Applique Travel Tote and Tip!

I found the perfect travel bag for all my applique tools in the cosmetic isle at my nearest department store! I found this (13w x 7h x 6d ) clear cosmetic bag there and it holds everything I need to applique while I'm on the go. 

All this: my thread, thread catcher, needles, Clover needle threader, pin cushion, applique pins, notepad and pencil, gum, mints, ruler, my applique piece and an Ott Lite...

...they all fit perfectly inside!

And, so your applique doesn't get wrinkled....here's  a quick tip:

Roll it up around a paper towel tube. It works perfect!

Happy Travels!
Val:)

Scrappy Quilt Top is Finished!

Three things I realized I love about quilting today:

1. I think the thing I love the most  is this very moment when we get to preview a quilt top in its new home!

2. I love that we can custom fit our quilts to the exact size we need.

3. I love that we can custom pick our quilt colors, pattern, and style to match a room.

My goal this year is to have our two upstairs bedrooms decorated with homemade quilts by year end. Today marks one done and one to go.

This one will probably get on the long-arm by mid-next week. I know I'm going to quilt a pantograph...just not sure which pattern yet. I'm thinking something garden themed to match the Garden Party applique quilt.

Feels good to have something finsihed!

Happy Weekend!
Val:)

Hexies by Halves Quilt Along!

I love everything Hexagons and was looking for a fun, easy summer project and found this while exploring the blog world this morning! I've included  a button for easy access to Polly's blog. I hope ya join me. #1 on my "To Do" list today: Go through my black and white fabric and start setting them aside! I've been collecting black and whites for a couple of years  and can't wait to start using them.  

With smiles,

Val:)

Making progress...

 Feels good to have this all put together: 

I've never appliqued a quilt before. I'm learning alot as I figure out how to overlap pieces and handle it as it gets increasingly larger.  This assembly took me about two hours Sunday. I had to sew the panels, match  and pin overlapping pieces  But it's exciting right! I LOVE it!!! 

Andddd....

I'm only eight blocks away from putting my full size scrappy quilt top together!!! There's something rewarding about seeing a "pile" of blocks grow like this! Tomorrow is my last day teaching summer school, thus it is my goal to have this top put together and on the quilting frame by the weekend! Yahooo!!!

I'm soooo looking forward to having these two pieces  together in our guest bedroom. I actually think once I get the scrappy quilt finished, I'm going to hang the applique "work-in-progress" in the bedroom so I can enjoy it as it "grows"...especially since it's a block of the month and won't be completed until the beginning of the New Year. 

Well, I hope you're getting into your sewing room during these warm/hot afternoons and that your time is productive.

With Smiles,

Val:)

PS: THANKS girls for commenting on my blog!!! 

Happy Mail Has Arrived!

Love receiving a package of fabric in the mail! 

Hope your week is off to a great start too. 

Val:)