On the Go Pillows

Here are several of the On The Go Pillows I made for a customer in Connecticut.  Two are pink & purple princess and one Star Wars.

The fronts had large monogram letters and the backs had pocket and full name.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mizzou Bag Set

I've really enjoyed making the zipper bags out of plastic canvas, here is my latest one made with black mesh for my sister in law.  My SIL is a Mizzou fan, so I used Mizzou fabric for the accent.

It's hard to tell in the picture because mesh does not photograph well.  There is a tiger charm on the mesh bag -- you can barely see a silhouette if you look close.

Thanks for stopping by.

High School Fan Zipper Pouches

Here are four zipper pouches I made for a customer and her friends in Boulder, Colorado.  These are for Moms of football players so I embroidered the Mom's name and the son's football jersey number.  I thought it was a cool idea.

Custom Pouches like these are available in any color combination with a variety of sport charms in my Etsy Store.  

Christmas Sweet Pouch Swap Sent

Here is what I sent my partner Barbra in California for the Christmas Sweet Pouch Swap.

Barbra likes pastels so I went with a pink, hot pink and green color scheme.  I sent a snowman ornament that I made in the hoop, a mesh bag with monogram applique and one of my zipper pouches.  My thought was that the mesh bag would come in handy for Christmas gift wrapping; like storing tape, scissors and gift tags.   Hope you are having a great holiday season... I am doing a lot of sewing keeping up with orders in my Etsy store.  

Christmas Sweet Pouch Swap Received

If you sew and swap, you can make friends all over the world...  Came home to a beautiful swap package from a new crafty friend in California. Everything is lovely.  She totally hit the nail on the head by using tree themed fabric (since I am a Tree Hugger). Love the pouch and goodies.   Thank you Barbra!  This was for the 4th round of Sweet Pouch Swap hosted by Ros in Australia #sweetpouchswap 

 

McKMQG Ornament Exchange

Here is the ornament I made for the McKinney Modern Quilt Guild ornament exchange.  This was a fun little project made in the hoop.  The pattern is my Embroidery Garden.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.

Hope your day was terrific. 

#mckinneytexas 

Sewing Room Island

Thanksgiving break has been productive already.  This is what I spent the day putting together yesterday.  An island in the sewing room. I had to take a picture because this won't last long once I really start working.  The counter & storage space is approachable from all four sides (that is if there is not something on the floor). 

I have had this idea ever since I saw it on a blog years ago.  I wish Ihad room to make a giant island with multiple 3x3 cube units but I do not have the space.  I was lucky to get this in the room-- room is only 10x10.  This was made with three 3x2 cube units (I have room for fourth unit but wasn't sure I wanted cube shelves so I left it open in the back for now.  The top is 24x48 plywood I covered with batting and then uphostered with fabric.  

The triple drawer units I have had for years, once upon a time they held the overflow of napkin rings and flatware (early 2000's) then they held stamp sets and now they are in here.  I have twelve so this is a good home for some.  I always struggle with a good place to put hoops for the emroidery machines so the side panel of the cube units works well, i just used 3m command hooks.  The right side of the top has an ironing pad, I don't have enough room for a full size ironing board so this works since most of the pieces I iron are small anyway.   I am so thrilled about this project getting done.  

Sewing room progress 5 months in the making. #sewingroom #sewingstudio #craftroom 

Schnitzel and Boo Mini Quilt Swap

I am in a happy swap mood.  Last week I also joined the Schnitzel & Boo Mini Quilt Swp for Round 3 and volunteered to be a group moderator.  I am so excited.  Follow us on Instagram!

Here's my group icon.  I have 40 girls from all over the US and different parts of Europe.  

  

Sweet Pouch Swap #4

I am so excited to be part of the Sweet Pouch Swap hosted by Roz in Austrialia for the 4th time.  I already got my partner assignment and we've been corresponding and getting to know each other.

This time around my partner is in California so it will be easier to send extra stuff in the package, sending to Europe & Australia is always such a challenge because I always want to include bulky items.  I can't wait to start sewing.  #sweetpouchswap

Water4Otter comes to McKinney!

All in a days work....  Spent the morning at Sonntag Elem with the North Texas Municipal Water District WATERIQ Water4Otter team. This is a new program focused on teaching grade school kids about saving water at home.   The lake in our area is less that 47% full so the entire region is focused on water conservation.  

The Water4Otter program is really cute and focuses on saving water in your bathroom, kitchen and outside with your sprinkler system.  Otis the Otter is the star of the show.  This program is part of a pilot program being tested at 30 schools in the North Texas area.  The program is funded by the NTMWN and the Texas Water Development Board.

My job has perks, here I am with daughter and Otis the Otter.  Visit www.water4otter.org for more information about the program.  

Hope you are having a great day!  #mckinneytexas #water4otter #savewater @NTMWD #greenmckinney

UPS Zipper Pouch

Here is a UPS themed zipper pouch I made for one of my husband's co-workers that was retiring.  His nickname and route name is LWOD and he celebrated 35 years at the company.  

I was thrilled to find the right shade of brown solid fabric along with the UPS digital logo.   I hope I get more requests to make these from other UPSers.  

Mom becomes an American!

It's been a busy few days.  Thursday night I flew to South Texas to be with my parents for my Mom's special day. After almost 46 years of being married to my Dad and living in the USA (legally), Mom  finally became an American!    She had her test and interview back in the late summer and her ceremony was Friday.  It was great to be there for the momentous occasion.  I was only able to stay for about 30 hours before flying back to Dallas but I am so happy I could swing being there!

Basket received

This is the fabulous basket I received in the McKinney Modern Quilt Guild Basket Swap from Elizabeth W. The tote is large, the handle part can be folded down to make a basket and it's completely reversible. How cool is that! These are the fabrics I've used in my Sewing Room so it will be great for toting stuff... It's so fun to do swaps, thank you Elizabeth! #mckmqg

Basket made for MckMQG swap

Yesterday was our monthly McKinney Modern Quilt Guild meeting.  These are the items I made for the basket swap.  We actually exchanged bags of fabric last month so that was a fun twist.  My partner included a lot of fabric in her bag so I made a few extra things in addition to the basket.   A mugrug and matching mug that said "stitch your stress away", a layered flower pin cushion and of course a zipper bag -- which is something I make for every swap.

The basket was big and I felt like I needed to put something in it so it would not be so empty so I quickly embroidered a fuzzy fleece throw with some of the left over fabric.  (I keep these blank throws on hand in case I need to make a quick gift.)

I think the throw with a C turned out really cute.  My partner seemed to really like everything and I really enjoyed sewing with fabrics that I would normally not buy.  Thanks for stopping by.

Visiting TWU

Life is full of circles. Today, I spent the day at TWU's Internship Fair.

 

 

 23 years ago, I was a student here looking to intern "somewhere". We didn't have fairs back then, instead we snail mailed bunches of linen paper resumes printed on dot matrix printers and hoped for a call back on a LAN line. Now, I am at a point where I can give that opportunity to student. It feels good to reciprocate. I am thankful for the 3 college internships I had from 1991 to 1993.... Pepsi, Texas A&M University Extension and Bride & Groom Magazine.  I am thankful for my wonderful mentors there who not only gave me a chance but have continued to be a part of my life since then.   Hope I get to do the same for someone after today.

Fall Color

Our temperatures have been really mild lately and my front garden is blooming beautifully.  We don't have many trees that change colors but my flowers are looking good.  Here are a couple of snapshots from the morning   These are all primarily drought tolerant & native plants that have only been watered a few times ALL YEAR. They are thriving in mild temps.  I love gardening! 

Visit to State Capital in Austin

On our way back from the valley, we made a quick visit to state capital for Eugenia.  She loved seeing an "old building" since we don't have many in McKinney where we live.  It was a gorgeous day!  #aspaniardintheusa  #exchangestudentlife

McKinney is #1

What a way to start the week. Proud to call McKinney home and be a part of city staff!

Our city ranks #1 on Money Magazine’s Best Places to Live in America list! McKinney earned this distinction based on housing affordability, education, arts and culture, safety, health care, diversity and the economy, including the fiscal strength of the government. McKinney is the only Texas city in the top 15. Woohoo!!!

Our family is EXPANDING!!!

I've been so busy the last few weeks.  Not only we were busy with regular summer stuff but early in August we started the process to become a host family for an exchange student.

Hosting a student meant re-establishing our guest room... The guest room I took over with my sewing stuff...  You can't imagine how hard I have worked the last few weeks to make this happen.  

In the end, we consolidated three very full rooms to two.  We cleared out all the big toys from playroom loft area, repainted from pink and purple to the neutral color for the rest of house.  Then dismantled Micaela's baby room which had become the paper craft room and then emptied the guest room that was my sewing room.   Hours and hours of work... 

Room pics will be forthcoming but for now the arrival of our exchange student from Spain...  

Here she is with Micaela during the car ride home.  Sadly, she spent more than two hours getting through customs so we forgot to take a pic at the airport.  

She arrived on Wednesday and we are all getting settled in our new roles.  

Relocated Sewing Room

Spending Labor Day "laboring" in my relocated sewing room.  This is the first corner set up in my new space.  One corner done, rest of room to go.  I think my stuff multiplied when we swapped and consolidated rooms.  (This room was Micaela's baby room once upon a time).

I bought a second thread rack for 120 spools since the single 120 and 60 was not enough in previous room.   I've got a long way to go, more pics to come.  

Summer Gardening

Here are a few pictures taken around our garden this morning.

All of these plants are mostly drought tolerant and require very little water.  About 95% of the time I water them with water collected with our rain barrels. I can't believe everything has stayed so green during the summer.  Thanks for stopping by!

Captain America

Sometimes I get requests that I never could have dreamed up.  A friend asked me if I could make a zipper pouch for her grown son with Capitain America fabric... 

Well here it is....  I've since discovered this Capitain America guy is pretty popular and I am seeing comic stuff at many different stores.  Who would have thought?

This pouch like all of the others are available in my Etsy store.   Thanks for stopping by. 

American Girl Trip

Our dear friends from Arkansas visited this week.  One of the things we did was take the daughters to the American Girl store in the Dallas Galleria.  Micaela and Madeline has a wonderful time (and so did us Mommies).

Our girls are growing up and days like this one when we put them in matching outfits are very numbered.  Here is a collage with pictures we have taken over the last 9 years--- they are growing up too fast.  

We had a wonderful time.  Hope you are having a great week. 

Leadership McKinney

I am so excited.  I have been chosen to be part of the Leadership McKinney Class of 2015.  We just had our orientation and took our first class picture.  I am truly honored to be a part of this group.

Menopause The Musical

Last week I went to see Menopause The Musical at the Eisemann Center in Richardson.  It was so much fun!

It was hilarious and I highly recommend it.  This is a picture of ladies getting ready to do a "kick line". 

 If it comes to your city, you should go with friends.  Thanks for stopping by!

Summer Flip Flop Set

These are a few of the things I made for Miranda in addition to the mini quilt for the swap.

This is a water bottle holder, a plastic canvas bag with a monogram, a zipper pouch (like all of the ones I make) and a beach towel.

Here is a close up of the plastic canvas bag.  I lovew how this turned out, I plan to make more of these for sure.   Thanks for stopping by!

Mini Quilt I sent

Here is the mini quilt I sent to Miranda in Iowa.  Tomorrow I will post the other items I sent.  This is a modified version of the Stacked Square pattern at Moda Bake Shop.

I tried to use bright colors since Miranda said she liked rainbow.  This was a little out of my comfort zone but I am pleased with how it turned out.   Hope you are having a great weekend. 

Swap Received from Iowa

This is the fabulous swap I received from Miranda in Iowa for the Mini Quilt Swap!

The mini quilt is so awesome, she used one of my favorite lines from Sweetwater and of course my favorite "sewing room colors" red and black.

Here is a closeup of just the quilt.

And of course the box zipper pouch. 

Thank you so much Miranda, I love everything. 

Wine Cork Zipper Pouches

Here is a set of 9 wine cork zipper pouches I made for one of my customers in California.  These are for a bride and her bridesmaids.  I believe the couple is getting married in Napa Valley. 

This is the same customer that ordered 9 weenie dog zipper pouches last spring.  I love when customers come back!  Thanks for stopping by!

Graduation Zipper Pouches

Every custom order has a story. A church youth leader in Houston wrote me recently and was looking for graduation gifts for a group of girls she has mentored for several years. All 7 girls are headed to college and she wanted zipper pouches.  I didn't have pouches designed for 3 of the 7 schools so we came up with some deisgns.  The schools were Texas A&M. Baylor, NYU, U of H, MSU, UT and UHD.

Here are all 7 completed pouches

My Etsy store offerings grow because of requests like this.  Here is the pouch for the University of Houston

University of Houston Downtown (mascot is gators)

And, New York University.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you are having a great week.

Award

I received a wonderful award a few weeks ago, Top 25 Women in Business in our city.  This award is from the Chamber of Commerce.  This is for my work at the City of McKinney and the volunteer work I do in the community.  I am truly humbled to have been chosen. 

Here is a nice article a a picture of all of the other ladies honored. 

Midwestern State Univ Zipper Pouch

With graduation season upon us, I am getting lots of requests for zipper pouches for graduating seniors.  Only the big schools have licensed fabric so I have started designing pouches for some of the other schools.

Here is the pouch I made for a friend's daughter going to Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas.  Katie is graduating tomorrow and I am so excited for her.  The school colors are maroon & gold and the mascot is a mustang so I didn't have to go on a wild chase for a charm that was out of the ordinary.   This is actually a school I considered when I was in high school. 

This pouch and others are all available in my Etsy store.  Thanks for stopping by. 

Love to Dance Zipper Pouches

I had a request from one of my Mom friends for 5 zipper pouches with a dance theme for her daughter's dance instructors.  Right away I started looking for fabric and found one that matched the colors used throughout the dance studio.

Here are the five zipper pouches.   I could not find a "dance" charm so we opted for name initial. 

 

I used a hot pink dot fabric for the lining. 

 

I used the "Love to Dance" fabric for the back. 

Thanks for stopping by.