Yes, it's true.  The best fabric shops are there.  Lolly's is amazing.  They carry everything.  It's unbelievable.  Almost overwhelming.  I can hardly wait.  I don't need fabric, but has that stopped me before?  Not really.  We are leaving at 0600.  Tomorrow is also the big  flea market, so we plan to be there early.  Shipshewana is a small town in Amish country,  in northeast Indiana.  It is about 20 miles from the quilting camp I went to last month.  We did go shopping there one day of camp (my kind of camp), but I really didn't get enough alone time with the fabric.  haha  -- I'm partially serious.  So....  instead of a late night sewing session, which I do feel like,  I'm going to try and get some sleep.  I shall return, with lots of  pics.

Pillow Covers.... a quick pillow facelift.

 Last night i was inspired to give my pillows a face lift.  I have huge plans to make some to keep, and make some to sell in my Etsy shop.

The first one is done up in patriotic red, blue and tea-stained white.  I think this one is destined for someone else's home.  I love the red, but not with the blue.  I'm thinking red, brown and tea-stained beige.  I have large persian rugs in the living and dining rooms, so ANY color would work, but I really don't have blue anything.

Back of pillow

 I love making these pillows.  They work up so fast, and after working on large quilts, it is very satisfying to produce something finished in an hour.

I always make an envelope closure.  Each piece of fabric is folded back over to line each side.  Then, depending on the size of pillow form,  the center is over-lapped a few inches.  I also added some iron-on interfacing between each fold - to give stability to the button holes and buttons.

These button holes the very first made with my Designer 1 (gift from my sister).  All I have to say is "AMAZING".  Each and every button hole came out perfect.  I'm not a perfectionist, but this sewing machine makes me look like one.

I'm trying to decide if I stop sewing/posting here and get busy cleaning and vacuuming...... or print out some large mariner compass blocks to paper piece the next pillow cover.   hmmmmmm....  guess my house will wait until tomorrow.

Pillow cover without pillow form

Work day here....a full design wall!

Well, here I am... I finally made it back!  I've had a few busy days with shipping, sewing, and listing auctions.  As you can see from my wall --  I have a lot to do.

I've also been sewing on the quilt below.  I was playing around with my rulers the other day, and doing some drawing, when I had this idea for 60 degree angles/rectangles.  I think the design possibilities are endless.  I already have my next quilt in my head.... which makes for a very cluttered headache!


I'm having trouble with blogspot!  AND, it's making me a bit crazy.  Does anyone else have issues with adding pics???  It acts like it uploads pics, but it doesn't really.  I get big empty spaces in my post.  Not good!  The pics below are out of order, and that's blogspots doing -- not mine.

Rows of triangles -- with some fancy fabric placement -- you get hexagons!

Stacks of strips - cutting up years of fabric stash into 2.5" strips 

Chain piecing triangles

A month off???

Hello,  yes I've taken what seems like a very long  break from blogging.  When I went to quilt camp I had a rhythm of blogging, which I lost when camp was over.  So... I've been sewing and quilting, and do have pics to share.  I'll be starting the week right tomorrow with pics, and a blog....  and everything.  I did miss it.