Oh how I love a dreary rainy day in Texas! It is still summer here and we have been having our typical 100+ degree days for a month at least and I dread it every year. But, the last two days it has been cloudy and rainy and today was especially nice because it has rained all day long! Our plants and grass are already perked up and the temperature outside hasn't gotten much over 80 if that. Rain, glorious rain!

I know those of you who have never suffered through a central Texas summer before can't imagine what I'm talking about. Imagine waking up at 5:30 am to go for your morning walk or run and it's already 85 degrees and about 95% humid. Icky poo.  Then if you decide to do it after dark it's about 95+ degrees with a slightly less humid feel. Not sure which is better. So, we just wear as little as we can, stay well hydrated and wear lots of sunscreen.

I know this has absolutely nothing to do with creating, but it does give me time to clean up my sewing area and get my creativity juicing flowing for my next project. And time to take a nice quite nap too.

Ciao for now!

                                             Picture courtesy of Clouds365.com

I have been creating many items over the past few months but have been so busy working I forgot to post them!  How can work get in the way of my posts I just can't figure out.  Anyway, one item I made I actually designed myself and if you knew me you would know what a feat that is!  I thought about some of the whimsical flowers I have seen on many quilts and other items constructed by others and thought, as usual, I can do that. So I did.

This was made by using beautiful batiks I had stashed away and cutting out different shaped flower petals and centers. I also had very thin strips I sewed down for the stems all the while using no real design.  I just laid them out in a way that looked pleasing! What fun.

Then I decided to use some Egyptian cotton quilting thread in bright variegated colors and outlined all petals and around the centers. I didn't follow the lines and simply free-motioned the colors around each petal and often between petals. On one flower you will notice I didn't even have material petals I only used the thread.

This wall quilt was so fun to quilt as well - I used a cream colored threat and swirled all around paying no attention to any other elements. That's what I call FUN!

I hope you enjoy this and have fun making your own.

E-Reader case

Well I did it! I made my first E-Reader case today and I have to say I like it. Next time I will make the front tab a hair smaller (I used the wrong tab pattern) but it's fine for now.  I also plan to head to Sew Much More tomorrow and get a perfect large hand made button to put on the tab where the stitches are from attaching the Velcro. I got the pattern from Sew Much more and it's by Whistlepig Creek Productions  - the pattern is #1203 E-Cozy. 

Those of you who know me will understand my choice of fabric....... Go Texas!

The Texas Cover!

Front

Inside

Back

The pattern is quite easy to follow and requires firm interfacing throughout so the end result is a stable protective case for my brand new E-Reader.  Can't ask for more. 

Ciao for now,

Michele My Belle