Paper Pieced Stars

And Other Things I've Been Up To....

This is a post about all the things that have been going on in my sewing room this week.   It's a mess in there! 

First, two finished projects this week.  It is so gratifying to have a project that's all sewn up...done...

and even better if its started and finished in one day!

I made this Lil' Girl Springtime Tote from a tutorial on

Just Another Hang-up.  (love that blog)  

I made this baby in an hour and a half.  Not bad, especially with two kids crawling all over me! 

I love how it turned out...and it's just the right size for a little girl.  I think I'm going to applique a flower on the linen side, but I didn't have time yesterday.

I also finished this little Shabby Owl Pillow yesterday. 

Both the bag and the owl are for a cute little girl that turned five yesterday. 

I made the Orange Owl in honor of her "O" preschool day on her birthday.

We're not going to talk much about the owl, because I think it looks a little scary!  She named her Lucia.

I'm glad she likes it!

Again, I made this from a tutorial found on Just Another Hang-Up. 

(Her owl is way cuter than mine!)

And a few new projects:

Okay, this one's not new...but I haven't blogged about it yet, either!

I have been working on this project for about four months now, and I'm loving every minute of it. 

I always try to have a hand sewing project around all the time.  Handwork relaxes me and soothes my spirit.  I can't think of any other way to say that.  When I'm sitting down in the evening, watching TV or a movie with my family, I like keeping my hands busy.  Makes me feel a little less lazy for just sitting there.

I was inspired to start this quilt through this post, and this post.

I ordered my paper pieces from paperpieces.com, which I felt was very reasonably priced.

I think I'm going to stick with light and dark values of red for this quilt.  I had planned to do a multi-colored quilt, but I can't bear to put other colors into it.  I love the reds and pinks.

I still have quite a few to go, but I think I have a good start, don't you?

Another little fun project I've been doing this week:

My mom's birthday is tomorrow, and I thought I'd make her a cute little pinwheel table runner in her favorite colors.  

The five pinwheels are pieced from carefully selected charm squares of Buttercup by Fig Tree & Co, and Kona Snow, my favorite white-ish fabric.

And...

My very first Sparklepunch block! 

Don't you love all the marker doodles on my cutting mat? 

 (courtesy of my children!)

Have a great weekend in your sewing room!  I know I will!

(linking to Sew and Tell Friday and Finish it Up Friday)

(edit:  also linking to Sew Darn Crafty!)