Art and a Bag

I had no idea when I took this photo that it would be my granddaughters' last week of school - most likely for the entire school year. I took the photo last Wednesday. This week is supposed to be the week before spring break starts.  Instead school is planning for virtual learning for the rest of the year. The pandemic stopped everything normal. I am so proud of Avery especially since her sister is considered the artist of the family.

I volunteer at the grade school regularly. I expected to be back this week to make the popcorn for popcorn day. It's really hard to get a grip on all that's going on. I feel stressed all the time. And worried. Avery is a type 1 diabetic. She is especially vulnerable at this time.

My sewing finish for the week is Chloe's backpack. I made it using a hand-painted fabric panel and some matching modern fabric. I didn't use a pattern, just some common sense measurements. I took her laptop and measured it. The fabric panel was a little small so I bordered it. The bag is cushioned with lots of layers of fleece to protect her electronics. There's a zippered pocket inside and two large pockets on the back for the rest of her things.

Foot Pain and Potholders

I've been struggling with this weird foot pain for about 4 months now so today I saw an orthopedic doctor who specializes with feet. And after some poking around and an x-ray, it turns out the bones that connect to three of my toes are too close together pinching off the nerves.

Apparently this is the kind of thing that happens after a lifetime of being a long-distance runner and years of wearing high heels. So I got a cortisone injection between my toes that is supposed to bring relief. So far all I can feel is pain and discomfort. The doctor says it should feel much better by Monday. I think it's going to make for a long weekend.

Over the past few days I've finished a few pot holders for a craft show. They are very pretty and basically in two different sizes. I say basically because I started with batting scraps then did scrappy quilt-as-you go sewing until I covered the entire piece of batting. I added Insul-Bright and a piece for backing along with twill loop before sewing.

The batting scraps I used were in at least 4 different widths when I cut them into squares. So I just sorted them into smaller and larger once I completed them. That will make it easy to just use two price points instead of worrying about pricing by exact size.

Bowl Cozies

It goes without saying that my favorite hobby is quilting. All year I make as many quilts as I can with a few small projects thrown in here and there. While making quilts, I keep in the back of my mind craft projects that I can do with my quilt scraps as well as new ideas of things that would sell at a craft fair. I'm spending the month of March making those things with the quilt leftovers for a craft show at the end of the month. Today I finished a bunch of bowl cozies. It's one of the ways I use up batting scraps.

While sewing I've been binge-watching The Crown and I love it. I started watching it last week and I am already on Season 2. I like to try out shows that are mentioned at the Golden Globes, Emmys, Oscars, etc. That's how I found Breaking Bad, Ozark, Marriage Story....I could go on an on. 

It helps get through the sometimes tedious work of mass producing craft items. It's fun sewing them up but sometimes when I get to the ninth and tenth bowl cozy (for example) I am ready to move on to the next project. I guess I shouldn't have lined up 3 new quilt projects for after the craft fair. Maybe then I could settle down and concentrate - ha!

Over the weekend we went on a Vintage Shop Hop. It was a two-day event where over 400 antique shops held special sales for the event. The shops are located all over northern Illinois and southern/western Wisconsin. We spent a day trekking across Wisconsin where I picked up a few cute things. The berry basket will become part of my craft fair display. I think burp cloths might look cute in there. It was great fun and a nice opportunity for my husband and me to have a little getaway.

Baby Blankets and Burp Cloths

I've been pretty lax when it comes to finishing sewing projects these days. I have plenty of projects started but none of them worth posting about.

I did complete some baby blankets though. I make these simple blankets just by sewing two squares of flannel together and after flipping them right-side out, I just stitch a little design around the edge and that's it. I also make matching burp cloths out of flannel with a nice soft minky on the back. These are pretty popular at craft fairs and I have one coming up at the end of the month so hopefully they will sell there. At least it will look like I have something sell - ha ha!

And speaking of the craft fair, I've been experimenting on some new ideas. Now that my baby items are complete I can't wait to get those new things going. Craft fairs used to stress me out but not any more. I get done what I get done and that's that. I have display racks that my husband built and totes just to haul my craft items. I also have one tote that I call the 'office' bin. It contains my business cards, bags for making sales, stickers with my business name for the bags, a cash box, spare price tags, my square reader for credit card sales and my signage. It sure makes for a stress-free day knowing those things are all packed up and ready. Now if only I could predict what people will buy.

Winter Quilt Show

My husband attended the Winter Quilt Show in West Bend today and while we were there he was awarded a quilt. What a wonderful surprise. He walked up to a booth where two women were sitting to thank them for their work making quilts for veterans and the Little Houses for veterans program that they support. The next thing we knew they were giving him a quilt! He was tickled pink by the nice surprise.

The winter quilt show is something that we attend every year but something changed. It just wasn't as nice of a show as it was in the past. The way the vendor booths were set up was weird and everyone there was bumping into everything. The quilt display wasn't as large as past years as well.

We did enjoy a nice lunch after we left the show and it was nice to get out of the house in the middle of the winter so it wasn't all bad. Here's to next year!

Chloe and Avery

This February has been a tough month to get any sewing done. That's because I have something much better to do - hang with my granddaughters!

My granddaughter, Avery had an overnight "camping" trip with her girl scout troop. Her mother couldn't go with her because of her work schedule so I filled in. The trip was held in a cabin in the woods at a Milwaukee County park. I had no idea place even existed even though I've been to this park many times. In fact, my wedding photos were taken in the same park just down the road from this cabin many years ago.

The cabin is set up with many bunk beds in one room for kids and twin beds in an adjacent room for the adult chaperones.
During our stay we made homemade pizzas followed by a STEM project of making cars with balloons attached that would move the cars when the air is let out. It was a good example of engineering. Then the girls made jewelry out of shaved crayons that were melted and made into a pendant. It was very pretty. There were a few other events like making a game as well.

Even though Avery was having a good time, when it came time for bed she had a meltdown and insisted on going home. She was so very upset. The funny thing was by the time I drove us down the road from the cabin she was sound asleep in the back seat of my car. I could have easily turned around and went back to the cabin and carried her to her bunk bed but I have to admit, I didn't really look forward to sleeping there either so I took her to my house and we 'camped' in my bed - haha!

Brownie Troop

 A few days after my trip with Avery, I took her sister Chloe for a haircut. Chloe absolutely hates the idea of getting her hair cut. She doesn't like pampering and just refused to cooperate. I finally talked her into going to my salon where she agreed to get a haircut. And it was just in time for her birthday.

We enjoyed an evening with family at Dave and Buster's which is pretty much Chloe's most favorite place to have a birthday. She was so lucky to have the grandpas from both her mom and dad's families. My sister was there too making for a wonderful little party. For the first year in a while Chloe didn't want a party with all her friends - it was just family. What a nice change and what an exhausting week!

Chloe's Birthday Party

Have a Heart Valentine Pillow

I fell in love with the Have a Heart pattern in the new issue of Quilts N More. I knew I could make one from my stash. It's always fun to be able to make that happen.

I spent the afternoon binge-watching The Ranch - season 6 on Netflix while I sewed. I love how funny the show is and how over the various seasons, they've pretty much had parts for most of the cast of That 70's Show. That was a fun series too.

The cute pillow is now resting on the sofa in the living room. Since I don't have much Valentine's decor, I'm happy to have this.

Longarm Projects

I had a few projects to quilt for others this week. The first one is for my friend Mary. She had a table runner where she says, "no hurry". When I opened the project bag I could see why - a pumpkin table runner.... I guess she wouldn't need it for a while - ha!

The second one is a quilt for church. They will use it at their spring raffle. The quilt top has patchwork hearts so I chose my 'Love' pantograph for the quilting. It should complement the top perfectly.