New Pincushions

I've had a great time putting all these together along with several more just waiting to be filled with crushed walnut shells!  The buttons all came from my collection....some are vintage buttons that I've been collecting over the years, some are hand dyed buttons and others are fun novelty buttons I've found browsing fabric shops around the country.  I love buttons almost as much as I love fabric.

These are all available in the shop: www.littlepinkrose.com

While I was digging through my stash I came across several pieces from the quilt that I made my mom and new she would love a pincushion out of the same fabric. I can hardly wait to give it to her!

It'll be a great little birthday gift, from her favorite daughter! 

I am a bit of a introvert .......okay that is probably the understatement of the year......but I can be quite content and happy being alone for very long periods of time.  I know for you extroverts that's a completely foreign concept, but for me it's true. 

For a long time I really didn't see anything wrong with this comfort and for the most part I still don't, after all it is how the Lord created me. 

But, I have come to realize that even though I'm okay with lots of alone time, I do need time with people. I need to be around others, interacting and engaged in activities with others...even if just for a short time. Since I can be so content being alone I've also realized that I have to force myself to get out of the house and engage with others.

With that realization in mind I made the decision to join the Quilting Clubhouse at Kelly Ann's Quilting in Warrenton, VA.  Once a month I make the drive over to Kelly Ann's to spend some time with wonderful ladies who all share a common bond, the love of quilting and sewing!

While Kelly Ann and I are technically competitors, I don't see our relationship as one of competitors and I'm pretty sure she doesn't either. She has offered me invaluable advice as I've worked to set up and grow my online shop and I always feel welcome in her shop and free to pick her brain when I'm in need of help on the business side of life. 

Below is the quilt top from last year (I'm in the middle with my quilt).

Once quilted this quilt is going in on our guest bed, along with some coordinating pillows.

2012 Swirly Girls Clubhouse Quilt "Weekend Getaway"

Last week we received the fabric, "Poppy Love" for the 2013 Clubhouse. 

This quilt will be going on my own bed and will become the decorative theme for the master bedroom and master bath. We've lived here for over two years now and I couldn't decide on paint colors or curtains or anything for our bedroom, but when I saw this I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Though I am going to have to invest in several yards of extra fabric to complete the vision. 

These blocks are extras....made from the scraps leftover from the month 1 block.

The one on the left is my first attempt at improv piecing. I guess it's not too bad. 

We'll see what the rest of the ladies think.... 

I have decided that if they don't care for it, I'll keep it and make up a lap quilt or one of those bed runners, or maybe a pillow.

Thanks for stopping by and hanging out with me for awhile! 

Happy Stitching &
Many Blessings,
Marcia 

P.S. 

Stop by the Shop and save 25% on your entire order.

Use Coupon Code: TAXDAY25

ends April 15th 10pm EDT

Coming Soon {New Cathedral Window Pincushions}

I absolutely LOVE making Cathedral Window Pincushions!!!!! 

...and since I'm low on these wonderful little gifts in the shop, I just have to make some more. 

Future Cathedral Window Pincushions

I spent the afternoon going through my stash and playing with several different color combinations and just having a blast.  I love it when work is really more like playtime! 

See anything you like?

With a little arm twisting I could persuade me to make a special order just for you with your favorite color combination. Okay, okay you wouldn't have to twist my arm at all, I'm thrilled about any excuse to be able to make up more of these beauties!! 

If you're interested in making up your own little Cathedral Window a tutorial for these is found HERE.

Happy Stitching &
Many Blessings!

Marcia 

Week in Review

It's been on of those weeks that I'm not sure how to describe.  It's been a good week. It's even been a productive week. Yet I don't "feel" like I accomplished much. So, to combat this, "feeling" I'm doing a blog post just for me....and you all are invited to join me.


This week I worked on:

This months block for Clubhouse (finished)

Pyramid pincushion (finished)
Made using fabric selvages & filled with crushed walnut shells

Designed a new ironing board cover - with little pink roses all over it - LOVE IT!
The old one was so gross, I couldn't bring myself to even take a before picture for comparison.

Created & Hung Design wall in my studio
Once I get my studio painted this will show up better!
Added grommets at the top and hung it from hooks in the wall.

Bridesmaid dress for October Wedding
started and had first fitting ready for a few alterations

Mock-up of Wedding Gown for September Wedding
completed and fitted several design decisions made

Special ordered Cathedral Window Pincushion
Finished & ready for pick-up

Michael's Graduation Quilt
Progress Made (1/2 of the rows stitched together- more of it is on the design wall above)

Graduation Quilt rows piled up and ready to be chain stitched.
"Leaders & Enders" at the right of the machine - using scraps that will be turned into a scrap quilt later

Also  worked on(but there is no photographic evidence for):

• Quilt Shop Website (went through several how to videos and user manual lessons)
• Figured Out how to watermark my photos (as seen on the photos above)
• Updated & Cleaned up this blog
• Went to Ultrasound appointment (mother nature & I aren't getting along very well)
• Delivered Andrew's car to the body shop for repairs (my hubby & youngest were re-ended last week. Thankfully only the car had any injuries)
  Accepted several fabric deliveries for the shop (it was like Christmas!!)
• Ordered Fabric for a Special ordered Mario themed quilt
• Played with some different ideas for 2 other special ordered quilts
• Made list of supplies needed from the fabric store for several in progress projects. 
• Took several more special order requests and appointments for custom sewing & alterations

It was indeed a very productive week!!  That doesn't even take into account the time spent reading books, other blogs, doing research and cooking several meals. Thanks for indulging my need to do a little review....that "feeling" has passed, now I'm off to the studio for a bit more sewing time.

Hugs,
Marcia

Cathedral Window Pincushions

While working on a couple of special orders for Cathedral Window Pincushions, I couldn't resist experimenting with some different combinations of fabric.

Starting with a variety of fabric choices....

Did some fabric folding....

And ended up with some cute pincushions....

Aqua - Special Order

Patriotic

Dragon Fly

Aqua - Special order with flower button

Doodles with Pink Button

Black & White with Pink & Green

These are all filled with crushed walnut shells, giving the perfect weight for a pincushion that won't go rolling way when used.  The tutorial for this pincushion can be found at:  My Go-Go Life



Happy Sewing, 

A Cathedral Finish

A custom ordered Aqua Cathedral Window Pincushion is now finished and on it's way to Iowa.

Love this color combination even better than I imagined I would.

{{{HUGS}}}

WIP & Sneak Peak

This week I'm working on a couple of Cathedral Window Pincushions. This one is ready to be filled with the crushed walnut shells. There are a couple of little things I don't like about this one and being a bit particular about the details, I'll be making another one of these to see if I can change the things I don't like.

Cathedral Window Pincushion in Aqua

Then it'll be on to cutting up this "Honor & Glory fabric by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabrics." I'm hoping to finish this quilt before the 4th of July, but with a mission trip to Joplin, MO on the schedule I'm not sure that it's a realistic goal at all. Maybe I should just start by setting the end of July as my goal to be finished by.

Honor & Glory Fabric

I'm really excited about this quilt and once again, can hardly wait to see how it turns out!

Blessings & Happy Stitching,

Cathedral Window Pincushion

The NOVA Modern Quilt Guild that I recently joined is in the midst of a Cathedral Window Pincushion Swap. Since the patten didn't look too difficult or time consuming a signed up to a part of this swap. I was not disappointed! The pattern really was easy (more origami than sewing) and turned out so cute! So cute in fact after finishing my swap cushion, I had to make one for myself! Both pincushions are filled with crushed walnut shells, making for a nice weighted pin cushion as well as being truly useful, since the crushed shells will keep the pins sharp.

My Cathedral Window Pincushion

Here's a sneak peek of the pincushion I put together for the guild swap. Can't show the completed cushion until I send it off to my swap partner.

Pincushion for swap

If you'd like to create your own Cathedral Window pincushion the step-by-step tutorial can be found here at "My Go-Go Life" Blog. The pincushion was so easy, it makes me want to try doing a Cathedral Window Quilt. May have to add this to my growing list of quilts I want to make! I guess you'd call that my Quilting Bucket List. Do you have a Bucket List?

Many Blessings!
Marcia - the Little Pink Rose