Who has this pattern?

I saw this purse pattern at Joann's last summer when she had us all over for a zipper class. I thought it was Joann that had this pattern but she says it doesn't sound familiar. ANYWAY I admire the way you all just try new things without reservation. I have always been kinda scared of doing that for fear I will screw up.

But I decided that I am going to be more like my sisters and just do it. If I screw it up, I screw it up. But i will learn something from it. (and no one will know I screwed up because you don't publicize mistakes!) So here is my first attempt at a zipper AND my first attempt at cording. I am pleased with the results, not perfect, but I think its pretty good for a first try.

My MINI-MOMMY-LIKE PURSE

Okay so I love my moms purse that she made. I however dont carry anything except my wallet phone and keys most of the time so making a purse that big for me would be STUPID. So mom put the pattern on her nifty scanner and shrunk it. So I made me a purse too using the same pattern only smaller......and its SEW PERFECT!

My weekend therapy

I decided to keep myself busy this weekend and being inspired by Candi and the sign she made for her Chiropractor, I made this quilted sign for Dr Moss's Clinic. I know that Dr Moss is not quite as easy on the eyes as Candi's Doctor, but he is one of the finest human beings that I know.

He made our losing Cara so much easier. He made me understand without making the decision for me that Cara needed to go to the Rainbow Bridge. I admire him as a Vet, Humanitarian and friend. Until James graduates I will have a hard time finding another Vet.

Doesn't this look great?

He is my chiropractor.....

Oh, and he is holding a welcome sign I made for his office...it is a sawtooth cat block, and has magnets sewed into it to hold it on his office door. I fell in love with this pattern when Sharon showed me the quilt she made for Dylan. It is paperpieced. I made this one as a gift for Dr. Blood for being such great support to me the past few months after my MD abandoned me, and since my recent setback. I kinda thought the sawtooth back looked like a spine, and "WELCOME BACK" sounds appropriate for a chiropractors office, don't you think?

My First Picture Quilt

This is my first attempt at a picture quilt. It's copied from a photograph I took when Sheryl and I were paddling at Findley State Park a few years ago. The original photo won third place in a photo contest once.

This was a very fun thing to do. You take the photo to a copy shop and have them make a bigger copy of it. The largest they could make for me was 11 by 17. Next time, I'm going to try a place that can make a larger one for me. Anyway, then you use a light box - or a window like I did. Tape the copy on the window to trace patterns for the pieces. Use your main fabric as the foundation and build your photo on it. Using your patterns, make fusible pieces and fuse them to the foundation.

Then, use fabric markers and thread painting to create the highlights, shadows, and such. It was a lot of fun.

I just added a copy of the original photo.

Gift from my daughter

Krisha has such a creative brain. While I was in Ohio she made me this rose, completely made of fabric. She thought it all up in her head, she had no pattern or directions!

She was smart enough to make templates for her rose petals so that she can make more without having to figure it all out again!

She even put a little Ladybug on the leaf and added rose oil to make it smell real. I love it!

I WIN!

Candi and I started working on new purses while I was staying with her last week. By the end of the week we kinda ran outta steam (after we made Valentines gifts for our handsome grooms) So we challenged each other to finish our purses when I left. I finished mine today.

I made a couple of improvements/alterations to the original pattern, I added a magnetic snap to the top of the handle and I put one of the pockets on the inside.

I thought this was going to be an easy quick thing to do and ended up being a little more involved than I expected. It is far from perfect, but I love it!

Candi hurry up and finish yours!