What I'm Working On Wednesday: Back to School 2

Five more days until school starts and we are about half way done with our sewing list.

New this week - my oldest made this pencil case:

Ms. Middle Daughter and I finished her messenger bag:

She has a plan for that requested gray patch in the middle but she hasn't told me what it is yet!

We added lots of pockets to this one as well:

Other projects I/we have been working on:

And I also have been wanting to show you this:

I tested this cute pattern for Rebecca from Sew Festive Handmade.  Click here to see all her patterns and to visit her etsy shop.

Linking to WIP Wednesday and TGIFF.

WIP Wednesday - getting ready for school!

Confession:  I have made absolutely no progress on any of the QALs.  Not even fabric selections.  I have been on the Flickr pages looking at how everyone else is doing so that counts, right?

But I have a good reason - we just got back from our summer visit/vacation and there are only two weeks left until school starts so the girls wanted to get right to it and gave me a list of everything they want to sew (with me) for school:

1.  They each want a messenger bag.  We finished the first one yesterday - this one has lots of pockets (including two zippered) and a custom flap drawn with fabric markers by my daughter.  We made up the pattern as we went along - when I make one with my other daughter, I'll take pictures of the process to post.

2.  Pencil cases - waiting for the zippers we ordered

3.  I can't tell you what the 3rd project is because I am using it for my stop on Kristy's Practically Paper Piecing Blog Hop .  My date is August 21st but I'll share a peek since we finished it a few minutes ago (yes, minutes - and I'm trying to get this post written before the baby wakes up from her nap!)

For this project, I had been on the lookout for foundation pieced letters but decided to try to make my own instead using paper and a pencil.  It really wasn't nearly as complicated as I would have imagined and it was great because I was able to make them the size I wanted.  I'll definitely be trying this again!

Their list also included lunch boxes, water bottle holders, journal covers, and new dresses!  Um, yeah - probably not going to happen!

And even though I haven't started on any of the QALs yet, they all look like a lot of fun and are being organized by super cool bloggers so you should check them out.  By the way, have I mentioned that I've never joined a QAL before so just decided to start by joining 4?!?  I think I'll be spacing these out throughout the next year - well, until another one of you decides to organize one!!!  

Vintage Holiday QAL at Fabric Mutt 
Totally Groovy QAL at Pile O' Fabric
How Far Will You Go QAL at The Elven Garden 
Sew Intertwined QAL at Sew Bittersweet Designs

I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday which is being hosted by Cindy from Live a Colorful Life today and to TGIFF which is being hosted by Nicole from Mama Love Quilts on Friday.

Wednesday - WIP and Wrap Up

What I'm working on and what I've recently finished:

Inspired by all the picnic blankets I've been seeing around like Svetlana's and Rachel's, I cut out 10 inch squares from most of the fabrics in my stash and used an old sheet for the backing and straps.  I had a good number of novelty fabrics that I added in so that I can use it for I spy when the baby gets a bit older and we are watching her sisters play soccer.

A little front zip pouch for me!  (I left off the straps but I basically used this technique again.)

Another one of Jeni's drawstring bags - this time big enough to fit several baby toys.

Getting ready for a hand-stitched hexagon project!

Testing a fun embroidery pattern for a blog friend - I'll be showing the finish later this month.  I'm also working very slowly on my needlepoint project every so often.



My school rules mini quilt was the featured tutorial on Sew Can She last Friday.  Caroline has links to lots of wonderful tutorials - if you are looking for some inspiration, you should check out her website.

And last, but so definitely not least - Kristy from Quiet Play has organized a great paper piecing blog hop (isn't that the cutest button?!?)  It starts tomorrow and my day is August 21st.  And it all culminates in a link party with some fab prizes.  Click here to find this week's schedule.

Debbie at A Quilter's Table started this fun link up at the beginning of July and all month, I've been telling her that I have this picnic blanket in the works that I'm going to add - well, it ends at midnight tonight so I am just in time!

I'm also linking to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

WIPs, Blocks, and Pics

Just some photos from my week.

The girl's redecorated their "library" using a crochet blanket I made a few years ago (it is an old crib mattress on the floor and an old toddler bed mattress against the wall.)  Comfy!  (I can't remember if this is the pattern I used but it is very similar.)

I put together the July block from In Color Order's HST block of the month (love this one!)  You can see my others here. 

Needlepoint?!?

As Bethany wrote about here, we made a pact to try paper piecing this month.  The pic above is my attempt.  I have to say, Bethany actually made it super easy for me since she immediately wrote a post complete with links to video tutorials and she created the awesome pattern for this super cute "tanganimal" - with more animals to come soon.

Have I mentioned that before our little blog hop came about, I had signed on to participate in the Red, White, and Blue Blog Hop.  I'm up on July 13th.

After seeing this awesome quilt yesterday by Amber from One Shabby Chick, I knew what my next quilt project would be.  And the tutorial she used from Elizabeth is fantastic (as Oh Fransson tutorials always are!)

And click here to read a wonderful advice post by Sara from Sew Sweetness and to enter the giveaway to win some patterns from Kate Conklin Designs.

Linking up to a few of these..