#56 Finally Summer has Arrived!!

I am so glad that the good weather has finally arrived!! This week, along with sewing, I hope to get out in my flower bed. They are looking sad and neglected. We have had so much rain and cold damp weather, it is nice to see the sun!!

Had a blast today, enjoying that sun. Went for a walk and then had an adventure driving the new side by side. If you listen closely you can hear me scream, lol, before my daughter screams for me!! 

And then are son-in-law and daughter followed on the 4 Wheeler!!

What I've Been up to:

Finished a few more pouches

Finished all the Tiny Mini Pouches!Original pattern can be found here, at So Sew Easy. There were 3 sizes, 3 about the size of an eraser,  working zipper and all! And another group about 2"x 2" and the ones pictured below.

Completed one of 25 Diamond EPP Hexi:

 Started on the June blocks for Modern InstaBee: Different layout options for the Triple Star

 and have finally started piecing my Churn Dash Sew Along together!! Greens and Whites!! Excited about this one!!

HERE'S MY "To Do" LIST FOR THE WEEK:

(Hopefully will be starting a new list soon, and this one will be history!!)

1.. Scrappy Trip Around the R4 (still waiting for 3 1 blocks from this round!)i've heard it is on the way!!

2. Modern Insta Bee (Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan)

3. Diamond Tread Quilt (sew sides to tread pattern to complete the top)

4. Part 2 of Mini Medallion

5. Cut the Churn Dash Sew Along pieces, (starting to piece blocks)(4/48)

6. Quilt the Michael Miller fabric challenge wall hanging

7. 4-6 Scrappy Trip Around the World Blocks (2 for a friend)

#55 Having Fun With Batiks

You may or may not have noticed my absence from my blog. Not that I post a lot, but I've had a rough few weeks! First I gave myself a minor concussion, getting better. Then I went right into a bad flu bug which I mentioned. It's has been a  rough go and it has slowed down all the fun sewing stuff!!
This week however I have managed to get back some of my sewing mojo, which makes me extremely happy, but I am so behind!! Oh well letting go of the things I can't control......

I mentioned previously that I was offered an opportunity to work with Jinny Beyer Batiks from 

And let me just say, I have been having so much fun!!

There are 3 colour ways within the Jinny Beyer Batiks, Lagoon, Java,  and Sumatra. So far I've only used the Sumatra line. Here's what I've made.....

Review: first I made an  8x10" flag, for a Jog for Cancer event in Stratford Ont.

This week I made a Sunglass pouch (find the pattern here), with the scraps left over from the flag, which is going to look great in the tote I just finished today!!( I know you can't see me, but seriously have the biggest smile on my face for this one!!) Love how the fabrics look together, it turned out amazing!!!! (find the pattern here) I tweaked mine a 

bit!! First I pieced the top section of the bag, then I enlarged the inside pocket and added a swivel clip for my keys.

Here's my List for the Week:

(Hopefully will be starting a new list soon, and this one will be history!!)

1. Sugar Block Club 2014

2. Sew Kitschy BOM

3. Classic Meets Modern BOM

4. Modern Blocks BOM Top Complete!!

5. Globe Trotting BOM

6. Layer Cake Sampler QAL (Only 2 more blocks to go) (all blocks completed)

7. Triangle QAL Top Complete!!

8. Scrappy Trip Around the World Bee (still waiting for 3 1 blocks from this round!)

9. Modern Insta Bee (Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan)

10. Diamond Tread (quilt )

11. Batik Quilt (just moved from UFO to WIP!!) Top Complete!!

12. Part 2 of Mini Medallion

13. Cut the Churn Dash Sew Along pieces, (partly done)

14. Finish all my mini pouches (buy clips)

15. Catch up on all Modern InstaBee blocks (priority)

16. Tester pattern for Kristy at Quiet Play (Dble Decker Bus!!)

What I've Been Up To:

Sugar Block Club May Block

Globe Trotting May Block

Sew Kitschy May Block

Modern InstaBee May Block (my month!!)

Aurifil Designer of the Month May Block

Catch up Block for Modern InstaBee 

and one for the quilt I'm building

WIP Hexi progress

and I managed to sew some extra pouches for sunglasses and reading glasses, even 2 in camo (for my husband and son!!) This lovely fabric came from one of my InstaBee mates!!! Thanks again Karen!!

#54 Great Opportunity.........I'm so flattered

So I have been taking it easy and not much has been happening in the UpstairHobbyRoom, as I have been fighting some kind of stomach bug.... :(  But fingers crossed I am on the mend!!

Before the flu hit I had started to work on my MQG fabric challenge by Michael Miller!! Love the fabric line and the fabrics are so soft. My daughter was over and checking out the latest goings on, and made the same comment, adding they would be great in a baby quilt!! So true, just for the texture, but I think this line would make a great modern baby quilt.
I've designed a wall hanging that will go on the blank wall behind my long arm.

Sorry for the quality of the pictures, its the full width of my design wall and I was having problems capturing a picture well. I am designing this as I sew, probably not the best plan, but I am new at this and it's a fairly simple design!! And surprise of all to me my quilt math went very well. I changed the border of the last picture, wasn't really loving the yellow down the sides. The sides are now white and I can't wait to get this quilted and hanging on my wall.!! 

I did manage to get in some online shopping, first  for the Modern InstaBee I am in! Our July block is with Carnaby!! I was having the hardest time finding it and then Sew Sister's email came and there it was and on sale, whoop whoop!! So after the July block pieces have been cut, these fabrics are going to be used for linings, for the bags I have yet to make, for the Bag of the Month I joined over at SewSweetness.  That was my second shopping adventure. I placed my first order with Emmaline can't make bags without hardware!!

My big news.....

I received a very wonderful offer to work with the Jinny Beyer Batiks and Cotton Supreme Solids!!!!

 I received these beautiful fabric sample cards in the mail from RJR Fabrics and then gorgeous fabrics arrived...my mission to sew something special with them!! I am so lucky!!!

 The fabrics are fantastic, I know it seems that there is a "love it" or "hate it" relationship with batiks, but I think they are special and so versatile. They have such great colours and the patterning is amazing. By themselves paired with solids or as blenders, I love this fabric....... all fabric  ;) (hoarder)

So while I am waiting for the rest of the fabric to arrive for my sewing project, I decided to do another project with the batiks.

My husband came home from a trip to Stratford a week and a half ago. Those who follow on Instagram will have seen the yummy Chocolate Minties he brought me, from Barr's !! Yum!!
While he was at the Vet's he was chatting with one of the ladies there (Anne) and showing my blog (love him!! :)  ) and found out about a Jog for Cancer that was looking for sewn flags, The Flags of Hope for Wellsprings. So he came home with the sheet with all the info on it and asked if I would be interested in submitting a flag. Yes! of course...I love to sew, love to give back, and who hasn't been touched by this horrible disease, family, friend, neighbor, co worker.....
So this is what I came up with, again simple design, but I'm having so much fun designing projects (really need to learn how to use my EQ7, still using graph paper)!! This time though my math was right, but my processing of the pattern was wrong....lol. So need to tweek this pattern a bit, but I love how it turned out and the fabrics look amazing!!

I still love adding my labels!! So cool to know I designed, and made this start to finish!! (Don't forget if you are looking for labels to check out Ikaprint, use "upstairshobbyroom" to save 5% on your order)

That's it for my week!! Next week hopefully all my BOM blocks will be done and ready to show!!
Late Entry: Yes I chose option B, lol, but in my defense I am still fighting the flu and I did have to match up my dresden seams!! Plus I have sewn 2 versions of a Dresden Plate before, when I made the Craftsy BOM 2012!! So I was going for a 3rd version!! (big smile on my face, you believe me, right!!) Truthfully I am glad I chose this version, I really like how it turned out!!