I Guess It Skips a Generation

Once upon a time, I tried to get my daughter Teresa involved with quilting.  She actually started a Yo-Yo quilt once but only got about 40 done before she decided it wasn't for her.   Since then I have tried, in vain, to get her to try again but she just doesn't have the desire.
 

So, you can imagine my joy when my grand-daughter, Lillian, showed interest in sewing.  Now, truth be told her interest started and continues to be in fashion and for quite some time, with Project Runway for inspiration, she has been designing fashion for her dolls and stuffed animals out of just about everything... paper, fabric, and even toilet paper.  She loves drawing out her fashion, too.  This is one of her designs- It was drawn on a napkin while we waited to be served in a local restaurant.

 

Last December Lillian turned 9 years old and so I decided it was time to initiate her into the sewing world.  While designing and making clothing is not my forte, I could show her a thing or two about quilting.  So, with that thought in mind I bought her and my daughter-in-law, Natalie, each a sewing machine for Christmas.  (Why not get them both hooked, right?)

 



Well, life took over for a while and Lillian and I, both, were busy... me, with traveling and her, with Volleyball, choir and school but we finally had our first lesson!  We talked about being safe and the basics of threading a machine and bobbin and then off she went.  Our first lesson was all about sewing a straight seam.  We used a striped fabric to practice on.

 

Fierce Concentration

 

 

Working hard at staying on the lines

 

Looking Good!

                              

She worked on the entire strip of fabric and really loved it!  I'm so excited to have another quilter in my family!  It's comforting to know that there will be someone who will understand the work and love that goes into making a quilt long after I'm gone.  Now, I need to get Natalie started :-)
 

I'm still hard at work on Roll, Roll Cotton Boll but I took a short break to work on another small project and I am happy to report that it can be added to the 2014 FINISHED! page. 

 

This is the Small Duffle from "Easy to Make Totes with Zippers".  It took a little longer than I thought it would to put it together because 1) I quilted the fabrics myself and 2) the instructions confused me just a little.  It's one of those instruction sets that is constantly referring you to other pages of instructions.  You know... 'Make straps referring to directions for "Large Yellow Duffle" on page 14.' and 'Review instructions for setting zipper on inside front cover".  I understand that by using this method of instruction writing it saves paper and therefore holds costs down BUT I personally would rather pay a dollar or two more than waste an hour or two flipping back and forth through the pages.  It gets confusing after a while!

 

In any case, I have to say that I LOVE the finished project!  I used stash fabrics, batting remnants and a zipper I had on hand to do this project.  I plan to use it for carrying quilting tools to retreats and while traveling so I used this ruler/quilty fabric.  I should have paid better attention to fabric direction...It would have been better if I had cut the body the other way.  Oh Well, Live and Learn right?

 
 

Front Pocket View

 

 

Front Pocket and Side Pocket View
(Both sides have pockets.  Back does not but could be easily added.)

 

On the way home from Phoenix, AZ, we stopped at Bernina Sewing And Design in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  I neglected to take any photos but I didn't walk out empty handed!  For some reason, I have become obsessed with these organizers/bags/totes and they had a great one made up as a shop sample and I HAD to have it.  I bought the pattern...no fabric.  I had several combos of fabric picked out but I put them all back knowing that I have SOMETHING that I can use to make this wonderful tote.  I did buy the hardware and the mesh the pattern calls for since I knew I did not have those things at home but I left the fabrics on the bolts...  I can't decide if I'm happy or sad about that :-| 

 

 

In any case, I know that getting another bit of my fabric off the stash shelf and into something useful and beautiful will make up for any sadness caused by not buying "new".   In fact, I'm looking forward to diving into my stash...gives a whole new meaning to "Shopping at Home".

 

Until next time- May your iron be hot and your rotary blade sharp!

 

Irene