Country Cool Napkins (part 1)

    Recently, I was in Austin at this lovely  store, Ginger's Needlearts and Framing.  I got a set of  Jenny Hart's Sublime Stitching Embroidery Patterns.  After much debate, I went for the Country Cool set.

    Here are the first two that I have made.  For the napkin part, I got a two pack of the Aunt Martha's Flour Sack Dish Towels, which are giant!   I cut each of them into four napkins and hemmed them up.  Now, they are lovely sized napkins.

A Party Shirt

Look I added a new page: AF Party Shirts, to meet your party shirt needs.

Editing a dress shirt was a new challenge for me as I have stayed far away from making clothes in the past.  Now I have discovered that sewing clothes is not as hard as I had thought.  I watched some videos online about setting in seams, got out my trusty seam ripper and got to work... and viola a lovely festive shirt.

Alright so the fabrics are maybe a bit funny together, but the shirt owner chose them and they really fit- if you know the guy.

I was also very lucky and able to borrow a serger from a dear quilting friend.  This was wonderful, as I did not want to invest in one only to find out that I really dislike clothes making all together. 

Texas Blocks

I have relocated recently and these blocks are in honor of that move.  My new little group of quilters here are making a group quilt of applique blocks that represent Texas and the southwest on this given background fabric.  I am so happy to have more quilters in my life, so participating was high on my priority list. 

 
   This first block is of a prickly pear cactus, which actually grow in Georgia too!  A batik helps to texture the cactus and the zigzag stitch helps to show the thorns.  A few French knot flowers and some ground back stitch help to make it complete.

The state flower of Texas is the Blue Bonnet, although the real leaves I believe are different.   These two block were made with Lady E. this past Thursday and it was wonderful!   After not being able to sew together for some time this was such a treat.  So many laughs, ideas, and the most tasty tea of all time, but more than anything a caring friend that inspires me to sew my best.  Thank you, Lady E. 

Made 8th of September 2011.