A little Saturday morning stitching...

First I chose a charm pack for a fast dolly quilt.

Changed the needle on my machine. These are my faves for piecing.

Quickly stitched the charms together.

Layered charmed side right sides together with backing and on top of batting. Trimmed edges to size of charm top.

Put in a few pins, so I could carry it to the machine and keep it neat. Stitched 1/4" around, leaving an opening for turning.

Clipped corners.
Turned right side out through opening.

Used a knitting needle to push out corners.

Nice and tidy.
Stitched around edges, which will close up the opening.

Quilted simply.

Wound a fresh bobbin and finished quilting.

All done.
Here it is with the half dozen dolly diapers.


I was so happy with my self I made a second one right away.




I am feeling great and can't wait to start on my next little project! I am thinking of making something to go with my new skeleton.

Happy Stitches,
Melody

Me time...

I meant to post on this subject sooner but here it is anyway. This Summer in Charming Girls Quilt Club we were challenged to focus on Self-Care. What a great idea.

I had already been challenged by my lovely cousin Jill to participate in the San Diego/Coronado Bay Bridge Walk/Run next Spring. Since then I have been walking with my sweet neighbor Patti almost every evening. I am thinking I may be the last person off that bridge but I refuse to give up. It will be funny when the geriatric set passes me up.

I also went camping with some of my best friends. I am not an outdoorsy girl but I had a great time. There was eight women and eight children. I was impressed by how much my son enjoyed all the outdoor activities.

Recently, I was able to get together with two of my best friends and make some of those folded charm coasters. We had a good time chatting and were able to make forty coasters for a local fund raiser. Many hands...

I also participated in a woman's event at my church. It was the launch of Girlfriends Unlimited. The idea is too have all the women come together in a large group but also to form many small groups with common interests. I am excited to form closer friendships and bonds with the women I worship with. I hope to join the walk/run group. the beading group, and maybe a sew/quilt group and attend the many events planned in the near future. This is not your mother's church club.

There is nothing more refreshing than spending time with friends to help recharge the soul. I hope that all of you get a chance to do the same for yourselves.

Wishing you many blessings,
Melody

Pretty in pink...

I have gotten a start on the dolly diapers. They are so cute. I have used the pattern Cindy posted on her Skip to my Lou blog. If you have never visited Skip to my Lou, you should. She is creative and generous with many free tutorials.

I traced out six diapers on a double layer of pink polka dot flannel. I then stitched on the lines leaving an opening on the straight edge, for turning.

I then trimmed all the curved sides with my pinking shears. I trimmed the straight edge a slightly wider with a regular scissor. It will help to keep a tidier finish when turning. I also clipped all the corners.

Turned right side out and used a knitting needle to push out the corners. Folded in the opening neatly.
Top stitched all around, which seals the opening and gives a nice finish. I used the softest Velcro I could find
Adorable, now to finish up the other five.


I decided I needed a model. You know some of these models are so thin.

Isn't he hilarious. I am not much of a Halloween person but I just knew my Hubby and the Boy would love this guy. Not to mention he was forty percent off at JoAnn Fabrics.