Westside Quilters Show

Wingspan Event Center
Wingspan Event Center

When I visited Rose City Quilts, the owner told me about the Westside Quilters Show. He was doing a lecture, but at that point I thought I would cram the show between helping the YM and the Halloween party. As mentioned, I ended up not helping with the storage unit. I immediately switched from heading to storage to heading to the quilt show. 

Westside Quilters Show entrance
Westside Quilters Show entrance

The Westside Quilters Show was held in Hillsboro in the Event Center. It was a smallish show, but had some great quilts. I spent about two hours there, which was the right amount of time for me. 

After entering, I found a boutique that solved some problems for me. I bought two zipper pouches and a needlebook. Since I hadn’t gotten around to making myself a couple of zipper pouches for my travel purse, this was a good solution. I also bought a needlebook for the upcoming guild swap. Again, a good solution with all of my travel during the past couple of months. I was also able to support their guild.

Birds of Liberty by Terese Scollard
Birds of Liberty by Terese Scollard

I did a circuit of the quilts just to see what there was and then I settled down to really looking at them and taking some photos. There was a variety of quilts: traditional, modern, EPP, scrappy. I also saw a couple of quilts with an impressive amount of embroidery. 

One was the Birds of Liberty by Terese Scollard. the quilt is made from an embroidered bird block for each state. One thing about this quilt is it would be a great and portable project for travel (yes, I have travel on the mind). I like the layout of the quilt as well. I think it is interesting. 

Dreaming of a Small World by Leanne Jones
Dreaming of a Small World by Leanne Jones

I enjoyed a couple of quilts with Modern looking designs.

Dreaming of a Small World by Leanne Jones has a lot to recommend it. First, the colors are right up my street. Second, this is a good example of a layout that could be used for a BAM BOM quilt. Finally, I like the way the blocks are combined to make additional shapes. For example, the bottom right blocks are combined to make an arrow. This is a great way to put classic blocks together in an interesting manner.

Macchinetta, AnnMarie Cowley
Macchinetta, AnnMarie Cowley

I also liked the espresso pot quilt. It is unique, but also interesting in its layout.

The center cross and sashing like lines is an interesting additional that really adds to this quilt. 

The designer said her husband used AI to “generate a moka pot that I liked”. I am not sure how I feel about AI taking over quilt design, but there is no doubt that I like this quilt.

Small Town America by Christine Radford
Small Town America by Christine Radford

I have been thinking about Quilts of Valor since the guild mates made the quilt for my stepdad. Patriotism is an interesting concept and I have wanted to contribute to the QoV project as a way of showing patriotism. I don’t want to to grab and panel and sew some borders. I want to do something a little more complex, on my own timeline, of course. As a result, I have been looking at quilts I consider to be patriotic.

Small Town America by Christine Radford is a quilt I would put into this category. It doesn’t have a rah-rah-go-USA feeling. It is also complex, which projects the complexity of the USA’s society. I think the addition of some non-red/white/blue colors adds to the overall design and feel. This is a pattern by Charisma Horton. It has a variety of centers from which to choose.

One Good Thing by Janice White
One Good Thing by Janice White

I also saw One Good Thing by Janice White. I was 100% certain that this was a Chaos with a Twist quilt. It has similar blocks and the same kind of mirroring layout. The maker didn’t reference Libs Elliot or Chaos with a Twist, however, so I am not sure. She could have just forgotten to mention it. In looking further at the photo, I see some differences to the blocks provided in the class. Some of the curved blocks have a different shape. I would really like to know!

Queen of Diamonds by Sue Hauser
Queen of Diamonds by Sue Hauser

I was pleased to see the Tula designed Queen of Diamonds quilt. This one is by Sue Hauser.

I have considered making this quilt, but don’t want to make the same thing that everyone else is making. Still, I like the complexity of the blocks and can see working on this in EPP.

I am not sure if this is the whole quilt, as it is in the pattern. Regardless, it looks great!

Monarch Wings by Tale & Twig
Monarch Wings by Tale & Twig

The day I visited the show was Halloween. I saw several costumes, but I am absolutely making the wings I saw this woman wearing. This is the perfect costume, because I could wear normal clothes and just slip the wings on as needed. No wild makeup or uncomfortable outerwear.

The wings are by Tale & Twig. I could absolutely design these wings just from the photo. I decided to buy the pattern to make it easier on myself and also because of a couple of details the wearer mentioned that would be time consuming to figure out.

I talked to the woman for quite awhile, which I enjoyed.

Westside Quilters Show purchases
Westside Quilters Show purchases

The vendors were good, too. New to me, which was nice. My favorite vendor was Snarky Quilts. She had some fun sayings on sweatshirts and t-shirts, but also an interesting pressing mat. This is a super small business, so I was glad to support her.

 

 

Mini Stiletto Review

ByAnnie Stiletto
ByAnnie Stiletto

I had the opportunity to use MaryM’s ByAnnie ‘s Stiletto & Pressing Tool**. I didn’t think it would be very useful, but I found it to be super helpful when pressing the curve on the Mini One Handle Totes. It ran along the clipped curved edge smoothly and easily. I never tried this before, but did because pressing the clipped curves is fairly tedious. 

The angle of the bottom means that the tool slides underneath the small clipped bits of fabric really easily. I felt like it wasn’t taking me any time at all to press the curves. I wish I had been able to do more with that tool while I was at MaryM’s. 

Alex Anderson stiletto
Alex Anderson stiletto

I don’t have one of those, so I used the Alex Anderson version that I had in my Go Bag. It’s called the Alex Anderson’s 4-in-1 Essential Sewing Tool.** The tool includes a seam ripper, stiletto, presser, and turner.

This is a useful tool, though I didn’t find it as useful for the pressing task as the ByAnnie ‘s Stiletto & Pressing Tool. The main reason is the finish. The ByAnnie ‘s Stiletto & Pressing Tool has a slick and shiny finish. That makes it easy to run along a clipped curve. 

I’d like to try it again in my own space, but am not going to run out and buy one. Let me know if you have one and how you like it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses, as I did. However, if you are too busy, don’t have a local shop nearby or can’t find what you need, I use Amazon affiliate links. I may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I don’t link to items I don’t like. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this website.

Cork Hold Tite Folios

Showgirls Hold Tite Folios
Showgirls Hold Tite Folios

I wanted to make Hold Tite Folios for the other Sew Tites Showgirls. I knew when I bought the cork that I wanted to make them for the others. I didn’t get the task done in Portland, so I rushed to get them done the Sunday before I left for Houston for my second Sew Tites Showgirls Show of the year. It’s not that I have been putting it off; it just didn’t get done. 

Showgirls Hold Tite Folios
Showgirls Hold Tite Folios

Now it is done. I made these a little differently than the pattern says. I have made a few using the pattern and felt comfortable revising it a little. Mostly, I didn’t want to interfere with the design of the cork by using binding. I got around that when I made the Hold Tite Folios for Sue and Carrie by using the same fabric. That wasn’t going to work this time. 

Showgirls Hold Tite Folio
Showgirls Hold Tite Folio

I made a very small slip pocket, put the pieces of hardware inside and then, very carefully, sewed around the ‘slip pocket’ to close it up. After I was finished, I added the felt.

I am pleased with how they came out.

The pattern is free from the SewTites website. The hardware kit, which includes a copy of the pattern, is also available on the SewTites website. Not free, but reasonably priced. If you buy it at a show, it is possible that you can take advantage of a show special.

Chickadee Backpack – a Little Progress

Chickadee - back with straps
Chickadee – back with straps

I finally was able to really get started sewing the Chickadee Backpack.

As mentioned this has been on my list for a long time. It came up in the guild UFO challenge and I still put off working on it. In fairness, I was busy, out of town, thinking about other things.

The back was really pretty easy. I had used pre-quilted (by Colleen) fabric so I had to 

Chickadee - strap start
Chickadee – strap start

The back of the backpack with the straps looks pretty impressive. However, I followed the pattern and first made the straps. I took a photo, because I thought this would be all I had to show you.

On Thursday and Friday of last week, I made a lot of progress. After starting with a bunch of cut pieces, I was pleased with how much I accomplished even though I didn’t finish.

Of course, I followed the pattern and watched the video as necessary. This pattern is a few years old and I found that Sara improves her patterns each time she releases new ones.

Chickadee - front pocket interior
Chickadee – front pocket interior

Next up was the front pocket. I was pleased I had everything cut.

This is super pink, I think, so it will be great for the Pink Project. The zipper tabs don’t go all the way to the sides of the pocket, so I might cut them larger next time and sew them so they are even with the edge of the pocket. There must be a reason Sara designs zipper tabs this way, but I don’t know what it is.

Chickadee - front pocket
Chickadee – front pocket

The front pocket eventually ended up looking pretty professional, if I do say so myself.

I used some castle zipper pulls on the front to make this cuter.

I also fussy cut a flower so that it was highlighted on the front pocket. I used more of the pink zipper by the yard I bought a Sewlarium awhile ago. I was glad I had it on hand.

I spent a lot of time on the handles. I didn’t want them to stick up all the time, so I added some hardware to make them fold down when not in use. I still had MaryC’s rivet press in my workroom, so I used that to add rives to the handles. It was a little exhausting to re-design and the execute these handles. I know it doesn’t seem like a big deal.

Chickadee exterior with handles
Chickadee exterior with handles

I really, really wanted to finish, but I couldn’t. I made a huge amount of progress and am pleased with that. I still have the lining to assemble and install and the rest of the finishing. It was late on Friday night and I decided pulling an all-nighter didn’t work when I was an undergraduate and wasn’t going to work a few years down the road from those days. The bag looks good and I’ll be able to finish it before the meeting.

I did bring the exterior to show for the UFO challenge.

More EBTM

EBTM drawers labeled
EBTM drawers labeled

I spent part of Sew Day transferring my go bag organizers to the Everything But the Machine bag I made at a class a few (? several?) weeks ago.

I have been busy and hadn’t been able to take the time to reorganize my To Go bag. Sew Day was a good opportunity to do so. Well, I made a start. I haven’t moved everything.

Tupperware Go bag with tools
Tupperware Go bag with tools

It was hard. I am very attached to my Tupperware box. I have been using it for my quiltmaking tools since before I got married!!!

It was good to clean it out. I found a House of Fabrics loyalty card from the late 1980s! it was issued as part of my class.

There has been a lot of change in the workroom this month. II am trying to give myself a little space to get used to everything that is new.

Finished: Pacifica Pillowcases

Pacifica pillowcases - group 1
Pacifica pillowcases – group 1

Almost the first project on which I worked at MaryM’s house was the Pacifica pillowcases. These will be for a donation project on which the guild is working.

I dropped them off at the PQ Sew Day on Thursday and picked up a few more kits. Once, again, I forgot my dues!

Rose City Originals

I know I keep mentioning Rose City Originals. Finally, here we are with a review.

Rose City Quilts entrance
Rose City Quilts entrance

I visited Rose City Originals, a new shop in Portland when I was there last week. The business has two names and I suspect Rose City Quilts is a subsidiary of Rose City Originals. Not sure, but I saw the business referred to as both.

Fortunately, it is very close to where the YM lives, so I visited the shop after I dropped him off. Another incentive to drive to his part of town from where I usually stay. 🙂 I told the YM, Lil Sissy and my cousin-nephew that they now knew where to buy me gifts. 😉

I had a hard time getting a good photo of the outside. PDX had beautiful light that day. It was a mix of cloud and sun, but was really bright where the sun was shining.

Rose City -from front door
Rose City -from front door

As you can see, the space is on a corner and the building is triangular. I am curious to know what the building housed when it was built.

The inside space is huge with high ceilings. It is painted bright white and can house a ton more fabric and supplies. 

The shop has not been open for long, so it was slightly bare, but I expect the owner, Chris Marchini, to fill it slowly (cash flow management!). 

One thing I learned was that Chris started designing his own fabrics through a Paintbrush Studios program where anyone can design fabric. This is part of the Rose City Originals brand. I saw it on the edge of some of his fabrics. I didn’t check out the pricing for the program, but Chris said the designer had to buy hundreds of yards. He now has a contract with dearStella, so presumably, doesn’t have to shell out cash for his own fabric designs. One of the things about this story that I like is that Chris did a lot of stuff related to quiltmaking before he opened the shop. He sort of backstopped his business so it isn’t all quilt shop. The website shows online shopping, a quilt cruise and discusses his various other endeavors.

Rose City-back to front
Rose City-back to front

A lot of the fabric available is from Chris’ designs, which includes a lot of skeletons. I saw quite few Dia de los Muertos prints. I am very picky about which ones I buy and didn’t see any that fit the bill this time. 

The shop space is just so glorious! Big. Light. Open. I can’t wait to see how shop itself, but also the fabric choices, evolve.

Rose City - back to front right
Rose City – back to front right

The back wall, which you face when you walk in, also has fabric. The cutting table is across from the door and towards the front of the store with its wall of windows. I envy the size of that cutting table!

On all of the upper portion of the walls are quilts made from Chris’ patterns. I told you: lots of skulls! I asked about that and he said he loves Halloween and skeletons. Fair enough. 

Rose City - Accuquilt cutting station
Rose City – Accuquilt cutting station

Rose City has an Accuquilt cutting station. I didn’t inquire about the costs. However, I think it is a good idea. It brings people in. It enables people to use a machine that might be out of their price range.

I didn’t look super closely, but Chris has the electric cutters set up for use. Of course, there is a full selection of machines and dies that shoppers can purchase. 🙂

 

Rose City - longarms in the back
Rose City – longarms in the back

In the back of the store two longarm machines are setup for quilting customer quilts. They weren’t running, which made me happy. I sincerely dislike the noise even while I understand the need to provide the service.

I just like shopping in the quiet.

Rose City - classroom
Rose City – classroom

The classroom is also good sized, though still a work in progress. Tables are installed, mostly, but chairs and machines are on the list. 

The picture doesn’t show much of the classroom. If you enlarge it, you can see a bit. 

I really liked that pink cabinet. It was the display area for irons, wool pressing mats and other pressing accessories.

Rose City - notions and thread
Rose City – notions and thread

Rose City is light on notions, but they have quite a bit of thread. Some Aurifil, quite a bit of Wonderfil, Konfetti and Tutti. I am not familiar with the latter, but I am sure they work fine. 

Sweary quilt labels
Sweary quilt labels

Another Rose City Originals product was quilt labels. They are called Sweary Quilt labels and are quite irreverent. I bought one panel as I know I can’t put them on all of my quilts. I can put them on some, though.

I particularly like the one on the right, which says “call this a blanket and I’ll cut you”. I wouldn’t, but I can appreciate the sentiment. Up until now, I just give recipients the librarian glare.

Rose City pineapple scrap quilt
Rose City pineapple scrap quilt

I saw this quilt at the Rose City checkout desk. I bought another length of grey background fabric somewhere. With the grey fabric on my mind this quilt really ticked all the boxes for me. 

Chris said he used all scraps for the colors.

I realized, when I saw this quilt, that I just didn’t want to make another dot pineapple quilt like the previous one I tried to make. While I wouldn’t duplicate the one above, I do like the grey background. Why didn’t I think of that? I think I finally have the right inspiration to make that Pineapple quilt I have been thinking about.

Rose City Purchases - Oct 2026
Rose City Purchases – Oct 2026

I wasn’t excited much about shopping during my trip, but I did buy a few things at Rose City.

The Portland print on the left is what I used to make the ‘party favor’ pillowcases.

Rose City Originals & Rose City Quilts
6406 SE Foster Rd
Portland, OR 97206
Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday- 11am-6pm
Saturday- 11am-5pm
Sunday- 12pm-5pm
Phone: 971-201-8899
chris@rosecityoriginals.com

 

 

 

Finished: Portland Pillowcases

Portland Pillowcases
Portland Pillowcases

I found some Portland fabric at Rose City Quilts when I was in Portland last week. I decided to make pillowcases.

I bought 4 yards of the Portland fabric and a yard and a half of the cuff fabric. If I had bought 1.75 yards of the cuff fabric I could have made one more matching pillowcase. I have enough fabric to make one more pillow case, but not enough of the cuff fabric. I’ll find something in my fabric closet and make the last one with that. 

I gave them out as party favors at the family dinner I hosted on my last night in Portland. Lil Sissy, the YM and my cousin-nephew all joined me. It was a good time. We discussed family business, but also caught up with each other. 

Sewing in Portland

Sewing in Portland 2026
Sewing in Portland 2026
View from my sewing machine
View from my sewing machine

I didn’t only sew in Portland, but I did sew quite a bit. My sewing space looked similar to the way Friend Julie and I set it up last year. I really need two ends of the table on the same side. I like being able to see the whole room both when I sew and write. I could move the sewing machine. Instead I took the space at the other end of the table and put my computer and journal there. The view isn’t as good, but I can see out the window, which I like.

The projects I brought were:

      • Pacifica Quilt Club pillowcases
      • Mini One Handle Totes
      • Chickadee backpack
      • Sad quilt block
      • Morning Glory

I think I was overly ambitious.

The projects I actually made progress on:

      • Pacifica Quilt Club pillowcases – finished
      • Mini One Handle Totes – significant progress
      • Morning Glory – a tiny amount of progress
      • Portland pillowcases – complete

Still, I had a great time and I forced myself not to hibernate away by myself sewing the entire time. After all, I was in a different city where they have interesting things to see and do. I also have family there and wanted to spend time with them.

I spent a day with Amanda. We went to lunch at a great Thai place and then visited Modern Domestic and Bolt. Both shops are pretty much the same as they were last time. After Bolt we went to a coffee shop across the street and sat there for a few hours catching up.

Penelope, Oct.2026
Penelope, Oct.2026

On Friday, I took the YM to his storage unit where we cleared out the boxes, stuffed them in my car and took them to the apartment. There I cleaned and helped rearrange some furniture.

I also got to see my GrandCat, Penelope. The next day the YM went back to the storage with my sister. She has a trailer and brought a strong friend. They were able to quickly clean out a few bits of furniture. Job done: $200/month saved.

Rose City Quilts entrance
Rose City Quilts entrance

We went for lunch and I tried to buy him a new coat, but we didn’t succeed. After I dropped him off, I went to Rose City Quilts. I’ll write a proper review later, but the short version is: GREAT store!

Wingspan Event Center
Wingspan Event Center

I didn’t have to go help with the storage on the second day, so I went to the Westside Quilters quilt show in Hillsboro. I was excited to find a quilt show I could actually attend.  I heard about it from the guy who owns Rose City Quilts.

I sewed a bit after the quilt show, which was a good break

Halloween 2026
Halloween 2026

My sister invited me to a Halloween party. I almost said no, but decided to go and spend some time with her, so I went. I had a great time following a gang of kids as they tore around a neighborhood filling their candy baskets trick or treating. 

I went to the zoo again to see Tula-tu, the baby elephant. I went on Sunday morning at 9:30, which I thought would be a quiet time to go being after the sugar high of Halloween. It was pretty quiet. I spent an hour or so hanging out with the elephants, which I found very calming.

I saw a lot of other animals, too: Lamprey eels, a giraffe, two tigers who were sleeping, two rhinos-also sleeping or maybe resting, a flock of flamingos. I don’t think flamingos are very nice birds, but they are pretty.

I tried to visit Paramount Sewing again, but it was closed. They are closed on Monday and I forgot it was Monday. I was sad, but I realized it was a sign of a good vacation.

MaryM's Running with Scissors bag
MaryM’s Running with Scissors bag

On the way back, I stopped and stayed with MaryM again. I helped her a bit with her Running with Scissors bag and we discussed her Hideout bag.

Mt. Shasta looked really different. I took about 30 photos and I thought this one was the most interesting. 

Mt. Shasta - Oct. 2026
Mt. Shasta – Oct. 2026

The trip wasn’t long enough, but I had to get home for other obligations.

A Whole Bunch of Mini One Handle Totes

Prepped: Mini One Handle Totes
Prepped: Mini One Handle Totes

I spent almost a whole day before my trip prepping fabrics and interfacing for 15 Mini One Handle Totes. As I have mentioned, these are an easy project and I wanted to cross them off my list.

I went through the Sorbet fabrics and pulled out pieces that were large enough to cut the pieces I needed, then I went through and cut the interfacing. I spent several hours on the project, but it made the sewing so much easier. 

Once I got to MaryM’s I started sewing a couple of them. We were talking about bags, which I really enjoy, so I didn’t plan on getting a lot of them done. One problem I ran into immediately was turning the bags through the tiny handle. The problem is the DecorBond. I am still paying for and kicking myself for accidentally buying a bolt of this stuff. I was stuck, though since I decided to plow through some of this bolt by using it for this project. 

I yanked and pulled and swore under my breath as I tried to turn the bags I sewed so I could make progress. I didn’t actually resolve this problem until I got to Portland. I tried to buy hemostats as mine were at home, but failed. Sidebar: Google lies, so don’t believe it. Google said three stores had them and none of them did.

Gaggle of Mini One Handle Totes
Gaggle of Mini One Handle Totes

I solved the problem eventually by stuffing the ProFuse side through the hole first. I still could have used the hemostats, but I was able to speed up the process of turning the bags through this method. Also, I felt relieved since I could make some progress. I finished 10 of them and four more nearly done. I’ll be able to finish them soon.

I am pleased with how much of this project I was able to complete. I was not happy that this was pretty much the only project I almost finished.

I Like Sewing with MaryM

View from Mary's workroom
View from Mary’s workroom

I went to Portland last week to see the YM and to visit with other family. On the way, I stayed for an extra day in Ashland to sew with Mary.

I was able to help her with a bag on which she is working. The pattern is Hideout from Fireweed Stitches. I had never heard of this company before MaryM alerted me to her need to for help.

I really enjoy talking and collaborating with people about bags so it is a lot of fun when I work with Mary. She often chooses patterns I have never heard of so I always learn something.

My sewing space at MaryM's
My sewing space at MaryM’s

We sat across from each other sewing and I totally inhabited my allotted space.

I got busy on the pillowcases for the Pacifica Quilt Club and continued to work on the Mini One Handle Totes.

Post Modern Jukebox Workshop

Post Modern Jukebox Class participants
Post Modern Jukebox Class participants

The guild organized a workshop with Claudia Shearer. She called it Post Modern Jukebox. It was very similar to a workshop with Virginia Schnalle I took years ago when I made the Eye of God quilt.

Initially, we had a hard time getting enough people to participate, but invited some other guilds and got enough people not to lose money. Always a good idea.

Everyone was able to make at least a dozen blocks. There were a lot of solids, but people, like me, used prints as well.

At first, when I was thinking about what fabrics to bring, I thought I would bring my box of cool solids. A solid, if predictable choice. I read something about really thinking about your fabric choices. I often grab my most recent fabric purchases as they are the most accessible. Whatever I read made me stop and think.

I knew I would be making a table runner. They are large enough projects to have some design options, but small enough to finish sooner rather than later. My dining room is painted red. I have also been thinking about how I don’t seem to have used much red lately. I got my red bins and also a bin of low volume text prints. I made my fabric decision and stuck with it. 

Post Modern Jukebox class work
Post Modern Jukebox class work
My Post Modern Jukebox class work
My Post Modern Jukebox class work

I am pleased with the fabrics I chose and how the piece is coming out. 

Yes, I have too much of the pinky red dots I found when cutting out the Mini One Handle Totes last week. I am working on diluting their influence with other fabrics. I used a lot of that pinky red dot fabric and am working on not using so much of others. It would be find if I were making a quilt,but for a table runner, I need to restrict the amounts, I think.

Also, I have not played around with the layout at all. The teacher, Claudia Shearer, played around with the layout a bit. She turned on of the blocks upside down to show how making the blocks the other way would add to my layout options. I need to pretty much make all the other blocks with the high part of the curve starting on the right. I think I need to do some layout work, though.

I have done a lot of ‘free cutting’ in various workshops, most of which were before I started writing posts for this website. Aside from the Virginia Schnalle workshop, I took a class at Fort Mason with Sonya Lee Barrington and she also showed us how to cut improv curves.

I wasn’t excited about this workshop, but feel like I have to be a good guild citizen. I also firmly believe that I can get something out of each workshop no matter how many times I have done a similar technique. In this case, the key tip was a registration mark! This helps a lot with the piecing.

EPP Ball #16: Purple

EPP Ball #16 side 1
EPP Ball #16 side 1

I have been working on this EPP Ball on and off for a few weeks and was able to finish it last week. Honestly, I try to keep one of these on the go at all times. I love EPP, haven’t gotten back into the groove of La Passacaglia and always want a little hand work to do in the evenings.

EPP Ball #16 side 2
EPP Ball #16 side 2

I use the 5 inch squares I cut from scraps for these balls – not exclusively, but when I want to make one I go digging in those containers first. I often find fabrics I love like the big purple dots above and the purple Chrysanthemum print, right. It is an older Philip Jacobs print and this might be the last bit of it.

I chose two pieces of that red-violet batik and used them as the center of the cup I make first before putting the two halves together. It means that the same fabrics will not touch each other.

EPP Ball #16 side 3
EPP Ball #16 side 3

I also tried to keep the purples similar in value, but had to add another Philip Jacobs print. Despite the beige, I love his prints.

This ball came out really well. The purple fabrics really went together well. 

EPP Ball #16 side 4
EPP Ball #16 side 4

I tend to want to keep the ‘good’ fabrics for the perfect project. I am finding that projects are better when I use fabrics, all the fabrics, including the ‘good’ fabrics. The Tula hexie print above adds a smaller and more geometric print to the overall combination of fabrics.

I also used a last bit of Asbury Park ice cream cones and a Martha Negley carrot print. Both are favorites as well. 

I added a label later by hand as I seem to forget to do it by machine.

California Shirt Redux

California shirt for DH
California shirt for DH

On my mission to find another California tablecloth, I scoured everything looking for a photo of the full California shirt. I found a photo of it without sleeves. However, I did not find a photo of it complete, so here we are. This is a photo of the completed shirt. 

DH wore it over the weekend while we were away so it was easy to find and take a quick snap. 

California shirt for DH - back
California shirt for DH – back

I am really pleased with the fussy cutting I did and am so sad Red and White Kitchen no longer make the tablecloth. There are things I would do differently if I had more tablecloths to make this shirt again.

26 Projects October 2026 #10

Finished October 2026 Quilt Projects

Finished October 2026 Bags and Small Projects

This month started off with such promise, but I was so busy that not a lot got done. The new sewing table was part of the issue, but I am not complaining about that!

->Finished 2026 Quilt Projects

->Finished 2026 Bags and Small Projects

 

Projects Ready for Quilting / In the Quilting Process

Warm Four Patch Fun quilt top

All the WIPs

WIPs are projects on which I am working. This means that I am past the cutting out of pieces stage,  some sewing has taken place.

  • Country Revival – I am well into piecing. Flower #5 is done and I have started to cut out Flower #6.
  • La Passacaglia – I decided to change the border, which means moving a couple of the rosettes. Daunting so I haven’t worked on it.
  • Pantone Project – it has been more than a year (where does time go?) since I worked on this. I need to get back to it.

Cut Out & Stopped

Still UFOs

I still have UFOs. Who doesn’t, after all? A project in the ‘UFO’ category means I am stalled, it hasn’t been worked on in awhile or it is waiting its turn to be worked on. The list is a lot shorter and the projects are newer, for the most part.

I am annoyed that some of these are still UFOs.