The Storytelling Pillow

Once there was a little ballerina dancing on an elephant. . .   

A teenage girl went to ballet class and she danced her heart out . . .

One day a big group of elephants were walking and then a big group of monsters (well - monsterz) came along. . .

Have you heard the story of the turtle that floated into the birdhouse. . .

 This is our storytelling floor pillow which will someday be accompanied by a storytelling quilt.

The storytelling possibilities are endless - especially when you have two storytellers ages 9 and 7 and a 11 month old captivated by everything they do!

And we plan on making some storytelling journal covers so the girls can record all their fun stories.(since I'm sewing machine-less right now, I thought I would just hand stitch the whole cover but . . . )

Linking up to the Festival of Hexagons at a.squared.w.

And since I used more of my precious fabric, I'm linking up to the My Precious QAL.

Also linking to TGIFF and The Handmade Parade.

Quilted Totes

So, my old sewing machine isn't quite as bad as I remember - I really miss having an auto thread cutter and some other features but I'm still able to sew!

This week was all about bags and pillows.

Some patchwork stripes (I used the quilt-as-you-go method.)

While I was quilting these, I didn't cut the thread at the end of each quilting line - I just lifted the pressure foot and the needle and turned the panel around.  This method is probably old news but I just discovered it today and was really happy to cut down on the number of long threads.

Here is a bag with patchwork squares on one side:

and The Ghastlies on the other (can you guess who this one is for?)

And finally, inspired by all the recent dresden posts:

I'm not sure why but it has an 80s vibe to me (definitely not intentional!)

I also finished the binding for the patchwork pillow - now I just need to get the right size pillow insert (this was "borrowed" from a pillow off my couch.)

Oh, and I guess if I was going to use a stuffed animal in a blog hop post, I should have chosen a bunny and not a bear so what about this guy?!?

Please visit my Links page to see where I like to link my posts.  I'm linking this post to Sew and Tell at Amylouwho, Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and Sew Modern Monday at Canoe Ridge Creations, Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story, and the Summer Sewing Contest at Ellison Lane Quilts.

Two Little WIPs

What I don't love:  My new sewing machine is not working again.

What I do love:  I'm able to return it!  And I am sewing machine shopping this weekend!

Fortunately, I still have my old machine (that my daughters currently use) so I've been able to do a little sewing this week.  But if anyone has a recommendation for a great hand stitching project, let me know!

This patchwork heart pillow was super fun to make (inspiration from here, here (via pinterest), and here.  I used 2 inch squares and HSTs so I was able to use my cutting mat grid to lay everything out.  I quilted it with a bright pink Aurifil thread and now just need to add the binding.   

And I made this soon to be pillow or mini wall hanging.  Even though I have been wanting to try paper piecing and this is a perfect paper piecing project, I did not paper piece - I just um, is there a name for regular piecing?    

When it came to the quilting, I couldn't decide - bright pink?  dark gray?  bright pink?  dark gray?  So, I thought "Hey, why not a combo?!?"  And I think I am going to add a little hand stitching to the letters.

That is it for my projects.  If you are looking for information on the blog hop, advice for new bloggers series, or this week's giveaway, click here and here.

And speaking of pillows, my blogging friend and fellow blog hopper Danny from MommyforReals asked if I would spread the word that she is asking for help to make pillow covers for hurting girls attending the Teen Reach Adventure Camp.  She needs 40 pillows by July 6th.  If you can help out with this good cause or want more information, click over to Danny's blog.

Also, there will be a Thursday edition of the Advice for New Bloggers series with Rachel from Stitched in Color.  It will be on her blog tomorrow - I'll post a link when it is up.

And back on my blog next Monday will be a guest post from Lynne of Lily's Quilts and a fantastic fabric giveaway from The Intrepid Thread!

Linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.