String Quilt With Homey Fabrics

I took another brief drive, in whatever remains of what is rural around here, and took another quilt-on-a-barn photo.  It has the spirits of at least five quilters in it.  It has fabrics from Wanda, Donna, Betty, Teresa, and I.  Although my mother was not a quilter, she was a sewer and the chili pepper fabric was hers.  These days, it feels as if barns and quilters/sewers are vanishing.

The barn, on which I pinned up this quilt, is located on Ustick Road, strangely not far from where I spend my time.  Click on the photo and it will be enlarged, so you can see all the different fabrics.  String quilts are pieced on a foundation of fabric or paper.  The strings are narrow strips of fabric, that are typically scraps left over from the construction of other quilts.  This one was started by Betty, who had eleven blocks already pieced on squares of jungle print fabric.  There were more squares of jungle print already cut, so I thought "Why not just make some more?"  I made 41 more, then sewed them all to each other and added the border with little spikes of color coming out.  It was very nicely long-arm quilted by Virginia.

Kawandi Meets Crazy Quilt Bag is Completed!

I am so pleased with my perseverance and learning new embroidery stitches to get this bag completed.  Completing it now, instead of putting it down for months or maybe never getting back to it, is such a good feeling.  It is done!

Ta-da!  It has just the right amount of quirkiness and character.  It is a smallish bag, but it holds just the right amount of extra things one may need as they head out the door, or to go a meet with a friend.

Kawandi Style Tote Bag aka Kawandi Meets Crazy Quilt

Before I went to visit my aunt, in February, I started a hand-sewing project.  Yes, I know; where did that come from??!  I wanted something I could work on at my aunt's place.  My friend, Teresa, gave me a small canvas bag several years ago (to say the least).  I decided to decorate it up.  I sewed some Kawandi style patches around the top, then cut some more pieces to hand-stitch on.  I did practice some stitches, while I was out-of-state and worked on it a little bit.  

Since I made "The Raggedys" some clothes, I have worked on the bag quite a bit.  This is how it looked about nine days ago, after I realized I had not taken a photo of it.  My friend, S, came over last Saturday for a sew day.  I decided to work on my bag, and I continued on Sunday.  Below is how it looks now.  I have only one section left to put a couple pieces of fabric on, then add a lot more fancy stitching.

It is really taking shape.  It is Kawandi meets Crazy Quilt!  Click on the photo for an enlarged view.

Rag Doll Clothes

I went to visit my aunt, who lives out-of-state.  She sent me back with a Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy that she made for my cousin forty years ago.  They did not have any clothes on.  It seems that was not an issue with the TSA folks who opened and inspected my luggage.  My aunt asked me to make some clothes for them, so I brought them back to see what I could manage.  Good news!  Simplicity, it seems, has been producing pattern number 8043 for many years.  I looked it up on the internet, wrote the number down, and went to JoAnn's, where they actually had it.  This pattern has the doll patterns for three sizes of doll and the clothes for all three sized for both dolls.  That is a lot of patterns in one pattern.  Needless to say, I was impressed.

To get rolling, I started with the hat.  It turned out alright, so I was motivated to make the rest of Andy's outfit.

After I got the collar completed, I thought it would be smooth sailing.  It was not exactly smooth, but not too rough either.

It's a good thing I have pins!

I carefully read the instructions two or three times, to make sure I got it right.  I had to connect that top part to the pants part.  That is what makes his dandy little suit so adorable.

I put some Velcro on the back so he does not get a chill, and viola!

He is so much happier, now that he has clothes.  And these are the official pattern clothes.  I chose the fabrics from my extensive stash.  It took me one entire day to make this outfit.  The next day, I spent the entire day making the outfit for Raggedy Ann.

It would appear, I did not take any photos of my clothing construction progress for Ann's outfit.  It was plenty frustrating.  I thought it would be easier than Andy's.  I shortened the pantaloons and the sleeves, to make them fit this doll correctly.  The sleeves, pantaloon bottoms, and waist of the apron all have elastic sewn in.  I was so glad when I finished!  I decided she is a modern girl and does not need a pinafore.  

I have to admit, it is quite satisfying to successfully complete such an exercise in clothing construction.  Now, my aunt tells me she does not want them back and either does my cousin.  What?  They are adorable!