A Case for my Kindle

Hi! We are officially on summer vacation. We've already been to 2 birthday parties in 3 days and tomorrow we are having over 40 people here for an end-of-kindergarten party for Davy. Don't worry; the weather will be nice and we will be outside! Besides getting ready for the party today, I managed to get in a quick sewing project. 

I have been wanting to make a case for my Kindle since I got it for Christmas. It took me 6 months! This case was made "in the hoop" of my embroidery machine. The design is new from 5 Star Fonts. If you hurry, you can get it on sale, too! I liked this case because it was made in one hooping with no additional sewing. The design stitched perfectly and the PDF directions that come with it have tons of photos and are excellent. It even has a pocket inside to hold the charging cord, so it doesn't scratch your screen.

The cupcake fabric I used is very special. Davy chose it for me as a Mother's Day present! I always say that my motto is: "Snack. Nap. Read." Now I can bring my Kindle with me in style.
I'm working on smocking the "Corey" bubble for Andy. I hope to finish it and some red/white/blue shirts for the kids before Thursday. Oh, it is so nice to be on summer vacation! I hope you and your kids/grandkids are enjoying it, too!

First 4th of July Romper

This sweet little boy's romper has seen my 3 boys through their First (or in Andy's case, second) 4th of July! It has always been one of my favorite creations. It is 100% cotton gingham in royal blue and white. The collar and sleeves are very simple and the fullness is created by pleats, front and back. The smocked insert is "Bearly A Sailor" by Little Memories. This outfit is perfect for Independence Day, but works all summer, too! I had Andy's picture taken in it last week and I love how it turned out. The red chair is perfect and did you notice the little sailboat shoes (purchased by Katie)? The pattern for this romper is ABC Kids (formerly Yvonne Denise) Justin-Julie. I have made this pattern 3 times and it always comes out cute and is a great fit! This is a good one for people who don't like something too full on a boy, but it also has girls' versions. Give it a try!

Row Robin Results

Happy Weekend! Thursday night was the "unveiling" of the finished row robin quilts at my Guild meeting. If you have never participated in a row robin, here's how it works: groups of 5 or 6 ladies each make a row for a quilt using fabrics they like. This is the first row of their quilt and it gets put in a bag with plenty of fabric to make the rest of the quilt. Monthly, each lady gets a new kit to work on and makes one row for each lady's quilt in her group. No one sees their quilt again until the unveiling. My groups theme was "Sampler Quilt" so we each started with a row of 4-6 12" blocks. Other group themes were: minis, hand pieced, and anything goes. I want to show you some of the most interesting ones.

This is my quilt. I tried to do something different than my usual very traditional style and I'm so-so on it. Maybe once it is sashed in black I will like it better. I love the blocks everyone made; I'm just not sure of the colors.

This quilt was in my group, too. She chose very similar colors to mine, but I like hers better! We each had to make 6 blocks for this one! I think it turned out really pretty.

This quilt is so pretty and was made by/for a special lady. I first met her at a quilting retreat and she later joined our Guild. She was undergoing treatment for cancer at the time, but is now doing well. She joined this row robin to get back into things after her recovery. Halfway through, her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor. That is why one row has "HOPE" and the last row has a gorgeous paper-pieced dove, which was custom-designed for this quilt and has 68 pieces. The recipient loved her quilt and inspires us all with her gentle, positive attitude.

This lady who started this quilt attends a family summer camp each year. Every year, they hold an auction to benefit the camp. For the past several years, she has made a quilt to donate. She always uses the camp as the theme of the quilt and adds photo-transfer squares. She noticed that camp-themed items fetched higher prices and indeed her wallhanging sized quilts have sold in the hundreds of dollars! For our row robin, she provided each lady with one photo transfer block to work into their quilt. Didn't it turn out great?

This quilt was the one everybody loved! The lady who started this has the most creative ideas. She is known in our Guild for saving selvages to use in projects and has made mini quilts just from selvages; and they are beautiful!! She designed this mini with a special theme. Each lady had to make 4 blocks: where they come from, their family, their hobbies, and a special day in their life. It was a real challenge, but I think everyone had fun doing it. We all thought it was so clever and fun, that the summer challenge for our Guild is to make a quilt project for ourselves with blocks for each of these themes. I plan to give it a try!!

The lady who started this mini wanted to re-create a view out her kitchen window. Each lady was to make a single "pane" in the window, with a local bird on a birch tree. I think they did an amazing job. Notice how all the branches fit together? This will be so pretty sashed to look like a window.

This quilt had a theme of "Your Favorite Flower". She asked for each person to create their favorite flower however they liked, in any size. I love the 3-D forget me nots.

Lucky Me!

Today I had a treat in the mail!
It's Michie's newest pattern, Jon Jon #137 and I was the lucky winner on her blog! It is so much fun to win things and I love getting packages in the mail! Especially when it's a cute pattern that will be perfect to make Andy a summer suit. I might make the view with the square of embroidery on the front. If you want to try this terrific new pattern, you can order it from Michie, here.


We are super busy with end of school activities; field day, concerts, parties, playdates, etc. I have been sewing frantically to finish my row robin for Thursday (I have to make 10 blocks by tomorrow because I am a month behind). I have finished 7 of the 10 already and I'll get my quilt back tomorrow night. Hopefully I can share photos on Friday. 


One of my favorite songs is "Another Busy Day" by Tom Chapin. It really sums up my life! I added it at the top of my sidebar (yes, I am impressed by my ability to figure this out!). Listen and tell me if you like it, too!

Katie and Rosie Bake for Andy's Birthday!

Andy had his first birthday party this weekend and Katie and Rosie both wanted to make his cake. Of course, the only solution was for them each to make one! 

Katie wanted a puppy theme and Rosie wanted teddy bears. We couldn't find a good puppy pan, but found a 3-D lamb on clearance from Easter. It made a wonderful dog!

Rosie chose a teddy bear pan and decided to add a bib and rattle. The bib has a cupcake on it with one candle. It matches the blue and green polka-dot cupcake paper goods we used.

I think my next project will be a Maja's Heirlooms summer Corey romper. I'm hoping to start it soon, but we are so busy with end of school activities. If I owe you an email, I haven't forgotten you and will reply soon! Have a beautiful day.

Liberty Lawn Floral Bishop

Today I am sharing one of my favorite dresses. I made this bishop when Katie was little. It is a size 2 yoked bishop dress made from the wonderful Liberty of London Tana Lawn. I bought this fabric in Manhattan when my husband and I were dating. We spent Christmas Eve at Rockefeller Center and went into the Liberty of London store. I wonder if it's still there? Anyway, Liberty Lawn is one of the nicest fabrics you can get. It is 100% cotton, very fine with a little sheen. It looks just as nice after washing and wrinkles gently. It used to be 36" wide, but I see that it now comes 54" wide. It is available at Fabric.com. 

This bishop dress holds a special memory for me. Katie wore it for portraits before Rosie was born. We used that picture, printed on fabric, to make a photo quilt to bring to the hospital when Rosie was born. That was something we did for Rosie, Davy, and Andy. Whenever I see this dress, I think of my almost-2-year-old Katie in it. 

 I love the round yoke with the collar. It makes a very elegant bishop dress. The collar is trimmed with tea-dyed tatting, handmade (but not by me). Finally, I had the pictures taken of Andy in Drew's bubble. It is a good fit, but none too big. I would like to try this pattern again in the pleated version sometime.
Have a wonderful day!