ATLAS ZIPPER CASE

I took a break for a few days this past week and got involved with Kristina Brinkerhoff's Center Street Quilts, Atlas Zipper Case pattern.  Just needed a break from table runners, and my appliqué project.

Have to admit the pattern took a good deal of reading and study.  Kristina did provide 5 mini lessons on her blog site which were somewhat helpful too.

I chose to use mesh rather than vinyl for the pockets.

I had a minimal supply for matching fabrics to work on with the floral print I selected as well.  I had a stash of zippers in various colors so worked with what I had.

I did get it done.  I did not put the zipper on that closure of the case.  It required a 30 inch zipper, and I was not interested in running out and buying one.  Lots of storage as the areas behind the zipper pouches are open and one can slip a pattern under them or fabric and the blue pouch extends under the floral one and the floral one is just a small pouch.

All finished just folds in half like a book at 8 by 10 inches and open at 16 by 10.   I think if I were to make it again I would do the zipper closure.  Especially now that I have the directions all figured out.

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CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS AND A LITTLE BIT OF OTHER STUFF

 I don't think I have managed to get a great deal done this past week in the sewing room.  Harvesting pecans has taken up a good deal of my sewing time.  Plus some out of town company, birthday shopping for a grandson and early Christmas shopping.

We have some good friends that we have coffee with every Tuesday.  Stan and Barbara invited us along with 2 other couples that we meet with each week to their home for coffee last Thursday.  Barbara decorates her home for Christmas.  Oh yes, at least 30 trees and as you can see lots of other decorations.  She starts in September.  Unbelievable!

Barbara's husband Stan is not to be under done by his wife with his beautiful garden.

 

I am hoping to finish up the last Garden Patch Cats pattern this coming week for my daughter's Cat Network fundraiser.  I have had such fun making these.

I did manage to get another William Morris block done on Enchanted Garden.  Still needs to be stitched down, but making good progress to getting the piece finished.  

I think I will be moving it down from its center top to the bottom center, right now placement is a bit up in the air.  Besides I have to make 2 more large blocks.  I am waiting until those are done to finalize their placement.  

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WISTERIA AND PECANS

Feeling somewhat in a rut these last few weeks.  Thinking about doing something different for a bit of a change.  Maybe time to pull out a couple quilt books and do something different. 

I have another Enchanted Garden block in the works.  Not going to deal with the butterfly. 

It is time to finish this project.  I have been working on it for years.  The goal is to finish by the January 2026 quilt show.

The hang up has been the quilting on the blossoms.  I am not a free motion quilter. Never have been able to get the hang of it  This is done by twisting and turning the piece under the machine to get the nice curved quilting done. So doing this quilting on the project is a monumental chore for me.

I have four more of them to accomplish and it is finally time to get myself together and do it.  

I have kept all the thread colors together so best to just grit my teeth and get busy.

I have been a bit busy on this project with husband.  We have two large pecan trees on our side yard and it is harvest time.  He is busy knocking the hulls out of the trees, then once hulled they go in the oven for a couple hours, then shelled, then dried again and into the freezer.  I think we are on gallon bag number 7 about 4 or 5 pounds of shelled nuts a bag.  My contribution is picking the hulls off the ground and putting them into the buckets and vacuuming up the shells off the dining room floor after he finishes shelling them.  And oh yes, the Christmas baklava!    




 

  

EGGPLANT CAT

This past week has me back to working on Enchanted Garden.  I had a bit of time out with it over the last couple weeks.  I changed out the layout and  I am back to working on it.  In between I have been able to work on some table runners for the January 2026 quilt show's boutique and getting Eggplant Cat started.  

I have Eggplant Cat all quilted.  Eyes on and binding ready to go on.  It will be part of a fundraiser for a group in our area.  One of our daughters volunteers with the group that feed, trap, spa and neuter feral cats and return them to their feral colonies.  The funds raised goes to pay local vet clinics that offer their services at greatly reduced costs.  

It needs whiskers sewn on, can't forget that.

I took a bit of time off from my Enchanted Garden project but have gotten back to that this week and finished the second small block and  the top right hand block is done as well.  All the appliqué pieces are cut out and ready to start getting on to their backing for another large block.  So things are moving along with this project too.  

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