Last Minute Stuff

As I approach departure for a trip my "Need to Do Before Leaving" list seems to take on a life of its own. I find myself crossing off a few less critical items just to save my sanity. I was considering doing  that to the line that reads "prepare handwork project," when this arrived from my friend, Annie M. (no blog). It was assembled specifically for plane and airport time.

How cool is this? The little kit contained everything I need to make a dozen of those cute little houses that were known as "Building Houses From Scraps" in blogland last year. It is the perfect project and such a well thought out kit. The pattern pieces are ingeniously stamped on the backs of the fabrics with a rubber stamp from the designer (which you can purchase here, just be advised that shipping to the USA will about double your outlay). The houses are all gorgeous Fall-colored repro fabrics! The kit includes the reference sheet, craft scissors--compatible with TSA rules--needles, and thread. I can just grab it and go. I am so excited and can't thank Annie enough! She did suggest taking a piece of flannel on which to lay out the pieces.

                                                      I decided, instead, to do this.

I cut up the box in which it arrived. The lid was just the right size. Then using my trusty glue gun, I covered it with some pretty repro fabric, and then glued a piece of cotton batting to one side--a mini design wall. On the right you can see the project and the container in which I take my handwork when I am on the road. My little design board fits right inside. You can also see that I got all of the house parts cut out and bagged up. I am set to go!

I am very late in the game with these, but I finally completed two doll quilts for the Get Your Mrs. Claus On project headed up by Debbie (Stitchin' Therapy blog). She has already reached her quota for this year, but I wanted to get them finished before leaving. They will be early for next year. : )

Not much else to share. I have been making more pineapple ornaments for DD#2 to sell at her fundraising booth next month and I've been sewing eye masks for cancer patients to wear during treatments, as part of a service project DS#2 was in charge of at the local university.

I will be absent from blogland for over a week, while I spend time with DD#1 and her DH, meet up with a couple of blog friends, do some sightseeing in New England, and hit a quilt shop or two. Now everyone behave while I'm gone, okay? :)

Until next time,
Janet O.

p.s. When I posted this little quilt in July someone told me the pattern, by Lisa Bongean, had been available free on the internet, but they couldn't find it anymore. I happened to stumble across it and thought I would share the link.