Strawberry Cold Case Solved

Ah ha!  Being a Nancy Drew detective (feel like), there was a strong determination to find the missing strawberries.  Yes, it paid off.   Here are the lost but found fabric berries.

But in the meantime before the detective work was completed, there was a strong need to replace them.  Great opportunity to revisit my red (and chocolate) fabric scraps and this is what was complete before the case was solved.

And here is what has been cut, sewn and ready for stuffing.  Do I still need them?  Well, yes.

Perhaps a bigger basket or a bushel will be needed by the time they are all completed.

Old Rack and Cutter Quilt

This is a rack where small quilts hang for display anywhere in the house from time to time.  But the other day a better use developed.  When working with strips or strings, it is nice to know the length and this worked perfectly.  Best yet, it easily stood right next to my sewing machine.

When the project is completed, I'll have to post a picture.

Then in my continued detective work for the saga of the lost strawberries, up jumped a piece from a cutter quilt purchased sometime ago.  It is only 15" x 17" but in good condition, clean as a whistle and stain free.  For the quilting stitches a thicker thread was used and the stitches are a bit longer than normal but very uniform.  It is really a pretty piece and it would be great to do something more permanent for it. The darker edge has some very frayed binding.  Now my mind has to come up with a use for it before it falls back into the black hole.

Bags

Since the strawberry creations are still missing, how about some pictures of my spring totes?

This bag goes to the gym with me.  There are pockets aplenty on the inside as well as one on the front.  The flower is made with semi circles and then an added fabric covered button for the center.

During most of our travels, I become the pack mule.  This tote holds everything of mine plus all the items he finds to stuff in it too.  What I like is the pattern's optional drawstring top. 

A fewer zip pouches hold those loose miscellaneous goodies.  Zip pouches become addictive and there is no 12 step program for recovery.

I've Lost It--Again

Some of my strawberry decorations have gone missing.  Every nook and cranny has been searched.   No doubt they have been safely stored away but the location was not accepted by my brain.

In the hunt, many other goodies turned up.  Some of my domed tea cozies were found carefully tucked away in a red bread box used mainly for decoration now and then.

Not to fear.  When the strawberries turn up, I'll post them.

Strawberry Season

Strawberries are everyone's favorite fruit.  We are fortunate in So. Cal. to have the best strawberries in the country.  We can buy and eat them the very day they are picked.  There are several strawberry stands in our area and we never, never buy them in the grocery store.

Recently a friend told me about a market about six miles from here.  She claimed their berries were the best.  We took the drive while on other errands and she was right.  They are the best.  You can see people  picking from the parking lot.  The berries bought were still warm from the sun. We realized we can not tell anyone about this stand anymore.  There are long lines and times when they run out early in the day.

So it is time to get out some strawberry decorations.  Today's pictures are of a quilt bedecked with embroidery, hand quilting and some machine quilting. 

A bit of digging turned up a strawberry candlemat appliqued in wool on wool.  One day the candle leaked wax all over the mat.  All the regular attempts to clean it up failed.  Finally, on a very sunny hot day, I took it outside, placed it upside down on many sheets of paper towels and let the sun cook it.  No kidding, most of the wax is gone.  The wool is a bit stiff and smells of cinnamon from the candle wax, but who cares anyway.

 

Quilt Hangers and More

A week or so ago I mentioned some small metal quilt holders I bought from an online site and said I'd take pictures.  You'll agree they are darling and great for small quilts.  But check the site at Robinsonswoodcrafts  as there are so many wood products besides the metal holders for quilts of all sizes.  A friend had ordered the sewing machine thread rack and it is not only useful but adds a bit of punch to her sewing room.  The prices are great, shipping was fast and best of all, MADE IN THE USA!

This is not a paid ad--just wanted to share it with you.

This one is a 12" and comes with a dowel and screws.  The thread spool has actual thread on it.

This one is 12" also and there must be a half dozen of my small summer quilts that'll fit it. 

Felt Candle Mat

Somehow I keep forgetting about this delightful candle mat.  It was a fun piece to work on and if you look close, the tea bag tags are loose.  Well they are attached but are hanging freely like tea bag tags do.  It's a great non-season candle mat that will come out a bit more often.

New Spring Color Added

Some lovely spring blue is working well with all the red.  However, I'll keep the colors separate.  Like brothers, they will fight.

First is my April fridge art.  Fusible applique is fun and relaxing--not to mention quick with instant gratification.  Below the cloud you'll see (or maybe not) a few clear beads as rain drops.

Then a change in tea cozies was necessary so out came some additional blue.  First is the method I shared in March.

And then a dome shaped cozy with fused appliqued, hand embroidered and a bit of hand quilting around the posies.

There's a site with really cute quilt hangers and racks and more.  The prices were reasonable and shipping was lickety split.  I take some pictures and post soon.