Don't you just love packages on your porch?!

I am a "follower" of Sew Many Ways.  Karen is so creative and has some of the best ideas.  She does a "Tool Time Tuesday" that is fabulous.  If you don't know this site, go there!  Every Sunday she does a drawing from all the comments that she received in the prior week.  Recently Karen drew my name and yesterday I received my giftie - 40 assorted holiday cookie cutters.  

I don't want to rush the holidays but all these sweet shapes make me want to start rolling out Christmas cookies!

See that red tag hanging off the side with a little white piece of something in it?

That is a fabric gift tag with a note enclosed.  Is that not the most clever thing?!  A darling little pocket that you can just swap out the note and use over and over.  LOVE IT!  I am guessing Karen made this and I have requested a tutorial 'cause I don't remember ever seeing one before.  I bought yards and yards of Moda Christmas fabric when it was on sale for $1 a yard.  I can make a lot of these things!

Thanks again, Karen!!

Do you know "Miss Mustard Seed"?

I have been reading Miss Mustard Seed's blog for a while now.  Back when I was starting up Hazelnut Hill, I emailed her and asked if she had any advice for someone starting a small business in Pennsylvania.  She emailed me with lots of information and encouragement.  She is an incredibly talented woman, generous with her tutorials and her blog is beautiful.  She is celebrating 2000 posts and is having a giveaway.  If you have not seen her blog, I encourage you to take a peek!

My oldest son and his family are here for a few days.  My granddaughter, Bella, asked if I would teach her to quilt.  You betcha!  She is enthusiastic, takes directions really well and is very precise.  She decided on a small quilt in Christmas fabrics.  Since it was her first time at the sewing machine, I thought simple strip piecing would be a good way to learn to control the fabric and sew a straight seam.

Using the little Brother machine was a good choice for this first sewing attempt as there is a speed control so the machine won't run at a crazy pace and Bella could learn to control the foot pedal.  All of the piecing is finished, outer border is on and the quilting has begun.  We should have a finished, little quilt to show this evening.  I love sewing with my granddaughters and I especially like their level of enthusiasm.  I think I may have another one "hooked"!!

Another project!

When my son, Brian, came to visit a few weeks ago I needed his help to make something I had been thinking about.  I needed a daybed for the studio.  A place where I could sit and read or even nap in the fall and winter.  I also wanted another guest bed.  I decided to build a platform high enough to slide large storage totes under and also high enough so that is not apparent that it is only a platform with a innerspring mattress sitting on top.  I had purchased 7 yards of navy poly-blend fabric at Fabric Mart for a dollar a yard.  Rather than have to worry with hemming, I tore the yardage down the length of the fold resulting in 14’ of fabric.  I used the selvage as a finished edge.  We made the platform with 1” strand board which I had cut to length and width at Lowe’s.  We (Brian) cut an 8’ length of fir post into 18” legs which we lag bolted onto the platform. We then covered the platform in batting to pad the edges of the board.  That was stapled onto the platform followed by the fabric for the “bed skirt” which I attached making 2” folds every few inches and stapled in place.  We put the bed against the wall and loft railing to serve as a backrest for the pillows.  I had made a quilt for the bed in my guest room when I was living in the apartment.  I have lots of fabric left from the quilt so I used scraps to make pillows and a pillow case to match the quilt.  I also used some of the fabric to make a cafe’ curtain and valance for the window in the studio.  Somewhere in the attic dormers is a body pillow.  I want to cover that with another piece of coordinating fabric.  Oh, the white coverlet on the bed is a vintage coverlet that my mother gave me years ago.  I love the way this little corner looks right now and I cannot wait for the weather to turn cool and blustery.  I think I have the perfect spot for a Saturday afternoon nap!

Results from the Friday Night Sew-in

My goal this week (which tied in beautifully with the sew-in) was to finally get this quilt top finished. I started this quilt about 3 years ago and began collecting “Chocolat” fabric.  I collected this line much as I collected “Vienna Nights”.  I could not turn away from a piece if I saw it in a shop.  I bought some on line.  I bought some from another quilter.  Last year when they had the great sale at Fabric Mart I found more…so I bought it!  The quilt is queen-size and even with making the quilt top, two shams and valances for my bedroom windows, I still have yards of fabric.  Today I am going join my S3 group and ask them to help me decide which piece of yardage I should use to make a bed skirt.  After the bed skirt I will still have enough for the quilt back, pillow cases and a few throw pillows. 

I am determined to have this quilted and on my bed for the fall.  Wish me luck!

Friday Night Sew In

I went into the sewing room last night to work on the borders for my quilt.  It was 98 degrees.  I have 2 borders on.  I will post photos later.  (It is still 85 degrees in here!)

New item for Hazelnut Hill

I have made several beach bags in the past month for customers and have one left in inventory.  If you are interested, pop over to Hazelnut Hill.

Remember me?

Wondering if I still have any followers out there?!  It has been so long since I posted but I have so little going on in the studio since the weather got hot.  The studio is unbearably warm right now.  I went up briefly a couple of days ago to get some supplies so that I can work downstairs for a while.  The heat was overpowering!  Thank goodness I have a window fan drawing some of the heat out of the space.  I cannot imagine how hot it would be without that fan.

Emily came for two weeks and I loved having her here with me.  She really enjoyed her sewing and cooking camps.  Thank goodness I have a sister who is a wonderful teacher and loves children!

The rain is falling today – great buckets of it and it is wonderful!  It is gray, cool and reminds me of Seattle.  I will have something to show you next post.  I am determined to sew something today!