Middle School Math

I'm always up for a sewing challenge....even when my schedule is hectic...so when my husband came to me a couple weeks ago needing squeeze bags for his upcoming hunting trip, I jumped in...

First off, I had to find out what a "squeeze bag" is...well, a little research told me they are basically tubular bean bags that stretch vertically when squeezed. Used for long range shooting, you rest the stock of your gun on the squeeze bag...when aiming, you squeeze the bag and the pressure causes the bag to go up, raising and lowering your gun with steady precision....plus it also provides comfort for extended shooting sessions. Okay, I guess that makes sense...

Next, I had to figure out how one was assembled. My husband's friend who is going on the hunting trip has one...but wanted additional sizes and a few adjustments...so I borrowed the one he has (shown in the top photo on the right side) and took some notes. They wanted the the circumference a little larger...the bags filled a little fuller...they wanted three height sizes - 4.5", 6.5", and 8.5" (all with the same circumference)....and they really didn't want or need the Velcro handles (good deal!). Now I have some measurements and an idea of how they are put together.

The next step was to get supplies - this step made me smile - normally, I can't get my husband to step foot in a sewing/crafting/quilting shop, but he wanted input on the fabric, so last Monday we headed out into my world - our first stop being JoAnn Fabrics. We needed a pliable canvas-type fabric - strong and sturdy yet soft and squeezable...and of course, it had to be in a "manly" color or print...after walking the entire fabric section, I showed him a camouflage fabric I thought would work...and after a quick call conferring with his buddies, we were at the cutting table getting a piece of Realtree Camouflage Twill cut. Great we have the fabric...now we needed the "stuffing" - I had purchased several bags of poly pellets already, but after finding out I was making six squeeze bags, we decided we needed at least four more. Now here is where I start giggling - JoAnn's only had one bag in stock - so we grab it and check out....needing three more bags, we head to Hancock Fabrics, just around the corner - they only had teeny tiny bags that were way over-priced...so then we headed across the street to Michaels - and after walking the entire store on our search, we found them and were able to get the three additional bags needed. Yep, my husband had to go to JoAnn Fabrics, Hancock Fabrics, and Michaels all in one afternoon - it was too funny (and something that will probably never happen again in our lifetimes)!

Supplies and notes in hand, it was time to get to work. Here is where the middle school math has to kick in - I knew the diameter we were going to use for the circular ends was 5.5" with a .5" seam allowance added - so now I needed the circumference measurement to cut the pieces for the tubes...well, digging deep into my brain for those math skills from many years ago, I remembered that diameter x pi = circumference....hmmm, and I never thought I would ever need that in my adult life. So now I know the circumference is 17.25 and I had the height measurements they wanted for each bag, so I was ready to cut. First I fused a nice, soft, medium-weight interfacing to the back of the twill fabric, to give it a bit more stability and form...then I cut all the pieces - 12 circles and 6 rectangles. I started by sewing the rectangular tubes first, leaving an opening in the center of each for turning and filling...then added the circle caps to each end. Let me tell you, if you need practice with curved piecing, then making squeeze bags is definitely for you - by the time I attached all twelve caps, I was an expert! I then sergered all the seams, as these bags are going to have a lot of use...and let's face it, men are not delicate creatures - these bags are going to be thrown around and punished. Each bag was then turned, filled 90% full with poly pellets, and the openings hand stitched closed. It cost me and average of just under $10.00 to make each custom bag (the poly pellets were the main expense) plus labor (which I told my husband was going to be EXPENSIVE)...not bad, since a single bag sells for $25.00+ in hunting stores....and these were exactly what they wanted. Challenge completed...and plus my husband and his hunting/shooting friends are happy...



 As a little reward, I am taking the afternoon/evening off to go on a date with my hubby - we are headed to the Swine Festival - yes, you heard me correctly - the Swine Festival (where cork meets pork). It is actually an outdoor benefit event for the viticulture and enology program at Des Moines Area Community College -  fifteen of central Iowa's finest chefs prepare samples of gourmet pork dishes and fifteen Iowa wineries will pour samples and offer wine for sale....plus live music and other assorted activities. It should be a fun evening and I plan to relax and enjoy myself...

Radio Silence

I know you are used to me posting a little more often, but during the month of May, I have been taking some much needed time away...away from the computer and away from my phone...keeping my social network posts minimal...and only taking care of specific BRD business...my dear friend Elizabeth calls this (appropriately) "radio silence"...and I have learned, radio silence can be quite beneficial. Although I love keeping up with all my stitching and sewing friends, I have had a few personal things to deal with and the quiet time has been good for me. Along with countless hours of model stitching and fulfilling BRD deadlines, I have been taking care of our yard and doing some major spring cleaning in our home.

I have been wanting to move my BRD warehouse for quite sometime - it has occupied one of our spare bedrooms for almost ten years. I had ceiling to floor plywood shelving built for my in stock chart inventory and over the years, the "warehouse" has filled to capacity. Once I reached and passed the 100 designs mark, I knew things would have to change. Part of the issue?? - the warehouse is located above our master bedroom and all the weight of thousands of packaged designs was worrying me - BIG TIME. I can't tell you how many nightmares I had worrying the floor was going to give way and I would be suffocated under a pile of charts and rubble in my sleep....seriously....I lost so much sleep. I voiced my fears to my husband, who laughed at me and said we have a sturdy house and not to worry...but that did not bring me comfort. So over the last couple weeks, I hatched a plan and started moving all my chart inventory down to our finished basement - yes, piles and piles and piles of heavy charts down two flights of stairs...and in the process, I learned I need to use my leg muscles more (wow, was I sore!). So all the charts are now downstairs, waiting for their new shelving...and the spare bedroom is now part of my studio. I kept the plywood shelving to help organize my work space and started to move things around a bit. I decided the old warehouse would be perfect for housing my cutting table, my AccuQuilt fabric cutters and dies, and my ironing board...using some of the shelves for my Etsy store items, my shipping/packaging supplies, my teaching materials, and most of my crafting tools and supplies. My main studio room now houses my fabrics, threads, work desk, sewing and serger machines, and my library. During this move, several wonderful things have happened - I have been sleeping much better, I've toned-up my leg muscles, and I am quite a bit more organized...plus I have both my sewing and cutting tables under windows, where I get fabulous natural light...all good great things!

After the major warehouse move, I have been focused on spring cleaning...trying to do one room each day...cleaning, organizing, trashing, and donating simplifying. It is a good feeling...and I almost have the entire upstairs completed...next I will tackle main floor of our home...I will have to make it to he basement by next Tuesday, as it is our neighborhood spring cleaning garbage pick-up and I plan to make good use of the curb.

I have also been working on several sewing projects - squeeze bags for my husband and his friend for their upcoming hunting trip (I'll tell you more about those in the next day or two), a couple special orders, and I have a quilt I want to get backed and binded...plus, I have started piecing some new needlebook/scissor cases for my Etsy shop.

I will be putting in the final stitches on my framed class design for Salty Yarns tomorrow (at least, that is the plan)...then while it is being framed, I will work on the two special coordinating needlework smalls. I am so pleased with how it is turning out and can't wait to share it with you very soon. I am also doing some charting for future class pieces...and a magazine design for The World of Cross Stitching (to appear in WOXS issue 199 on sale in the UK on January 3, 2013). Yes, I have a lot on my plate, but I will do my best to post a little more during the month of June (especially with my BIG AccuQuilt trip towards the end of the month)...thank you for your patience over the last several weeks and for visiting...

A Plethora of Pouches

I hope this post finds you enjoying what is left of your weekend....

I have found myself model stitching up a storm over the last week...but I did manage to get in a tiny bit of sewing. I finished up eighteen more sewing cases/needlework pouches in a variety of fun fabrics...measuring 4" W x 5.5" H, one is the perfect size for carrying your needlework tools in your project bag...or to hold a small sewing kit...or to easily hold a smart phone and your cash/credit cards...even a passport or iPod fits easily inside. This time I embellished a pile with wool hearts and a pile with wool flowers. I have listed these in my Etsy shop...and more needlebook/scissor cases are next on my list - I have a pile cut and ready to assemble later this week.

Tonight I am back in my stitching nest working on the class project for the Salty Yarns event in October - I have been making good progress and can't wait to share it with you!

Planting Perennials

I know my posts have been few and far between this month - seems I have been busy from early morning until late at night each and every day. This week I made time to get my perennial garden planted. Those of you who have followed my blog for a while, will remember this flower bed was constructed last spring when we were doing a bunch of outdoor construction on our home. Before we had all our siding, windows, doors, and deck replaced, we removed the old hedges in the front our our home and built a retaining wall flower bed - when the outdoor work was completed last October, it was too late in the season to plant...so the bed has been pretty much empty (with the exception of some lavender I planted last spring). I knew I wanted a perennial garden...and my dear friend Kimber gave me a wonderful book on perennial gardens for Christmas - which I put to great use in my planning...and both Merry and Kimber gave me some wonderful advice on types of plants. I decided on a mixture of herbs and flowers...along with a knockout rose bush (which I LOVE) and barberry shrub. Everything is finally in the ground and the mulch is down...and I am thrilled. All of the plants have been thriving and starting to bloom/flower....I couldn't be happier (especially since my gardening experience is pretty minimal)! I took a few photos to show you this evening...

I also planted two large containers of annuals and three pots of geraniums this week for the front porch front steps....here are a couple close-up photos I snapped while I was outside with my camera this evening...

I am still plugging away on the project for the Salty Yarns class - the framed portion of the project is nearing completion and there are a of couple coordinating needlework smalls (one of which is a brand new design concept for me) that I will begin later this week. I am also almost finished with the needlework smalls for "Berries, Birds, and Blooms", so I will share those with you soon...

For those of you waiting for more of my Decorative Pin and Button Packs - I listed 55 more in my Etsy shop today - the first batch of 25 sold out before I could even get them all posted in the shop, so if you missed out, now is your chance. I do not have plans to make more in the near future, as I have a pile of items ready to sew and quilt...so when they are gone, it may be a while before they are restocked. More needlebooks, needlecases/pockets, and pincushions will be posted in the next week or so...

Decorative Pin and Button Packages

Those of you who read my blog regularly will not be surprised by this post - it combines several of my favorite things: decorative pins, buttons, fancy ribbons, pretty papers, and gift giving! What you may not know is: I have always been fascinated by Origami - the traditional Japanese art of paper folding...as a child, I checked every book out of the local library on the subject....and I was always trying my hand at folding special treasures. It was only natural to combine all of these loves into decorative pin and button packs. I used pretty papers and cardstocks to fold holders with a pocket on the front and and a pocket on the back...and then tied them together with fancy coordinating ribbon. The front pocket holds a card of 5 decorative pearlized heart straight pins...and the back pocket holds a card of 5 decorative pearlized leaf straight pins...and attached in the center is a poly bag of 24 matching buttons. The holder is tied with approximately a 1/2 yard of decorative ribbon and is placed in a transparent bag tied with tulle. Each packages is different and unique...and I have already put together 25 sets. I will slowly be adding them to my Etsy shop over the next several days. As a member of several stitching/sewing groups, I have always looked for gifts I could make/purchase in bulk, so I could have a present for each member - these are just perfect for that scenario....don't they look adorable all packaged up and ready for gift giving?! I have enjoyed working on these between my hours of model stitching - they have been a nice creative break...

I know several of you are waiting for needlebooks in additional fabrics to be listed in the shop and that will happen in the next couple weeks - I have a pile cut and ready to be pieced together...just give me a little additional time, as I am currently stitching several class models for upcoming events. As always, so many creative ideas and endeavors and not enough "play" time...

Annual Spring Tea at Ashton House

Today I spent the day with my dear friends Merry and Kimber - we had our annual springtime tea at Kimber's amazing home...a cozy 1885 farmhouse, which she lovingly refers to as Ashton House. Every visit to Kimber's beautiful home is such a treat! Merry and I arrived around 10:30 this morning....unpacked all our goodies and got comfortable in Kimber's lovely sitting room, where we spent a couple hours just laughing, catching up, and nibbling on a few delicious little treats. Around 12:30 we headed to the kitchen and dining room and prepared for our special lunch. Kimber provided the lovely ambiance, lots of finger food (including her delicious cucumber watercress sandwiches), and beverages...I provided a fresh fruit salad and my mini sticky buns...and Merry (our resident chef extraordinaire) provided us with a cornucopia of scrumptious delicacies, including: broccoli bacon quiche, deviled quail eggs (so adorable - just larger than a quarter), homemade scones with Meyer lemon curd, and beautiful peach raspberry kolaches. It was such an enjoyable, perfect lunch....and all the while, Poe, Kimber's big black cat was curled up in his royal bed taking an afternoon nap (isn't his "bed" spectacular?!)...

After lunch we chatted for quite some time and I gave Kimber (and Merry too) some tips on making twisted cord. Oh, and I forgot to mention, we all had a few gifts for each other...I brought each of them cute little packages I made from folded cardstock and ribbon that held teabags and cookies...and little packages of my mini sticky buns - Kimber gave us an adorable little wool covered/appliquéd tin with antique buttons inside (since Kimber might be adding these to her line, I can't share a picture with you just yet) along with a quilting book and a cooking magazine - and Merry brought each of us a "brunch box" with all sorts of goodies inside, including: homemade crumpets and a jar of her lemon curd, a jar of fresh local farmed honey, a cute mug, special handmade oatmeal soap and wooden soap dish, and a package of the cutest thank-you cards. While we were sitting in the dining room, I also managed to take a couple snapshots of Kimber's stunning handcrafted dolls...posing perfectly for the camera...

When it was time to leave, Kimber took us on a little tour of her gardens which are already green and will be blooming very soon (quite early for Iowa)...I need to go back in a month or so when it is in full swing and take photos for you, as her gardens are unbelievable! Kimber has the cutest yellow birdhouse emerging from a huge bed of Hosta plants that screams "welcome" to me as I pull in her driveway...she has a lovely fountain with water flowing...and there are a couple miniature cottages waiting to be put in their special places amongst the plants...quaint little details are found throughout the garden paths...I truly envy her gardening knowledge, skills, and green thumb...

It was a picture perfect day with my dear friends...and although my work plate is overflowing right now, I am so glad I took the day off to get recharged...it was just what I needed! I hope you have enjoyed your visit to our annual springtime tea...and that you have the chance to enjoy the company of your close friends...

Beautiful In Blue

Last week I received a request for one of my larger pincushion tuffets in shades of blue...so why make one when I can make fifteen? The special request is on the way to its new home...and there are fourteen more wrapped and ready and listed in my shop. They are all made from the fabric collection Blueberry Crumb Cake by Blackbird Designs for Moda...and each one is unique. They all have wool felt for the bottom of the pincushion and a little wool heart attached with a tiny safety pin (easily removable, if desired)....and they each come with two decorative stick pins. Don't they look pretty all wrapped up and ready to travel?? This past week, I drew up patterns for a couple new pieces I will be working on soon...and I have another project for the shop in progress, so I will post more about these in the coming days/weeks....

I'm cutting this post a little short today - tonight is actually date night for me - my husband surprised me with tickets to the Broadway Show "Memphis" which is currently at the Des Moines Civic Center...he is also taking me to dinner, so I have to get cleaned up and ready to go... 

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and finding a little creative time to work on your own special projects...

A Thank-You Note

Today's blog post is a BIG GIGANTIC thank-you note to all my family, friends, and followers who recently voted for my two "Top 100" quilt block designs in the AccuQuilt Annual Barn Quilt Design Contest. Your votes helped get my design(s) to the final round of judging....and I can now share with you...drum roll please...my red, white, and blue quilt block design won the GRAND PRIZE!! Yep - did you just hear me squeal like a little girl?? I am so very excited to be the big winner...and I can't wait until June when I get to travel to the new AccuQuilt Headquarters in Omaha, NE for the Barn Quilt Unveiling Event where I will get to meet special guest Alex Anderson. It is going be so much fun to see my block enlarged to 17' x 17' and displayed prominently on AccuQuilt Headquarters...seriously, how cool is that?! I also get to take a mini vacation, as part of my prize is  attendance at the 2nd Annual Let’s GO! Quilt Retreat in Fremont, NE...oh, and did I mention I get a $1,000 AccuQuilt shopping spree...can you tell I am just a wee bit excited? I have been giddy since I received the news...I just had to thank all my supporters for the votes...this is a HUGE deal (at least to me)! I will be sure to take my camera on my trip in June and take lots of photos to share with you...thank you all for being a part of my BIG WIN...I heart you...