BYE BYE BLUES

Sew a former co-worker, Nationwide Plaza Quilter,
James Stitching Sister, and a very good friend of mine
 just retired from Nationwide Insurance 

after a 30 year career.

I made her a retirement kwilt...cause believe me

she earned it!!!!

 It does have some blue and white colors
but the label says it all...

 FMQ Meander for the kwilting

Fun and cheery vintage look backing

Here comes the smiles!!!

Do you think she likes it?

Pretty sure she does!

I'm know many happy adventures await Margaret, 

including all the kwilty fun we can now get into now,

any day of the week!

Congrats Margaret! 
Welcome to Retirement!

VACATION SEWING

My cabin fever remedy was a "delirious" trip from 
OHIO to FLORIDA for the entire month of February.  

Family and friends said 
"When you retire you have to come down and stay awhile".

We did "JUST THAT" for the month of February
and Florida became our home away from home.

First week we house sat for my sister (Ruth)  and BIL (Roger)  in Dunnellon (near Ocala) 
and enjoyed some golf, a great pool and the community center. 

I did a little sewing with the quilters in her community.  

Then on to Arcadia to spend a few days with our "current" OHIO neighbors, 

who snow bird in the winter.

Check out this Sandhill Cranes aka "Gooney Bird" hanging out

near the lake in their community.

Next stop, Fort Myers, to visit with our "former" OHIO neighbors

Pier at Fort Myers Beach

My DH birthday was on the 19th and my gift to him was

a trip to Key West - and the southern most point in the US

Beach style homes and beautiful landscapes!

Our "cabin fever" journey then took us up the west coast to relax on the gulf beaches.

A day at Venice Beach, FL

with a quick stop to see the black sand beaches of Venice

(can you say sharks teeth)

Next stop, Siesta Key Beach

white sand like powdered sugar...no reuse needed 

retirement has me relaxed and getting my Vitamin D fix..

no pills required!

how bout a yoga class with sand between your toes?

Next stop was a beautiful harbor town, very quaint, full of art and great restaurants and definitely "Scotttish"  

 I have been to Dunedin, twice before and 

this is the reason!  LQS touted as Florida's largest shop!

Back to my Ruth and Rogers' place for another week

and more line dance lessons, taught by my Roger!

Hey, it beats taking a walk and you know I love to dance!

 Ruth and I doin the "gooney bird" dance...our own choreography!

but just sew you know I did a bit of sewing

before I broke Ruth's sewing machine! 

Last time we were

together I backed into her car !

Do ya think it's sibling issue?   LOL

I will set these in white when I get home!

We had sew much fun that next winter 

we are gonna "snow bird" and rent a place for 3 months.

I'll be writing a post soon on ALL the lovely kwilt shops I 

stopped in along the way.

Do you think I fell off the "no buying fabric" wagon?

Linking up over at Lily Pad Quilting Blog for the

Cabin Fever Linky Party

Featured on Insights from SewCalGal

I am thrilled that Darlene over at 

SewCalGal has featured my favorite kwilt making charity,

The James Stitching Sisters

The James Stitching Sisters 

10th Annual Quilting Day is April 5, 2014

over 200 kwilters will gather to make kwilts for 

  breast, ovarian and lung cancer patients going thru treatments at

 The James Cancer Hospitals in Columbus, OH.   

Photos of finished tops from last years Quilt Day

Over 300 kits are prepped for this one day event!

Please take a moment to link over and the post...

and if you can help "pay it forward" via any type of donation...fabric, a door prize for Quilt Day, a finished lap size kwilt or a monetary donation (100% goes to the charity) please contact me at

kwilty.pleasures@gmail.com

For more information about The James Stitching Sisters click here

FABRIC COVERED JOURNAL TUTORIAL

Fabric Covered Journal Tutorial

for a 

Composition book

Cut piece of light weight cotton batting 17" x 12"

Scraps must be long enough to lay across the batting at a diagonal

These are all 1 1/2" w x 22 - 42 long

You can also sew pieces together to make them long enough 

Lay first piece across, at a diagonal, right side up  

Second piece goes directly on top of the first piece 

 right sides together (RST)

Sew 1/4" seam 

Press seam open

Next piece  goes down other side of the first piece, 

sew it down, press open

Press open

Continue to sew and press building out the entire piece

sewing strips to one side, then the other 

Til the entire piece of batting is covered

Flip it over

Trim off the scraps along the batting edges

  Flip the piece over for a final trim

Trim to 15 7//8 x 10 3/4"

Now you will need a bit larger scraps or FQs

to make the two inside flaps (and the lining)

Inside flaps measure 13 1/2" x  10 3/4"

Press them wrong sides together (WST)

Top stitch the fold 1/4" for on both flaps

Cut a lining piece 15 7/8" x 10 3/4"  

  sewed two scrap pieces together, then trimmed, for my lining 

Make the ink pen holder tab 

Use a 2" x 3" scrap, press the short sides in and

sew down using a scant 1/4" seam

As you look at the journal piece 

Lay the tab on the right side, 2" up from the bottom

raw edges all together

this will be the back of the journal when it is all done.

 Layer the journal fabrics as follows

Front cover is right side up

Lay the two inside flaps with raw edges to outside 

folds are inside near the center

Lay the lining piece wrong side up  

Because the composition book has rounded corners....

mark a curved line on the corner for 1/4" seam allowance.  

Pin all the layers together securely, all around the piece

and sew 1/4" seam.  

Leave a 3" opening to turn the piece inside out. 

Check you seams before turning to be sure 

all 3 layers are stitched into the seam.  

Before turning right side out

trim and clip the curves in the corners

I love to use a plastic chop stick for poking out corners

Press both sides well, including the opening

Top stitch all around the journal cover using a scant 1/4"

I add my Kwilty Pleasures press on label

Insert the book by sliding one side at a time into the flaps

Fold the cover and the book back at the center at needed to

help slide them in. 

Add an ink pen and you are all done!

FRONT

INSIDE

BACK