The first sewing project I made was in the mid 1970s when I visited JCPenny's department store and spontaneously bought an oversized dress pattern and enough fabric to make two or three dresses. The pattern was complicated enough that it included a gathered skirt to attach to the lined top. Gathering and lining for my first project, gads. I can do those with my eyes closed now, but I prefer to stay with simpler projects like queen sized quilts.
Froo Froo and Utility Aprons for Cousin Phil and his wife, Arianne. Thank you for hosting me for my visits to your home.
Youth Quilt Donated Nampa Family Center for Justice 2022: Bargello Pattern
Adult Quilt Donated Nampa Family Center for Justice 2022: Diamonds in the Rough
Nampa Family Center for Justice Donated Quilt 2021: Disappearing Pinwheel
Chair Cushion July 2021
Adaptive clothing 2021
I just discovered adaptive clothing for the elderly and disabled. I may find a corner on this market.
2020 Challenge quilt for Idaho Youth Ranch donation
Every year I make a quilt to donate to a good cause. I have no knowledge of who gets my quilts. But I hope they appreciate them.
Fidget Blanket May 2019
This fidget blanket is for people diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Autism, and Dementia. The idea is that when a person wears this blanket in their lap, the fidgety, touchy, feely, loopy, zippy, knotty, buttoned, pocketed, velcroid, snapped, fuzzy, translucent objects keep the person busy with things to interact with. I will keep this accomplishment in the family to pass along for anyone who needs it.
Julie's Curtains March 2017
Congratulations Julie on your cozy mother-in-law room for your guests. And should I be so bold as to say what lovely window covers, too.
Although I am not an interior designer, I think these curtains turned out pretty well. Good choice of fabric, Julie. What a large print.
Gifts for Renee
December 2016. I hope your children love them.
Bride and Groom Coffee Sleeves
Made these for the fun of it. January 2016
Accordion Wallet
I got this pattern on Etsy about a year ago, and just in time I made this new wallet when my old wallet was showing some wear and tear. I am very good at sewing straight lines. January 2016
New Cell Phone Case Juxtaposed Against the Old
I put too much love into this cell phone case, and that is why it is torn and tattered, and that is why I made a new one with identical fabrics and identical size. November 2015
Porch Swing Cushion Covers for Beth
These cushion covers were made by cyber space. Beth sent me the measurements and the pictures of the porch swing. We texted pictures back and forth at the liquidating fabric store. My first selection proved to be the final chosen fabric. Either I am a perfectionist or I am a scared cat because I took a few months to complete the project after looking at YouTube videos to guide me in my craft. I was hesitant to cut into the fabric because I knew that since the store where the fabric was purchased would never open their doors again. Hence the abundance of leftover fabric. Working on a project from long distance is challenging because I have to trust the client that they provided the correct measurements. I did not have the chair or the cushions in my possession. It's like sewing air stuffed cushions. I am glad they worked out even with the zippers. Summer 2015
Beach Purse
These purses are the result of a pattern that I bought at the Quilt Crossing. The colors are coordinated for fun, and I am ready to take them to the beach.
Dog Coat
This is for a friend's pit bull to give it a warm coat over its short hair in the winter January 2015.
Noteworthy Notebook, Pattern by Jane Sparrell
What a great gift for people who enjoy writing!! January 2015.
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Juan's quilt, winter 2014, under construction:
You don't get it all in one place.
Below is the scrap quilt that Juan's mother started many years ago, and it has been sitting on a shelf for a long time. This is the stuff that dreams are made of.
Behold the work in progress beginning with the virtual design. What you see below is a computer generated mockup from my quilting software using imported samples of actual fabric for the borders and creating the desired effect in the center.
Next is a photo of the border strips scrunched up around the folded quilt center to get a feel for the final design before attaching the borders.
The quilt that you see below after sewing the borders to the large center piece took about six hours to stretch, pin, and baste. This was the hardest part so far. Next I will sew all the layers together and put the binding on. I feel like I am on the home stretch.
The finished product just in time for 2015.
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Potato Zapper Wrapper September 19, 2014
This zapper wrapper is simple to make and made with the best fabric and batting. I hope Sally enjoys it for a long time.
After Before
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Project Linus Summer 2014
Provides security through blankets by involving the sewing community to volunteer their time and materials. Project Linus blankets are donated to all ages - from newborns up to age eighteen. I donated my time to put this quilt to together which will later be made into a blanket on Make a Blanket Day.
Cell phone pocket for Janette's black blazer July 2014
This pocket was inspired by the hanging cell phone pockets that I have been making for myself and others. This sample is a little more secluded since it cannot be seen from the outside of the jacket. I think Janette likes it.
Makeup Pouch
18" Doll with Top, Over Skirt, and Sashing June 2014
I was inspired to make 18" rag dolls with a variety of clothes after I attended a sewing circle in my home town. This is my first completed doll.
Phone Pouch May 2014
I have gotten into designer stitches with these phone pouches. And I am using more of my fabric that I have stashed away for so long. I will have a hard time topping the beautiful blend of colors and the in-between stitches with any future projects.
Custom made camera case a la Juan and me. The dimensions are about 6.5" long, 5" high, 3" wide, March 2014.
Blaise's Danish Modern Chair
I made the cushions on this chair March 2014 using $60-per-yard fabric. I did a lot of research so I wouldn't make mistakes. The actual designing, cutting, and sewing did not take very long once I got the project started.
Meg's Teddy Bear and My First Teddy Bear Project
I made this teddy bear for Meg because she had to go into ear surgery twice this summer. This prayer bear (as she calls it) is intended to comfort her in times of trouble. The bear is also filled with thoughts from the family printed on paper and rolled up as though around a pencil. The thoughts are definitely unapparent even when squeezing the teddy bear tightly. Meg knows the thoughts are in there, but she doesn't know their content or who they are from. It's a mystery bear that is intended to comfort Meg through osmosis.
Here is the f inal product abutted with the tattered pattern that I traced.
This is a case for sunglasses made for my neighbor and friend Sally, May 2012. Sally chose the fabric from a shelf of fat quarters that I quilted with cotton batting and a cotton fabric interior.
Spiral Glasses Case
Eyeglass cases from Batik during quilting process:
The final quilt in all of its grandeur. Need I say more? The original squares in this quilt had been on a shelf for about 50 years before finally making a production out of them. One comment I heard at the Cotton Club downtown is that this kind of project must have been very important to someone at some time, and it ends up in an estate sale, and someone else has claimed the pieces for themselves.
Sunbonnet Sue and Overall Bill March 2012
This quilt began a long time ago when someone had the hankering for a lot of hand sewing. I sewed the frames, sashing, and borders after the quilt squares had been sitting on a shelf in a garage for about 50 years. The appliqued pieces are hand sewn with the tucked-under edges of each piece secured. These days when an artist adds applique, they cut the pieces with raw edges, fuse them to the background cloth, and sew a zigzag around the edges. The former method takes much more time and effort.
My brother Blaise and I hung a large fleece blanket on a curtain rod in my sewing room to create a design wall. The wall also allows me to move pieces and colors in different assortments to get a feel for how they will go together in the final project. The giant wall allows me to see how the squares can be arranged to optimal effect.
This copy below is of the same quilt with the sashing in between the squares to complete the quilt top. The squares have been washed in Orvus Paste (a horse shampoo) to get rid of the dingy old look. Fusing on the back of each square makes them sturdy in the sewing process and makes the quilt last for a long time. The good thing is that you cannot notice the fusing in the final product.
Wild Goose Chase April 2011
This quilt took me two years to make from its inception including six months of deliberation on the pattern and fabric choices. I am happy that my brother enjoys it. One day I will make a quilt of my own better than any I have made for others.
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Log Cabin August 1998
This quilt I made for my sister Lisa right before I left for Mexico. It was a wedding gift with a pattern that quickly replaced a neon brocade prototype made from fabric bought in Korea. I was between countries, and I had to sandwich this one within a one year timeline instead of the liberal two years I gave to my brother's quilt.
Andy's quilt, 1996
My first quilt project made again on the 1970s Singer Touch and Sew that I inherited from my dear mother when she passed away. The colors and pattern may be out of joint, but I think Andy enjoys it all the same.
