Studio Sewing...

Brynwood Needleworks - The Elf's On Break

I have a bag-in-process for a Saturday delivery. I started on it yesterday morning, but had physical therapy in the afternoon, which interrupted the process. This one will get finished today.

 

I want to get all my orders completed and mailed by Saturday morning, as I'm taking a little road trip to MN to spend a few days with my sister. In the time that we've been back in Wisconsin, I've never seen her home in person. We decided it's time, so I'll be driving north on Sunday. 

 

Handsome and the pups will be staying behind this trip. Maybe next time! I'm looking forward to sharing what we're up to while I'm there, but first I have to complete my projects. Better crack the whip on those elves!

Time For A Slight Detour...

Brynwood Needleworks - A Penny Gathering Blocks In Progress

I worked at my studio sewing table yesterday, all the while watching videos on my iPad as I stitched. I finished this block late last night, and now I've hit a snag. I have three more blocks to set up, but I don't have the fabrics I need for the required "look". I know. It's hard to believe, if you've seen photos of my fabric studio. I'm just waiting for word that the newest Wool Box is ready for pickup, and then I'll be making a road trip!

 

In the meantime, my turtle batik fabrics have arrived, so I'll be preparing the fabric(s) to turn into travel and hobo bags for current orders. I'm going to make two sets of the turtle bags. That way,  I'll have one of this popular set in stock and one for the current buyer. I also have a couple others to make in fabrics I have in stock. It will be fun to be making a few bags again. I've missed it. Updates soon!

 

Painted Batik Fabric...

Brynwood Needleworks - Painted Batik Detail

 

I pulled this fabric out of my fabric studio closet yesterday. I'm contemplating turning it into a longer dress or skirt. It feels like a lightweight challis fabric, so it has lovely drape to it. Something perfect to wear in the summer or in warmer climes.

Brynwood Needleworks - Painted Batik Panel

 

It's a panel is approximately two yards wide, and approx. fifty inches long, so I've got plenty of fabric for one of those projects. I pulled out a few fabrics yesteray, and will try to make a decision soon.

 

I purchased this and another panel from a vendor booth at either our Florida quilt guild show, or at the World Quilt Show when our guild made is a full-day bus trip. The artist is Suzanne Egan Hill, and her website is www.paintedbatiks.com in case you're interested.

I had my annual checkup yesterday, too. Got a pneumonia shot, and by the end of the night, I had my arm on ice. It feels a bit like I've been punched - even though the nurse was extremely gentle. ugh I hope it goes away soon. This soreness is definitely cramping my style! Wish me luck, please. I've got stuff to do.

Custom "Sea Turtle" Set Finished...

Brynwood Needleworks - "Ensemble" and "Nocturne" Bags

I've completed my latest custom order for a client who chose this beautiful blue batik fabric. She loves sea turtles, and this set is for an upcoming trip.

Brynwood Needleworks - "Nocturne" Travel Bag

 

This "Nocturne" bag (great for sleepovers!) is the bag I just finished. All I needed to do yesterday was add the handles and shoulder strap. 

 

I got a lot accomplished while it rained the past few days, but it's supposed to be nice today, so I'll be working in the yard today. I plan to enjoy these nice days while we have them. Have a great weekend, and I'll see you again tomorrow.

Almost Finished...

Brynwood Needleworks - "Nocturne" Travel Bag

 

It rained yesterday. I had some tasks that needed to be handled in the morning, but the afternoon was spent in the studio. By the end of the day, all I had left to do is make two short straps, and one crossbody strap for this piece.

Because it's not completely finished, I'm just sharing a peek. I'll show you the whole bag tomorrow. 

Kitchen To Studio...

Brynwood Needleworks - Farmhouse French Bread Loaves and Rolls

I've been busy since last we visited. I wanted to make fresh French bread and rolls for Handsome, so this is what came out of the oven on Monday. We had delicious soup and roast beef with the rolls for dinner on Monday night. I think I'm getting the hang of this. The rolls were crispy on the outside, and perfectly tender on the inside. I'll definitely be making more!

Brynwood Needleworks - "Ensemble" Bag

   

I've also been fulfilling customer orders. This one was my client's choice...black cork fabric, paired with a blue and green sea turtle batik. I'm especially happy with how this one turned out. I know it's going to get a lot of use, as it's first task will be as a carry all for a trip.

 

I'll be working on the second commission (for the same client) today. It involves preparing a lot of pieces prior to assembly. The hardest part for me is getting psyched to do all the cutting. It's never been my favorite (or even 5th favorite) part of sewing. I think I need an elf! 

 

So, I'll be working on the next bag, but I've given this style a name. I'm calling this one the "Ensemble" Bag. I hope my client loves it, because, if she doesn't, I'm going to keep this one to use for myself! 

 

Just a quick update on the porch project, too. The guys are painting the second coat onto the post and beam trim, and it's looking wonderful. (It's been raining, so my gardens are a mucky mess. I'll take photos at the end of the day today. Railing work won't begin until September 23rd, but I'm expecting the new lighting will go "live" late this week. We'll see...

 

Just What I Needed...

  I finished all the centers (which will be cut roughly in half) for the Dresden fans. It took much of the day yesterday, but the result is a complete set ready to stitch.

I'm very happy to have contributed my time and talents to this project, and I'm

ready to hand them off to the next group of quilters for stitching and assembly.

I'm looking forward to working on a project or two of my own over the weekend.

I think this was just what I needed to reawaken my creative muse. I'm grateful.

I hope you all have a safe and productive weekend.

(Oh, Sherry! Let me know if you need Tag and me to do that rain dance for you! wink)

I Don't Even Know How This Happened...

Last week, a group of guild members gathered at my friend, Susan's house to work on blocks for the next guild raffle quilt. Although the show isn't until 2016, the quilt is always finished by the beginning of the year prior to the show. Then it can travel to various shops and venues to raise funds leading up to the show.    Six of us pulled out our sewing machines and pieced the fabrics that Susan had cut and prepared for the interior section of the quilt. We finished all of them.

Susan is the co-chair for the show, and she also drew the new quilt design in EQ. Her design is in the picture above, but the colors are only as a representation  of the variations, not the actual colors. The entire quilt will be worked in batiks.    When we got together, we all managed to create the blocks for the entire interior  section of the quilt. The blocks slowly change in value from the bottom to the top.

Remember my two Dresden plate quilts last year? Yeah. So did Susan. She packed  up all the fabrics for the half Dresdens around the interior border and sent them  home with me! She's really smooth, right? So, even though I said I was going to  take a break from guild quilt show projects, here I sit with stacks of fabrics.

I've been cutting 5-1/2" wide strips of batik fabrics into the wedges used to  create all the sections of the plates. I need to cut lots of different colors so that  I can make a few of the blocks just to be sure they are going to fit properly  into the design. Then, I can also be sure they'll fit in all around the quilt, too.

Susan and another guild member, Ann, met up late last week. They joined all the blocks together that we'd made at the first get-together.  Now, they're waiting   for these plates to be done to do the next section. So, here I am again...working  on another raffle quilt...for now. This time, I'm content to let others finish it up.    I'll see how far I can get with this today. My plan is to hand this off finished portion to another member this evening at our board meeting. Fingers crossed.