A Pinwheel Project

In a spurt of post holiday shopping I purchased two sizes of a really slick little template tool.  It's called a "twister" and allows you to transform standard squares into pinwheels fairly easily.
You can read/purchase here: I bought mine from Canton Village Quilt Works, but they are relocating currently and are sold out at the moment.
This is the progression on a project I'm making for my Mom.  I will update with fully finished once I get the quilting and binding done.

5" squares cut from my stash

Squares just sewn together

3" border added to squares

Twister Tool lined up on seams

First row cut and re-sewn

Row 2 added - starting to see the pinwheels

Swiss cheese left after all blocks cut from original piece

Pinwheels!

New border added to finish it off

At the moment this piece is loaded onto the quilting frame as I fight with my stitch length regulator and audition quilting designs.  Update will come...

UPDATE:  Finished photos - quilting is done with my Janome 1600P, King Tut Variegated thread in blues and the pattern is called "Billowy".  Binding is hand finished and of course - my quilt label.

Happy Sewing!

A new year - one month old!

Another new year has begun and I've been doing some sewing... though never as much as I'd like for various real life reasons - like taking care of my family!
They are worth the sewing sacrifice though of course. *wink*

Anyway - here are some random projects I've been working on in the past weeks.

Knitting needle roll/case w/ pocket

Another Knitting needle roll/case 

Series of black, white & red placemats - all photos are before quilting & binding

framed mini-quilt "night sky" paper pieced block

Another Knitting needle roll/case w/ pocket

scrappy Bargello placemats for my kitchen

Dishmat for our eldest daughter's new home/kitchen

Nothing tremendously exciting, but all very useful and fun generally speaking.  I really like small projects at times as it gives a tremendous sense of accomplishment to start, sew & finish in relatively small space of time.

Knitting Totes

A friend from church has opened a knitting shop (Knitty Gritty) nearby and offered (SO graciously!) to allow me to bring in some bags to sell.  I had stumbled on this very cool looking pattern from SewSweetUK and for the first time in ages actually BOUGHT a pattern to use for something.

These are the first three I made - two in sizes directly from the pattern and the last one I made up on my own for size.

My chicken pincushion!

Chalk marked lines for outside pockets 

I opted to create a quilted padded handle (not in the pattern)

Love this fabric from Kate Spain for Moda

Everyone needs an assistant... right?

This bag has a drawstring closure top

These were really fun to make but did take a considerable amount of time individually.  They are fully lined, two of them have interior pockets in differing dimensions.  They are made with 100% cotton quilting fabrics, interfaced for strength and have cotton batting for stability.  They are also stitch reinforced on the pockets for added durability.
I'm hopeful that they will sell and bless people.  I have a few more ideas for different style bags that I want to try in the coming weeks but first I have a quilt to finish for Christmas.

Be blessed in your sewing!