Denim Throw

Here is the start of my newest project. The pattern came from a back issue of Country Woman. It is basically a log cabin made with denim. I am using old jeans except for the middle block. I want a throw I can carry in the car for picnics or going to the parks.



Here is one of my "Go Green" grocery totes. I made one for myself and I loved it so much that I am going to make some and sell them on my etsy site. This one I may give to one of my girls to test and see if they like it. The tote is completely washable and holds a lot more than the plastic grocery bags at the stores.


True Blue got scorched!!! I went online and found a way to fix it with hydrogen peroxide. That is on my list of things to do. :)

I have to get that fixed soon so I can get the borders on.

I hope you are having a good day and getting lots of sewing done. It is cold but sunny here today so I will be in my studio working on something. :)

Thanks for stopping in.

Sunny Day

Today is already starting good. Sunny Day!!!Still bitterly cold but spring is around the corner. :)
I can't wait to see how many quilters are interested in starting a group here in M-town. Don't forget the meeting on March 1, 2010 at 6 pm.

I am going into my studio to work on my totes today. I took my sewing my machine in last week for tune-up and oil change. :) Now I am ready to go. Hope you all have a great week.

Quilt meeting in Marshalltown

Hi All,
After reading over my previous post I realized that I jumped from starting a quilt group here in M-town right into owning a quilt shop.

Let me clarify a little bit here. I am researching opening a quilt shop but I am putting together a quilt/craft group. The quilt shop may never materialize but I am hoping that we get some kind of group started here in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Today I went around town posting flyers with my blogspot address on them, so if you are here because of the flyers I have posted, WELCOME! :) Read through my blog to get to know me and post any questions or comments you may have.

I am excited about getting to know local quilters and crafters so feel free to introduce yourself or shoot me an email at nanrae44@hotmail.com .

I hope you have a terrific week and thanks for stopping by.

Starting something new

Starting something new? Another project?
No, at least not a sewing project.
For the last year I have been pondering the idea of starting a quilt guild here in M-town. It all started last year when I met 4 ladies in a quilt shop and started talking with them about quilting. They invited me to their guild meeting in Altoona,IA. and I said I would love to come. (They were such a happy bunch, I just wanted to spend more time with them.) I told them I lived in Marshalltown and said how much I wished M-town had a guild. They stated I could start a guild up here, as they had started their guild and it wasn't hard to get one started. These ladies couldn't tell me enough about how much they loved their guild and how they started it. So I set the idea on the back burner to simmer for awhile.

I have been unemployed for about 6 months now. (Not something I really like to talk about):( Six months is a long time, and in that time I have done a lot of reevaluating of my life. What do I really want to do when I grow up? That sort of thing. I'm still not sure but I do know that I have to do something.

One thing I have always wanted to do is operate my own business. Last week I talked with a SCORE executive, who gave me a lot of good information. He said I that if I am serious I needed to do some research.
The business? A quilt shop.
I have talked with many shop owners over the last year, (Subconsciously researching??) just to find out what got them started and how were they maintaining in this economy. Some were very forthright and others were fearful I was going to take away their business.(Understandable)
I needed to find out the needs here in M-town though and wasn't sure how to do that. I couldn't afford a market research. The executive had suggested the library so I went to the library. There I met 2 very nice and helpful ladies and we brainstormed some ideas. It seemed the easiest way to get my information was to have a meeting, inviting quilters (and crafters) and find out if there was any interest in any of this.
The funny part is that I am usually a procrastinator and tend to put things off. So armed with the idea to have this meeting and even where to have it (at the library, it's free) I was thinking of going home to think some more about it when the young librarian behind the counter pulled out the calendar and said, "So when do you want to set up your meeting?" That was my moment of truth. It was on the tip of my tongue to say that I would go home and think about it, but I realized if I didn't do it now I would never do it and probably would never follow through on starting my own business.

After much discussion I decided to take a leap of faith and set up a meeting in March to find out how many quilters there really are in this area and if a fabric shop would be a good business to start. I don't want to take away from businesses around Marshalltown, just have something a little more convenient when I am in the midst of a project and have run out of something I need. Sometimes when you are in that sewing zone, you hate to stop and drive 30 or 45 minutes one way to get one or two items.

The date is set,the flyer is made and ready to be printed and a survey typed up and ready to go.
I am working on the agenda for the meeting and my mind is flooded with ideas for future meetings.

The meeting is March 1, 2010 at the Marshalltown Public Library from 6pm to 7pm. Come join us. It will be fun, I promise. :)

More Quilts

This has been a very busy week. I haven't done any sewing. :(

I am finally posting a couple of pictures.
This a a photo of the quilt I completed for my Dad and gave it to him for Christmas. The top had been done for about a year and I machined quilted it last Nov. after all my machine quilting classes I took at the Des Moines Quilt show. I used invisible thread on the top and it turned out really nice. YAY!! The pattern is called Magic Nine Patch and the fabric is all flannels. I double stitched the seams because I had a problem with a previous flannel comforter I made. After it was laundered one of the borders separated at the seam. I was so disappointed but I learned. Flannel needs a finished edge. :)



Here is the quilt I made for my Grand daughter. This is the front and it is all flannel.



And here is the back. I pieced the back and love the way it came out. It is all flannel as well.


I made a matching doll quilt for her new doll bed she got for Christmas.

Too cute.

I hope you are busy with something fun and creative. Valentines Day is coming and what a great opportunity to express yourself to someone your love through something you have created. A poem, card, quilt, knitted scarf (it's still chilly out) or whatever your creative niche is.
Thanks for stopping in.