Echo Quilt Start

A quick little post today. Just wanted to show what I am currently working on.

I finely cut into my Echo fabric and I am working on this pattern. I have been so busy lately that when I get a little bit of time I work on these blocks. It has been going pretty well so far. So hopefully it won't take to long to finish up.

Jera MacKenzie

 

A super quick sew

Yesterday I was able to get a little sewing done. I was frist able to convince my son to go to the fabric store, because we where going to make him a Halloween bag. He is so much more pleasant to take to the fabric store when the sewing project is for him. We looked at all the Halloween fabric and he choose these for his bag.

I think he did a great job. This is the bag I created for him.

I followed this lovely tutorial Simple reversible totebag.  I modified the pattered by adding a accent piece to the top. Overall I keep the bag 13 1/2" by 14, but instead of cutting two 13 1/2 by 14" pieces, I cut out two 13 1/2 by 3 3/4" and two 13 1/2 by 10 3/4" and sewed those pieces together. I also changed  the straps, because I wanted them to have different fabrics on each side. So I cut two 2 by 20" strip from each of the fabrics I wanted to use. Then sewed them together and flipped right side out and sew into the bag as directed. 

Here he is with his new Halloween bag.

He just can wait to get out there.

Thanks,

Jera MacKenzie

Yeah! I have finished a quilt.

Way back in June I participated in a fabric exchange. The way this one worked was that you cut 10 different 2 1/2"by half the width of the fabric, so the strips where 2 1/2" by 22" or so. Then pack those 10 strips in to snack sized ziplock bag, you can exchange more than one set. Most people in this group send in approximately 10 sets. Then mail your sets into the swap hostess. She swaps all the packages around and mails the fabric back out to you. Pretty nice.

Well, anyway the first one of these I participated in was the purple exchange. Shortly after getting my purple fabrics back I got the book Sunday Morning Quilts by Amanda Jean Nyberg and Cheryl Arkison. This was just the inspiration I need for these purple strips if fabric. I decided that the Sunday Morning Quilt by Cheryl Arkison was the perfect fit for these fabrics.

 It is not quite the same as in the book, but I wanted to work with what I had. I think it worked. Don't you?

I machine sew the binding of my quilts. This time I tried an new stitch. I am not quite perfect at this, but  I kind of like it.

I just did a simple back.

I am very happy with this quilt. 

Jera MacKenzie

It's Wednesday.

It's Wednesday. This is what I am working on.

These blocks are for a a quilt I am making inspired by this one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thehummingcat/3719444788/in/faves-43047739@N06/

and this one:

http://www.redpepperquilts.com/2009/07/nine-patch-quilt-top.html

I also have acquired the book Sunday Morning Quilts by Amanda Jean Nyberg and Cheryl Arkison.

I have so much purple fabric that I am making the Sunday Morning Quilt from that book. I need to get it out in the next could of day so I can get some good photos of it. That all for now.

Jera MacKenzie

The other Teacher's Quilt

I meant to write about this a while ago, but as usual life gets busy.
This is Miss Jennifer's quilt.

It is the Granny Square quilt from Blue Elephant Stitches. For the Granny Squares I used two different fabric collections. I had one charm set named Oasis by designer 3 Sisters for Moda Fabrics and the other charm set was Spring Magic By April Cornell . The sashing and border fabric is Kona in White. The quilt is 50" x 60", just like the tutorial.

I just got some nice looking neutral fabric fro the backing. I wish I could give you more info on it but, my local Fabricland, where I picked up the fabric from isn't always great about knowing that kind of info. In the next photo you can see a better picture of the backing fabric, because I used it on the quilt bag that I made to go with it.

This is my custom size of Jeni's Lined Drawstring Bags to put it in.

This is Miss Jennifer with her quilt. Sorry the picture is a little blown out. I didn't have a lot of to messy around with my camera setting and this was the best I got. Both teacher really loved their quilts. It was a lot of fun to made these quilts. I have made a few more over this past summer. Hopefully in the next few weeks I will get to posting about them.

Jera MacKenzie

Well, way back in May, I did this

I know it has been awhile since I have posted anything here. Here in Canada our school system goes until the the end of May. Then there is July 1 celebrations and living in Calgary, we have Stampede. Immediately, following Stampede we go on vacation.  So July ends up being a very busy month for me. I haven't been sewing a lot, But I have managed to get a bit done. I am hoping to be able to catch you all up over the next few post.

For now, back to May. I made quilts for my son's Pre-School teachers. Yes, He have two teachers.

So here is the first one. This quilt was made for Miss Anna. She is having a baby boy in August.

This pattern is the Baby Lattic Quilt By Amy Smart from the Moda Bake Shop. I used the fabric collection named Reunion by designer Sweetwater for Moda Fabrics. The back round fabric is Moda Bella Broadcloth in Gray.

Nothing fancy for the backing just got some yardage of the Banner in Gray and is bound with Dots in Lime. The finished size is 37" X 45".

Then of course I hade to make one of Jeni's Lined Drawstring Bags to put it in.

This is Miss Anna with my son and her beautiful new quilt. She loves it and I know her baby will too. 

Tomorrow, Hopefully, Teacher number two Miss Jennifer.

Jera MacKenzie

Mystery Charm Swap

I made it in. I am so excited to be participating in this swap! The swap is now full, but you should definitely check out http://echinopsaster.blogspot.ca/  I think Jenelle has some great looking quilts and an excellent sense of colour. I can not wait to see what comes in August!

Jera MacKenzie

Work in Progress another Wednesday is here

http://freshlypieced.blogspot.ca

Well, I wished I had made more progress on my Modern Cross Log Cabin quilt, but I have not.

I have done a few smaller projects.

I have made myself some zippered pouches. I just followed a simple online tutorial  and here they. The larger ones above are 8" x 6" and the smaller ones below are 8" x 4". Prefect for storing pencils and other small sewing supplies in.

Hopefully this week will provide me with more time to sew, but we never know what will come up, do we?

Jera MacKenzie

Yes, I am going to try to do W.i.P. Wenesdays

Here I am ready to try and join in some linky partys. My first work in progress is probably a quilt everyone has all ready done. I just got the book Modern Log Cabin Quilting: 25 Simple Quilts and Patchwork Projects by Susan Beal, over Christmastime. I finally am feeling confident enough to tackle the Modern Cross Quilt, with a few modification. I have a ton of 2 1/2" WOF strips. I am too lazy to cut them down to 2" as it call for in the book. Instead, I decide to do a little math and a test square to make sure I got it all right. Sure enough, It worked out O.K. Here is the result.

Not too bad. The other modification I am making is that I am only going to make the quilt about lap sized, I figure about 60" X 74" I don't think I could handle anything larger. So now I only have about 27 more of these blocks to go.

My other work in progress is this:

I am thinking these will turn into a bunch of HST for a zig zag pillow or something. It's kind of on the back burner.

Well, that is all I have for now!

Jera MacKenzie 

Snow Blue Flannel Quilt

I finished another flannel quilt. This is my Snow Blue Flannel Quilt. It is a simple patchwork of 8" squares all sewn up. The over all size of the quilt is 59" X 72". It is a great size for a twin bed or just to snuggle in. I quite like and so does my son. He says it will be his wintertime blanket. I think that is what it is perfect for.

This is a close-up of some of the different flannel designs.

This is the front.

This is the back side.

Jera MacKenzie

Lined Drawstring bags.

As you can see I have been making more of  the Lined Drawstring Bags from:

http://incolororder.blogspot.ca/2011/10/lined-drawstring-bag-tutorial.html


The one above is the Laundry Sized bag. It turns out to be the perfect size for the blue flannel quilt.


I had enough of this fabric line to create one of each sized bag in the pattern.

I think they look pretty cute.  

Thanks for lookin!


Jera MacKenzie

New Flannel Quilt

This is one of my most recent quilt finishes. A blue flannel quilt with a winter them. It is just starting to be spring around in Calgary. But I am trying to finish up projects I started last fall. This is another quilt I started way back last September when my mom was visiting. We had cut out the 8 inch square and never got any further than that. Finally a few weeks ago I decide it was time to finish up all those old projects I had. I got it done in about 2 days. I wish I had more picture to show you of it, but the rain has delayed that for now. Hopefully tomorrow will be more cooperative.

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2012/05/giveaway-day-may/

Did you also know about this the Sew, Mama Sew Giveaway day. There are so many great blogs to be discovered. Tons of great giveaways, I have entered many. I am looking forward to reading all the new blogs that I have discovered. I hope maybe you found me thorough my entry into your blog contest. I hope to participate in some future Sew, Mama Sew Giveaway day. 

Jera MacKenzie

Fat Quarter Exchange

I am hosting a fat quarter exchange over on Swap-bot.com. If you have any interest in exchanging your extra or unwanted Fat Quarters, come on over to Swap-bot and join in. It is absolutely free to join the site. The exchange is that you will be assigned 2 partner to whom you will send 2 Fat Quarters to. Easy enough don't you think.

I swap with Swap-bot!


Join in the Fun! 


Jera MacKenzie

Fabric Bowls

Here is another of my seing project that has been keeping me bussy.

These are from http://acuppaandacatchup.com/ Nesting Fabric Bowls Pattern.

I have made the 4" size twice and the 5" size once. It is a fabulous pattern. Super easy and a lot of fun to make. 

Here is a link to the pattern if you want to get it for yourself: http://acuppaandacatchup.com/2012/03/nesting-fabric-bowls-pattern/

Jera MacKenzie

Tiny Lined Drawstring Bags

I know this may be hard to tell but really I have been doing a lot of sewing lately. I just haven't been doing a lot of posting. Anyways, on to these little beauties I have been working on. 

These are the Tiny Lined Drawstring Bags from:

http://incolororder.blogspot.ca/2011/10/lined-drawstring-bag-tutorial.html

I am working on two more sizes. I just have a little more sewing to do on them. Hopefully, by Monday I will have them fully sewn and ready to show off. 

Till then,

Jera MacKenzie

One fleecy quilt

My Son loving his new quilt.

I have had this fleece fabric forever. I think I bought it about 4 yrs ago, after having my son. Originally I had intended them to be swaddling blankets. But, as you can see that never happens. So way back in September, when my mom was visiting we thought of using this nice cuddly fabric to make a nice quilt for him now.  We cut the squares to 8 x 8, lay out a pattern on graph pattern and then it just sat in a box until a short time ago. I finally sewed the squares together, made a back and quilted the whole thing together. I decided to make this a quilt with out binding. I followed this wonderful tutorial. I think fleece is the perfect choice of fabric for this quilting technique. Well that is about all for now.

Jera MacKenzie

More fabric goodness for me.

How lucky am I. Today my shipment from Fabric.com  arrived. You wanna see?

First off I got some fabric form the Moda called, Reunion designed by Sweetwater. Plus some of Moda's Bella Solids in Grey. I am hoping to make a cute quilt for a toddler boy out of this fabric.

 Then I got some of Anna Maria Horner's LouLouthi.

 Also from Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush.

I have no idea what this fabric will be used for. I just had to have it and it was on sale, what better reason does one need?

A Walk in the Woods toddler quilt finished.

 I wasn't going to start this one till I finished by other, but I went a head and did it anyway. Is she not a pretty one? The perfect little girls quilt. It measures only 35" x 50", just right for a toddler I believe.

Here is the front with the wind blowing just the right amount to show off the back.

 Here is a straight forward picture of the front.

Then the back.