Another Bloghop!!!

Well, I've been working on my Christmas projects for the Ho Ho Ho Bloghop starting on July 31st.  Here's a pic of my cutting table with some of my in use holiday fabrics.  I am a neat freak, can you tell?!!!  Good thing I'm not this messy in the kitchen...    

 So, anyway, there is another blog hop in the works and the sign-ups are going on right now.  Get on over to Sew We Quilt or Meadowbrook and get all the details for the Pin It Pincushion Hop.  It is always a fun time to check out all the beautiful and diverse creations of each blogger.  And to add even more of a reason to join, or even just hop along as and comment, there is a give-away!  In the Stamp It Up hop I was honored to be one of the Top Two of the Day.  That got me a chance in the top choices give-away and....WOOOOOHOOOO.......I won!!  So, last Monday I went out to the mailbox and found this squshie!

  .

Isn't that just the coolest package!  All shiny and red and full of goodies!  Here's a pic of all the goodies shoved into that envelope.  Three Tokyo 4" charm pack, a pattern to use up those squares, 2 really funny cards, 2 balloons and a stick of liquid glue.  I'd love to tell you more about the glue but I already misplaced.....uh, I mean...put it away in a very safe spot.....in my immaculate sewing room!!! 

 

Here's a side view of the Tokyo charms.  They are a beautiful rainbow of colors!

 

And a close up of those great cards!

Now, isn't that a great reason to check out the hop?!  If you want a quick way to get to the Pin It Bloghop info then just click on the blogger button on the right sidebar.  Have a great week everyone!!
 

Phone post!

Good lord,  can they make it any easier for techie goobers like me?!  Bless all the real techies for having mercy on those who are challenged at.....well...everything!!!  This is so awesome....okay, if it actually posts after I'm done typing it will be!
  Last week I was motivationally challenged and couldn't seem to get into any major sewing.  Since I have put off making new panels for my back and side door, I thought this is a somewhat brainless project.  Right up my alley! Here's a pic of the old panels that are almost ten years old. 

 

And here are the new panels.  They look so much better with the brown walls.  Plus,  my husband is quite impressed with them.  I make a quilt that takes me a month to finish and I get a "that's nice honey" but I make two simple rectangles and all of a sudden I'm the world most creative sewer!  Oh well,  I'll take what I can get!  Oh the two dark strips you see through the panels are just strips with velcro on the lower end so I can roll up the panel and stick them to velcro pieces under the flap up top.  

  Now onto my Christmas projects for Madame Samm's next bloghop!  Joy to the World....Robin

Another Test Bag

Last week Christine of ChrisWDesigns (button on the right sidebar) emailed me to ask if I could quickly test her revised Evelyn bag pattern.  Hellooooooo.......OF COURSE I would love to test another of her bags!!!  Her patterns are some of the most well written patterns that I have used and there always seems to be a technique that is new to me.  Well, this one did not disappoint!  Evelyn is a great purse and holds a lot more than I thought it would as I was making it.  It is chock-full-o' pockets for one thing.
  Since I used black for the lining I top stitched the pockets with white so they are easier to spot! I also used a white zipper for the same reason.  What you can't tell is that she had the zipper attached in a way that there is an extra pocket behind it.

 The elastic side pockets are great for a phone and keys!

On the outside back is ANOTHER zippered pocket.  Great for change!

All in all this is a really fun bag to make.  It goes together quite quickly unless you sew the straps on the outer panels upside down like I did!!!!  If there's a way to flub up than I will definitely do it.  That's why I am a great tester!!

 Oh, and I put a fun little heart on the front loop to glam it up a bit!

I can not say enough to encourage anyone and everyone to try out her patterns.  If you can follow directions, you can make her bags. 
  Thanks again Christine for letting me be a tester! 

What a wonderful 4th of July!

Well, what a relaxing 4th of July it was for me!  Our family picnic is on Saturday so it was just the hubs and I and the furry boys.

   We were just going to hang around the house and cook some hot dogs and enjoy the day.  That plan lasted for about 20 minutes!!  My daughter and I bought my hubs a smoker a few years ago for father's day and so began the obsession.  I'm pretty sure he has a man crush on Myron Mixon (BBQ Pitmasters).  So, of course, we had to run to the butcher shop and get some meat for him to smoke.  I'm surely not complaining though, because I reap the benefits every weekend at suppertime!  Yesterday it was beer can chicken love!

  While we waited for the chicken we set up the TV out on the patio to watch a little of this...

 while enjoying a little of this...

 All in all, it turned out to be a great day!  And on the agenda for today is much of the same things along with maybe some of this...

Boy, do I love four day holiday weekends!  I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday as much as I am!