Some Like to Fish

I watched a couple of fellows fishing the other day.  An adult and a young male, maybe his son or grandson.  They seemed to be having a good time.

I understand there are eels and trout in that river.  It looks like the boy may have got a hit on his line.  I didn't see him pull in anything but then I wasn't watching every minute.

But signs of spring abound around here.  The wind has died down a little and with the warmer days, it doesn't chill one to the bone.  Still, when the sun shines its very nice to go walking.  The rains fall and the grass gets greener.  I think Maine is coming out of its Winter Season.

I hope better day are in store for all of you.  Have a nice day. 

I Believe They are Jonquls, Not Daffodils

I reported that our Daffodils are blossoming yesterday.  I think that was a mistake.
I cut one of the buds and it not only has a hollow stem, but it has a sweet subtle aroma that's not found in Daffodils.

Here's a close-up with a size comparison with a quarter.  Looks like a Jonquil to me after this closer inspection.

I also need a new project so I took this one out of my WIPs box.  Its a leaded rose design and the fabric I'm using is a tone on tone tan fabric to make the best use of the colors of the roses I will choose.  That has not yet been decided.  I have rose fabric to choose today or tomorrow.  Maybe they will be in reds, maybe in rose-colored pinks, maybe in yellows.  We shall see.

Have a good day.

I Think Spring Has Finally Sprung!

This is the 1st day I have seen the miniature Daffodils opening.  There are several little plots of them in our garden bringing bright color and relief from the longgggg winter.

Here is one group beside a set of birches.  They are not normal sized flowers, so I call them miniatures.

Here's a close-up of another group of daffodils.

Another group.  It seems they all wanted to open the same sunny and warmer day.  Until this morning they were closed up and covered with their green calyx.

The sky is so incredibly blue today and that little guy in the branches is, I think, a red-winged blackbird.  He was following Penny and I on our early evening walk and being a noisy little guy.

Yes, I think Spring may have come to Maine at last.  We are expecting temps in the high 50sF and low to mid-60s all this week.  It feels so good to walk in the sunshine when the wind is not blowing hard off the river.

Have a nice day.

'Car Under the Birches' Wall Hanging is Finished.

Its taken me a bit of time since I kept putting it off, but my Cat Under the Birches is finally finished today.

I adore Birch Trees and we have some in our back yard.  I also love all animals, cats included and miss my own that I've lost in the past few years.
This is a tortoiseshell kitty playing under the trees, trying to capture the elusive butterflies among the pretty flowers.
It measures 15 1/2 inches long by 17 1/2 inches wide.  A nice size to place on my front door.

Here is a closer view of the kitty and the butterflies.  It says "Spring" to me and that's what I'm hopng to see around here in Maine soon.

Have a good day.

Measurements For Small Big Pocket Tote

I already showed you how I made it, but here are the measurements I used in case you want them.

Here it is and the finished numbers are:
Tote Bag:
12 inches Wide
10 inches Long
3 inches Deep
Outside Pockets 10 inches Wide
by 8 inches Long

Note, the big pocket piece (honey bees) wraps around from front to back giving you a more solid bottom.

Finished Inside pockets made from doubled fabric are:
9 1/2" Wide
8" Long
This wraps across the bottom as well.

Note:   I cut all my pieces just a bit larger than the desired measures so I can layer them together and cut them all at the same time to get an even cut all around on all of them.
The first step is to layer them batting down first, backing fabric on top of batting right side up, and main fabric right side down and then cut them to the proper sizes given.

Alternate Fabric for the body of the Tote:
Cut 17" Wide by 25" long.  You have to layer your batting, the alternate fabric, and your backing together and cut them to this size.
You will need 2 pieces of fabric (Alternate fabric and Backing fabrics) and the batting.

Big Pocket Fabric in your Main fabric choice:
Cut 11" Wide by 20" Long
Repeat with the 3 layers once again as you did with the Alternate trio.

Inside Pocket fabric can be any choice you like, from a muslin to the main fabric to the alternate or anything in between.  It is, after all, inside the tote.
You need only two pieces the same cut since no batting is used in these inside pockets.
Cut 2 pcs. 10" Wide by 17" Long

Handle Fabric you need four strips (2 fabrics for each of the 2 handles) and 2 pieces of batting.
Cut 19" Long by 2 1/2" Wide
Note:  I cut them all a bit wider and longer and then cut them to the size I wanted.

In all cases where there is batting involved in the piece, you layer them:
Batting down on the table first
Backing fabric right side up.
Main fabric or Alternate fabrics (for Big Pocket or Tote itself) right side down.
Pin them together and sew a quarter inch seam all around, leaving about a 4" opening along the sides for turning..
Turn right-side out thru the opening, and press.  Stitch the openings closed.
Note:  I do NOT cut the points off my corners before turning.  I find that for me my points are sharper when uncut.

Remember when you have all your pieces and layers sewn together and turned right side out, (as above) you need to quilt your  2 layered pieces (the tote bag and the big pockets pieces).

I do not quilt the handles. I just stay stitch all around about a quarter inch from the outsides to reinforce the handles and give them strength, being sure to sew over the open end on both handles.

Gussets:   Are what make the depth of the bag.  You can make them any width you prefer and they are sewn after you sew the side seams of the tote bag together.

I hope the instructions are clear and some of you can use them.  I did this one in 2 days.  I could have finished it in one in my younger days but I can't sit at my sewing machine for more than a few of hours a day.

Have a good day.

Finished My Small Big Pocket Tote

I just needed to get working on this once the idea was planted in my head.  So I did.

Here are all my pieces.  The blues, both of them, are layered with batting and backing and sewn right sides together, then turned.  The inner pockets are doubled tea pot blue and white fabric, (no batting) and sewn the same way.   The handles are layered with batting and turned like the other 3-layer pieces.

Here all the layered bits are quilted before I start putting them together.

The inner pockets are marked with pencil for registration marks so I know where to sew my center line to attach it in the right place inside my bag and where to sew my pocket seams after I decide which sizes I want, depending on their purpose.

I place the handles on the bag and sew them in place BEFORE I sew down the outside pocket (the honey bee fabric).

After the outside big pocket is sewn in place, its time to fold the bag right sides together so I can stitch the outside seams on the bag.

Then its time to determine what width you want your bag which means you make gussets on both bottom ends.  For mine I liked 3 inches.  I sew them twice.

The bottom looks like this when the gussets are sewn and the bag is turned right side out.

I filled my small tote with the necessities I take when I go shopping from water thermos to tissue to sunglasses, etc.  Whatever I need to bring, it can fit in this new tote.

Here is my finished tote with a paperback book tucked into one of the outside big pockets.  I even have some shopping totes folded in my bag.  I'm ready to shop tomorrow.

Have a good day.

"Cat Under the Birches" WH is Satin-Stitched at This Point

I am making inroads with this wall hanging.  
I designed a smaller quilted tote that will fit my needs when I go shopping on the senior bus, and was going to work on that.
Instead, I thought I should get back to the "Cat" and get this finished first.
When I think of a new project, I get so Gung Ho about it and start drawing, designing, planning and put other things aside.  That makes for too many UFOs, Unfinished Objects.  I want to lessen my pile.

I changed my method a little.  Instead of outlining the objects with black satin-stitching, I chose other colors in this one; light gray for the birches, green for the leaves on the tree.  I still outlined the cat and the butterflies in black so they would stand out more.
I may go this route with future projects as well.
Now its decision time on choosing the border for this wall hanging.

Have a nice day.