A Retirement Gift for Kim

I started this purse a little over a month ago, then put it to the side and worked on other things...I found it in the spring issue of Quilts and more. It really wasn't hard to put together at all, I was just undecided about adding another fabric, which I decided against in the end. The front is paper pieced, not part of the pattern in the magazine...that was my creation. The back and lining are in the red star fabric, and a small pocket inside is in the blue. the buttoned flap closure is a decoy, it really has a magnetic snap closure underneath the button. It is a very nice design, small...but big enough for a retired person...since she doesn't have to take all her work tools, reading materials, and lunch in it, like I do using my Birdie Sling (tote size) purse. This is a gift for Kim for her retirement. I am giving it to her Sunday. I hope she likes it as much as Joann's purse, and Sharon's quilt. I know I can't compete with them...I am just an amateur.

Nusery Project

Among my many projects in process, I restored the cradle that Bob made for Jesse in 1978 (?). I began the restoration when Mikey was on the way, but fell on it and broke a rocker off after he only slept in it two or three times. It only took about 30 minutes to fix this time. I finished a sheet for it, and now I am just binding a quilt that matches the sheet- A panel Sharon just happened to have that coordinated with the sheet fabric I have had for three years! I backed it with giraffe print. I quilted this on my regular machine, and learned to use another accessory. It is a bar that hooks to your walking foot to keep your quilting lines uniformly spaced. I like the way it turned out.

Trying to Get Kim into Quilting

Kim has retired from her job now, sew she will have lots of extra time for more hobbies. Today, I took her to the Home Machine Quilting Show in Salt Lake City. Here is a picture of us at the show. We had a great time, and she bought lots of quilting gadgets.