Tuesday, July 8, 2025

I'm Back!!!


 Swallow Tattoo Mug Rug and Mini Quilt

I am finally sewing again. Gosh, it took some time. I broke my shoulder back in February. I sewed a few easy projects here and there but it was pretty painful. It's tough getting old!

When I was finally ready to get sewing again I wanted to make something special. The more I thought about it the harder it was to get started. Has that ever happened to you? I was stuck. After months of physical therapy I thought I was ready for "sewers block" therapy.  

I decided to get a little help from some awesome designers. I love to paper piecing. So I found a lovely shop called  Happy Sew Lucky Shop on Etsy. Berene has a lot of fun patterns. She has a whole tattoo series and they are all adorable. I picked the Swallow because it represents love, loyalty and new beginnings. I couldn't think of a better pattern to get me back on track. I love sewing and I really missed it. 

The fabrics are from a few collections.  I love to use Ruby Star Society fabrics. So many collections coordinate even if they are from different designers. The navy print is called "MoonGlow" by Alexia Marcelle Abegg. The orange print is called "Darlings 2" by Kimberly Kight. I threw in a sweet background fabric in cream with cross stitch flowers. Its from the "Dawn on the Praire" Collection for Moda. 

 
This was my next project. I have some really awesome bee prints. My newest favorite print is call Bee Garden.  There is a lovely quote on the selvage by Victor Hugo. "Life is the flower of which love is the honey".Tiny metallic bees are buzzing on a fun background with lots of movement. The beehive is made with "Bee Kind" from Deb Strain and "French Bees" by Renee Hanneman. The black base fabric is also from Deb Strain's "Bee Kind" collection. 
This paper pieced block is from one of my favorite block designers, Kristina from Center Street Quilts on Etsy.  
I really had fun with the quilting. Of course I stared at the block for a day wondering if I wanted to go crazy or play it safe. Glad I went for the fun version. Its all done with a regular foot, feed dogs engaged. 
 
Once I got started I just had to keep sewing. I just wanted to use some of the new fabrics I picked up while my shoulder was healing. I used a different "MoonGlow" fabric from Ruby Star. I think this basket coordinates nicely with the Swallow Mug Rug above. Navy is my new go to color and I loved how this fabric looks so much like wax batik. 
 

I like how this one coordinates with the Swallow Mug Rug.  
I really fell in love with this sweet print. Lots of sleepy kitties are all stretched out and loving life on this fabric print by Stacey lest Hsu for Moda Fabric. 

 

 
  I have a few fabrics from this fun collection called Piecework by Anna Maria Textiles. This is a modern log cabin block. The collection has tiny flying geese, 9 patches and so much more. I'll have more items coming from this line soon.
 
Well, this is it for now. I"m hoping to get some new designs created soon. In the meantime I'm just so glad to be sewing again. 
 
Happy sewing!
Jill