It's in the Bag and and on the Wall

The weather in Ohio continues to be colder than average, this morning 10 below zero in Kent, but I heard 20 below zero and more in other outlying areas.  Big sigh!  Can't wait for spring!
Meanwhile . . .

Fabric Grocery Bags

This week our Streetsboro Quilt Guild met early on Tuesday night to work on grocery bags for the church pantry.  It's an easy pattern and such a good idea for a better, more sturdy way to carry those paper bags full of food.  The paper bag fits right inside the cloth bag.  You can click on the pattern to make it larger.

The pattern is basic and you can use any fabric that you have on hand.  Here is a finished bag:

With all the ladies sewing, we were able to finish about 20 bags.  We need more and want to have them finished by Easter.

On the Wall

If you look back at my blog in August of2012, I was at a retreat at the Rural Thimble in Charm, Ohio.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THAT POST!

During that retreat, I started a tumbler quilt.  You can see it hanging over the railing in the picture if you look closely.  It wasn't very big.  I found that UFO during my sewing room clean out and decided that it is going to be a "table topper."  And that's that!  Here it is on the wall:  Post Script:  That plan has now changed. 

Stay warm and think spring!!

Six More Weeks of Quilting

“Winter lies too long in country towns; hangs on until it is stale and shabby, old and sullen.” ― Willa Cather, My Ántonia

The sun was shining today so I went outside, saw my shadow and headed back down the basement for six more weeks of winter quilting.

I have not been quilting so much, but I've been sorting and organizing material.  It warmed me right up to iron all that material.  New storage bins inspire me, so I bought some color coded bins and filled them with that specific color or something close. How satisfying to see the material folded and put in a bin where I could find it more again easily.    

I discovered that I don't have much red or white material.  I then counted and found that I have almost 100 fat quarters, including the Christmas fat quarters.  I have to say that I have neglected my stash collection far too long and now I am getting ready for my six more weeks of quilting.

I even started reading the bias edges as I ironed.  

I forgot that I bought this panel.  I love the covered bridges.

This was a piece left over from a quilt for my granddaughter.  Sorting material takes you down memory lane.

This bias edge kind of describes how I am feeling right now.  Trying to get through the rest of the winter on a "Wing and a Prayer."  

Not done yet!