Driving Miss Stacey

A Recent Survey says......

Are you looking for Made in the USA products?

Many of us are. In 2009, FabShop conducted a survey of American quilters, which revealed some interesting data about their shopping preferences.

Just some facts to ponder:

84% said that purchasing items made in the United States is important to them;

64% said that they check product labels for the country of origin; and

85.6% of respondents said it bothers them that U.S.-made products seem few and far between.

Number crunching. Wow I didn't know.

97% of patterns are made in America

69% of zippers are made in America

56% of gifts are made in America

51% of books are made in America

48% of crafts are made in America

42% of notions are made in America

7% of threads are made in America

1% of fabrics are made in America

For this Little Guy!

found @hilarymercer.com

I am still hooked on making Allison's Double-Hour Glass Blocks over at

Cluck. Cluck. SEW

In the freezing cold month of January, I took a challenge to make 50 quilts for this year in an on-line quilting group that I belong to. They didn't have to be big gigantic, enormous quilts. There were no rules. Just make 'em and bust some serious stuff in my stash. To date I have only made about 19 . OMGosh I better hurry.

I also made a commitment to myself (in November 0f 2009) to make most of my quilts to be delivered to babies who are born right here while their daddies are deployed. This has been the most gratifying project for me to date. Other than sending quilts to Alycia for her QOV project.

I am fortunate that I have a wonderful new son-in-law and daughter who call the US Air Force their employer. And with that comes an automatic "in" for a bunch of my quilts. These young, new wonderful families are all having babies. To me, I can never thank them enough for all that they do for our safety and freedom.

With all that said, Hilary this is for you!!!

I am also impatiently waiting for Pleasant Home's Square it Up Ruler to show up in her Etsy Store. It will make it so much easier to make this block without using a cardstock template.

Still my new favorite color combination

These are still my favorite color combinations. I haven't made anything out of my growing stash of red and aqua fabrics. But I want to!

Memorial Day

Last year in honor of Memorial Day I posted this.

This year daughter and I went downtown to our small National Cemetery and then on to the N.C. State Capital Grounds to watch the Wreath Laying at the Veteran's Monument.

Yes, it brings tears. Tears of sadness and tears of gratitude for all those who have lost a loved one. Tears seeing the fresh new Jr. ROTC recruits and the Marine Corps Color Guard march in perfect step showing such respect to a country that they love dearly.

I don't know these fine gentlemen, but they paid the ultimate sacrifice in order for us to "Live in the land of the Free"

From A Little Pink In a World of Camo

{here}

Found @ The American Fallen Soldiers Project

Memorial Day is about honoring men and women who died in military service to our county. Take today to thank our veterans, pray for the brave men and women overseas, and remember those who fell defending the right for man to live free. Let us be strengthened by their courage. Let's make it contagious.

Still deciding on who gets this americana string quilt. To date, I've made approximately 31 quilts that have been given to babies born while their daddies are deployed. Instructions can be found here at Mary Quilts.

Bee Boppin'

I found this quilt pattern that I would like to make and share with my quilting bee.

Then I got to boppin' around the internet.

Sew and Bee Happy!

36 minute Kitchen Towel Apron Tutorial

Winner will be chosen on July 4th!!

{scroll down down down to see it!}

Diane M wins!!

I am an apron wearer. All day long. Doesn't matter what I am doing. Sewing, cooking, cleaning, watching a little telly at night after the kitchen is closed. I've got one on all day. I have even been known to go out to the grocery store only to find out that I forgot to take my apron off.

I am always looking for unique items to make them out off. I can't stay away from the vintage ones that I find in antique shops. Old linens and tableclothes are my favorite. I've even made one out of some cafe curtains that I found on clearance at K-mart.

{below}

If you have 36 minutes, you can make one too! I timed myself and that is all the time it took. Make one, You'll like it.

I got this neat towel at Pier One with the orange bird and ruffle along the bottom. Already embellished and ready to go.

The best part is that I use the finished seams that are already on the towel. Which in turn means less time spent embellishing and more bling for your buck. Find one with ruffles, rosettes, embroidery, you know, whatever you want on it.

All you need is a towel and three strips of fabric cut 2 inches wide and 42 to 44 inches long (width of fabric)

I love using a bias tape maker to make my straps.

I use my yummy spray starch recipe that I created. You can find that here.

Fold your strips in half and press.

Spritz and spray and press

I like to use my Bernina No. 10 Edgestitch foot moving my needle position so so very close to the folded edges and stitch all the way down. Do the same for the other side.

You can do a google search and find a template to cut your arm holes, or just "wing-it"

I have about a 9 1/2 inch bib across the top as shown above and below

Fold in your curves along the arm holes about 1/2 inch and press. Fold them in again about 1/2 inch and press again. Do this again with the other side.

Determine how long you want your neck strap to be and cut it maybe about 1 inch longer. Pin the neck strap in place inside the folded armhole curves along the top of bib leaving about 1/2 inch of the strap tucked inside the folds.

Got it?

{opps! I forgot to take a picture of that step. But you get the idea}

Pin the waistband strap inside the folded curves at the waistband also tucking in about 1/2 inch of the strap. Starting at the top, stitch down following the curve of the towel at one edge. Back tack a bit to give your straps some security and strength.

Stitch again. * ohh I'd say with about 1/2 inch in between the two seams* Making sure that you catch the folded edges of the armholes. It should now all be nicely sealed and you will have a neat row of double stitches finishing off one side.

Do the same for the other side. Make sure that your neck strap is not twisted. Cause you won't like it if is and you'll rip it out and start over. I did!!