Summer Sewing

    Summer is officially here in Missouri.  It has been above 85 degrees F. for several days with increasing humidity, but after such a late, cool spring, it feels good.  It does decrease my sewing time though.  I find myself sitting outside with a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea, listening to the birds sing and watching the hummingbirds fight over their feeder.  We have been feeding the Baltimore Orioles also and they have become almost as tame as the hummingbirds, coming to the feeders with us sitting on the deck.  
    Last week, I had a granddaughter and great niece here for a performing arts camp at our local college, so most of my sewing was some costuming for their Friday night performance.  They both wanted to do some of the sewing, so that is more time consuming, although I love introducing the younger generation to the creative side of it.  We made Livvy an Ipad case and Maddy an apron for her performance. 
     I did have plenty of time for some handwork, so worked on the binding for these placemats made from a French General Charm Pack.  It was mostly about the fabrics and a free motion quilting practice session.  

  Don't they look great with my brown transfer ware?   The colors are actually more on the rosy side, the camera made it look a little red.  I really liked the pattern, though.  It was from the Moda Bake Shop, called "Charm Saturday".  One Charm pack made four placemats with the coordinating fabric on the left side.  I was pretty happy with the quilting, especially the feathers, I have been working on them forever.  
    One of my favorite online quilting sites is Missouri Star and I took advantage of one of their daily deals last week.  It was a free 2.5" tumbler template, you just had to pay the shipping.  Well, you know how my logic works.  If I am going to pay shipping anyway. I might as well order something else.  So, I ordered the 5" charm tumbler template also.  I have been fascinated with the tumbler flags I have been seeing on one of the small quilts group I follow (Sentimental Quilter).  Since my stash includes lots of patriotic fabrics, I was able to put one together pretty quick.  I plan to hand quilt it, so this is just the flimsy.

    It was so much fun, I would like to share it with someone.  If you will leave a comment or click on the "follow" button, I will randomly choose a lucky recipient for enough tumblers to make your own flag.  The instructions are very simple.  Missouri Star Quilt Co. has a youtube tutorial on it or I will email the instructions to you. While you are looking for the tutorial, look for the Kansas City Channel 41 feature on their shop in Hamilton Missouri.  It is only about 20 miles from my hometown and I know the town well.  It has suffered the fate of many small towns in rural Missouri and it was encouraging to see what a quilt shop has done for it.
Keep on Stitchin'
Judy