Quilts for Kids--The Asterisk Quilt

My most recent contribution to Sarah from SewSarahSews are two asterisk blocks.  This was the first time I have ever made anything like this.  I love that she provides links to tutorials for the blocks that she wants made.  The commitment for the number of blocks you make is completely up to you...which I LOVE.  She will complete the quilt and then send it to the home of the foster child.  They will keep this quilt.... forever.

This is the first asterisk block that I made.  Cute but kinda boring.  It did give me an opportunity to test my skills...or should I say to follow directions and overall, I am happy with the outcome.  But since I committed to making two blocks, I decided to jazz it up a bit.  But if you want to know the real story.....lol... here it is.  I made the second just like the first only in different colors.  When I went to square it up I wasn't even close to the 12-1/2" block size.... so I thought hmmmmm, how do I fix this?... Wonkiness!!  It fixes everything! So I offset the asterisk and added the grey border on two sides...a sweet look and by my initial calculations, it should have measured the correct size at that point.  But alas, it did not.  So what is a girl to do?  That's right... add another border!  Cut it big and then trim  it down afterwards!  No more  precision cutting and sewing for me!  Just like Eleanor Burns.... just trim it and toss it over your shoulder and sew some more..trim, toss, sew...that is my new sewing motto

Don't you love it!!!!!  I do!

If you would like to see the finished quilt from the first Quilt For Kids that I participated in just click here.  The blocks I made are here..but they look like the rest. The quilt is sooo cool.  Great for a boy.

Happy Sunday Everyone!!!!

My Pouch for the Zippy Pouch Swap

I am so excited to share my pictures of the pouch I made and received from the zippy pouch swap!  I am happy with the results of the one I made.  There is no pattern for it.  I just made my front and back and then took tidbits from zipper tutorials and boxed bottoms....and this is what I came up with:

Yes, it's a bit blurry but I wanted to show the charm I put on the zipper!  Some day I will figure out my camera!

Nothing to exciting happening on the inside.  But heck..it was my first big zippy!

Those lovely hexagons are only 1/4" in size!  

My cute fairy! French knots and running stitches for a little embellishment!

And here is the whole pouch.  In retrospect I would use a darker zipper.  Not a big fan of the off white one now that I see it in the photo.  Also in the picture are some journal covers I made.  I did all these while at retreat.

The pouch that I received came to me from Ireland!  Once I saw her embroidery I knew it just had to be for me!  But she remained steadfast in the secrecy... I even told her it had to be mine!  It had all of my favorite things...mushrooms, gnomes, hedgehogs and birds!  I love that it is a wristlet too!

I got these wonderful scraps and a lovely note from Ms. Sarah along with my pouch!

I have been so fortunate in all my swaps!   I am participating in another pouch swap and just signed up the Retro flowers quilt-a-long!

As I have been asked to make up a pattern for the fairy pouch I will be making that up one of these days and sharing my tutorial for that... I am thinking by June... How fun will that be!  I will be a little more diligent with this pouch and will write things down as I go so I can share the process with you.
In the meantime yard work awaits and so do those pesky dirty dishes in the sink!  Crap, I hope I shut my water off.  I think I started to fill the  sink before I sat to write this post!  Bahaahaahaa